CDC Food Safety Update: July-August

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

Outbreaks! CDC tracked 4 multistate outbreaks of foodborne illness during July-August: Investigation of an Outbreak of Cyclosporiasis in the United States (ongoing)* Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheeses (ongoing) Multistate outbreak of hepatitis A virus infections linked to pomegranate seeds from Turkey** (ongoing) Multistate outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg infections linked to chicken (final update) * This outbreak falls under the jurisdiction of CDC’s Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria ** This outbreak falls under the jurisdiction of CDC’s Division of Viral Hepatitis Select CDC food safety publications Key CDC publications during July-August include: Botulism This is a report on botulism associated with home-fermented tofu in two Chinese immigrants in 2012. Botulism Associated with Home-Fermented Tofu in Two Chinese Immigrants — New York City, March–April 2012. Foodborne Disease Outbreaks This report summarizes data associated with the 13,405 foodborne disease outbreaks reported to CDC from 1998-2008. Surveillance for Foodborne Disease Outbreaks — United States, 1998–2008. Food safety This article, part of an issue on food defense in the US, highlights CDC’s role in connecting human illness to food contamination and the importance of science and communications in targeting food safety. Listeria – When Food Bites Back. The CIFOR guidelines for owners, operators, and managers of restaurants and grocery stores were developed to help businesses prepare for the possibility of foodborne illness and outbreaks related to their operation. CIFOR Foodborne Illness Response Guidelines for Owners, Operators And Managers Of Food Establishments. Gastroenteritis This article includes data from the first two years of National Outbreak Reporting System surveillance, which highlight the predominant role of norovirus in acute gastroenteritis outbreaks. Acute Gastroenteritis Surveillance through the National Outbreak Reporting System, United States. Salmonella This paper examines the diversity and predominance of food commodities implicated in outbreaks of salmonellosis during 1998–2008. Outbreak-associated Salmonella enterica Serotypes and Food Commodities, United States, 1998–2008. This report summarizes the multistate investigation of Salmonella Heidelberg infections linked to chicken. Outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg Infections Linked to a Single Poultry Producer – 13 States, 2012-2013. Vibrio An analysis of data strongly suggests that the 2003 regulation of the sale of raw oysters harvested from the Gulf of Mexico led to a significant reduction in reported raw oyster–associated V. vulnificus illnesses and deaths. Effects of 2003 State Regulation on Raw Oyster–associated Vibrio vulnificus Illnesses and Deaths, California, USA. New web resources New CDC web resources for July-August include: Produce safety poster. The new Steps to Safe and Healthy Fruits and Vegetables­ is available for free download. Test your produce safety knowledge with the new CDC.gov feature, which includes a quiz on safe produce handling. Surveillance for Foodborne Disease Outbreaks Q&A. A new webpage contains questions and answers and new graphics for the recently released publication “Surveillance for Foodborne Disease Outbreaks – United States, 1998-2008.” Questions and Answers MMWR report Graphics: Impact of Contaminated Foods,  Foods Linked to Illnesses, Foods Linked to Outbreaks, Salmonella Outbreaks in Eggs, Outbreaks with a Reported Setting in 1998 through 2008   Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC) webinar In 2011, FDA, CDC, and USDA-FSIS formed the Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC). This tri-agency analytic collaboration is currently focused on projects related to foodborne illness source attribution. IFSAC sponsored a webinar on June 18, 2013, to describe this tri-agency collaboration and its activities, and provide an update on the IFSAC project to improve the food classification system for attribution analysis. Meeting Summary and Follow-Up Meeting Recording, Transcript and Presentations Patient interviewing model. The first FoodCORE Model Practice: Initial Case-patient Interviewing describes the basic practices and characteristics of conducting comprehensive interviews for all enteric disease case-patients upon initial identification or first contact. Home canning and botulism. The CDC.gov feature on Home Canning and Botulism tells home canners how to can their fresh produce safely to avoid the risk of botulism, a potentially deadly illness. Click here for previous newsletters.