In the news

The number of food recalls significantly increased in the between 2005 to 2013. The report examines the products and risks that may have contributed to this increase. The report shows that between 2004 and 2008, food recalls averaged 304 a year; between 2009 and 2013, the annual average rose to 676.
The results reveal that recalls increased in several food categories (grain products, animal products, and prepared foods and meals), increased across all three risk severity classes, and occurred more frequently in highly populated States. Undeclared allergens were a leading cause of food product recalls, with the number of undeclared allergens recalls nearly doubling over the decade. During this period the majority of the recall occurred in the following categories: prepared foods and meals, excluding soups (11.9 percent of all food recalls); nuts, seeds, and nut products (10.9 percent); baked goods (9 percent); grains and grain products (8.4 percent); candy products (7.9 percent); and sauces, condiments and dressings (5 percent). @ https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/88497/eib-191.pdf?v=43206

The Polyskope 1.0 pathogen detection method utilizes Real Time PCR detection technology to detect the “Big Three” (Shiga Toxin Escherichia coli (STEC), Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes) foodborne pathogens responsible for the majority of foodborne illness and outbreaks. The system detects simultaneous any, or all three, of the major pathogens in a single overnight enrichment. Resulting in a 3-fold reduction in labor, media/reagent costs, regulatory burden, sample prep, media prep, laboratory space required, disposables used, and equipment required while still delivering results in 24 hours. PolySkope’s preferred platform is Thermo Fisher’s Applied QuantomStudio 5 96 well instrument. The assay just got AOAC PTM approval for the 3 assays. Currently approve matrices include: Ready-to-eat (RTE) turkey (25 g); Baby spinach (25g); raw ground beef (25g); and Stainless steel (4”x4” sponge). @ https://finance.yahoo.com/news/polyskope-labs-receives-aoac-performance-205200814.html

Marie-Lou Gaucher, a professor at the University of Montreal said that C. perfringens can be more prevalent in birds raised without antibiotics. There appear to be more reports of human illness attributed to C. perfringens. “We tend to forget that Clostridium perfringens is a significant foodborne pathogen,” she said. “Over the past few years, and especially in Canada, there appear to be more reports of human illness attributed to C. perfringens”. She noted that one of the processing plants had far more positive samples compared to the other. 64% of the positive environmental samples were identified after chilling — a surprising finding because it’s one of the last processing steps. @ https://poultryhealthtoday.com/c-perfringens-on-broiler-meat-can-survive-processing-potentially-sicken-consumers/?utm_source=Poultry+Health+Today+Newsletter&utm_campaign=c74eea92db-AAAP_antimicrobial_stewardship_PHT_1_8_2018&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5ac605299a-c74eea92db-315439141

The CDC reported as of April 18, 2018, 53 people have been reported infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157: H7 in 16 states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Washington). Thirty-one ill people have been hospitalized, including five people who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure. No deaths have been reported. Health officials had issued a warning for residents and restaurants about chopped romaine lettuce grown in the Yuma, Arizona. The outbreak investigation is ongoing and the responsible brand has not yet been identified. Various producers such as Fresh Foods Manufacturing Co. received notification from their romaine lettuce supplier that the products were being recalled due to E. coli O157: H7 concerns. According to US Department of Agriculture, although the supplier was not identified and no other known recalls related to this outbreak have been issued thus far.@ https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/19/health/chopped-romaine-lettuce-ecoli-outbreak/index.html