On July 12, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) launched an investigation into a multistate outbreak of listeriosis linked to retail-sliced deli meats. The investigation was triggered when the Maryland Department of Health detected Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of liverwurst. In response, the Maryland Department of Health, in collaboration
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Consumer Reports takes on Salmonella
In a comment letter filed with the USDA today, Consumer Reports called on the agency to strengthen its proposed regulatory framework that would keep poultry contaminated with Salmonella above a certain level off the market and subject to recall. The framework is urgently needed, given the large number of poultry plants that pose a higher…
90 people sick by E. coli tainted Romain Lettuce and the FDA still will not reveal source
What we do know. Outbreak posting was 12/4/2024 as an E. coli O157:H7 event now tied to Romaine Lettuce.* The FDA says that 88 are sick and that the investigation is still Active and the notes that Traceback , Inspection and Sampling has been Initiated.
*Earlier the FDA said: The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with…
Another Listeria Outbreak brewing on top of another one – what you need to know
A new Listeria monocytogenes outbreak from an unknown source has been detected by the Food and Drug Administration.
At least 34 patients are confirmed in the outbreak, which was first posted by the FDA on Jan. 15. The agency has begun traceback but has not reported what foods are being traced. The FDA has not…
A Salmonella Snack from the past – Veggie Booty
I keep bumping into defense lawyers that were involved in this 2007 Salmonella Outbreak – Small World.
Public health officials in OutbreakNet (the network of epidemiologists and other public health officials, facilitated by CDC, who investigate outbreaks of foodborne, waterborne, and other enteric illnesses nationwide) are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Wandsworth infections. Salmonella Wandsworth is a rare…
Has FSIS been “asleep at the switch” since 2022? How could they let Boar’s Head operate like this?
And, where is the Inspector General’s Report? And, where are the Congressional Hearings?
Here is the final paragraph from the USDA/FISS Food Safety Assessment of the Boar’s Head in 2022 plant that in 2024 would sicken 61 – killing 10 with Listeria-tainted Liverwurst:
An analysis of the [below] stated NRs (non-compliances) indicates when not adequately…
FDA finds Taylor Farms Colorado did not pass muster
The slivered onions have been linked to an E. coli outbreak that sickened over 100, putting 1 man in an early grave. The FDA inspection report – redacted – makes an interesting read – full report below.
OBSERVATION 1You did not implement your sanitation preventive control, monitoring, corrective action and verification
OBSERVATION 2You did not…
FSIS confirms that the Boar’s Head Plant it inspected for years was a hot mess
FSIS published a report on the why’s of the outbreak and a list of things it intends to do to prevent another “Boar’s Head”
FSIS Assessment of Factors Contributing to Outbreak Associated with Boar’s Head Establishment M12612
M12612 is a large establishment in Jarratt, VA, that received its grant of inspection in April 1984. The…
Canada (not our 51st State) reduced Salmonella illnesses by reducing Salmonella on Chicken – go figure.
Perhaps we should become Canada’s 11th Province?
The full article is worth a read.
Nontyphoidal Salmonella enterica infections are a leading cause of enteric disease in Canada, most commonly associated with foodborne exposures. Raw frozen breaded chicken products (FBCP) have been implicated in 16 Salmonella outbreaks between 2017 and 2019. This study quantified the impact of the 1 April…
GAO: FDA Should Strengthen Inspection Efforts to Protect the U.S. Food Supply
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted thousands of routine surveillance food safety inspections of domestic and foreign food facilities from fiscal year 2018 through fiscal year 2023 (see fig.). According to GAO’s analysis of FDA data, FDA conducted an average of 8,353 domestic inspections per year and an average of 917 foreign inspections per…