— OPINION —
In the landscape of food safety, the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) represents a monumental shift towards preventing contamination rather than merely responding to it. A new element of FSMA is the Food Traceability Final Rule (FSMA 204), which is designed to enhance the ability to
Continue Reading Undermining food safety: The threat of legislative rollbacks on FSMA 204
— OPINION —
In response to FDA’s “Southwest Agricultural Region Environmental Microbiology Study (2019 – 2024)” the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association wrote, “Clearly, more scientific data is needed…” (1) . I disagree, there is a plethora of scientific data in the FDA study plus the considerable body of scientific data
Continue Reading Please sir, may I have more data
Researchers from The Ohio State University have conducted a study on the attribution, burden and economic costs of foodborne illnesses associated with leafy greens in the United States. The study, led by Xuerui Yang and Robert Scharff, sheds light on the impact of leafy greens on public health and the
Continue Reading Study finds leafy greens responsible for significant portion of U.S. foodborne illnesses and costs
Researchers have raised questions about the threat Yersinia enterocolitica poses to public health.
The study, involving the Quadram Institute, University of East Anglia, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) found diverse populations of Yersinia enterocolitica on foods.
The number of yersiniosis cases is low, but it is likely there
Continue Reading Yersinia findings in UK prompt call for better surveillance
Eight times since 2017, growers of leafy greens, especially those producing Romaine lettuce, have been rocked by outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7. The pathogen associated with the intestines of cows rode in on the greens, causing sicknesses, sending people to hospitals for treatment of kidney ailment, and, oh yes
Continue Reading There’s a break in leafy green outbreaks, but work to eliminate them forever continues
FAO and WHO have published the full report of an analysis looking at reducing the risk of microbiological hazards in fresh fruits and vegetables.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) document covers leafy vegetables and herbs, berries and tropical fruits, melons and tree fruits
Continue Reading FAO and WHO release full report on hazards in produce
Researchers in Canada have detailed the first known outbreak of E. coli O157 associated with kimchi outside of East Asia.
Fourteen Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O157 cases were identified in two provinces in Western Canada. Thirteen patients lived in Alberta and one in Saskatchewan.
Symptom onset dates ranged from Dec. 11, 2021 to
Continue Reading Researchers describe first Canadian kimchi E. coli outbreak
The California LGMA (Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement) has announced the initiation of a 2-year food safety study called “Romaine Test & Learn.”
Approved unanimously by the LGMA Advisory Board, the study aims to collect and analyze pathogen test data for romaine lettuce from LGMA members, encompassing both pre-harvest and post-harvest
Continue Reading California LGMA announces romaine testing study
The FDA and CDC are reporting that an outbreak of infections from Listeria monocytogenes in leafy greens has ended.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention first reported on the outbreak on Feb. 15 this year, but the agency determined that the first patient in the outbreak became ill in
Continue Reading Federal officials declared an outbreak of Listeria infections linked to leafy greens over
Officials in Georgia are investigating an outbreak of cyclospora infections in the northwest part of the state.
The Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest Health District has not released any numbers, but it is urging people with symptoms of cyclospora infection to seek medical treatment and report any confirmed infections
Continue Reading Cyclospora outbreak in Georgia prompts public health alert