Center for Disease Control

Enoki mushrooms recalled for possible health risk

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 21:05:12 GMT

Vernon, Calif.-based wholesaler Green Day Produce recently recalled packages of enoki mushrooms for possible listeria contamination, and suspended distribution.

The recalled mushrooms were sold nationally to distributors and retailers from September 2022 to October 2022, according to a Nov. 17 announcement.

The potential for contamination was discovered by a sample analysis from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Testing determined the presence of listeria in a 200-gram/7.05-ounce package of Enoki mushrooms. The recalled enoki mushrooms were a product of Korea.

No illness has been reported to date in connection with the recalled product.

Enoki mushrooms are white, leggy mushrooms, often sold in bunches, sealed in clear, plastic packaging. These mild, slightly crunchy mushrooms are popular in Japanese, Chinese and Korean food, where they are often enjoyed cooked in soups, hot pots and stir-fried dishes. Enoki mushrooms are also called enokitake, golden needle, futu or lily mushrooms.

Related news: One (or two) more mushroom purchases a year could mean tens of millions

Enoki and wood ear mushrooms have recently gained attention by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in recent years. The CDC posted a warning after a 2020 outbreak, urging consumers and restaurants to cook enoki mushrooms to thoroughly kill any foodborne germs.

What is listeria?

Listeria is an organism that can cause serious and even fatal infections in children, frail, elderly or pregnant people or others with weakened immune systems, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Common symptoms include high fever, headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

According to the CDC, symptoms of severe listeria typically start two weeks after eating contaminated food but can start as early as the next day.

What you can do

If you have purchased any 200-gram/7.05-ounce packages of Enoki mushrooms from Green Day Produce with a UPC reading 16430-69080 on the back side of the package, return the product for a full refund.

Questions about the product or recall can be directed to Green Day Produce Inc. at (323) 587-4688 or william@greendayinc.com .

FAQs on COVID-19 Vaccination with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:55:55 GMT

To answer common questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, U.S. Surgeon General vice admiral Dr. Vivek Murthy joined AgriTalk on May 4. This was the same day President Joe Biden shared the goal for 70% of adults in America to have had at least one shot of the vaccine by July 4.

“The progress report is good,” Murthy says. “We have made tremendous progress in vaccinating the country to date. If you look at people above the age of 65, we’ve gotten at least one dose of the vaccine into more than 80%, which is pretty extraordinary. And we have about 70% of our seniors who are now fully vaccinated.”

But even with those 150 million people who have had at least one shot, Murthy says the country needs to have another 100 million shots administered in the next 60 days to reach the president’s next goal by July 4.

You can listen to the full interview with Murthy here:

On the segment, Murthy answered several commonly asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccine:

Do we have enough supply?

“Here in America, we have done a good job of bolstering our supply. So we do have more and more vaccine available for those who want it. And we also, very importantly, have more places where you can get a vaccine.”

What is being done to increase access to the vaccine?

“There are over 40,000 pharmacies in the country that now have vaccine to offer. We have community vaccination sites, we have community health centers where we’ve actually directly delivered vaccine from the federal government and we’ve got more primary care doctors who are getting vaccine direct-ly in their offices so they can give it to patients. The President and the administration will be providing more direct funding and support to rural health clinics to support outreach as well as direct allocation of vaccine to rural health clinics so they can directly vaccinate their own patients.”

How is access being improved specifically to rural America?

“We know rural areas are different from urban areas, people are more spread out, it’s not always as easy to travel to one location that’s close to everyone to get a vaccine. So we’ve got to work through some of those logistical barriers, which is why the funding for the rural health clinics and for these mobile units is so important. But we also know everyone looked gets information from different sources. We’re a big country. Not everyone listens to the same news station, radio station and that means we’ve got to do more work in getting information out, and particularly through people’s doctors, which is the reason behind one of the projects we launched. From my office and other offices in the government it’s something called COVID-19 Community Core, where we bring together doctors, nurses, faith leaders, local business leaders and others to get the accurate information they know they and their communities want and to be able to share that with them.

In addition to people trusting the doctors and nurses who take care of them, we know about 50% of people say they would take the advice of a family member or friend when it comes to making a decision on the vaccine. What that means is even if you don’t have a medical degree or a nursing degree, you can still be a vital force in helping people understand the vaccines we have for COVID-19 are a way to protect them against COVID and a way, ultimately, for us to help turn this pandemic around.”

Why are people hesitant to get the vaccine?

“We’ve seen a lot of news stories about people being hesitant to get the vaccine. But what we’re finding actually is people who haven’t gotten vaccinated yet it’s a combination of a few things. Some people have questions, which are important to answer. We want people to get answers from reliable sources, like their doctors or their nurses who take care of them. But we also know some people are wondering if it’s really that important for them to get vaccinated. Maybe they’re young and healthy, and they think, ‘Hey, I’m not at high risk of a bad outcome, do I really need to get this vaccine?’, or maybe they’re working two or three jobs and don’t have transportation to get to a vaccine center.

