In the news

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) notified on its website that the Italian Store recalled Scarpone’s Italian Store brand frozen Ground Veal from the marketplace due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination. The product was sold at The Italian Store, Calgary, Alberta. This recall was triggered as a result of the 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 this product. @ https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-recall-warnings-and-allergy-alerts/2020-01-13/eng/1578959926811/1578959932803

Fresh Location, of Lenoir City, Tennessee recalled: Protein Snack Tray 6.44 oz packaged in a 4-compartment plastic, and Protein Trail Mix 3.52 oz packaged in a 10.5 ounce plastic cup, due to potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes. The contamination might come from Almark Foods the manufactures the Hard-Boiled eggs which are included in the products.  The eggs might be associated with a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has been linked to several reported illnesses and one reported death. To date, Fresh Location has not received any reports of illness related to the consumption of our Protein Snack Tray or Protein Trail Mix. The affected product could have been delivered in the following states through convenience stores, micro-markets, hospitals, hotels and vending machines: Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, Indiana, and Mississippi. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/fresh-location-announces-product-recall-due-possible-listeria-contamination

Canada and many states in the US legalize recreational cannabis. Edible products containing cannabis are becoming popular in these jurisdictions. An article in CJMA discusses the danger of these new approvals. The CJMA article warns that although edibles are commonly viewed as a safer and more desirable alternative to smoked or vaped cannabis, physicians and the public should be aware of several risks related to the use of cannabis edibles. First, cannabis edibles have longer latency and duration of effects than inhaled cannabis, which may increase the risk of overdosing from overconsumption. Children and older adults are at high risk of harm form edible cannabis. Children (and pets) are at risk of accidental ingestion and overconsumption of cannabis because many edibles resemble candy or other food and drink.  After the legalization of cannabis edibles in Colorado, the state poison control center saw a 70% increase in calls for accidental cannabis exposure in children from 2013 to 2017. Among older adults, cannabis consumption has been linked to greater cognitive impairment and a heightened risk of hypotension-related falls, arrhythmia and drug interactions.  @ https://www.cmaj.ca/content/192/1/E1

Health authorities in France have banned the fishing and selling of oysters in the bay around Mont-Saint-Michel and other shellfish farming areas on France’s north-western coast until further notice due to norovirus. Oyster farmers have blamed pollution along the coast on sewage that has not been fully treated. Suspect oyster batches have been withdrawn from sale.  The contamination of the shellfish (mainly oysters) caused more than 668 illnesses. The illnesses started in December of 2019, with a peak of illnesses at 25-27 of December. @ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/06/brittany-oyster-farms-gastroenteritis-epidemic-sewage