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More cantaloupe linked to outbreak recalled in Canada; death toll increases to 8 in bi-national outbreak

December 12, 2023 - 7:23pm

Twenty-eight more cantaloupe products have been recalled in Canada because of a link to a Salmonella outbreak that has killed five people in that country.

The new recall is for unbranded pre-cut cantaloupe sold nationwide, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The CFIA did not report the name of the recalling company.

The pre-cut cantaloupe products have best-by dates of Nov. 11, but there is concern that some people may have frozen the cantaloupe for future use. Use this link to find descriptions of the newly recalled cantaloupe.

As of Dec. 7, there have been 129 laboratory-confirmed cases of Salmonella illness linked to this outbreak in Canada. Additional Salmonella infections are under investigation and more illnesses associated with this outbreak may be confirmed. Individuals became sick between mid-October and mid-November 2023. Forty-four individuals have been hospitalized. Five deaths have been reported. Individuals who became ill are between 0 to 100 years of age. 

The Canadian outbreak is linked to an outbreak in the United States where 230 people have been confirmed ill with the outbreak strains. Of those patients, 96 have been hospitalized and three have died. The outbreak spreads across 38 states.

A number of recalls have been initiated in both countries, but two recalls are key in the outbreaks. Malichita and Rudy brand whole cantaloupes from Mexico appear to be the problem and have been recalled in the United States and Canada. However, additional recalls of freshcut cantaloupe products — including mixed fruit products — are also under recall because they contain cantaloupe of the Malichita and Rudy brands.

In the United States, the recalled cantaloupe products are listed here.

In Canada lists of the recalled cantaloupe can be found here.

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FDA inspecting plant in Ecuador in applesauce lead situation; more children reported sick

December 12, 2023 - 5:47pm

Federal officials have begun an onsite inspection of a company in Ecuador that exported cinnamon applesauce to the United States that was used in three brands of applesauce traced to an outbreak of lead poisoning in children.

The Food and Drug Administration is conducting the inspection at the Austrofoods facility located in Ecuador. Cinnamon samples collected from the lots used in recalled products will undergo laboratory analysis. FDA will update the U.S. public to share the sample results once the analysis is complete. 

Federal officials have received a total of 125 reports of cases of lead poisoning from 22 different states through their reporting structure. Three brands of cinnamon applesauce pouches designed for children have been recalled; Wanabana, Schnucks and Weis. The Wanabana brand is sold at retailers nationwide and online. The FDA has received reports that the recalled applesauce is still on shelves at Dollar Tree stores. The Schnucks and Weis brand applesauce was sold at those regional grocery store chains and has been removed from stores.  

Anyone with the recalled applesauce on hand is urged to not feed it to children or eat it themselves. Some of the recalled applesauce has been found to have 500 times the recommended amount of lead in it.

Parents and caretakers should consult a healthcare provider if they suspect a child may have been exposed to lead. Short term exposure to lead could result in the following symptoms: headache; abdominal pain/colic; vomiting; anemia. Longer term exposure could result in the following additional symptoms: irritability; lethargy; fatigue; muscle aches or muscle prickling/burning; constipation; difficulty concentrating/muscular weakness; tremor; weight loss. Permanent consequences can lead to developmental delays and brain damage.

To date, the FDA has worked with Ecuadorian authorities to gather information about Negasmart, the supplier of cinnamon to Austrofoods, including whether the cinnamon in the recalled products was used in other products exported to the United States. Working together with Ecuadorian authorities, the FDA has confirmed that, of Negasmart’s direct customers, only Austrofoods ships product to the US. In addition, the FDA has confirmed that Negasmart does not directly export products to the US. 

As of Dec. 11, 2023, FDA has received 65 reports of adverse events potentially linked to recalled product. To date, confirmed complainants, or people for whom an adverse event was submitted, are younger than 6 years of age. 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Environmental Health is conducting case finding efforts in collaboration with state and local health departments. The CDC’s case definition for state partners includes a blood lead level of 3.5 µg/dL or higher measured within 3 months after consuming a recalled WanaBana, Schnucks, or Weis brand fruit puree product after Nov. 2022. As of Dec. 8, CDC has received reports of 46 confirmed cases, 68 probable cases, and 11 suspected cases for a total of 125 cases from 22 different states through their reporting structure. For more information, please visit CDC’s page to review their case reporting methodology and findings.

CDC and FDA have different data sources, so the counts reported by each agency will not directly correspond. In addition, some people who were affected by the contaminated product might be reflected in both the numbers reported by the FDA and the numbers reported by CDC, so the numbers should not be added together.

