In the news

According to the CFIA, Taylor Fresh Foods (Salinas, California)  Inc. has recalled Taylor Farms branded Maple Bourbon Chopped Salad Kits from the Canadian marketplace due to suspected Salmonella contamination. The recalled kits are Taylor Farms branded Maple Bourbon Chopped Salad Kits, sold in 315 gram clear cello bags. The recalled products were distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. @ https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/taylor-farms-brand-maple-bourbon-chopped-kit-salad-recalled-due-salmonella?utm_source=r_listserv

The Public Health Agency of Canada issued a public health notice to inform residents and businesses in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba of an outbreak of Salmonella. The outbreak involves five provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. The illnesses reported in Ontario were related to travel to Alberta and British Columbia. The outbreak’s source has not been confirmed, and the investigation is ongoing. Many of the individuals who became sick reported eating fresh avocados purchased from grocery stores or served at restaurants before their illness. More information is needed to confirm the source of the outbreak. The outbreak appears to be ongoing, as illnesses continue to be reported. As of December 9, there have been 79 laboratory-confirmed cases of Salmonella Enteritidis illness investigated in British Columbia (34), Alberta (28), Saskatchewan (4), Manitoba (11), and Ontario (2). The illnesses reported in Ontario are related to travel to Alberta and British Columbia. Four individuals have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. @ https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/public-health-notices/2021/outbreak-salmonella-infections.html

The FDA published the Foodborne Outbreak Response Improvement Plan (FORIP). The plan describes an important step that the FDA is taking to enhance outbreak investigations’ speed, effectiveness, coordination, and communication. The plan is intended to complement two of the blueprint’s Core Elements: “Tech-Enabled Traceability” and “Smarter Tools and Approaches for Prevention and Outbreak Response.” The document examined the FDA’s roles and responsibilities, processes, priorities, decision trees, and procedures for foodborne outbreak response in three specific areas:  product tracing, root cause investigations, and the use of CORE data. The plan’s goal is to respond more quickly and more efficiently to foodborne outbreaks and reduce the number of foodborne outbreaks that go unsolved in the future. The FDA is committed to streamlining and expediting our outbreak response, leveraging digital data, using more sophisticated analytical methods, working hand-in-hand with our government, industry, and consumer partners to learn from past outbreaks, and communicating necessary information, in a timely and effective manner, to help prevent future outbreaks. @ 
https://www.fda.gov/food/new-era-smarter-food-safety/new-era-smarter-food-safety-fdas-foodborne-outbreak-response-improvement-plan?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The FDA announced on December 2 the release of a new version of the Agriculture water. Frank Yiannas,  FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response, told  Food Safety News  the proposed rule is a “game-changer.” However,  Food Safety News reported that Leafy greens growers (LGMA) in California and Arizona that produce more than 90 percent of the leafy greens grown in the United States already meet or exceed the new rules. @ https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2021/12/arizona-and-california-leafy-greens-organizations-say-they-already-meet-and-exceed-fdas-proposed-water-rule/?utm_source=Food+Safety+News&utm_campaign=676c13de63-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f46cc10150-676c13de63-40253059