In the news

The FDA reports that consumer complaints of gastrointestinal illness and abnormal liver function are currently attributable to eating Daily Harvest French Lentil & Leek Crumbles frozen product. On June 17, 2022, Daily Harvest voluntarily initiated a recall in response to consumer complaints submitted to the company. In response to Consumer Complaints submitted to the FDA, the FDA has initiated an investigation, including an inspection and sample collection to determine the cause of illnesses. As of July 14, 2022, the FDA has received 277 reports and Consumer Complaints related to this product. Product was sold through online sales and in two retail locations; the Daily Harvest store in Chicago, IL, and a “pop-up” store in Los Angeles, CA. FDA reports on 277 complaints with 96 hospitalizations in AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, MD, MA, MN, MI, MO, MT, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, and WI. The reason for the illnesses is still unknown. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-adverse-event-reports-french-lentil-leek-crumbles-june-2022?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Senator Durbin and congresswoman DeLauro introduced a bill that, if passed, would create a new independent federal agency focused on food safety. The bill would create a new Food Safety Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The new Food safety administration will be established to protect public health by ensuring food safety, preventing foodborne illness, maintaining safety reviews and reassessments of food additives, enforcing pesticide residue tolerances, and improving the surveillance of foodborne pathogens. The bill will remove food safety from the FDA, where it takes a backseat to drug safety. The legislators hope that creating a single food safety agency led by a Senate-approved food policy expert will more effectively ensure the safety of the U.S. food supply. @ https://www.qualityassurancemag.com/article/delauro-durbin-introduce-food-safety-administration-act/

The FDA update this week includes for Salmonella Braenderup outbreak the case count has increased from 59 to 63. The investigation is now closed for the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, although the source was not identified. A voluntary recall has been initiated for the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak, and an outbreak advisory has been issued. While not mentioned in the table, this case relates to the Big Olaf Creamery (Sarasota, FL). The company recalled all its ice creams and ceased producing and distributing its products on July 1, 2022. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigations-foodborne-illness-outbreaks?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The FDA reported that Big Olaf Creamery (Saratoga, FL) recalled all lots of big Olaf brand ice cream products because it could potentially be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The product was sold at Big Olaf retailers in Florida, to consumers in restaurants and senior homes, and one location in Fredericksburg, Ohio. The product was sold to consumers in plastic pint size containers, plastic ½ gallon containers, and plastic 2.5-gallon tubs, scoopable are sold to the independent retail stores. Based on epidemiological information from the CDC and State Officials, Big Olaf may be a potential source of illness in an ongoing Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. As of Friday, July 8th, 2022, the CDC reported that 23 people were infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes from 10 states. The company has ceased production and distribution of the ice cream product and is currently working with FDA by voluntarily recalling the product. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/big-olaf-creamery-recalls-ice-cream-because-possible-health-risk?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery