Increase in Salmonella Infections, According to CDC Report
Salmonella infections have increased by 10% over the past 15
years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During this same period, foodborne illness caused
by such pathogens as Escherichia coli
O157 have declined nearly 50%, and
the overall rates of six foodborne
infections have been reduced by
23%.
The report summarized data
from the CDC’s Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network
(FoodNet). In 2010, FoodNet sites
reported nearly 20,000 illnesses, 4,200
hospitalizations and 68 deaths from nine
foodborne infections. Of those, Salmonella caused more than
8,200 infections, nearly 2,300 hospitalizations and 29 deaths.
The rate of E. coli O157 cases reported by FoodNet sites was
two cases per 100,000 people in 1997 and by 2010 had decreased to 0.9 cases per 100,000 people. The nearly 50% reduction in E. coli O157 incidence was considered significant when
Temple Grandin, Ph.D., was
awarded the 2011 American
Meat Science
Association
were awarded the 2011
AMSA Signal Service
Award and Catherine
Cutter, Ph.D., of Pennsylvania State University
received the 2011 Distinguished Extension-
Industry Service Award at the 64th Annual
Reciprocal Meat Conference. Additionally, David A. King,
Ph.D., Wes Schilling, Ph.D., and Gregg Rentfrow, Ph.D.,
received the Distinguished Achievement Award.
Multivac Inc., a global supplier of packaging
solutions for perishable food products, has
named Mark Snethen as regional sales manager for its food division.
DECCO, a global leader in postharvest coat-
ings, cleaners, sanitizers, fungicides and storage
treatments for fruits and vegetables, has announced the hiring
of Don Lawrence as director of new business development.
Bunting Magnetics Co. has announced the
addition of Jana L. Davis as the company’s
new chief financial officer.
Fernando Casanova, vice president of
quality at LABVANTAGE, has been appointed to
the 2011 Board of Examiners for the Malcolm
Baldrige National Quality Award.
Cordray
Snethen
Campano
Cutter
Davis
Grandin
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compared with the lack of change in Salmonella incidence.
The CDC credits the reduction in E. coli to improved detection and investigation of outbreaks through their PulseNet surveillance system, cleaner slaughter methods, testing of ground
beef for E. coli, better inspections of ground beef processing
plants, regulatory improvements like the prohibition of E. coli
O157 in ground beef and increased awareness by consumers
and restaurant employees of the importance of properly cooking beef.
To reduce Salmonella contamination, CDC outlined a number of important steps that must be taken, saying that “strong
and specific action” to identify and prevent contamination
from the farm to the table was essential, asserting that this was
a primary lesson learned in successfully reducing E. coli O157
infection. Most important, new prevention strategies must be
developed for foods most at risk for contamination, and those
strategies must embrace measures to be implemented both before and after harvesting.
The full report may be viewed by visiting www.cdc.gov/
vitalsigns/.
(News Bites continued on page 79)
JemD International has announced the appointment of Adrian Abbott as director of operations.
RMT Robotics, manufacturer and integrator
of innovative robotic gantry material handling
systems, has hired Dave Barker to the position
of customer care manager.
Keystone Foods has announced that chief
operating officer Larry S. Mc Williams has assumed the leadership role of president and
CEO.
Deacom has appointed industry specialist
Pelican Products has appointed Michael Brunskill
director of customer service.
Alan Traylor has joined MOCON Inc. as the
company’s new business manager of food
safety products.
The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) has an-
nounced LeAnn Chuboff as the new senior
technology director of the Safe Quality Food In-
stitute, Patrick Davis as vice president, state
government relations and Hilary S. Thesmar,
Ph.D., R.D., as vice president of food safety
programs. FMI also congratulates Jill
Hollingsworth, D.V.M., senior vice president of
food safety programs, on her retirement.
The Grocery Manufacturers Association has announced
the appointment of Sean Darragh as executive vice president, global strategies, a newly created position within the
association.
Traylor
Hollingsworth
Abbott
McWilliams
