Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a Gram-negative, salt-loving bacterium common in marine environments, is the leading cause of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis, also known as “early death syndrome,” in aqua culture, and is responsible for a significant number of foodborne illnesses in humans.

Over the past two decades, the bacteria has led to a significant rise of infections in humans, more so than other foodborne pathogens. These infections primarily result from consuming raw fish and seafood, and particularly, shellfish.

Climate change, causing rising ocean temperatures and ocean acidification, has resulted in increased abundances of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in oceans worldwide. In fact, the most recent FoodNet annual report indicates that the overall incidence in 2021 rose by 45.5% when compared with the annual incidence from 2016 to 2018.

Traditional detection methods for bacteria are labor intensive and time consuming, falling short of the need for accurate, rapid, and convenient detection required by food safety supervision and food enterprises; however, researchers in Shanghai, China, have developed a point-of-care detection method that allows for the quick and sensitive identification of the bacteria in seafood.

This new method uses advanced techniques called recombinant polymerase amplification (RPA) and the CRISPR/Cas12a system, along with a test strip. The method provides a low-cost, simple, and visually clear way to quickly detect Vibrio parahaemolyticus in seafood.

The researchers note that RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a-ICS can detect Vibrio parahaemolyticus in salmon sashimi at extremely low levels, as little as 154 CFU/g, without needing to enrich the sample first. “Our innovative detection platform represents a significant advancement in the rapid and sensitive detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, proving especially valuable for ensuring seafood safety and preventing public health crises,” corresponding author Haijuan Zeng, leader of the Biotechnology Research Institute at the Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said in a prepared statement.

Zeng, who designed and performed the experiments and analyzed the data, explained that by using this platform, Vibrio parahaemolyticus can be detected in approximately 30 minutes, with a limit of detection of 250 copies/μL for plasmid samples and 140 CFU/mL for bacteria. The platform has been validated with artificially contaminated food samples and various clinical isolates.

Furthermore, in the report, the researchers noted that adjusting the crRNA sequences could enable the identification of various other targets, allowing the optimized ssDNA concentration to be used for detecting different targets. Therefore, the RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a-ICS platform could be employed to detect foodborne pathogens linked to humans, adulterated foods, and even viruses.

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FDA has released a final rule on agricultural water that represents an important step toward enhancing the safety of produce. The revised requirements are intended to enhance public health by improving the safety of water used in produce cultivation. The revisions are also designed to be practical across various agricultural water systems, uses, and practices, while remaining adaptable to future advancements in agricultural water quality science.

The final rule replaces certain pre-harvest agricultural water requirements for covered produce (other than sprouts) in the 2015 produce safety rule with requirements for systems-based agricultural water assessments to determine and guide appropriate measures to minimize potential risks associated with pre-harvest agricultural water.

Specifically, this rule:

• Establishes requirements for agricultural water assessments that evaluate a variety of factors that are key determinants of contamination risks associated with pre-harvest agricultural water. This includes an evaluation of the water system, water use practices, crop characteristics, environmental conditions, potential impacts on water from adjacent and nearby land, and other relevant factors.
• Includes testing pre-harvest agricultural water as part of an assessment in certain circumstances.
• Requires farms to implement effective mitigation measures within specific timeframes based on findings from their assessments. Hazards related to certain activities associated with adjacent and nearby land uses are subject to expedited mitigation.
• Adds new options for mitigation measures, providing farms with additional flexibility in responding to findings from their pre-harvest agricultural water assessments.

Farms are required to conduct assessments of their pre-harvest agricultural water annually and, whenever a significant change occurs, to identify any conditions likely to introduce known or reasonably foreseeable hazards into or onto covered produce or food contact surfaces.

These revised requirements reflect recent science, findings from investigations of several produce-related outbreaks, and feedback from a variety of stakeholders on the agricultural water requirements in the Produce Safety Rule, which were previously published in 2015. These revisions will more comprehensively address a known route of microbial contamination that can lead to preventable foodborne illness.

The rule also finalizes the dates for compliance with the pre-harvest agricultural water requirements for non-sprout covered produce as follows:

• For very small farms: 2 years, 9 months after the effective date of the final rule
• For small farms: 1 year, 9 months after the effective date of the final rule
• For all other farms: 9 months after the effective date of the final rule

The rule does not alter existing requirements for agricultural water for sprouts, for which compliance dates have passed. It also does not alter existing requirements for harvest and post-harvest agricultural water activities. Additional information about compliance dates can be found on the FDA Proposes Compliance Date Extension for Pre-Harvest Agricultural Water Requirements webpage.