We’re trying to work on all three fronts to make sure we’re working closely with doctors and nurses around the country, as well as pastors and other faith leaders, to help get information to their com-munities. But we’re also trying to improve the number of access points so it’s easier and easier hope-fully over the weeks ahead for people to get vaccines in their pharmacy, in their doctor’s office or in their neighborhoods.”

Should people who have had COVID-19 get vaccinated?

“The answer is yes. And here’s why. It turns out the immunity you get from a natural infection is actually not as robust. It’s not as strong as the protection you get from the vaccine. So you’re more likely to be at risk for reinfection. That’s why we’re asking everyone to get vaccinated regardless of their prior infection.”

What if people still have questions?

“I always say our health is personal to us. And if you have questions, you absolutely have a right to get those questions answered because ultimately, it’s your health. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind about the vaccine.

Recognize 90% of doctors in this country have either gotten the vaccine or are planning to get it as soon as possible. That tells you about the faith the medical profession has in the vaccine.
Keep in mind these vaccines, even though it seems like they were developed on a quick timeframe, the technology behind them has been in development for decades.
We are lucky enough to see the culmination of that research, and these vaccines have been studied rigorously in clinical trials and what we’ve seen with nearly 150 million people having received at least one dose of the vaccine is this side effect profile remains really strong in terms of safety. The effectiveness remains extraordinarily strong and high as well. That’s what you want to see — high effectiveness and very low risk in any vaccine you take.
I know many people are worried about the side effects of the vaccine. But first of all, the vast majority of people don’t have side effects from this vaccine. Those who do tend to experience one to two days of flu-like symptoms, meaning fatigue, maybe a low-grade fever and a body ache, but that lasts for about a day or two. Then it goes away, and they feel pretty good. Afterward what you’re left with is protection from the vaccine.

“It’s certainly a blessing to be able to serve the country, especially at a time like this during this pandemic crisis. I’m eager to do everything I can to help,” Murthy says.

CDC Recommends Pfizer COVID-19 Booster to Those 65 and Older

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 17:54:37 GMT

National Health Institute Director Dr. Francis Collins stepped up to the AgriTalk microphone to share the CDC’s recommendation for the Pfizer COVID-19 booster with Host Chip Flory.

“If you’ve received the two doses of Pfizer vaccine six months or more ago, are 65 or older—or younger and have a medical condition like diabetes or hypertension—or if you’re somebody who’s at risk for exposure because you’re a health care provider or a teacher, you are now eligible to get a booster,” says Collins.

Dr. Collins was quick to mention the booster is only available for those who received the Pfizer vaccine. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are being considered for boosters, and that information will likely be coming forward in the next three or four weeks, according to Collins.

“We are beginning to see some waning of the vaccine protection, and there’s certainly more people getting breakthrough infections. And although they may not get hospitalized, they may be sick for a few days,” says Collins. “If we can prevent that by giving people just a little bit more in their immune system with the booster, then why not do so?”

When asked whether the booster will eventually made part of the Biden Administration’s requirement for government employees to get vaccinated, Collins says that has not been part of any subject matter so far, and he believes it will not be required in the future.

Collins also says if you’ve had COVID-19 you will have natural immunity, but not nearly as much immunity as you would have if you were vaccinated. He then referenced a study recently released by the CDC outlining reinfection risk.

“You increase your resistance of getting sick again by almost threefold if you put the vaccine on top of that natural infection. You can still become infected, but you’re about 10 times less likely to carry the virus and spread it to other people.”

The number of unvaccinated Americans continues to hover around 70 million people. Collins says getting unvaccinated Americans the COVID-19 jab is the CDC’s No. 1 priority, with administering boosters being a close second.

“There are some 50 million doses out there in pharmacies that are queued up and ready to go. As soon as today, people can start getting those boosters.”

The vaccine mandate will take effect Nov. 22. During which time, federal employees are required to be fully immunized.

To hear more of the AgriTalk interview, listen here .

EXCLUSIVE: Dr. Fauci on COVID Pandemic — "It Will End"

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 21:38:57 GMT

The omicron variant surge of COVID-19 might appear to be cresting in some big cities, but the latest wave is far from over, especially in many rural communities, says Dr. Anthony Fauci. The chief medical adviser to President Biden says smaller towns should expect omicron outbreaks to increase in the coming weeks.

“When you have an outbreak of a new variant, there’s a delay,” says Dr. Fauci regarding rural outbreak trends. “Rather than have the sharp peak and then come down, you sort of gradually go up and then come back down.”

In a one-on-one interview with Farm Journal Editor and AgDay TV host, Clinton Griffiths, Dr. Fauci says as vaccination numbers and unvaccinated COVID survivors increase the pandemic will end.

“It will end. I can guarantee you and your viewers it will end hopefully sooner rather than later,” Dr. Fauci says. “We will reach a point where the virus will be low enough in the community as to not have any impact on what we do, so we can get ourselves back to some form of normality and it doesn’t interrupt the economy or interrupt our way of life. That’s what we’re hoping we’re going to see within a reasonable period of time.”

(Watch Full Interview Above)

The highly transmissible omicron variant has helped to push COVID-19 positive rates higher since late fall. The weekly rolling average of COVID-19 deaths is now at 1,700. That’s about half what it was in January 2021.

“If you look at the devastation in this country thus far, we’ve had 850,000 deaths and about 66 million cases,” Dr. Fauci says.

New models from the COVID-19 Scenario Modeling Hub , created by university and health experts, which now factor in the omicron variant, expect up to 2.38 million hospitalizations and 304,000 deaths, at worst, and 409,000 hospitalizations and 54,000 deaths, at best, from mid-December through mid-March. Those models show the omicron peak sometime between February and March.

(Farm Journal)

“To be sure, there are breakthrough infections, namely, people get vaccinated and even boosted, and they may get infected,” says Dr. Fauci. “For the most part, though, those infections are either without symptoms or minimally symptomatic.”

Dr. Fauci says in many, but not all, rural areas, vaccination rates are lower compared with the rest of the country. While strongly advocating for vaccines and boosters to prevent hospitalization or severe illness, Dr. Fauci recognizes all immunity will ultimately work together against the coronavirus.

“I think when you get a situation of more and more people getting vaccinated and boosted or unfortunately, people getting sick or getting infected, then recovering and having a degree of protection, if you combine those two, there will be enough protection in the country,” says Fauci in reference to an eventual end of the pandemic.

The federal government is now offering free coronavirus test kits to some Americans. Those with a valid residential address can go to COVIDTests.gov to get one set of four free at-home COVID tests starting in late January.

Sysco recalls red onions in Canada in salmonella outbreak

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:41:48 GMT

For an update on the investigation in the U.S., see: “ California grower recalls red onions suspected by FDA in outbreak ”

Sysco Canada is recalling red onions imported from the U.S., naming the onions as the possible source of a salmonella outbreak, and Canadian health officials are advising people not to eat the onions.

The Public Health Agency of Canada announced the link to red onions on July 30.

The Salmonella Newport outbreak involves more cases in the U.S., but as of late afternoon July 31, no recall had been announced in the U.S. by Sysco . The Food and Drug Administration, which has been investigating the outbreak for about two weeks, including working with Canadian officials, has not commented on the Canadian recall.

“Until more is known about the outbreak, individuals in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario are advised to not eat any red onions imported to Canada from the U.S., including any food products that contain raw red onions imported from U.S.,” according to the Canadian health agency’s July 30 notice. “Retailers and restaurants in these locations are also advised not to use, sell or serve red onions imported from the U.S. Red onions grown in Canada are not affected by this advice.”

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, people who became ill reported eating the red onions at home, at restaurants and in residential care settings.

As of July 30, there were 114 confirmed cases in Canada, but health authorities said more cases could be reported.

In the U.S., there were 212 cases as of July 24, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported at that time the “outbreak is rapidly growing in size.”

The recalled onions in Canada were Imperial Fresh brand jumbo red onions in 10- and 25-pound bags, with product codes of 8399925 and 8313967, respectively; all products were imported into Canada after May 24.

Sysco is recalling the onions through Canadian Sysco locations in Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Regina.

Related stories:

Salmonella cases rise; Canada reports related illnesses

Health agencies searching for source of salmonella outbreak

Cyclosora infections continue to mount as source remains unknown

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:36:45 GMT

An outbreak of Cyclospora infections linked to garden salads continues to grow as health officials seek where the ingredients were grown.

As of July 22, there were 641 cases in 11 states, an increase from 509 cases in 8 states on July 8, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA has reported the salads, containing iceberg lettuce, red cabbage and carrots, were processed at a Fresh Express facility in Streamwood, Ill. The ingredients were grown in the U.S. and Central Mexico. Private-label store brands of garden salads were recalled by Aldi, Hy-Vee, Jewel-Osco, Shoprite and Walmart and Giant Eagle.

“FDA’s traceback investigation is ongoing to determine the cause and source of the outbreak,” according to the FDA’s July 23 update. “Salad ingredients (iceberg lettuce, carrots and red cabbage) continue to be items of interest in the investigation. As this outbreak investigation continues, the FDA will provide additional updates to this advisory.”

Related stories:

Cyclospora infections from salads rise, found in Canada

FDA seeks source of Fresh Express salad ingredients in recalls

Midwest cyclospora outbreak linked to store-brand garden salads

Salmonella cases rise; Canada reports related illnesses

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 20:24:45 GMT

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has increased the number of cases in a salmonella outbreak that hasn’t been traced to a source, and Canada is also reporting cases.

From July 21 to July 23, the CDC reported cases rose by 87, to 213 people in 23 states have been confirmed with Salmonella Newport. Illness onsets range from June 19 to July 11.

The Public Health Agency of Canada on July 24 reported 59 cases in five provinces. Health agencies in the two countries are collaborating in the investigation, but no food has been identified as the source, and federal officials are not advising consumers to avoid any type of food.

The CDC’s PulseNet, which helps health officials detect illness outbreaks, first identified cases in the outbreak on July 10, and numbers have grown rapidly, according to the CDC. A specific food, grocery store or restaurant has not been identified as the source.

