A foodborne illness outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders contaminated with Escherichia coli has caused 49 illnesses, ten hospitalizations, and one death in ten states. Slivered onions used on the sandwiches are the probable vehicle of illness.
A recent study analyzed U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food product recall data from 2002–2023, drawing conclusions from more than 35,000 product recalls.
The rising number of product recalls suggests that a more comprehensive, adaptive approach to prevention is needed. Organizations must evaluate several key areas, including robust operational and quality programs, clear standard operating procedures (SOPs), and comprehensive training programs.
Many food manufacturers are already benefiting from deploying x-ray inspection systems to carry out a wide range of quality control and compliance duties and these additional capabilities also should be factored into the equation when considering the cost of an x-ray inspection system.
Boar’s Head has appointed Frank Yiannas, former FDA Deputy Commissioner of Food Policy and Response, as its interim Chief Food Safety and Quality Assurance Officer (CFSO) and Chair of its Food Safety Advisory Council. Both the CFSO role and advisory council are new additions to Boar’s Head’s structure, established in response to the fatal listeriosis outbreak of 2024.
Following the deadly listeriosis outbreak tied to its product, Boar’s Head announced that it is indefinitely closing the facility and is discontinuing the liverwurst responsible, and has established a council of industry-leading experts to enhance the company’s food safety and quality programs.
Recently introduced to U.S. Congress, the Federal and State Food Safety Information Sharing Act aims to grant the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to share crucial food safety information with state and local regulatory agencies to improve foodborne illness outbreak response.
Following the largest Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) outbreak affecting children in the Province of Alberta, Canada’s history, a review panel has put forth several recommendations that focus on fostering food safety culture and developing food safety inspection systems for childcare establishments/kitchens.
Following the death of one restaurant patron who consumed a ground beef burger contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 (STEC), a Montana meat producer has announced a voluntary recall.
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