Food Safety News and Resources | February
February 2024
26 February | Food Safety News and Free Resources1 |
Bacillus cereus toxin outbreak in infants (Norway) |
Recall: Food company with 8 recalls in 10 years does it again! (USA) |
Allergen mislabelling enforcement and fines (UK) |
Mushroom deaths (China) |
Food safety and quality challenges from reusing plastic packaging |
Listeria risk assessment models, a critical review |
New insights into global food allergens |
New PFAS detection method |
Mycotoxins: occurrence and emerging concerns (Global) |
Webinar - Mastering the Art of Leadership - Cultivating Strong Leaders Within Your Facility, 29th February |
Webinar - Tips for preventing recalls due to undeclared allergens, 1st March |
Webinar - Impact of Water Use and Reuse in Food Production and Processing on Food Safety at the Consumer Phase: Focus on the Fish and Fishery Products Sector, 27th February
Webinar – From Farm to Fork: Ranking Food Safety Priorities in the Fresh Produce Industry, 4th March |
⚠ Bacillus cereus toxin outbreak in infants (Norway)
An outbreak which affected 23 young children who had eaten porridge products has been solved by investigators who found Bacillus cereus toxin in products from the homes of the sick children. The common ingredient in all the products was black oats from the same batch. All children have now recovered.
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2024/02/norway-solves-outbreak-involving-young-children/
⚠ Recall: Food company with 8 recalls in 10 years does it again! (USA)
A dairy company that has had ten recalls since 2006, including for E. coli, Campylobacter and Listeria, has been linked to another outbreak, with 10 people affected by E. coli, including one who has contracted haemolytic uremic syndrome. The implicated food is RAW FARM LLC brand raw cheddar cheese.
⚠ Allergen mislabelling enforcement and fines (UK)
A bakery has been fined after a person with a peanut allergy was sickened by a cake that contained undeclared peanuts. The bakery had changed the recipe to contain peanuts two years before the incident but had not changed the label. The fine was only £1,750.
☠ Mushroom deaths statistics (China)
Data for poisonings from mushrooms has been released by the (China) Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for 2023. There were 1,303 people affected and 16 people died.
Interestingly, 12 species were newly discovered to be poisonous among the 97 implicated in 2023. Symptoms caused by the mushrooms included acute liver or renal failure, gastroenteritis and psychological or neurological disorders.
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2024/01/china-reveals-2023-mushroom-poisoning-data/?s=03
♻ Food safety and quality challenges from reusing plastic packaging
A new paper explores the risks arising from the reuse of plastic food packaging, including the hygiene and sensory aspects, as well as microplastic risks.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214799324000092?via%3Dihub
🦠 Listeria risk assessment models, a critical review
This new paper examines 23 quantitative risk assessment models for Listeria monocytogenes in meat and meat products and notes they mostly converge on the two facts listed below, which should prompt future risk assessment models to focus more on processing activities:
“(1) controlling cold storage temperature led to greater reductions in the final risk than decreasing the time to consumption and, furthermore, that
“(2) lower numbers and less prevalence of L. monocytogenes at the end of processing were far more effective than keeping low temperatures and/or short times during retail and/or home storage.”
https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/3/359
🍅 New insights into global food allergens
A new paper explores the prevalence of allergies to foods which are not among the European “big eight” allergens (cow's milk/egg/wheat/soy/peanut/tree nuts/fish/shellfish) in a global context, with kiwi, peach and tomato allergies receiving attention.
The authors conclude: “Allergy to some foods traditionally not considered important are now emerging as relevant FAs [food allergens]. The focus on FA in Europe should not be limited to the so-called eight big FA, but extended to other types of foods which need to be considered both for clinical purposes and population risk assessment.”
🧪 New PFAS detection method
Researchers claim to have developed a fast and sensitive detection method for PFAS in food packaging, water and “social samples”. The method uses paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS) and has a claimed detection limit of 1 part per trillion (ppt).
https://www.newfoodmagazine.com/news/214495/method-developed-to-detect-pfas-in-under-three-minutes/
🧪 Mycotoxins: occurrence and emerging concerns (Global)
A new review of the global occurrence of emerging mycotoxins in crops and animal feeds has been published. The most prevalent contaminants of cereals and other animal feed commodities were found to be emerging mycotoxins including nivalenol, enniatins, and beauvericin. When they occur concurrently their impacts are heightened and can have serious impacts on livestock even at low levels.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405665024000064?via%3Dihub
🎓 Webinar - Mastering the Art of Leadership - Cultivating Strong Leaders Within Your Facility, 29th February
This webinar hosted by Intertek Alchemy will cover teaching essential leadership skills like communication, trust-building, feedback, and team empowerment. It addresses preparing new leaders for the transition from peer to supervisor, resolving conflicts, and navigating crucial conversations. Additionally, it discusses structuring leadership development programs and providing continuous growth opportunities for existing leaders.
