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The 9-day closure of a popular Lewiston, ME, restaurant has created such a kerfuffle that Food Safety News has looked deeper into what happened.  Dialing back to last year, it seems an emerging cockroach infestation concerned restaurant staff who tried working with their pest control contractor but found it necessary to report the health hazard to health authorities shortly after the first of the year.

Staff reported on Jan. 6 to Maine health officials that there was a cockroach infestation at the restaurant. 

In mid-2023, staff had reported the roach sightings to Pine State Pest Solutions, the restaurant’s contractor, for handling infestations. The DaVinci’s staff members said they were stepping on cockroaches at the restaurant. 

Their official complaint went to the City of Lewiston Sanitarian Louis Lachance, who found an imminent health hazard for cockroach infestation and asked for DaVinci’s voluntary closure to correct the hazard.  

DaVinci’s representative, Craig Tribuno, voluntarily agreed to close the restaurant on Jan. 6. It would re-open on Jan. 15.

First, a word about cockroach infestations.

Cockroaches are harbingers of disease and pathogens. Their shed exoskeletons and feces can trigger asthma in otherwise healthy people, and a significant cockroach infestation can be incredibly unhealthy for people.

Roaches also leave behind stains and bad smells. If they, or their waste, come into contact with food, humans can develop food poisoning-like symptoms that may become severe enough to require hospitalization.

Under Maine’s Freedom of Access Act, the City of Lewiston has provided Food Safety News with documents that show Davinci’s cockroach issue was a problem by at least last August.  Then, its pest control contractor said the “amount and location” of cockroach infestation meant an “after-hours” spray was required.

It is not clear from the documents if that was ever done.

Pine State’s Parker Adams is a technician for the pest control company servicing Davinci’s.  He spent just over one hour at the restaurant on Oct. 17, 2023, after restaurant staff reported cockroaches. Adams found two pests “in the glue boards” and applied insecticide.  He said the live cockroaches were “physically deformed,” which is a sign the spray is working.

Keith Ellsworth, another Pine Street tech, visited Davinci’s two days later and found no “no activity in the bait stations.”  One roach was caught on a glue board in the pizza area.  

Adams returned on Oct. 23, 2023, finding no signs of roach activity.  He promised to “stay on top of this until there are no new sightings  by staff for an extended time.”

Ellsworth was back on Oct.31, finding that “1 nymph “ was captured on a glue board.  On Nov. 8,  Ellsworth reported finding one “deformed adult roach” in a glue board near the pizza oven.  He also added bait in various “cracks and crevices”

In a checkup on Nov. 16, Ellsworth found two “juveniles”  in basement glue boards.  He applied a gel-based bit and aerosol pesticide.

A third Pine State tech named Evan Thompson was at the restaurant on Dec. 15, finding three dead cockroaches but said, “Things are looking very good” and showing “no cockroach activity.”

Ellsworth returned on Dec. 26, finding two roaches, one near a pizza oven and one under a sink. He said there were some signs of “light feeding.”

On Jan. 5, 2024 — one day before the voluntary closure — Ellsworth found no roaches but did say a DaVinci staff member reported seeing one on the bar.  

Ten days later, another Pine Street tech, Ethan Nadeau, looked for cockroaches in the building for 16 minutes, ”observing no live or dead activity anywhere.”  It was re-opening day for DaVinci’s. He returned on Jan. 17 for 30 minutes, finding no pest activity.

Louis Lachance, the city’s restaurant inspector,  followed up on the Jan. 6 complaint on Jan. 11, with inspection notes.  He reported no Person in Charge for DaVinci’s was present for the follow-up inspection, at which no live or dead cockroaches were observed.

LaChance said there would be a re-inspection within 30 days of the re-opening and another follow-up within three months.  On Jan. 11, LaChance said he could approve the re-opening once professional cleaning and disinfection is completed.

The DaVinci’s cockroach infestation and subsequent short-term closure were routine events for any restaurant inspection program, but they’ve been anything but routine for the City of Lewiston.   

The Lewiston City Council on March 19 is still looking at firing its veteran restaurant inspector and letting the state take over restaurant inspections in the city.  

Those actions were to have occurred at the Jan. 23 meeting. Still, public comments overwhelmingly supported LaChance and his boss, Dave Hediger, the City’s Planning and Code Enforcement Director, who was putatively on administrative leave.

The Lewiston City Council has drafted a letter to Commissioner Jeanne M. Lambrew of Maine’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, terminating the city’s agreement with the state for city inspection services of restaurants within the city.

Also drafted is a supplemental FY24 budget adjustment to rescind the funding for the Certified Sanitation Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer who did those restaurant inspections for the remainder of the fiscal year.

That supplemental would punish Lachance, the city’s long-time restaurant inspector who holds the sanitation inspector position, by eliminating his position and its funding.

Tribuno, DaVinci’s co-owner, acknowledged a cockroach issue but not infestation or how concerned some of his staff were about it.  

DaVinci’s failed a 2019 inspection conducted by Lachance.  It was not inspected in 2023 but did pass inspection early in 2022.

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Clostridium perfringens and Salmonella were the agents responsible for the most foodborne outbreaks in Singapore from 2018 to 2021, according to a study.

A total of 171 outbreaks involving 7,538 cases were investigated from January 2018 to December 2021. The number of outbreaks ranged from 12 in 2020 to 59 in 2019.

For the 121 foodborne outbreaks, more than 42 percent were traced to food prepared by caterers, 14.9 percent by restaurants, and 12.4 percent by in-house kitchens. Of the 50 non-foodborne outbreaks, 48 were at schools, found the study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Ministry of Health, together with other relevant public agencies, conduct outbreak investigations.

Stool samples of 1,050 patients were collected for laboratory identification of causative pathogens. A total of 1,024 food samples were selected for microbiological analysis based on the food consumption history of cases and epidemiological information from outbreaks, while 917 environmental swabs were taken based on kitchen operations via interviews with food handlers.

Data on pathogens
Clostridium perfringens with 20 and Salmonella with 18 outbreaks were the most common pathogens. Salmonella outbreaks involved Salmonella Enteritidis, Weltevreden, Typhimurium, and Salmonella Kirkee. Other causative pathogens included E. coli, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus.

