In the news

An article in J Food Protection entitled “A Systematic Review on Preharvest Interventions Used to Control Salmonella in Poultry Rearing in the United States” was published on 27 February 2025. Feed/water additives were most frequently studied as preharvest Salmonella controls. Currently, there is no systematic literature review of preharvest interventions that control Salmonella in poultry in the US. A literature search was conducted. Experimental studies published from 1995 to 2022 assessing preharvest interventions to control Salmonella in US poultry farms. A total of 12,403 publications were identified, and 234 publications were included in the final review. The most evaluated interventions were feed/water additives (51.50%), competitive exclusion culture (10.30%), vaccination/immunization (7.88%), chemical treatments/compounds (5.45%), and probiotic culture (4.85%). Most studies focused on broiler chicken (78.20%) compared to turkey and investigated Salmonella Typhimurium (37.60%), S. Enteritidis (29.10%), and S. Heidelberg (8.48%). This review improves our understanding of the breadth of preharvest interventions and their effectiveness against Salmonella in poultry. It can also be used to inform food safety policies and practices around poultry to protect public health. @ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0362028X25000262?via%3Dihub

The CORE update list of outbreaks and adverse events includes four entries. In the outbreak of Salmonella Newport (ref #1291), the case count has increased from 27 to 29 cases. In the outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (ref #1285), the case count has increased from 35 to 36 cases. In the outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (ref #1281), the product causing illnesses in this outbreak are frozen supplemental shakes under brands Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial. A recall was initiated. As of February 24, 2025, a total of 38 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 21 states. Of the 38 people for whom information is available, 37 people have been hospitalized, and 12 deaths have been reported. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigations-foodborne-illness-outbreaks?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department of Hong Kong reported on February 23, 2025, urged the public not to consume a batch of raw milk cheese imported from France due to possible contamination with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). “The CFS received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission that the product is being recalled in France and other countries due to possible contamination with STEC. A preliminary investigation found that the importer had imported eight pieces into Hong Kong, weighing about 13.7 kilograms in total, of the affected batch of the product, which has been distributed to the retailer for sale,” a spokesman for the CFS said. The importer concerned has stopped the sale, discarded the unsold products of the affected batch, and initiated a recall according to the CFS’s instructions. @ https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20250223_11479.html

CDC, FDA, and public health officials in several states are investigating a multistate outbreak of Listeria infections linked to supplement shakes. Many people in this outbreak lived in long-term care facilities or were hospitalized before becoming sick. Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data show that supplement shakes manufactured by Prairie Farms are contaminated with Listeria and are making people sick. As of February 21, 2025, 38 people were reported to have been infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes in 21 states. Of 38 people with information available, 37 have been hospitalized. Twelve deaths have been reported from California, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. Most people in this outbreak reported living in long-term care facilities or were hospitalized prior to becoming sick. CDC investigated this outbreak in 2018, 2021, and 2023. Epidemiologic evidence in previous investigations identified that sick people were residents in long-term care facilities and nursing homes, and the likely source was food served in those types of institutions, but there was not enough information to identify a specific food. CDC reopened the investigation in October 2024 after six new illnesses were reported. In February 2025, after traceback identified a product of interest, the outbreak strain was found in environmental samples from Prairie Farms. WGS showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples are closely related genetically. Suggesting that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food. On February 4, 2025, the FDA collected environmental samples at Prairie Farms for testing. On February 19, 2025, WGS showed that Listeria in the environment is closely related to bacteria from sick people. On February 22, 2025, Lyons Magnus LLC recalled supplement shakes. CDC is advising people not to eat, sell, or serve recalled products. @ https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/shakes-022025/investigation.html