CDC Food Safety Update: June-July

CDC & Food Safety New reports, publications, and web material June-July 2013

New report shows which foods & germs linked to outbreaks Tracking foodborne disease outbreaks provides valuable insight into the germs and foods that sicken an estimated 48 million Americans each year. CDC’s newly released MMWR Surveillance Summary,  “Surveillance for Foodborne Disease Outbreaks – United States, 1998-2008,” offers a comprehensive look at what pathogens, foods, and select settings caused outbreaks during 11 years of a stable surveillance system.  This paper also looks at how outbreak reporting and the foods associated with outbreaks changed over time. Here are some facts: Outbreak surveillance: Outbreak investigations provide direct links between foodborne illnesses and the foods causing them.  Surveillance summaries of the outbreak investigations reported to CDC by state and local health departments provide important snapshots of the human health impact of foodborne outbreaks. Data from foodborne disease outbreak surveillance are our best data source for attributing illnesses to foods. Tracking foods and germs over time: This report uses data associated with the 13,405 foodborne disease outbreaks reported to CDC from 1998-2008 collected through the Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System and describes 11 years of data about: The causes of outbreaks and where they occur The pathogens and foods that caused the most outbreaks, illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths Trends in the pathogens and foods associated with outbreaks over time Key changes: Several changes were observed, including a decrease from 1998 to 2008 in the number of outbreaks of Salmonella infections attributable to eggs and an increase in the number of outbreaks caused by dairy products and leafy green vegetables. Targeting Prevention: The findings in this report underline the importance of targeted prevention measures for the specific foods that are associated with the most outbreaks and illnesses (i.e., beef, poultry, fish, and produce). Prevention measures include regulatory and industry-led systematic improvements in food safety as well as simple precautions that people can take in their own kitchens. For more information visit       MMWR: Surveillance for Foodborne Disease Outbreaks – United States, 1998-2008. MMWR. Volume 62, Number SS2—June 2013 WEBSITE: Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:  1998-2008 MMWR Questions and Answers SUPPORTING GRAPHICS: Impact of Contaminated Foods [PDF - 1 page] Foods Linked to Illnesses [PDF - 1 page] Foods Linked to Outbreaks [PDF - 1 page] Salmonella Outbreaks in Eggs [PDF - 1 page] Outbreaks with a Reported Setting in 1998 through 2008 [PDF - 1 page] Select CDC Food Safety Publications Key CDC publication during June include: E. coli This report documents the first foodborne outbreak of STEC O145 infections in the United States. Multistate Outbreak of Escherichia coli O145 Infections Associated with Romaine Lettuce Consumption, 2010. Listeria This article reports that almost all listeriosis occurs in persons in higher-risk groups. Prevention targeting higher-risk groups and control of Listeria monocytogenes contamination in foods implicated by outbreak investigations will have the greatest impact on reducing the burden of listeriosis. Vital Signs: Listeria Illnesses, Deaths, and Outbreaks — United States, 2009–2011 This article reports an intraocular listeriosis case related to a multistate outbreak associated with contaminated cantaloupe. Vision Loss following Intraocular Listeriosis Associated with Contaminated Cantaloupe.   Outbreaks from spices This review identified fourteen reported illness outbreaks attributed to consumption of pathogen-contaminated spice during the period 1973–2010.  Foodborne illness outbreaks from microbial contaminants in spices, 1973-2010. Outbreaks! CDC tracked 7 multistate outbreaks of foodborne illness during June-July: Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheeses (ongoing) Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Infections Linked to Live Poultry (ongoing) Multistate Outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O121 Infections Linked to Farm Rich Brand Frozen Food Products (final update) Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Typhimurium Infections Linked to Pet Hedgehogs (final update) Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo and Salmonella Mbandaka Infections Linked to Tahini Sesame Paste (final update) Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul Infections Linked to Imported Cucumbers (final update) Multistate outbreak of hepatitis A virus infections linked to pomegranate seeds from Turkey* (ongoing) *Note: this outbreak falls under the jurisdiction of CDC’s Division of Viral Hepatitis. New Web Resources  PulseNet detects outbreaks. The new PulseNet website is now live. Features include a “How It Works” slideshow, PFGE and MLVA  protocols, and a page on Next Generation activities. Pediatric infections. A new Medscape commentary for clinicians addresses foodborne and enteric infections in children. Food safety in restaurants. CDC contributes regularly to the blog run by FoodSafety.gov. Check out our latest entry on Restaurant Safety: What You Should Know. Click here for previous newsletters.