Register here:
Registration (gotowebinar.com)
🎓 Webinar - Tips for preventing recalls due to undeclared allergens, 1st March
The webinar hosted by IFSQN will delve into the critical topics surrounding the global challenge of food waste, its environmental impact, and innovative solutions for a more sustainable food system—all while maintaining rigorous food safety standards.
Register here:
Tips for preventing recalls due to undeclared allergens (webinarjam.com)
🎓 Webinar - Impact of Water Use and Reuse in Food Production and Processing on Food Safety at the Consumer Phase: Focus on the Fish and Fishery Products Sector, 27th February
IAFP will be hosting a webinar wherein participants will grasp JEMRA and Codex efforts in crafting a science-based framework for water use in fish production. They'll explore microbiological risks linked to water reuse and methods to alleviate safety concerns. Case studies from the JEMRA report will showcase global water reuse practices in the fish industry.
Register here:
🎓 Webinar - From Farm to Fork: Ranking Food Safety Priorities in the Fresh Produce Industry, 4th March
IAFP will be hosting a webinar that will discuss the following key points:
Describe the food safety priorities of fresh produce commodity members.
Identify emerging concerns in the fresh produce supply chain landscape.
Register here:
📌 Food Fraud News 📌
In this week’s food fraud news:
📌 Fraud in butter;
📌 Oregano fraud (UK);
📌 Update from the Codex working group on food fraud;
📌 Steroids in catfish, condiments made from waste, oil made with offal.
Become a paid subscriber to access The Rotten Apple’s food fraud news.
19 February | Food Safety News and Free Resources |
Global review of food safety inspection methods |
Vibrio biofilms may be increased by exposure to benzalkonium chloride disinfectants |
Phthalates and BPA in US Foods – new survey results |
Microplastics in the US protein food supply |
Food contaminant detection methods: a review |
Vibrio epidemiology and contamination in seafood – a review |
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food systems, two new papers |
Webinar – Improving Food Safety Culture Through Soft Skills Communication, 20th February |
Webinar - Gluten contamination: a challenge that can be managed with the appropriate approach and analysis tools, 28th February |
🔭Global review of food safety inspection methods
A new paper that describes how food safety inspections take place in The United Kingdom, the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. The data was collected using a voluntary online survey and consisted of 267 responses. A common approach is used across all countries.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095671352400046X?via%3Dihub
🦠 Vibrio biofilms may be increased by exposure to benzalkonium chloride disinfectants
New research suggests that exposure to benzalkonium chloride residues can increase the number of Vibrio cells within a biofilm including alive and sub-lethally injured cells. Sub-lethally injured cells which are viable but non culturable pose a significant threat because they cannot be detected using methods commonly employed in the agriculture and seafood industries.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1309032/abstract
🧪 Phthalates and BPA in US Foods – new survey results
A new survey by Consumer Reports describes how phthalates were found in “almost every food” tested across every food type, often at “high levels”. The survey included 67 grocery store foods and 18 fast foods.
🥩 Microplastics in the US protein food supply
A new paper describes the exposure of US adults to microplastics from commonly consumed protein foods including seafoods, terrestrial meats, and plant-based proteins. Foods that are more processed contain more microplastics. Mean U.S. adult exposure from consuming these proteins is >11,000 microplastics/year.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749123022352?via%3Dihub
🧪 Food contaminant detection methods: a review
This new paper discusses commonly used techniques for detecting food contaminants and discusses limitations and future trends.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/fsh3.12032
🦠 Vibrio epidemiology and contamination in seafood – a review
This new review examines the sources and contamination routes of seafood with pathogenic Vibrio species within the human food supply chain.
https://ift.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1541-4337.13283
🦠 Antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food systems, two new papers
The first paper includes a discussion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in agriculture, diagnostic techniques and new strategies in the fight against antibiotic resistance.
The second is about global surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in food animals and shows which parts of the world are using various classes of antimicrobials. For example, tetracyclines in South America and sulphonamides in Asia.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949798124000036?via%3Dihub
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-45111-7
🎓 Webinar – Improving Food Safety Culture Through Soft Skills Communication, 20th Feb
This webinar, hosted by the Food Safety Culture Professional Development Group of the IAFP, explores how prioritizing soft skills and strengthening communication can help improve your food safety culture.