“State and local public health officials are interviewing ill people to determine what they ate and other exposures in the week before their illness started,” according to the CDC’s July 23 notice. “CDC encourages people experiencing symptoms of a Salmonella infection to report their illness to their local health department and participate in these interviews. This information is vital for public health officials to identify the source of this outbreak and to take steps to prevent additional illnesses.”

Related stories:

Health agencies searching for source of salmonella outbreak

Year in Produce No. 2 — Food Safety

FDA continues E. coli investigation, seeks source of contamination

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:22:10 GMT

There are no firm answers yet in the investigation of E. coli-caused illnesses linked to Salinas, Calf.-grown romaine lettuce.

The Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, and state health officials say they are continuing to investigate an outbreak of illnesses caused by E. coli O157:H7 in the U.S.

In a Dec, 19 update, the FDA reported that epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback evidence indicates that romaine lettuce from the Salinas, California growing region is the likely source of this outbreak.

The update said current traceback investigations have identified a common grower in Salinas.

“FDA, CDC, and California partners have deployed a team to conduct new investigations at several ranches used by this grower as we try to identify the source of the contamination,” the FDA said in the update.

The investigation, the update said, involves assessing and sampling soil, animal droppings, compost, water, and other potential environmental sources at the ranches of the grower. “The samples and information collected during the farm investigations will be analyzed,” the FDA said in the update.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services recently reported that they identified the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 in an unopened bag of Fresh Express brand Leafy Green Romaine collected from an ill person’s home.

“The source of the romaine identified in the bag was Salinas, California,” the update said. “It was determined that one of the growers of this product also supplied romaine linked to other E. coli outbreaks that FDA is investigating.”

The FDA said these outbreaks are each caused by strains that are different from each other and different from the larger outbreak. One of the additional outbreaks, in Washington state , is potentially linked to romaine lettuce. The other outbreak, with cases in the U.S. and Canada, is linked to Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kits, the FDA said.

Message to consumers

The CDC reports there have been 138 cases reported in 25 states, with the latest date that one of these patients reported becoming ill was on Dec. 1.

In a recommendation to public, the FDA said consumers should not eat romaine lettuce harvested from Salinas, Calif., and consumers should not eat products identified in the recall announce d by the USDA on Nov. 21.
The FDA again said that romaine lettuce that was harvested outside of the Salinas region has not been implicated in this outbreak investigation. In addition, the agency said hydroponically- and greenhouse-grown romaine, which is voluntarily labeled as “indoor grown,” from any region does not appear to be related to the current outbreak.

Related articles

LGMA’s conducting review of food safety practices

Three E. coli outbreaks have a Salinas romaine grower in common

Fresh Express romaine in Wisconsin tests positive for E. coli

FDA and CDC work to stop Cyclospora contamination

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:06:41 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working to identify data gaps and research needs to develop improved tools to detect, prevent, and control Cyclospora contamination of food.

Frank Yiannas, deputy commissioner for food policy and response for the FDA, and Monica Parise, director of the division of parasitic diseases and malaria for the CDC, detailed the agencies’ efforts in a news release on the FDA website.

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a parasite that has caused multistate outbreaks of foodborne illness in recent years, according to the agencies.

The release said there were nearly 3,000 reported cases of cyclosporiasis in 2018 (including both travel-associated and domestically-acquired cases), according to CDC estimates. However, authorities believe many more cases may go unreported. The release said that in 2018, an outbreak tied to salads sold in a quick-service restaurant chain (McDonald’s) made more than 500 people sick in 15 states; another associated with prepackaged vegetable trays made 250 people ill in four states.

Outbreaks of cyclosporiasis, according to the release, have been reported in the U.S. since the mid-1990s and linked to various types of imported fresh produce, including raspberries, basil, snow peas, mesclun, and cilantro. Last year, however, was the first time Cyclospora was confirmed in domestic produce, according to the release.

Blue ribbon report

In early June, representatives of the FDA, CDC, industry and academia participated in a scientific workshop to discuss gaps in detection methods and plans for the development of tools that will help keep this parasite out of food, before and after harvest. The workshop was hosted by the FDA’s Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment and the Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, established by the FDA and the University of Maryland.

The FDA and CDC have also provided technical assistance to working groups associated with a panel established by Fresh Express in 2018. On June 5, the panel released an interim report on next steps for prevention, response and collaboration.

“Together, the FDA and CDC are committed to protecting Americans from Cyclospora and other organisms that can make them sick,” Yiannas and Parise said in the release. “Both agencies will continue to use all the tools they have available, from new detection techniques to DNA fingerprinting tools to enforcement tools like import alerts, to prevent cyclosporiasis illnesses in the United States.”

Northeastern cyclospora outbreak source investigated

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:08:24 GMT

See related article: FDA names Mexican basil as source of cyclospora outbreak

Public health departments in Northeastern states are warning consumers of an outbreak of Cyclospora infections, and although there’s no source identified, imported produce is a common cause of the infections.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, where more than 100 cyclospora cases have been reported since May 1, is advising consumers to wash fruits and vegetables, and has issued steps on how to prepare fresh produce.

