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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced that Eat Smart-brand Sweet Kale vegetable salad bag kits are being recalled in six provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and Ontario) as it could be contaminated with Listeria. The 794-gram recalled bags have an expiry date of July 17, and the salad is produced by Fresh Taste Produce Ltd. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the product. The agency said that the recall was triggered after test results in a food safety investigation. @ https://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2019-07-09/eng/1562715652993/1562715655270

https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/kale-salad-recall-cfia-issues-eat-smart-salad-product-warning-over-listeria-concerns-1.4501415

A paper entitled, “Decontamination of raw produce by surface microdischarge and the evaluation of its damage to cellular components,” researchers from the University of Maryland evaluated a surface microdischarge (SMD) for the bacterial decontamination of raw produce. With 1 min of SMD treatment, a >2 log reduction in Escherichia coli O157:H7 was consistently observed. Scanning electron microscopy of E. coli O157:H7 revealed that SMD causes damage to the cell membrane, lead to cell expansion, and eventually to cell lysis. The treatment causes the oxidation of cellular components by forming carboxylic acid (COOH) and carboxylate (COO-) groups inside the bacteria and/or on the bacterial cell wall. Finally, it also leads to the modification of polysaccharides and phosphorus-containing groups typically found in phospholipids and DNA. The simple and flexible technology can be a game changer in food manufacturing. @ https://www.prweb.com/releases/umd_researchers_explore_new_potential_method_of_food_sanitation_shows_99_e_coli_elimination_using_nothing_but_air_and_a_little_electricity_with_the_flip_of_a_switch/prweb16318526.htm

CDC announced that a total of 71 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Uganda had been reported from 8 states (Connecticut 14, Florida 1, Massachusetts 5, New Jersey 18, New York 27, Pennsylvania 4, Rhode Island 1, and Texas 1). Most illnesses happened since April, Twenty-seven people have been hospitalized, and no death has been reported. Epidemiological data shows that that Cavi brand whole, fresh papayas distributed by Agroson’s LLC are a likely source of this outbreak. All other papayas from Mexico are safe to eat according to the FDA. There was no recall of the product, although the FDA asked the firm to recall the product. @ https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/uganda-06-19/index.html

The FDA, the CDC and State partners, is investigating a suspected link between pig ear treats and human cases of salmonellosis. CDC reports that there have been 45 cases of human infection with Salmonella enterica serotype I 4,[5],12:i:- in 13 states. Twelve people have been hospitalized. Pig ear treat samples collected from bulk bins in retail locations by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) tested positive for several strains of Salmonella (Salmonella London, Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Newport, and Salmonella Infantis), but not the specific strain connected to this outbreak. FDA is also working to remove these pig ears from the marketplace and identify other places where they may have been distributed. @ https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/news-events/fda-investigates-contaminated-pig-ear-pet-treats-connected-human-salmonella-infections?utm_campaign=7-3-2019-PigEars&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua