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Restrictions on moving livestock have paralyzed the supply chains of poultry and eggs, leaving farmers stuck with large inventories. Chinese officials are predicting that the coronavirus outbreak could affect the availability of poultry and egg products in the second and third quarter of 2020. Many of China’s live poultry markets have been closed, transportation of poultry has been restricted and some slaughterhouses have been closed. China’s agriculture and transport ministries have told local authorities to allow companies involved in feed-production and poultry-slaughtering to resume work as soon as possible and overcome disruptions caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Thousands of containers of frozen pork, chicken and beef are also accumulating at some of China’s major ports as transport disruptions and labor shortages slow operations. It remains unclear when port operations will return to normal as truck drivers returning from other cities are quarantined for 14 days and other transport restrictions on trucks remain in place.  @ https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3051147/coronavirus-chinas-poultry-eggs-supply-under-pressure-frozen

The investigation of an outbreak of illnesses caused by Salmonella Javiana showed that it was linked to fruit mix with cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple, and grapes from Tailor Cut Produce of North Brunswick, New Jersey. CDC has announced this outbreak is over. The fruit mix, called Fruit Luau, was recalled as well as cut honeydew, cut cantaloupe, and cut pineapple products on December 7. All ill people reported eating cut fruit that was served in the week before illness started in long-term care facilities, hospitals, hotels, schools, or universities. Data indicated that these locations served or sold cut fruit from Tailor Cut Produce. Tailor Cut Produce was identified as the common processor, but the source of the contamination was not identified. When the FDA inspected Tailor Cut Produce, the inspectors observed several deficiencies. As of February 14, 2020, CDC is reporting 165 illnesses that were confirmed by Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) in CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, MA, MN, NJ, NY, PA, VA, and WA. Illnesses were reported from states where Tailor Cut Produce distributes, including Pennsylvania, New York City, New Jersey, and Delaware. Ill people from other states reported traveling to these states in the week before their illness started @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-javiana-fruit-mix-december-2019?utm_campaign=Outbreak_Salmonella%20Javiana_02182020&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

Traditional methods for detecting and isolating Campylobacter from broiler chicken carcasses require time, expensive reagents, and artificially generated microaerophilic atmospheres. An aerobic medium that simplifies the procedure and reduces the expense of culturing Campylobacter has been described in the J Food Prot (2020) 83 (3): 405–411. Campylobacter can be grown in containers that are incubated aerobically. Hyperspectral microscopic imaging (HMI) was used to compare differences between Campylobacter cultures grown under microaerobic atmospheres and cultures grown in an aerobic medium.  HMI of three Campylobacter strains grown for 48 h microaerophilically was compared to the same strains grown for 24 and 48 h aerobically. Microaerobically cultured bacteria were detected with 98.7% accuracy, whereas the detection accuracy of cultures grown in the novel medium was slightly reduced (−4.8 and −3.2% for 24 and 48 h, respectfully).  @ https://meridian.allenpress.com/jfp/article-abstract/83/3/405/425938/Rapid-Identification-of-Campylobacter-Strains?redirectedFrom=PDF

Fluid milk products are being pulled off the shelves in New South Wales due to fears of E. coli contamination. Initially, Aldi pulled its Farmdale 3 Liter milk from the shelves of its ACT supermarkets and some NSW stores. Later Dairy Farmers 1 liter and 3 Liter full cream milk was also recalled. The 2L Dairy Choice full cream milk and 2L Community Co. “The Good Drop” full cream milk, both with used by dates of 25 February 2020, for sale at IGA and other independent grocery stores, are also being recalled. NSW Health said the products might be with E. coli. Lion Dairy said the impacted milk products were manufactured at their facility in Penrith in Sydney’s west. Lion Dairy was recently bought by a Chinese company (China Mengniu); the sale reflected how the dairy industry is struggling in Australia. “Most Australians don’t know that we import dairy products into this country because we don’t make enough of it here in Australia. @ https://amp.9news.com.au/article/e8ebdc98-e867-4c70-a93d-cf692eaa4add