Public health departments in Massachusetts, Virginia and other states are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration to find a source, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

According to a July 23 Virginia Department of Public Health news release, the state has seen 15 cyclosporiasis cases in northern Virginia since mid-June, with more than 40 other cases of cases of gastrointestinal illnesses “from two large businesses” in the area. The department is not releasing the names of those businesses, or whether they are retail or foodservice operators.

“Most Cyclospora cases this year have occurred in greater Boston, but infections have been reported in residents across the Commonwealth,” according to the Massachusetts department release. “Other states have also reported increases in the number of cyclosporiasis cases; the cause of the outbreak is not yet known.”

Related stories:

FDA and CDC work to stop Cyclospora contamination

Fresh Express cyclospora panel releases preliminary report

FDA finds cyclospora in U.S. romaine in McDonald’s investigation

UPDATED: Hepatitis A outbreak linked to fresh blackberries

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:40:06 GMT

(UPDATED Nov. 21) Federal health and regulatory agencies are investigating Hepatitis A cases in three states that are “potentially linked” to fresh blackberries bought at Fresh Thyme Farmers Markets stores in September.

Six of the 11 people who’ve been diagnosed have been hospitalized, according to the Food and Drug Administration, which is investigating the outbreak with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A Nov. 20 notice from the FDA said hepatitis A illnesses in Indiana, Nebraska and Wisconsin are potentially linked to fresh conventionally-grown blackberries. Patients told FDA investigators they bought and consumed the berries from Fresh Thyme Farmers Markets in those three states.

The blackberries came from a distribution center that served 11 states, and the FDA is working with “federal and state partners to obtain additional information during the traceback investigation,” according to the notice.

Fresh Thyme released a statement that there is no indication the berries were contaminated by in-store handling and only conventional blackberries sold from Sept. 9-30 are involved.

“We are working with these agencies (FDA and CDC) to identify our suppliers and isolate the source of this contamination,” according to the retailer’s statement. “Fresh Thyme takes the health and safety of our customers and our team members very seriously. Fresh Thyme Farmers Market has a stringent process for ensuring compliance to all local, state and federal health and hygiene regulations.”

The illnesses were reported from Oct. 15-Nov. 5, according to the CDC.

The distribution center ships fresh berries to Fresh Thyme stores in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

No brand names or country of origin have been released.

“A single, common supplier of fresh blackberries has not been identified,” according to a CDC report on the investigation.

The CDC reports that all patients said they ate blackberries two to seven weeks before becoming ill, and nine identified Fresh Thyme stores as the purchase location.

The FDA is advising consumers not to eat fresh blackberries purchased from the retailer in those states from Sept. 9-30.

Consumers who ate the blackberries (in the last two weeks) from those locations in that timeframe and haven’t been vaccinated for the hepatitis A virus should visit their healthcare providers, according to the notice. That includes consuming blackberries that have been frozen.

“Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have become ill from eating these blackberries, or if you believe that you have eaten these berries in the last two weeks, according to the FDA notice.

Romaine, E. coli and food waste

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 05:25:17 GMT

How many thousands of pounds of “perfectly good” romaine lettuce have been tossed in the past ten days?

As recent media coverage details, Americans waste plenty of food without factoring in food safety scares.

In a study published in the Plos online journal and called “ Relationship between food waste, diet quality, and environmental sustainability ”, authors found that U.S. consumers wasted nearly one pound of food per person per day from 2007-14. Fruits and vegetables and mixed fruit and vegetable dishes accounted for 39% of food waste, followed by dairy (17%), meat and mixed meat dishes (14%), and grains and grain mixed dishes (12%).

Giving its latest update on the E. coli outbreak linked to Yuma-grown romaine lettuce, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on April 20 advised consumers this way :

“Unless the source of the product is known, consumers anywhere in the United States who have any store-bought romaine lettuce at home should not eat it and should throw it away, even if some of it was eaten and no one has gotten sick. Product labels often do not identify growing regions; so, throw out any romaine lettuce if you’re uncertain about where it was grown. This includes whole heads and hearts of romaine, chopped romaine, and salads and salad mixes containing romaine lettuce. If you do not know if the lettuce is romaine, do not eat it and throw it away.”

That’s prudent advice, considering the serious health risks if a consumer eats tainted romaine lettuce.
The answer to the question of how much “good” romaine lettuce was and is being thrown away is unknowable, of course, but it can only pad the stats of food waste in the U.S.

This morning, the fastest rising search terms relating to “romaine” this morning on Google Trends over the past seven days in the U.S. was #1: “ecoli virus symptoms.”

Highlights of the list were:

#4 “when can i eat romaine lettuce again”;
#5 “romaine recall 2018 brands”;
# 7 “cdc warning on romaine lettuce”;
#10 “is organic romaine lettuce safe to eat”;
#12 “what brands of romaine lettuce are being recalled”;
#13 “is romaine lettuce still recalled”;
#18 “can we eat romaine lettuce now”;
#20 “is all romaine lettuce contaminated”; and
#21 “i ate romaine lettuce.”