FDA’s investigation is ongoing to determine the point of contamination and whether additional products are linked to illnesses.

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FDA issues public warning about Red’s Best clams harvest from prohibited waters

December 12, 2023 - 5:00pm

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers not to eat, and restaurants and food retailers not to sell, and to dispose of certain Red’s Best chopped clams.

The recalled clams were illegally harvested from prohibited waters in Massachusetts on Nov. 26 and Nov. 26 with lot numbers # 331 and # 333, and shuck dates of 23/331 and 23/333. The clams may be contaminated, and there is concern that some of them may have been frozen for later use.

The chopped clams were directly distributed to distributors and retailers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island and may have been distributed further from these states.

Clams harvested illegally may be contaminated with human pathogens, toxic elements or poisonous or deleterious substances and can cause illness if consumed. Clams are filter feeders that remove and bioaccumulate bacteria and other pathogens from the water. It is not uncommon for shellfish to be consumed raw and whole. Contaminated clams can cause illness if eaten raw, particularly in people with compromised immune systems. Clams contaminated with pathogens may look, smell, and taste normal.

People can get sick with food poisoning after ingesting pathogens, toxic elements, or poisonous or deleterious substances. Symptoms may vary, depending on the pathogen or contaminant and can range from mild to serious. The most common symptoms of food poisoning are diarrhea, stomach pain or cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Symptoms may start within a few hours or may take a few days and can last for a few hours or several days. Consumers of these products who are experiencing food poisoning symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach pain or cramps, nausea, vomiting, or fever should contact their healthcare provider, who should report their symptoms to their local Health Department and be tested.

On Dec. 11, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health informed the FDA of the recall of Red’s Best chopped clams that had been illegally harvested and potentially contaminated.

The FDA is issuing this alert advising consumers not to eat, and restaurants and food retailers not to sell, Red’s Best chopped clams. The FDA is awaiting further information on distribution of the chopped clams and will continue to monitor the investigation and provide assistance to state authorities as needed.

Restaurants and retailers should not serve or sell the potentially contaminated clams. Restaurants and retailers should dispose of any products by throwing them in the garbage or returning them to their distributor for destruction.

Restaurants and retailers should also be aware that shellfish may be a source of pathogens and should control the potential for cross-contamination of food processing equipment and the food processing environment. They should follow the steps below:

  • Wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.
  • Retailers, restaurants, and other food service operators who have processed and packaged any potentially contaminated products need to be concerned about cross-contamination of cutting surfaces and utensils through contact with the potentially contaminated products.
  • Retailers that have sold bulk product should clean and sanitize the containers used to hold the product.
  • Regular frequent cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces and utensils used in food preparation may help to minimize the likelihood of cross-contamination.

Consumers should not eat the potentially contaminated clams. Consumers who have symptoms should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care.

Swedish E. coli cases linked to imported parsley

December 12, 2023 - 12:05am

Contaminated parsley imported from southern Europe has been linked to at least 150 E. coli cases in Sweden.

Over 100 people were infected by Enterotoxigenic E.coli (ETEC) and Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) after eating food during a conference in Jönköping at the end of October. A similar outbreak sickened 50 people in Stockholm.

In Stockholm, people were infected around the same time at a restaurant that served parsley from the same producer. This led health officials to believe it was likely parsley from Italy that caused the outbreaks.

A total of 104 participants at the conference reported they had suffered illness. Samples were taken from four cases. Analysis showed they were infected with different combinations of pathogenic E. coli such as ETEC, EPEC, and Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC).

Initial food testing did not show any bacteria, parasites or viruses that could have caused the outbreak, but further cultures in the laboratory confirmed ETEC and EPEC.

Linking outbreaks and tracing product
The Swedish Food Agency (Livsmedelsverket) is following up on the incident using the EU’s alert systems. Authorities in Italy have been informed so they can contact the producer and investigate what happened.

The Public Health Agency of Sweden (Folkhälsomyndigheten) has sequenced isolates of ETEC from two cases in Jönköping and Stockholm. Results show they are very similar, indicating that the outbreaks in the two municipalities have a common source.

“We do not know how the parsley has become contaminated but must wait for the investigation. Outbreaks of this size are relatively rare but do occur from time to time in the country. It is important that we manage to trace the source of infection,” said Monica Kollberg from the environmental and health protection office in Jönköping.

ETEC is transmitted by food or water contaminated with animal or human feces. Infection can cause watery diarrhea and abdominal cramping. Illness develops one to three days after exposure and usually lasts three to four days. Symptoms rarely last more than three weeks.

