In the news

The CFIA reported that Kam Ding Investment Ltd recalled TWA Fungi King Oyster Mushroom from the Canadian marketplace due to Listeria monocytogenes. Canadian Food Inspection Agency test results triggered the recall. The recalled product has been sold in British Columbia and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product. @ https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/twa-fungi-brand-king-oyster-mushroom-recalled-due-listeria-monocytogenes?utm_source=gc-notify&utm_medium=email&utm_content=en&utm_campaign=hc-sc-rsa-22-23

The CDC reports collecting data to identify the food source of a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections. The investigation has not yet identified a food linked to illness. As of June 29, 2022, a total of 23 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 10 states (CO(1), FL(12), GA(1), IL(1), KS(1), MA(2), MN(1), NJ(1), NY(2), and PA(1)). Of the 22 people with information, 20 sick people reported living in or traveling to Florida in the month before they got sick.   Twenty-two people (96%) have been hospitalized. Five people got sick during their pregnancy, and one illness resulted in fetal loss. One death has been reported from Illinois. WGS showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples are closely related genetically. The WGS results mean that people in this outbreak likely got sick from the same food. @ https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/monocytogenes-06-22/details.html

The FDA reported that A&M Farms (Lyons, Georgia) recalled select whole Vidalia onions packed on a single packing line between June 20 – June 23, 2022, due to the potential of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled Vidalia Onions are sold in bulk in the produce section of retail stores. The recalled Little Bear onions were available for sale to consumers on June 23 and 24 at Wegmans stores in the Rochester area, Massachusetts, and at the Erie West and Erie Peach Street Wegmans stores in Pennsylvania. The onions were also available for sale June 22 – 24, 2022, at Publix stores in the state of Florida and Publix stores in Georgia in Barrow, Clarke, DeKalb, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson, Oconee, and Walton counties. No illnesses or adverse events have been reported. The company shipped the recalled product directly to retailer distribution centers in Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. The distribution centers further distributed the recalled product to retail stores in Florida, Georgia, New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. The recall comes after internal company testing detected Listeria on a single pack line. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/am-farms-initiates-recall-specific-little-bear-brand-whole-vidalia-onions-sold-pound-retail-because

Reuters reported that Barry Callebaut stopped production at its Wieze plant in Belgium, the world’s biggest chocolate factory, after discovering salmonella in a production lot, the Swiss chocolate maker said on Thursday. “Barry Callebaut informed the Belgian food authorities (FAVV) about the incident and has taken the precautionary measure to stop all chocolate production lines and to block all products manufactured since the testing time. The chocolate production in Wieze will remain suspended until further notice,” was reported on its website. Since lecithin is used in all chocolate production, the company has taken the precautionary measure to stop all production lines and block all products manufactured since the testing. At the same time, Barry Callebaut continues the root cause analysis and risk assessment. The company shares fell 2.6% by 1150 GMT. @ https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/barry-callebaut-halts-output-belgian-plant-after-salmonella-outbreak-2022-06-30/