In addition to the above search terms, there was a smattering of consumer searches of lettuce brands asking, for example, “Is (insert name here) safe to eat.”

I was talking to a couple of friends over the weekend and one of them was incredulous that the government doesn’t know what farm the romaine lettuce came from. Certainly, as the Google Trends reflects, folks want to know.

All should want the FDA to get it right if they implicate a brand, but how long will it take? And how many pounds of romaine will be wasted - and long-term demand diminished - in the meantime?

“All commerce is halted” on romaine; what next, CDC and FDA?

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 05:41:55 GMT

“No report issued as all commerce is halted by an FDA and CDC advisory not to consume Romaine Lettuce.”

Instead of a typical ho-hum supply/demand price report, the above line was the sole information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service market news shipping point pricing report for romaine lettuce on Nov. 23, the day after Thanksgiving and three days after the Centers for Disease Control advised consumers to avoid all romaine lettuce.

Meanwhile, the USDA reported red leaf and green leaf lettuce were trading at $35 to $42 per carton, with demand exceeding supply and marketing conditions “much higher.”

When you look at market conditions on Nov. 19 — the day before the advisory was issued — shipping point market conditions for romaine lettuce were noted at $22-27 per carton for product from California’s Imperial/Coachella Valleys. Shipping point prices for leaf lettuce were noted in the mid-teens on Nov. 19.

When you consider the millions of pounds of romaine that were destroyed in the days after the Nov. 20 advisory, one wonders what the next step will be for the FDA and CDC. Do the agencies allow commerce to begin again on Monday?

Under what terms will romaine shipments and sales be allowed to proceed? Whatever the agencies do, they will be second-guessed.

The thorny question of who will bear the risk of loss from the advisory is addressed in this short article on the USDA Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act website.

A big pivot point is whether the romaine was purchased “f.o.b.” or “delivered,” according to PACA.

An excerpt from that article:’

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued an advisory warning about an E. coli outbreak in romaine lettuce. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) Division provides the information below concerning the impact of the advisory on commercial sales contracts governed by the PACA. The “allocation of the risk of loss,” determines whether the buyer or seller bears the financial loss if any damage or loss occurs to the produce before the buyer accepts it. Which party bears the loss depends on the terms of sale. For produce shipped on F.O.B. contract, the risk of loss passes from the seller to the buyer once the seller delivers the produce to the transportation carrier. Any damage or loss to the produce during transit that is not caused by the seller is borne by the buyer. Where the contract terms of sale are “delivered”, the risk of loss is not transferred from the seller to the buyer until the produce is delivered to the contract destination. Any damage or loss to the produce during transit that is not caused by the buyer is borne by the seller.

Check out The Packer’s Chris Koger’s coverage of this issue FDA looks at labeling standard, plans to allow romaine return , Canada adds to outbreak count, romaine investigation continues , and FDA believes E. coli-tainted romaine is from California.

Other consumer press coverage:

The Hill: Why romaine won’t kill you

Wired: The science is clear: dirty farm water is making us sick

Bismark News: Health professionals say romaine lettuce can be deadly

Indoor leafy greens growers: Keep us outside FDA warnings

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 20:09:16 GMT

Indoor growers say their romaine should have been excluded from the Food and Drug Administration’s temporary blanket ban because their contained operations are different from traditional field farming — although they agree consumer safety should always come first.

“They fundamentally should not be lumping us together. When you have a blanket ban, it creates more uncertainty and mistrust,” said Marc Oshima, co-founder and chief marketing officer of AeroFarms , Newark, N.J.

On Nov. 20, the FDA issued a broad advisory against eating romaine during an E. coli outbreak that’s led to 43 illnesses in the U.S. and 22 in Canada. After the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the FDA announced the contamination was traced to California’s Central Coast, and all other sources of romaine are safe.

AeroFarms’ customers hadn’t stopped buying romaine as of Nov. 26, Oshima said. The company didn’t dump its existing romaine because it was managed from seed to package with all incoming water tested.

These kinds of indoor farms are often vertical, soilless farms found in urban and suburban warehouses. They use different proprietary hydroponic, aeroponic and aquaponic techniques, but mostly the methods eliminate exposure to animal waste, untreated water and agricultural runoff.

Also, the supply chain is short and simple.

In most cases, indoor/urban/vertical farms supply local areas. Traceability is especially easy with digital vertical farming, said Sonia Lo, CEO of Crop One Holdings, the company behind indoor farming operation FreshBox Farms , Millis, Mass.

“We can trace every leaf we grow back to a 2-foot-by-4-foot shelf where it was grown,” Lo said. “In the moment of crisis, it’s hard to cherry pick who is and who isn’t affected, but I think it’s critical to improve traceability industrywide, so we don’t get caught up in this again.”

Like most, Bowery Farming’s tristate area customers cleared their shelves and menus of romaine, said Irving Fain, CEO and cofounder of the closed-loop indoor farming system based in Kearny, N.J.

“While we understand the CDC’s concerns and that the safety of consumers must come first, Bowery produce is completely safe to consume and shouldn’t be categorized alongside field-grown produce,” Fain said.

