Food safety incidents
The INFOSAN Secretariat was involved in 46 food safety incidents concerning 106 WHO Member States (MS) and territories during this second quarter of the year. There were 22 incidents involving a biological hazard [Listeria monocytogenes (8), Salmonella spp. (7), Norovirus (3), Hepatitis A (1), mould. (1), and two incidents in the process of identifying the biological hazard]; 17 involving an undeclared allergen/ingredient [milk (6), shellfish (2), peanuts (2), almonds (1), egg (1), gluten (1), hazelnuts (1), mustard (1), sesame (1) and soy (1)]; five involving a chemical hazard [Aflatoxins (1), chlorpyriphos (1), histamine (1), alkaloids (1), sildenafil thiono analog (1)] and two involving a physical hazard [metal (1), plastic (1)].
The food categories most commonly involved in the 46 incidents during the second quarter of 2022 were snacks, desserts, and other foods (11), fish and other seafood (7), composite food (5), herbs spices and condiments (5), nuts and oilseeds (4), fruit and fruit products (3), vegetables and vegetable products (3), meat and meat products (2), cereals and cereal based products (1), egg (1), food additives (1), milk and dairy products (1), non-alcoholic beverages (1), and one unknown.
During the second quarter the number of incidents maintained high, reaching 46 just one less than the last quarter (47). Because of the active engagement of INFOSAN members and partners, 52% by INFOSAN members (Emergency Contact Points and Focal Points), 33% of those incidents were communicated to the Secretariat through the European Commission's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), and 15% through various WHO channels.
Geographic scope
The 46 incidents involved 106 WHO Member States and territories from all WHO Regions. The affected Member States were distributed as follows: 49 out of 53 Member States from the European Region, 18 out of 47 in Africa, 13 out of 27 in the Western Pacific, 11 out of 35 in the Americas, 11 out of 21 in the Eastern Mediterranean, and finally 3 out of 11 in South-East Asia.
Multi-country outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium monophasic linked to chocolate products
As of 18 May 2022, 369 cases of the cluster of Salmonella Typhimurium have been linked to the outbreak in 14 WHO Member States of the WHO European Region and two Member States of the WHO Region of the Americas. WHO Risk Assessment and Advice for this outbreak can be found in a dedicated Disease Outbreak News Piece on the WHO Website. Further information about epidemiological and microbiological investigations can be found in a first update of the Joint ECDC-EFSA Rapid Outbreak Assessment addressing this outbreak, published in May 2022.
Throughout this quarter, the INFOSAN Secretariat continued to follow this multi-country outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium monophasic linked to the consumption of internationally distributed chocolate products. The INFOSAN Secretariat maintained close contact with concerned Member States to facilitate communication exchange and provide relevant information to support investigations.
WHO Member States involved in this food safety emergency provided the INFOSAN Secretariat with various updates concerning their investigations and implemented risk management measures after being informed of the INFOSAN Global Alert issued in March 2022. These updates included, for example, local inspections at the chocolate company involved, details on the recalls of the products included in the alert, and on surveillance to identify cases linked to the consumption of the implicated products. Some Member States have also notified about further redistribution of implicated products and have shared with the INFOSAN Secretariat the information necessary to notify additional recipient Member States.
The INFOSAN Secretariat continues compiling the updates and results from the different Member States into the incident summary on the INFOSAN Community Website, which has been routinely updated as the information has become available. Dedicated spaces have also been created within the INFOSAN Community Website where members of the network have been able to directly share the results of their investigations and other updates. National experiences and solutions in handling this incident for consideration when managing future international food safety emergencies have also been shared within such spaces.
Member States have recognized the importance of having networks such as INFOSAN to facilitate information exchange among Member States during food safety emergencies. Such communication has enabled the implementation of prompt risk management measures during this outbreak. The INFOSAN Secretariat continues to monitor this incident and will keep updating Member States should further information become available.
Outbreak of Salmonella in the United States of America linked to peanut butter, distributed internationally
Through the INFOSAN Emergency Contact Point (ECP) in the United States of America (USA), the INFOSAN Secretariat was informed of an outbreak of Salmonella (n=16) linked to peanut butter products and a subsequent voluntary recall of implicated issued by the related company.
With the collaboration of the ECP in the USA, members of the network were informed that implicated products linked to the outbreak were distributed internationally to a number of WHO Member States and locations. The INFOSAN Secretariat engaged directly ECPs in recipient Member States to ensure they were aware of the international distribution of implicated products and request further information about the response to this incident, including the identification of any possible cases linked to the consumption of implicated products.
Recipient Member States notified the INFOSAN Secretariat of risk management measures implemented further to the notification issued. No illnesses were reported in other WHO Member States linked to the consumption of implicated products.
Further information about the outbreak investigation in the USA can be found on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website and on the US Food and Drug Administration website.
News & Activities
INFOSAN Commemorates the World Food Safety Day
Health Talks on Food Safety: Experts discuss how to improve Food Safety Emergency Response on the World Food Safety Day 2022
In the context of the celebration of the World Food Safety Day 2022, the World Health Organization organized the "Health talks on food safety", from June 7 to 9. The Health Talks aimed to increase awareness and encouraged a variety of stakeholders to debate and discuss an array of topics on health and food safety. The Health Talks delivered high-quality content with the support of international experts.
A special Health Talk was organized to discuss how to improve emergency response in global food safety, with the participation of Dr Fadi Naser Al-Natour, INFOSAN Focal Point in the United Arab Emirates, Ms Jenny Bishop, INFOSAN Emergency Contact Point in New Zealand and Dr Rachelle El Khoury, member of the INFOSAN Secretariat. The panel discussion focused on national perspectives about global efforts that are in place to assist countries to respond to international food safety emergencies, to strengthen their food safety systems and to contribute to improved coordination and information exchange on food safety events. Common challenges and ideas on how to address them were discussed by the panellists, using recent real-life food safety emergencies as a starting point for the analysis.
Further information about this Health Talk, including a recording of the session, can be found on the website of the WHO Health Talks on Food Safety.
Nicaraguan authorities discuss the importance of participating in INFOSAN
On the event of the World Food Safety Day in 2022, the Ministry of Health of Nicaragua organized a National Forum on food hygiene. The event consisted of three sessions covering topics on food safety, community and environmental management, with speakers from various national agencies, WHO/PAHO and WHO.
The INFOSAN Secretariat had the opportunity to present the role of INFOSAN for global food safety, in particular for prevention and response to food safety emergencies. The presentation covered the objectives and main activities of the Network and concluded inviting Nicaraguan authorities to continue actively participating in the Network.
Foodborne disease outbreak investigation training delivered to Sudanese authorities
To commemorate the World Food Safety Day in 2022, a three-day virtual training on foodborne outbreak investigation was organized by the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office/Regional Center for Environmental Health Action, in collaboration with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the International Network for Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN), the WHO country office in Sudan and the Central Public Health Laboratory - WHO Collaborating Center for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infections in Oman.
The training was delivered to Sudanese authorities and aimed to build capacity to investigate and respond to food safety events. The INFOSAN Secretariat delivered a presentation to introduce the role of INFOSAN in preparedness and response to international food safety emergencies. The presentation included a practical example of how INFOSAN promotes information exchange during such emergencies.
Sub-regional Workshop on Rapid exchange of information during food safety emergencies for the Western Balkan
The INFOSAN Secretariat participated in a two-day workshop convened by the WHO Western Balkan Hub in Belgrade, Serbia. The workshop aimed to strengthen the capacity in the subregion to rapidly exchange information during food safety emergencies by utilizing INFOSAN. The training was attended by government officials from different sectors involved in food safety emergency response in the subregion.
As part of the workshop, the INFOSAN Secretariat presented a general update about activities performed during 2022, with a focus on the Western Balkan region. A simulation exercise was also facilitated, covering topics such as risk communication and to examine the processes and procedures of INFOSAN. Participants were also provided with a guided tour on the INFOSAN Community Website.
Finally, attendees reflected on the main barriers and obstacles to exchange information during such emergencies and prepared a series of recommendations at different levels for improvement.
National Webinar with Mexican authorities to strengthen participation in the Network
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A webinar to introduce INFOSAN and the INFOSAN Community Website was organised for colleagues from the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) of Mexico.
During the session, the INFOSAN Secretariat provided the COFEPRIS colleagues with an overview of what INFOSAN is, including the objectives and activities of the Network. Recent examples of food safety emergencies that were communicated and managed through INFOSAN were also presented. The session also allowed the INFOSAN Secretariat to answer questions and to be briefly updated on recent activities carried out by COFEPRIS with regard to food safety emergencies.
National Workshop organized with Guatemalan authorities on Food Safety Emergency Response
From 20-21 April 2022, Guatemalan authorities participated in a national workshop aiming to identify areas of opportunity to improve participation in INFOSAN and to clarify roles and responsibilities of INFOSAN Members. The workshop was jointly organized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the WHO/PAHO Country Office, and the INFOSAN Secretariat.
The training was attended by different representatives from the Guatemalan Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance and the Guatemalan Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food, as well as representatives from WHO/PAHO and FAO at the national level.
Participants of the workshop were provided with a series of presentations introducing INFOSAN and elaborating on the roles and responsibilities of the members of the Network. They were also introduced to the INFOSAN/IHR Communication Template and discussed how to implement the template to their national context. A simulation exercise to strengthen national coordination and risk communication was also delivered.
National Workshop organized with Cambodian authorities to strengthen participation in INFOSAN
On 20/05/2022, the INFOSAN Secretariat organized in collaboration with WHO/WPRO, a hybrid meeting with the Focal Points and Emergency Contact Points in Cambodia in order to strengthen the participation of Cambodian authorities in INFOSAN. The INFOSAN Secretariat provided a series of presentations with the expected output was to have a (1) better understanding of INFOSAN functions, procedures and processes, (2) better understanding of the roles of INFOSAN Emergency Contact Points and INFOSAN Focal Points, (3) exposure to good practices for sharing national information during food safety emergencies, (4) better understanding of navigating the INFOSAN community website, and (5) dissemination of information on tools and resources available to INFOSAN members.
