Ace Food Desk – U.S DOJ Settlement on Abbot Laboratories Infection of Powdered Baby Formula. U.S FDA Outbreak & Recall by Seed Supplier. Hepatitis A in Italy Plus Survey in UK on Good Practice & Food Safety With U.S FDA Report on Deli’s in Grocery Stores Supplied by FSN & Dan Flynn

Food Safety Network Updates:

• The U.S. Department of Justice announced a settlement with Abbott Laboratories related to its role in an outbreak of cronobacter infections from powdered infant formula in 2022. Two infants died as a result of the outbreak. Under the civil settlement, Abbott will pay $348.7 million dollars to the United States and another $36.2 million to certain states for claims settled by their Medicaid and WIC programs. This settlement does not determine liability on the part of the company. Numerous lawsuits filed by parents are still pending.
• The seed supplier for a sprout growing company involved in an outbreak of E. coli and Salmonella has agreed to conduct a recall after initially refusing to do so. The Food and Drug Administration has not revealed the name of the supplier or provided any information about the seeds. The supplier sold seeds to Everything Sprouts LLC. Products sold by the company have been linked to 55 cases of infection in 15 states. No deaths have been reported. The seed lot was also sold to other sprout growers and distributors in the U.S. and at least four other countries.
• Two papers related to a hepatitis A outbreak in Italy earlier this year revealed details about the official response and consumer awareness of risks related to the outbreak. More than 130 people in the Campania region were affected. The source of the infection may have been consumption of bivalve mollusks such as mussels. While more than 90 percent of consumers surveyed were aware of the outbreak, only 55 percent knew that infected individuals could transmit the virus before the onset of symptoms.
• A survey of small businesses across the United Kingdom found good practices relating to food safety and allergen information but low awareness of food crime. Businesses that responded to the survey expressed high levels of trust in the Food Standards Agency’s commitment to maintaining food safety and standards. However, awareness of the National Food Crime Unit was reported by fewer than one in five businesses. Nearly one in ten firms had been victims of food crime in the previous 12 months, most commonly involving stolen or substituted food products.
• A new FDA report on delis located in grocery stores found that delis with a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) had better food safety management system scores than those that did not have a CFPM. The two most common risk factors affecting compliance were improper holding time and temperature, and poor personal hygiene. The report drew on a sample of randomly selected delis using data collected from 2019 through 2022.

At Sterling Publishing & Media Service Agency, we prioritise transparency and accountability in all our operations. We wish to clarify that we are not responsible for any external content, hyperlinks, or costs associated with our services. Nevertheless, we remain committed to delivering outstanding services and greatly value your continued support. Thank you for your trust in us.