Food samples and environmental swabs collected were mostly positive for Bacillus cereus. Only 100 of the 1,024 food samples were positive. The top 3 bacterial pathogens were Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli. In total, 17.3 percent of food samples had more than one type of pathogen.

Only 134 of 917 environmental swabs collected were positive for pathogens. The top three were Bacillus cereus, norovirus, and Salmonella Enteritidis.

Bacillus cereus was detected in a variety of food samples such as ready-to-eat fish, chicken, milk powder, vegetables, rice, noodles, and sauces and environmental swabs including on a knife, chopping board, utensils, preparation table, door handle, and kitchen appliances.

It is important to ensure good temperature control, proper food handling practices, and the routine disinfection of food contact surfaces during food preparation, as once food is contaminated, cooking may kill the bacteria but not remove the toxins produced, said scientists.

COVID impact and caterers role
Based on national disease surveillance statistics for Singapore, there was an increase in the number of food poisoning notifications from 4.8 to 7.5 per 100,000 population from 2013 to 2019. In 2020 and 2021, notifications decreased to 3.9 and 4.7 per 100,000 population, respectively. Similar reductions were observed in other countries, likely due to COVID-19 control measures.

The relaxation of Coronavirus measures, such as the gradual reopening of schools, workplaces, and food establishments for dining-in, saw the number of outbreaks climb in 2021.

A large proportion of outbreaks could be attributed to transmission from food prepared by licensed caterers for events and gatherings and dining in at restaurants. While caterers were linked to 51 outbreaks, unlicensed premises and home-based businesses both caused two each.

Common foods associated with Clostridium perfringens include meat, poultry products, soups, sauces such as gravy, and other precooked food and are typically associated with improper cooking or the inadequate heating of products. Caterers usually have to cook in bulk to serve larger groups of customers, and it is crucial for them to rapidly cool food products, said scientists.

In outbreaks were the causative agents could not be determined, many had findings of poor personal hygiene, environmental hygiene and/or poor food preparation practices.

“Mitigation measures such as implementing stricter food hygiene protocols and the re-training of food handlers would help to improve overall food hygiene and handling standards and consequently reduce the number of pathogens found in food and the environment. This would ultimately reduce the risk of gastroenteritis outbreaks in Singapore.”

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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.

Reconserve Inc.
Santa Monica, CA

A California food firm with a facility in Maryland is on notice from the FDA for unsanitary storing of ingredients that could contaminate food products. A Jan. 3, 2024, warning letter serves as a reminder that pet food products can contain dangerous pathogens and should be handled as carefully as other products.

In the warning letter, the FDA described a May 23 through June 29, 2023, inspection of Reconserve Inc.’s animal food manufacturing facility in Baltimore, MD.

The FDA’s inspection was in response to a complaint from a state regulatory partner about ingredient storage conditions.

During the inspection, an FDA Investigator found evidence of significant violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals, which caused the firm’s products to be adulterated. Additionally, this inspection found evidence that their product is adulterated in whole or in part because of a filthy, putrid or decomposed substance.

After the inspection, FDA investigators issued a Form 483 (FDA-483), Inspectional Observations.

Some of the significant violations are as follows:

Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) Requirements for Animal Food

The firm’s animal food facility is subject to the CGMP requirements. During the inspection of their facility, the FDA Investigator observed evidence of significant violations of these requirements, which included:

1. The firm did not examine their raw materials and other ingredients to ensure they were suitable for manufacturing and processing into animal food, and they did not handle them under conditions that will protect against contamination and minimize deterioration as required.

Specifically, on May 23, 2023, the FDA Investigator observed human food bakery by-products intended for use as an ingredient in their (redacted) outside, piled on a gravel ground and uncovered. They stated that they started storing these received ingredients there around February 2023, after a fire occurred at their facility. The FDA Investigator observed the visual state of these ingredients to be deteriorated and containing foreign material such as: gravel, rocks, soil, mud, unidentifiable substances and unknown man-made foreign materials. The FDA Investigator also observed wild birds flying around, landing and feeding on the pile, and insects flying around and crawling on the pile. The pile is exposed to contaminations from weather conditions including rainfall, and rainwater runoff with chemicals from nearby trucks and industrial equipment. The firm’s Vice President of Environmental Health and Safety estimated this outdoor storage pile of ingredients to be (redacted) and the facility (redacted) of ingredients from this storage pile with newly received ingredients to manufacture animal food.

2. The firm did not effectively protect the animal food stored outdoors in bulk from contamination, including by (1) using protective coverings where necessary and appropriate; (2) controlling areas over and around the bulk animal food to eliminate harborages for pests; and (3) checking on a regular basis for pests, pest infestation, and product condition related to safety of the animal food, as required.

Specifically, on May 23, 2023, and June 7, 2023, the FDA Investigator observed an uncovered pile of human food bakery by-products intended for use in their (redacted) being stored outside directly on an uncovered gravel driveway at their facility. The FDA Investigator observed wild birds flying, landing, and feeding upon the pile; flying and crawling insects; deteriorated packaging materials and foreign objects such as gravel, rocks, soil, mud, and other unknown man-made materials mixed in the pile. In addition, the uncovered bakery by-products were exposed to contamination since Feb. 2023 from weather conditions such as rainfall and rainwater runoff and excreta from birds, insects, and rodents. The pile was approximately three feet high and (redacted) in size and consisted of (redacted) of bakery by-products.

3. The frim did not keep the grounds around their animal food plant under their control in a condition that would protect against the contamination of animal food, including maintenance of grounds to properly store equipment and remove litter and waste within the immediate vicinity of the plant that may constitute an attractant, breeding place, or harborage for pests, as require.

Specifically, on May 24, 2023, and June 7, 2023, the FDA Investigator observed discarded metal equipment, burned metal barrels, wood pallets, plastic packaging materials, and other trash stored against the outside wall of the manufacturing facility that may constitute an attractant, breeding place, or harborage for pests.

Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls Requirements

The firm’s animal food facility is subject to the hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls requirements. During the inspection of their facility, the FDA Investigator observed evidence of significant violations of these requirements, which included:

4. The firm did not conduct a hazard analysis to identify and evaluate, based on experience, illness data, scientific reports, and other information, known or reasonably foreseeable hazards for each type of animal food manufactured, processed, packed, or held at their facility to determine whether there are any hazards requiring a preventive control, as required.

