In the news

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced the recall of Thornloe White Cheese Curds due to generic E. coli. The presence of E. coli contamination can result in risks of Gram-negative bacterial infection. The Ontario establishment recalled certain lots of Cheddar White Cheese Curds, Dill White Cheese Curds, Caramelized Onion White Cheese Curds, and Herb & Garlic White Cheese Curds. @ https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/inspection/2020/74377r-eng.php

The FDA announced the launch of a multi-year study to improve food safety through an enhanced understanding of human pathogens’ ecology in the environment that may cause foodborne illness outbreaks. Partners to this initiative include the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the University of California, Davis, Western Center for Food Safety (WCFS), and agricultural stakeholders in the Central Coast of California. The study follows a series of outbreaks in California due to E. coli in leafy green. To prevent future infections, there is a need to address knowledge gaps. The multi-year study will examine how pathogens survive and move through the environment and contaminate produce through water quality and food safety.  This study’s findings will contribute new knowledge on how various environmental factors may influence bacterial persistence and distribution in this region and how those factors may impact the risk of leafy greens becoming contaminated. This collaboration will lead to improved practices to prevent or mitigate food safety risks and ultimately enhance the safety of leafy greens grown in California. @ https://www.perishablenews.com/produce/fda-partners-with-the-california-department-of-food-and-agriculture-western-center-for-food-safety-and-california-agricultural-stakeholders-to-enhance-food-safety/

Bill will add sesame as the ninth major allergen; require the federal government to analyze research opportunities to develop more effective treatments for food allergy. The legislation was first introduced in the House by Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-06) in April 2019. Its goal is to improve the food allergy community’s safety by declaring sesame the top ninth allergen as recognized by the FDA, making labeling mandatory, and expanding research to find new treatments. In March, FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) brought together more than 150 food allergy advocates from across the country for more than 100 successful meetings on Capitol Hill urging support for this critical legislation. FARE’s grassroots advocates have sent more than 8,000 emails and held hundreds of virtual and in-person district meetings with Congress and staff members. Having been passed by the House of Representatives, the bill now heads to the United States Senate for consideration. FARE will seek to introduce both bills during the first 100 days of the 117th Session of Congress. @ https://www.foodallergy.org/media-room/us-house-representatives-unanimously-passes-faster-act-represents-significant-milestone

Today, Fresh Express announced a recall of Caesar salad kits because a sample tested positive for E. Coli O26. The product is past its expiration date by eight days, but company officials are concerned that consumers may still have unused portions in their homes and stores might still have the product. The recalled product was distributed primarily in Western and Southwestern U.S. states. Possibly in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. No illnesses are reported. @ https://mageenews.com/fresh-express-recalls-salad-kits/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fresh-express-recalls-salad-kits