An outbreak of salmonella that has been linked to cucumber in ready-to-eat food has sickened nearly 150 people, hitting the United Kingdom by far the hardest.

Five countries have so far this year reported cases of the illness caused by the same strain of Salmonella enterica. The United Kingdom has had 88 per cent of cases with 129, followed by Finland with 15, then Germany, Denmark and Ireland with one case each.

The European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have identified ready-to-eat meals containing cucumbers as a possible source, but warned as of July 26 it had not been possible to identify the point where contamination occurred. In a joint report the two European agencies said: At present, there is insufficient epidemiological information available on the consumption of contaminated products by humans to support the microbiological evidence provided by the isolation of the outbreak strain in food. “The epidemiological investigations in the other affected countries did not generate any strong hypothesis about the vehicle or source of infection.

The Commission published the results of the first coordinated official controls of Internet marketed foods carried out by 25 EU Member States, Switzerland and Norway. In September 2017 the competent national authorities checked nearly 1100 websites for offers of non-authorised novel foods and food supplements. They found 779 offers for the sale of products clearly not complying with the EU legislation, whether in terms of labelling, false claims or lack of authorisation.

This was the first time that the national authorities pooled their experience and resources, showing their preparedness to respond to the challenges of the online world and to protect the citizens from unsafe and misleading products offered online.

The main objectives of this first Coordinated Control Plan on the Internet sale of food ('CCP-efood') in the Union were:

• practice and strengthen the cooperation and administrative assistance between Member State authorities on the control of Internet sales;
• practice the exchange of information via rapid alert notifications according to Article 50 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 (RASFF) and notification under the Administrative Assistance and Cooperation system (AAC system) according to Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/19181,2;
• gain insight into misleading practices in the sale of food supplements;
• gain insight into the prevalence of unauthorised novel foods sold via Internet;
• highlight that Internet sales of food are subject to official controls;
• build know-how on food law enforcement in Internet sales by the authorities.

The Commission has published a new Regulation that significantly tightens the restrictions on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in food contact materials. It lowers the regulatory limit (specific migration limit or 'SML'), which is the amount allowed to migrate from the plastic material into food while keeping it safe, and extends this restriction to coating materials, which are used to line food and drink cans. The new Regulation also extends the ban from 2011 on the use of BPA in baby bottles by prohibiting the use of BPA to manufacture infant 'sippy' cups as well as the migration of BPA from coated materials containing food intended for infants and children 0–3 year olds. The new Regulation will apply from 6 September 2018.

More on BPA: https://ec.europa.eu/food/sites/food/files/safety/docs/cs_fcm_qa_bisphenol_a.pdf

EWFC inspectors and Italian food inspectors have agreed to meet in December, during the MIG or "Mostra Internazionale del Gelato Artigianale di Longarone". Both sides are eager to meet and see if there is a common interest to keep up contacts or even possibilities to join the EWFC.

MIG or "Mostra Internazionale del Gelato Artigianale di Longarone" is the oldest trade show in Europe exclusively dedicated to the artisanal gelato: along the years the value of the tradition mixed with innovation led this event to a privileged position worldwide. The next 58th MIG, scheduled in Longarone (Italy) in the Dolomiti alps, from Sunday, 3rd to Wednesday, 6th December 2017 will be focused on artisan gelato made with local products.

The 40th session of an FAO Conference adopted a draft resolution last month with a view to having the General Assembly of the United Nations consider, at is next session in September to declare 7 June as World Food Safety Day. “World Food Safety Day will raise awareness of the global threat posed by foodborne diseases and reinforce the need for governments, the food industry and individuals to do more to make food safe and prevent these diseases,” said Ren Wang, director FAO department of agriculture and consumer protection.

The Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission made the proposal to create such a day on a permanent basis at its 39th Session in Rome in 2016. Food safety was the theme of World Health Day in April 2015.

Awilo Ochieng Pernet, chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, said it would enhance consumer health protection and lead to a reduction in foodborne diseases. "The World Food Safety Day will contribute to raising awareness about the importance of food safety among all relevant stakeholders including the public and private sectors and all actors in the food chain, from primary producers to consumers.”