In the news

According to the CFIA, Switzerland Cheese Marketing (Boucherville Quebec ) has recalled Fromage de Bellelay branded Tête de Moine Firm Ripened Cheese from the Canadian marketplace due to suspected Staphylococcus aureus contamination. Fromage de Bellelay Tête de Moine (Firm Ripened Cheese) is, packaged in ~0.440 kilogram portions. The recalled product has been sold in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.@ https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/fromage-bellelay-brand-tete-moine-firm-ripened-cheese-recalled-due-staphylococcus

FSMA’s final rule on Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods (LAAF) establishes a laboratory accreditation program for testing food. Under the LAAF program, FDA will recognize accreditation bodies (ABs) that will accredit laboratories to the standards established in the final rule. FDA will maintain an online public registry listing recognized accredited bodies and LAAF-accredited laboratories.  When there is sufficient LAAF-accredited laboratory capacity for the food testing covered by the final rule, the agency will publish a document that they will be required to use a LAAF-accredited laboratory for food testing. Once the LAAF program is fully implemented, only LAAF-accredited laboratories will be able to conduct food testing in certain circumstances that are defined in the final rule. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/fsma-final-rule-laboratory-accreditation-analyses-foods-laaf

The CDC announced that the multistate outbreak of Salmonella Thompson linked to seafood is over. FDA’s traceback investigation identified Northeast Seafood Products, Inc. as a common distributor among illness subclusters. Environmental samples were collected from Northeast Seafood Products, Inc. On 10/7/2021, there were reported positive for Salmonella Thompson and were determined to match the outbreak strain through whole genome sequencing. On 10/8/2021, Northeast Seafood Products, Inc. recalled Haddock, Monkfish, Bone-in Trout, Grouper, Red Snapper, Red Rock Cod, Ocean Perch, Pacific Cod, Halibut, Coho Salmon, Atlantic Salmon Portions, Lane Snapper, Tilapia, All Natural Salmon Fillet, Pacific Sole, and Farm-Raised Striped Bass. These products were sold to Colorado’s restaurants and Albertsons, Safeway, and Sprouts supermarkets. A total of 115 cases were reported in 15 states (AZ (1), CA (1), CO (93), CT (1), IA (1), MN (2), MO (1), NE (2), NJ (2), PA (1), TX (2), VA (3), WA (1), WI (2), WY (2)). Twenty people were hospitalized. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-thompson-seafood-october-2021?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The USDA/FSIS reported that Alexander & Hornung ( Clair Shores, Michigan, a business unit of Perdue Premium Meat Company, Inc.) recalled approximately 234,391 pounds of fully cooked ham and pepperoni products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The problem was discovered when the company notified FSIS that product sampling reported positive Listeria monocytogenes results. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to the consumption of these products. @ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/alexander-hornung-recalls-fully-cooked-pork-products-due-possible-listeria