In the news

Forbes reported that the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department reported five cases of listeriosis. These infections have been so severe that all five adults affected (two men and three women) have been hospitalized, and three have already died. Five cases of listeriosis are already about a fifth to half of what all of Washington State would expect to see throughout an entire year. The five cases are connected. Four of the five cases have been from Pierce County, and one from Thurston, the neighboring county. WGS has shown that the bacteria from the cases have similar genetic fingerprints. However, authorities have not yet identified the specific source of the outbreak. All those infected are older, in their 60s or 70s, and have weakened immune systems. @ https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2023/07/23/listeria-outbreak-has-left-5-hospitalized-3-dead-in-washington-state/?sh=26b4a65d5735

The FSA in the UK has recalled Potts’ Truffle Mayonnaise sold in Lidl and has warned people not to consume it due to Listeria monocytogenes. The FSA issues Product Withdrawal Information Notices and Product Recall Information Notices to inform consumers and local authorities about food-associated problems. All 230g jars of the Potts’ Truffle Mayonnaise with best before date of July 2024 from batch 18823 are being recalled. @ https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/alert/fsa-prin-21-2023

The CFIA reported that Delusional Sauce Co. (Hamilton, Ontario) recalled the Delusional Sauce branded Chili Garlic Confit Sauce from the Canadian marketplace due to suspected Clostridium botulinum contamination. The company sold the sauce in 240 mL bottles; the affected batch/lots: all units sold up to and including July 18, 2023. There have been no reports of illnesses associated with the consumption of the product.. @ https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/delusional-sauce-co-brand-chili-garlic-confit-recalled-due-potential-presence

CDC, state public health and regulatory officials, and the FDA are investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A linked to frozen organic strawberries imported from farms in Baja, California, Mexico, by a common supplier. Frozen organic strawberries may be sold to various retailers under multiple brand labels. Traceback and epidemiological investigations show that people with outbreak-associated cases purchased the same frozen organic strawberries retail brand before becoming ill. As of July 18, 2023, a total of 10 outbreak-associated cases of hepatitis A have been reported from 4 states (California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington). Of 10 people with available information, 4 (40%) have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. In response to this investigation, California Splendor, Inc. of San Diego, California, has recalled lots of 4-lb. bags of Kirkland Signature Frozen Organic Whole Strawberries that were sold at Costco stores in Los Angeles, California; Hawaii; and two San Diego, California business centers. In response to this investigation, Scenic Fruit Company of Gresham, Oregon, recalled frozen organic strawberries sold to Costco, Trader Joe’s, Aldi, KeHE, Vital Choice Seafood, and PCC Community Markets in certain states.  @ https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/outbreaks/2023/hav-contaminated-food/index.htm#:~:text=10%20outbreak%2Dassociated%20cases%20of,No%20deaths%20have%20been%20reported.