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USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced its final determination to declare Salmonella an adulterant in raw breaded stuffed chicken products when they exceed a specific threshold of 1 colony forming unit (CFU) per gram or higher for Salmonella contamination.

This determination is part of the agency’s efforts to reduce Salmonella illnesses associated with the raw poultry supply in the U.S. FSIS intends to address Salmonella contamination in other raw poultry products later this year.

“This final determination marks the first time that Salmonella is being declared an adulterant in a class of raw poultry products,” said Tom Vilsack, agriculture secretary, in an April 26 statement. “This policy change is important because it will allow us to stop the sale of these products when we find levels of Salmonella contamination that could make people sick.”

FSIS will carry out verification procedures, including sampling and testing of the raw incoming chicken component of these products prior to stuffing and breading, to ensure producing establishments control Salmonella in these products. If the chicken component in these products does not meet this standard, the product lot represented by the sampled component would not be permitted to be used to produce the final raw breaded stuffed chicken products. The determination, including FSIS’ sampling and verification testing, will be effective 12 months after its publication in the Federal Register.

In determining that Salmonella is an adulterant in raw breaded stuffed chicken products, FSIS considered the best available science and data using similar criteria as in its 1994, 1999, and 2011 E. coli policymaking. When FSIS declared seven Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) strains to be adulterants in select raw beef products, it relied on several factors, including the available information on serotypes linked to human illnesses, infectious dose, severity of illnesses and typical consumer preparation practices associated with a product. The breaded stuffed chicken products determination relied on the same factors.

FSIS and its public health partners have investigated 14 Salmonella outbreaks and approximately 200 illnesses associated with these products since 1998. The most recent outbreak was in 2021 and resulted in illnesses across 11 states. These products account for less than 0.15% of the total domestic chicken supply, but outbreaks linked to these products represented approximately 5% of all chicken-associated outbreaks in the U.S. from 1998 to 2020.

Raw breaded stuffed chicken products are pre-browned and may appear cooked, but the chicken is raw. The products are typically cooked by consumers from a frozen state, which increases the risk of the product not reaching the internal temperature needed to destroy Salmonella. Despite to improve labeling, these products continue to be associated with Salmonella illness outbreaks.

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To further protect the U.S. livestock industry from the threat posed by highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, USDA has announced that it is taking specific actions with its federal partners to limit the disease’s spread.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a Federal Order requiring the following measures, effective Monday, April 29, 2024:

Mandatory Testing for Interstate Movement of Dairy Cattle

• Prior to interstate movement, dairy cattle are required to receive a negative test for Influenza A virus at an approved National Animal Health Laboratory Network laboratory.
• Owners of herds in which dairy cattle test positive for interstate movement will be required to provide epidemiological information, including animal movement tracing.
• Dairy cattle moving interstate must adhere to conditions specified by APHIS.
• As will be described in forthcoming guidance, these steps will be immediately required for lactating dairy cattle, while these requirements for other classes of dairy cattle will be based on scientific factors concerning the virus and its evolving risk profile.

Mandatory Reporting

• Laboratories and state veterinarians must report positive Influenza A nucleic acid detection diagnostic results (e.g. PCR or genetic sequencing) in livestock to USDA APHIS.
• Laboratories and state veterinarians must report positive Influenza A serology diagnostic results in livestock to USDA APHIS.

USDA has identified spread between cows within the same herd, spread from cows to poultry, spread between dairies associated with cattle movements, and cows without clinical signs that have tested positive. On April 16, APHIS identified a shift in an H5N1 sample from a cow in Kansas that could indicate that the virus has an adaptation to mammals.

CDC conducted further analysis of the specimen sequence, which did not change their overall risk assessment for the general public, because the substitution has been seen previously in other mammalian infections and does not impact viral transmission. Additionally, the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories found H5N1 in a lung tissue sample from an asymptomatic cull dairy cow that originated from an affected herd and did not enter the food supply.

The novel movement of H5N1 between wild birds and dairy cows requires further testing and time to develop a critical understanding to support any future courses of action, USDA said in a statement, adding that requiring positive test reporting will help the agency better under the disease and testing before interstate movement will limit its spread.

The agency has not found changes to the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans and between people and CDC believe that the current risk to the public remains low.

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Robert Califf, FDA’a commissioner, reiterated the agency’s year-old appeal to Congress for a framework enabling the sale of cannabidiol (CBD) as a dietary supplement and as a food ingredient. Currently, FDA believes it lacks the authority to pursue this course of action within its existing structure.

