In the news

A publication in Microbial Risk Analysis entitled “Classification and ranking of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) genotypes detected in food based on potential public health impact using clinical data( (Lindqvist et al. Vol 23, April 2023) describes a new approach for ranking and classifying STEC strains genotypes based on their probabilities to cause severe illness. Data on the probability of causing severe illness was the proportion of reported STEC cases with different clinical outcomes such as hemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), hospitalization, and bloody diarrhea (BD). The research created a list of STEC genotypes in descending order of potential public health burden per case. The researchers combined the estimated probability of the strain causing severe illness with the public health burden associated with sickness in terms of disability-adjusted life years. This is illustrated by arbitrarily separating the ranked list of genotypes into classes based on the potential public health burden and characterizing collections of strains isolated from different foods into different classes. The new approach addresses the limitation of not considering the severity of illnesses, improving transparency of risk management decisions, and is risk-based regarding the probability and consequences of severe illness. It is not risk-based in terms of the risk associated with the presence of a STEC genotype in the food since this would involve genotype specific risk assessments considering exposure which would involve more work and data that are not always available. @ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352352223000014

The USDA/FSIS issued a public alert for ready-to-eat (RTE) fresh salad products with chicken and ham that FDA regulated lettuce recalled due to possible Listeria monocytogenes. The fresh salads with chicken and ham were produced on various dates from March 10, 2023, through March 24, 2023. The following products are included (i) 5.5-oz. clear plastic packages containing “Fruit Ridge Farms White Chicken Caesar Salad” with sell by dates 03/10/23 through 04/14/23. (ii) 4.6-oz. clear plastic packages containing “Fruit Ridge Farms Chef Salad with Ham” with sell by dates 03/10/23 through 04/14/23. (iii) 5.5-oz. clear plastic packages containing “BELL’S BISTRO White Chicken Caesar Salad” with sell by dates 03/10/23 through 04/14/23. (iv) 4.6-oz. clear plastic packages containing “BELL’S BISTRO Chef Salad with Ham” with sell by dates 03/10/23 through 04/14/23. The products were shipped to retail locations in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. The problem was discovered when the firm notified FSIS that they used FDA-recalled lettuce to produce the fresh salad with chicken and ham products. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to the consumption of these products. @ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-fresh-salads-chicken-and-ham-containing-lettuce

The FDA reported that Fresh Express Incorporated recalled a limited quantity of three varieties of already-expired branded and private-label salad kit products produced at the company’s Morrow, Georgia facility due to a possible health risk from Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products are no longer available for sale, and no illnesses have been reported. The recall was initiated when a random sample test of a single salad kit with a Use-By Date of March 31, 2023, collected by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, yielded a positive result for the Listeria. The products were distributed through retailers in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Retailers have been instructed to ensure the recalled products are removed from all inventories. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/fresh-express-incorporated-announces-precautionary-recall-expired-fresh-salad-kits-due-potential#:~:text=Recalled%20salad%20items%20all%20carry,Carolina%2C%20South%20Carolina%20and%20Virginia

Revolution Farms, LLC (Caledonia, Michigan) expended the voluntary recall announced on April 5, 2023, to include all products sold under the Revolution Farms brand. All date codes are included in this recall. The products have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recall was initiated when the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development received a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes in a random sample test of a Revolution Farms Green Sweet Crisp 5 oz package. Retail with Best By date of April 2, 2023. The recall was expanded on April 6, 2023, when the product was epidemiologically linked with a multi-state outbreak of Listeriosis. The recalled products were sold to retailers and food service distributors in the states of MI, OH, IN, IL, KY, and WI. Retailers include SpartanNash stores, Meijer stores, Bridge St. Market, Kingma’s Market, Fresh Thyme Market Grand Rapids, Fresh Thyme Market Kalamazoo, Horrocks Market Grand Rapids, Doorganics, Cherry Capital Foods, Gordon Food Service, Sysco, Van Eerden Foodservice, Vine Line Produce, Luna restaurant, Russ’ Commissary, and Pearson Foods Corporation. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/revolution-farms-llc-announces-expanded-recall-lettuce-due-possible-health-risk?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery