Food Safety
Post categorized under: Food Safety
Even with COVID-19 dominating the headlines, Food Safety depends upon rapid, reliable detection of bacterial pathogens. With recalls costing the Food industry $100M per year or more, PathogenDx has rapidly adapted AOAC-Certified technology to speed up the clock on certainty and reliability to thwart Salmonella, Listeria and L. mono. Here’s a sampling of the issues driving our innovation.
- Quaker granola recalled over possible Salmonella contamination
Recalls have continued for various yogurt products containing granola because of possible Salmonella contamination. These products were made using granola recalled by Quaker on Jan. 11, 2024.
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.
- U.S. Product Recalls Surge 11% in 2023 to Hit Seven-Year High
Food safety has never been in a more dire situation than it is today. U.S. product recalls reached a seven-year high in 2023, increasing 11% from 2022 to 2023. There were 3,301 recall events in 2023 across the five industries tracked by Sedgwick.
- New York State threatens removal of harmful food additives
The movement to ban certain additives in food or beverages that started last year in California and spread this year first to Illinois has now reached as far as the New York. Two New York State lawmakers introduced related bills to protect consumers from dangerous known and unknown additives used in foods and beverages.
- Trader Joe’s nuts recalled after testing finds Salmonella
Trader Joe’s is recalling specific production lots of Nuts – 50% Less Sodium Roasted & Salted Whole Cashews because of potential Salmonella contamination. The issue was identified through routine testing by the FDA.
For this very reason, PathogenDx introduced SeroX for the detection of Salmonella and the 13 serotypes most responsible for producing harmful infections in a single, rapid test.
- CDC declares E. coli outbreak linked to unpasteurized cheese
The CDC has declared a multi-state e.coli outbreak of foodborne infections from Raw Farms unpasteurized cheese. The E. coli O157:H7 outbreak sickened 11 people across five states. Five were hospitalized and two developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can cause kidney failure and brain damage.
- Multiple dog food brands recalled due to salmonella contamination
Salmonella is a danger not only to us, but also to our furry friends. Three brands of pet food have been recalled in recent weeks after testing positive for salmonella, and there have been at least seven recalls this year. There have been at least seven recalls this year for dog food found to contain salmonella or potentially harmful elevated levels of vitamins.
- Listeria Detection Leads to Collard Greens Recall in Tennessee
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Consumer and Industry Services Division (CIS) is issuing a public advisory to warn consumers of Listeria monocytogenes discovered in a package of collard greens sold in Tennessee. During routine surveillance sampling, a CIS Food and Dairy Inspector purchased a food sample from a Kroger store in Nashville, Tenn. Laboratory results revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in a 16-ounce package of Kroger Brand Collard Greens. The vegetables originated from Baker Farms in Norman Park, Ga.
- CDC warns of Listeria outbreak linked to “On The Go” ice cream cups
The CDC reports two people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria have been reported, one from New York and one from Pennsylvania. Both have been hospitalized, and neither died.
The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. - How to protect yourself from Listeria amid outbreak
Three people died and three others were hospitalized following an outbreak of Listeria bacteria (listeriosis) at the Tacoma-area Frugals location. The Washington State Department of Health traced the outbreak to milkshakes at the regional burger chain’s location on Pacific Avenue. Listeria is commonly caused by raw food sources, like unpasteurized or raw milk. DOH testing revealed all Frugals milkshake flavors contained the Listeria strain from the outbreak. All six patients were older than 40 and had weakened immune systems.
- Serotypes and the Importance of Serotyping Salmonella
Salmonella have many different serotypes. Some serotypes are only found in one kind of animal or in a single place, while others are found in many different animals, like poultry, and all over the world. Groups such as older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and children under five years old have a higher risk for Salmonella infection. Infections in these groups can be more severe, resulting in long-term health consequences or death.
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