Califf addressed a U.S. House of Representatives oversight committee earlier this month and noted that FDA deemed hemp-derived CBD not sufficiently safe for lawful sale as a dietary supplement. He urged Congress to establish a pathway for regulating the substance.

Based on a recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO), CBD shows promising therapeutic potential in various trials, both controlled and open label, demonstrating good tolerance and a favorable safety profile.

The regulation of hemp derivatives, including CBD, has been a matter of concern since the legalization of its cultivation in the 2018 Farm Bill, predominantly crafted by USDA and ratified by Congress. Since then, the product has become widespread as a supplement and has also found its way into certain food and beverage items, despite FDA never officially declaring it safe as a food ingredient. “It’s Congress’s decision to make, so we would really look forward to work with you all as quickly as possible to come up with a regulatory pathway that you think is reasonable and enables us to take action,” Califf said during his address.

James Comer, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, sent a letter to Califf on Wednesday in reply, stating it is imperative that FDA engages in this regulation quickly, safely, and efficiently to provide proper guidance to consumers about the safety of CBD products. “Without allowing for therapeutic CBD products to be regulated as dietary supplements such as melatonin or fish oils, the good faith actors in the industry are unable to enter the market and provide people with helpful products because they are currently not distinguished under the FDA from the intoxicating products containing Delta-8,” he wrote, asking FDA for documents and information to enable oversight of the agency’s actions.

Another issue gaining steam revolves around the national legalization of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the intoxicating component of marijuana, and its potential integration into food and beverage items. While some states where the drug is already legalized have incorporated it into food products, interstate transportation of such products remains prohibited.

Califf has gone on record declaring there is no justification for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to prolong its decision regarding the rescheduling of marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance, thereby aligning it with medications such as acetaminophen and ketamine, rather than with substances like heroin and LSD.

“This is an area where I believe we would be better off if we had guidance from Congress about how to proceed,” Califf said.

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Consumer Reports (CR) has called on USDA to remove certain Lunchables food kits from the National School Lunch Program due to high levels of sodium and heavy metals found in the products.

USDA currently allows two Lunchables kits—Turkey & Cheddar Cracker Stackers and Extra Cheesy Pizza—to be served to nearly 30 million children through the National School Lunch Program. To meet the program’s requirements, Kraft Heinz added more whole grains to the crackers and more protein to the Lunchable kits designed for schools, compared to store-bought versions.

CR recently compared the nutritional profiles of two Lunchable kits served in schools and found they have even higher levels of sodium than the kits consumers can buy in the store. CR also tested 12 store-bought versions of Lunchables and similar kits and found several contained relatively high levels of lead and cadmium. All but one also tested positive for phthalates, chemicals found in plastic that have been linked to reproductive problems, diabetes, and certain cancers.

CR tested store-bought Lunchables and similar kits from Armour LunchMakers, Good & Gather, Greenfield Natural Meat Co., and Oscar Mayer and found lead, cadmium, or both in all. Lead and cadmium can cause developmental problems in children over time, even in small amounts. While none of the kits exceeded any federal limit, five of the 12 tested products would expose someone to 50 percent or more of California’s maximum allowable level for lead or cadmium – currently the most protective standard.

The sodium levels in the store-bought lunch and snack kits CR tested ranged from 460 to 740 milligrams per serving, which is nearly a quarter to half of a child’s daily recommended limit for sodium. CR found that the sodium levels of the Lunchables made for schools, which had a larger portion of meat, are higher than in the store-bought versions. The school version of the Turkey and Cheddar Lunchable for schools contained 930 mg of sodium compared to 740 mg in the store-bought version. Similarly, the Lunchable pizza kit for schools had 700 mg of sodium compared to 510 mg in the store version.

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On April 10, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implemented first-ever restrictions on the perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances in drinking water, a pivotal move in shielding public well-being from waterborne hazards.

EPA’s cap target six PFAS compounds, including two of the oldest and most widespread PFAS—PFOA and PFOS—at 4 parts per trillion. The rule also sets limits of 10 ppt for PFHxS, PFNA, and HFPO-DA (also known as GenX), thereby establishing a benchmark for the most stringent health thresholds concerning these impurities in potable water.

Under the new rule, public water systems are required to monitor these PFAS compounds, with an initial monitoring period of three years, concluding by 2027, followed by ongoing compliance checks. Additionally, these systems must disclose information regarding the levels of these PFAS in drinking water, commencing in 2027. Further, public water systems are allotted five years—until 2029—to implement remedies aimed at decreasing PFAS levels if monitoring reveals that these levels exceed the designated maximum contaminant levels (MCLs).

