In the news

According to the CFIA, Dole Canada Company (Markham, Ontario) recalled Dole and President’s Choice Salads and Salad Kits from the Canadian marketplace due to suspected Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The following Salads and Salad Kits are subject to this recall: Dole branded American Blend Salads packaged in 340 gram bags; Dole branded Asian Island Crunch Suprême Salad Kits packaged in 368 gram bags; Dole branded Chop Chop Kit Peppercorn Ranch Salads packaged in 257 gram bags; Dole branded Chop Chop Kit Teriyaki Pineapple Salads packaged in 276 gram bags; Dole branded Garden Salads packaged in 340 gram bags; Dole branded Greener Selection Salads packaged in 312 gram bags; Dole branded Southwest Salad Suprême Salad Kits packaged in 369 gram bags; Dole branded Very Veggie Salads packaged in 283 gram bags; President’s Choice branded Garden Salads packaged in 340 gram bags; President’s Choice branded Mixed Greens Salads packaged in 340 gram bags; President’s Choice branded Ranch Salad Kits packaged in 347 gram bags; President’s Choice branded Sesame Ginger Salad Kit Salads packaged in 369 gram bags; President’s Choice branded Southwest Salad Kits packaged in 369 gram bags. The recalled products have been sold nationally. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products. @ https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/certain-dole-and-president-s-choice-brand-salad-products-recalled-due-listeria?utm_source=r_listserv

Jan. 6, 2022 –The USDA/FSIS announced that Interstate Meat Dist. Inc (Clackamas, Oregon) recalled ~28,356 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The raw, ground beef items were produced on Dec. 20, 2021. The products were shipped to Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming retail locations. The issue was reported to FSIS after a retail package of ground beef was purchased and submitted to a third-party laboratory for microbiological analysis. The sample tested positive for E. coli O157:H7. @ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/interstate-meat-dist.-inc.-recalls-ground-beef-products-due-possible-e.-coli-o157h7

As of January 6, 2022, CDC declared that the multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in spinach is over. The outbreak has cases 10 states (CA (1), IA (1), IN (4), MI (1), MN (2), MO (1), NE (1), OH (1), PA (1) SD (2)), with 15 illnesses and 4 hospitalizations. The FDA traced the products to 3 farms in California and Oregon. Due to the end of the season in the locations, all samples collected were negative. Investigators reported that one location processes products and sometimes use products from multiple growers in one production run. This type of product co-mingling is not uncommon but presents challenges for traceback investigations of foodborne outbreaks. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-o157h7-spinach-november-2021?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

According to the CDC, as of January 6, 2022, 10 people were infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 in four states (AK (2), OH (1), OR (1), WA (6)). Consumer purchase data indicate that seven people purchased Nature’s Basket Power Greens or Simple Truth Organic Power Greens at grocery stores before becoming sick. These two salad blends consist of organic spinach, mizuna, kale, and chard; the same processor manufactured both brands. To date, no single production code has been identified by the traceback. Records collected indicate that leafy greens used in these products were sourced from Salinas and Imperial Valley, CA, and Yuma, AZ. All the indicated products are no longer on the market. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-o157h7-power-greens-packaged-salad-january-2022?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery