In the news

According to the CFIA, Bonvallis (Montreal, Quebec) brand Nevat (cheese) was recalled in the province of Quebec due to generic E. coli. The cheese was sold in 2.4 Kg. packages. @ https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/bonvallis-brand-nevat-cheese-recalled-due-generic-e-coli

On September 8, 2022, the FDA announced its continued commitment to enhancing the safety of leafy greens. As part of this effort, the FDA is announcing a targeted sampling of leafy greens grown on farms and ranches during the fall 2022 harvest season in the Salinas Valley region of California. One key of the LGAP is sampling efforts to detect and prevent contaminated products from reaching consumers. This will help leafy greens growers and processors identify practices or conditions that may present microbial risks so they can strengthen the microbiological safety of their operations. During the fall 2022 harvest season, the FDA plans to collect about 240 lettuce samples at farms/ranches in the Salinas Valley. In recent years, traceback investigations identified these farms/ranches as potentially associated with a foodborne illness outbreak in which lettuce or leafy greens were the likely or suspect food vehicle. All samples will be tested for Salmonella spp. and E. coli O157:H7, and sampling will begin in mid-September 2022 and run through October 2022. In 2021 the FDA detected a Salmonella enterica in one green leaf sample and STEC in two other samples. Over the next two months, multi-disciplinary food safety experts across the FDA will visit leafy greens producers in California to learn more about leafy greens operations. Recent outbreaks have raised concerns about the sanitary design of harvest equipment and how field production and processing practices may contribute to contamination.  @ https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-announces-targeted-sampling-additional-efforts-enhance-safety-leafy-greens

The FDA updated the CORE table. For the Salmonella Mississippi outbreak (ref# 1097) in unidentified product, the case count has increased by one to 100. For the Salmonella Senftenberg outbreak (ref# 1087) in unidentified food, the case count has increased from 22 to 27 cases. For the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak (ref# 1095) in unidentified food, the case count has increased from 73 to 78 cases. For the Cyclospora outbreak (ref# 1080) the case count has increased from 75 to 79 cases. For the Salmonella Braenderup outbreak (ref# 1075) the FDA investigation has closed. A product linked to illnesses was not identified. The investigation associated with Dry Cereal (ref # 1064) has ended and the FDA investigation has closed with no pathogen or cause of the self-reported illnesses identified, despite extensive testing for numerous potential microbial and chemical adulterants. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigations-foodborne-illness-outbreaks?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

USDA and FSIS reported that Magnolia Provision Company, Inc. (Knoxville, Tennessee) recalled approximately 497 pounds of beef jerky products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The products produced on August 25, 2022, include 2, 8, and 16 oz. packages of “BEEF JERKY EXPERIENCE CHOP HOUSE STYLE PRIME RIB FLAVORED BEEF JERKY.” These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide. The problem was discovered when the establishment reported to FSIS that it received confirmation from their third-party lab that a product contact surface sample returned positive for Listeria monocytogenes. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to the consumption of these products. @ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/magnolia-provision-company-inc–recalls-beef-jerky-products-due-possible-listeria