Specifically, in February 2023, the firm began storing human food bakery by-products intended for use as an ingredient in their (redacted) outside, piled directly on a gravel ground and uncovered. They did not identify or evaluate hazards associated with the change in their process of storing these materials outside and exposed to the environment. Known or reasonably foreseeable hazards include, but are not limited to:

A. Pests such as wild birds, rodents, and insects
B. Packaging materials (plastic and cardboard)
C. Foreign objects, including but not limited to, gravel, rocks, soil, mud, metal, and unknown man-made foreign materials
D. Chemicals such as lubricants and coolants from trucks parked adjacent to the pile and from nearby vehicle traffic
E. Nutrient deficiencies
F. Unknown industrial chemicals from this and neighboring facilities

In addition, they did not identify and evaluate the known or reasonably foreseeable hazard of recontamination with environmental pathogens in the processing steps following the dryer, which they have identified as their control for pathogens in their ingredients.

5. The firm did not validate that the process preventive control they identified and implemented is adequate to control the hazard as appropriate to the nature of the preventive control and its role in their facility’s food safety system, as required.

The firm’s hazard analysis for (redacted) documents a CCP (critical control point) at the dryer step to control pathogens, which they determined are a hazard requiring a preventive control. Their hazard analysis states that they operate the dryer at an “average temperature of (redacted)” for a minimum of (redacted). However, they failed to validate the use of their dryer as a preventive control to significantly minimize or eliminate pathogens in their (redacted). For example, they were unable to provide any scientific or technical evidence or studies that determined whether the dryer operating at (redacted) at a minimum of (redacted) would be adequate to control pathogens, as required.

6. The firm failed to establish and implement written procedures for monitoring their preventive controls, as required. In addition, they failed to document the monitoring of preventive controls, as required. “Monitoring” means to conduct a planned sequence of observations or measurements to assess whether control measures are operating as intended.

The firm’s hazard analysis for (redacted) identifies a process preventive control at the “Dryer” step. They do not have written procedures for monitoring the preventive control that outline the parameters that must be controlled at the dryer step (e.g., temperature and time), the maximum and minimum values for the parameters, and the frequency with which these parameters must be monitored. Additionally, they did not provide documentation of any monitoring activities related to their preventive control at the dryer step, such as temperature records, to demonstrate that these activities consistently took place.

The full warning letter can be viewed here.

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Amos Miller is to appear in a Pennsylvania state court on Feb. 29.  Until then, Miller, his wife, and various businesses are prohibited  from producing or selling raw milk and raw milk products because of their ”immediate and irreparable injury.”

The order by state Judge Thomas Sponaugie grants the request of the Pennsylvania Attorney General, who has a pending civil action before the court to permanently prevent Miller and his business enterprises from selling raw milk and other unregulated products because he is endangering public health.

The judge’s order also requires Miller and his businesses to permit the State Department of Agriculture complete access to his records and test products.

Miller further must notify his customers that his products were traced to two recent foodborne illnesses. Further, the judge ordered him to notify his customers that raw milk collected from Miller’s farm on Jan. 4 under a search warrant tested positive for Listeria.

The attorney general has charged Miller with violating several state food safety laws.

Miller was the defendant in a federal civil action brought after 2016 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on behalf of USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The federal citation ended with Miller and his attorney signing a lengthy Consent Decree 2023 that promises compliance. It remains enforced.

Miller’s raw milk in 2016 was found to be genetically similar to the bacteria in two listeriosis cases, including a death case.

For a time in federal court, Miller claimed he was not subject to federal  jurisdiction because he was a “sovereign citizen.”

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Managing Campylobacter in chicken flocks and their meat is challenging, according to a study looking at surveillance methods in Europe.

Researchers compared the different programs for Campylobacter in broiler production across EU countries to identify the most promising practices to control the pathogen.

Campylobacter infections are often related to eating undercooked poultry meat or its improper handling.

Findings revealed that many countries test neck skin samples for Campylobacter as per the Process Hygiene Criterion (PHC) set in European regulation. Variations are seen in Norway and Iceland, where weekly sampling is performed during peak infection periods only, or in Iceland, where the limit is 500 colony forming units per gram (CFU/g) instead of 1,000 CFU/g.

The PHC limit is 1,000 CFU/g in 15 out of 50 samples. Beginning in January 2025, it will be 1,000 CFU/g in 10 out of 50 samples in all member states.

Reason for decline uncertain
The incidence of campylobacteriosis has declined in all EU countries, except France, since introduction of the PHC in 2018. However, it is unclear whether this is a real reduction or underreporting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It remains uncertain if the tightening of hygiene measures in slaughterhouses have had an impact on the reduction of human incidence rates,” said researchers.

Data comes from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, and Sweden in 2020 and 2021. Efforts are being made by some countries to implement national surveillance in broilers both on farms and at slaughterhouses.

National monitoring, surveillance and control measures for Campylobacter in the broiler meat chain are not harmonized across countries, according to the study, published in the journal Food Control.

Data in neck skin tests show that less than 2 percent of samples in Estonia, Finland, Norway, and Sweden exceeded the 1,000 CFU/g limit in 2020 and 2021. Rates in Denmark and Germany were around 7 percent, they were slightly more in Italy and Portugal but were highest in France at between 27 and 28 percent. The number of samples tested varied with France reporting the most.

Only Nordic countries have national action plans for Campylobacter. Norway and Iceland collect samples on farms. Denmark, Finland, and Sweden take samples at slaughterhouses. In Denmark, the national program has resulted in the reduction of Campylobacter in broiler flocks and meat, but only a small decrease in human infections.

Country differences
In all countries except Finland and Norway, at least three or four chilled neck-skin random samples from broilers belonging to the same flock are collected at the slaughterhouses. In Finland and Norway, neck skin samples are collected prior to chilling.

Iceland and Norway test flocks close to the slaughter date and when a farm tests positive, authorities implement measures such as logistic slaughter (processing infected flocks last), heat treatment or freezing the meat from these flocks. In Iceland, frozen meat is further processed before being put on the market. 

“Sampling before slaughter enables the planning of preventive measures for the upcoming slaughter of Campylobacter-positive broiler flocks, whereas sampling at slaughter provides only retrospective information,” said researchers.

In Sweden, sites slaughtering more than 100,000 broilers yearly must be sampled at least once a week between June and September. In Iceland and Finland, slaughterhouses can reduce sampling to every two weeks if the PHC has been met in the previous year. Between November and May in Finland, the sampling for Campylobacter PHC can be once per month.

