Author: Tony Coveny, Ph.D

FSIS Announces Revised Compliance Guidelines For Salmonella and Campylobacter Control In Raw Poultry On July 8, 2021, The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the availability of revised guidelines addressing the prevention and control of Salmonella and Campylobacter in poultry slaughter and processing establishments. These revised guidelines reflect the most current scientific and technological information, public comments received regarding the 2015 guidelines, and the Agency’s decision to create two separate set of control guidelines for Salmonella and Campylobacter—as opposed to the previous combined guidelines. The newly proposed guidelines address the “best practices” for the prevention…

USDA Announces Recall on Tyson Foods Inc. Ready-To-Eat Chicken Products For Potential Listeria Contamination On July 3, 2021, The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Tyson Foods Inc., of Dexter, Mo., announced Tyson Foods Inc.’s recall of some 8,955,296 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken products due to a potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. This recall is considered a Class-I recall according to the USDA, meaning “there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death”. The recalled products are frozen, fully-cooked chicken products. All the products included…

Keeping Food Safety In Mind This 4th of July The Fourth of July, a day which celebrates the Nation’s independence, also is notable, or even notorious, for including an outdoor barbecue with family and friends – an occasion in the hot summer that is a prime opportunity for food borne pathogens to take hold and spread. According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association, 68% of U.S. adults cook out on the Fourth of July. And people are especially looking forward to the opportunity to gather together this year as the restrictive COVID requirements are loosened (and in some cases…

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Shrimp Recall. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a public health alert to consumers who might have purchased certain shrimp product brands that were distributed by the company Avanti Frozen Foods. The health alert was issued due to a recently announced salmonella outbreak that was linked to select shrimp products sold and distributed by Avanti Frozen Foods. A recall of said products was announced back on June 25th, 2021, urging consumers to dispose of the shrimp or return them to the place of purchase. The recently announced Salmonella Outbreak has already sickened six people…

Brote de salmonela vinculado a un retiro de camarones. La Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos (FDA) ha anunciado una alerta de salud pública a los consumidores que podrían haber comprado ciertas marcas de productos de camarón que fueron distribuidas por la empresa Avanti Frozen Foods. La alerta de salud se emitió debido a un brote de salmonela recientemente anunciado que se vinculó a determinados productos de camarón vendidos y distribuidos por Avanti Frozen Foods. El 25 de junio de 2021 se anunció un retiro de dichos productos, instando a los consumidores a desechar los camarones o devolverlos al lugar de…

One unintended result of the post-COVID “return to normal” will likely bea rise in food poisoning outbreaks. With the relaxing of COVID protocols, some food poisoning experts expect to see an increase in food borne illness. While some worry that the pace of re-opening is moving too slowly, in reality it is happening in many states at a rate far faster that the Center’s for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would like. In some areas, both staff and customers are able to mingle in close quarters with no masks or other protective gear. And while this may be inevitable, it…

Banner Smoked Fish Inc. Expands Product Recall Due to Potential Listeria Contamination On June 2, 2021, Banner Smoked Fish Inc. announced a voluntary recall on 42 of its Smoked Fish Products (including Salmon, Lox, Trout, and others) due to their potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes are a type of bacteria which can cause mild to severe infection in young children, adults 65 years or older, or those with weakened immune systems, however, healthy individuals typically recover from listeriosis without any major complications. Invasive listeriosis generally manifests itself within 1 to 4 weeks of consumption of the contaminated food…

Foods that are Likely to Cause Food Poisoning As cases of foodborne illnesses continue to spike across the United States, it is important for consumers to be aware of foods that are “more likely” to cause food poisoning. The following list includes the “short list” of the most commonly consumed high-risk foods. The list is by no means a complete list, as any food can become contaminated with bacteria or viruses, but it is a helpful reminder of what foods require a good amount of caution. Raw Flour As an agricultural product that often has not been treated…

CDC Again Investigating Recent Salmonella Outbreaks as Being Linked to Chickens in Peoples’ Backyards! The disruption in the food supply chain caused by the COVID-19 economic shutdown led many people to become interested in producing their own food. Consequently, many people became backyard chicken owners, in order to produce their own eggs and raise their own poultry meat. However, the rise in backyard poultry ownership has led to an increase in Salmonella Outbreaks. On May 20, 2021, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced an ongoing investigation regarding the rise in Salmonella Outbreaks connected with backyard poultry.…

11 Individuals Reported Sick at Chipotle located in Aurora, CO                Yet again, Chipotle customers report back with illness received at the restaurant.  Over a dozen cases of food poisoning have been reported from Chipotle consumers dating from May 1st to May 15th 2021. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is currently collaborating with the Tri- County Health Department to thoroughly investigate a suspected food-poisoning outbreak from Chipotle. This franchise is located at 6710 S Cornerstar Way. While 5 of the ill individuals were from the local tennis team, according to local reporting, the remaining 6…