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Marler Clark reported that until 18 May 2022, there were 324 cases reported in the EU/EEA (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden) and the UK, including two distinct strains of monophasic S. Typhimurium. In addition, cases have been identified in Canada, Switzerland, and the United States.

Most infections (86.3%) are among children at or younger than 10 years old, and for all cases in the EU/EEA and the UK, with information available, 41.3% of them have been hospitalized. No deaths were reported. Epidemiological and microbiological investigations have identified specific chocolate products manufactured in the processing Plant in Arlon, Belgium, as likely vehicles of infection. At the beginning of April 2022, scientists linked human cases to the Belgian chocolate factory upon sequencing data availability. Following the detection of Salmonella in buttermilk, semi-finished and finished products, the company implemented hygiene control measures and increased sampling and testing of the products and the processing environment.  @ https://www.marlerblog.com/case-news/final-report-on-kinder-chocolate-outbreak-324-sick-in-austria-belgium-denmark-france-germany-ireland-italy-luxembourg-netherlands-norway-spain-sweden-united-kingdom-canada-switzerland/

The FDA reported that Irvington Seafood of Irvington (AL) recalled its 1 lb. packages of “Crabmeat: Jumbo, Lump, Finger, and Claw meat” because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled, “Crabmeat: Jumbo, Lump, Finger, and Claw meat” were distributed to distributors located in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem. The potential for contamination was noted on 05/27/22 after FDA tested on 05/09/22. The FDA revealed Listeria monocytogenes on cooking equipment and the cooking room. No crabmeat has been tested, but the product may have potentially been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes due to cross-contamination. The production of the product has been suspended while FDA and the company continue to investigate the source of the problem. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/irvington-seafood-recalls-crabmeat-jumbo-lump-finger-and-claw-meat-because-possible-health-risk

Urban Remedy recalled Urban Remedy Organic Revitalizing Tea Tonic Strawberry Hibiscus Rose (LOT 1232 BEST BY 7/17/2022) because it has the potential to be contaminated with Hepatitis A.  Urban Remedy contracts Youngstown Grape Distributors Inc. to co-manufacture this product. The product may contain fresh organic strawberries linked to the FDA outbreak investigation of FreshKampo organic strawberries. The product was sold in a 12oz resealable plastic bottle at various retail stores in CA, NM, VA, CO, WA, OR, CO, NY, PA, AZ, IL, OH, MD, WI, TX, WY, MO, ME, KY, MI, NC, MA, NE, and UT between 5/17/2022 – 5/29/2022. No illnesses have been reported consuming Urban Remedy products to date. @ https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/urban-remedy-recalls-urban-remedy-organic-revitalizing-tea-tonic—strawberry-hibiscus-rose-due-to-possible-hepatitis-a-contamination-301561374.html

A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Health Research compared routine inspection results of outbreak and non-outbreak establishments in restaurants and institutional catering to investigate inspection results associated with foodborne outbreaks. The study showed differences in routine inspection results between outbreak and control establishments, mainly institutional catering. Significant associations between poorer inspection results and foodborne outbreaks were seen in institutional catering in items concerning general order and cleanliness of facilities, surfaces, and equipment. @ https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09603123.2022.2041563?af=R&