In the news

The FDA is advising consumers not to eat and restaurants and food retailers not to sell and dispose of oysters harvested between 11/17/2022 and 12/7/2022 from area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas, due to possible norovirus contamination. On December 8, 2022, the Texas Department of State Health Services issued a recall for all oysters harvested between 11/17/2022 and 12/7/2022. These oysters were sold in Alabama (AL), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Louisiana (LA), Mississippi (MS), North Carolina (NC), Tennessee (TN), and Texas (TX). @ https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-restaurants-retailers-and-consumers-avoid-potentially-contaminated-oysters-harvest-area?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The CORE list of outbreaks and adverse events as of December 14, 2022, is as follows. The FDA’s overall response regarding powdered infant formula continues, and the investigation of Cronobacter illnesses linked to powdered infant formula (reference #1056) has been marked as closed. The outbreak of Salmonella Litchfield linked to seafood (reference #1105) is over, and the FDA investigation has closed. The outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes linked to Brie and Camembert Cheese (reference #1106) is over, and the FDA investigation has closed. The case count for the outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium has increased from 270 to 274 cases. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigations-foodborne-illness-outbreaks?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The FDA, CDC, and state and local partners investigated a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Litchfield infections linked to fresh, raw salmon supplied to restaurants in California and Arizona by Mariscos Bahia, Inc. As of December 14, 2022, the CDC announced that the outbreak is over. CDC reports a total of 39 illnesses in four states. The last illness onset was October 23, 2022. The CDC reported that WGS of samples collected in Mariscos Bahia, Inc., Pico Rivera, CA facility yielded multiple positive environmental samples. Salmonella detected in at least one of the swabs from the facility matched the strain causing illnesses in this outbreak. The presence of Salmonella in the processing environment also indicated that additional types of fish processed in the same area of the facility could have been contaminated. On October 20, 2022, Mariscos Bahia, Inc., Pico Rivera, CA, initiated a voluntary recall. Recalled products included fresh, raw salmon and all other types of fresh fish processed in the same area as the salmon, including fresh, raw halibut, Chilean seabass, tuna, and swordfish. Recalled seafood was sold fresh and is now past shelf-life unless frozen after purchase. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-seafood-october-2022?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The FDA reported on another Enoki mushroom contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  Utopia Foods Inc of Glendale, NY, recalled its 200g packages of “Enoki Mushrooms,” imported from China and distributed nationwide in the US, due to the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled “Enoki Mushrooms” were distributed nationwide in produce wholesale companies. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem. The potential contamination was noted by a routine sampling conducted in the State of Missouri revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the 200g product. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/utopia-foods-recalls-enoki-mushrooms-because-possible-health-risk#:~:text=Utopia%20Foods%20Inc%20of%20Glendale,in%20young%20children%2C%20frail%20or