Category Archives: Food Microbiology Research

USA – FDA Warning Letter – Bainbridge Beverage West, LLC- Microbial Risk

FDA

The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected your juice manufacturing facility, located at 2335 Del Monte Street, West Sacramento, CA 95691 on June 9, 10, 22, 24, and 29, 2022. We found that you have serious violations of the FDA’s juice Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation, Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 120 (21 CFR Part 120). In accordance with 21 CFR 120.9, failure of a processor to have and implement a HACCP plan that complies with the requirements of 21 CFR Part 120 renders the juice products adulterated within the meaning of Section 402(a)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (the Act) [21 U.S.C. § 342(a)(4)]. Accordingly, your juice products are adulterated in that they have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have been contaminated with filth, or whereby they may have been rendered injurious to health. You may find the Act, FDA’s juice HACCP regulations and the Juice HACCP Hazards and Controls Guidance through links in FDA’s home page at www.fda.gov.External Link Disclaimer

To date, the agency has not received a written response from your firm regarding the violations noted on the Form FDA-483, Inspectional Observations, which was issued to your firm at the conclusion of the inspection.

USA – FDA Warning Letter Big Olaf Creamery LLC dba Big Olaf – Listeria monocytogenes

FDA

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected your ready-to-eat (RTE) ice cream manufacturing facility, located at 2001 Cattlemen Rd Unit 123, Sarasota, Florida, from July 19 to September 01, 2022. The inspection was initiated as part of a joint investigation with the Florida Department of Health (FL DOH) and Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS) of a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) infections linked to ice cream supplied by your facility. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 28 ill people from 11 states were infected with the outbreak strain of L. monocytogenes. On July 13, 2022, your firm recalled all ice cream products, lots, and expiration dates of Big Olaf brand ice cream through June 30, 2022, because they had the potential of being contaminated with L. monocytogenes. CDC and FDA have determined, based upon the epidemiological data and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) matches between clinical and FDACS environmental and finished product samples that ice cream manufactured at this facility was the source of this multistate L. monocytogenes outbreak.

During the inspection of your facility, FDA found serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventative Controls for Human Food regulation (CGMP & PC rule), Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 117 (21 CFR Part 117).

Research – Concept about the Virulence Factor of Legionella

MDPI

Abstract

Pathogenic species of Legionella can infect human alveolar macrophages through Legionella-containing aerosols to cause a disease called Legionellosis, which has two forms: a flu-like Pontiac fever and severe pneumonia named Legionnaires’ disease (LD). Legionella is an opportunistic pathogen that frequently presents in aquatic environments as a biofilm or protozoa parasite. Long-term interaction and extensive co-evolution with various genera of amoebae render Legionellae pathogenic to infect humans and also generate virulence differentiation and heterogeneity. Conventionally, the proteins involved in initiating replication processes and human macrophage infections have been regarded as virulence factors and linked to pathogenicity. However, because some of the virulence factors are associated with the infection of protozoa and macrophages, it would be more accurate to classify them as survival factors rather than virulence factors. Given that the molecular basis of virulence variations among non-pathogenic, pathogenic, and highly pathogenic Legionella has not yet been elaborated from the perspective of virulence factors, a comprehensive explanation of how Legionella infects its natural hosts, protozoans, and accidental hosts, humans is essential to show a novel concept regarding the virulence factor of Legionella. In this review, we overviewed the pathogenic development of Legionella from protozoa, the function of conventional virulence factors in the infections of protozoa and macrophages, the host’s innate immune system, and factors involved in regulating the host immune response, before discussing a probably new definition for the virulence factors of Legionella.

USA – Food Code 2022

FDA

Food Code 2022

The Food Code is a model for safeguarding public health and ensuring food is unadulterated and honestly presented when offered to the consumer. It represents FDA’s best advice for a uniform system of provisions that address the safety and protection of food offered at retail and in food service.

This model is offered for adoption by local, state, and federal governmental jurisdictions for administration by the various departments, agencies, bureaus, divisions, and other units within each jurisdiction that have been delegated compliance responsibilities for food service, retail food stores, or food vending operations. Alternatives that offer an equivalent level of public health protection to ensure that food at retail and foodservice is safe are recognized in this model.

The 2022 Food Code (10th edition) reflects the agency’s continued commitment to maintaining cooperative programs with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments.

The 2022 edition reflects the input of regulatory officials, industry, academia, and consumers that participated in the 2020 biennial meeting of the Conference for Food Protection (CFP) (held in 2021).

Members of FDA’s National Retail Food Team are available to assist regulatory officials, educators, and the industry in their efforts to adopt, implement, and understand the provisions of the FDA Food Code and the Retail Program Standards. Inquiries may be sent to retailfoodprotectionteam@fda.hhs.gov or directly to a Retail Food Specialist located in one of FDA’s three Retail Food Protection Branches across the country.

