According to the CDC and FDA, the true number of sick people in the walnut E. coli O157:H7 outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. According to a FoodNet study, for E. coli O157:H7, a pathogen that typically causes bloody diarrhea, the degree of underreporting has been estimated at ~20 fold.[1] The CDC and FDA have reported that as of April 30, 2024, 12 people infected with E. coli O157:H7 have been reported from Washington and California. Two patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a seri ..read more

“The Revolution That Died on Its Way to Dinner” By Joe Fassler was published on March 2 in the New York Times.  It told of how the cultivated meat industry “was never a real prospect.” But Florida is still taking it for real. Yesterday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that outlaws the manufacture and distribution of so-called “lab-grown” meat in the state as a threat to Florida agriculture. “Take your fake lab-grown meat elsewhere,” DeSantis said.  “We are not doing that in the State of Florida.” SB 1084, as signed by DeSantis, is the first of its kind bill banning ..read more

A committee created after a Salmonella chocolate recall and temporary plant closure in 2022 will shortly report its findings. In August 2022, the board of directors of Strauss Group passed a resolution to establish the independent committee to investigate the recall in Israel, discuss the courses of action open to the company, and make recommendations to the board. The committee held its first meeting in December 2022, featuring the company’s legal counsel. More than 30 meetings have since taken place. The committee is expected to complete its work sometime in May 2024. A possible court case i ..read more

Hormel Foods Sales LLC is voluntarily recalling two varieties of PLANTERS products that were produced at one of its facilities in April.  These products are being recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The company did not report how the contamination was found. There have been no reports of illness related to this recall to date, and all retailers that received the affected product have been properly notified. This recall is being initiated with the knowledge of the US Food and Drug Administration. The products were only shipped to Pu ..read more

The Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture and Health warn consumers that raw milk sold under the Pure Pastures Dairy label may be contaminated. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture tested samples of the raw milk sold by Apple Valley Creamery, which tested positive for Campylobacter. The Department of Health reports that one person who drank the milk became sick with campylobacteriosis. The departments recommend that consumers immediately throw out raw milk with sell-by dates of April 3 through May 3. Officials said that milk can become contaminated with harmful bacteria, such as Campyl ..read more

McCormick & Company, Inc. of Hunt Valley, MD, is recalling French’s Original Crispy Fried Onions in various sizes because of the potential growth of Staphylococcus aureus. According to the recall posted online by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the recall was initiated on March 18, 2024, and is ongoing. The recalled products were distributed in Arizona and Illinois. Recalled products: FRENCH S CRISPY FRIED ONIONS ORIG 16/6 OZ, Case Pack – 16/6 OZ, Product Quantity: 6.0 ounce – 3,456 Units UPC: 041500220208 FRENCH S CRISPY FRIED ONIONS ORIG 240/26.5 OZ PDM Product Quantity: 26.5 ..read more

Maybe these aren’t mysteries but food science problems that will be quickly solved like all the others. Or not. The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is a highly contagious disease and often deadly in poultry and now other animals.   It is all leaving behind the feeling of mystery. In the recent week, it has brought dead cats and mammal-to-mammal transmissions along with reports of the danger of raw milk consumption. For example, Michigan public health officials have warned the public that unpasteurized, raw milk can harbor the virus. And, the New York Department of Agriculture tol ..read more

After more than a decade of discussion, the Food and Drug Administration has published a final rule for certain agricultural water used in the production of produce. The new rule was mandated by the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act. The FDA says the new rule reflects science and information gleaned from several produce-related outbreaks. The rule specifically addresses potential impacts on water from adjacent and nearby land, which includes the presence of animal feedlots. Such feedlots have been implicated in outbreaks from fresh produce. However, the FDA does not have the authority to go i ..read more

According to the country’s food agency, allergens in food were the main reason for recalls in New Zealand in 2023. Of 70 consumer-level recalls in 2023, 26 were due to allergens. Milk caused the most with 12, said New Zealand Food Safety. Microbiological contamination led to 23 recalls, and 14 were due to physical contamination, such as glass, metal, and plastic. Ten recalls were because of Salmonella Montevideo, and four because of Salmonella Livingstone. A dairy product was recalled because of the non-pathogenic Listeria seeligeri. One recall was because of the possible presence of Hepatitis ..read more

While nothing compares to attending the Food Safety Summit in person next week at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, you can still share the experience remotely. Enjoy the chance to watch select sessions streamed live from the Summit at no cost. On Tuesday, May 7 from 12:30 – 2:30 pm CT a panel of government and industry experts will share their insights during a two-hour workshop on Traceability—Best Practice Sharing.   Traceability programs are an important component of food safety and quality programs. The design and management of these programs has rep ..read more