In the news

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that Rich Products Corporation, a Vineland, N.J. recalled approximately 3,420 pounds of beef meatball products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes. The problem was discovered on Jan. 24, 2018 when FSIS received notification from the firm that they shipped adulterated product into commerce. The products were shipped to distributors in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. @ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-006-2018-release

EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) has issued a scientific opinion on Listeria monocytogenes and risks to public health from consumption of contaminated ready-to-eat foods. The report covers data from 2008 to 2015 and concludes that Listeria cases have increased in people 75+ and pregnant woman. They attribute this trend to the rise in consumption of ready-to-eat foods and an improved monitoring system in some Member States. The EFS experts estimated that 1/3 of cases of listeriosis are due to growth of Listeria monocytogenes in food prepared and stored at home in the refrigerator. @ http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/180124

JustFoodForDogs (JFFD) of Los Alamitos, CA recalled 3 daily diets for dogs because the green beans included in the meals might contain Listeria monocytogenes. While Listeriosis is rare in dogs and when infected most dogs have mild symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. Also, there is risk to humans if they were to ingest the dog food or come into contact with contaminated feces from a pet that has eaten the food.The potential for contamination was discovered after a purchaser of JFFD products reported to JFFD veterinary medical staff that her dogs had become ill. Tests to date confirm that green beans purchased from a restaurant supply distributor were positive for Listeria monocytogenes. @ https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm593097.htm?utm_campaign=JustFoodForDogs%20Voluntarily%20Recalls%20Three%20Daily%20Diets%20because%20of%20Possible%20Listeria&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

Eight people from three states —Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota — have been infected with Salmonella montevideo. “Epidemiologic evidence indicates that raw sprouts at Jimmy John’s restaurants are a likely source of this multistate outbreak,” CDC’s outbreak notice said. Jimmy John’s took all raw sprouts off the menu at all 2,727 franchise locations. @ http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2018/01/record-shows-jimmy-johns-sprouts-repeatedly-sicken-patrons/#.WmdlO6inGM9