Recall/Crisis Management

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA’s FSIS) has published data on recalls and public health advisories issued in the case of a food safety incident in 2023.

The primary role of FDA's Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation (CORE) Network is to conduct outbreak surveillance, manage the response efforts, and initiate post-outbreak activities for incidents involving FDA-regulated products. This article explores the evolution, work, and perpetual improvement of the CORE Network.

A 2021 multinational foodborne illness outbreak investigation involving imported melons contaminated by Salmonella Braenderup exemplifies effective collaboration across countries, rapid information sharing, and harmonized data collection, and the lessons learned could form the basis of standard practices in multinational outbreak investigations.

For those leading the food and beverage industry, there is tremendous opportunity for growth—but with growth comes risks that can negatively impact operations, profitability, and reputation.

As of November 24, 2023, a fatal foodborne outbreak of salmonellosis linked to cantaloupes has caused 99 illnesses across 32 states in the U.S., and 63 illnesses across five provinces in Canada. A total of three patients have died. A recall has been issued.

As of November 16, 2023, there are 34 known cases of acute lead toxicity linked to recalled fruit puree pouches in the U.S. FDA has alluded to an unconfirmed theory that the common source of contamination may be an imported ingredient used in the products.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA’s FSIS) recently launched the agency’s first application programming interface (API) on its website, giving software developers access to data on recalls and food safety alerts, and allowing them to integrate that information into apps and other digital services.

In 2020–2021, FAO/WHO’s International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) responded to 375 international food safety events, which is nearly double the number of incidents in 2018–2019 and the highest number since the network was established in 2004.

Salmonella spp. have long been associated with low-moisture foods such as nuts and nut-derived products, with varying prevalence observed in tree nuts, including cashews, at retail. Virtually all cashews are imported to the U.S. Some nuts, including cashews, are imported as a "raw" product (i.e., one that has not been subjected to a process to adequately reduce pathogens, such as a kill step). Salmonella contamination of such products has resulted in several notable outbreaks in the U.S. in the past ten years, including those in which cashew-containing products have been implicated as a vehicle. This article presents a brief overview of outbreak investigations of Salmonella infections linked to the consumption of cashews and cashew-containing food products. It also presents challenges encountered, lessons learned, and relevant regulatory requirements for importers and manufacturers of cashews and cashew-containing products.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will host a free, hybrid public listening session on recall modernization on September 29, 2023. The listening session will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to share information and feedback about topics related to recall modernization for FDA-regulated products.