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Oct 6, 2020
Please join us in congratulating Aaron Beczkiewicz, an FST doctoral candidate in our research group, on being named one of four FSIS ORISE Graduate Student Food Safety Fellows. During his fellowship, he will be learning how to apply scientific and technical knowledge to inform FSIS decision making, communicate data to broad audiences, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to inform policy and processes that improve the safety of the food supply.
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Sep 21, 2020
The CDC has released an article examining STEC outbreaks linked to leafy greens during 2009–2018 in the United States and Canada.
Original article: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/10/pdfs/19-1418.pdf
Synopsis: Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) cause substantial and costly illnesses. Leafy greens are the second most common source of foodborne STEC O157 outbreaks. We examined STEC outbreaks linked to leafy greens during 2009–2018 in the United States and Canada. We identified 40 outbreaks, 1,212 illnesses, 77 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome, and 8 deaths. More outbreaks were linked to romaine lettuce (54%) than to any other type of leafy green. More outbreaks occurred in the fall (45%) and spring (28%) than in other seasons. Barriers in epidemiologic and traceback investigations complicated identification of the ultimate outbreak source. Research on the seasonality of leafy green outbreaks and vulnerability to STEC contamination and bacterial survival dynamics by leafy green type are warranted. Improvements in traceability of leafy greens are also needed. Federal and state health partners, researchers, the leafy green industry, and retailers can work together on interventions to reduce STEC contamination.
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Sep 17, 2020
The FDA article can be found at: https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-and-osha-team-publish-checklist-assist-food-industry-dur
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Sep 10, 2020
The U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE has released updated cost estimates of Value of Statistical Life (VSL) and Consumer Price Indexes. The full report can be found here: https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/cost-estimates-of-foodborne-illne...
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Sep 4, 2020
The CDC has released an update regarding the outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis infections linked to peaches:
As of August 27, 2020, a total of 78 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella enteritidis have been reported from 12 states.
Illnesses started on dates ranging from June 29, 2020, to August 3, 2020.
23 hospitalizations have been reported. No deaths have been reported.
More information can be found on the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/enteritidis-08-20/index.html
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Aug 26, 2020
The CDC has released a great webpage with tips to avoid getting sick with COVID-19:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
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Aug 18, 2020
The CDC has released an update regarding multistate outbreaks of Salmonella infections linked to contact with poultry in backyard flocks.
Since late June 2020, 473 more ill people were added to this investigation.
More information regarding the outbreak is available at the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/backyardpoultry-05-20/index.html
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Aug 11, 2020
The CDC and the FDA are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections linked to onions. For more information regarding the outbreak, and detailed information about the recall, click on the link below:
https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/newport-07-20/index.html
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Aug 7, 2020
The FDA has released a document that shares the proper food safety precautions to take before, during, and after a power outage:
https://www.fda.gov/media/72124/download
To learn more about food safety during power outages, watch the video below from the FDA:
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Jul 20, 2020
The CDC has created a new webpage, Food and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which provides helpful information on commonly asked questions about handling food packages; tips for safely shopping for groceries and buying meat in bulk; and tips on maintaining good nutrition even if your eating or grocery-shopping habits have changed.
