Consumers are currently in a state of high alert as there has been a significant surge in food recalls by the FDA and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). These recalls are driven by alarming outbreaks of salmonella, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and listeria, which have raised serious concerns about food safety.

Uncovering the Truth Behind Recent Food Recall Surges

Salmonella Outbreak in Cucumbers

The most recent salmonella outbreak was identified in cucumbers. According to the CDC, cucumbers grown by Agrotato, SA de CV in Sonora, Mexico, may be contaminated. This includes cucumbers from SunFed Produce LLC. As a result, SunFed issued a recall on November 27, 2024, for all sizes of whole fresh American cucumbers packaged in bulk cardboard containers. These cucumbers were sold in stores across 26 states from October 12 to November 26. As of November 26, 68 people from 19 states have been infected, with 18 being hospitalized. Thankfully, no deaths have been reported so far.This salmonella outbreak serves as a stark reminder of the potential risks associated with our food supply. It highlights the need for strict monitoring and testing procedures to ensure the safety of the food we consume.

E. coli Outbreak in Fresh Slivered Onions

A recent widespread E. coli outbreak was linked to fresh slivered onions used in Quarter Pounders served at McDonald's. The onions were supplied by California-based Taylor Farms and were distributed to restaurants across 14 states. However, they were pulled from the market when the outbreak was announced in late October. The outbreak ended on December 3, but it caused 104 E. coli cases, 34 hospitalizations, and 1 death across all 14 states.This E. coli outbreak emphasizes the importance of traceability in the food supply chain. By being able to identify the source of the contamination, authorities can take swift action to remove the affected products and prevent further spread of the illness.

Listeria Outbreaks in Various Products

Numerous listeria outbreaks have been reported among products such as frozen waffles, smoked salmon, and deli meat. A major multistate outbreak led to a recall on November 9 of about 4589 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products from Yu Shang Food Inc. These products were produced between October 21 and October 27 and caused 11 listeria cases, 9 hospitalizations, and 1 death across 4 states.Yu Shang Food Inc then expanded its recall on November 21, including an additional 67,651 pounds of products and extending the production dates to anything before October 28, 2024. This led to 8 additional listeria cases, 8 hospitalizations, and 1 death across 4 more states.Listeria is a particularly dangerous pathogen as it can cause serious illnesses such as meningitis and stillbirths. The occurrence of these outbreaks underscores the need for continuous vigilance and strict adherence to food safety regulations.

Understanding Foodborne Illnesses and Food Recalls

The CDC reports that annually, foodborne pathogens cause 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations, and 3000 deaths. The most common symptoms of food poisoning include a fever over 102 °F, dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and frequent vomiting.Furthermore, the FDA estimates that 2% to 3% of all foodborne illnesses lead to serious secondary long-term illnesses. Certain E. coli strains can cause kidney failure in young children and infants, salmonella can lead to reactive arthritis, and listeria can cause meningitis and stillbirths.The FDA regulates all foods except meat, poultry, and processed egg products, which are regulated by the USDA. Both agencies issue food recalls to remove products from the market that violate their respective regulations. A recall can occur due to disease contamination, the presence of foreign objects, or failure to list a major allergen.The FDA and USDA each have product recall class definitions, with Class I being the most serious or dangerous, Class II being potentially dangerous, and Class III being the least dangerous. Regardless of the class, consumers are advised to take each recall seriously and follow the instructions provided.Consumers can often return recalled products for a full refund. If not, they should dispose of the products properly by securely wrapping them before placing them in the trash. Surfaces that come into contact with contaminated products should be washed and sanitized with a solution of 1 tablespoon of chlorine bleach to 1 gallon of hot water and dried with a clean cloth.

Outbreak Trends and Future Efforts

Despite the recent increase in food recalls, the FDA claims that the number is not unusually high this past year. There were 179 Class I recalls for the fiscal year that ended in September, which is up from 145 Class I recalls in 2023 but less than the 185 recorded in 2022.Similarly, CDC numbers indicate that the number of high-profile recalls has increased only slightly from last year. The CDC has issued 10 “multistate foodborne outbreak notices” so far this year, compared to 9 notices in 2023.Darin Detwiler, a food and safety expert and professor at Northeastern University, attributes the recent recall increase to various factors, including improvements in pathogen testing technology. For example, molecular-based panel tests can be run by hospitals and clinical labs for various germs instead of one-off tests for specific pathogens.The CDC's PulseNet lab network has also switched to whole genome sequencing, which helps link different cases together. This is crucial for uncovering common foods eaten by sick people during an outbreak, allowing for more timely detection and response.In addition, the FDA is undergoing an organizational shift aimed at streamlining its food safety processes. On October 1, the unified Human Foods Program went into effect. Under this new initiative, the FDA will work to prevent foodborne illness, reduce diet-related chronic diseases, and ensure the safety of chemicals in food. The program is designed to prioritize areas where interventions can most effectively promote disease prevention and enhance wellness.“As we strive to ensure the safety of our food supply, we must work in close coordination with federal partners, state, local, tribal, and territorial regulatory entities, agricultural departments, and international regulatory counterparts,” said Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones in a press release. “I'm committed to expanding our collaboration with these stakeholders to further reduce the potential for food contamination.”

Resources

1. CDC warns of a salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers. News release. CDC. November 29, 2024. Accessed December 6, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/a1129-salmonella-outbreak.html2. Outbreak investigation of E. coli O157: onions (October 2024). FDA. Updated December 3, 2024. Accessed December 6, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-o157h7-onions-october-2024?randparam=5455833. Yu Shang Food Inc. recalls ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to possible listeria contamination. USDA. Updated November 21, 2024. Accessed December 6, 2024. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/yu-shang-food-inc–recalls-ready-eat-meat-and-poultry-products-due-possible-listeria4. Listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. CDC. Updated December 5, 2024. Accessed December 6, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/meat-and-poultry-products-11-24.html5. About foodborne illness. Partnership for Food Safety Education. Accessed December 6, 2024. https://www.fightbac.org/food-poisoning/about-foodborne-illness/6. Symptoms of food poisoning. CDC. April 29, 2024. Accessed December 6, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/signs-symptoms/index.html7. Food recalls: what you need to know. CDC. Accessed December 6, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/food-recalls-what-you-need-know8. Food recall classes. LA County Public Health. Accessed December 6, 2024. http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/safety/food-recalls/ref/recall-classes.htm#:~:text=While%20both%20the%20FDA%20and,dangerous%20and%203%20%3D%20least%20dangerous9. Tin A. Are food recalls and outbreaks on the rise? FDA says US food supply still “one of the safest in the world.” CBS News. Updated November 21, 2024. Accessed December 6, 2024. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/food-recalls-e-coli-listeria-outbreaks-fda/10. Kayata E. Now carrots too? Why there have been so many food recalls lately. Northeastern Global News. November 18, 2024. Accessed December 6, 2024. https://news.northeastern.edu/2024/11/18/food-recall-increase-carrot-e-coli/11. FDA’s unified Human Foods Program, new model for field operations, and other modernization efforts go into effect. News release. FDA. October 1, 2024. Accessed December 6, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fdas-unified-human-foods-program-new-model-field-operations-and-other-modernization-efforts-go12. FDA deputy commissioner for human foods commits to fulfilling vision of proposed program. News release. FDA. October 19, 2024. Accessed December 6, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-deputy-commissioner-human-foods-commits-fulfilling-vision-proposed-program