“More efforts should be promoted in the future, since campylobacteriosis is still the most commonly reported zoonosis in Europe, while also addressing the interventions in animal species other than poultry, and keeping the consumers informed about the risks of foodborne diseases related to some domestic practices,” said researchers.

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A raw milk producer in New Zealand has issued a recall after a couple of people fell sick.

It is the second time in the space of a few months that Campylobacter infections have been linked to Lindsay Farm brand organic raw milk.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) said two potentially associated illnesses had been reported. 

Raw, or unpasteurized, drinking milk was sold in a plastic 2-liter bottle. Affected lot numbers are 2612, 2712, 2812, 2912, 3112, 0101, 0201, 0301, and 0401. Use-by dates range from Dec. 30, 2023, to Jan. 8, 2024. It was sold in the Hawke’s Bay region via home deliveries and several registered depots.

MPI urged anyone who had purchased the affected product not to drink it and to return it to the retailer for a refund. It can be consumed after heating to 70 degrees C (158 degrees F) and held at this temperature for one minute.

Previous and other incidents
A Campylobacter outbreak was reported to Hawke’s Bay Public Health Service in November 2023, involving three confirmed cases. All three had consumed Lindsay Farm raw milk and specific batches of the product were recalled in mid-November.

From 2019 to mid-2023, 10 outbreaks in New Zealand were associated with people drinking raw milk.

In 2022, Lindsay Farm was fined for not following rules around the sale and supply of raw milk. The company said it didn’t initially sign up for the raw milk legislation because of restrictions about distribution. A Campylobacter outbreak was linked to milk from the company in August 2020. After this, they registered under the regulations.

Other recent outbreaks in New Zealand include one due to Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens in October 2023 that involved 12 cases, of which two were confirmed and 10 were probable. The setting was a catered private event, and the source was a chicken curry.

Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens were identified from clinical samples and leftover curry. Staphylococcus aureus was also isolated from clinical samples. MPI and council staff identified issues with the cooling process used and issued the premises with an improvement notice.

An outbreak of typhoid fever occurred among seasonal workers in Tairawhiti. Tairawhiti public health investigated the incident that included eight patients. Cases were all employees who lived in shared accommodation. The most likely source was a worker who did all the cooking for the group and had recently been overseas.

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Federal officials are investigating a new outbreak of Listeria infections.

Although they have not yet identified a source, investigators from the Food and Drug Administration have found 26 patients. The FDA has not reported where the patients live or their ages.

The investigation appears to be in its beginning stages because the FDA has not yet begun traceback efforts or sampling or on-site inspections. The outbreak notice was first posted on Jan. 24.

Other FDA investigations into foodborne outbreaks are ongoing.

Three patients have been identified in a Listeria outbreak of unknown origin. The FDA has begun traceback, testing and on-site inspections but has not reported what food is being tested or what location is being inspected. The outbreak notice was first posted on Dec. 6, 2023.

Another outbreak of infections from Listeria is ongoing. It has been traced to peaches and led to the recall of peaches, nectarines and plums from various stores, including Food Lion, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Albertsons, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Markets and H.E.Butt Grocery. The recall was initiated by HMC Farms, which recalled fruit sold in retail stores from May 1, 2022, through November 15, 2022, and from May 1, 2023 through November 15, 2023.

In October 2023 a sample of peaches was found to be contaminated with the outbreak strain of Listeria. In total, 11 people have been confirmed in the outbreak with 10 requiring hospitalization and one having died. The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to investigate the outbreak, which is categorized as ongoing.

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The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has recently confirmed that a person who works at the ShopRite at Oxford and Levick, located at 6301 Oxford St, Philadelphia, has acute hepatitis A. The store is aware of the situation and is working collaboratively with the Health Department.

No additional ill people have been reported and no other stores are affected. While the risk of Hepatitis A infection is very low, the Health Department recommends that people who handled raw beef or pork or ate undercooked beef or pork purchased from the store’s meat counter between Jan. 4 and Jan. 21 receive hepatitis A vaccine as soon as possible. People who have previously received two doses of hepatitis A vaccine OR have had Hepatitis A in the past do not need to be vaccinated.

For those who may have had an exposure to the recent Hepatitis A case, the Health Department is offering free hepatitis A vaccine on Saturday, Jan. 27th from 8 a.m. to noon at District Health Center #10 located at 2230 Cottman Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19149. People who need hepatitis A vaccine also can contact their healthcare provider’s office or visit a pharmacy to receive vaccine. The Health Department maintains a website of pharmacies where people who have insurance can be vaccinated for hepatitis A. If you need assistance getting hepatitis A vaccine, contact the Health Department at 215-685-5488 during business hours (Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Beef or pork that was purchased during the above-mentioned times and frozen should be discarded as a precaution. Heating food and liquids to temperatures of 185 degrees F (85 degrees C) for at least 1 minute can kill the virus. Exposure to freezing temperatures does not kill the virus.

Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver. It can spread when a person who has Hepatitis A does not wash their hands very thoroughly after using the bathroom and then prepares food. A person with Hepatitis A virus can spread the virus to others for two weeks before they have symptoms of liver infection through one week after these symptoms start. People infected with Hepatitis A usually develop symptoms two to six weeks after they had contact with the virus. Illness can range from mild cases of diarrhea and vomiting to more severe symptoms of jaundice. Other symptoms include fever, low energy, stomach pain, and dark urine. There is no medication to treat Hepatitis A. Many people get better on their own at home, but some people can become very sick and need to be hospitalized.

If you develop hepatitis A symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.

The best way to prevent hepatitis A is through vaccination with the Hepatitis A vaccine. To get the full benefit of the hepatitis A vaccine, more than one shot is needed. Practicing good hand hygiene – including thoroughly washing hands after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before preparing or eating food – plays an important role in preventing the spread of hepatitis A.

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The CDC is reporting that more than 380 children are now involved in an outbreak of lead poisoning traced to pouches of cinnamon applesauce.

The outbreak was first announced in October 2023 after the Food and Drug Administration received information in September from North Carolina officials about children with elevated levels of lead in their blood. Traceback work showed a common source — cinnamon applesauce sold in pouches.

