In the news

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) teamed with USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to survey produce growers about their food safety practices before the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA) Produce Rule (PR). The results showed that many producers that would be covered by the PR already had some food safety practices in place. Larger growers had adopted food safety practices at higher rates than smaller growers. Because growers with higher sales generally operated more produce acres, the share of acres on which food safety practices were in-place far exceeded the share of growers who implemented food safety practices. Most farms covered by the PR will need to make some changes to meet the standards. Smaller farms will need to make more changes than larger farms. Even growers who engaged in a particular food safety practice may not have performed it to the specifications of the PR. Audited growers spent on average about 2 to 10 times more on measured costs than growers without audits, depending on their PR and size coverage category. @ https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/89721/eib-194.pdf?v=43313

As of August 9, 2018, a total of 436 laboratory-confirmed cases of Cyclospora infection were reported in people who consumed salads from McDonald’s restaurants. Cases were reported by 15 states (IL, IA, IN, WI, MI, OH, MN, NE, SD, MT, VA, TN, ND, KY, WV, and MO). Some out of state patients got ill while traveling in the affected states. The ordeal started on July 13, 2018, when McDonald’s decided to voluntarily stop selling salads at impacted restaurants in IL, IA, IN, WI, MI, OH, MN, NE, SD, MT, ND, KY, WV, and MO. McDonald’s has since replaced the supplier of salads in those states. On July 26, 2018, the FDA completed the final analysis of an unused package of Fresh Express salad mix containing romaine lettuce and carrots, which had been distributed to McDonald’s. The analysis confirmed the presence of Cyclospora in that sample. On July 27, the FDA informed Fresh Express of the results. On July 30, 2018, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Issued an alert relating to beef, pork and poultry salad and wrap products contaminated with Cyclospora that were distributed by Caito Foods LLC, of Indianapolis, IN. Caito Foods had received notification from Fresh Express that the chopped romaine in these products was being recalled. Fresh Express reported to FDA that the romaine from the same lot as the positive sample was not packaged for direct retail sale by Fresh Express and had already expired. @ http://ask-bioexpert.com/trending/
https://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm613513.htm?utm_campaign=Outbreak_08092018_Cyclospora&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc. recalled Dole brand Baby Spinach with Tender Reds due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The product was distributed in New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island, and perhaps nationwide. The recall was triggered by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) after finding positive pathogen test results. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. @ http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2018-08-08/eng/1533739123858/1533739125149

Russia’s consumer rights watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor , has fined McDonald’s fast food restaurants in Moscow 5.5 million rubles ($86,500) between April and June 2018, after a mass inspection revealed a widespread health code violations. The American chain has faced increased inspections over violations of sanitary conditions. The 44 McDonald’s branches were found to be in violation of sanitary rules including poor ventilation, inadequate rodent control, waste management violations and more. None of the stores were closed. Rospotrebnadzor said that samples of salad, ice cream and sandwich tested in a lab failed to meet minimum health standards. McDonald’s operates 648 restaurants in 100 Russian cities. @ https://themoscowtimes.com/news/mass-food-safety-violations-found-at-44-moscow-mcdonalds-62467