In the news

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is alerting consumers to avoid eating Ocean Mist Farms brand Romaine Hearts (Coeurs de laitue Romaine) with coding “22RHDM2L” and harvest date of “MAR 10,” grown in Coachella, CA. The MDA Laboratory found Cyclospora in the product during routine surveillance sampling. No illnesses associated with this product have been reported in Minnesota. The Ocean Mist Farms brand Romaine Hearts lettuce (22 oz. package) was sourced from Ocean Mist Farms of Castroville, CA. the Ocean Mist Farms brand Romaine Hearts lettuce (22 oz. package) was sourced from Ocean Mist Farms of Castroville, CA. The product was sold at the Super One Plaza in Duluth, Super One West in Duluth, and Super One in Two Harbors. The product was also sold throughout the Twin Cities Metro area. @ https://www.mda.state.mn.us/mda-issues-consumer-advisory-ocean-mist-brand-romaine-hearts

FDA and CDC issued updates on their investigation of Cronobacter in infant formula. Five environmental subsamples collected from the Sturgis, MI, facility were positive for Cronobacter sakazakii; four samples collected by the FDA and one by Abbott detected four. The positive Cronobacter sakazakii environmental samples at the Sturgis, MI, facility have been analyzed using WGS, revealing five different strains of Cronobacter sakazakii. The analysis performed by WGS did not find these samples from patients to be closely genetically related to the multiple strains of Cronobacter found in the environmental samples obtained from Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis, MI facility. Product samples collected by FDA at the facility were analyzed for Cronobacter by FDA and were found negative. In 2022 FDA inspected the facility and issued a 483 that included that the company did not establish a system that assured that infant formula does not become contaminated by microorganisms in the formula or the processing environment. They also did not assure that all surfaces that contacted infant formula were maintained clean.  @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/fda-investigation-cronobacter-infections-powdered-infant-formula-february-2022?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The French Health authorities (Sante Publique France) have established a link between a Nestlé frozen pizza and several severe E. coli bacteria contaminations cases. The outbreak caused a record number of infections since the end of February, with dozens of children who got ill and two have died. Analyses have confirmed a link between several cases of infection and the consumption of Fraîch’Up frozen pizzas from the Buitoni brand, which Nestlé owns. Buitoni has recalled Fraich’Up frozen pizzas from the market and advised consumers not to consume products purchased before March 18. Since the end of February, France has recorded many HUS infections due to Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). According to the French public health authority, 104 cases are being investigated, and children as young as one have been affected across 12 regions of France. The company closed two production lines on March 18 at its facility in Caudry, in the north of France, which produced between 100,000 and 150,000 pizzas per week. @ https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20220331-frozen-pizza-blamed-for-some-e-coli-infections-sweeping-through-france-children-nestle

The CFIA reports that Raw Oysters from Taylor Shellfish Canada ULC doing business as Fanny Bay Oysters. Batches of Fanny Bay Oysters, Royal Miyagi Oysters, and Sunseeker Oysters were recalled from the Canadian marketplace due to suspected Norovirus contamination. The recalled products have been sold in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories. This recall was triggered by findings by the CFIA during its investigation into a foodborne illness outbreak of oysters in British Columbia. There have been reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products. @ https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/certain-taylor-shellfish-canada-ulc-brand-oysters-recalled-due-norovirus