INFOSAN incidents stable in 2023; lead in applesauce marked

The number of incidents involving a global food safety network increased slightly in the last quarter of 2023.

The International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) was involved in 51 alerts from October to December 2023, compared to 46 in July to September, 53 in the second quarter and 47 in the first quarter of 2023.

The network was involved in 197 incidents throughout the year, which is almost identical to the 198 alerts in 2022. This is a decrease from the 248 events in 2021, but an increase from the 127 in 2020 and 84 in 2019 .

The latest figures show that of the 34 biological risk incidents, 13 were caused by Listeria and 10 by Salmonella. Three were caused by E. coli. Bacillus Cereus and Cronobacter were both mentioned twice, while Clostridium, mold, Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio were all mentioned once.

INFOSAN is administered by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

Eight chemical hazards involved lead, aflatoxins, CBD, cyanide, histamine and mercury. Two listed an undeclared allergen or ingredient; seven were from a physical hazard such as plastic, metal or glass.

Lead in applesauce event

INFOSAN highlighted a study of lead in certain cinnamon applesauce products.

In November 2023, the INFOSAN Emergency Contact Point in the United States informed the INFOSAN Secretariat of a recall in the US of applesauce products containing cinnamon from Ecuador due to high lead concentrations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that 519 people have been affected by the outbreak, which has spread to 44 states. The FDA has collected 90 related adverse incident reports.

Three brands of cinnamon applesauce were recalled in November 2023 due to lead contamination: Wanabana, Schnucks and Weis. Negasmart is the supplier of cinnamon to the Ecuadorian applesauce manufacturer Austrofoods, while Carlos Aguilera is the processor of cinnamon sticks from Sri Lanka.

The INFOSAN Secretariat contacted officials in Ecuador for information on the possible wider distribution of recalled products directly from Ecuador. Some products were also sent to Cuba and the United Arab Emirates. No other adverse health events associated with the consumption of recalled products have been reported to INFOSAN.

Last quarter details

The food categories commonly mentioned in all incidents in the fourth quarter of 2023 are compound milk and dairy products, snacks, desserts and other foods, fruits and fruit products, fish and other seafood, meat and meat products, and fruits and vegetables. Products.

The warnings also listed nuts and oilseeds, grains and grain-based products, formulated foods, foods for infants and small children, herbs, spices and condiments, starchy roots and tubers, alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages.

In total, 40 percent of incidents were reported by network members to INFOSAN, 41 percent were communicated through the European Commission’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) portal and 19 percent through various other WHO channels.

In November 2023, Guyanese authorities participated in a two-day virtual workshop to strengthen their participation in INFOSAN. A simulation exercise gave participants an example of a food safety emergency.

Afghanistan’s national authorities joined INFOSAN in November 2023. To increase involvement in the network, the INFOSAN Secretariat organized an introductory webinar for the new members.

INFOSAN members in America also met in November to discuss how they could continue to strengthen their work. One focus is to improve coordination and communication for responding to food safety emergencies at national and regional levels.

In December, INFOSAN members in the Asia-Pacific region gathered at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Topics included improving communication between members and the INFOSAN Secretariat and harmonizing approaches to emergency response and preparedness.

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, Click here)