In the news

The CDC reported an outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul that sickened 16 people in 4 states (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York), and six were hospitalized. People who remembered the type of ground beef they ate and where they bought it reported eating 80% lean ground beef purchased from ShopRite locations before getting sick. Nine cases are in New Jersey, with five in New York and one in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Ground beef is the only common food people reported eating. Investigators are working to identify the source of the ground beef sick people ate. @ https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/saintpaul-07-23/index.html

The FDA reported that Cooperstown Cheese Company (Milford, NY) recalled 1,400 pounds of cheese purchased, sold, or distributed from June 21, 2023, to July 10, 2023, because it could potentially be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The product was distributed in New York State and reached customers through farmer’s markets, restaurants, and retail stores. The product may be repackaged and wrapped in cellophane or cheese paper or vacuum sealed in a retail store. The products are labeled Jersey Girl, Toma Celena, and Abbie. The product is wrapped in cheese paper or plastic at farmer’s markets. The products found at farmers’ markets are labeled as Jersey Girl, Toma Celena, SK, Jersey Gold, Marielle, Jersey Girl with garlic/rosemary, Jersey Girl spring onion, Bobby’s got the Blues, Toma Torino, Jersey Gold with garlic, and Abbie. The Listeria was found through routine environmental testing by the firm and during an FDA inspection. The company has ceased production as they and FDA continue to investigate the problem. No illnesses have been reported to date. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/cooperstown-cheese-company-recalls-products-because-possible-health-risk#:~:text=Cooperstown%20Cheese%20Company%20of%20Milford,in%20young%20children%2C%20frail%20or

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