EPEC is spread by food or water contaminated with animal or human feces. It can also be transmitted after touching an animal, person, or contaminated object. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, dehydration, fever, and vomiting. They usually occur four to 12 hours after exposure, which can take days.

In November, Sweden reported 14 cases of norovirus linked to oysters from France, and in October, goat’s milk cheese, also from France, was behind an outbreak of Cryptosporidium with seven infections.

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Anthrax outbreak in Zambia sickens hundreds

December 12, 2023 - 12:03am

Zambia has reported its largest anthrax outbreak for a decade, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

As of late November 2023, 684 suspected cases and four deaths have been recorded. A large-scale outbreak occurred in 2011 with 511 suspected cases.

Anthrax is caused by a spore-forming bacteria called Bacillus anthracis. It does not typically spread from person to person. When anthrax spores are ingested from contaminated animal products, inhaled, or enter the body through skin cuts, they can germinate, multiply, and produce toxins. Depending on the type of exposure, symptoms can appear within a few hours to three weeks.

Cutaneous or skin anthrax presents with an itchy bump in the exposed area that develops into a black sore. Some people then get headaches, muscle aches, fever, and vomiting. Gastrointestinal anthrax causes initial symptoms similar to food poisoning but can worsen to severe abdominal pain, vomiting of blood, and severe diarrhea.

The majority of human anthrax cases take the cutaneous form and result from handling infected carcasses or hides, hair, meat, or bones from such carcasses. The public should avoid handling and consuming meat from animals that died suddenly, meat obtained via emergency slaughter, and of uncertain origin, said WHO.

The first human cases were reported in May. In June, 26 people developed sores on their face, arms, and fingers after consuming meat from three hippopotamus carcasses. 

Vaccines are available for livestock and humans in limited supply. Meat inspections are being conducted in abattoirs and butcher shops.

“The risk for human health is high given the known population’s multiple exposures from handling the carcasses of animals that had died suddenly and eating meat from infected animals with resultant associated cutaneous and gastrointestinal anthrax,” said WHO.

FAO involvement in the region
In the summer of 2023, an expert team, including the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), undertook a monitoring and surveillance exercise, including engagement in affected Zambian communities.

With logistical support from an FAO program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), an outbreak investigation confirmed anthrax was the cause of illness in community members, linked to consumption of infected meat.

James Syalyolyo, a chairman for Makuni Village, said cattle deaths were not reported, and the meat was eaten as they didn’t know the disease could also affect people.

“When the people from the Department of Veterinary Services came, they informed us that we were not supposed to open the animals or eat the meat because it was the same disease causing the skin disease being experienced in the area. Since then, we have stopped cutting open or eating the dead cattle, and we have burnt all the dead animals and disinfected the places where they died in the fields,” he said.

FAO has also been involved in workshops and training in 2023 after anthrax outbreaks or to improve detection methods in Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria.

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The avian flu virus is rapidly spreading through commercial flocks in the U.S.

December 12, 2023 - 12:01am

The Avian influenza summer break is not only over, it has been smashed. In the past 30 days, the virus has spread to 106 commercial flocks in 23 states. And California is the latest to report outbreaks —in two broiler operations in Stanislaus County and an egg-laying business in Sonoma County. 

The numbers depopulated are huge—270,000 at the Sonoma egg-laying operation and 239,900 and 254,400 birds at the two Stanislaus broiler operations. A third broiler operation in Stanislaus County has infections but has yet to make numbers available.

With the dramatic upturn in Avian influenza  (HPAI) cases, the number of birds lost has soared to 72.54 million since 2022. Iowa and Ohio are the two most impacted states.

During this outbreak, there have been two commercial flocks, seven affected backyard flocks, and 2.75 million birds in Iowa.

In Ohio, there are currently four affected commercial flocks, no affected backyard flocks, and a total of 4 million birds affected in this outbreak.

Canada also reports the bird virus has spread to 67 of its commercial poultry operations since September 2023.  Since the first case occurred in Canada in December 2021,  the nation’s flocks have lost 10.14 million birds.

Wild migratory waterfowl are primarily blamed for the spread of the virus throughout North America.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reports that avian influenza is caused by influenza Type A virus (influenza A). 

“Avian-origin influenza viruses are broadly categorized based on a combination of two groups of proteins on the surface of the influenza A virus: hemagglutinin or ‘H’ proteins, of which there are 16 (H1-H16), and neuraminidase or ‘N’ proteins, of which there are 9 (N1-N9),” according to APHIS.

“Many different combinations of ‘H’ and ‘N’ proteins are possible. Each combination is considered a different subtype, and related viruses within a subtype may be referred to as a lineage,” it adds. “Avian influenza viruses are classified as either ‘low pathogenic’ or ‘highly pathogenic’ based on their genetic features and the severity of the disease they cause in poultry. Most viruses are of low pathogenicity, meaning they cause no signs or only minor clinical signs of infection in poultry.”

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports low human health risks from HPAI. Only one person in the U.S. was infected with the virus in April 2022, and he fully recovered.

With the spread continuing, the number of flocks lost to avian flu totals 1,012 as of Dec. 11.   Commercial flocks with infections total 426, and backyard flocks with bird flu hit 586.

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High technology is the key to detecting foodborne outbreaks over space and time

December 11, 2023 - 12:05am

Most people think of foodborne illness outbreaks as spanning a few days or weeks. But, with current technology, disease detectives can find patients of a single outbreak spread across several years and multiple states.

That is the case with an ongoing outbreak of Listeria illnesses linked to fresh peaches that began in 2018. So far, 11 patients have been identified, most recently found in August this year. One of the patients died. Recent recalls of peaches, nectarines, and plums have been initiated while public health officials continue investigating the outbreak.

The links between people sickened in the outbreak this year and the initial patient in 2018 were made possible using whole genome sequencing (WGS). Whole genome sequencing has been likened to fingerprinting used in criminal investigations, but WGS allows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to look at millions of pieces of data.

“WGS examines more than 4.5 million ‘letters’ of the genetic code in disease-causing bacteria such as Salmonella. Bacteria closely related by WGS are more likely to have originated from the same source than more distantly related bacteria,” said John Besser, who retired in 2019 as Deputy Chief of the Enteric Diseases Laboratory Branch at the CDC. He continues to work on CDC-related projects through the Association of Public Health Laboratories.

“Ill persons in a WGS cluster will likely have shared exposure, such as a contaminated food product. By focusing on WGS clusters, investigators can detect outbreaks when they are small, even if cases are dispersed over multiple states or widely separated in time.”

Besser likened WGS to “Star Trek” medicine. He said the technique helps identify ongoing outbreaks and allows public health officials and industry to look into the future and make adjustments to enhance food safety. He said using WGS in the foodborne disease arena is much like what the National Transportation Safety Board does with airplane accidents. It provides information that can help prevent future failures in food safety systems.

Art Lang, the former Director of the CDC’s Food Safety Office, said WGS has eliminated time constraints when it comes to outbreak investigations and allowed public health officials to link illnesses across great distances. Lang said before the mid-1990s, residents or healthcare professionals recognized most “unusual” events, and outbreaks were investigated by the local or state health departments, such as the deadly 1993 Jack-in-the-Box E. coli outbreak traced to hamburgers.

“Subtyping methods (WGS) have helped investigators to focus on clusters of illness due to the same organism with a very similar ‘fingerprint,’ ” said Lang, who has also been a CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service officer. He has served on the Executive Committee of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods.

Lang said in the late 1990s, PFGE (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) technology helped eliminate the limitation of place. But now, with WGS, public health officials can detect more multistate outbreaks than ever. Any single health department might have only 1 or 2 cases reported, but something unusual can now be seen from the national level.

“In the past, epidemiologists often ignored product recall information because they rarely led to detection of an outbreak. Today, this is no longer the case. It is definitely what happened in the 2014 stone fruit outbreak,” Lang said.

“Whole genome sequencing has made the invisible visible. We have not recognized patterns of illness, i.e., R.E.P.S. (repeating, emerging or persistent strains) are emerging.” 

The current outbreak of Salmonella illnesses traced to cantaloupe is another example of how WGS allows disease detectives to identify outbreak patients across long distances, said Greg Hedberg, a professor at the University of Minnesota’s School of Health since 1999. He is also Co-Director of the Minnesota Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence. 

The cantaloupe outbreak stretches from coast to coast in the United States and has sickened 117 people. A corresponding outbreak in Canada has sickened 63 people. One person in Canada has died, and the United States has recorded two deaths. Multiple recalls of whole and fresh-cut cantaloupe have been initiated.

“The current cantaloupe outbreak involves an unusual type of Salmonella,” Hedberg said, making use of WGS even more critical than in some outbreaks.

Hedberg said that compared to previous methods, modern technology provides much more granular data on a molecular level, which shows a relationship between outbreak strains. For example, he said, an outbreak linked to Salmonella in Malt-O-Meal cereal was linked to an outbreak 10 years later in a cereal made at the same plant. Remodeling at the plant had released the contaminant.

Another example of how WGS has enhanced outbreak investigations is the Listeria outbreak traced to Blue Bell ice cream. The outbreak was first detected in 2014, but ultimately, patients were found dating back to 2010. 

Peter Gerner-Smidt, who retired in 2020 as chief of the enteric diseases laboratory branch at CDC and PulseNet — a database with over 300,000 genomes — said WGS allowed outbreak investigators to identify patients dating back several years because Listeria patients popped up on the radar screen when the outbreak strain of Listeria was uploaded to the PulseNet database. Those patients would not have been linked to the more recent ones if older technology had been the only option.

“The Blue Bell outbreak gave rise to a new outbreak category: ‘low and slow’ outbreaks, i.e., outbreaks with few cases dispersed over a long time, even years, that in the past could not be recognized,” said Gerner-Smidt who was in charge of introducing and implementing WGS in routine lab surveillance of foodborne infections in this country before he retired from the CDC. 

“It may be difficult to understand that now we may detect and solve outbreaks with two or three cases spread out over the years, but that is possible if you use WGS with integrated surveillance of people and food production.”

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Lung eating is the subject of 2023’s first petition from Philly MD

December 11, 2023 - 12:03am

Even the petitioner, Dr. Jonathan Reisman of Philadelphia, acknowledged that his is an “unusual request.” It was 2023’s first petition to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) for a policy change.

The medical doctor’s petition requests that FSIS amend the 9 CFR 310.16(a) regulations to remove the prohibition on using livestock lungs for human food.  Since it was filed, the Reisman petition has generated a half dozen favorable comments.

“Hello, please accept the petition by Jonathan Reisman MD to allow the lung to be sold and consumed by people,” writes the most recent commenter on Dec. 6.  “Organ meat is a simple way to make inexpensive, nutrient-dense food available. I want to eat nose to tail and make the most of my meat consumption. There isn’t any good reason to ban lung meat.”

In the Jan. 10 petition, the author wrote:  “I am writing as a medical doctor, author, and food writer, and I believe there is no legitimate scientific basis for this rule. Of course, diseased livestock lungs should be appropriately condemned, but this rule is not based on concern over actual lung pathology in animals. 

“Instead, the rule is based on studies done by the USDA around the year 1969 in which scientists examined animal lungs and found contaminants in the airways, specifically fungal spores, dust, pollen, and aspirated rumen contents. These lungs were generally pathology-free, and it was solely because of these supposed contaminants that the rule was amended to declare lungs unfit for human consumption.

“I do not doubt that many people at the USDA, as well as in the general public, would feel squeamish when faced with the prospect of eating these substances, but food being ‘gross’ is not the same as it is unsafe. There is no medical reason to suspect that eating the tiny amount of these contaminants in animal lungs would pose any health risk to people of any age or baseline health status. While, to my knowledge, no studies prove that lungs are safe to eat, we can look at developed countries where lungs are regularly eaten (the UK, for example) and see no ill health effects resulting from it.”

FSIS’s Office of Policy and Program Development was assigned the job of reviewing the petition, assigned the number 23-01.

One opposition commenter challenged Reisman’s use of the statement that lungs are “generally” pathology-free without offering any proof of that statement.

Dr. James E. Chlebowski said he has never seen any illness related to the practice as a family doctor for 30 years in rural Pennsylvania, where lung consumption is not unusual in Amish and Mennonite communities.

In his petition, Reisman admits “that there does not appear to be widespread enthusiasm among the American public in overturning this rule. The large majority of Americans probably know nothing about this rule and have never thought about why lungs do not often appear in butcher shops

“The lack of mass public mobilization clamoring for the USDA to overturn this rule should not be a legitimate reason to keep it in the federal register through regulatory inertia,“ he adds. “Food policy should be evidence-based and scientific, and this rule is neither. Food policy should aim to maintain or improve the population’s health, and this rule does not contribute to that mission.”

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Food firm warned over introducing CBD and Delta-8 THC products into interstate commerce

December 11, 2023 - 12:01am

As part of its enforcement activities, the Food and Drug Administration sends warning letters to entities under its jurisdiction. Some letters are not posted for public view until weeks or months after they are sent. Business owners have 15 days to respond to FDA warning letters. Warning letters often are not issued until a company has been given months to years to correct problems.

GCHNC LLC dba Hemp XR/Gate City dba Hemp XR/Allaziya Enterprises LLC dba Hemp XR
Greensboro, NC

A food firm in North Carolina is on notice from the FDA over violations of federal regulation for introducing products with cannabidiol (CBD) and Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) into interstate commerce.

In a Sept. 28, 2023, warning letter the FDA described a September 2023 review of Hemp XR’s website the Internet address hemp-xr.com.  

The FDA’s review determined that the firm’s Far Out Candy 500MG Delta 8 Cookies, Not Ya Son’s Weed Bakedies Delta 8 THC 600MG Crispy Bites, Hemp XR Delta 8 Stoner Candy Gummies (including Crawlers, Fruit Smashers, Magic Marbles, and Stoney Headz Sour), Lava Rocks 250 MG Delta 8, Delta 8 Rainbow Rope, Pharma Delta 8 Gummies, Hemp XR Delta 8 Honey 500 MG, and Hemp XR CBD Honey 500 MG products offered for sale on their webpages are adulterated because they bear or contain an unsafe food additive. 

Any food additive that has not been approved for its intended use in food is deemed to be unsafe and causes the food to be adulterated. Introduction of an adulterated food into interstate commerce is prohibited.

Some of the violations:

Adulterated Human Foods

According to the firm’s product labeling, their Far Out Candy 500MG Delta 8 Cookies, Not Ya Son’s Weed Bakedies Delta 8 THC 600MG Crispy Bites, Hemp XR Delta 8 Stoner Candy Gummies (including Crawlers, Fruit Smashers, Magic Marbles, and Stoney Headz Sour), Lava Rocks 250 MG Delta 8, Delta 8 Rainbow Rope, Pharma Delta 8 Gummies, and Hemp XR Delta 8 Honey 500 MG products are foods to which Delta-8 THC has been added.

The term “food additive” refers to any substance the intended use of which results in its becoming a component of any food, unless the substance is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) among qualified experts under the conditions of its intended use, or unless the substance meets a listed exception.

Food additives require premarket approval based on data demonstrating safety. Any food additive that has not been approved for its intended use in food is deemed to be unsafe and causes the food to be adulterated. Introduction of an adulterated food into interstate commerce is prohibited.

There is no food additive regulation that authorizes the use of Delta-8 THC. FDA is not aware of any information to indicate that Delta-8 THC is the subject of a prior sanction. Furthermore, they are not aware of any basis to conclude that Delta-8 THC is GRAS for use in conventional foods. FDA’s regulations describe the criteria for eligibility for classification of a food ingredient as GRAS. The use of a food substance may be GRAS based on either scientific procedures or, for a substance used in food before 1958, through experience based on common use in food.

FDA knows of no basis for general recognition of safety for Delta-8 THC based either on scientific procedures or common use in food before Jan. 1, 1958. Based on FDA review of published, scientific literature, existing data and information do not provide an adequate basis to conclude that the use of Delta-8 THC in food meets the criteria for GRAS status. Some of the available data raise serious concerns about potential harm from Delta-8 THC. FDA review of published scientific literature identified potential for adverse effects on the central nervous and cardiopulmonary systems. In addition, studies in animals have suggested that gestational exposure to Delta-8 THC can interfere with neurodevelopment. Therefore, based on FDA review, the use of Delta-8 THC in their products does not satisfy the criteria for GRAS status.

FDA is not aware of any other exception to the food additive definition that would apply to Delta-8 THC for use as an ingredient in a conventional food. Therefore, Delta-8 THC added to a conventional food is a food additive and is subject to the provisions of section 409 of the FD&C Act. Under section 409, a food additive is deemed unsafe unless it is approved by FDA for its intended use prior to marketing. Delta-8 THC is not approved for use in any conventional food. Food containing an unsafe food additive within the meaning of section 409 is adulterated. Therefore, the firm’s Far Out Candy 500MG Delta 8 Cookies, Not Ya Son’s Weed Bakedies Delta 8 THC 600MG Crispy Bites, Hemp XR Delta 8 Stoner Candy Gummies (including Crawlers, Fruit Smashers, Magic Marbles, and Stoney Headz Sour), Lava Rocks 250 MG Delta 8, Delta 8 Rainbow Rope, Pharma Delta 8 Gummies, and Hemp XR Delta 8 Honey 500 MG are adulterated because they bear or contain an unsafe food additive. Introduction of these adulterated foods into interstate commerce is prohibited.

Furthermore, according to their product labeling, their Hemp XR CBD Honey 500 MG is a food to which CBD has been added.

There is no food additive regulation which authorizes the use of CBD. 

Therefore, the introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of this product is a prohibited act.

The full warning letter can be viewed here.

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France reveals 2022 Campylobacter data

December 10, 2023 - 12:03am

Santé Publique France has published details on Campylobacter infections in 2022, including 60 outbreaks.

Epidemiological surveillance findings are based on the National Reference Center (CNR) for Campylobacter and Helicobacter and mandatory declaration of outbreaks.

CNR data shows that 9,160 strains were identified as Campylobacter. Campylobacter jejuni was the most frequently identified species at almost 85 percent, followed by Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter fetus. Most strains were isolated from stools, and a few from blood samples.

A seasonal increase in isolations was observed during the summer period with a peak in August. This seasonality was also seen in previous years.

60 outbreaks; many linked to poultry
Age at infection ranged from a few months to 102 years old, with a median of 27 years old. Incidence was highest for the under 1 to 9 year old age group. It was higher in men than in women. This trend was observed in all age groups, except among 20 to 29 year olds.

Infections by Campylobacter fetus were mainly reported in people aged 60 and over, while cases of Campylobacter jejuni were mostly in children and young adults younger than 30.

Information on a trip abroad in the 15 days preceding the onset of illness was specified for 49 percent of patients with 8 percent saying they had been abroad.

Sixty outbreaks were notified to Santé publique France with 321 patients. Nine outbreaks involved more than 10 patients. For 22 incidents, poultry consumption was the incriminated or suspected vehicle of contamination. In 2021, more than 50 outbreaks affecting 178 people were declared.

Resistance to ciprofloxacin, from the fluoroquinolone family, is almost as high for Campylobacter jejuni as for Campylobacter coli. Resistance to erythromycin is at a very low level for Campylobacter jejuni but slightly higher for Campylobacter coli. Resistance to tetracycline is at a very high level for Campylobacter coli. Very few strains were resistant to all five antibiotics tested.

Campylobacter has been increasing since 2013 when online data entry was introduced. Scientists said this could reflect an actual rise in infections or it may be because of other factors such as better detection methods.

At consumer level, the main risk factors for infection are handling fresh meat, cross-contamination of food from surfaces in the kitchen, and eating undercooked meat. Preventive measures are based on good hygiene practices in the kitchen such as handwashing, cleaning surfaces and utensils after handling poultry or raw meat, and cooking poultry, beef, and pork properly.

Focus on Campylobacter fetus
Meanwhile, another study has looked at Campylobacter fetus in eastern France.

The study, published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, included adult inpatients with a confirmed Campylobacter fetus infection in Nord Franche-Comté Hospital, Trevenans, during January 2000 to December 2021.

Among 991 patients with isolated Campylobacter strains, scientists identified 39 with culture-positive Campylobacter fetus infections, of which 33 had complete records and underwent further analysis; 21 had documented bacteremia and 12 did not.

The highest incidence rate was noted in 2011. Patients with bacteremia were older than those without.

“In summary, we found that Campylobacter fetus bacteremia mainly affects patients who are elderly, are immunocompromised, or have underlying conditions. Infections are associated with high mortality rates, especially if no dual antimicrobial therapy including amoxicillin/clavulanic acid is prescribed,” said researchers.

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Codex adopts standards on E. coli, remote audits and growth promoter

December 9, 2023 - 12:03am

Standards on the control of STEC, for water reuse and the use of remote audits were adopted at the latest Codex Alimentarius Commission session.

Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for zilpaterol hydrochloride in different animal origin products have also been approved after a vote. Codex texts are voluntary and countries can choose not to put the MRLs into legislation.

Guidelines on Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) aim to help risk managers and food businesses in efforts to reduce foodborne disease by providing advice and guidance on the control of STEC in raw beef, raw milk and raw milk cheeses. Work on STEC in fresh leafy vegetables and sprouts is ongoing.

Guidelines on water use give advice on the types of water suitable for different areas of food production and processing. They advise on a risk-based approach to safe water sourcing so producers, processors and handlers can reduce and manage associated hazards in food production.

Guidelines on the use of remote audits and inspections outlines seven principles that can form the basis of such audits in regulatory frameworks, and help with planning and implementation.

A code of practice related to cassava and cassava-based products provides governments and food businesses, growers, processors and distributors with knowledge about factors that may lead to an occurrence of mycotoxin contamination and ways to detect, reduce or prevent it.

Other adopted standards included a regional one on soybean products fermented with Bacillus species in Asia, a maximum level for lead in ready-to-eat meals for infants and young children and sampling plans for total aflatoxins in certain cereals and cereal-based products including foods for infants and young children.

Growth promoter decision goes to vote
From 137 votes cast on zilpaterol hydrochloride in cattle liver, kidney and muscle, 88 voted for adoption, 49 were against and 11 countries abstained. The United States was one of the countries to welcome adoption of the standard but several nations expressed regret at the move.

In Europe, the use of growth promoters is not allowed. The EU said it would not accept import of meat from animals given such substances. The UK said the compound was prohibited in national legislation.

In a strongly-worded statement, China said the conclusion was disappointing.

“In our Codex journey, it is the second time we witnessed the failure of Codex, as the standard was adopted by voting. The way we came to the conclusion, and the conclusion itself undermined the spirit of negotiation, undermined the principle of consensus, and even undermined all the efforts we’ve made all these years communicating, discussing, and consulting on this issue.”

Russia, which also voted against adopting the standard, said it “deeply regrets” that the Commission was unable to reach a consensus on the issue due to differences of opinion.

Future focus areas
In 2024, FAO will hold a meeting to work on guidance for the implementation of marine biotoxins monitoring. A report on the most common frauds in the fisheries and aquaculture sector and available tools to prevent it will also be available early next year as will a report on the food safety aspects of precision fermentation.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission agreed to new work on developing guidelines for food hygiene control measures in traditional markets and to prevent or reduce ciguatera poisoning. Revisions to documents on controlling pathogenic Vibrio in seafood and product traceability were also supported.

Work on maximum levels for total aflatoxins in paprika, ginger, black and white pepper, and turmeric and for ochratoxin A in the latter three products was stopped.

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Canadian company recalls sauces because of potential for botulism poisoning

December 8, 2023 - 6:27pm

Kopi Thyme Inc. is recalling six varieties of its sauces because of potential contamination with Clostridium botulinum, which causes botulism poisoning.

The recall was triggered by testing done by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The implicated sauces — listed in the table below — were distributed to British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan and possibly other provinces and territories.

Consumers should throw away any of the sauces that they have on hand. As of the posting of the recall there hadn’t been any confirmed illnesses associated with the products.

About botulism
While a variety of illnesses can result from eating under-processed food, one of the most dangerous is botulism poisoning. Untreated, botulism can paralyze the muscles needed for breathing, resulting in sudden death.

Anyone who has eaten any recalledproductsand developed signs of botulism poisoning should immediately seek medical attention, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

“In foodborne botulism, symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating contaminated food. However, symptoms can begin as soon as 6 hours after or up to 10 days later,” according to the CDC website.

The symptoms of botulism may include some of all of the following: double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, a thick-feeling tongue, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. People with botulism poisoning may not show all of these symptoms at once.

These symptoms result from muscle paralysis caused by the toxin. If untreated, the disease may progress, and symptoms may worsen to cause paralysis of specific muscles, including those used in breathing and those in the arms, legs, and the body from the neck to the pelvis area.

BrandProductSizeUPCCodesKopi ThymeIpoh Laksa – Curry Noodle Soup Base250 mL6 28634 62103 5All Best Before dates up to and including 10/31/2024Kopi ThymeKam Heong – Golden Fragrance Stir Fry Sauce250 mL6 28634 62106 6All Best Before dates up to and including 12/29/2024Kopi ThymeKari Ayam – Malaysian Style Aromatic Curry Paste250 mL6 28634 62104 2All Best Before dates up to and including 09/25/2024Kopi ThymeNyonya Laska – Curry Noodle Soup Base250 mL6 28634 62108 0All Best Before dates up to and including 09/25/2024Kopi ThymePrawn Curry – Creamy Prawn Curry Paste250 mL6 28634 62105 9All Best Before dates up to and including 11/22/2024Kopi ThymeSayur Lodeh – Turmeric Stew Paste250 mL6 28634 62107 3All Best Before dates up to and including 11/22/2024For photos of the recalled sauces, go to https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/kopi-thyme-brand-sauces-and-soup-bases-recalled-due-potential-presence-dangerous?utm_source=gc-notify&utm_medium=email&utm_content=en&utm_campaign=hc-sc-rsa-22-23

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Enoki mushrooms recalled in Canada after testing finds Listeria

December 8, 2023 - 10:57am

1585633 Ontario Inc. is recalling Good brand Enoki Mushrooms from the marketplace because of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

This recall was triggered by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) test results.

Recalled products:

BrandProductSizeUPCCodesAdditional InformationGoodEnoki Mushroom200 g4 892742 010340All packages without a lot code on the label and code 20231031Sold at T & T Supermarket stores in Ontario

As of the posting of this recall, there have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

Recalled products should not be consumed, served, used, sold or distributed.

The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing recalled products from the marketplace.

About Listeria infections

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any recalled mushrooms and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about the possible Listeria exposure.

Also, anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products should monitor themselves for symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop. 

Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses. 

Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections, and other complications. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

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