The FDA announced on its website that Hodgson Mill (Effingham, IL) recalled nationally, lots of Unbleached All-Purpose White Wheat Flour (5 lb.) due to the potential presence of pathogenic E. coli which was discovered through sampling raw uncooked flour. While E. coli is killed by heat through baking, frying, sautéing, or boiling products made with flour, some consume it raw resulting in the potential for illnesses. Consumers are reminded to wash their hands, work surfaces, and utensils thoroughly after contact with raw dough products or flour, and to never eat raw dough or batter. This lot of flour was milled at an ADM Milling Facility in St Louis, MO, and repacked at Hodgson Mill, Inc. facility in Effingham, IL, and was distributed by Hodgson Mill through retailers and distribution nationwide and sold through the website. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/hodgson-mill-issues-voluntary-recall-unbleached-all-purpose-white-wheat-flour-due-potential-presence
Hodgson Mill of Effingham, IL, announced today a voluntary national recall of specific lots of its Unbleached All-Purpose White Wheat Flour (5 lb.)
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Researchers at the University of Extremadura (Cáceres, Spain) have developed a rapid, specific, and sensitive method that has potential use in identifying sources of Listeria monocytogenes contamination in the meat industry. The scientists developed a quadruplex real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) method able to differentiate the four predominant serotypes of L. monocytogenes (1/2a, 1/2b, 1/2c, and 4b) in isolates from meat processing plants and ready-to-eat (RTE) dry-cured meat products. The standard curves showed efficiency values ranging between 92.3% and 105.8% and R2 values >0.98. The specificity of the method was also confirmed by the comparison of the results with those obtained by a previously reported conventional multiplex PCR. Strains not ascribed to L. monocytogenes did not amplify any target genes linked to the four major serotypes studied. This method could be very useful for identifying sources of L. monocytogenes contamination in the meat industry or for epidemiological monitoring of persistent strains throughout the processing of RTE meat products. @ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0740002019309773?dgcid=rss_sd_all
Listeria monocytogenes is an important foodborne pathogen, causative agent of listeriosis. The epidemiology and persistence of this bacterium in meat â¦
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The FDA announced that Golden Gate Soy Products, a California-based food manufacturer, has agreed to discontinue selling food products until the company complies with federal regulations and other requirements. This action follows several inspections conducted by the FDA, which found Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono) in the company’s food preparation area and that the company was holding food for distribution in unsanitary conditions. Golden Gate Soy Products specializes in manufacturing a variety of tofu and soy-based products, including soy milk. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley for the Northern District of California entered a consent decree of permanent injunction on Nov. 22, 2019, between the U.S. and Golden Gate Soy Products Inc., and the company’s representatives, Yong Li Chen and Ling Hong Tang. The FDA is not aware of any confirmed illnesses related to these products. @ https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/california-based-food-manufacturer-agrees-stop-production-after-repeated-food-safety-violations
California food manufacturer agrees to stop production
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CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the FDA are investigating a multistate outbreak of hepatitis A associated with exposure to contaminated fresh blackberries sold at Fresh Thyme Farmers Market grocery stores during September 2019. The patient count in a multi-state hepatitis A outbreak traced to fresh blackberries continues to rise, even though the berries were sold two months ago. As of November 26, 2019, a total of 14 outbreak-associated cases of hepatitis A were reported from 5 states. Of 13 people with available information, 8 (62%) were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Illnesses might not yet be reported due to the time it takes for symptoms to appear after exposure (average 4 weeks). A single, common supplier of fresh blackberries has not been identified. The FDA and regulatory officials in several states have collected records from grocery stores where ill people reported buying fresh blackberries and are conducting traceback investigations to try to identify a specific source of the fresh blackberries. @ https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/outbreaks/2019/hav-berries/index.htm
