In the news

Eleven people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium have been reported from eight states (Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, and Wyoming). One person has been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported. Epidemiological and laboratory evidence indicates that contact with pet hedgehogs is the likely source of this outbreak. The outbreak strain making people sick was identified in samples collected from three hedgehogs in two ill patients’ homes in Minnesota. “Hedgehogs can carry Salmonella germs in their droppings while appearing healthy and clean,” the CDC explains. “These germs can easily spread to their bodies, habitats, toys, bedding, and anything in the area where they live. People become sick after they touch hedgehogs or anything in their habitats.” @ https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typhimurium-01-19/index.html

The U.S. FDA is cautioning pet owners not to feed Hare Today Gone Tomorrow Ground Chicken/Bones/Organs because the product collected by the FDA tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. The product is identified as “Ground Chicken” on the product labeling and as “Ground Chicken/Bones/Organs” on the firm’s website. The FDA collected this sample while following up on a consumer complaint in which a kitten became sick with Salmonella after eating the recalled product. The FDA collected samples from lot 12.04.2018, which tested positive for both Salmonella and L. monocytogenes. Although the Salmonella isolated from the feces of the sick kitten did not match the strain found in the product sample, Federal law requires that all pet food not be contaminated with pathogens, including Salmonella and L. monocytogenes, because of the potential impact on human and animal health. @ https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm629711.htm?utm_campaign=1-23-2019-HareToday&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&elqTrackId=FECD96F5CBBDC8B11C89600AEAA9B445&elq=b74c8f5e202547ea841b0b9c4b243238&elqaid=6522&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=5328

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced that Canada Herb recalled Hello Fresh Canada Herb brand Red Chili from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. This product may have also been sold in bulk or in smaller packages with or without a label and may not bear the brand or product name described. Products recalled include Red Chili Ingredient included in certain Hello Fresh brand and Chefs Plate brand Meal Kits. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product. The products were sold Canada/Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, and Labrador. The product might have been included as a spice in home-delivered meal kits. The agency did not report how the Salmonella was discovered. The red peppers are originally a product of Vietnam. @ http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2019-01-20/eng/1548038033402/1548038035281

U.S. PIRG Education Fund issued a report indicating that the number of food recalls has been increasing from 2013 to 2018. In meat and poultry, class1 recalls had an 83% increase. However, recalls from produce had only 2% increase since 2013. All food recalls increased by 10%. Technology such as Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) helped link together infections. This may explain some of these findings, but not all. The report talks about improvement needed in the recall system. In some cases some stores failed to remove recalled foods or took a long time to do so, raising concerns about the efficiency of the current system. The splits primary responsibility for different foods between the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the FDA caused inconsistent oversight, ineffective coordination, and inefficient use of resources. The report recommends setting specifications for irrigation water. Establish clear enforcement consequences for recurring violations of food safety. Declare antibiotic-resistant strains of Salmonella as an adulterant in meat and poultry. Improve traceability throughout the food supply chain through network-based tracking technologies. Require disclosure of retailers selling products for all Class I and Class II recalls, establish a timeline for release of that information, and include packaged goods. Grant USDA mandatory recall authority for contaminated food. Penalize companies who continue to sell products after a recall. Develop programs for retailers to directly notify customers about food recalls. @ https://uspirg.org/sites/pirg/files/reports/WEB_USP_Safe-Food-Report_Jan19.pdf