INFOSAN Quarterly Summary, 2020 no

Food safety events

During the third quarter of 2020, the INFOSAN Secretariat was involved in 37 food safety events involving 78 WHO Member States and five WHO Member Territories. There were 18 events involving biological hazard (Salmonella [10],, Listeria monocytogenes [2],, E. inches [2], Norovirus [1],, Pseudomonas spp. [1],, Clostridium botulinum [1],, Bacillus cereus^And [1],, Campylobacter spp.^And [1] and Enterococcus faecalis^And [1]); six involving an unreported allergen (peanuts [2], milk^b [2], egg^c [1], soy^c [1], walnuts [1] and hazelnuts^b [1]); five involving physical danger (plastic [2] glass [2] and foreign substances [1]); five involving a chemical hazard (histamine [3], Clenbuterol [1] and phytohemagglutinin [1]); and three involving an unidentified hazard.

During the third quarter of 2020, the most commonly included food categories (within 37 events) were: nuts and oilseeds (5); snacks, desserts and other food (5); fish and other seafood (4); meat and meat products (4); vegetables and vegetable products (4); milk and milk products (3); herbs, spices and condiments (2); legumes and legumes (2); composite food (2); fruits and fruit products (2); fruit and vegetable juice (1); food for infants and young children (1); eggs and egg products (1); and cereals and cereal-based products (1).

During such international food safety events, the INFOSAN Secretariat relies on the prompt action of the national INFOSAN Emergency Contact Points (ECPs) to respond to requests for information. The rapid exchange of information through INFOSAN allows members to implement appropriate risk management measures to prevent disease.

Geographical scope

These food safety events included Member States and territories from all WHO regions: Europe (37), then the Western Pacific (16), the Americas (11), Africa (9), the Eastern Mediterranean (9) and finally the South East. Asia (1).

Outbreak in several states Salmonella Enteritidis infections associated with fresh peaches from the United States

During this quarter, the outbreak of more countries than Salmonella Enteritidis infections in the United States (USA) and Canada associated with the consumption of fresh peaches produced in the United States have been reported to the INFOSAN Secretariat. From August 27, 2020 in NOW are associated with a strain of disease outbreak Salmonella Enteritidis; no deaths were reported. IN Canada, as of September 2, 2020, 48 cases related to this epidemic have been confirmed; no deaths were reported. Investigations are still ongoing.

Implied products have been internationally distributed since NOW to Australia, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore and Taiwan (China). In addition, through the ECP in New Zealand, the INFOSAN Secretariat was also informed about the distribution of implied products to New Zealand where the authorities launched remind of the products concerned. These products were re-exported from New Zealand to the Cook Islands, French Polynesia (France), Samoa and Tonga.

During the event, information on the details of the implied products was distributed to network members to facilitate the implementation of risk management measures. Through collaboration with the ECP in the US, details of complete genome sequencing have also been shared to facilitate the identification of possible cases of matching in recipient countries. Several recipient countries shared with the INFOSAN secretariat details of the risk management measures implemented in response to the distribution of implied products. No further cases of the disease have been reported to the INFOSAN Secretariat in recipient countries outside the United States and Canada.

News and activities

The INFOSANA study is ongoing