In the news

Mitzi Baum, the CEO of Stop Foodborne Illness, sent a letter to Dr. Rochelle Walenski, the Director of CDC, and Dr. Robert Califf, the FDA commissioner requesting that Cronobacter sakazakii be added to the Nationally Notifiable Disease List. As a result of the current outbreak of infant formula contaminated with the organism, at least five children were affected, with two dead. In the letter, she claims, “ The lack of inclusion of this devastating pathogen on the Nationally Notifiable Disease List only adds to the potential underreporting of illness … Lack of reporting also reduces the chances that FDA will become aware of incidents that need a swift response and corrective action to protect infants.” Dr. Baum demands that Cronobacter sakazakii get the same notification requirements as Listeria monocytogenes. @ https://stopfoodborneillness.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/STOP-cronobacter-letter-to-CDC-FDA.pdf

The Australian Food Safety reported that Southern Sky Cheese Company Pty Ltd is conducting a recall of Southern Sky Cheese Company Tasmanian Halloumi 180g. (Best Before: 02/July/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes. The product has been available for sale at the Harvest Launceston Community Farmers Market in TAS. @ https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/industry/foodrecalls/recalls/Pages/Southern-Sky-Cheese-Company-Tasmanian-Halloumi-180g.aspx

In 2020 a report of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis outbreak involving several strains with >400 reported human cases in the UK and other countries. The outbreaks promoted the generation of a survey to examine the presence and levels of Salmonella and E. coli in ready-to-cook frozen poultry products in England in 2020. An article published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology (Jørgensen et al. 2022, Levels and genotypes of Salmonella and levels of Escherichia coli in frozen ready-to-cook chicken and turkey products in England tested in 2020 related to the outbreak of S. Enteritidis, International Journal of Food Microbiology Volume 369, 16 May 202)investigated levels of Salmonella and E. coli in ready to cook chicken. From 483 samples, Salmonella was detected in 42 chicken samples; these originated from six out of 53 production plants recorded. Salmonella detection was associated with elevated levels of generic E. coli. The study reports the presence and levels of Salmonella and generic E. coli in a range of frozen chicken products (in particular comminuted and reformed) collected in England in 2020. S. Enteritidis was detected in 17 samples, S. Infantis in 25, S. Newport in four, and S. Java, S. Livingstone, and S. Senftenberg in one sample. The Salmonella contamination was homogeneously distributed amongst chicken pieces from a single pack and present in the outer coating and inner content. This study found that higher E. coli levels indicated a higher probability of Salmonella contamination in FR chicken products. @ https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0168160522000800?token=07DFC796E7741DEC0C7388796FACE3D16E7438A404EC711630F1C36E9A22C3C9B113E773EA5D00D7D1A511420F809EE6&originRegion=us-east-1&originCreation=20220324145105

The FDA reported that Top Quality Inc. recalls all cases of 200g/7.05oz package of Enoki Mushroom product of Taiwan sold during 3/1/22-3/16/22 due to discovering Listeria contamination of Enoki mushrooms.   This recalled item comes in a 200g/7.05oz with a clear and green plastic bag labeled “Taiwan Enoki Mushroom” in English and Chinese.  @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/top-quality-produce-inc-recalls-enoki-mushroom-because-possible-health-risk