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The illness in this outbreak started after May 20, 2018, and seems to be ongoing. On July 13, 2018, 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. As of August 23, 2018, a total of 507 laboratory-confirmed cases of Cyclospora infection were reported in people who consumed salads from McDonald’s restaurants; the cases were reported by 15 states and New York City. The investigation is ongoing and the FDA is currently reviewing distribution and supplier information for romaine and carrots. McDonald’s reports that they stopped using the Fresh Express salad mix at impacted restaurants in IL, IA, IN, WI, MI, OH, MN, NE, SD, MT, ND, KY, WV, and MO on July 13, 2018. No products have been recalled in association with this outbreak. At least 24 people have been hospitalized; no deaths have been reported. Illnesses that started after July 12, 2018, might not have been reported yet due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported. For Cyclospora infections, this can take up to six weeks. @ https://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm613513.htm?utm_campaign=Outbreak_08232018_Cyclospora&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

A new article published in Eurosurveillance claims that more than 50% of severe Listeriosis cases in the EU belong to clusters. These clusters are not detected fast enough by the current European surveillance system. In this study, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) analyzed 2,726 human Listeria monocytogenes isolates from 27 countries between 2010 and 2015. Approximately 1/3 of the cases that were identified as part of a cluster affected more than one country, and frequently lasting for several years. Because only two listeriosis outbreaks were reported in the EU in 2016 and five in 2015, one can conclude that many of them have gone undetected. The use of whole genome sequencing (WGS) to characterize listeriosis cases could speed up the detection of clusters by up to 5 months. The faster detection of clusters could prevent further cases from the same source. In 2016, 2,536 cases were reported, including 247 deaths. The study also defines the most appropriate typing methods for earlier detection and investigation of isolated cross-border clusters and outbreaks of Listeria monocytogenes. @ https://ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/listeria-surveillance-new-eu-wide-study-reveals-most-outbreaks-remain-undetected

Radagast Pet Food, Inc. of Portland, OR expended its voluntary recall to include an additional quantity of Rad Cat Raw Diet across all varieties with Best By dates of 10/19/18 through 12/3/19 because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. No pet or human illnesses caused by consumption of or exposure to Rad Cat Raw Diet products have been reported to date. The company has identified a source of potential contamination in its facility. Radagast has taken proactive measures to eradicate the source and it is confident that its corrective actions have eliminated the source of potential contamination related to this recall. This expanded recall will capture any additional lots that may have been affected. @ https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm617868.htm?utm_campaign=Radagast%20Pet%20Food%20Voluntarily%20Expands%20Recall%20to%20Include%20Rad%20Cat%20Raw%20Diet%20Products&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

The global food safety testing market was valued at $11,122.53 million in 2016. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2% during 2018–2023. Some of the growth is due to the increase in food-borne illnesses due to contaminated food products. Microbiological testing often requires a long time to get results, which delays time to market of food products. Rapid testing decreased the testing time, but its high cost is affecting the market growth. Globally, incidences of food-borne diseases are increasing, and the most common cause of outbreaks are Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholera, Campylobacter and Listeria monocytogenes. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) has reported that every year, one in 10 people get ill due to food-borne illness, most importantly, children under five years are at a higher risk. Major food-borne outbreaks have occurred in every continent in the past decade. Such incidences have made companies incur a heavy loss of sales and brand equity, making consumers aware of the potential health hazards. Pathogen testing dominates the food safety testing market, with fruit & vegetable testing being the largest. Recent concerns about microbial contaminants, such as E. coli and Salmonella, have driven the pathogen safety testing market. Pathogen testing is growing at a faster rate in the food safety testing market, due to the serious health effects of pathogens and the immediate impact of the quality of the foods. North America constituted the largest food safety testing market in 2016. The Asia-Pacific market is likely to record the fastest CAGR, primarily driven by the increase in testing procedures from the potential regions of China and India. Authorities, like the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, and China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) has been established to take serious steps toward ensuring food safety. @ https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/7f84pz/the_global_food?w=4