In the news

On September 30, 2021, the CDC issued an update on the status of Salmonella Oranienburg. Since the last update, more ill people have been identified. As of September 29, 2021, 419 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Oranienburg have been reported from 35 states. The stated cases are Alabama (1), Arkansas (8), California (6), Connecticut (4), Florida (5), Georgia (2), Illinois (28), Indiana (1), Iowa (1), Kansas (9), Kentucky (9), Louisiana (4), Maryland (22), Massachusetts (10), Michigan (6), Minnesota (20), Mississippi (2), Missouri (5), Nebraska (6), New Jersey (5), New Mexico ( 8), New York (3), North Carolina (7), North Dakota(2), Ohio (5), Oklahoma (63), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (4), South Carolina (2), South Dakota (7), Tennessee (2), Texas (111), Utah (2), Virginia (38) and Wisconsin (10). Of 214 people with information available, 31% have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. The actual number of sick people in an outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. @ https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/oranienburg-09-21/details.html

Covic International Trading Inc (Richmond, British Columbia) recalled Jongilpoom branded Enoki Mushrooms from the Canadian marketplace due to suspected Listeria monocytogenes. The CFIA reported that the food recall warning issued on September 16, 2021, has been updated to include additional distribution information. The product involved in the recall Jongilpoom branded Enoki Mushrooms, sold in 200 gram vacuum-packs with a batch/lot of CE 158D and a UPC of 8 807076 000321. The product was sold in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. @ https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/inspection/2021/76543r-eng.php

Dehydration of plant-based foods at moderate temperatures (≤60 °C) represents a growing interest in minimal processing. An article published in Foods 2021, 10(9), 2162 describes the effect of moderate-temperature (≤60 °C) dehydration of plant-based foods on pathogen inactivation. A model was created to reduce E. coli O157:H7 as a function of product-matrix, aw, and temperature under isothermal conditions. Apple, kale, and tofu were adjusted to aw 0.90, 0.95, or 0.99 and inoculated with an E. coli O157:H7 cocktail, followed by isothermal treatment at 49, 54.5, or 60.0 °C. Minimal microbial reductions, and in the case of tofu, initial growth, were achieved under dynamic drying conditions at 60 °C, indicating that moderate temperature dehydration does not provide an effective thermal inactivation treatment. While the isothermal data suggested that significant E. coli O157:H7 inactivation could be achieved, the model is only appropriately applied when the temperature is between 49 and 60 °C and when the aw is ≥ 0.90. Under dynamic dehydration treatments at 60 °C, these two conditions were never achieved simultaneously. Given the minimal lethality, additional treatments such as an initial acid wash, equipment modification to enhance thermal distribution and penetration, or an increase in the processing temperature may be necessary if a 5 log CFU/g reduction is targeted. @ https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/10/9/2162/htm

The USDA/FSIS reported that Espi’s Sausage and Tocino Co (Seattle, WA) recalled approximately 2,048 pounds of frozen ready-to-eat chicken and pork hot dog products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes. The frozen ready-to-eat chicken and pork hot dog product in 12-oz vacuum-packed plastic packages was produced on May 19, 2021. These items were shipped to a distributor in California and further distributed to retail locations. FSIS discovered the problem during an assessment of the establishment’s sampling records that indicated the firm received confirmation from their third-party lab that a product contact surface had 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/espis-sausage-and-tocino-co.-recalls-ready-eat-chicken-and-pork-hot-dog-products-due