– Opinion –
during my tenure Marler ClarkI had the opportunity to witness and work on one of the most tragic and most alarming foodborne illness outbreaks our company has ever encountered.
Here, in no particular order, are some of the most alarming infections that have occurred recently. I was also extensively involved in some of them.
- Baby food outbreak: Infant milk shortage and lead-tainted cinnamon applesauce
The 2022 infant formula crisis left a lasting impact on caregivers across the country. The incident began with an investigation by the FDA after reports of a link between infant formula products manufactured by Abbott Nutrition and serious infections in children. The FDA inspected an Abbott facility in Sturgis, Michigan, and found unsanitary conditions, including the presence of the bacteria Cronobacter sakazakii. In response, Abbott voluntarily recalled the products involved, causing immediate and widespread impact. A severe shortage of infant formula has spread across the country, causing great worry and distress to parents and caregivers. Online support communities have emerged, such as the Facebook group “Find and Swap Formula: Helping Parents,” and platforms such as “Find Formula” have been created to track and alert users to formula availability. especially, Biden-Harris administration has taken steps to address this unprecedented formula shortage, highlighting the seriousness and far-reaching impact of the situation. Tragically, this outbreak claimed the lives of her two young children.
The 2023 outbreak associated with WanaBana, Schnucks, and Weis brand cinnamon applesauce received significant attention due to the alarming discovery that the products contained extremely high levels of lead. Lead poses a serious health risk, especially to children. According to the World Health Organization, even concentrations as low as 0.035 ppm can affect children’s intelligence and behavior. Increased exposure to lead can cause irreversible damage to the brain and central nervous system, leading to coma and death. An FDA investigation and subsequent sample testing determined lead levels in the apple puree to be 2.18 ppm, more than 200 times higher than the recommended maximum. Austrofood, the applesauce manufacturer, acknowledged that cinnamon from NegaSmart may be the source of the contamination. One of the cinnamon samples had extremely high lead levels of 5,110 ppm. In a more recent development, on January 5, the FDA detected another metal contaminant, chromium, in Austrofood’s cinnamon at 1201 ppm and 531 ppm. This ongoing outbreak has so far affected at least 86 people, most of them infants and children. In addition to the 86 cases confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, additional reports include: 209 probable cases, 26 probable cases. Additionally, as of January 8, the Food and Drug Administration had received 87 confirmed complaints/reports of adverse events related to cinnamon applesauce. Some of these reports overlap with CDC numbers, so don’t add up the counts.
- World’s deadliest listeriosis outbreak
In 2017 and 2018, South Africa faced the world’s largest and deadliest listeriosis outbreak. The Minister of Health identified Tiger Brand’s polony (a ready-to-eat processed meat product) as the culprit and ordered an immediate recall in December 2017.
The outbreak has affected multiple provinces in South Africa, with Gauteng reporting 58% of cases in women, primarily from birth to 93 years. From January 2017 to July 2018, 1,060 cases were reported and 216 people died. The term “reported” is important here because many affected people live in rural areas with limited access to health care. Additionally, listeriosis was not classified as a reportable disease in South Africa until the outbreak, which also prevented data collection from cases diagnosed in hospitals.
Listeriosis, a severe food-borne bacterial disease, poses a significant risk to pregnant women, people over 65, and people with weakened immune systems. It has a high mortality rate of 25% and is associated with miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth. Of the 216 deaths caused by the outbreak, the impact on infants and children was particularly devastating, highlighting the vulnerability of this demographic.
- Recurring and ongoing fads: romaine lettuce, sprouts, cantaloupe
This trio needs no introduction. Since 2018, there have been nearly a dozen outbreaks involving leafy greens, many involving romaine lettuce, three outbreaks involving sprouts, and at least three outbreaks involving cut cantaloupe or cantaloupe. Cases have occurred. These foods appear on TV shows so often that I consciously try to avoid them. FDA’s list of ongoing investigations.
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