Effective media communication can be crucial to prevent the spread of foodborne illness outbreaks and to avoid misinformation, global government officials said at a meeting to discuss lessons learned from recent outbreaks.
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Category Archives: FDA
Media Foodborne Illness Outbreak Communication Needs Work.
Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Illness, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall
Tagged research
FDA – Guidelines Testing for Salmonella Species in Human Foods and Direct-Human-Contact Animal Foods
This guidance is intended for firms that manufacture, process, pack or hold human foods or direct-human-contact animal foods intended for distribution to consumers, institutions, or food processors, in the USA. Although it does not apply to egg producers which have separate guidance.
The purpose of this guidance is to address testing procedures for Salmonella species (Salmonella spp.) in human foods and direct-human-contact animal foods, and the interpretation of test results, when the presence of Salmonella spp. in the food may render the food injurious to human health.
Posted in Bacteria, FDA, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella
Tagged salmonella spp
CDC – Advice Raw Sprouts
The most recent outbreak of food borne illness linked to raw sprouts is a restaurant-based outbreak of E. coli O26 associated with consumption of raw clover sprouts served on sandwiches at certain Jimmy John’s locations in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Wisconsin.
Like other restaurant chains and some large food retailers, Jimmy John’s has now removed sprouts from its menu offerings because of the inherent risk of pathogen contamination in this area of fresh produce.
FDA-Regulated Food Recalls Surged in Last Quarter 2011
Foods regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were recalled 50 percent more in the fourth quarter last year and affected over 80 percent more units when compared with the previous period, according to the ExpertRECALL ™ Index.
Posted in Clostridium botulinum, E.coli, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Salmonella
Tagged fda, food and drug, food and drug administration, food and drug administration fda, food safety news
USDA – Extends Deadline for the Start of Testing for Six STEC E.coli
A major meat safety initiative by the USDA under the Obama Administration will be delayed three months to give the industry extra time to validate their test methods for detecting six additional types of toxic E. coli.
USDA Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook
The Guidebook contains current protocols for analytical tests required by FSIS regulatory activities on meat, poultry and egg products. Specifically, microbiological methods are presented for sample preparation, isolation and identification of the major foodborne pathogenic microorganisms and their toxins, meat tissue species identification, and the detection of extraneous materials and antimicrobial residues. Media and reagent formulations, and Most Probable Number Tables are contained in an appendix.
Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Technology, Food Testing, Microbiology, USDA
FDA Recall – Hard Boiled Eggs – Listeria monocytogenes
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is recalling hard-cooked eggs, as well as prepared foods that contain hard-cooked eggs, sold between January 23 and February 1, 2012 because the eggs have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
There have been no confirmed reports of illness in connection with these products. Wegmans has placed automated phone calls to customers who purchased the products using their Shoppers Club card.
According to Michael Foods, the recall was initiated after lab testing revealed that some of the eggs within the recalled lot dates may have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
US Raw Milk – Campylobacter Outbreak
Six people have been infected with Campylobacter in an outbreak linked to raw milk from a farm in Pennsylvania, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said Friday.
Three cases of campylobacteris have been reported in Pennsylvania and three in Maryland. All six infected individuals drank unpasteurized milk from the Family Cow dairy in Chambersburg, PA, according to the health department news release.
FDA – Mock Salt Recall – Salmonella
It is quite interesting to see where pathogenic organisms can be found, I spend quite some time telling clients to be aware of control statements such as organisms will not grow below this pH, Temperature, aW etc. There is always a difference between growth and persistence and the organisms do not always know about the limits and tolerance they are supposed to have.
January 23, 2012 – University Place, Washington- Jones’ Seasoning Blends LLC announced a voluntary recall of Jones’ Mock Salt Original as well as Jones’ Mock Salt Spicy Southwest Blend due to the potential contamination of Salmonella.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this voluntary recall.
This recall has been initiated due to possible Salmonella contamination of the celery seeds ingredient used in Jones Mock Salt. Jones Seasoning Blends LLC is not responsible for the contamination of Salmonella. The supplier of the celery seeds has been recalling the product and Jones Seasoning Blends LLC has also taken every action possible in notifying the public.
The following affected products were directly distributed to grocery stores and markets in California, Minnesota, and Washington and it was also sold through internet orders on http://www.jonesmocksalt.com:
Jones’ Mock Salt Original: Organic Salt Free Seasoning, 1.6 oz bottles (UPC 0 94922 16616 6), 12 oz bags (UPC 0 94922 07199 6) and 16 oz bags (0 94922 16616 6).
Jones’ Mock Salt Spicy Southwest Blend: Organic Salt Free Seasoning, 1.6 oz bottles (UPC 0 94922 01560 0).
There is no lot number identifying the bottles or bags. Any products purchased from July 1, 2011 to December 14, 2011 should be destroyed.
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