The implicated applesauce was made in Ecuador by Austrofoods. The cinnamon in the applesauce pouches was supplied by Negasmart to Austrofoods. Officials found the lead in the cinnamon was 2,000 times the amount considered safe. Elevated levels of chromium was also found in the product.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating 97 confirmed cases, 253 probable cases, and 35 suspected cases for a total of 385 cases from 42 different states.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reporting that it is investigating 90 cases with the age range for the patients from less than one to 53 years old with the median age being 1 year old. There could be some overlap so the CDC and FDA numbers should not be added together.

Three brands of cinnamon applesauce pouches have been recalled. They are Wanabana, Schnucks and Weis. The pouches were sold individually nationwide. Some of the Schnucks pouches were sold in variety packs.

The FDA and CDC are recommending that parents not use the applesauce and through it away or return it to the place of purchase. The applesauce has a very long shelf life, so officials are urging the public to check their homes for the recalled products.

About lead poisoning
Parents and caretakers should consult a healthcare provider and ask for blood tests if they suspect a child may have been exposed to the recalled cinnamon applesauce products. 

Short-term exposure to lead could result in the following symptoms: headache, abdominal pain/colic, vomiting, and anemia. 

Longer-term exposure could result in additional symptoms: irritability, lethargy, fatigue, muscle aches or muscle prickling/burning, constipation, difficulty concentrating/muscular weakness, tremors, and weight loss. 

Permanent consequences can lead to developmental delays and brain damage.

About chromium exposure
Symptoms of chromium exposure from eating contaminated food may be nonspecific. Some people might not experience any symptoms. Ingestion of chromium exceeding dietary recommendations may result in abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, renal and hepatic dysfunction.

Norovirus has been determined to be the suspected cause of a large outbreak at Airbus in France in late 2023, according to public health officials.

The Loire-Atlantique regional health agency (ARS) believes norovirus was behind almost 700 people falling sick at the Airbus Atlantic Christmas lunch in mid-December. Findings are based on the clinical symptoms in patients and the time it took for them to appear.

Sick people reported suffering from nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea after the event in Montoir at the company’s restaurant. Testing of food leftovers was negative for norovirus. No detail was given on whether patients or food handlers had been tested.

The varied menu is said to have included a cheese plate, a starter with scallops, a foie gras terrine, beef in sauce, and a lobster dish.

Norovirus can quickly and easily spread through sick people and contaminated surfaces or through contaminated food and water. A person usually develops symptoms 12 to 48 hours after being exposed. Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days, but they can still spread the virus for another few days.

Seasonal spike linked to shellfish

Meanwhile, France has reported a number of outbreaks linked to bivalve mollusks with several shellfish areas closed since December 2023.

In Loire-Atlantique, a norovirus outbreak with 40 infections after eating oysters was recorded in December. In Ille-et-Vilaine, several cases of food poisoning were linked to oysters in January and the same situation occurred in Gironde in December.

Norovirus in oysters from France caused 15 people to fall sick in Sweden and two cases in Finland in January. In Denmark, 32 illnesses were recorded in December.

In France, actions after an outbreak include oyster bed closures for 28 days and weekly norovirus testing until the production area tests negative.

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A petition filed last year with USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is among the first to generate a comment in 2024.

Animal Partisan, one of the nation’s many animal activist organizations, authored the petition.

Petition 23-07, requests that FSIS issue a notice to convey that: 1) State government officials are not categorically pre-empted from enforcing state anti-cruelty laws by the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, or the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and 2) FSIS personnel should cooperate with state government officials in the enforcement of state anti-cruelty laws and improve clarity and frequency of communication to those officials.

The Animal Partisan Petition has been pending since it was filed on Sept. 2, 2023. It mainly asks FSIS to publish a notice clarifying that federal law does not necessarily prevent state government officials from bringing animal cruelty charges when farmed animals are abused in slaughter plants.

The Washington D.C.-based Animal Welfare Institute filed new comments in support of Petition 23-07 on Jan. 23, 2024.  It says the Animal Partisan petition is a  simple request and would require relatively little of the agency, yet it could significantly improve the welfare of animals at slaughter.”

The Animal Welfare Institute  claims that “all too often, while they await slaughter and during the slaughter process, these animals are severely mistreated.”

“USDA records describe live birds having their heads, legs, feathers, and wings ripped off,” it continues.  “Animals are kicked, dropped, beaten, and held for hours or days without protection from severe weather.”

“Some of these incidents may violate state animal cruelty laws; yet, the USDA does not refer these cases to state law enforcement officials, It adds. “Further, some local officials incorrectly believe that federal law prevents them from ever charging slaughter plants or personnel with animal cruelty, and the USDA has not dispelled that misguided notion.”

Petition 23-07 was assigned to the FSIS Office of Policy and Program Development for review.

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The demand for food away from home has witnessed a surge in recent years, making restaurants a crucial source of food-related illness outbreaks. 

A new study, conducted by researchers with the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and Purdue University, has delved into the intricacies of these outbreaks, shedding light on the media and stock market responses to both single-state and multistate incidents. The focus of the research is on Chipotle Mexican Grill, a prominent restaurant chain that faced eight outbreaks between 2015 and 2018.

The study begins by highlighting a startling statistic – over 60 percent of foodborne illness outbreaks in the United States occur at restaurants, and 97 percent of these outbreaks are limited to a single state. Despite the prevalence of such incidents, there is a gap in the understanding of restaurant outbreaks, especially when it comes to single-state occurrences.

Chipotle cases provide a unique lens through which to examine these outbreaks. The study analyzes the media and stock market responses to each of Chipotle’s eight outbreaks, differentiating between single-state and multistate events. The research emphasizes the importance of understanding the financial impact of outbreaks on businesses, given that food away from home constitutes a significant portion of total food expenditures in the U.S.

The results of the study reveal a shift in the dynamics of reporting and market response to single-state outbreaks before and after Chipotle’s multistate E. coli outbreaks. Notably, multistate outbreaks led to swift stock price declines for Chipotle, resulting in a decline of market capitalization of approximately $1.75 million. However, the impact of single-state outbreaks was contingent on their timing rather than their severity.

Before the worse multistate outbreaks, single-state incidents at Chipotle garnered minimal media coverage and inflicted no financial losses. In contrast, after the multistate events, single-state outbreaks resulted in national media attention and substantial financial impacts, indicating a significant change in perception.

