In the news

The FDA, CDC, and local partners are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Litchfield outbreak linked to fresh, raw salmon supplied to restaurants in California and Arizona by Mariscos Bahia, Inc. Based on epidemiologic information provided by the CDC and interviews conducted by state and local public health officials, of 16 people interviewed, 12 reported eating sushi, sashimi, or poke. Of those interviewed, 11 people remembered details about the type of fish consumed, and nine reported eating raw salmon before getting sick. The FDA’s investigation traced the distribution of fresh, raw salmon back to Mariscos Bahia, Inc. In addition, the FDA collected an environmental sample that included multiple swabs at Mariscos Bahia, Inc. (Pico Rivera, CA). Multiple environmental swabs collected at the facility are positive for Salmonella. The WGS completed to date indicates the Salmonella detected in at least one of the swabs from the facility matches the outbreak strain. Epidemiological evidence indicates that ill people consumed fresh, raw salmon processed at the facility. Additional types of fish processed in the same area of the facility could also be contaminated. The firm initiated a voluntary recall on October 20, 2022. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-seafood-october-2022?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The Public Health Agency of Sweden reported that as of October 20, 2022, 84 people were sickened between September 17 and October 6. It has been confirmed that they belong to the outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium. The outbreak cases are found in 20 of the country’s 21 regions, are aged 4-87 years, and the majority (52 people) are women. The number of suspected and confirmed cases has decreased rapidly in recent days, indicating that the outbreak is ending. The decrease, and the rapid start of the outbreak, in combination with the wide geographic distribution of outbreak cases, The work to identify a more specific source continues in collaboration between regional infection control units, the Swedish Food Agency, and the Public Health Agency. @ https://www.folkhalsomyndigheten.se/smittskydd-beredskap/utbrott/aktuella-utbrott/salmonella-sverige-september-2022/

A study published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology summarizes the surveillance of Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-to-eat (RTE) foods such as salads, deli meats, soft/semi-soft cheese, seafood) and frozen vegetables. In the last 30 years, the study estimated the prevalence of 1.4–9.9 % worldwide (WD) and 0.5–3.8 % in the United States (US). Current L. monocytogenes control efforts have led to a prevalence reduction in the last 5 years of 4.9–62.9 % (WD) and 12.4–92.7 % (US). Most cases were attributed to deli meats (>90 % of cases), followed by RTE salads (3.9–4.5 %), soft and semi-soft cheese, and RTE seafood (0.5–1.0 %) and frozen vegetables (0.2–0.3 %). Cases attributed to the increased risk population corresponded to 96.6–98.0 % of the total cases, with the highly susceptible population responsible for 46.9–80.1 % of the cases. Removing product lots with a concentration > 1 CFU/g reduced the prevalence of contamination by 15.7–88.3 % and the number of cases by 55.9–100 %. @ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168160522004044?via=ihub#

Costco reported that its records indicate that Kirkland Signature Pine Nut Hummus produced between September 21, 2022 – October 18, 2022, is recalled due to mold issues. The mold issue was identified on the pine nut topping on one code date on this item. @ https://finance.yahoo.com/news/costco-recalling-kirkland-product-due-174803301.html