Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2013/08/food-safety-scan-aug-06-2013
Food Safety Scan for Aug 06, 2013
Rising Texas cases boost Cyclospora numbers; USDA airs Salmo testing concerns
Filed Under:
Cyclospora; Foodborne Disease; Salmonella
Texas Cyclospora cases lift national total to 490
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 41 more Cyclospora infections, raising its national total so far to 466, according to an update today. The latest illness onset date is Jul 23, but the CDC said most of the dates have ranged from the middle of June through early July.
Also, Texas health officials reported 41 more infections, raising its total to 181 and pushing it past Iowa as the state with the most cases. The latest update from the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) has 24 more cases that aren't reflected in the CDC's latest total, which would lift the national toll to 490. Despite all the cases in Texas, health officials still haven't found a common source for the illnesses. Yesterday the CDC said it has deployed extra assistance, including an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer, to lend a hand with the investigation in Texas.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in an update today that it's not clear if illnesses in other states are part of the same outbreak and that an investigation into the increased cases of cyclosporiasis in other states is ongoing. A few days ago the FDA said its trace-back investigation confirmed that the restaurant salad mix linked to illness clusters in Iowa and Nebraska was produced by a Taylor Farms facility in Mexico. It said the restaurants in Iowa and Nebraska include Olive Garden and Red Lobster, both of which are owned by Darden Restaurants, a company based in Orange County, Fla.
Aug 6 CDC outbreak update
Aug 6 TDSHS update
Aug 6 FDA update
USDA weighing whether poultry chemicals hide Salmonella
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is looking into concerns raised by researchers that more and stronger chemicals used to kill pathogens in poultry-processing facilities might be masking Salmonella contamination, according to an Aug 2 report in the Washington Post. Some scientists have said that the stronger chemicals may not be neutralized after rinsing prior to testing procedures that are done as spot checks for residual bacterial contamination after birds have been sprayed with or bathed in different chemical solutions. Any contamination that is still on the birds might be masked by tests that come back as false-negatives.
The issue has become a point of contention among chemical companies that market their products to poultry producers, and in June the USDA held a briefing to hear from the companies and food safety experts. Testimony revealed that the average number of chemical treatments on chicken-processing lines has grown from two to four since the early 2000s in an effort to cut pathogens and meet tougher federal food safety standards. Experts also reported that the chemicals, including cetylpyridinium chloride and peracetic acid, are now used with less dilution. The testimony also noted that poultry plants have cut Salmonella rates, without a similar drop in human Salmonella infections.
Scott Russell, PhD, a poultry-processing expert from the University of Georgia, presented at the USDA briefing and will work with federal officials to identify steps to ensure that the chemicals are neutralized before testing, according to the Post report. The USDA said it is assessing Russell's work and will take steps to adjust its policies, if needed. Russell projected that the research will take 6 months to a year to complete, the story said.
Aug 2 Washington Post story
Food Safety Scan for Aug 06, 2013
Rising Texas cases boost Cyclospora numbers; USDA airs Salmo testing concerns
Filed Under:
Cyclospora; Foodborne Disease; Salmonella
Texas Cyclospora cases lift national total to 490
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 41 more Cyclospora infections, raising its national total so far to 466, according to an update today. The latest illness onset date is Jul 23, but the CDC said most of the dates have ranged from the middle of June through early July.
Also, Texas health officials reported 41 more infections, raising its total to 181 and pushing it past Iowa as the state with the most cases. The latest update from the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) has 24 more cases that aren't reflected in the CDC's latest total, which would lift the national toll to 490. Despite all the cases in Texas, health officials still haven't found a common source for the illnesses. Yesterday the CDC said it has deployed extra assistance, including an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer, to lend a hand with the investigation in Texas.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in an update today that it's not clear if illnesses in other states are part of the same outbreak and that an investigation into the increased cases of cyclosporiasis in other states is ongoing. A few days ago the FDA said its trace-back investigation confirmed that the restaurant salad mix linked to illness clusters in Iowa and Nebraska was produced by a Taylor Farms facility in Mexico. It said the restaurants in Iowa and Nebraska include Olive Garden and Red Lobster, both of which are owned by Darden Restaurants, a company based in Orange County, Fla.
Aug 6 CDC outbreak update
Aug 6 TDSHS update
Aug 6 FDA update
USDA weighing whether poultry chemicals hide Salmonella
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is looking into concerns raised by researchers that more and stronger chemicals used to kill pathogens in poultry-processing facilities might be masking Salmonella contamination, according to an Aug 2 report in the Washington Post. Some scientists have said that the stronger chemicals may not be neutralized after rinsing prior to testing procedures that are done as spot checks for residual bacterial contamination after birds have been sprayed with or bathed in different chemical solutions. Any contamination that is still on the birds might be masked by tests that come back as false-negatives.
The issue has become a point of contention among chemical companies that market their products to poultry producers, and in June the USDA held a briefing to hear from the companies and food safety experts. Testimony revealed that the average number of chemical treatments on chicken-processing lines has grown from two to four since the early 2000s in an effort to cut pathogens and meet tougher federal food safety standards. Experts also reported that the chemicals, including cetylpyridinium chloride and peracetic acid, are now used with less dilution. The testimony also noted that poultry plants have cut Salmonella rates, without a similar drop in human Salmonella infections.
Scott Russell, PhD, a poultry-processing expert from the University of Georgia, presented at the USDA briefing and will work with federal officials to identify steps to ensure that the chemicals are neutralized before testing, according to the Post report. The USDA said it is assessing Russell's work and will take steps to adjust its policies, if needed. Russell projected that the research will take 6 months to a year to complete, the story said.
Aug 2 Washington Post story