With less than a month until 2024, we wanted to share some key highlights from the food hygiene and sanitation sector in North America for 2023: (a) Rising cases of foodborne illnesses and recalls According to the CDC, foodborne illnesses affect 1 in 6 Americans annually, leading to 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations, and 3,000 deaths. These incidents also result in an economic loss of $15.6 billion or more each year. Here are some notable sanitation-related outbreaks from 2023: - Frozen strawberries linked to a Hepatitis A outbreak may indicate poor employee hygiene practices during packing. - Raw oysters caused a Norovirus outbreak in restaurants, suggesting a lack of proper food safety culture. - Listeria monocytogenes infections were traced back to improperly handled lettuce at a processing facility. In terms of food recalls, allergens, bacteria, and foreign materials remain the top causes. Many undeclared allergens resulted from labeling errors rather than cross-contamination. Foreign materials like wood, metal, and plastic fragments continued to be found in food products. Interestingly, 2023 might see more recalls than in the past five years combined. Some examples include: - A large recall of cheddar cheese due to Listeria contamination. - Packaged flour recalled due to Salmonella contamination. - Oatmeal cookies pulled from shelves due to wood fragments. (b) Recent BRCGS audits and FDA inspections revealing sanitation gaps The BRC Global Standard for Food Safety Issue 9 was launched in August 2022, with transition audits beginning in February 2023. After nearly a year of certification audits under this new standard, the top five non-conformities highlighted significant deficiencies in hygiene and sanitation programs: - Premises and equipment not being properly maintained. - Poor management of non-food chemicals. - Equipment not designed for hygienic purposes. - Damaged doors compromising facility integrity. - Walls not properly finished and maintained. Similarly, FDA inspections revealed common sanitation-related non-conformities in registered plants. In fiscal year 2023, the top ten observations included: - Inadequate plant maintenance. - Insufficient pest control measures. - Controls failing to prevent cross-contamination. - Equipment not being hygienically designed or maintained. - Poor facility construction impacting sanitation. - Inappropriate cleaning and sanitizing practices. - Failure to sanitize food-contact surfaces regularly. - Lack of effective sanitation preventive controls. - Improper storage and transportation of food. - Poor external plant surroundings. For more insights on FDA inspection trends over the last six years, check out the poster we presented at IAFP 2023. This data can help facilities identify common weak points in their food safety and sanitation plans. (c) New Listeria control policy in Canada Canada updated its policy on Listeria monocytogenes for ready-to-eat foods, effective October 1, 2023. This replaces the 2011 version and now considers infrastructure, plant layout, equipment design, sanitation effectiveness, and employee practices. Given Listeria's ability to form biofilms, thorough cleaning is essential. Our white paper on biofilm control provides more details on manual cleaning techniques. Looking ahead to 2024, here are some key developments to watch: (a) Increased focus on Cronobacter sakazakii Following the 2022 outbreak linked to powdered infant formula, Cronobacter sakazakii has been added to the CDC's notifiable diseases list. Manufacturers of low-moisture products like infant milk powder will need robust environmental monitoring and sanitation controls. (b) Regulatory attention on PFAS in food contact applications PFAS, or "forever chemicals," are being scrutinized due to their persistence and toxicity. Their use in food contact applications like cookware coatings and packaging is under increased regulatory scrutiny. (c) Updates to global food safety standards In 2024, several standards will update to align with the latest GFSI Benchmarking Document 2020, emphasizing hygienic design and food safety culture. Standards like FSSC 22000 and IFS Food are releasing new versions. (d) Enhanced FDA oversight through the Human Foods Program The new program gives Deputy Commissioner Jim Jones full authority over food-related resources, aiming to reduce foodborne illness trends. As we celebrate Vikan's 125th year, Remco wishes you happy holidays and a prosperous 2024. For more information, please reach out. References: 1. Food Safety News. 2023 outbreaks. 2. Sedgwick Brand Protection. 2023 Recall Index. 3. FDA Inspection Observations FY2023. 4. Health Canada. Updated Listeria policy. 5. FAO. GHP and HACCP toolbox. 6. FDA. Human Foods Program announcement. Recent blog posts: - Top 6 Food Safety Culture Questions Answered - Digital Solutions for Sustainability - Essentials of Drain Sanitation

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