Register here:
🎓 Webinar - Gluten contamination: a challenge that can be managed with the appropriate approach and analysis tools, 28th February
New Food will be hosting a webinar that will discuss the following key points:
· The impact of gluten as a potential trigger for various diseases.
· Exploring substitutes for gluten and ensuring stringent safety measures across the production chain.
· Emphasizing the significance of gluten detection in comprehensive gluten management strategies.
· Highlighting the GSD solution, which offers reliable and innovative solutions across all production stages.
Register here:
Registration (gotowebinar.com)
📌 Food Fraud News 📌
In this week’s food fraud news:
📌 Vitamin supplements for pregnant women with label discrepancies;
📌 Lead levels in spices;
📌 Cocoa warning;
📌 Detergent, strawberries, seafood.
Become a paid subscriber to access The Rotten Apple’s food fraud news.
12 February | Food Safety News and Free Resources |
Recall: Multiple dairy food brands for Listeria (USA) |
Recall: Peanut Butter for Aflatoxin contamination (South Africa) |
Rocks again?! But no recall (USA) |
Another new exposure assessment for BPA in foods |
Salmonella in fresh whole onions – new research |
New review: AI, big data, and the internet of things for early warning and emerging risk identification in food safety |
Webinar - Achieving Hygienic Design Compliance |
Webinar - Applied Root Cause Analysis: Using Your Results to Effectively Manage Risk |
⚠ Recall: Multiple dairy food brands for Listeria (USA)
A listeriosis outbreak that could have begun as far back as 2014, and for which the source could not previously be identified has been linked with multiple brands of dairy foods including soft cheeses, yoghurt and sour cream which have been recalled. The outbreak has caused over 20 hospitalisations and two deaths.
https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/cheese-02-24/index.html
⚠Recall: Peanut butter for aflatoxin contamination (South Africa)
Peanut butter is being recalled nationwide after inhouse testing identified higher than regulatory levels of aflatoxin in the products.
https://www.pnp.co.za/press-release/pnp-recalls-three-brands-of-peanut-butter
⚠ Rocks again?! But no recall (USA)
Multiple consumer complaints have prompted a warning to the public from the USDA but no recall has been initiated. Consumers complained about finding rocks in a Trader Joe’s frozen chicken product. Multiple Trader Joe’s products were recalled in 2023 due to the presence of rocks.
https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/news/trader-joes-recall-rocks-insects-july-2023
🍏 Learn about foreign objects in foods in Issue 118 🍏
🧪 Another new exposure assessment for BPA in foods (hint: it’s a very different result from the last one!)
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has published a risk assessment for BPA in foods that disagrees with the latest risk assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
The BfR examined the new BPA tolerable daily intake (TDI) level of 0.2 ng/kg bw per day recommended by the EFSA in 2023, which was 20,000 times lower than the TDI recommended by the EFSA in 2015 (4 μg/kg body weight (bw) per day). The EFSA, in 2023, also concluded there is a health concern from dietary exposure to BPA.
The BfR’s assessment “called into question” the risk assessment done by the EFSA.
The BfR derived a TDI of 200 ng/kg bw per day, which is one thousand times higher than the EFSA 2015 figure and many orders of magnitude greater than the EFSA’s latest assessment.
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.e211015
🦠 Salmonella in fresh whole onions – new research
Researchers have examined a 2021 outbreak caused by Salmonella enterica and which was suspected of being caused by whole fresh onions grown in Mexico. Traceback, epidemiology and produce safety challenges are discussed.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956713524000422
📖 New review: AI, big data, and the internet of things for early warning and emerging risk identification in food safety
Researchers from Wageningen University have published an article which reviews existing and experimental applications of artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and the internet of things as part of early warning and emerging risk identification tools and methods in the food safety domain.
🎓 Webinar - Achieving Hygienic Design Compliance: What every food industry stakeholder should know, 28th February
Vikan will be hosting a webinar that will provide a comprehensive review of hygienic design principles, covering the existing regulatory and global food safety standards in both the European Union and the United States.
Register here: Achieving Hygienic Design Compliance: what every food industry stakeholder should know (vikan.com)
🎓 Webinar - Applied Root Cause Analysis: Using Your Results to Effectively Manage Risk, 22nd February
Hosted by Food Safety Magazine, the webinar will discuss the importance of Root Cause Analysis (RCA), best practices in conducting RCA investigations, and how to manage risk of safety and/or quality issues using RCA.
Register here: Applied Root Cause Analysis: Using Your Results to Effectively Manage Risk Registration (onlinexperiences.com)
📌 Food Fraud News 📌
In this week’s food fraud news:
📌 A toolkit for food authenticity decisions (highly recommended);
📌 New rules for fraud prevention and honey origin labelling;
📌 Meat fraud case studies, sugar, orange juice warnings;
📌 Contaminated maize (corn) seeds.
