In the news

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) awarded 3M™ Molecular Detection System the primary method to be used by USDA FSIS for the detection of Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli O157 (including H7). These are the 3 most common pathogens requiring testing for food safety in meat, poultry, and egg-related products. The 3M system was chosen after a rigorous performance evaluation against other commercially available methods. The 3M Molecular Detection System combines novel technologies – isothermal DNA amplification and bioluminescence detection – resulting in a fast, accurate, easy-to-use application that overcomes some limitations of PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) pathogen testing methods. It simultaneously accommodates individual, pathogen-specific assays, enabling users in meat, poultry and other food and beverage categories to run up to 96 different tests concurrently for a range of organisms and across various food and environmental samples. The 3M™ Molecular Detection Assays have been validated by leading scientific validation organizations throughout the world (AOAC® INTERNATIONAL, AFNOR, MicroVal) for a comprehensive variety of sample types. @ https://www-yahoo-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.yahoo.com/amphtml/finance/news/usda-food-safety-inspection-chooses-214500919.html

Radagast Pet Food, Inc. of Portland, OR recalled three lots of Rad Cat Raw Diet Free-Range Chicken Recipe because testing results indicate they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Company is also recalled one lot of Rad Cat Raw Diet Pasture-Raised Venison Recipe because testing results indicate it has the potential to be contaminated with Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli O121. No pet or human illnesses have been reported. The three lots of Rad Cat Raw Diet Free-Range Chicken Recipe were shipped to distributors in the US in May and June 2018. The Company discovered these lots were potentially contaminated during enhanced quality testing it conducted as a follow-up to its March 2018 recall. @ https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm612737.htm

The same strain of Listeria from Hungary hit the UK.. The Food Standards Agency said the frozen vegetables may contain Listeria monocytogenes as a result 43 sweet corn-based products have been withdrawn by major supermarket supplier Greenyard Frozen UK. Own-brand products for Tesco, Aldi and Sainsbury’s are among those affected. @ https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-england-44739472

According to a report published by CDC, FDA, and USDA in December of 2017 and updated in April of 2018, 58% of Listeria, 51% of E. coli O157:H7, 46% of Salmonella and 33% of Campylobacter foodborne cases are due to produce. In May 2018 9 food safety groups wrote FDA commissioner urging him to classify leafy greens as a high-risk food and to establish recordkeeping requirements to improve traceability. “We were concerned that the agency has repeatedly faced difficulty tracking down the source of contamination in outbreaks linked to leafy greens,” says Sarah Sorscher, deputy director of regulatory affairs, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, one of the groups behind the letter. Sorscher advises produce professionals to move to electronic recordkeeping, ideally with blockchain technology that offers decentralized information that is coordinated and standard between all parts of the supply chain. @ https://www.foodqualityandsafety.com/article/food-safety-groups-urge-fda-to-designate-leafy-greens-as-high-risk/