On July 31, 2024, the United Nations International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) published its Quarterly Report on Food Safety (October-December 2023), covering 51 food safety incidents in the fourth quarter of 2023 in United Nations WHO member States and regions. 

Of these, 34 incidents involved biological hazards: Listeria monocytogenes 13, Salmonella 10, Escherichia coli 3, Bacillus cereus 2, Enterobacter sakazakii 2, Clostridium difficile 1, mold 1, Staphylococcus aureus 1, Vibrio cholerae 1; Eight involved chemical hazards: 1 lead, 1 aflatoxin, 1 cannabidiol, 1 cyanide, 1 histamine, 1 mercury, and 1 organophosphate. Seven involved physical hazards: plastic 3, external foreign objects 3, and glass 1; 2 cases involved an allergen/related ingredient not declared: gluten 1 case and milk 1 case.

The most common food categories among the 51 food safety incidents in Q4 2023 were: 8 kinds of mixed milk and dairy products, 7 kinds of snacks, desserts and other foods, 6 kinds of fruits and fruit products, 5 kinds of aquatic and other seafood products, 5 kinds of meat and meat products, 5 kinds of vegetables and vegetable products, 2 kinds of nuts and oilseeds, 2 kinds of cereals and cereal products, 2 kinds of complex foods, 2 kinds of food for infants and young children, 2 kinds of edible herbs, spices and spices, 2 kinds of starchy roots, 1 alcoholic beverage, 1 non-alcoholic beverage, 1 unknown food. 41% of food safety incidents were reported to INFOSAN through the European Rapid alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), 40% through INFOSAN Member States and 19% through WHO channels.

In addition, the report also covers adverse health events caused by the consumption of cinnamon-containing applesauce in the United States, as well as capacity building in Guyana, Afghanistan, related countries in the Americas, and the Asia-Pacific region.

For more details, see: https://www.who.int/news/item/31-07-2024-infosan-quarterly-summary--2023--4