In the news

Clear Labs announced that food safety professionals can now detect up to 40 unique Salmonella serotypes in an enriched sample in about 24 hours. The new method allows detecting pathogens and serotypes at the same time, avoiding the 3-5 day it takes for traditional serotyping. The new method allows users to choose to obtain results at the genus level for the presence or absence of Salmonella, at the species level, or at the serotype level. The Clear Labs method comprised of advanced NGS technology, robust bioinformatics, and the world’s largest molecular food database. The platform is fully automated, and its robotics reduces both labor and errors. The artificial intelligence system employed and machine learning provides trends, environmental monitoring, and predictive risk assessments. @ https://www.prweb.com/releases/clear_labs_announces_salmonella_serotyping_capabilities_powered_by_next_generation_sequencing_ngs/prweb16109823.htm

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today that Lean Culinary Services, LLC (Hollywood, Florida) , is recalling ~ 223 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken salad products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes. The RTE chicken salad items were produced on February 12, 2019. The problem was discovered on February 18, 2019 when FSIS verified that the products have tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses have been reported. The recalled products include 14.9-oz. plastic tub packages containing “classic chicken salad made with Bell & Evans White Meat Chicken” ; 8-lbs plastic bags containing “classic chicken salad Made with Bell & Evans White Meat Chicken” ; 7.8-oz plastic tub packages containing “Deliver Lean CLASSIC CHICKEN SALAD” ; 5.5-oz plastic tub packages containing “Deliver Lean CHICKEN SALAD BENTO BOX”.These items were shipped to retail locations in Florida. @ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-016-2019-release

Smoked Alaska Seafoods, Inc. (Wasilla, Alaska) has recalled all 6.5 ounce jars and cans of Smoked Silver Salmon due to the possibility of contamination with clostridium botulinum. According to Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation’s Food Safety and Sanitation Program, the product was distributed throughout the state, mainly to gift shops in and around Anchorage and Fairbanks. No illnesses have been reported to date. The recall was a result of an independent audit that found that showed that the thermal processing records of the recalled lot did not receive the prescribed thermal process and was therefore under-processed. The recall is being made with the knowledge of U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. @ https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Smoked-Alaska-Seafoods-issues-recall-of-Smoked-Silver-Salmon-cans-505929811.html

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced the recall of kale salad kits packaged under the Eat Smart brand because the Canadian government sampling testing returned positive results for Listeria monocytogenes. This is the second time that the salad kits are recalled, the first recall was on December 28. Curation Foods, known until this year as Apio, recalled its Eat Smart “Sweet Kale Vegetable Salad Bag Kits” because of CFIA testing. Curation distributed the kale salad kits to retailers in New Bruswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, and possibly other Canadian provinces, the government reported. The recalled Eat Smart “Sweet Kale Vegetable Salad Bag Kits” are packaged in 340-gram (12-ounce) bags. They have the UPC number 7 09351 89145 8 and any of the following codes: FEB 16 2016; 2019 FE 16; 2 01B 032; 2 01A 032; or 2 000 32. @ https://foodpoisoningbulletin.com/2019/eat-smart-sweet-kale-salad-bag-kit-listeria/