The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) continues to work on behalf of frozen food manufacturers to address the control and prevention of Listeria Monocytogenes (Lm). On Friday, July 8, 2022, AFFI sent an update on this subject to all members prompted by an outbreak of Lm in Florida over the July 4th holiday believed to be associated with ice cream from the Big Olaf Creamery. To date, there have been 23 reported illnesses, 22 hospitalizations and one death reported.
Big Olaf Ice Cream
Here is a brief synopsis of this update:
How does this outbreak impact AFFI’s Lm strategy in seeking an alternative approach to regulating low-risk foods and adopting an action limit greater than zero? Affi’s position is that this outbreak strengthens AFFI’s position that FDA should change the current regulatory approach if significant reductions in rare events with low-risk foods is to be attained. “AFFI’s Lm expert panel recommends the implementation of finished product testing and more robust environmental monitoring programs that are currently not incentivized by FDA’s regulatory approach. FDA could and should do more to prevent these outbreaks and zero tolerance does not advance modern food safety.”
Listeria Monocytogenes (Lm)
Recommendations to Manufacturers to address the ever-present threat of Lm in frozen food manufacturing environments:
Review and utilize the resources at www.affi.org/safety. This is a free and comprehensive set of practices to mitigate the risk of Lm in frozen food facilities. AFFI believes that implementing these practices is the most important thing your company can do to protect your business and consumers from the outbreak of Lm.
Make sure that your food safety employees have completed AFFI’s Listeria Control Specialist Certificate Program.
Support the regulatory and legislatives initiatives seeking a change in the Lm policy at FDA to reduce the current regulatory jeopardy and give companies better risk decision making tools. The contact at AFFI is Elissa Gilliam at egilliam@affi.com for more information.
In terms of legislation, AFFI has secured report language on Lm in appropriations bill currently being negotiated by Congress. “The language encourages FDA to establish an action level or tolerance for Lm and to continue to work with stakeholders and scientific experts as this policy is developed.”
Continue to support the work being done by AFFI and consider using the FREE resources provided by this organization at www.affi.org/safety in the development of practices to mitigate the risk of Lm in your factory if you are a frozen food manufacturer.
米国冷凍食品協会（AFFI）が、冷凍食品メーカーを代表して、リステリア菌を抑制・防止するための取り組みを継続しています。2022年7月8日（金）、AFFIは、すべての会員企業に対し、この件に関する最新情報を送信しました。7月4日の独立記念日の連休中にBig Olaf Creameryのアイスクリームが原因のリステリア食中毒がフロリダ州で発生したことに対応するものです。これまでのところ、23人が症状を訴え、22人が入院し、1人が死亡しました。
