In the news

The Coronavirus (COVID19) is impacting globally every aspect of life, and the food industry is no exception. Some factories, mainly in China, have closed. Travel around the globe became much more challenging. Consumers in states impacted by COVID19 (Washington, California, and Colorado) are hoarding shelf-stable foods such as canned goods, dried beans and rice, cereals, and powdered milk. As a result, some food companies are increasing their production of such products. Only a small percentage of the food ingredients are sourced from China. However, companies are anticipating chain interruptions. The U.S. imports and exports billions of dollars worth of food to and from China every year, and the COVID-19 outbreak is having an impact. While the FDA claims that they are “not aware of any reports at this time of human illnesses that suggest COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging,” companies are sourcing more ingredients from domestic sources. Many companies are instituting international travel bans, and some have reduced their financial forecast.@ https://foodindustryexecutive.com/2020/03/how-is-coronavirus-impacting-the-food-industry/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=84326574&_hsenc=p2ANqtz–Xy1A_xd2cRZDpcXbVnNYilKug2bj_VU2KaShJ09oJF_myydlEr1HdtW2ruNRWpdOrxNlvSgO9mZijvvQhS7dSI6cH8w&_hsmi=84326574

FDA, CDC, and state and local partners investigated an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to hard-boiled eggs produced by Almark Foods’ Gainesville, Georgia facility. Almark Foods announced an initial voluntary recall of hard-boiled and peeled eggs in pails on December 20, 2019, and then on December 23, 2019, expanded their recall to include all hard-boiled eggs produced at the Gainesville, Georgia facility. As of March 4, 2020, this outbreak appears to be over. Eight people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes were reported from five states (FL (1), ME (2), PA (1), SC (2), TX (2)). Five ill people were hospitalized, and one death was reported from Texas. The Almark recall included products sold under more than 30 brand names for foodservice use and direct sale to consumers in stores including Savannah Food Company Inc, Fresh Location, Fresh Location (MiniMeal2go), Meijer, Veggie Noodle Co, Reichel Foods Inc.( Pro2Snac-to-the-max), Dierbergs Markets, Great American Deli, Bakkavor Foods USA (sold at Trades Joes). In this investigation, WGS showed that bacteria isolated from ill people were closely related genetically. This means that people in this outbreak were likely to share a common source of infection. FDA found Listeria bacteria in an environmental sample taken at the Almark Foods Gainesville, Georgia, processing facility during an FDA inspection conducted in December 2019. WGS showed that the bacterium in the environmental sample was closely related genetically to bacteria from ill people. @ https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/eggs-12-19/index.html

The FDA sent a warning letter to Sprouts Unlimited Inc. explaining how Sprout Unlimited (the Jimmy John’s supplier) has failed to respond to the contamination that eventually resulted in the 2019 outbreak with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O103 in Iowa. The outbreak sickened 22 people between November 21 and December 14, 2019. During our December 31, 2019, to January 9, 2020, inspection, FDA investigators documented numerous serious violations of the Standards for the growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce for human consumption. Epidemiological and traceback data support the conclusion that clover sprouts grown and distributed by Sprouts Unlimited were the source of this outbreak of E. coli O103. Based on a traceback investigation, ill persons reported the source or likely source of their sprout exposures in JJ restaurants.   The company did not test spent sprout irrigation water (SSIW) from each production batch of sprouts for E. coli O157: H7 and Salmonella, as required by federal law, and did not take steps to hold all products from entering commerce. Sprouts Unlimited did not take corrective action when environmental samples in the growing, harvesting, packing, or holding areas tested positive for Listeria species or Listeria monocytogenes. @ https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/sprouts-unlimited-inc-603883-02212020

The FDA has sent a warning letter to the Jimmy John’s (JJ) sandwich chain (with more than 2,800 locations in 43 states), saying certain vegetables it served were implicated in five outbreaks of Escherichia coli (STECs) and Salmonella enterica in the past seven years. The data shows that the company, through your franchised Jimmy John’s restaurants, engaged in a pattern of receiving and offering for sale adulterated fresh produce, specifically clover sprouts and cucumbers.  (1) November to December 2019; outbreak of E. coli O103 (STEC). All interviewed eat at JJ (ii) February 28, 2018 outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo, 10 people were infected with the outbreak strains (Illinois (2), Minnesota (2), and Wisconsin (6)), 80% ate at Jimmy John’s (iii) 3.  August 1, 2014outbreak of human infections with E. coli O102 (STEC)19 people were infected with the outbreak in Idaho, Montana, Michigan, Utah, California, and Washington. 81% of 16 ill persons reported eating raw clover sprouts in JJ. (iv) October 2013 Outbreak with E. coli O157:H7 (STEC), 8 people from Colorado were infected all report eating a sandwich with raw cucumbers at J Jin the Denver. (v) April 5, 2012-Outbreak with E. coli O26. 29 people from eleven states were infected with an outbreak strain. 85% report eating sprouts at one of six JJ. These outbreaks show a lack of control of suppliers. A warning letter was also sent to the supplier of Jimmy John’s. The FDA warned JJ that failure to correct these violations promptly might result in enforcement action by FDA without further notice, including seizure and/or injunction.@ https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/jimmy-johns-franchise-llc-599962-02212020