Foodmate News: On October 9, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released the results of sampling and testing of fresh herbs, guacamole and processed avocados.

As of March 31, 2020, the U.S. FDA has tested 1272 fresh herbal samples (759 domestic and 513 imported). The FDA plans to collect 1,600 fresh herbal samples (761 domestic samples and 839 imported samples) under this task. Among the fresh herbal samples, Salmonella was detected in 15 samples (6 in China, 9 imported), and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) was detected in 10 (5 domestic and 5 imported). Further research shows that only one STEC positive sample in China is pathogenic, and all other samples are unlikely to cause serious disease. The FDA did not detect E. coli O157: H7 in fresh herbal samples. Given that cyclosporidium-related diseases usually occur in summer, the FDA also started testing for cyclosporidium in fresh herbal samples in July 2018. 691 fresh herbal samples were tested, of which 17 samples were detected with cyclosporidium (5 domestically produced, 12 copies imported).

The current sampling of fresh herbs is being suspended, and travel restrictions and social distancing measures make it temporarily impossible to continue most monitoring sampling. If it is safe, it is expected that the operation can be resumed, and data analysis and final report will be provided at the end of the study.

The US Food and Drug Administration completed the collection of processed avocado or guacamole samples at the end of fiscal year 2019. The analysis and testing started recently, and the results will be announced in the final report.

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