In the news

The Guardian reported that the Health Security Agency confirms that the E. coli O145 outbreak caused 30 cases across England and Scotland. A person has died in Scotland after getting ill with E coli, in what appears to be the first death linked to an outbreak. The Shiga toxin-producing E coli (STEC), which first emerged in July, is the cause of the outbreak. Most cases had occurred in December. The FSA announced a precautionary recall of four cheeses Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire Cheese made on Christmas Eve. A spokesperson for Public Health Scotland (PHS) said: “PHS can confirm there has been one death associated with E coli O145 in Scotland. @ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/29/e-coli-outbreak-uk-person-dies-scotland-say-health-officials#:~:text=The%20Food%20Standards%20Agency%20(FSA,recall%20list%20on%2027%20December.

The FDA reported that Nam & Son (Jessup, MD) recalled one-pound bags of soybean sprouts, with a sell-by date of December 14, 2023, because the product could potentially be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The products were distributed to retail stores in VA from December 6-7, 2023. The product was packaged in a 1lb plastic bag (retail), labeled under the Nam & Son of MD DBA Sam Sung S & M Food, and has a “Sell By” date of December 14, 2023. NO illness has been reported to date. The recall was initiated after a random sample was collected and analyzed by the state of Virginia, which confirmed the presence of Listeria Monocytogenes in the product. The company has actively started investigating the root cause of the problem. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/nam-son-md-recalls-soybean-sprouts-because-possible-health-risk#:~:text=1%20lb%20bags-,Company%20Announcement,be%20contaminated%20with%20Listeria%20monocytogenes

The CFIA reported that Springbank Cheese Co.( Woodstock, Ontario) and Le Grand Fromage (Fernie, British Columbia) recalled Gorgonzola Truffle Italian Cheese products from the Canadian marketplace due to suspected Listeria monocytogenes. Le Grand Fromage Gorgonzola Truffle Italian Cheese was sold in various packages at 672E 2nd Ave, Box 1614 Fernie, British Columbia, from December 12 to 24, 2023. Springbank Cheese Gorgonzola Truffle Cheese was sold in variable size packages at Springbank Cheese Co. 7422 Crowfoot Rd NW, Calgary Alberta, from December 4 to 24, 2023, inclusively from December 12 to 24, 2023. The recalled products were sold in Alberta and British Columbia. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.@https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/various-brands-gorgonzola-truffle-cheese-recalled-due-listeria-monocytogenes?utm_source=gc-notify&utm_medium=email&utm_content=en&utm_campaign=hc-sc-rsa-22-23

CORE update of December 28, 2023: the CORE list of outbreaks and adverse events includes five activity cases. This week’s only change to the table is for the investigation of elevated lead levels in Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches (ref # 1198). The advisory was updated to include additional adverse event reports and investigation updates. As of December 26, 2023, the FDA has received 82 confirmed complaints/reports of adverse events potentially linked to recalled products. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigations-foodborne-illness-outbreaks?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery