In the news

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced that Les Jardins Picoudi recalls Picoudi brand microgreens from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination.  The products were shipped to Quebec and New Brunswick.  Inspectors from the CFIA and personnel from the Quebec agriculture department (MAPAQ) trigger this recall and are investigating the situation in search of the source of the contamination. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this recall. The recalled products include Organic Broccoli Microgreens in 35-gram size with UPC number 8 13526 00001 6 and 75-gram packages with UPC number 8 13526 00011 5. Also recalled is Organic Arugula Microgreens in 35-gram packages with UPC number 8 13526 00006 1, and in 75-gram packages with UPC number 8 13526 00016 0. Finally, Organic Coriander Microgreens is recalled, sold in 35-gram packages with UPC number 8 13526 00005 4, and in 75-gram packages with UPC number 8 13526 00015 3.@ https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-recall-warnings-and-allergy-alerts/2020-08-28/eng/1598664773844/1598664780346

Dr. Stephen M. Hahn, Commissioner of Food and Drugs, wrote bout the agency initiative to leverage the use of artificial intelligence (AI) as part of the FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety. The ultimate goal is to see if AI can improve the FDA’s ability to quickly and efficiently identify products that may pose a threat to public health. The FDA launched a pilot program in the spring of 2019 to learn the added benefits of using AI, specifically machine learning (ML), in our import-screening processes. The FDA decided to test the new approach on imported seafood to assess the utility of using AI/ML to better target seafood at the border that may be unsafe.  The proof of concept resulted in exciting results, suggesting that this approach has real potential to be a tool that expedites the clearance of lower risk seafood shipments and identifies those that are higher risk. The proof of concept demonstrated that AI/ML could almost triple the likelihood of identifying a shipment containing products of public health concern. Technology Modernization Action Plan (TMAP) provides a foundation for the development of the FDA’s ongoing strategy. The pilot also allows learning how to utilize the knowledge needed from the vast volume of data. One of the primary goals of our pilot is to assess the ability of AI/ML to more quickly, efficiently, and comprehensively take advantage of all the data and information residing in our systems.  @ https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-voices/import-screening-pilot-unleashes-power-data-and-leverages-artificial-intelligence

Scientists at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland (Departments of Physics and Biological Sciences) have developed a method that could help to identify the source of food poisoning. They developed a minimal multilocus distance (MMD) method which rapidly deals with large data sets such as whole genome sequence (WGS) well as methods for optimally selecting loci.  The MMD method can be used to train the computer to identify likely sources of origin of a Campylobacter infection with high speed and accuracy. The methods are generic, easy to implement for WGS and proteomic data and have wide application.  It is wise to employ a number of methods on each dataset to decide which set of loci are optimal. The performance of different locus selection strategies can be tested relatively fast with the MMD method. @ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-68740-6?proof=t

The CDC reports that since August 19, 2020, 10 more ill people and three new states were added to the investigation of Salmonella in peaches. The additional states are Connecticut, Kentucky, and Missouri.

As of August 27, 2020, a total of 78 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis have been reported from 12 states. 23 hospitalizations have been reported. No deaths have been reported. Epidemiological data indicate that peaches are the likely source of this outbreak. In interviews with 45 people, 38 (84%) reported eating fresh peaches in the week before their illness started. On August 23, 2020, officials in Canada linked its outbreak to peaches imported from the United States. Whole-genome sequencing analysis shows that an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections in Canada is related genetically to this outbreak in the United States. The initial source of the contamination was peaches sold or supplied by Prima Wawona or Wawona Packing Company LLC. Companies that recalled peaches or food made with them include Aldi, Food Lion, Hannaford, Kroger (and affiliated retailers: City Market, Fry’s, Food 4 Less, Foods Co., Jay-C, King Soopers, Ralphs, and Smiths), Russ Davis Wholesale, Target, Walmart, and Wegman. Other retailers also may have sold these peaches. On August 25, 2020, Russ Davis Wholesale recalled peach salsa and gift baskets made with recalled Prima Wawona peaches. Recalled peach salsa was sold under three brand names and labeled as “Perfectly Peach Salsa.” @ https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/enteritidis-08-20/index.html