Retail customers of the romaine grown in the hydroponic greenhouses in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois run by BrightFarms , Irvington, N.Y., also decided to remove romaine from shelves, said Paul Lightfoot, BrightFarms CEO.

Most of the product was donated to food banks because “we did not have any hesitation to eat it ourselves or give it to anyone else,” Lightfoot said. By Nov. 27, BrightFarms’ major customers had resumed shipping.

“We think we should be treated as we are, which is structurally safer,” Lightfoot said. “That doesn’t mean we’re free from risk, just less risk. And that doesn’t mean we don’t need to take every step we can take to increase our safety.”

At the United Fresh Produce Association ’s expo in June in Chicago, a group of controlled-environment growers launched a coalition to establish food safety standards geared specifically for their brands — including founding members AeroFarms, BrightFarms and Little Leaf Farms.

Bombshell advisory signals more romaine trouble

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 05:41:37 GMT

With a post on their website at 2:30 p.m. Eastern today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dropped a bombshell.

“CDC is advising that U.S. consumers not eat any romaine lettuce, and retailers and restaurants not serve or sell any, until we learn more about the outbreak. This investigation is ongoing and the advice will be updated as more information is available.”

See coverage by Chris Koger of The Packer here and here .

This afternoon, the CDC shared details of the outbreak:

Thirty-two people infected with the outbreak strain of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 have been reported from 11 states.
Illnesses started on dates ranging from October 8,2018 to October 31, 2018.
Thirteen people were hospitalized, including one person who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure. No deaths have been reported.
The Public Health Agency of Canada has identified 18 ill people infected with the same DNA fingerprint of E. coli O157:H7 bacteria in two Canadian provinces: Ontario and Quebec.
Epidemiologic evidence from the United States and Canada indicates that romaine lettuce is a likely source of the outbreak.
Ill people in this outbreak were infected with E. coli bacteria with the same DNA fingerprint as the E. coli strain isolated from ill people in a 2017 outbreak linked to leafy greens in the United States and to romaine lettuce in Canada. The current outbreak is not related to a recent multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to romaine lettuce.
CDC is advising that consumers do not eat any romaine lettuce because no common grower, supplier, distributor, or brand of romaine lettuce has been identified.
This investigation is ongoing, and CDC will provide more information as it becomes available.

The Food and Drug Administration statement is here;

From the agency:

The FDA is conducting a traceback investigation to determine the source of the romaine lettuce eaten by people who became sick. Additionally, FDA and states are conducting laboratory analysis of romaine lettuce samples potentially linked to the current outbreak.

Google Trends showed a quick rise in searches for the terms “romaine,” along with associated search terms of “CDC, “warning,” “contamination” and more.

The broad CDC advisory is breathtaking in scope - urging consumers not to eat “any” romaine and asking retailers and restaurants not to serve or sell any.

In a United Fresh Produce Association member alert that hit inboxes about 3:45 Eastern, the association said both CDC and the FDA gave food industry associations “brief notice” that they were issuing a public advisory telling consumers not to eat romaine lettuce and food industry not to sell or serve romaine due to an outbreak of E.coli 0157-H7.

“Despite our urging that industry could clearly identify some sources of romaine coming onto the market as not related to the outbreak, CDC and FDA also are requesting the voluntary withdrawal of romaine lettuce before it enters commerce. Retailers and restaurants are being advised to stop selling any and all romaine lettuce products immediately.”

The key to limiting damage is ending the broad warning is solving the outbreak, as United Fresh pointed out in its member alert:

“We are working aggressively with stakeholders to try to narrow the source of the outbreak so that FDA can withdraw this comprehensive advisory. If industry members receive a request from a regulator for traceback information, please respond as quickly as possible. We are working cooperatively with the CDC, FDA and state agencies to ensure public safety and bring romaine lettuce back on the market as soon as possible.”

The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association issued a statement urging the FDA to determine the contamination as “quickly as possible.”

From the FFVA:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are advising consumers to avoid eating romaine lettuce because it may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 and could make people sick. No grower, supplier, distributor or brand has been identified. The FDA is conducting a traceback investigation, and the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association strongly urges the agency to determine the source of the contamination as quickly as possible. South Florida’s romaine harvest season starts in early November, so Florida product was not being harvested when people started becoming ill. However, it is unfortunate that anyone has become sick, and we remain concerned for those consumers. Safe production and handling of crops is the top priority for growers of Florida produce. They adhere to the highest mandatory food safety standards, testing and safeguards to ensure Florida produce is safe. They also open their operations to FDA representatives periodically for inspections.

TK: Where did the romaine lettuce come from? Will the cause/location of the outbreak be quickly found? Is the outbreak related in some way to concentrated animal feeding operations and/or irrigation water? We can only hope that CDC/FDA is close — days, not weeks or months — to finding the answers to all of those questions.

Salmonella outbreak linked to fresh-cut melons over

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:45:05 GMT

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported an outbreak of Salmonella Adelaide linked to fresh-cut melons distributed by Caito Foods LLC is over, but health officials were unable to find a common source.

