In the news

CORE update of December 20, 2023: the CORE list of outbreaks and adverse events includes five activity cases. With the outbreak of Salmonella Sundsvall and Oranienburg (ref #1203) linked to cantaloupe, the recall was expanded to include additional retailers and wholesalers who received the recalled melons. In the outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (ref #989) linked to peaches, plums, and nectarines, the advisory was updated to include the full list of retailers who received the recalled product. 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. In the outbreak of Salmonella Thompson (ref #1190) in onions, the investigation is complete, and the outbreak has ended. In the outbreak of E. coli O121 (ref #1195) in a not identified food, the investigation is complete, and the outbreak has ended. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigations-foodborne-illness-outbreaks?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Master Control reported that data shows that the FDA and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are up 115% since 2018. During that time frame, the FDA initiated over 1,000 food and drug recalls, and the CPSC initiated over 1,500 product recalls. Overall, the market is on track to hit 443 recalls across both agencies by the end of 2023, a significant jump from pre-pandemic levels. Child safety is the leading cause of recalls for the CSPC, with more than one in five recalls involving child and baby products — more than any other category. The most-recalled products by the FDA are food and beverages (64%), followed by drugs (22%), animal and veterinary products (6%), and medical devices (4%). Allergens are the most common reason for recalls by the FDA (34%), followed by Foodborne illnesses (25%), contamination and inadequate processing. Foods with undeclared or mislabeled allergens are recalled 1.6 times more often than products recalled for foodborne illnesses. FSMA might be a likely reason for the increase. @ https://www.mastercontrol.com/gxp-lifeline/rise-in-product-recalls-impact-on-quality-management/

The FDA updated on December 18, 2023, that its onsite inspection of the Austrofoods facility in Ecuador has ended. However, the FDA investigation of the elevated lead levels in recalled cinnamon applesauce pouches continues. During the inspection, investigators collected cinnamon samples that Negasmart supplied to Austrofoods. These samples have undergone analysis, and results show extremely high levels of lead contamination, 5110 parts per million (ppm) and 2270 ppm (2.5 ppm should be the limit). The high level of lead was found only in ground cinnamon. The FDA has limited authority over foreign ingredient suppliers who do not directly ship products to the US. Currently, there are 65 Total Compliant/Adverse Events in States with Compliant/Report: AL (1), AR (1), CA (1), CT (1), FL (1), GA (2), IA (1), IL (3), KY (3), LA (4), MA (3), MD (6), MI (3), MO (1), NC (5), NE (2), NH (1), NM (1), NY (8), OH (3), PA (1), SC (2), TN (1), TX(3), VA(2), WA (3), WI (1), Unknown (1). @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-elevated-lead-levels-cinnamon-applesauce-pouches-november-2023?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

On November 8, 2023, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) published a report in the EFSA Journal. Presenting the results of the zoonoses monitoring and surveillance activities carried out in 2022 in 27 Member States (MSs), the United  Kingdom  (Northern  Ireland), and  11  non-MSs. In 2022, the first and second most reported human zoonoses were campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis, respectively. The number of cases of campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis remained stable compared to 2021. Yersiniosis was humans’ third most reported zoonosis,  followed by  Shiga toxin-producing  Escherichia coli  (STEC)  and  Listeria monocytogenes infections. The number of deaths from outbreaks was the highest ever reported in the EU in the last 10 years, mainly caused by L. monocytogenes and, to a lesser degree, by Salmonella. Salmonella, particularly S. Enteritidis, remained the most frequently reported causative agent for foodborne outbreaks. Norovirus (and other calicivirus) was associated with the highest number of human outbreaks. @ https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8442