In the news

A study published in the Journal of Poultry Science by Louis Anthony Cox from the University of Colorado investigated how differences in slaughter line speeds cause differences in their microbial quality, specific frequencies of positive  Salmonella samples. Data was collected in 2018-2019 from 97 slaughter establishments processing young chickens. The study showed that the presence of Salmonella or other indicators of process control (such as non-compliance records for regulations associated with process control and food safety) is not significantly increased with higher line speeds (e.g., above 140 birds per minute) compared to establishments with lower line speeds.  A null hypothesis advanced over 30 years ago by the National Research Council, that increased line speeds result in a product that is not contaminated more often than before line speeds were increased, appears to be entirely consistent with these recent data. The analyses presented here indicate that today’s establishments running at higher line speeds do not increase Salmonella risk under the conditions present during this study. @ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579120307367

The ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ), in collaboration with the Charcuterie Charlevoisienne company, warn consumers not to consume “Ham, Dried Tomatoes and Basil” due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.  The product was available for sale at several locations across the province. It was packaged in clear plastic wrap with a black underside and was sold refrigerated. The label includes, in addition to the proper name of the product, the words “CHARCUTERIE CHARLEVOISIENNE.” To date, no illnesses were reported. @ https://www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca/fr/Consommation/rappelsaliments/2020/10/Pages/4212.aspx

The CDC reported that ten people were infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes in three states (Florida, Massachusetts, and New York). All 10 ill people were hospitalized. One death has been reported from Florida. Epidemiological data suggest that deli meat is a likely source of this outbreak. In interviews with 9 ill people, all reported eating Italian-style meats, such as salami, mortadella, and prosciutto. They reported purchasing prepackaged deli meats and meats sliced at deli counters at various locations. The specific type of meat has not been identified yet. WGS showed that bacteria isolated from ill people were closely related genetically. @ https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/delimeat-10-20/index.html

A Texas grand jury charged Paul Kruse, Blue Bell Creameries’ who served as the company’s CEO and president from 2004 to 2017, with wire fraud and conspiracy in connection with an alleged cover-up of the company’s 2015 Listeria outbreak, the Department of Justice announced. According to the indictment, Texas state officials notified Blue Bell in February 2015 that two ice cream products from the company’s Brenham, TX, factory tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Kruse allegedly directed employees to remove potentially contaminated products from store freezers without notifying retailers or consumers of the real reason. Kruse instructed employees to tell customers who asked about the removed items that there was an “unspecified issue with a manufacturing machine,” the indictment alleges. The ice cream was linked to 10 Listeria cases in four states and resulted in three deaths in Kansas.  In May, the company pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors for distributing adulterated food products and agreed to pay $19.3 million in fines for shipping contaminated ice cream during the 2015 Listeria outbreak. The company closed its facilities in April 2015 to clean and update the facilities and has taken significant steps to enhance sanitation processes @ https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/21/business/blue-bell-ice-cream-listeria-former-ceo-charges/index.html