On February 20, 2019, PulseNet, the molecular subtyping network for foodborne disease surveillance, identified six Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O26:H11 infections with the same pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern combination. This PFGE pattern combination matched that of infections from a July 2018 outbreak that was associated with ground beef. In response, CDC initiated an investigation with federal, state, and local partners to identify the outbreak source and implement prevention measures.

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Zoonotic pathogens are microorganisms transmitted by animals, which cause disease and illness in humans. Many of them are foodborne and are commonly associated with farmed animals, or less frequently with wildlife. However, some pathogens are also transmitted into the food-chain indirectly from animals onto plants, via faecal contamination of water used for irrigation or via the soil where the plants grow. 

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The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching negative impacts, including devastating the restaurant and foodservice industry in the United States. Loss of sales in this space were reported by the National Restaurant Association to surpass $185 billion between March and August of 2020 alone.¹ In order for things to return to “normal” for the industry, customers will need to feel safe returning and the chance of this happening again significantly reduced. 

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More than half of local authorities in England are not taking on trainees or apprentices in environmental health because of funding and capacity issues, according to a survey.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) said findings from its workforce survey of environmental health professionals were “concerning.”

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There is no such thing as zero risk when it comes to food safety, according to researchers.

Consumers, industry and governments typically desire foods that are free of any risk but scientists said zero risk is unattainable in food production regardless of the severity of inactivation treatments or stringency of sampling programs.

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The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., today welcomed the launch of a public consultation on the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the draft Agri-Food Strategy to 2030. The draft was prepared by a committee of stakeholders, chaired by Mr Tom Arnold, and facilitated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

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Arun Chauhan, Founder and Managing Director at Tenet Law, explains how leadership style within an organisation plays a part in preventing and mitigating the risk of food fraud.

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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), novel foods and emerging risks are some of the main topics facing the food system, according to EFSA’s chief scientist.

Marta Hugas, from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), said regulatory agencies face challenges ranging from current priorities, such as tackling AMR and food waste, to identifying emerging risks, where methodologies or data may be lacking, such as microplastics in the food chain.

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safefood Sectoral Food Safety Review: The Beef Sector

The sound and smell of meat cooking on the barbecue is one of the great signifiers of summertime. With coronavirus restrictions easing and people once again able to congregate in parks and gardens...continue reading

Following the success of Food Integrity 2021, Professor Chris Elliott reflects on some of the key takeaways, with particular focus on food fraud.

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The Health Protection Team (HPT) in the Department of Public Health, HSE North East would like to advise the public to take extra care when in contact with farm animals following an increase in the numbers of cryptosporidiosis and VTEC (E. coli)infections in recent weeks. The majority of the infections have occurred in children under the age of ten.

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The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today issued a warning for consumers about the danger associated with eating edible products, such as jelly sweets, containing cannabis components. This warning comes following a number of recent incidents whereby edible products containing significant levels of the psychotropic cannabis component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) were intercepted by An Garda Síochana and Revenue’s Customs Service.

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An independent strategic review into the future of the agri-food sector here has been announced by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots MLA and Economy Minister Diane Dodds MLA.

Officials from Poland and the United Kingdom have met virtually to discuss the safety of Polish poultry meat after it was linked to several outbreaks.

Grzegorz Puda, Polish minister of Agriculture and Forestry, spoke remotely this past week with George Eustice, secretary of state for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

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An E. coli O157 outbreak in the United Kingdom that affected 36 people has been linked to a fast food product containing imported cucumbers.

Investigations into the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) outbreak this past year pointed to a certain fast food meal sold at one restaurant chain with contaminated cucumbers from the Netherlands.

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Public health officials in Ireland have issued a warning following a large increase in cryptosporidium infections in the past month.

The Health Service Executive-Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) said the rise in the parasitic infections during the past few weeks is mostly affecting children.

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The European Commission has tightened checks on black pepper from Brazil because of Salmonella and peanuts from India because of aflatoxins.

These and other products entering the European Union from non-EU countries are now subject to a temporary increase of official controls. Revised legislation has also seen some checks become less strict.

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Replacement of outgoing member of the Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority
Applications are invited for a position of a member of the Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority with justified background in organisations representing consumers and other interests in the food chain. The term of office of one of the current members expires on 30 June 2021. This member has to be replaced until 30 June 2022. As of 1 July 2022, a new composition of the Management Board will be put in place. The duration of the term of office of the new member, to be appointed in the result of this call, will be of approximately one year.

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Data on the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in human infections from Salmonella and Campylobacter in Europe has revealed little progress.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) found that resistance is still high in bacteria that are causing foodborne infections.

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Officials in the United Kingdom are investigating close to 30 related Hepatitis A infections with some linked to imported dates.

There are 28 people sick in different parts of England since the start of this year, according to Public Health England (PHE).

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