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An isothermal amplification technique, termed multiple cross-displacement amplification (MCDA), has been developed to detect Salmonella at the species level. Seven MCDA assays were developed and evaluated for rapid detection and differentiation of the five most common Salmonella serovars in Australia: Typhimurium, Enteritidis, Virchow, Saintpaul, and Infantis. The sensitivity and specificity of the seven MCDA assays were evaluated using 79 target strains and 32 non-target strains. The assays were all highly sensitive and specific to target serovars. The sensitivity obtained ranged from 92.9% to 100% and the specificity from 93.3% to 100%. The limit of detection of the seven MCDA assays was 50 fg per reaction (10 copies) from pure DNA, and positive results were detected in as little as 8 minutes. These seven MCDA assays offer a rapid, accurate, and sensitive serotyping method. The tests could be used for culture-independent serotyping of common Salmonella serovars directly from clinical samples. @https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1525157820300507

Food & Environmental Reporting Network (FERN) collected data on food and meat processing impact of Covid-19. As of May 13, at least 207 meatpacking and processed food plants and nine farms have confirmed cases of Covid-19, and at least two meatpacking plants and five processed food plants are currently closed. At least 15,525 workers  (14,136 meatpacking workers, 1,017 food processing workers, and 372 farmworkers) have tested positive for Covid-19, and at least 60 workers (55 meatpacking workers and 5 food processing workers) have died. Since mid-March, outbreaks of Covid-19 have appeared in meatpacking plants across the country, infecting thousands of workers. The coronavirus has also reached workers in processed food facilities, which make frozen dinners, baked goods, and dairy products. And slowly, outbreaks are arriving at farms and ranches. @ https://thefern.org/2020/04/mapping-covid-19-in-meat-and-food-processing-plants/

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert because approximately 70 pounds of raw beef ravioli products produced by P&S Ravioli Company (Philadelphia, PA) because the product may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. A recall was not requested because the affected product is no longer available for purchase. FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ freezers. The frozen, raw ground beef ravioli items were produced on April 30, 2020. 13-oz. boxes containing “P&S RAVOLI COMPANY 12 JUMBO MEAT RAVIOLI” with a use-by date of 11/30/2020 and lot code 20121. These items were shipped to a limited number of retail locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The problem was discovered when P&S Ravioli Company was notified by their Eurofins Microbiology Laboratories that a sample was positive for E. coli O157:H7. The products associated with the sample had already been shipped into commerce. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. @ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/home/!ut/p/a1/04_Sj9CPykssy0xPLMnMz0vMAfGjzOINAg3MDC2dDbwsfDxdDDz9AtyMgnyMDf3dDIAKIkEKcABHA0L6w_WjUJX4Wxq6AZWEBfp7OzsbWPgZwxTgtqIgN8Ig01FREQBCfym8/?1dmy&page=gov.usda.fsis.internet.topics&urile=wcm%3apath%3a%2FFSIS-Content%2Finternet%2Fmain%2Fnewsroom%2Fnews-releases-statements-and-transcripts%2Fnews-release-archives-by-year%2Farchive%2F2020%2Fpha-05122020-01

United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) recalled Wild Harvest® Organic Basil distributed out of UNFI’s Hopkins, MN distribution center, to select retailers in Minnesota between 4/18/2020-5/8/2020. The recall is issued due to potential contamination with Cyclospora cayetanensis. No illnesses, including allergic reactions, involving this product, have been reported to date. The recall includes Wild Harvest® Organic Fresh Basil products sold in .25oz, .75oz, 2oz, and 4oz plastic clamshell containers (UPCs: 0071153550450, 0071153550322, 0071153550762, 0071153550323). The product can be identified by a white sticker with black ink on the back of the container, stating: “Product of Colombia” and “112.” This concern was identified following routine sampling.  @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/unfi-voluntarily-recalls-wild-harvestr-organic-basil-due-possible-health-risk?utm_campaign=UNFI%20Voluntarily%20Recalls%20Wild%20Harvest%C2%AE%20Organic%20Basil%20Due%20to%20Possible%20Health%20Risk&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua