In the news

The FDA reported that restaurants and food retailers that received shipments of oysters harvested from NS 10 in Nova Scotia, Canada, on June 9, 2023, and were distributed by Bill and Stanley Oyster Co. of Nova Scotia, Canada, through U.S. distributors to 17 states and the District of Columbia (CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IN, MA, MD, MI, MN, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TX, and WI). On June 30, 2023, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported to CDC an outbreak of 9 cases of norovirus illness associated with consuming oysters from Nova Scotia. The oysters harvested from Nova Scotia were sold in Canada, and the U.S. FDA is working with federal, state, and local officials and Canadian public health authorities to investigate this outbreak, obtain additional information on the distribution of the oysters, and determine if additional illnesses have occurred. The FDA advises consumers not to eat, and restaurants and food retailers not to sell and dispose of raw oysters described above. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-restaurants-retailers-and-consumers-avoid-certain-fortune-brand-raw-oysters-nova-scotia?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Sustained Assimilation Protein Supplement in two flavors is being recalled (https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/ires/?Event=92590) because it may be contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus.  This recall is listed on the FDA Enforcement page, not on the regular recall page. Therefore, there is no mention of whether or not any illnesses have been reported in connection to this recall. The recalled product was sold in Missouri at the retail level, including 1st Pharm Level-1 Sustained Assimilation Protein Supplement in Chocolate Marshmallow flavor packaged in a 2.45-pound container. About 126 bottles of this product are included in this recall. Also recalled is the 1st Pharm Level-1 Sustained Assimilation dietary supplement in milk chocolate flavor, packaged in a 2.45-pound container. About 480 bottles of this variety are included in this recall. International Food Companies DBA International Food Products, Hazelwood, MO, is the recalling company. The recall was initiated on June 21, 2023, and is ongoing. @ https://foodpoisoningbulletin.com/2023/sustained-assimilation-protein-supplement-recalled-for-staph/

In collaboration with state and local partners, the FDA and CDC investigated an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis linked to Chocolate Chip Cookie and S’mores Bars dough sold at Papa Murphy’s franchises and purchased before May 23, 2023. The FDA and several state partners collected samples from both suppliers and state partners also collected retail samples at several Papa Murphy’s stores. All samples collected were reported as negative for Salmonella contamination. As of July 13, 2023, CDC announced that the outbreak is over. CDC reports a total of 26 illnesses in six states. The last illness onset was May 22, 2023. FDA’s investigation is complete. Papa Murphy’s notified franchise owners nationwide to stop selling all Chocolate Chip Cookie dough and S’mores Bars dough at all stores and stopped using unprepared dry cookie dough mixes from April 2023 to ensure any potentially contaminated ingredients are not used. As of July 13, 2023, Papa Murphy’s has not restarted cookie dough sales. The firm is reviewing its dessert menu items and labels to further enhance instructions to consumers to emphasize that their products are not intended to be eaten raw. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-raw-cookie-dough-may-2023?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

CORE update as of July 12, 2023, the CORE list of outbreaks and adverse events includes five active cases. In the outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 (ref #1166), the case count has increased from 11 to 12. In the outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1163), the case count has increased from 112 to 118 cases. In the outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1159), the case count has increased from 38 to 43 cases. This incident now includes additional illnesses based on similarities in reported exposures. The outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis (ref #1156) linked to raw cookie dough was closed by the FDA. The investigation linked to Morel mushrooms (ref #1152), the outbreak has ended, and FDA’s investigation is closed. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigations-foodborne-illness-outbreaks?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery