Yearly Archives: 2015

New food safety rules will affect Canadian growers exporting to the U.S.

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Susan Mann of Better Farming writes that Canadian horticultural industry leaders are poring over documents issued by the United States Food and Drug Administration last month outlining new food safety requirements for American growers and businesses shipping produce to the United States.

onion.water.oregonCanadian and Ontario growers exporting produce to the United States may be impacted by the new rules released as part of the American Food Safety Modernization Act and slated to take effect January 26, 2016. The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released the three sets of rules November 13. They are: the produce rule governing growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce; foreign supplier verification and accreditation of third-party auditors and certification bodies.

Companies and farmers in the states along with those exporting to the United States are being given time to meet the new requirements.

Jim Gorny, vice president of food safety and technology for the U.S.-based Produce Marketing Association, says the rules will have “a significant impact on produce businesses, in that they will affect how businesses operate on a daily basis and set definitive regulatory compliance expectations for FDA regulated businesses.”

The compliance dates depend on the size of a business, Gorny says. Large businesses with more than US $500,000 annually in sales have two years to comply with the new regulations and four years to meet the new water testing provisions. Small farms, defined as US $250,000 to $500,000 a year in sales, have three years to comply with the rules and five years to fall in line with the water rules. Very small farms, US $25,000 to $250,000 in sales annually, have four years to comply with the rules overall and six years for the water rules.

Heather Gale, executive director of CanadaGAP, the Canadian food safety program for the fresh fruit and vegetable sector, says they will be reviewing the new U.S. rules and comparing them to the requirements in Canada’s program. The program’s analysis will be published on its website sometime “in the new year,” Gale says.

Al Krueger, executive assistant with the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers, says by email Ontario cucumber growers are “already doing what’s required under the new Food Safety Modernization Act.”

Another part of the American package of new food safety rules is the Foreign Supplier Verification Program. It specifies importers are required to verify food imported into the United States has been produced to the same food safety standards required of U.S. producers, Gorny says.

What about the epi? Tests don’t link E. coli that killed child to county fair in Maine

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The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention says the strain of E. coli that sickened two children in October, killing one, can’t be linked to the Oxford County Fair.

ekka.petting.zooState health officials sent samples to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those tests came back inconclusive.

“While we know the two children were infected by the same molecular strain of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC, that same strain was not found in any of the samples that we tested here in Maine, or in the samples we sent to the U.S. CDC,” Maine’s state epidemiologist Dr. Siiri Bennett, said.

Bennett said the majority of E. coli cases that are investigated end with an undetermined cause.

The families of the two children thought they contracted the illness from the petting zoo at the fair.

Twenty-month-old Colton Guay of Poland died of E.coli. Seventeen-month-old Myles Herschaft of Auburn recovered after treatment at Maine Medical Center.

Officials said four samples collected from the Oxford County Fairgrounds tested negative for E. coli at a state lab, and one sample from animal pens tested positive for the presence of STEC. The Maine CDC said lab tests from the U.S. CDC confirmed that the sample that tested positive for the presence of STEC did not match the strain that caused the children’s illness.

Report of the Fast-Track Action committee on mapping the microbiome

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New technologies enabling rapid and inexpensive gene sequencing have enabled scientists from all fields and disciplines to explore the microbial world.

microbiome 1Scientists are finding communities of microorganisms performing essential ecosystem services even in places previously thought to be sterile, and new science is uncovering an unprecedented potential for the application of microorganisms to human, plant, animal, and environmental health; renewable energy production; water treatment; and manufacturing.

The study of these communities of microorganisms, or microbiomes, has left researchers with even more questions, such as “What is a healthy microbiome?” “What makes a microbiome resilient to perturbations?” “How can we harness the huge potential of these microbial communities?”

The Life Sciences Subcommittee (LSSC) of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) chartered the Fast-Track Action Committee on Mapping the Microbiome (FTAC-MM) to survey Federally-supported microbiome research and make recommendations for Federal investments that would target cross-cutting challenges and areas of need.

Fourteen Federal departments and independent agencies participated in the FTAC-MM’s survey, answering sweeping questions about their investments over the previous three fiscal years (FY12-14) and where the most important research gaps for advancing this field exist. The survey found a total Federal investment in microbiome research of approximately $922 million disbursed to 2,784 projects over the course of three fiscal years, FY12 through FY14. This corresponds to an average of about $307 million each year, and support of microbiome research has increased each year since FY12.

Federal microbiome research investments are dominated by the National Institutes of Health, which funded 59 percent of the investments in microbiome research from FY12-14. Research investments in the human microbiome were larger than any other category, at 37 percent of the total from FY12-14. The FTAC found less activity than expected in agricultural microbiome research, particularly in food-based studies, viral microbiome research, and applied microbiome research and tool development, compared to basic microbiome research.

19 sick with E. coli O157; Taylor Farms expands recall

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With 19 sick from E. coli O157 linked to Costco rotisserie chicken salad, investigators are looking at ingredients for the original source.

costco.chicken.salad.nov.15On Nov. 26, a celery and onion mix was identified leading to an expanded recall this week of 155,000 items, including salad kits, vegetable trays and other prepared foods. The products were sold at chains across the country, including Walmart, Costco, 7-Eleven and Target.

Costco says it uses one supplier for vegetables in the chicken salad sold in all its U.S. stores.

But Bruce Taylor, chairman and chief executive officer of Salinas-based Taylor Farms told the Monterey Herald federal and state officials are jumping the gun in linking the E. coli to celery processed by Taylor Farms Pacific, and that the recall was based only on “an abundance of caution.”

Taylor said Montana health officials, where the outbreak was first reported, generated a “presumptive positive,” meaning they identified the strain of E. coli O157:H7 from samples taken from sick consumers as the same strain found on Taylor Farms celery products. However, it hasn’t been determined yet if it’s exactly the same bacteria. A positive match can only be made when DNA testing is complete.

“Since the state of Montana’s initial preliminary findings, the state lab has not been able to confirm the existence of E. coli in their sample and has not been able to gain any information or link,” Taylor said. “Normally, this would take three or four days, which would have been last Saturday or Sunday, for results. Today, it looks like a false alarm.”

But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement that “preliminary laboratory evidence indicates that a celery and onion diced blend produced by Taylor Farms Pacific Inc. may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. This product was used to make the Costco rotisserie chicken salad eaten by ill people in this outbreak.

Taylor Farms contracts with hundreds of growers from Salinas to Mexico to supply produce.

For a complete list of recalled products, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website: www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls.

52 sick with E. coli O26 linked to Chiptole; tightening suppliers

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As the number of confirmed cases of E. coli O26 linked to Chipotle restaurants increased to 52 in nine states, the company says it’s revamping its food-supply standards.

portland-press-herald_3512878Chipotle will work with Seattle-based IEH Laboratories and Consulting Group, unveiled a new safety program that includes improving its supply chain and doing DNA testing of produce. Chipotle also is retooling its training to help employees handle food more carefully.

“While it is never possible to completely eliminate all risk, this program eliminates or mitigates risk to a level near zero, and will establish Chipotle as the industry leader in this area,” Mansour Samadpour, head of IEH Laboratories, said in a statement.

USA Today said Chipotle Mexican Grill will soon have stricter guidelines for its suppliers that will mean the chain will be using local produce less often.

Chris Arnold, a company spokesman, said in an e-mail Wednesday that the company plans on formally releasing some of its changes in the coming days, if not sooner.

“We do expect that some of the local suppliers we have used will not meet more stringent testing standards we have put in place,” Arnold said.

Environmental health specialists: the salt of the earth

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There are some really good people in state and local health departments throughout the world.

Environmental heath specialists, public health inspectors, hygiene officers – whatever they might be called – are some of the most fun food safety nerds to hang out with; there’s not another group of folks I interact with who are consistently as passionate about public health as they are.Unknown

As Keith and Mick sing, they are the salt of the earth.

They impact food safety everyday.