The research draws attention to the efficient market hypothesis, suggesting that stock prices should reflect the value of information contained in outbreak announcements. Chipotle’s publicly traded status allows for a clear evaluation of the financial impact through stock price changes, enabling insights into how price discovery takes place.

The study underscores the importance of investing in outbreak prevention, particularly for restaurants. It also emphasizes that outbreaks at restaurants, often stemming from factors like sick workers or improper food handling, are preventable with the right training and policies.

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Pennslvania Attorney General Michelle Henry, with the state Department of Agriculture, has now sued Amos and Rebecca Miller and their various farms and related businesses in the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas to shut him down with a permanent state injunction. 

Two recent E. coli illnesses reported by other states’ health departments are suspected to have originated from Miller’s Organic Farm raw milk or raw milk products. 

Additionally, samples of raw milk and raw milk products collected by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture recently tested positive for Listeria. These bacteria pose serious health risks, especially to young children, older people, and people with weakened immune systems.

The AG filed the 357-page complaint with exhibits on Jan. 23 after years of attempts by state and federal officials to bring the Miller into compliance with basic food safety law. The filing outlines violations of Pennsylvania’s Milk Sanitation Law, Food Safety Act, Retail Food Facility Safety Act, Unfair Trade Practices, and Consumer Protection Law. 

The alleged violations include failing to obtain licenses and permits, selling illegal raw milk products, and selling raw and raw milk products outside of Pennsylvania. The two recent E. coli illnesses reported by departments of health in New York and Michigan are suspected to have originated from Miller’s Organic Farm raw milk or raw milk products.

“For years, this business has brushed off efforts to bring its commercial farm operation into compliance with the law — as all commercial farms are required to do,” Attorney General Henry said. “We cannot ignore the illnesses and potential harm posed by distributing these unregulated products. We have long had food safety laws in this Commonwealth to protect the public from harm. Pennsylvanians should know what is in the products they and their families are consuming.”

Efforts to bring the farm into compliance date back several years. In 2019, in a case involving violations of federal meat and poultry handling laws, a federal court ordered Miller’s Organic Farm to comply with Pennsylvania licensing requirements and all applicable food codes. After multiple findings of contempt for failure to follow that order, Miller and his attorney agreed to a consent decree in August 2023, which remains in effect today, in which he affirmed his “independent responsibility for complying with relevant provisions of the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

The lengthy complaint also names  Miller’s Organic Farm, its owners, and all related businesses as additional defendants.

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An assessment of controls at companies in the dairy sector in Ireland has found the system works well overall but there are several areas that need improvement.

The audit covered official controls by a Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) division in the dairy production chain. Eleven businesses were audited between August and November 2022.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) audits the effectiveness and appropriateness of the controls implemented by other agencies.

Following onsite audits at two companies, one small scale and one very small, the audit team found that official controls were not effective and the assessment of compliance against food law was not adequate. Compliance notices were issued to both firms by the DAFM unit.

At one very small company, no food safety management system and associated records were available on the audit day. The business could partially demonstrate one-step forward traceability but not one-step-back traceability, as EU legislation requires.

Cheese issues
In one region, following an increase in controls, a series of non-compliances with food law had been identified by DAFM at one company between 2021 and 2022. Following these checks, compliance notices were issued. At the time of the audit, four such notices remained in place.

As a result of official controls carried out on downgraded cheese, a RASFF alert was made regarding the unauthorized placing on the market of cheese unfit for human consumption, which originated from this firm.

During an audit, non-compliance with food law was identified, resulting in almost 4.5 tons of cheese deemed unfit for consumption and disposed of as a Category 2 Animal By-Product (ABP). The cheese processor was also requested to review all stock within the establishment. This resulted in 42 tons of product disposed of as Category 2 ABP.

Subsequent audits in another region by FSAI identified more product being stored and or consolidated for this company, these products were also judged to be unfit to eat and were disposed of in the same way.

Official controls were effective in identifying non-compliance but actions taken to address the issues did not prevent further occurrences, said auditors.

Findings from 11 audits by the FSAI team resulted in enforcement action taken by the DAFM division on four firms and the continuation of pre-existing actions on a fifth.

Auditors found the trading activities of one large multi-site manufacturer were not registered or approved by the DAFM unit, so it was not subjected to official controls. DAFM had contacted the firm about registration at the time of the audit.

Assessing DAFM performance
The audit team reviewed the risk rating and official control program for 2021 and 2022. On numerous occasions, non-compliances were noted. Not all establishments under the remit and supervision of the DAFM division were risk-assessed in 2021, and eight controls were missed. The 2021 official control plan was outdated and did not identify all sites requiring planned checks.

Not all storage and distribution sites were risk-assessed or approved for the re-packaging of cheese in 2021 and 2022. Cheese re-packing has ceased in all three sites since September 2022.

There were three missed official controls in 2021 for the handling and re-packaging of cheese, and three controls were not identified in the 2022 plan.

Auditors also found scores assigned to certain parameters were inaccurate, resulting in a change to the risk rating of three establishments.

In 2021, there were 241 planned controls and 537 reactive controls. Reactive checks were performed at four sites concerning the 11 missed planned official controls.

In one region, auditors noticed that one very small-scale plant did not receive the required frequency of food safety and process hygiene sampling controls as outlined in the 2021 sampling plan. DAFM explained that due to COVID-19 and reduced production, sampling frequency was halved for this firm. During an onsite inspection, the FSAI found that this company had not performed any product testing in line with EU regulations and relied on official control sampling to verify compliance with food safety requirements.

Concerns were raised by the audit team about the long periods, up to three years in one case, in which establishments remained approved or registered despite having either ceased operations or having approval or registration proposed for suspension or canceled. Since early 2022, additional resources have been allocated to improve the management and control of suspensions and revocations.

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The Food and Drug Administration continues using import alerts to enforce U.S. food safety regulations for food from foreign countries. The agency updates and modifies the alerts as needed.

Recent modifications to FDA’s import alerts, as posted by the agency, are listed below. 

Click here to go to the FDA page with links to details on specific alerts.

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A connection between extraintestinal infections and food is possible, but it is hard to prove a direct link, according to a Dutch agency.

Extraintestinal infections arise outside the intestines, especially in the urinary tract and bloodstream. An infection can occur because bacteria from feces have entered the urinary tract. There is increasing evidence that food can cause them.

