Food Safety Matters — Ep. 184: Hottest Topics of 2024: Outbreaks, Food Chemicals, FDA Changes, and More

Date: December 24, 2024
Host(s): Stacy Acheson, Adrienne Blum, Bob Ferguson, Bailey Henderson
Podcast by: Food Safety Magazine

Episode Overview

This year-in-review episode of Food Safety Matters brings together the editorial team to discuss the most pressing food safety issues and stories of 2024. They cover major illness outbreaks, regulatory changes, key technologies, chemical concerns in foods, and the evolving landscape of national and international policy. The discussion is rich, data-driven, and peppered with insights relevant to food safety professionals and anyone concerned with the security of the global food supply.

Key Topics & Highlights

1. High-Profile Outbreaks and Recalls (06:21–42:13)

Boar's Head Listeria Outbreak

• Incident: In May, a deadly listeria outbreak was traced to Boar's Head ready-to-eat deli meats, specifically liverwurst.
  • Stats: 10 deaths, 61 illnesses (60 hospitalizations), 7+ million pounds of products recalled.
  • Plant History: Inspection reports revealed a two-year history of severe sanitation failures at the Jarrett, VA plant—leaky pipes, mold, insects, blood pooling, lack of environmental listeria swabbing.
  • Regulatory Fallout: USDA FSIS launching regulatory changes: broader listeria species testing, training enhancements, clearer inspection protocols, and improved oversight of federal-state cooperative inspection agreements.
  • Quote:
    • "Given the plant's history of repeated sanitation failures, it may have been inevitable that Listeria monocytogenes established itself in the facility and evaded detection." — Article by Dr. Glass et al. referenced by Adrienne (10:39)
    • “It's hard to find anything that went well on this case that was done right... This one's going to become a textbook case.” — Bob Ferguson (15:01)
  • Discussion: The team draws parallels to the Peanut Corporation of America and notes how detection technology (e.g., whole genome sequencing, PulseNet) helps but doesn't itself prevent outbreaks. The importance of systemic prevention and not simply reactive action is emphasized.

McDonald’s E. coli Outbreak via Onions

• Incident: In October, E. Coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to yellow onions supplied by Taylor Farms, used specifically in McDonald’s Quarter Pounders.
  • Stats: 104 illnesses, 34 hospitalizations, 4 HUS cases, 1 death.
  • Traceability: Quick response traced the outbreak within approximately a week through supply chain data and consumer purchase interviews rather than solely on genome sequencing; voluntary recall by Taylor Farms and action by other restaurant chains.
  • Unresolved Issues: No root cause identified; lack of public closure/matching strains led to consumer unrest.
  • Quotes:
    • “The lack of an understanding of a root cause... Very unsatisfying to me and I would imagine to consumers as well.” — Stacy Acheson (23:10)
    • “Whole genome sequencing... is not a panacea. They did not find matching strains.” — Bob Ferguson (25:06)

Additional Significant Outbreaks

• Grimmway Farms Carrots: Ongoing outbreak (since November) — bagged organic carrots, 39 illnesses, 15 hospitalizations, 1 death; multi-country recall ongoing.
• Yushang Foods: Listeria in ready-to-eat meats, 19 sick (17 hospitalized), 2 fetal losses; links to persistent facility contamination.
  • “Isolates from the patients... are closely genetically related to Listeria strains... since December of 2023, which could indicate resident contamination in the facility.” — Adrienne Blum (33:09)

Recall Study Insights

• Data: A Journal of Food Protection study covering 35,000 recalls (2002–2023) found that Listeria and Salmonella accounted for 40% of recalls; allergens 28%.
  • “Pretty staggering statistics.” — Adrienne (35:42)

Technology’s Transformative Role

• Ongoing shift: Rapid identification via WGS, databases like PulseNet, shopper and hospital data.
  • Still, technological advancement must be paired with persistent, proactive plant-level controls and environmental monitoring (“Test until you find it, not until you get a negative.”—Bob Ferguson, 39:37).

2. Regulatory, Legislative, and Programmatic Developments

FDA Human Foods Program Reorganization (42:38–50:16)

• Launched: Official October 2024.
• Focus Areas: Microbiological food safety, chemical safety, and nutrition.
• Initiatives: Streamlined complaint processing, ag water rule, FSMA 204 implementation, reviews of additive approval and post-market assessment.
• Uncertainty: Upcoming administration change (Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expected as HHS Secretary), tightened budget, and resources at issue.
  • “The uncertainty is hard if your goal is status quo with what the FDA has been doing... But if your goal is to have more activity... the human foods program is going to be very, very busy.” — Bob Ferguson (49:14)

Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Poultry and Dairy (50:16–57:21)

• Spread: From birds to dairy herds, cats, pigs, and some beef cattle; 95 million birds culled since '22.
• Food Safety Angle: Pasteurization inactivates the virus; raw milk presents ongoing risks.
• Human Risk: Primarily via animal exposure; human-to-human transmission a concern for the future.
• Regulatory/Policy Uncertainties: Conflicts from RFK Jr.’s public health positions; potential for national shortages.
  • "When ideologies and public health collide. Right. I don't, it's just again, the big question mark." — Stacy Acheson (55:01)
  • “If this continues to spread... there could be significant shortages of food, poultry, beef, eggs...” — Bob Ferguson (55:51)