Tragic events in San Bernardino earlier this week affected many individuals and families; including the public health family.

 

WHO estimates 420,000 deaths due to foodborne illness annually

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1 in 10 people worldwide annually and 420,000 deaths (125,000 of whom are kids). That’s a lot.

WHO released these numbers it in a report published in PLOS Medicine today.who-logo1

Almost one third (30%) of all deaths from foodborne diseases are in children under the age of 5 years, despite the fact that they make up only 9% of the global population. This is among the findings of WHO’s Estimates of the global burden of foodborne diseases – the most comprehensive report to date on the impact of contaminated food on health and wellbeing.

The report, which estimates the burden of foodborne diseases caused by 31 agents – bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins and chemicals – states that each year as many as 600 million, or almost 1 in 10 people in the world, fall ill after consuming contaminated food. Of these, 420 000 people die, including 125 000 children under the age of 5 years.

“Until now, estimates of foodborne diseases were vague and imprecise. This concealed the true human costs of contaminated food. This report sets the record straight,” says Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO. “Knowing which foodborne pathogens are causing the biggest problems in which parts of the world can generate targeted action by the public, governments, and the food industry.”

While the burden of foodborne diseases is a public health concern globally, the WHO African and South-East Asia Regions have the highest incidence and highest death rates, including among children under the age of 5 years.

“These estimates are the result of a decade of work, including input from more than 100 experts from around the world. They are conservative, and more needs to be done to improve the availability of data on the burden of foodborne diseases. But based on what we know now, it is apparent that the global burden of foodborne diseases is considerable, affecting people all over the world – particularly children under 5 years of age and people in low-income areas,” says Dr Kazuaki Miyagishima, Director of WHO’s Department of Food Safety and Zoonoses.

Diarrhoeal diseases are responsible for more than half of the global burden of foodborne diseases, causing 550 million people to fall ill and 230 000 deaths every year. Children are at particular risk of foodborne diarrhoeal diseases, with 220 million falling ill and 96 000 dying every year.

 

 

 

All bets are off with sick kids: Hep A in berries edition

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I’m an emotional dude and I’ve become more sensitive as a parent. I know my emotions aren’t unique, but sappy movies, especially those focused on parent/kid relationships, make me cry. I’m a nervous flyer (I wasn’t before) irrationally thinking the plane is going down with every bump (leaving my kids fatherless).

I’m empathetic of folks who have kids affected by foodborne illness; when they are young, all their risk protection comes from caregivers.Unknown-7

As NZ health authorities finger Fruzio Mixed Berries as a likely source of four hepatitis A illnesses in the country, the New Zealand Herald highlights how trust in food is impacted during outbreaks.

Some Kiwis who bought the berries quickly contacted the Herald this evening to share their concerns.

Stevie Sanders from Hamilton said she was very worried after giving her 7-month-old daughter the berries. “Oh my God. I’ve just been freaking out. She’s seven months … and I feel so guilty.” Mrs Sanders said she used to mash the berries in with her daughter’s organic yoghurt. She said it was important the Government told people which products were linked to the health scare.

Chloe Rarity from Blenheim said her family was “really shocked” about the berries and found out she’d been eating the Fruzio berries over the past week. She’d made “a huge batch” of berry sorbet for her new neighbours and four families ate it at a barbecue.

Justin Robbins said as a father, he was worried for his family after hearing of the Hepatitis A cases. “When you realise that you are totally and utterly in control of someone else’s life, the feeling that you could’ve given them something that would make them sick – that’s not a nice place to be. “To say it’s unnerving is probably a massive understatement,” he said this evening.

Yep.

