FoodWorld

FSN

A researcher at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale is working on using artificial intelligence (AI) to detect the deadly pathogen Salmonella before it ever enters the food supply.

Anas Alsobeh, assistant professor of information technology, recently received a $150,000 grant from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to develop an AI-based rapid detection method for finding Salmonella in onions. The system combines microscopic imaging with AI, which compares samples to a large-scale dataset containing images of bacterial microcolonies at early stages of growth.

The technology integrates convolutional neural networks that can automatically detect the presence of the bacteria. The grant also funds hands-on workshops to train stakeholders on using intelligent imaging in food inspection processes.

FSN

Norway has reported its largest foodborne outbreak in almost 50 years with 230 people sick.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) said 105 people are infected with Salmonella Newport and 120 with Salmonella Typhimurium. The remaining five are infected with other types of Salmonella.

Patients became ill from mid-October to mid-December 2024. They range in age from less than 1 to 90 years old with a median age of 47.5 years old. A total of 159 patients are women and 76 people have been hospitalized.

Sick people live in different parts of the country but Vestland has the most patients with more than 70.

Seeds from Italian supplier
Umaer Naseer, acting section head of infection control and emergency preparedness at FHI, said there has been a large increase in sick people from when the agency last reported on the outbreak in December 2024 when 49 people were ill.

“This is not unexpected as it takes time from sampling of those who have become ill to the final results of the laboratory analyses. Most of the infected people became ill in the period between November and December 2024, around the time of the withdrawal of organic alfalfa sprouts.”

In November 2024, organic alfalfa sprouts were withdrawn from the market by Norske Spirer because of suspected Salmonella contamination. Seeds used in sprout production came from a large Italian company, which also supplied other EU countries.

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) and Norwegian Veterinary Institute have detected the same type of Salmonella in sprouts that the lab at FHI found in patients.

“This is one of the largest Salmonella outbreaks linked to a food product we have had in Norway, at least since the 1980s, when chocolate made over 300 people sick,” said Lindis Folkvord, section manager for biological food safety at the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

Sweden had related outbreak
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority interviewed patients, obtained purchase information and looked at the distribution pattern of products. Samples of sprouts were taken at the company and from individuals who fell ill. Samples were also taken in the production premises.

The Norwegian Veterinary Institute detected Salmonella Newport in sprouts and in the production environment at a sprout producer.

Sweden also reported a large outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts from the Italian supplier. From August to November 2024, 100 people from 18 regions fell ill with one of 14 genetically closely related bacterial variants of Salmonella Typhimurium sequence type 36. Of the cases, 65 were women and 35 were men. They ranged in age from 1 to 89 years old with a median of 43 years old.

In Finland, Salmonella Kisarawe was detected in sprouts from Italy but was not found in patients that had consumed the sprouts. These three people were infected by Salmonella Typhimurium. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) said it did not know yet if cases were linked to patients in other countries but it was investigating the situation.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) are working with authorities in Norway and other EU countries to investigate measures that should be taken to prevent similar outbreaks in the future.

FSN

Researchers at the University of Oxford are part of a team that has received a grant to develop vaccines against Campylobacter.

The project also involves researchers at Centre Suisse de Recherche Scientifique in Cote d’Ivoire; the Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; and the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research.

The Ineos Oxford Institute has received a £5 million ($6.1 million) Wellcome Discovery Award to develop vaccines against pathogens that cause diarrhea. Diarrheal diseases are a major threat to public health, especially for children in low and middle income countries (LMICs).

Campylobacter is the most common bacterial cause of diarrhea. It is prevalent in livestock such as poultry, cattle, pigs, and sheep and can be transmitted to humans via contaminated water and food, especially chicken meat. However, there is under-reporting and declining antibiotic effectiveness.

The process of disease transmission is unclear because Campylobacter is very common in the guts of wild and domestic animals and can be transmitted easily to humans. Limited laboratory and diagnostics facilities, and low patient attendance at health facilities in LMICs make it hard for scientists to study the disease and find treatments.