USDA Revisions: Salmonella in Poultry (57:21–63:00)

• Tightened standards for Salmonella in poultry; 5 serotypes targeted with routine sampling and new final product standards. Not all serotypes classified as adulterants (as some advocacy groups demand).
• Framework allows for adaptive response as public health significance serotypes change.
  • Related Fact: 40% of recalls over 20 years due to Salmonella/Listeria.
  • “This is going to be something really interesting to watch unless you can make it Salmonella species.” — Bob Ferguson (62:07)

FSMA 204 Traceability Rule: Industry Readiness & Challenges (64:01–72:57)

• Compliance Date: January 2026
• Concerns: Many businesses, particularly smaller or late-stage supply chain actors, are struggling with costs, technological capability, and logistical complexity (lot codes, data collection, labor).
• Proposed Delays: Several legislative efforts attempted to delay or ease the rule, but none advanced.
  • “A weak link type system… if you can’t trace it back through all the links, it doesn’t work.” — Bob Ferguson (72:04)

Food Additives & Chemical Safety: The New Battleground (72:57–83:00)

• State-level bans (ex: California Food Safety Act) often precede or spur FDA action (e.g., on BVO, Red Dye 3).
• Patchwork of US state, federal, and international regulatory environments causing challenges for industry.
• “FDA is constantly chasing what California is doing and what consumers are demanding.” — Bailey Henderson (77:24)
• Funding and mandate limitations slow FDA; tougher scientific standards needed for nationwide bans.
  • “If we ban something… and we do not have the scientific evidence to support its ban, we will lose in court.” — FDA Commissioner Califf, quoted by Adrienne (83:00)
• Broader public attention to food chemicals has never been higher, per Bailey Henderson.

Heavy Metals, Packaging, Pesticide Risks (83:00–97:23)

• Public/Regulatory Interest: Heightened concern over heavy metals (especially in baby/child foods), bisphenols, phthalates, PFAS, nanoplastics, and residual pesticides.
• State actions (like California bans), tougher EFSA/EU standards (potential EU BPA ban).
• Recent detects and recalls (Kraft Heinz Lunchables, cinnamon apple sauce).
• Advances in detection technology allow regulators to see lower levels of contaminants—raising the challenge of balancing toxicological risk versus “zero tolerance.”
  • "Do you try to eliminate every one of these pesticides to zero, which is impossible, or do you find some toxicological risk assessment that makes sense?" — Bob Ferguson (94:05)
• Tradeoffs in food packaging: Advanced materials can help fight pathogens but may leach chemicals (“Is that a good or a bad thing?”—Bob, 97:16).

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Bob Ferguson (15:01, Boar’s Head): "It's hard to find anything that went well on this case that was done right. This one's going to become a textbook case..."
• Stacy Acheson (23:10, McDonald's/Onions): "The lack of an understanding of a root cause...very unsatisfying to me and, I would imagine, to consumers..."
• Bailey Henderson (77:24, Additive Legislation): “FDA is constantly chasing what California is doing and what consumers are demanding...”
• Adrienne Blum (10:39, Listeria Plant): “Given the plant's history...it may have been inevitable that Listeria monocytogenes established itself in the facility and evaded detection.”
• FDA Commissioner Califf (quoted, 83:00): “If we ban something...and do not have the scientific evidence to support its ban, we will lose in court.”
• Bob Ferguson (39:37, Tech): “Test until you find it, not until you get results.”
• Stacy Acheson (55:01, Ideology vs. Public Health): “When ideologies and public health collide...again, the big question mark.”

Episode Structure and Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 00:00–06:21| Intros, Audience/Guest Thanks, Show Announcements | | 06:21–42:13| Outbreaks & Recalls: Listeria, E.coli, Carrots | | 42:38–50:16| Regulatory Changes: FDA Human Foods Program | | 50:16–57:21| Avian Influenza (HPAI) and Food Safety | | 57:21–63:00| USDA Poultry/Salmonella Framework | | 64:01–72:57| FSMA 204 Traceability Rule | | 72:57–83:00| Food Additives & Chemical Contamination | | 83:00–97:23| Heavy Metals, Packaging Chemicals, Pesticide Issues | | 97:23–End | Closing Reflections & Summary |

Concluding Thoughts

This episode provides a sweeping, detailed look at 2024’s pivotal food safety stories—blending scientific, regulatory, technological, and public trust dimensions. It’s an essential listen (or review) for professionals needing to stay atop shifting ground in outbreak response, regulation, and consumer expectations. The evolving role of technology, mounting chemical scrutiny, legislative complexities, and the need for active industry engagement are recurring themes.

Food Safety Magazine’s team underscores that these issues aren’t isolated; technology, outbreaks, regulation, and policy are tightly woven—a “motherlode” year with many rabbit holes to explore. Upcoming years promise even more change, with shifts in administration, continuing outbreaks, and rising consumer advocacy. The need for vigilance, transparency, and adaptability has never been clearer.

For further reading, resources, and full articles referenced, visit: food-safety.com
Previous must-listen episodes:

• Ep. 162 (Jan 23): Brian Sylvester on the California Food Safety Act

“Take good care of yourselves and those around you and we'll talk to you soon.” — Stacy Acheson