In the news

August 1, 2022 – The USDA/ FSIS announced that it would declare Salmonella an adulterant in breaded and stuffed raw chicken products. By declaring Salmonella an adulterant in these products, FSIS will be able to ensure that highly contaminated products that could make people sick are not sold to consumers. Since 1998, breaded and stuffed raw chicken products have been associated with up to 14 outbreaks and approximately 200 illnesses. The products appear cooked, but they are heat-treated only to set the batter or breading, and the product contains raw poultry. Breaded and stuffed raw chicken products will be considered adulterated when they exceed a very low level of Salmonella contamination and would be subject to regulatory action. FSIS will propose setting the limit at 1 colony forming unit (CFU) of Salmonella per gram for these products, a level the agency believes will significantly reduce the risk of illness from consuming these products. The notice is expected to publish in the Federal Register in the fall, and FSIS will seek public comments addressing the standard. The action is part of FSIS’ broader efforts to reduce Salmonella illnesses associated with poultry. @ https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2022/08/01/usda-announces-action-declare-salmonella-adulterant-breaded-stuffed#:~:text=WASHINGTON%2C%20August%201%2C%202022%20%E2%80%93,said%20Agriculture%20Secretary%20Tom%20Vilsack

On July 28, 2022, The FDA reported that Lyons Magnus LLC(Fresno, CA) recalled nutritional and beverage products due to the potential for microbial contamination, including from the organism Cronobacter sakazakii. No illnesses or complaints related to these products have been reported. Preliminary root cause analysis shows that the products did not meet commercial sterility specifications. The products are packed in various formats under many different brand names. The 53 products were distributed nationally, while some products were limited in scope. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lyons-magnus-voluntarily-recalls-53-nutritional-and-beverage-products-due-potential-microbial

The USDA/FSIS announced that Rachael’s Food Corporation (Chicopee, MA) recalled ~2,246 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry wrap products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes. The ready-to-eat meat and poultry wraps were produced from July 15, 2022, through July 20, 2022. They include 7.5-oz. sealed plastic container packages containing “ATLANTIS FRESH MARKET Italian Style Wrap,” “RACHAEL’S FOOD CORPORATION Italian Style Wrap, “ATLANTIS FRESH MARKET Turkey Club Wrap,” “RACHAEL’S FOOD CORPORATION Turkey Club Wrap,” “ATLANTIS FRESH MARKET Buffalo Style Chicken Wrap,” “RACHAEL’S FOOD CORPORATION Buffalo Style Chicken Wrap” and 8-oz. sealed plastic container packages containing “ATLANTIS FRESH MARKET Chicken Caesar Wrap,” “RACHAEL’S FOOD CORPORATION Chicken Caesar Wrap,” and “ALL TOWN CHICKEN CAESAR WRAP.” The items were shipped to Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York retail locations. FSIS discovered the problem during follow-up procedures after a routine FSIS product sample confirmed positive for  Listeria monocytogenes. There were no reports of illnesses related to these products. @ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/rachaels-food-corporation-recalls-ready-eat-meat-and-poultry-wrap-products-due

In its report “COVID-19: US impact on antimicrobial resistance, special report 2022,” concluded that the threat of antimicrobial-resistant infections is not only still present but has gotten worse. During the first year of the pandemic, more than 29,400 people died from antimicrobial-resistant infections commonly associated with healthcare. Of these, nearly 40% of the people got the infection while they were in the hospital. CDC’s 2019 estimates show the US burden of antimicrobial resistance was at least 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occurred in the US each year, and more than 35,000 people died as a result. In the 2019 AR Threats Report, the CDC reported that nationwide investments in prevention drove down deaths from antimicrobial-resistant infections by 18% from 2012 through 2017. CDC data show these reductions continued until 2020. But the pandemic resulted in more resistant infections, increased antibiotic use, and less data and prevention actions. This setback can and must be temporary. If adequately resourced, the US can continue building resilient public health and healthcare systems to protect our nation from antimicrobial resistance. @ https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/covid19.html?ACSTrackingID=USCDC_485-DM85044&ACSTrackingLabel=Food%20Safety%20Updates%20From%20CDC&deliveryName=USCDC_485-DM85044