NEWS SCAN: State food outbreak probes, USDA food safety proposals

Foodborne Disease

Mar 25, 2010

Consumer group finds states vary in food outbreak investigation capacity
An analysis by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CPSI) of 2007 food outbreak reporting data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that states vary widely in their outbreak surveillance, investigation, and reporting, CSPI said yesterday in a press release. The 2007 CDC information that the consumer advocacy group used was the most recent data available and represented a year when several high-profile foodborne illness outbreaks occurred. CSPI looked at outbreaks per million people reported in two states known for strong foodborne illness investigation systems, Minnesota and Oregon. Each reported 10 outbreaks per million people. Seven states were above that baseline: Maine, Kansas, Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska, Hawaii, and North Dakota. However, 12 states reported just one outbreak per million, and 11 states had only slightly more. Caroline Smith DeWaal, CPSI's food safety director, said some states may not have enough investigators or money to train and supply their staff, factors that can lead to lower-quality investigations and lower reporting rates.
Mar 24 CSPI press release

USDA seeks comments on proposed food safety rules
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) today said it is seeking comments on proposed requirements for meat and poultry processing plants to more quickly report and recall contaminated products. The rules would implement a provision of the 2008 Farm Bill and support the July 2009 recommendations of President Barack Obama's Food Safety Working Group, the USDA said in a press release. The rules would require USDA-regulated establishments to (1) promptly notify the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service when unsafe products have entered commerce, (2) prepare and maintain product recall procedures, and (3) document any reassessments of their Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans. The regulations will affect about 6,300 establishments, and the USDA estimates the collective cost to those facilities at $5 million the first year and $700,000 in subsequent years, according to a Federal Register notice. The agency will accept comments until May 24.
Mar 25 USDA news release
USDA Federal Register notice

This week's top reads

  1. Top virologists urge world leaders to act on rising avian flu threat

    Global Virus Network scientists highlight the need for robust surveillance, enhanced biosecurity, and readiness for potential human-to-human viral transmission.

    Mary Van Beusekom

  2. Long COVID has unique symptoms, persistence not seen in flu, pneumonia, research suggests

    With increasing time since diagnosis, only the severe infections continued to cause symptoms. 

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Older man wiping brow

  3. USDA withdraws proposal to reduce Salmonella in poultry

    The Biden-era rule would have prevented the sale of raw chicken or turkey with certain levels or strains of Salmonella.

    Chris Dall
    Raw poultry in processing plant

  4. US measles cases climb higher, approach 900

    Thirty states have cases, and 83% of infections are part of outbreaks, the largest centered  in West Texas.

    Lisa Schnirring
    young boy with measles

  5. Measles cases in Europe, the Americas skyrocket

    Almost 90% of the European cases were reported in Romania.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    measles vax

  6. Tick-borne meat allergy may be related to urbanization in mid-Atlantic US

    The study identified open-space development and low population density as risk factors for Alpha-gal syndrome. 

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Lone star tick

  7. HHS, NIH announce universal vaccine platform, promote placebo trials for new vaccines

    The Wall Street Journal reports the Trump administration is investing $500 million in the universal vaccine project.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    flu vax

  8. H5N1 avian flu surges in Idaho's dairy cattle

    There are currently 59 herds quarantined in 4 Idaho counties.

    Lisa Schnirring

  9. US measles total passes 900 as CDC responds to alternative treatment push

    The CDC today addressed what's known about treatments pushed by Kennedy, urging caution about vitamin A use and citing individual decision-making by heath providers for others.

    Lisa Schnirring
    measles teen

  10. African countries see payoff from ramped-up mpox strategies

    Some of the key steps have included deployment of more community health workers and decentralized lab testing.

    Lisa Schnirring
    community health workers

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