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.
- 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.
- Listeria Outbreak Caused By No Implemented ‘Food Safety Plan’
According to the CDC, the listeria outbreak that left 27 people hospitalized, ended in November 2022, however, a ‘warning letter’ from the FDA revealed new details surrounding the Big Olaf Creamery. In the letter, the FDA said Big Olaf ‘did not prepare, or have prepared, and implement a food safety plan at all’, opening the possibility for large outbreaks.
- Foodborne Pathogen Outbreaks: FDA Attempting to Improve Safety of Imported Produce
The FDA has outlined efforts to improve safety of imported produce after several large Listeria and Salmonella foodborne pathogen outbreaks from produce imported from Europe. The U.S. currently imports roughly 32 percent of its fresh vegetables and 55 percent of its fresh fruit.
- Hospitalizations From Listeria Monocytogenes Continue
The massive recall linked to foodborne pathogen Listeria continues to hospitalize people. The Michigan based company responsible makes cheeses marketed under prominent brands such as Good & Gather, Trader Joe’s, Fresh Thyme and many more. Its products are sold at stores like Whole Foods, Stop & Shop, Albertsons, Safeway, and Meijer. Investigators are working to determine if additional brands may be contaminated.
- Washington State Officials Investigate Outbreak of Infections Caused by E. coli
An outbreak of infections from E. coli is under investigation in Seattle, Washington state. There have been several patients confirmed in the outbreak. All seven are from East African communities within the county. Genetic fingerprinting results (whole genome sequencing) indicate that all seven ill people have the same genetic strain meaning they likely have a common source of infection, according to public health officials.
- Romaine on Wendy’s Sandwiches Linked to Multistate E. coli Outbreak
Wendy’s is removing romaine lettuce from its sandwiches in some of its restaurants because it has been linked to a multistate outbreak of infections caused by E. coli. The CDC reported this afternoon that 37 people are now confirmed sick, up from 29 on Tuesday this week. The sick people live in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana.
- Dog Treat Recalled After Food Testing Lab Finds Salmonella
Stormberg Foods is recalling various sizes and batches of chicken based dog treat products after a food testing lab found a potential Salmonella spp contamination. It can affect not only pets eating the products, but is a risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.
- Listeria Outbreak Linked to Ice Cream
Stay up-to-date on the Listeria outbreak affecting Big Olaf Creamery branded ice cream products. Preventative foodborne pathogen testing can catch Listeria, which sickens pregnant people and their newborns, those aged 65 and older, and people with compromised immune systems.
- Keeping Food Safe from Pathogenic Bacteria in the Summer Heat
As we head into the summer months and you’re planning a camping trip or a barbecue, it’s important to keep food safety and pathogenic bacteria in mind to prevent food poisoning, Salmonella spp, and Listeria monocytogenes. As temperatures get warmer, it’s important to remember to keep any perishable food items in a cooler to prevent the development of any bacteria.
- Health Alerts for Salmonella Contaminated Peanut Butter Products
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for ready-to-eat salad products containing FDA regulated peanut butter that has been recalled by J.M. Smucker Company due to potential Salmonella spp contamination. It is one of the most common pathogenic bacteria dealt with in foodborne pathogen testing.
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