Local

Second foodborne illness outbreak linked to Del Monte vegetable trays

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Wisconsin Department of Health, and Minnesota Department of Health are investigating a Salmonella Infantis outbreak linked to Del Monte Fresh Produce vegetable-dip trays. Three laboratory confirmed illnesses have been identified in Wisconsin and one in Minnesota. Individuals became sick between April 13 and 27, 2019.

The Wisconsin Department of Health linked the outbreak to vegetable trays produced at the Del Monte facility in Kankakee, Illinois. The FDA is conducting inspections. Trays are sold at Kwik Trip convenience stores and although Del Monte has not yet posted a recall, Kwik Trip has removed 6 and 12 oz. Del Monte Fresh Produce vegetable trays containing carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and dill dip from its shelves. Anyone can become sick with Salmonella, but individuals at higher risk include immunocompromised people, children under five years of age, and elderly consumers.

This is the second foodborne outbreak in less than a year for Del Monte Fresh Produce vegetable trays. In summer 2018, 250 lab-confirmed cases of Cyclospora were identified across the Midwest. No single source was identified in that investigation.

Food Safety News

Food Safety Magazine

National

FDA aims to reduce food waste with standardized labels

Last week, FDA sent a letter to food producers to standardize the “best if used by” label on food packaging. In an effort to meet the federal government’s 2030 goal to reduce food waste in the United States by 50%, the letter encourages manufacturers to adopt this label specifically to describe when the product is at its freshest. Food safety labels like “sell by,” “use before,” or “expires on” sets a date after which products should be disposed. “Best if used by” refers to food quality; although the product might not be fresh after the labeled date, it is still safe to eat.

Americans waste $161 billion of food each year, accounting for one-third of all food produced in the U.S. About 20% of this waste comes from unclear food labeling; Americans do not understand the difference between food safety and food quality labels.

There is currently no federal requirement to put food quality labels on packages or provide an explanation for why those dates are chosen. Because the labels are not based on a standard method, this new initiative is a collaboration between the FDA, EPA, and USDA to reduce waste. The FDA’s primary goal is to simultaneously educate consumers to reduce food waste and prevent illness from consuming spoiled food.

MPR News

FDA

FDA: How to cut food waste

International

Aquatic bushmeat drives public health concerns

Increasing demand for animal-based protein in growing impoverished communities has created a new public health problem. “Aquatic bushmeat” opportunistically harvested from washed up whales, dolphins, sea turtles, or seals has prompted the United Nations Convention on Migratory Species to develop global recommendations for balancing protein demand with health risk responses.

Meat may be harvested from washed up animals who have died recently or are already decaying. Human health risks include diseases like toxoplasmosis and brucellosis, which may be transmitted through ingestion, handling, and butchering. Additional risks include toxic algae, heavy metals, pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls.

Opportunistic marine mammal harvesting is not new, but climate change and human environmental impacts have caused hazards in communities who have harvested meat this way for generations. Diseases are often misdiagnosed and underreported, but could be fatal.

National Geographic