In the news

The CFIA reported that Post Foods Canada (Niagara Falls, Ontario) had recalled Post Spoon Sized Shredded Wheat Original branded cereal due to suspected spoilage and possible bacterial and/or viral infection. The recalled product has been sold in 525 gram cardboard boxes in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan and online. @ https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/post-spoon-sized-shredded-wheat-original-brand-cereal-recalled-due-possible-spoilage

In a publication (Rodwell et al., 2023 The epidemiology of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O26:H11 (clonal complex 29) in England, 2014–2021. Journal of Infection, vol 86, issue 6, June 2023, 552-562) it is shown that in England, the number of cases of Escherichia coli (STEC) serotype O26:H11 belonging to clonal complex 29 (CC29) has increased over the last 10 years, with the number of notifications in 2021 being eight times that recorded in 2013. This increase is attributed to the increasing number of local hospital laboratories in England that have adopted a PCR approach to GI diagnostics, facilitating their capacity to detect non-O157 STEC serotypes, including STEC O26:H11. However, the PCR implementation attribute to only part of the increase. There has been a year-on-year increase in the notification of cases of STEC O26:H11 in England, except for 2020, when COVID restrictions most likely impacted numbers. @ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0163445323002062?

CORE update as of May 24, 2023, the CORE list of outbreaks and adverse events includes six active cases, and two cases were added. For the investigation of illnesses with the suspected vehicle of Morel mushrooms (ref # 1152) that was added last week, the FDA issued an advisory on 5/19/2023. The two additions to the table are: (i) an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis (ref # 1156) linked to raw cookie dough was added to the table on 5/23/2023. The FDA issued an Outbreak advisory, traceback, an onsite inspection, and sample collection and analysis have been initiated. (ii) an outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref # 1155) in a not yet identified product was added. Traceback has been initiated. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigations-foodborne-illness-outbreaks?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The CFIA reported that Fresh Direct Produce had recalled Simply Hot Thai green peppers from the Canadian market place due to possible Salmonella contamination. The product has been sold in Alberta, Saskatchewan and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories. No illnesses were reported due to this product. @ https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/simply-hot-brand-thai-green-peppers-recalled-due-salmonella?utm_source=gc-notify&utm_medium=email&utm_content=en&utm_campaign=hc-sc-rsa-22-23