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Pillsbury’s announced that they would produce cookie dough that can be eaten raw or cooked. To achieve cookie dough free of pathogens, they use heat-treated flour and pasteurized eggs, creating a unique product that can be eaten straight from the package. Raw cookie dough caused several E. coli outbreaks. In recent years (2016 and 2019), two outbreaks of E. coli infections linked to raw flour made more than 80 people sick. In July of 2019, there was an outbreak E. coli O26 linked to ADM Milling Co. flour that resulted in many product recalls including cookie dough. Raw eggs are another ingredient in uncooked batter and dough that can make people sick because they can contain pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella. The new process established remove these dangers and make the product safe to eat raw. @ https://www.generalmills.com/en/News/NewsReleases/Library/2020/July/Pillsbury-brings-childhood-dreams-to-life

Reuters reports that Tönnies, the meat processor that temporarily shut down operations in June after more than 1,500 plant employees were confirmed to have COVID-19 infections had 31 additional cases weeks after reopening the facility, authorities said on Friday. The Tönnies, the meat processor outbreak, in turn, led to about 600,000 people in the surrounding Guetersloh region being put back in lockdown, which has since been lifted. The original outbreak prompted Tönnies to launch a new health and safety plans at the pork plant, including testing all workers twice per week for exposure to coronavirus. The plant reopened last week after a new health and safety plan was introduced, including testing all workers twice a week for coronavirus. Since then, 7,300 tests have been undertaken with 31 people showing positive, said a statement from the local government authority in Guetersloh. But only three were regarded as new infections and have been quarantined. Germany has had more than 200,000 cases and over 9,000 deaths in total. @ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany-meat/more-german-abattoir-workers-test-positive-for-coronavirus-idUSKCN24P1QL

The public Health Agency of Canada has notified the public that as of July 24, 2020, there have been 59 confirmed cases of Salmonella Newport illness linked to an outbreak in the following provinces: British Columbia (23), Alberta (31), Manitoba (3), Ontario (1), and Prince Edward Island (1). Individuals became sick between mid-June and mid-July 2020. Out of 28 people, for whom information is available, six individuals have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. In the US, the CDC is also investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Newport illnesses that have a similar genetic fingerprint to illnesses reported in this outbreak. Investigators in Canada and the US are collaborating to exchange information to identify the source of the outbreak. @ https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/public-health-notices/2020/outbreak-salmonella-infections-under-investigation.html

As of July 22, 2020, a total of 641 people with laboratory-confirmed Cyclospora infections associated and who reported eating bagged salad mix before getting sick have been reported from 11 states: Georgia (1), Illinois (198), Iowa (195), Kansas (5), Minnesota (73), Missouri (57) Nebraska (55), North Dakota (6), Pennsylvania (2), South Dakota (13) and Wisconsin (36). The ill person from Georgia purchased and ate a bagged salad product while traveling in Missouri. 37 people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. The infection is linked to salad products that were made by Fresh Express containing iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, and carrots. The products were produced by Fresh Express for retail store brands sold at ALDI, Giant Eagle, Hy-Vee, Jewel-Osco, ShopRite, and Walmart. @ https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/cyclosporiasis/outbreaks/2020/