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) searched scientific literature to see whether there was a connection. The agency found indications, but no hard evidence, that food is a direct cause of these infections.

E. coli can cause both gastrointestinal and urinary tract infections. However, the E. coli strains associated with urinary tract infections differ from those behind gastrointestinal cases.

RIVM found extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) appears to cause the most urinary tract and bloodstream infections in the Netherlands. So, scientists focused their search for a link between infections caused by ExPEC and food.

It is difficult to demonstrate whether bacteria that cause urinary tract infections come from food. To do this, it must be checked whether the bacterial strain in humans is the same as in food or animals. It then needs to be investigated whether people ate this food before developing an extra-intestinal infection. This kind of research takes a lot of time and money, said RIVM.

Looking at the evidence
Scientists first looked at which pathogens lead to urinary tract and bloodstream infections in the Netherlands using 2019 and 2022 data. E. coli was the top pathogen, while Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterococcus faecalis were found less often.

The literature study analyzed articles on infections by ExPEC related to food, published from 2010 to February 2023. Poultry meat appeared to be the most significant potential source but this was based on indirect clues, said researchers. The role of eggs, raw milk, and fruit and vegetables is minimal, but there are only a limited number of studies.

The variable incubation period of extraintestinal pathogens, because they can live in the intestines without causing disease, makes it challenging to demonstrate a relationship with food.

Outbreaks of ExPEC have been described where there may have been a link to food but the source was not confirmed. Also, there was often incomplete data collection or reporting in these outbreak investigations.

Although similar strains appear to occur in animals and humans, there is no quantitative evidence of transmission of ExPEC through food and urinary tract infections with food as a direct source.

Ways to demonstrate the relationship between food and extraintestinal infections include detecting identical, or almost identical, strains in patients and food or animals and showing an epidemiological link between consumption of contaminated food products and extra-intestinal infections.

To gather more evidence, scientists said a database could be set up involving sequencing and analyzing ExPEC strains from clinical isolates, farm animals, and food. Based on this sequence data, any clusters can be monitored and investigated. Data could also be used for source attribution studies.

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–OPINION —

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Ranking Member Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Ranking Member Kathy Castor (D-FL) wrote to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf to request a briefing regarding the possible intentional contamination of applesauce pouches.

BACKGROUND: 

• On Nov. 9, 2023, the FDA announced that WanaBana USA had voluntarily recalled three applesauce brands—Weis, WanaBana, and Schnucks—“due to reports of elevated levels of lead.” Subsequently, on January 5, 2024, the FDA announced that its testing of the applesauce pouches and cinnamon collected from the manufacturing facilitiy had also found chromium. applesauce
• In a statement, the FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, Jim Jones, indicated that recent lead contamination in applesauce pouches may have been an intentional, economically motivated act by a foreign supplier of cinnamon for the recalled products. 
• As of Jan. 8, 2024, the FDA had received 87 confirmed complaints/adverse event reports linked to the recalled product. 
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a total of 321 cases from 38 different states. 
• Of those 321 cases, reports suggest more than 60 children under the age of six in the United States have tested positive for lead poisoning. 
• Children in this age range are more susceptible to lead poisoning, which makes the Committee’s concerns about intentional product adulteration along the global supply chain particularly urgent. 

KEY LETTER EXCERPT: 

“Though the FDA has in the past elevated concerns about unacceptably high levels of lead in some baby food, recent events raise whether more can be done to prevent and detect illicit food contamination. Therefore, the Committee urgently requests a detailed briefing on the FDA’s suspicion of intentional lead contamination in applesauce pouches, particularly the steps undertaken for its investigation and measures for future prevention. It is crucial to understand the FDA’s strategies for detecting and addressing intentional contamination in the food supply chain given the limited authority your agency has over contaminated cinnamon from abroad, which was identified as the potential source of this issue.” 

The bipartisan Committee leaders requested a briefing no later than February 2, 2024, and requested that the following topics should be covered: 

• A timeline of events leading to the discovery of lead contamination in the three applesauce brands listed above. 
• How did the FDA determine that the adulteration of raw cinnamon may have been intentional? 
• How is the FDA collaborating with international partners, particularly Ecuadorian authorities, to investigate this issue thoroughly? 
• How is the FDA collaborating with domestic partners, including state departments of health, to investigate this issue thoroughly?  
• What steps have been taken to determine if other foods have been contaminated as a result of this supply chain vulnerability? 
• How, if at all, does the FDA’s process for detecting lead contamination in food products differ for foods produced domestically from food produced abroad?  
• Since 2020, what has the FDA done to identify lead-contaminated foods and prevent them from reaching shelves?  
• Since 2020, how many recalls has the FDA issued related to lead contaminated foods? Of those, please specify how many were related to contamination products manufactured in America and how many were related to contamination abroad.   
• What are the FDA’s capabilities within its existing authorities to enhance monitoring and inspection processes to better detect and prevent intentional acts of lead contamination along the supply chain, including internationally, and what plans does the FDA have to use those authorities? 
• What additional resources or authorities are needed to better detect and prevent intentional acts of lead contamination along the supply chain, including along international supply chains?
• Will the FDA commit to providing the Committee with rolling updates on the status of the investigation, including findings related to the suspected international contamination? 

CLICK HERE to read the full letter.

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It was only a matter of time. Colorado raw milk rules are among the most restrictive in the
West, but that isn’t likely to last. With bipartisan sponsors, Senate Bill (SB) 24-0434 is off and running in the Colorado Legislature.  Colorado’s governor, as a congressman, was a prominent Food Freedom Caucus member.

Under current law, if you own a cow or goat that produces raw or unpasteurized milk, you may drink it, but you cannot sell it in Colorado. Cow shares are recognized as ownership. But that’s about it.

Instead, Colorado is considering joining its surrounding Western states by allowing raw milk dairies to sell directly to consumers. This is the one-step short of allowing retail sales of raw milk,  It’s where the law stops in Wyoming, Oregon, Montana, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

Utah, Idaho, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and California do permit raw milk sales in all sorts of retail stores.

SB 24-043 legalizes the sale of raw milk from cows or goats in Colorado when sold directly to consumers, either at the dairy, at the consumer’s residence, or at a farmer’s or roadside market. The raw milk dairy making such sales must be registered with the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and meet certain handling and labeling requirements.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) shares jurisdiction for those handling and labeling requirements and will make the raw milk rules in consultation with CDPHE.

