In the news

IEH Laboratories & Consulting Group together with The WhiteWave Foods Company and ConAgra Foods, Inc. conducted a baseline study to create a baseline of the prevalence and levels of pathogens in wheat samples taken before milling. A total of 5,176 wheat samples were tested for enterohemorrhagic Escherichia, coli (EHEC), Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., and L. monocytogenes. 3,891 samples were tested for E. coli and Salmonella, and 1,285 were tested for Listeria. Salmonella was detected in 1.23% of the samples (average count of 0.110 cfu/g), EHECs occurred in 0.44% of the samples (0.039 cfu/g), and Listeria spp. occurred in 0.08% of samples (0.020 cfu/g), but L. monocytogenes was not detected. The data shows that contamination is coming from many sources, and raw flour is likely to be contaminated with pathogens. Therefore, it is best to cook wheat products as a measure against pathogens. @ https://jfoodprotection.org/doi/abs/10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-18-345

Dungeness Valley Creamery of Sequim, Washington recalled their raw whole milk, raw skim milk, and raw cream, due to potential contaminated with E. coli bacteria. The same products (from the same facility) were recalled in April 2019 for E. coli. No illnesses have been reported. Washington State Department of Agriculture found the toxin-producing E. coli bacteria in retail raw whole milk during routine sampling. The raw whole milk, raw skim milk, and raw cream were labeled with best by dates of 6/05 to 6/14. The dairy products were sold to customers, including retail stores, in western Washington State. It’s legal to sell and buy raw milk in Washington state, but “the potential health risks are serious,” @ https://foodpoisoningbulletin.com/2019/dungeness-valley-creamery-recalls-raw-milk-e-coli/

The FDA alerted consumers to a hepatitis A virus (HAV) contamination of frozen blackberries sold under the Kroger grocery store “Private Selection” brand. The contamination was discovered by the FDA as a part of an ongoing frozen berry sampling assignment. The berries were sold nationwide under the grocery store’s “private selection” brand. The FDA is advising consumers not to eat and to throw away frozen fruit purchased the Kroger’s “Private Selection” brand. The products have a two-year shelf life. At this time, the FDA and the CDC are not aware of any cases of hepatitis A linked to the consumption of Kroger’s frozen blackberries. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/public-health-alert-concerning-hepatitis-virus-contamination-kroger-brand-frozen-blackberries?utm_campaign=Kroger%20Brand%20Frozen%20Blackberries%206_7_2019%20Email&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

The Québec Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS)is investigating two clusters of outbreak related to raspberries from Chile. MSSS has confirmed 95 cases of viral outbreaks (probably Norovirus) associated with raspberry cake. The first cluster comprised 65 people, with an attack rate of 62%. The second cluster consisted of 30 individuals with an attack rate of 60%. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is investigating due to possible Norovirus in Individual Quick Frozen raspberry. @ https://efoodalert.wordpress.com/2019/06/06/two-viral-gastroenteritis-outbreaks-in-quebec-linked-to-chilean-iqf-raspberries/