mdpi

Abstract

Foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella spp.and Campylobacter spp. pose significant threats to the safety of broiler meat worldwide. However, data on their prevalence in retail chicken meat in Saudi Arabia are scarce. This context mainly concerns the vast poultry market in Saudi Arabia, which may double by 2030. The overall objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. in retail chickens from small, medium-sized, and large production companies in Saudi Arabia. Of the 212 chicken samples tested, Salmonella was detected in 9.3% of samples, all identified as Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis. Campylobacter was more prevalent, found in 35.8% of samples, with Campylobacter jejuni accounting for 26.4% and Campylobacter coli for 9.3%. Pathogen prevalence was higher in small-scale than in medium-sized and large producers. Salmonella Enteritidis isolates were resistant to nalidixic acid (90%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and tetracycline (70%). Most Campylobacter coli isolates (90%) exhibited resistance to erythromycin, clindamycin, and gentamicin, followed by tetracycline (80%). Campylobacter jejuni isolates showed high resistance to erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline, azithromycin, and nalidixic acid (75–92%). Multidrug resistance (MDR) was observed in all Campylobacter jejuni isolates, 90% of Campylobacter coli isolates, and 70% of Salmonella isolates. These findings underscore the urgent need for adherence to food safety guidelines, particularly in small-scale poultry farms. The pervasive presence of MDR Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. in broiler meat calls for enhanced surveillance, stricter enforcement of food safety practices, and public health initiatives to mitigate the risk of foodborne diseases in Saudi Arabia.

FSN

More than 130 people have fallen sick after eating at a restaurant in Hong Kong.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health has recorded 138 cases linked to food served on different days at the Golden Lilies International Banquet Hall in Kowloon Bay.

Four clusters are under investigation. The latest involves 18 people, including one male and 17 females. They had lunch at the restaurant on Jan. 11 and developed symptoms of food poisoning including vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain and fever, six to 68 hours later.

In total, 54 males and 84 females are sick. Among them, 65 people sought medical advice, while three required hospitalization and were discharged after treatment. Patients are aged between 25 and 91.

Illness investigations
An investigation by the CHP revealed sick people had consumed a variety of items, including “siu Mei,” such as roasted piglet and chicken and other hot dishes. The CHP and the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department have taken food samples for testing, and examined the cooking process and hygiene of the restaurant.

This revealed the roasted piglet and chicken was prepared too early in advance and was not reheated before consumption. The risk of cross-contamination during the preparation process could also not be ruled out. 

CFS told the premises to stop serving all “siu mei” involved, suspend the operation of this section, clean and disinfect the premises, improve food preparation processes and hygiene, and provide food safety and environmental hygiene education to staff.

CHP appealed to people who dined at the restaurant between Jan. 8 and 12 and developed gastrointestinal symptoms to call its hotline for a health assessment.

CHP is also investigating another food poisoning cluster affecting 22 people.

Five males and 17 females aged between 28 and 65, developed abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and fever about 11 to 51 hours after having dinner at Kyukyoku Do at the Circle Tower in Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay, on Jan. 12.

Fifteen people sought medical advice but none of them were hospitalized. Stool specimens from two patients were positive for Norovirus upon laboratory testing. Epidemiological findings suggest raw oysters and crab salad as the likely source.

he Connecticut Department of Agricultural has issued a “stop sale” and recall on raw milk from Nature View Dairy because of two cases of illness tied to the dairy’s unpasteurized  milk were confirmed.

The two patients developed Campylobacter infections after drinking the farm’s raw milk. The farm is complying with the shut down of its raw milk operations and is cooperating with the state’s investigation, which included additional samples which also tested positive for the bacterium common in raw milk and a cause of foodborne illness, according to the agricultural department.

“Consumers should be cautious when ingesting raw milk products, especially those in high-risk categories,” said Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt.

Food and beverages contaminated with Campylobacter may not look, smell or taste bad.

Symptoms of Campylobacter infection can include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps that may be accompanied by vomiting and nausea. Symptoms usually start two to five days after the person ingests campylobacter bacteria and last about one week. 

The state Department of Public Health advises anyone who has those symptoms more than two days after drinking milk from the farm should consult with their doctor.

The farm sells at farm and natural food stores and grocers in the state.
Consumers who have purchased bottled raw milk from Nature View Dairy should discontinue use, and either discard, or return the bottle to where they purchased the raw milk for a full refund. Consumers with questions should contact Nature View Dairy at 860-355-3276 during the daytime hours.

mdpi

1. Introduction

“In spite of over 100 years of research and millions of dollars spent, food safety remains a worldwide public health issue (Christoper Griffith cited in Yiannas (2009) [1])”. This emblematic statement continues to reflect the current challenges posed by food safety issues. It is estimated that unsafe food costs low- and middle-income countries around 110 billion USD a year [2]. Developed countries also face a similar challenge. Pathogens such as Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes continue to jeopardise societal health, and pose a significant risk to food safety in the United States and Europe [3,4,5]. In this sense, it is reasonable to ask the question why do foodborne illnesses still exist in a connected world despite technological advancements, including the advent of artificial intelligence and various technological devices? There is no direct answer to this question, but many authors in the field would agree that this is because food, at least the majority of it, is farmed, produced, handled and distributed by humans. This ongoing challenge underscores the critical role of the human factor in the entire food production and consumption chain. We do not yet have a one-size-fits-all solution for food safety. But there are some interesting approaches that focus on human behaviour which are promising, even if there are still some obstacles to overcome.

