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A rash of coronavirus outbreaks at dozens of meatpacking plants across the nation is far more extensive than previously thought, according to an independent review of cases by USA TODAY. Operators in processing plants may have to choose between worker health or meat in stores. More than 150 of America’s largest meat processing plants operate in counties where the rate of coronavirus infection is already among the nation’s highest. But rather than increase safety and oversight, the USDA relaxed it. The agency allowed 15 poultry plants to exceed federal limits on how many birds workers can process in a minute. Coronavirus infections had spread in at least 48 U.S. meatpacking plants, sickening more than 2,200 people and killing 17, USA TODAY found. The outbreaks also have prompted the closure of at least 17 facilities. This month beef production is down 19% from last year. Despite the potential for meatpacking plants to become hotbeds of infection due to the close quarters in which employees work, some plants declined to close the facilities due to their importance to the food supply. @ https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/investigations/2020/04/22/meat-packing-plants-covid-may-force-choice-worker-health-food/2995232001/

A multi-country outbreak that affected 53 people and caused ten deaths between 2015 and 2018 in Austria, Australia, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom trigger an investigation by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Greenyard’s frozen vegetable factory in Baju, Hungary, was the source of the Listeria outbreak. The study found that the main factors affecting contamination and growth of Listeria monocytogenes during processing are hygiene of the raw materials and process water; hygienic conditions of the food processing environment; and the time and temperature combinations used for storage and processing such as blanching and cooling. Investigations in the Greenyard outbreak showed that some frozen items could be defrosted and used in salads or as ingredients in other ready‐to‐eat (RTE) products sold to consumers without undergoing a kill step. @ https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2020/04/efsa-identifies-ways-to-reduce-listeria-risk-in-frozen-vegetables/

The FDA announced on its website that Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. recalled a single lot of 5.5oz cans of Pink Lite Cranberry Juice Drink because it may contain undeclared sulfites, which were erroneously added by a contract manufacturer. Sulfites are a common preservative added to many food products; however, consumers who have a sensitivity to sulfites run the risk of allergic reactions if consumed. The 5.5oz cans of Pink Lite Cranberry Juice Drink were distributed to retail supermarkets, retail wholesalers and online retailers. The recall was initiated after the contract manufacturer revealed their error after a root cause investigation of consumer complaints regarding an “off” odor in the identified lot. Analysis by the food safety and quality personnel revealed that sulfites were added to the identified lot of product erroneously by a contract manufacturer. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/ocean-spray-cranberries-inc-recalls-single-production-lot-55-oz-cans-pink-lite-cranberry-juice-drink?utm_campaign=Ocean%20Spray%20Cranberries%2C%20Inc%20Recalls%20Single%20Production%20Lot%20of%205.5%20Oz%20Cans%20of%20Pink%20Lite&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

A meatpacking plant in west Michigan had 60 employees test positive for COVID-19, according to reports. JBS Meat Packaging in Gun Plain Township had to shut down over the weekend after the employees tested positive COVI-19. However, the plant was back open on Monday with limited staffing, Allegan County health officials said. On Monday, JBS announced the indefinite closure of its Worthington, Minnesota, pork production facility because it could not “safely operate.” The facility employs more than 2,000 and processes 20,000 hogs per day. When COVID-19 is prevalent in the community, fear is heightened, absenteeism rises. When absenteeism levels become too high, facilities cannot safely operate.” @ https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2020/04/21/reports-60-workers-at-michigan-meat-packing-plant-test-positive-for-covid-19/