CDA may investigate raw milk producers and apply civil penalties through civil actions against any producers who violate the raw milk program’s requirements.

The bipartisan sponsors, Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Summit County, and Sen. Byron Felton, R-Sterling, say that while opening raw milk sales directly to the consumer, their bill considers food safety.  Rules violations could result in fines totaling $500 per container.

Under the bill, raw milk must be labeled with the dairy’s name and production date and a warning that the product “may increase your risk of foodborne illnesses,” including a higher risk for children, pregnant women, and older people.”  The bill also requires that raw milk be kept below 40 degrees F during transport.

For decades, the State of Colorado has warned the public about the dangers of raw milk.   That will likely end with this bill or if Polis silences his CDPHE scientists during hearings and debates on SB 24-043.

The raw milk bill could become law as early as 90 days after the Colorado Legislature adjourns.   The bill is subject to a referendum to voters, although such action isn’t likely.  CDA oversight and registration of raw milk producers will require an additional full-time employee and cost $125,970 by FY 2025-26.  The fiscal note on the bill figures that CDA will collect $126,000 annually from registering 200 raw milk producers.

Since 1987, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has prohibited the sale of raw milk across state lines. Regardless of state laws, most state agriculture and health departments recommend against consuming raw milk or products made from it because of the danger of contamination by E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria and other pathogens.

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The European Commission has changed the level of inspections on various imported products, including decreases related to ethylene oxide and increases in pesticide residues.

The revised legislation sets the rate of official controls and special conditions for food and feed of non-animal origin imported into Europe. Rules are modified every six months.

Decisions are based on reports in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) and information from documents, identity, and physical inspections by EU countries in early 2023.

Checks on sesame seeds for Salmonella from India have been tightened to 30 percent of consignments. However, controls for ethylene oxide will be relaxed from 50 percent to 30 percent of shipments.

Ethylene oxide amendments
Instant noodles containing spices and seasonings or sauces from South Korea have had a higher rate of official controls because of the risk of contamination by ethylene oxide since December 2021. Findings by member states show better compliance, so the control level of 20 percent of consignments entering the EU has been reduced to 10 percent.

Stricter checks on food supplements containing botanicals from South Korea and peppers (other than sweet) from Uganda due to ethylene oxide have been removed.

The frequency of identity and physical checks on cumin seeds from Turkey for pyrrolizidine alkaloids has been increased to 30 percent.

Guar gum from India has been subjected to increased official controls because of the risk of contamination by pentachlorophenol and dioxins since February 2015. National inspections show improvement in compliance, so the level of controls has been reduced from 50 percent of consignments entering the EU to 30 percent.

Peanuts, also known as groundnuts, from the U.S., will still be checked at a frequency of 20 percent for aflatoxins. Vanilla extract controls for pesticide residues also remain unchanged at 20 percent.

The majority of updates feature pesticide residues. Increased oversight has been put on seem and helmet beans from Bangladesh, yard-long beans from India and Sri Lanka, granadilla and passion fruit from Thailand, durian from Vietnam, vine leaves from Egypt, and rice from Pakistan. However, controls have been relaxed for mint from Israel.

Oversight related to Chernobyl

The EU Commission has also updated rules covering import conditions of food and feed from other countries following the accident at the Chornobyl nuclear power station in 1986.

Conditions apply to products containing or derived from wild mushrooms and wild fruits of the genus Vaccinium, such as cranberries and blueberries, several other mushroom types, and some juices and waters.

Mixtures of nuts and dried fruits, jams, fruit jellies, marmalades, fruit or nut purée and fruit or nut pastes, mixtures of juices, flavored waters, and certain foods with several ingredients containing the affected mushrooms and fruits are also covered by the rules.

Certain foods with wild mushrooms or wild berries might also contain ingredients of animal origin, so physical controls should only be performed at the border control post, said the EU Commission.

The maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination in terms of cesium-137 is 370 Bq/kg for milk and milk products and food for infants and young children. It is 600 Bq/kg for all other covered products.

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Researchers have raised questions about the threat Yersinia enterocolitica poses to public health in the food chain.

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 is underreporting. Not everyone with gastroenteritis reports it; such patients aren’t routinely screened for Yersinia.

Yersinia enterocolitica was isolated from 37 of 50 raw chicken, 8 of 10 pork and salmon samples, and 1 of 10 leafy green samples collected at retail in the UK in 2021.

The percentage of food contamination was higher than in past studies looking at Campylobacter and Salmonella, but Yersinia enterocolitica causes fewer reported infections than these bacteria.

Another study, published in the journal Eurosurveillance in 2023, estimated thousands of Yersinia enterocolitica infections may go undiagnosed in England annually.

In the new work, researchers used multiple methods to determine the diversity of Yersinia enterocolitica in different foods and if it contributed to human infections.

According to the study published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology, understanding the types of Yersinia enterocolitica found on food samples is essential for outbreak investigations.

Potential role in infection
From the 80 food samples, 207 Yersinia enterocolitica isolates were recovered and their genomes sequenced. Isolates from food belong to 38 sequence types (ST).

The 207 genomes from food were compared with 747 public Yersinia enterocolitica genomes. Of the 207 food-derived isolates recovered in the study, 205 were biotype 1A. Biotype 1A is considered non-pathogenic because it lacks virulence genes, but outbreaks with this biotype have been reported.

Of the 80 food samples tested, 41 contained isolates that belonged to the same ST that had previously been isolated from UK human sources.

Just because highly similar Yersinia enterocolitica biotype 1A isolates were found in clinical and food specimens does not mean they were the agent responsible or that the isolate originates from that food type, said researchers.

“Effective source attribution of Yersinia enterocolitica will require improved detection and reporting of Yersinia enterocolitica from humans, and surveillance of food with sufficient isolates taken to capture the diverse populations present; this will also help determine the clinical significance of biotype 1A.”

Findings suggest that food samples were contaminated with a diverse population of Yersinia enterocolitica at a single point or at multiple points with different strains. 

“The large amount of diversity found amongst samples has implications for outbreak analysis, as sampling a single Yersinia enterocolitica isolate from a food sample will unlikely represent the diverse population present and could result in potential sources of infection being missed,” said scientists.

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