The CDC, Food and Drug Administration and state and local health officials in the nine states where the 77 salmonella cases found no link to Caito Foods. The company recalled fresh-cut watermelon, honeydews and cantaloupes (and medleys containing a mix of the melons) from hundreds of retailers in 22 states .

According to the CDC’s July 26 update on the investigation, of the 70 people with information available to health officials, half (36) were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported in connection with the outbreak, according to the CDC. The first reported illness was on April 30, and the CDC reported it was unlikely the outbreak was still active because the last illness was reported July 2.

“Epidemiologic and preliminary traceback evidence indicated that pre-cut melon distributed by Caito Foods LLC was a likely source of this outbreak,” according to the CDC release.

The FDA worked with state partners on the traceback to identify the source of the salmonella, determine the full distribution of the pre-cut melons, and to learn more about how the contamination occurred, according to the release.

The Salmonella Adelaide outbreak was discovered through analysis of reports from state health departments, according to Caito’s June 9 notice on the recall .

Pfizer Vaccine Receives Full FDA Approval: “Now is the Time to Get Vaccinated,” White House Says

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 14:50:48 GMT

Nearly nine months following the authorization of the first emergency use of a COVID-19 vaccine, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a seal of approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Comirnaty.

In an AgriTalk interview on Tuesday with host Chip Flory, Dr. Bechara Choucair, White House vaccination coordinator, discussed the FDA’s approval of Pfizer’s vaccine.

“We know there are a lot of people who are still undecided about the vaccine. And there are many reasons why some of these folks are undecided about the vaccine. But for the subset of these folks, and according to the Kaiser Family foundation, up to three out 10 of these folks are waiting to get the full approval of the FDA before they get vaccinated,” Choucair says. “If you’ve been waiting for this approval before you get the vaccine, now is the time go ahead and get vaccinated.”

Many have questioned whether the FDA would push approval for the Pfizer vaccine because so many people have already received the jab. Choucair explains the FDA’s acceptance of the vaccine wasn’t a political move. The decision was based on fact and scientific data.

“The FDA has gone through a very complex process to ensure the safety, the effectiveness, and the quality production of this vaccine. They have reviewed literally hundreds of thousands of pages worth of preclinical data, clinical data, and information. They’re reviewed details of the manufacturing process,” Choucair says. “They’ve gone through inspections at the sites in which the vaccine is made. We know the FDA has worked around the clock and has said that this was one of their top priorities. And we know the FDA is the gold stand for safety in the world. So I think people should absolutely be confident in that this vaccine has met its high standards, is safe, and is effective.”

With Pfizer leading the FDA approval charge, it begs the question if or when Moderna and Johnson & Johnson will follow suit.

“We know from Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, both companies are still gathering final data and submitting their application materials. And the FDA has already said the COVID-19 vaccines are among their top priority,” Choucair told Flory. “Currently in the United States, we have three vaccines that are very safe and very effective. They’re effective at preventing you from getting the infection, but they are particularly effective in preventing you from getting more severe consequences after injection – like hospitalizations and deaths.”

Given that schools are reopening across the country with in-person classes, COVID-19 is likely to spike. However, Choucair says there is a spark of hope in the ongoing full approval of the Pfizer vaccine for teens and preteens.

“The vaccine has received full approval for 16 years old and older. Now, keep in mind that 12- to 15-year-olds will continue to receive the vaccine. Pfizer remains authorized for emergency use, and it is safe and effective, as we’ve heard from both the CDC and the FDA,” he says. “At this time, Pfizer has requested the full approval for the use of the vaccine and on individuals 16 and older. In July, Pfizer did say it would pursue separate approval for the 12-to-15-year age group once that additional six-month data comes out.”

Choucair told Flory the data attests to the effectiveness of the vaccine and the Pfizer option is working as anticipated.

“If you look at the overwhelming majority of hospitalizations related to COVID-19 in this country today, they are amongst those who are unvaccinated. You look at the overwhelming majority of people who are dying from COVID-19 today, they are by far unvaccinated. So the vaccines work. They’re effective; they’re safe. If you are still thinking about getting vaccinated, now is the time to roll up your sleeves and get that shot.”

An uptick in vaccinations seems likely with the FDA approving the Pfizer vaccine. However, it’s difficult to put into perspective how many Americans are vaccinated or unvaccinated. In his final thoughts, Choucair discussed the number of shots administered each day, as well as weekly averages.

“This is our path to getting this pandemic behind us. It all starts with more and more people getting vaccinated. And the fact remains that we’re seeing more and more people getting vaccinated every single day. We’ve averaged 800,000 doses per day over the last week or so. We have more than 470,000 people every single day, rolling-up their sleeves and getting that very first shot,” Choucair says. “We know people are realizing that this pandemic is not over. People are realizing this delta variant is much more contagious and they’re realizing there are more people in hospitals, more people dying, and we want to make sure they’re protecting themselves, and their communities.”

Listen to Chip Flory’s full interview with Dr. Bechara Choucair, White House vaccination coordinator, here.