Spudman

Pathogen test program will cease operations

After months of uncertainty over the future of the program, the Agricultural Marketing Service’s Microbiological Data Program, which tests produce for disease-causing pathogens like E. coli O157:H7, salmonella, and listeria, has officially gone into shutdown mode, a U.S. Department of Agriculture official confirmed last week to Food Safety News. Department officials told states that participate in the $4.5 million program to stop pulling produce samples on Friday Nov. 9 to “ensure an orderly shutdown of…  » Read more

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Bolthouse Farms recalls carrot chips

Bolthouse Farms is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of Bolthouse Farms 16-ounce Carrot Chips following a routine sampling event, conducted on October 22, by a North Carolina health official. The company was notified on October 31 that the inspection detected the possibility of salmonella in the single16-ounce bag that was tested. Bolthouse Farms has not received any reports of consumer illness or other consumer complaints related to this product. No other Bolthouse Farms products are…  » Read more

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FDA awards contract for technology to speed identification of pathogens on produce

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has awarded Illumina, Inc. of San Diego, Calif., a five-year $17 million contract to develop technology that will provide faster identification of pathogens on produce. Illumina will provide its MiSeq sequencing systems and reagents for conducting whole genome analysis on produce and produce-related environmental salmonella and shigatoxigenic E. coli isolates. FDA currently employs several MiSeq systems  and is building its capacity to provide resources and training to enhance whole…  » Read more

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Minnesota fresh-cut company recalls some products that include DFI melons

Cut Fruit Express, Inc. of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota is voluntarily recalling some packaged fruit products containing cantaloupes, distributed through Sept. 5, since they contain cantaloupe which have been recalled by supplier DFI Marketing Inc., due to potential contamination with salmonella. No illnesses have been reported specific to the Cut Fruit Express Products that are the subject of this voluntary, precautionary recall. The voluntary recall extends only to products with certain use-by dates and sold…  » Read more

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28,000 cases of cantaloupe recalled after positive sample for salmonella

DFI Marketing Inc. of Fresno, Calif., is voluntarily recalling cantaloupe because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella was found on a single sample of cantaloupe during routine testing conducted at a wholesale produce distribution center (terminal market) as part of a USDA testing program. Through the company’s recall and trace back systems, it has been determined the suspected cantaloupes include approximately 28,000 cartons of bulk-packed product. The cantaloupes wee packed in…  » Read more

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