Food Code 2022 (PDF: 4.68MB)

Summary of Changes in the 2022 FDA Food Code

Italy – Silly herring (cold-smoked herring fillets) – Incorrect Expiry Date- Microbiological Risk

Salute

Brand : Il Borgo del Gusto – Friultrota di Pighin

Denomination : Silly herring (cold-smoked herring fillets)

Reason for reporting : Recall for microbiological risk

Publication date : 28 December 2022

Documentation

Documentation

Singapore – Lifting of suspension of Rasel Catering Singapore after Food Poisoning Outbreak

SFA

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has lifted the suspension of Rasel Catering Singapore Pte Ltd located at 253 Pandan Loop Singapore 128432 today. As the licensee has implemented the required measures as stipulated by SFA, operations can be resumed.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) and SFA received reports of gastroenteritis involving 345 persons after consuming food prepared by Rasel Catering Singapore Pte Ltd between 8 and 16 November 2022. None were hospitalised. To protect consumers from further public health risks, the food business operations of Rasel Catering Singapore Pte Ltd was suspended by SFA from 18 November to 29 December 2022.

Research – Recent Trends and Applications of Nanoencapsulated Bacteriocins against Microbes in Food Quality and Safety

MDPI

Abstract

Bacteriocins are ribosomal-synthesized peptides or proteins produced by bacterial strains and can inhibit pathogenic bacteria. Numerous factors influence the potential activity of bacteriocins in food matrices. For example, food additives usage, chemical composition, physical conditions of food, and sensitivity of proteolytic enzymes can constrain the application of bacteriocins as beneficial food preservatives. However, novel bacteriocin nanoencapsulation has appeared as an encouraging solution. In this review, we highlight the bacteriocins produced by Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria including lactic acid bacteria that have shown positive results as potential food preservatives. In addition, this review encompasses the major focus on bacteriocins encapsulation with nanotechnology to enhance the antimicrobial action of bacteriocins. Several strategies can be employed to encapsulate bacteriocins; however, the nanotechnological approach is one of the most effective strategies for avoiding limitations. Nanoparticles such as liposomes, chitosan, protein, and polysaccharides have been discussed to show their importance in the nanoencapsulation method. The nanoparticles are combined with bacteriocins to develop the nano-encapsulated bacteriocins from Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria including LAB. In food systems, nanoencapsulation enhances the stability and antimicrobial functionality of active peptides. This nanotechnological application provides a formulation of a broad range of antimicrobial peptides at the industry-scale level. Nano-formulated bacteriocins have been discussed along with examples to show a broader antimicrobial spectrum, increase bacteriocins’ applicability, extend antimicrobial spectrum and enhance stability.

Austrian firm in financial difficulty following a deadly Listeria outbreak

Food Safety News

A company in Austria that was linked to a deadly Listeria outbreak earlier this year is in financial trouble.

AKV, an association to protect creditor rights recognized by Austrian authorities, deals with insolvency cases in courts.

It reported that Käserei Gloggnitz can no longer meet its payment obligations. Insolvency proceedings have been opened by the regional court in Wiener Neustadt. A hearing is planned for early February 2023.

The reasons for the insolvency position are unknown, according to AKV. So the impact of the Listeria monocytogenes incident on the company is unclear.

As part of the proceedings, it will have to be checked whether the dairy producer will be continued and restructured or if existing assets will be inventoried and valued.

Research – The Use of Natural Methods to Control Foodborne Biofilms

MDPI

Abstract

Biofilms are large aggregates of various species of bacteria or other microorganisms tightly attached to surfaces through an intricate extracellular matrix. These complex microbial communities present quite the challenge in the food processing industry, as conditions such as raw meats and diverse food product content in contact with workers, drains, machinery, and ventilation systems, make for prime circumstances for contamination. Adding to the challenge is the highly resistant nature of these biofilm growths and the need to keep in mind that any antimicrobials utilized in these situations risk health implications with human consumption of the products that are being processed in these locations. For that reason, the ideal means of sanitizing areas of foodborne biofilms would be natural means. Herein, we review a series of innovative natural methods of targeting foodborne biofilms, including bacteriocins, bacteriophages, fungi, phytochemicals, plant extracts, essential oils, gaseous and aqueous control, photocatalysis, enzymatic treatments, and ultrasound mechanisms.

Research – Study Confirms that Raw Milk Is Linked to Foodborne Illness

Food Poisoning Bulletin

A new study has confirmed that raw milk is linked to foodborne illness. During the time period of 2013 to 2018, 75 outbreaks that caused 675 illnesses were linked to unpasteurized milk. Of these illnesses, almost half were among children and teenagers aged o to 19 years. Given that the consumption of raw milk is low in this country, with only about 1 to 2% of the adult population buying it, these numbers are shocking. The study points out that almost 80% of those outbreaks occurred in states where the sale of raw milk is allowed.