Quick bites from around the food safety arena
- Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the first update of infant formula nutrient requirements in 30 years. However, the announcement did not identify any new standards for infant formula, nor did it address dozens of cases of cronobacter and botulism that have affected babies since 2021. Although the FDA is accepting public comments on a new proposed rule, it has not yet made that rule available to the public.
- Thirteen cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli may be linked to exposure at a pumpkin patch in California’s San Luis Obispo County. Brookshire Farms has closed while public health officials complete an investigation of the source of the infections. Meanwhile, the petting zoo at another pumpkin farm in Homer Glen, IL, is closed after five children were hospitalized with E. coli infections. All five had visited the farm before becoming ill.
- The FDA has declared an outbreak of E coli associated with chicken wraps is over. Although the agency did not name Trader Joe’s as the source of the wraps, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service did confirm that connection to USA Today. The FDA has not completed its investigation as it continues to trace ingredients and inspect sites potentially involved in the outbreak.
- A second Italian region has barred the serving of uncooked tomatoes after reports of Salmonella infections. Authorities in Emilia-Romagna ordered all public and private food service providers in schools, care facilities, hospitals and nursing homes to avoid the use of uncooked cherry tomatoes. A national task force has been convened to investigate multiple Salmonella outbreaks.
- A researcher at Cornell University is developing a computerized model aimed at standardizing the way food safety risks are described and assessed during the “last mile” of the supply chain. Cornell University professor and principal investigator Martin Wiedmann built a QMRA, or quantitative microbial risk assessment, tool to improve identification of food safety risks. The tool puts physical damage or defects into the assessment along with other food safety risks. One goal of the research, Wiedmann says, is to get people “more committed to doing more standardized quality assessments.”
Today’s Topic: Hunting Season
Like others that have gone before it, this year’s hunting season is about not one, but many stories: changing demographics, economic impacts, a unique food safety culture and a little politics.
Spend some time at any destination retail “fashion to fishing” store, like Scheels, Bass Pro Shops, or Cabela’s, and you'll see it for yourself.
Women are fueling a resurgence in fishing and hunting. It may not reach the peaks of 50 years ago, but the significance cannot be understated.
Scheels and Bass Pro Shops, which acquired Cabela's Inc. for $4.5 billion in 2016, represent the retail clout of hunting season. Before and during hunting season, couples exiting one of these stores with “his and her” shotguns are a common sight.
There are about 15.2 million state-licensed hunters in the U.S., and twice as many are licensed to fish. They’re all busy now; it’s hunting season.