In the news

Dr. Amos Danielli and his laboratory technicians at the Faculty of Engineering at Bar-Ilan University developed a game-changer approach to testing Covid-19 using PCR. Danielli and his team added additional materials to the traditional assay, which gives the molecules in the solution a magnetic charge as well. An electromagnet is affixed to the PCR machine so that in real-time, the genetic information is collected and drawn closer to the sensors. Therefore, the identification of Covid-19 in a sample can be much quicker and test a greater amount of genetic information much earlier in the testing process. The assay look at how much light is emitted in the solution, and the amount of light increases at every PCR step, or as the machine’s sensor doubles the amount of genetic information. The technology is cutting down from 1-1 ½ hour to just 15 minutes. During the study, 274 samples were taken, 140 of which yielded negative-Covid-19 results, while 134 cases were found to be infected with the virus. In 100% of the cases, the new test (MagBiosense) test results were identical to that of the standard PCR tests, with a typical test-taking around 30 minutes. @ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3884554,00.html

The FDA announced on its website that B&I Overseas Trading Inc from Van Nuys, CA recalled frozen “Veladis herring in oil with Italian spices” due to the potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Approximately 400 units were sold in November and December of 2020 at select International retail stores in Washington. The product comes in a 17.64 ounce (500 gram) plastic package and is stamped on the top portion of the container with an expiration date of 08/08/2021. 

The company has removed the affected lots from distribution.  @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/bi-overseas-trading-recalls-product-due-potential-contamination-listeria-monocytogenes

The Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC) is a tri-agency group created by the CDC, the FDA, and the USDA-FSIS. IFSAC developed a method to estimate the percentages of foodborne illness attributed to specific sources using outbreak data from 1998 through the most recent year for four priority pathogens: Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter. Each year in the US, an estimated 9 million people get sick, 56,000 are hospitalized, and 1,300 dies of foodborne disease caused by food pathogens. More than 75% of Salmonella illnesses were attributed to seven food categories: Chicken, Seeded Vegetables (such as tomatoes), Pork, Fruits, Other Produce (such as nuts), Eggs, and Turkey. Over 75% of E. coli O157 illnesses were linked to Vegetable Row Crops (such as leafy greens) and Beef. More than 75% of Listeria monocytogenes illnesses were attributed to Dairy products and Fruits. Over 75% of non-Dairy Campylobacter illnesses were linked to Chicken. @ https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/ifsac/annual-reports.html

The FDA, CDC, and states completed the investigation of  20 state (AZ (2), CA (6), IL (2), IN (1), KS (4), MI (3), MN (2), MO (3), ND (4), OH (1), OR (1), PA (2), TN (2), TX (1), UT (1), VA (1), WA (1), WI (2), and WY (1)) outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in the fall of 2020. The investigation identified multiple types of leafy greens as a potential cause of the outbreak that had 40 cases of illnesses, 20 hospitalizations (with 4 cases of HUS). No deaths were reported. No single ranch was identified as a common source of the leafy greens. FDA and state partners conducted inspections on farms of interest and collected environmental samples. FDA is analyzing the samples and continuing their investigations to identify the root cause of this outbreak. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-leafy-greens-december-2020?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery