In the news

In its 2018-2019 Annual report, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) reported showed a record high of 106 incidents of recalls. This is the highest number of recalls in 12 months. The recalls were mainly due to undeclared allergens (35%), microbial contamination (32%), and foreign material (13%). This number of recalls compares to 81 recalls in the same period from 2017 to 2018 and 61 from 2016 to 2017. A strawberry tampering incident in September of 2018 was one of the most significant events of the year, involving sewing needles inserted into strawberries. FSANZ identified four cross-contamination causes of allergen-related recalls, including lack of skills and knowledge of labeling requirements, supplier verification, packaging errors and accidental cross-contamination. During 2018-19 fourteen issues were referred to the network, including Listeria in frozen vegetables from Belgium, Salmonella Enteritidis in eggs, and the strawberry tampering incident. @ https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/publications/annualreport201819/Pages/default.aspx

The FDA announced on its website that North Bay Produce, Inc. of Traverse City, Michigan recalled 2,297 cases and two bulk bins of fresh apples due to the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled varieties include McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Jonathan, Fuji, Jonamac, and Red Delicious apples. Recalled apples were sold in plastic bags under the brands; Great Lakes, North Bay Produce Pure Michigan as well as unbranded in clear plastic tote bags, white paper tote bags, and individually from retailers display trays. The recalled apples were shipped between October 16th, 2019, and October 21st, 2019 from one North Bay facility to wholesalers, retailers, and brokers in Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin. The recall was initiated as a result of a finished product test that indicated the presence of L. monocytogenes. Upon notification, North Bay Produce immediately ceased the production and distribution product from the identified facility and continues our investigation as to what caused the issue in cooperation with the FDA. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/north-bay-produce-voluntarily-recalls-fresh-apples-because-possible-health-risk

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) in collaboration with provincial public health partners, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada to are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Litchfield infections in Ontario (10 cases) and Quebec (2 cases). The outbreak is related to  Filicetti brand Italian Style mild, dry, cured sausage. The implicated product was recalled earlier this month by Longo’s and appeared to be ongoing, as recent illnesses continue to be reported to PHAC. The first recall was issued on October 16, 2019, following this recall additional laboratory analysis has determined that both the recalled Filicetti brand sausage product and the ill individuals in Ontario and Quebec have the same genetic strain of Salmonella. One individual was hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. The collaborative outbreak investigation was initiated because of an increase in Salmonella Litchfield illnesses being reported. This is a rare strain of Salmonella not commonly seen in Canada. @ https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/public-health-notices/2019/outbreak-salmonella-sausages.html

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing on 10/28/2019 (and requesting comment) on a new pathogen reduction performance standards for Salmonella in raw ground beef and beef manufacturing trimmings. The agency explains how it plans to evaluate if an establishments producing raw ground beef and/or beef manufacturing trimmings are effectively addressing Salmonella, using a 52-week moving window of FSIS sampling results and other related verification activities. Approximately one year (52 weeks) after the new standards are made final, the Agency plans to post individual establishment performance as either “meeting” or “not meeting” the pathogen reduction performance standard on the FSIS website, based on the most recent 48 Salmonella sample results. FSIS will continue to analyze these beef manufacturing trimmings samples for Escherichia coli O517:H7 and applicable non-O157 Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) and ground beef samples for E. coli O157:H7. If fewer than 48 samples are collected or analyzed in a 52-week window at an establishment, its status would be reported as “N/A,” provided the establishment has two or fewer Salmonella positives in that window. @ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/10/28/2019-23473/changes-to-the-salmonella-verification-testing-program-proposed-performance-standards-for-salmonella