Food Safety
Experts say two foodborne illness outbreaks linked to fresh produce have exposed a weakness at the heart of North America’s food system.
The company says it has recalled select items from its produce and prepared food sections that contain jalapeños sourced from Coast Citrus Distributors due to potential salmonella contamination.
The agency says the investigation into the cyclospora outbreak is ongoing as it issues safety guidance for processors of products such as chopped lettuce and fruit salads.
In a SciLine media briefing, food safety experts explain how the unique biology of cyclospora, complex supply chains and public health funding cuts hinder responses to ongoing produce contamination outbreaks.
Recall covers prepared foods with jalapeños imported by Coast Citrus Distributors and sold across about 20 states.
Crisis communication strategist Amy Philpott outlines why outdated response playbooks fail and how targeted messaging restores credibility.
The International Fresh Produce Association has submitted recommendations to CDC urging federal investigators to expand cyclospora outbreak investigations beyond food to include water and other environmental exposure pathways.
The FDA says the jalapeño peppers from Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distribution have been removed from the marketplace and there is no risk to consumers.
The Washington Post reports the CDC has added six more states to the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico.
Former FDA official Frank Yiannas cautions that slow communication and broad recall advisories during the historic outbreak are punishing safe growers and scaring shoppers away from healthy foods.
The former FDA deputy commissioner urges the produce industry to address traceability gaps and farm-level water safety.
A greenhouse lettuce grower says customer fears cut sales by double digits while foot traffic dropped 20.8% at Taco Bell.
Some large growers and retailers have stopped sourcing produce from a central Mexico region linked to a cyclosporiasis outbreak because of concerns about widespread contamination.
From 24-hour tracebacks to longer shelf life, food safety experts explain how FSMA 204 shifts outbreak response from blanket store wipes to targeted lot containment.
Kwik Lok outlines how integrated closure label printing helps suppliers meet strict traceability demands, streamline packaging operations, and boost consumer engagement.
Following a health inspection of the company’s plant in central Mexico, the country’s health ministry says results of its studies of lettuce and water samples were negative for cyclospora.
From buyer verification to root cause analysis, Food Safety Strategy founder Jennifer McEntire outlines an immediate action plan for produce growers.
The country’s agencies are conducting preventive inspections and traceability analyses in Guanajuato.
The Food and Drug Administration posted that it was confident that shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms locations in central Mexico is behind illnesses associated with Yum Brands’ Taco Bell restaurants in Michigan and four other states.
As of Sunday, there were no confirmed positive sample results for cyclospora, the FDA says.
Taylor Farms says no Taylor Farms-branded salads or kits are tied to the outbreak after the FDA said its traceback investigation identified a single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico used by Taco Bell locations where people ate before becoming ill.
Amid a historic outbreak, retail executive Jeff Cady and the IFPA are championing a calm, science-first approach to food safety, urging both regulators and supply chain partners to rely on hard physical evidence rather than premature speculation.
As a historic Cyclospora outbreak surges nationwide, the International Fresh Produce Association is urging public health officials to partner with the industry rather than rushing to blame leafy greens without physical evidence.
The company says it’s leveraging its more than 25 years of supply chain expertise to help grower-packer-shippers, retailers, foodservice operators and distributors simplify the supply chain, reduce food waste, optimize inventory levels, mitigate compliance risk and increase profitably.
Fresh from securing key advocacy wins, the International Fresh Produce Association CEO brought a clear message to the recent Washington Conference: The produce industry’s voice is actively shaping federal policy, but the fight for fresh is far from over.
The former FDA deputy commissioner joins “The Packer Podcast” to discuss the potential for machine learning to turn food safety from reactive to predictive and its tangible benefits for the fresh produce industry.
Produce companies explain why they aren’t waiting for federal deadlines to master the complex world of digital traceability.