In the news

The FDA reported that Lidl US recalled ready-to-eat Tapas branded Cocktail Shrimp by Lidl, 7 oz., due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The product was distributed to all Lidl US store locations. Lidl US stores are in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. This voluntary recall includes all units of the ready-to-eat Tapas branded Cocktail Shrimp by Lidl, packaged in 7 oz. containers. The recall was issued due to routine testing, which revealed that the finished product contained Listeria monocytogenes. Lidl US has ceased producing and distributing the product as they continue their investigation in conjunction with the FDA to resolve the issue. Lidl US has received no reports or complaints of illness related to this product to date. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lidl-voluntarily-recalls-7-oz-tapas-branded-cocktail-shrimp-lidl-due-possible-health-risk

The FDA advises consumers not to eat, restaurants and food retailers not to sell, and to dispose of recalled wild harvest oysters from FL-3012, Cedar Key, Florida, harvested between December 16, 2022, and February 24, 2023, due to possible Salmonella contamination. These oysters were sold in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. The Florida Department of Health and the state health departments of Georgia and Alabama have detected a Salmonella outbreak associated with consuming raw oysters harvested from shellfish harvesting area FL-3012 in Cedar Key, Florida. To date, there have been 8 cases linked to this outbreak within Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. On February 24, 2023, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services issued an emergency closure order for wild harvest oysters from harvest area FL-3012 and initiated a recall of wild harvest oysters from harvest area FL-3012 in Cedar Key that were harvested from December 16, 2022, to February 24, 2023. On February 24, the State of Florida notified the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference of the closure and recall. Florida Department of Health posted an advisory bulletin on February 28. 2023. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-restaurants-retailers-and-consumers-avoid-recalled-wild-harvest-oysters-harvest-area-fl?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The CORE list of outbreaks and adverse events includes 3 entrees. A new outbreak of hepatitis A virus infections (ref # 1143) linked to a not yet identified product has been added to the table. FDA has initiated traceback. The FDA initiated an onsite inspection, sample collection, and analysis for the outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (ref # 1123). This investigation is ongoing. The outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium (ref # 1137) linked to alfalfa sprouts has ended, and the FDA investigation is closed. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigations-foodborne-illness-outbreaks?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Food Safety News published a piece with condemnation by leaders from a group of consumer and industry organizations that unanimously rejected FDA Commissioner Robert Califf’s plan of restructuring of FDA. While Califf’s plan includes creating that post, it continues to have three separate divisions reporting directly to the FDA commissioner, continuing the silo and matrix situation that the industry and consumer groups say endangers the public in terms of food safety. Some feel that Califf is choosing to go with the status quo. The plan does not create an empowered deputy commissioner of foods and fails to give that post the ability to take control of and responsibility for the food side of the agency. The job description for the deputy commissioner post will make it impossible to recruit anyone qualified for the job because it is an impotent job. The plan proposed lacks any urgency. 

Neither consumer groups nor industry representatives believe FDA plan will work