Nicknamed “forever chemicals” because of their resistance to be degraded or destroyed, PFAS have been associated with several health issues, including high cholesterol, cancer, and thyroid disease. “There’s no doubt that these chemicals have been important for certain industries and consumer uses, but there’s also no doubt that many of these chemicals can be harmful to our health and our environment,” Michael Regan, EPA Administrator, said on a call to media this week.

Starting in 2029, public water systems found to have PFAS concentrations in drinking water surpassing the MCLs must take measures to reduce these levels and notify the public of the violation.

In an effort to help with enforcement, EPA announced it would make $1 billion in funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help states implement PFAS testing and treatment at public water systems and to help owners of private wells address PFAS contamination.

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A Texas dairy worker has tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, according to the CDC. The person inflicted has a mild case and is believed to be just the second human ever to have contracted the virus.

The news comes on the heels of USDA confirming detection of HPAI in seven dairy herds in Texas, two in Kansas, and one a piece in Idaho, Michigan, and New Mexico. The National Veterinary Services Laboratories is performing additional tests on presumptive positive results from Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, and Texas.

“This infection does not change the H5N1 bird flu human health risk assessment for the U.S. general public, which CDC considers to be low,” USDA said in a statement.

Richard Webby, PhD, director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals and Birds, and a virologist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, tells Food Quality & Safety that dairy herd infections are extremely rare. “There were some hints of data that suggested cows could be sporadically infected with influenza A viruses, but many, including me, never thought of cows as likely hosts of the virus,” he says. “No one knows how the cows got infected and how it is moving between them now. There were reports of sick birds on the initial farms, but how the virus got from there to cows is unclear. If we can understand how the virus is moving, we can likely do many things to reduce the risk.”

He notes that this virus remains very much a bird virus, even after replicating in cows. As such, the risk to humans is low. “It is of course higher in those with close contact with the sick animals,” Dr. Webby adds. “Risk to the general population is very low, rock to workers is low, but certainly not zero, as highlighted by the one conjunctivitis case.”

A joint statement released by the National Milk Producers Federation, the International Dairy Foods Association, the U.S. Dairy Export Council, and Dairy Management Inc., noted that routine testing and well-established protocols for U.S. dairy will continue to ensure that only safe milk enters the food supply. “In keeping with the federal Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), milk from sick cows must be collected separately and is not allowed to enter the food supply chain,” the statement reads. “This means affected dairy cows are segregated, as is normal practice with any animal health concern, and their milk does not enter the food supply.”

Since 2022, HPAI has been detected in wild, commercial, and hobbyist bird flocks in more than 82 million birds across 48 states and 512 counties, according to the CDC.

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This week, FDA issued an import alert for human food products with detectable levels of chemical contaminants that may present a safety concern to human health. The Import Alert 99-48, Detention without Physical Examination of Foods Due to Chemical Contamination, gives the agency the ability to help prevent entry of human food products into the U.S. if they are found to be contaminated with a broad range of human-made chemicals including benzene, dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), among others.

PFAS are a diverse group of thousands of chemicals used in many different types of products. PFAS in the environment can enter the food supply through plants and animals grown, raised, or processed in contaminated areas. It is also possible for very small amounts of certain PFAS to enter foods through food packaging, processing, and cookware.

In 2022, FDA initiated a targeted survey for PFAS in 81 seafood samples collected at retail and determined that the estimated exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a type of PFAS, from certain samples of canned clams from China is likely a health concern. The 81 samples in the survey consisted of clams, cod, crab, pollock, salmon, shrimp, tuna, and tilapia, most of which were imported to the U.S. The agency plans an additional targeted survey of molluscan shellfish this year, and this new import alert could be used to refuse entry of foods such as seafood contaminated with PFAS.

Specific firms and their food products found with levels of chemical contaminants that may pose a risk to human health may be subject to detention without physical examination under the new alert.

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A California assembly member has introduced legislation that would prohibit the state’s public schools from serving foods that contain certain additives. In particular, Assembly Bill (AB) 2316, introduced by Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), would prohibit schools from serving foods containing six synthetic food dyes—Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3.

Currently, products containing these dyes are required by the EU to carry a warning label.

The introduction of AB 2316 follows the 2023 passage California Food Safety Act – which banned the use of four chemicals from foods sold in California. Like the California Food Safety Act, AB 2316 would not ban any specific foods or products; rather, Gabriel says it would encourage companies to make modifications to products sold in the state.

AB 2316 now heads to the Assembly Education Committee, where it is expected to be heard in the coming weeks.

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