A Salmonella outbreak linked to corn in Canada has sickened at least 110 people in five provinces, according to Public Health Canada. The corn is frozen. The product linked this outbreak is Alasko IQF (individually quick frozen) whole kernel corn. A secondary recall was issued for Fraser Valley Meats Whole Kernel Corn. This is an ongoing outbreak. The patient case count by province is: British Columbia (42), Alberta (49), Saskatchewan (4), Manitoba (13) and Ontario (2). The patients who live in Ontario traveled to Alberta and British Columbia before they got sick. Illness onset dates range from early September 2021 to late December 2021. Four people have been hospitalized because they are so ill. The patient age range is between one and 89. Investigators had originally focused on … [Read more...]
Consumer Reports Tests Frozen Produce For Pathogens
Consumer Reports tested 300 samples of frozen produce for pathogenic bacteria and found them to be free of pathogens. No harmful bacteria was found in the samples, according to their newly released report. But that's not the whole story. Consumer Reports researchers looked for E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella in eight frozen foods: berries, avocado, corn, mangoes, peaches, pineapple, spinach, and smoothie mixes. No bacteria that could make you sick were found in their samples. However, these findings do not meant that there is no risk from frozen produce. How these items are processed could have an effect on their safety. Most are blanched or steamed before they are frozen. Unfortunately, this does not mean these products are completely safe to eat without further … [Read more...]
USDA Releases Consumer Info on Preparing Frozen Foods Safely
The USDA has released consumer information on preparing frozen foods safely. New research reveals that consumers may not know how to safely cook these foods, which can put families at risk of contracting a foodborne illness. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, consumers are preparing more foods at home. It's important that all cooks, especially beginners, read product labels so they understand how to properly prepare these frozen foods. Don't rely on appearance. Some foods are not fully cooked or ready to eat. That can cause confusion, especially if the food is breaded or if it has grill marks. In a recent USDA study, 22% of consumer's said that a not ready to eat frozen chicken entree was either cooked, partially cooked, or they weren't sure, when the entree was actually … [Read more...]
Worried About Listeria in Frozen Vegetables? Here’s How to Stay Safe
Most people don't think about the possibility of Listeria monocytogenes in frozen vegetables, but there have been listeriosis outbreaks and recalls linked to this type of food. Three recalls last year for spinach, red peppers, and avocados were issued for possible Listeria contamination. So should you be worried about Listeria in frozen vegetables? The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has released guidelines about how to reduce the risks of Listeria monocytogenes in frozen vegetables. They say that the risks of contracting listeriosis in frozen vegetables is lower than the risk associated with smoked fish, sausages, pate, and soft cheeses. Processors often blanch vegetables before freezing them to set the color and texture, and this step helps destroy pathogens on the … [Read more...]
