Food safety incidents
The INFOSAN Secretariat was involved in 58 food safety incidents concerning 129 WHO Member States (MS) and territories during this second quarter of the year. There were thirty-two incidents involving a biological hazard [Listeria monocytogenes (10), Salmonella spp. (10), E. coli (6), Clostridiumbotulinum (2), Hepatitis A (2), B. cereus (1), and Coxsackievirus (1)]; eleven involving an undeclared allergen/ingredient [milk (3), almonds (2), egg (2), walnuts (2), peanuts (1), soy (1), wheat (1)]; eight involving a chemical hazard [mycotoxins (2), aconitine (1), butylated hydroxytoluene (1), ethylene glycol (1), ethylene oxide (1), histamine (1), peracetic acid (1)] seven involving a physical hazard [glass (3), metal (2), insects (1), plastic (1)].
The food categories most commonly involved in the 58 incidents during the third quarter of 2022 were: snacks, desserts, and other foods (12), milk and dairy products (7), composite foods (6), meat and meat products (6), vegetables and vegetable products (6), fish and other seafood (5), cereals and cereal based products (3), fruit and fruit products (3), herbs spices and condiments (2), and seven unknown.
During the third quarter of the year the number of food safety incidents increased to the highest number we have seen this year, reaching 58. Due to the active engagement of INFOSAN members and partners, 53% of incidents were reported to the INFOSAN Secretariat by INFOSAN members (Emergency Contact Points and Focal Points), 28% of those incidents were communicated to the Secretariat through the European Commission's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), and 19% through various WHO channels.
Geographic scope
These incidents involved 129 WHO Member States and territories from all WHO Regions. The affected Member States were distributed as follows: 48 out of 53 Member States from the European Region, 26 out of 47 in Africa, 11 out of 27 in the Western Pacific, 24 out of 35 in the Americas, 15 out of 21 in the Eastern Mediterranean, and finally 5 out of 11 in South-East Asia.
Multi-country outbreaks of Hepatitis A possibly linked to the consumption of frozen fruit (berries)
Multi-country outbreaks and clusters of Hepatitis A virus (HAV) genotype IB have been reported in seven WHO Member States. As of 29 September 2022, 303 HAV cases identical or closely related have been identified in the WHO European Region. Current investigations suggest that the consumption of frozen berries could be linked to the outbreaks and clusters of cases, alongside with human-to-human transmission of the related HAV strains. Further information about the outbreaks can be found on the website of theEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Investigations are ongoing and further information will be provided to INFOSAN members when available.
In August 2022, through the European Commission's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), the INFOSAN Secretariat became aware of the detection of Hepatitis A in frozen berries from Poland, distributed to 28 WHO Member States. The INFOSAN Secretariat contacted the involved INFOSAN Emergency Contact Points to make sure they were aware of the food safety incident and to request information about risk management measures implemented in their respective countries, as well as the potential identification of cases linked to the consumption of related products.
Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver caused by the Hepatitis A Virus. The virus is primarily spread when an uninfected (and unvaccinated) person ingests food or water that is contaminated with the faeces of an infected person. The disease is closely associated with unsafe water or food, inadequate sanitation, poor personal hygiene, and oral-anal sex. Further information about HAV can be found in the WHO Fact Sheet on HAV.
Shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) detected in spinach and rocket from the Netherlands
Through the RASFF, The INFOSAN Secretariat was informed of the detection of Shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in spinach and rocket from the Netherlands. The implicated products had been internationally distributed to 16 countries which included Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Kuwait, Netherlands, Portugal, Qatar, Singapore, Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
The INFOSAN Secretariat engaged with the involved INFOSAN Emergency Contact Points to make sure they were aware of the food safety incident and to request information about risk management measures implemented in their respective countries, as well as possible cases of illness linked to the consumption of affected products.
Further investigations have been conducted by INFOSAN members in an attempt to elucidate a rise in incidents involving Shigatoxin - producing Escherichia coli O157 and other types of STEC (non STEC O157). Further information will be shared with INFOSAN members when available.
News & Activities
Webinar on WHO Guidelines to reduce public health risks in traditional food markets
On 5 September 2022, a webinar to share how WHO guidelines for the foods sold in traditional markets help reduce public health risks. The webinar presented the various international and regional guidelines produced by WHO, together with international partners, to enable countries and individuals to recognize these risks and act in a timely manner to prevent them. The session included the participation of colleagues from WHO Headquarters, the WHO European and Western Pacific Regional Offices, the International Livestock Research Institute and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition. The webinar was moderated by the INFOSAN Secretariat and included a short Q&A session. Participants were encouraged to share their questions and thoughts on the WHO Food Safety Community of Practice forum section.
A recording of the session, as well as the materials presented during the session, are available on the website of the WHO Food Safety Community of Practice.
INFOSAN Capacity Building activities
Over the last quarter and through this year, the INFOSAN Secretariat has been increasingly involved in capacity building activities to support WHO Member States in strengthening their national capacities to respond to food safety emergencies and to rapidly communicate of food safety emergencies of international concern.
INFOSAN National Workshops
In an effort to support countries in strengthening their capacities to manage food safety risks, national multi-agency workshops were organized in several WHO Member States with support from the INFOSAN Secretariat. Such workshops brought together national INFOSAN members to improve national coordination and communication across sectors and across borders. With support of WHO and FAO Regional Food Safety Advisors, WHO and FAO Country Offices, four virtual INFOSAN workshop were held during the third quarter of 2022, with participants from several national agencies involved in food safety. Participants 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 real-life case study was also delivered to showcase the coordination between the INFOSAN Secretariat and its Member States during a food safety incident.
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The INFOSAN Secretariat acknowledges the INFOSAN members in those countries for their enthusiasm and dedication to improving the way in which food safety incidents are identified, responded to and communicated about in their countries.
INFOSAN national workshops were delivered in the third quarter of 2022 to:
- Benin: 13-14 July 2022
- Guinea: 30-31 August 2022
- Cote d'Ivoire: 27-28 September 2022
- Ireland and the United Kingdom: 15 September 2022
US CDC training on foodborne disease outbreak investigation
INFOSAN participated in the series of technical training organised by the US CDC (Center of Disease Control and Prevention) and WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office on foodborne disease surveillance and response. The trainings were delivered to four WHO Member States in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, including Sudan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. The objectives of the training were to (1) conduct a focused review on foodborne disease outbreak surveillance and response, (2) describe and promote one approach to foodborne disease outbreak investigation, (3) build capacity of outbreak rapid response teams to investigate and respond to public health events, and (4) raise awareness on the role of INFOSAN in preparedness and response to international food safety incidents and emergencies.
During the training, a series of presentations on INFOSAN were delivered to the participants by the INFOSAN Secretariat explaining the role and function of INFOSAN, the responsibilities of the members and the tools provided by INFOSAN and available for Member States to use for communication during food safety incidents.
