In the news

Reuters report that the Chinese authorities found in Beijing’s wholesale food market, in the meat and seafood sections, heavy contamination with coronavirus. The area’s low temperature and high humidity of this section of the market may have been contributing factors to the contamination. Beijing is tackling a resurgence of COVID-19 cases over the past week linked to the massive Xinfadi food center, which houses warehouses and trading halls. Among the patients who work at the Xinfadi market, most worked at seafood and aquatic product stalls, followed by the beef and mutton section. Patients from the seafood market showed symptoms earlier than others in the market. Low temperatures favorable to viral survival, as well as high humidity, might be possible explanations for why seafood markets could be a source of outbreaks based on a preliminary assessment. Health officials have also warned against eating raw salmon after the virus was discovered on chopping boards used for imported salmon, although the origin of the outbreak is not known. Low standards of hygiene in wholesale food markets and vulnerabilities in its food supply chain need to be urgently addressed, a leading body of the ruling Communist Party said this week. @ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-seafood/china-finds-heavy-coronavirus-traces-in-seafood-meat-sections-of-beijing-food-market-idUSKBN23P20T

G. Brandt Meat Packers Ltd. In Ottawa, Canada recalled Mini Smoked Farmer Sausage from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recall is of three sizes of Mini Smoked Farmer Sausage (0.450 kg, 0.375 kg, and various sizes). These products were sold in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan at the retail consumer level. This recall was triggered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) test results. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.@ https://www.perishablenews.com/

Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced that Riveriene Farm Ltd. o/a Carnivora Pet Foods, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, CANADA Carnivora recalled Fresh Frozen Patties for Dogs and Cats due to E. coli 0157:H7 contamination. On 08 and 10 June 2020, Carnivora™ was contacted by the Public Health Agency of Canada to report that four individuals were diagnosed with E. coli 0157:H7 between February 14 and May 16, 2020. All four had Carnivora™ brand raw pet food as a common product. Two individuals have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. The products recalled are Carnivora Brand Whole Animal Chicken Dinner with Vegetables ‘n’ Fruit, Ultra Premium Fresh Frozen Patties for Dogs & Cats; Carnivora Brand Chicken Dinner with Vegetables ‘n’ Fruit; Carnivora Brand Whole Animal Beef Dinner with Vegetables ‘n’ Fruit, Ultra Premium Fresh Frozen Patties for Dogs & Cats; Carnivora Brand Beef Dinner with Vegetables ‘n’ Fruit; Carnivora Brand Whole Animal Turkey Diet, Ultra Premium Fresh Frozen Patties for Dogs & Cats; and Carnivora Brand Turkey Diet. The contaminated product might cause cross-contamination and illness after handling this pet food. As of June 12, 2020, the company has been made aware of 4 reports of illnesses in Canada. Approximately 1,803 units of the affected product were sold in Canada. The affected products were sold from January 13, 2020, to June 2020.CFIA is recommending not to feed any recalled Carnivora brand frozen raw pet food products to their pets. As the investigation is ongoing, additional products may be identified. @ https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2020/73337r-eng.php

NOW Health Group, Inc. (NOW), of Bloomingdale, Illinois, recalled a lot of NOW Real Food® Raw Macadamia Nuts, Unsalted, 8 oz. pouch ( Product Code 7119, Lot#3141055) because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The lot was distributed online and in retail stores nationwide. NOW became aware of the potential contamination after routine sampling in a later lot of finished product (which contained the same lot of raw material as used in the recalled lot) found Salmonella. The following finished product lot was not released and remained quarantined. NOW has provided information on this recall to all its retailers and has encouraged retailers to contact their customers to facilitate the return of affected products. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/now-health-group-inc-voluntarily-recalls-now-real-food-rraw-macadamia-nuts-because-possible-health