Recalls:

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• Prepared meals from Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and pasta salads from Albertson’s were all recalled due to potential Listeria contamination, with possible links to a California pasta supplier. (NYT, AP)
  
  
• 58 million pounds of corndogs and sausage-on-a-stick products were recalled because wood pieces may be in the batter. (Today)
  
  
• After massive shrimp recalls, the FDA has found evidence of radioactive contamination in imported spices from Indonesia, too. (AP)
  
  
• Black Sheep Foods pulled back its pasture-raised eggs after a Salmonella outbreak sickened 24 people in California. (AP)

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Health News:

• The American Academy of Pediatrics confirmed that acetaminophen (Tylenol) is safe for kids older than 3 months when taken as directed. (AAP)
  
  
• A new CDC study shows the human seasonal flu vaccine provided some protection against avian flu in ferrets. (CDC)
• OSHA extended the comment period to October 30th for a new heat rule. (EHS)
  
  
• Chikungunya (a mosquito-borne illness rarely seen in the U.S.) is suspected to be the cause of a woman’s illness on Long Island. (NY Times)
  
  
• Another pet cat, this time in LA, died from H5N1 avian flu after eating raw pet food, prompting renewed warnings to cat owners. (CIDRAP)
  
  
• A new study found that nearly 7 in 10 people recovering from COVID actually did have impaired sense of smell, even if they didn’t notice. (CIDRAP)
  
  
• A judge ruled that individual employees of Stew Leonard’s, a CT grocery store, are not liable for the allergy death of a customer. (Patch)
  
  
• For the first time, the UN pledged to address dementia. (NPR)
  
  
• The deadly Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever was detected in livestock in the south of France, with evidence that it’s been circulating among animals there for years. (CIDRAP)
  
  
• Starting in November, all Rhode Island day cares and schools are required to report norovirus-like outbreaks. (RIDOH)
  
  
• States are taking aim at ultraprocessed foods in a bipartisan push. (KFF Health News)

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Mental Health & Substance Use News:

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• If you’re prone to winter depression, starting light therapy now can help. (NPR)
  
  
• Fentanyl positives are seven times more likely on random drug screens than pre-employment screens. (Quest)

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If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or need help, call 988 or message the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.

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Best Questions:

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Should we ask our suppliers to test for radioactive contaminants after these shrimp and spice recalls?

Several recent recalls have raised eyebrows, including frozen shrimp and spices imported from Indonesia that tested positive for cesium-137, a radioactive isotope. The FDA has already blocked imports from one spice company, and hundreds of thousands of packages of shrimp shipped to Kroger, Walmart, and others have been pulled from shelves.

Cesium-137 is a nuclear byproduct found at trace levels in the environment, but these shipments contained more than the tiny amounts normally expected. The source is still unclear, since the implicated facilities are far apart. While this isn’t an immediate food safety crisis - the levels are low and unlikely to cause acute harm - long-term exposure can raise cancer risks.

If you use imported frozen shrimp, it’s worth a call to your supplier to see if your products come from BMS Foods, which accounts for 6% of shrimp imports to the U.S. If so, we’d consider switching suppliers even if your shrimp aren’t in the recalled lots. For all other imported frozen shrimp from Indonesia, we’re not advising changes in sourcing yet, but tracking where your shrimp comes from is a smart step as the situation develops.

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‍Sources: AP, FDA

What can restaurant managers ask sick workers without violating HIPAA or ADA? 

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Some employees worry that talking about their personal health with a manager crosses into a HIPAA or ADA violation—but in foodservice, the U.S. Food Code takes priority. It requires food employees to report certain symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, sore throat with fever, or a lesion with pus) or any diagnoses of key foodborne illnesses to their manager.

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The CDC has a newly updated, printable resource for managers that we love for this question: Talking with Sick Workers Factsheet. HIPAA protects a healthcare provider from sharing patient information with a manager, but it doesn’t prevent a manager from asking an employee about symptoms that could spread foodborne illness. The ADA generally doesn’t cover short-term illnesses like norovirus or Salmonella infection, and doesn’t prevent managers from asking questions about foodborne illness or diagnoses.

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Managers should ask clear, job-related questions, explain why the information matters for food safety, and focus on the symptoms or diagnoses listed in the Food Code. Employees might feel awkward talking about their trips to the bathroom, but these conversations can literally prevent life-threatening outbreaks. The CDC’s poster can help demystify the process for managers, so it feels like a standard part of keeping the team and guests safe, not a scary unknown. 

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Sources: CDC, EEOC

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Best Read:

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Over 150 million people get health insurance through their employers, who will be paying almost 9% more per employee on average next year for the same level of coverage. Many employers are passing some of those costs on to employees. 

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Health care costs are soaring. Blame insurers, drug companies — and your employer : NPR

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