5 February | Food Safety News and Free Resources |
Allergen death from mislabelled cookies (USA) |
11,800 patients affected 😮 and fifteen deaths - the cantaloupe Salmonella outbreak is over (North America) |
Recall: Frozen corn + Salmonella (Canada)
Recall: Shredded cheese for glove remnants (USA) |
Diversity (LGBTQIA+) in the food safety sector |
Outcomes from arsenic exposure |
Updated (Draft) Guidance for FSMA (USA) |
Webinar - PFAS in Food & Beverages |
Webinar - How to build a successful sanitation program |
💀⚠Allergen death and recall (USA)
A person with a peanut allergy died last month (January 2024), after eating a cookie suspected of containing peanuts, which were not listed as an ingredient on the label. The cookies were recalled.
The cookie manufacturer was aware there were peanuts in the cookies and told their customer, a supermarket chain, that the recipe had changed and the label would also be changed in July 2023.
For more on the fatal consequences of undeclared allergens, including case studies, see 🍏 Case Study: What Went Wrong, the Tiramisu Death (Issue 123) 🍏
💀 🦠 11,800 patients affected and fifteen deaths - the cantaloupe Salmonella outbreak is over (North America)
The Salmonella cantaloupe outbreak, in which fifteen North Americans died, is officially over. Illnesses occurred in October, November and December 2023. The outbreak had a higher than usual hospitalisation rate in the United States and a larger proportion of very young patients.
The contaminated cantaloupes were from two brands from Mexico. Multiple species of Salmonella were involved and whole fruit; pre-cut fruit and dishes containing pre-cut fruit were all implicated.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in Salmonella outbreaks, 30 to 40 times the number of people are affected compared to figures for officially confirmed cases, meaning the outbreak could have affected more than eleven thousand people.
⚠ Recall: Shredded cheese for glove remnants (USA)
Shredded cheese has been recalled after some packages were discovered to contain foreign material, specifically glove remnants.
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2024/01/shredded-cheese-recalled-over-glove-remnants-in-product/
⚠ Recall: frozen corn because of Salmonella (Canada)
This continues the trend of recalling food that is considered not “ready-to-eat” by food manufacturers for pathogens that would be inactivated by cooking. The frozen corn is being recalled because it may contain Salmonella, there are no reports of consumer illness.
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2024/01/frozen-corn-recalled-in-canada-over-salmonella-concerns/
🧪 Arsenic exposure outcomes
Being exposed to high levels of naturally occurring arsenic in food increases your risk of skin cancer.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published an updated risk assessment for consumer exposure to inorganic arsenic in food and concluded that the most relevant harmful effect was an increase in skin cancers.
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8488
🌈 Diversity (LGBTQIA+) in the food safety sector
An expert panel at a food safety conference in the USA discussed the status of the LGBTQIA+ community in food safety roles. The panel discussed how laws and policies in various US states and companies could restrict access to life-saving health care, facilities and resources and explored how to make workplaces safer and more inclusive for LGBTQIA+ people.
📖 Guidance: Updated (Draft) Guidance for FSMA (USA)
The FDA guidance for Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food has been updated to reflect feedback from users and provide additional context and information about hazards. In the introduction, the glossary has been expanded and there are new sections on training, references and resources. Appendix 1 (potential hazards) has had significant changes, with revisions to product categories and more discussion of hazards, more on food allergen hazards and citations to scientific literature for hazards. Feedback can be submitted to the FDA within 120 days.
🎓 Webinar - New Insights from SGS: Taking Control of PFAS in Food & Beverages, 20th February
In this webinar hosted by New Food, you will gain insights from SGS experts into the occurrence of PFAS in food, the latest regulatory changes and much more.
Register here:
New Insights from SGS: Taking Control of PFAS in Food & Beverages (on24.com)
🎓 Webinar - How to build a successful sanitation program, View On-Demand
Hosted by IFSQN, the webinar will discuss some tips to help you improve your current sanitation program.
📌 Food Fraud News 📌
In this week’s food fraud news:
📌 Anti-fraud rules lead to unhelpful consequences;
📌 The big-picture view on food fraud;
📌 A food fraud study using ‘big data’;
📌 Counterfeit seeds, American sweets and arrests for expired food items.
Become a paid subscriber to access The Rotten Apple’s food fraud news.
Past Issues of Food Safety News
Food Safety News, January 2024
Food Safety News, December 2023
Food Safety News, November 2023
Food Safety News, October 2023