In the news

The FDA reported that the natural grocery retailer of Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Markets, Inc. (Lakewood, Colorado) recalled Natural Grocers® Brand 1-pound Organic Amaranth Grain due to potential Salmonella contamination. This recall was initiated when the company was notified by its supplier of the potential presence of Salmonella in specific lots of Organic Amaranth.  The company has received no reports of illness or injury to date. The recalled product is packaged in clear plastic bags weighing 1-pound and bearing the “Natural Grocers” label. Only packages bearing the following pack dates are being recalled at this time: 22-102, 22-103, 22-130, and 22-194. The recalled product was distributed to Natural Grocers’ stores in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.  @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/natural-grocersr-issues-voluntary-recall-organic-amaranth-grain-due-potential-presence-salmonella

The FDA reported that Eat Just, Inc. (Alameda, CA) recalled select lots of JUST Egg Chopped Spring Greens products from retail stores in five states (AZ, CA, OK, LA, and TX) due to possible health risks from Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled lots tested negative for Listeria monocytogenes before leaving the manufacturing facility. However, another lot that shares ingredients with the recalled lots has tested positive. The lot that tested positive has not been released to the public. Out of caution, Eat Just is voluntarily recalling the three lots. No illnesses have been reported, with the products being recalled to date. A total of 21 recalled product packages have been sold to consumers. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/eat-just-inc-recalls-just-egg-chopped-spring-greens-because-possible-health-risk#:~:text=Company%20Announcement-,Eat%20Just%2C%20Inc.,health%20risk%20from%20Listeria%20monocytogenes

The FDA announced that its Import Divisions might detain, without physical examination, importations of enoki mushrooms from the Republic of Korea (ROK). This country-wide import alert, “Detention Without Physical Examination of Enoki Mushrooms from Korea (the Republic of) due to Listeria monocytogenes,” was issued to protect public health and help prevent the importation of enoki mushrooms that could be linked to human infections. In fiscal year 2021, FDA testing revealed that 43% of enoki mushrooms sampled from the ROK were contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Enoki outbreak accounted for 36 U.S. cases reported across 17 states, 12 cases in Canada, and six in Australia. The 36 U.S. cases yielded 31 hospitalizations and four deaths. From March 2020 through May 2022, sampling of enoki mushrooms from U.S. retail locations showed that L. monocytogenes was detected in multiple state samples, which led to 21 recalls of enoki mushrooms in the United States. Nine of the recalls were linked to enoki mushrooms grown in the ROK. After the 2020 outbreak, the FDA began implementing an Imported Specialty Mushroom Prevention Strategy. The FDA’s prevention strategies are affirmative, deliberate approaches undertaken by the agency to limit or prevent the recurrence of a root cause that led to an outbreak or adverse incident. @  https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-issues-country-wide-import-alert-enoki-mushrooms-republic-korea#:~:text=In%20fiscal%20year%202021%2C%20FDA,monocytogenes%20(L.%20monocytogenes)

An executive summary of the 2022 CPS Symposium (June 21–22 in La Jolla, CA) was published by the Center for Produce Safety (CPS). Relating to Cyclospora testing, it is essential to understand the limitations of the test. No single DNA-based testing method can currently discern C. cayetanensis from other genetically related parasites commonly found in growing environments. Confirming presumptive PCR-positive tests using multiple C. cayetanensis-specific mitochondrial or nuclear genetic sequences is essential. The importance of biofilm formation was emphasized. Rough, porous surfaces on equipment offer Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) and other microorganisms to create biofilms that permit them to survive cleaning and sanitation and even grow in the production environments. A new tool to permit better temperature control. Infrared cameras integrated into a cell phone permit reliable, non-contact, non-invasive, real-time measurement of core and surface product temperatures. New concepts include using blue LED to inhibit the growth of L. monocytogenes and using bacteriophage mixture to reduce the presence of L. monocytogenes on products. Other technologies include a mechanism that may make wash water sanitizers more effective in wash systems and the utilization of cold plasma for disinfecting wash water. @ https://www.centerforproducesafety.org/amass/documents/document/743/2022%20CPS%20Symposium%20-%20Executive%20Summary.pdf