In the news

According to CDC, each year in the U.S. at least 2 million people are infected with bacteria resistant to antibiotics and 23,000 people die each year as a result of these infections. Despite the growing occurrence of resistant strains, there has been an overall decline in antibiotic drug research. This is especially true for the development of new antibiotics that work through novel mechanisms that can evade existing patterns of resistance. Developing new drugs is a costly venture. New drugs are used sparsely to avoid overexposure. Therefore, it means that a novel antibiotic may have a very limited market, making them economically not profitable. The FDA and other federal agencies are taking new steps to address each of these challenges, including new efforts to address the need for better economic incentives. Bacteria will continue to evolve. Many of the existing antibiotics are old. FDA will need to continuously encourage the development of new therapeutic options to keep pace with these challenges. @ https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm610503.htm?utm_campaign=06122018_Statement_FDA%E2%80%99s%20efforts%20to%20foster%20new%20tools%20to%20fight%20antimicrobial%20resistance&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

In the final report, there have been 1049 confirmed cases from 01 January 2017 to 05 June 2018. After the implicated Polony was recalled the number of cases reported had consistently declined. Measures are being taken to avoid such outbreaks in the future, this includes training people, conducting risk assessment for all factories, and creating a dedicated website. Risk assessments have been received from 310 food processing facilities from 8 provinces, of which 79 are from meat processing facilities. A plan is being developed to terminate the current outbreak and to strengthen systems to facilitate prevention and early detection of outbreaks. @ https://www.foodpoisonjournal.com/files/2018/06/Listeriosis-outbreak-situation-report-_11June2018_final.pdf

The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) (https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/adelaide-06-18/index.html
) reported on June 8, 2018, that Caito Foods, LLC of Indianapolis, Indiana recalled fresh cut watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, and fresh cut fruit medley and other products containing these melons. The products were sold by Costco, Jay C, Kroger, Payless, Owen’s sprouts, Trader Joe, Walgreen, Walmart, and Whole Foods/Amazon in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina. 60 people have been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Adelaide, and 31 people have been hospitalized. The contamination was discovered by the State Department of Public Health. The company stopped production as the investigation continues.

Two companies are recalling pea shoots after Canadian Food Inspection Agency tested the products and found them contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Golden Pearl Mushrooms Ltd. was the first to recall “pea shoots” products June 7, followed by Evergreen Herbs Ltd. Golden Pearl did not provide any date codes for its three recalled products. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings. The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing recalled products from the marketplace. @ https://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2018-06-07/eng/1528383445910/1528383449409 and https://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2018-06-07/eng/1528409624622/1528409626775