Food Safety Talk 83: Many peoples’ thermometers

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Food Safety Talk, a bi-weekly podcast for food safety nerds, by food safety nerds. The podcast is hosted by Ben Chapman and barfblog contributor Don Schaffner, Extension Specialist in Food Science and Professor at Rutgers University. Every two weeks or so, Ben and Don get together virtually and talk for about an hour.  They talk about what’s on their minds or in the news regarding food safety, and popular culture. They strive to be relevant, funny and informative — sometimes they succeed. You can download the audio recordings right from the website, or subscribe using iTunes.

turkey.thanksgiving.oct_.12After establishing that Joni Mitchell is not dead and Nova Scotia is New Scotland the guys jump into food safety of microgreens.  There is a wide range of microgreens available. One microgreen company Fresh Origins describes over 400 different types of greens products and has a cursory mention food safety on their website. The guys attempt to clarify the confusing world of sprouts, microgreens, and hydroponic techniques.  There is a difference between sprouts and microgreens; Sprouts are sprouted seeds whereas microgreens are often sprouted once and then harvested repeatedly. There are also many different hydroponic designs where plants are rooted in a non-soil substrate and fed by circulated nutrient containing water.  Hydroponic production can be done safely but does not guarantee safe food.  A lot of circulating nutrient rich water allows bacteria to grow and move around.  As with sprouts, the seeds used for microgreens combined with the growing conditions, does create risk of pathogen growth as described in this paper (STEC survival in microgreens).

The guys talk Listeria in produce and the challenges of risk assessments. Don is going to a Produce Safety policy conference where he will give a talk on assessing public health risk for product associated Listeria monocytogenes exposure. A 2003 risk assessment ranked Listeria in produce as low risk however produce recently affected by listeria are caramel apples, cantaloupe, and stone fruit and this shows that risk assessments can become outdated.  New information is always becoming available, for example, Listeria growth on the outside of cantaloupe at room temperature. The data is also getting more applicable as researchers now appreciate the importance of using relevant strains.

Ben and Don discuss consumer recommendations lagging behind food safety science.  For example the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board a ‘sliced melon should be stored in the refrigerator until it is ready to be eaten’ while data support a recommendation more similar to deli meats. Something like: if you don’t know your refrigerator’s temperature, eat deli meats and sliced cantaloupe within 2 days; if you know it holds food below 41F, you have 4 days.

Ben and Don talked about visiting Austin and the 5by5 studios. And if you are in Texas try to eat at Torchy’s tacos.

The guys talk about food retail and Ben gets on a rant about how when people talk about food safety culture they don’t quite get it. Ben describes a frustrating situation he encountered at a food safety meeting: food safety nerds reporting that decision makers respond to perceived risks more strongly than public health risks. Like one retailer spending more resources on hairnets than norovirus control because hair is what their CEO perceives as an issue.

Politicians get involved in NZ hep A in berries outbreak

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Supply chains are messy and as products get co-mingled, mixed and distributed tracking down contamination sources gets difficult. An outbreak of hepatitis A linked to frozen berries in New Zealand is getting political as government officials were questioned by law makers, according to Scoop.Unknown-7

Ministry for Primary Industries officials say no link was found between frozen berries from China blamed for an outbreak of Hepatitis A in Australia early this year and fruit finding its way onto the New Zealand market.

Director-General Martyn Dunne and deputies Scott Gallacher and Deborah Roche were appearing before the primary production select committee for the ministry’s annual review and were questioned by Labour’s food safety spokesman Damien O’Connor and Green MP Stefan Browning on why no brands or countries of origin for contaminated frozen berries had been identified yet.

Australia had at least 28 cases of Hepatitis A that were tied to brands of frozen berries imported from China. Gallacher said the two countries shared a lot of information after Australia was able to identify both the strain of the virus and a specific brand, and New Zealand officials did “due diligence” to ensure that brand wasn’t supplying New Zealand and “hasn’t been to this day.” (but were the same farms selling to other brands? -ben)

O’Connor, who has a boysenberry farm at Motueka, asked if there was any reason to think any other source countries were involved, to which Gallacher said stricter screening had been put in place for all imported berries because the information to date hadn’t identified the source country. Dunne added that it was “not fair to that country because we’re not sure.”

“At what stage will New Zealand consumers or businesses know they’ve got contaminated berries in their freezer or what brands they should stop buying,” O’Connor asked, to which Gallacher replied it would hopefully be very shortly as MPI further refines its investigation.