In recent years, research on organisational factors affecting food safety, particularly in relation to food safety culture, has increased significantly [6]. Food safety culture is a deeply rooted organisational construct that encompasses shared beliefs, behaviours and assumptions among all employees within an organisation [7]. The theoretical framework of food safety culture emphasises the importance of effective communication, active leadership and adequate risk perception in promoting a strong food safety culture within an organisation. However, understanding risk perception is a complex endeavour, even within the specific field of food safety research [8]. Risk perception is the judgement of an individual when they are asked to characterise and evaluate an action, practice or technology that is considered hazardous [9]. Experts typically define risk in terms of mortality rates; however, the public perception of risk is influenced by a broader range of factors that go beyond mere danger [10,11]. These factors include perceptions of fairness, control, familiarity and moral implications. Consequently, the risks that pose the greatest threat to human life are not necessarily perceived as the most frightening by the public (see, for example, the COVID-19 pandemic). Furthermore, risk assessments based on technical or scientific data do not always match public perception [11]. This discrepancy often results from the “affect heuristic”, a cognitive bias in which people rely heavily on emotions to guide their judgements and decisions [12]. Consequently, effectively influencing public risk perception presents a significant challenge for us as specialists.

In light of these factors, it is clear that risk is characterised by a series of deliberate decisions made by people who want to achieve the best possible outcome for themselves, or others, given the resources and circumstances available to them [13]. Often, the most desirable outcome takes precedence over efficiency, practicality or feasibility over purely health-related or supportive considerations. Consequently, examining how risk perception, communication strategies and various cognitive variables influence food safety behaviour is both timely and important. The articles presented in this Special Issue contribute significantly to our understanding of how to effectively communicate with the public to improve food safety.

FSN

The Food and Drug Administration uses import alerts to enforce U.S. food safety regulations for food from foreign countries. The agency updates and modifies the alerts as needed.

Recent modifications to FDA’s import alerts, as posted by the agency, are listed below.

Use the chart below to view import alerts. Click here to go to the FDA page with links to details on specific alerts.

FSN

An outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis in Canada has been traced to mini pastries. The implicated pastries have been recalled nationwide.

As of Jan. 19, there were 61 confirmed patients, according to Public Health Canada. Seventeen people have required hospitalization. The sick people are between age 3 and age 88. Patients became ill between late September 2024 and mid-December 2024 

Many people who became sick reported eating mini pastries at catered events or other establishments where the recalled products were served, according to the health department. The affected provinces and number of sick people in them are British Columbia with 4, Alberta with 2, Ontario with 21, Quebec with 33, and New Brunswick with 1.

Although the pastries have been recalled, there will likely be more people identified as outbreak patients because there is a period between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported to public health officials. For this outbreak, the illness reporting period is between 16 and 41 days.

There is concern that businesses may still have the recalled products in their freezers because of their long shelf life, which extends into November this year. This outbreak may not be limited to the provinces or territories with known illnesses. The recalled mini pastries were distributed to: British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.

livsmedelsverket

After salmonella was detected during sampling, Sevan recalls Tahini in a 200g bottle and Half vanilla and Half pistachio in a 400g jar.

Salmonella has been confirmed in a few samples and as a precautionary measure, all products with a best before date are being recalled as below. Salmonella is a health risk and we urge consumers who purchase any of the affected products not to consume them but instead to throw away the product.

Consumers who are affected by any compensation for discarded products are welcome to contact our consumer contact via a form on our website https://sevan.se/om-oss/kontakta-oss/reklamation

– At Sevan, we always carry out thorough quality checks on all our products and the safety of our consumers is a top priority. After salmonella was found in tahini and halva, both we and our supplier have introduced extended sampling before release for sale. We regret the incident and take the situation very seriously,” says Elin Ingves Pyk, CEO.