FDA to Assess Salmonellosis Risk Associated With Tree Nuts

WASHINGTONThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requesting comments, scientific data and other information to use in an assessment of the risk of human salmonellosis associated with the consumption of tree nuts.

The need for a risk assessment is underscored by outbreaks of human salmonellosis linked to tree nuts over the past decade, by product recalls, and by Salmonella isolation from tree nuts during surveys. In recent years, contamination with Salmonella has been found in almonds, cashews, pistachios, pine nuts, Brazil nuts, macadamia nuts and walnuts, among other types of tree nuts destined for human consumption.

The risk assessment will inform FDA policy and may be useful for owners and operators of tree nut processing plants and other post-harvest facilities, among other stakeholders.

An FDA webinar on the assessment plan and related data needs will be held July 22 from noon to 1 p.m. To participate, click here and select guest" and enter either your name or guest."

Interestingly, researchers at Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences have developed a new approach that may reduce the time it takes health officials to identify Salmonella strains by nearly 50%. The finding may significantly speed up the response to many outbreaks of foodborne illness, allowing epidemiological investigators to identify the exact strains of Salmonella that make people sick and to more quickly find and eliminate the source of the disease.