In the news

After Pizzas Buitoni was contaminated with E. coli, Nestlé France defended the cleaning process in its Caudry factory. Nestlé France said that the time spent cleaning production lines at the Buitoni factory in Caudry (Nord), at the heart of a health scandal, had not changed since “the internalization of cleaning” in 2015, reacting to employee statements released by France Inter. A group spokesperson said that “At the end of each production cycle, the lines are completely stopped and cleaned according to a strict process lasting 4 hours and 45 minutes, including a cleaning phase, then disinfection and finally a rinsing with water, the effectiveness of which is controlled by systematic microbiological sampling in different strategic areas of the site.” @ https://gettotext.com/pizzas-buitoni-nestle-france-defends-the-cleaning-process-in-its-caudry-factory/

The USDA/FSIS issued a public health alert due to concerns that ground beef products in HelloFresh meal kits may be associated with Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 illness. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available. The meat kit contains ground beef packaged in 10-oz. vacuum-packed plastic packages containing “GROUND BEEF 85% LEAN/15% FAT”. Traceback identified that multiple case patients received ground beef produced at establishment M46841 and distributed by HelloFresh in meal kits from July 2-21, 2022.@ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-specific-ground-beef-hellofresh-meal-kits-due

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) reported that each spring and summer, Canada sees an increase in non-travel-related Cyclospora illnesses. PHAC  is working with its public health and food safety partners to identify possible ways infections occur in Canada. Previous Cyclospora illnesses have been linked to various types of imported fresh produce, including pre-packaged salad mix, basil, cilantro, berries, lettuce, and snow and snap peas. Currently, there are 310 cases, mainly in Ontario (252). Quebec has 51 cases, British Columbia, Newfoundland, and Labrador 3 cases each, and one in Alberta. There have been 13 hospitalizations and no death. 

According to the CFIA, Gordon Food Service (Milton, Ontario) recalled Lamb’s Supreme branded Shredded Individual Quick Frozen (“IQF”) Hash Browns from the Canadian marketplace due to suspected Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The Lamb’s Supreme Shredded IQF Hash Browns sold in 18-pound (6/3 pound) bulk containers. The recalled product has been sold in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. This is an update of the recall from August 30,2022. @ https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/lamb-s-supreme-brand-shredded-iqf-hash-browns-recalled-due-listeria-monocytogenes-0