The multistate outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections linked to onions produced by Thomson International, Inc. cause the USDA/FSIS to issue a public health alert for ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products containing the onions. Taylor Farms produced the RTE meat and poultry items on July 30 and 31, 2020. The products include 7.25-oz. plastic sealed container labeled as “Sausage Breakfast Scramble Bowl”; 6.2-oz. plastic sealed container labeled as “Taylor Farms Cheddar Cheese & Chicken Salad Snack Tray”; 41.35-oz. plastic bags containing “Chicken Salad”; 10-oz. plastic sealed container labeled as “Chicken Salad Deli Snack”; 7.75-oz. plastic sealed container labeled as “HEB Shake Rattle Bowl SOUTHWEST SALAD with CHICKEN”; and 17.25-oz. plastic sealed container labeled as “Marketside SOUTHWEST STYLE SALAD WITH CHICKEN.” These products were shipped to retail locations in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. @ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/home/!ut/p/a1/04_Sj9CPykssy0xPLMnMz0vMAfGjzOINAg3MDC2dDbwsfDxdDDz9AtyMgnyMDf3dDIAKIkEKcABHA0L6w_WjUJX4Wxq6AZWEBfp7OzsbWPgZwxTgtqIgN8Ig01FREQBCfym8/?1dmy&page=gov.usda.fsis.internet.topics&urile=wcm%3apath%3a%2FFSIS-Content%2Finternet%2Fmain%2Fnewsroom%2Fnews-releases-statements-and-transcripts%2Fnews-release-archives-by-year%2Farchive%2F2020%2Fpha-08052020-01
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The FDA issued guidance finalizing the 2016 draft guidance for inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereals and identifying the agency’s intended sampling and enforcement approach. The guidance identifies an action level of 100 micrograms per kilogram (µg/kg) or 100 parts per billion (ppb), which protects the public health by reducing infants’ dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic. According to the FDA, this level is achievable by industry. FDA testing of infant rice cereals over the last decade suggests that manufacturers are already making significant progress in reaching this action level. The lowering of the arsenic level is achieved through good manufacturing practices, such as selective sourcing and testing of rice and rice-derived ingredients (e.g., rice flour) to ensure lower levels of inorganic arsenic. Results from sampling in 2018 show that 76% of samples were at or below the 100 ppb level, compared to 47% of samples tested in 2014 and 36% of samples tested between 2011-2013. @ https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-newsroom/fda-brief-fda-takes-action-limit-inorganic-arsenic-levels-infant-rice-cereal?utm_campaign=080520_PR_FDA%20Takes%20Action%20to%20Limit%20Inorganic%20Arsenic%20in%20Infant%20Rice%20Cereal&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua
FDA finalizes guidance that will help protect public health by reducing infants’ exposure to inorganic arsenic, associated with neurodevelopmental effects.
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Food Safety News reports that researchers at Purdue University developed a treatment that infuses metal surfaces with naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides, creating surfaces that kill bacteria trying to attach to it. The technology applies primarily to food processing and cutting surfaces. The technique can reduce the risk of cross-contamination. The technology creates an oxidized metal surface with nanometer-wide and micrometer-deep cracks where antimicrobial peptides can be infused in these microscopic cracks with a simple wet process. The material stored in the cracks release over time, and the oxidation process also colors the material, which provides a visual indicator of the materials remaining antimicrobial resistance. The process works on stainless steel and titanium and can be used on a wide range of commercial metal alloys. The creators are now looking for partners to commercialize their technology. @ https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2020/08/new-technology-creates-hard-metal-surfaces-that-kill-bacteria/
A treatment to infuse hardened metal surfaces with naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides has been developed by researchers at Purdue University. In
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For several weeks an outbreak of Salmonella Newport is casing illnesses in numerous states in the US and Canada. The FDA and CDC had difficulty identifying the source. The outbreaks in the US and Canada have a genetic fingerprint closely related to each other. Earlier Friday, the Public Health Agency of Canada announced a recall by Sysco of its red onions because traceback work in that country showed them to be related to the outbreak there. Based on the Canadian information, and epidemiologic data on the US outbreak from CDC, the FDA’s traceback investigation identified Thomson International (Bakersfield, CA), Inc. red onions as the potential source of the infection. In the US, the outbreak caused 398 illnesses, 50 hospitalizations, and no death. States with Cases: AK (6), AZ (14), CA (49), CO (10), FL (3), ID (5), IL (10), IN (2), IA (15), KS (1), KY (1), ME (4), MD (1), MI (23), MN (10), MO (6), MT (33), NE (5), NV (5), NY (4), NC (3), ND (5), OH (7), OR (71), PA (2), SC (1), SD (11), TN (5), TX (1), UT (61), VA (4), WA (2), WI (5), WY (11). The Public Health Agency of Canada had found another 114 cases with those illnesses reported becoming ill after eating red onions at home, in menu items ordered at restaurants, and in residential care settings. No deaths have been reported in Canada. Thomson International will recall all varieties of its onions that could have contacted potentially contaminated red onions, due to the risk of cross-contamination. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-newport-red-onions-july-2020?utm_campaign=OutbreakAlert_SalmonellaOnion_07312020&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua
Do not eat, sell, or serve onions from Thomson International, Inc.