Biosecurity Report – April 2026

Food Pathogens

 

Clostridium botulinum Contamination of Garlic

On April 1, 2026, Tops Friendly Markets recalled Christopher Ranch and Garland Fresh peeled garlic because of potential Clostridium botulinum contamination, which can cause severe botulism poisoning. The product was distributed in New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.

 

Lysin bacillus fusiformis Contamination

On April 8, 2026, Baline Labs recalled antiseptic wound care gels (Revitaderm and Tridergel) due to contamination with Lysin bacillus fusiformis, an environmental organism.

 

Salmonella Contamination of Cantaloupes

Ayco Farms recalled more that 8,000 cartons of whole cantaloupes due to potential Salmonella contamination. The melons were sold in Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, and California.

 

Salmonella and Nanoplastics

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are looking at Salmonella on plastics used in packaging for ground turkey. The researchers found that the physiology of Salmonella, in response to nanoplastics, had an increased expression of virulence-related genes. The bacteria also formed thicker biofilms, further indicating they are becoming more virulent.

 

Salmonella Saintpaul Outbreak

The FDA issued a report about a Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak linked to mangos, but then redacted key information, including what companies, states, and importers were involved.

 

According to an additional report from the Center for Disease        Control, backyard poultry flocks are infecting people with antibiotic resistant Salmonella. As of April 13, there were 34 confirmed patients infected with the outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul.  The patients were spread across 13 states, with 13 patients being hospitalized.

 

Salmonella Newport Outbreak

The FDA is investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Newport which has sickened at least 68 people. The FDA has begun traceback efforts and sample testing, but has not reported what food it is tracing.

 

Other Contaminations

 

Eye Drop Contamination

Millions of eye drop products have been recalled over concerns they may not be sterile, according to a report from the FDA. Product producer, K.C. Pharmaceuticals, issued a voluntary recall of more than three million bottles of eye drops sold under various brand names and having expiration dates ranging from April to October.

 

Updates on Prior Contamination Reports

 

E. coli Outbreak in U.S.

 

The Raw Dairy Products multi-state outbreak of E. coli noted last month continues. The E. coli contamination is linked to the Fresno, California Raw Farm’s LLC raw cheddar cheese and raw milk. Nine people in three states (California, Florida, and Texas) were hospitalized as of 9 April, with one victim developing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can cause kidney failure.

 

RFK, Jr. Backs off his Raw Milk Promotion

An article in the Wall Street Journal on April 16, 2026 has back off his raw milk promotion and is not answered outreaches from Raw Farm’s chief executive, Mark McAfee.

 

E. coli Outbreak in France

Scientist have shared more details on a severe and unusual E. coli outbreak that killed 3 people in France. In January 2025, an outbreak of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in adults caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) was detected. The incident included 18 confirmed cases, 5 probable or possible cases and two cases from Scotland and Belgium. Whole genome sequencing identified the outbreak strain as 077 g:K92:H18. An epidemiological investigation implicated raw milk cheese produced by Perrin-Vermot as the source.

 

Salmonella Outbreak

The Salmonella Newport and Salmonella Kentucky outbreaks reported last month, which were linked to Rosabella brand

Moringa powder capsules, were reported as over on April 1, 2026.

 

Influenza Avian

The United States is now in its fifth year of playing defense against an outbreak of avian influenza, the most significant threat to global animal health and food security. It has also become the costliest avian influenza response in U.S. history. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, is a disease caused by a virus that mainly affects birds but can also affect mammals, including humans.

 

Other Significant Food Safety Developments

 

New Pesticide for Farmers

Pesticide maker Syngenta stated that it will begin selling a new weedkiller capable of eradicating grass weeds that have evolved to resist other crop sprays, and threaten soybean and cotton crops. The chemical, called Vire Stina, is part of a multibillion-dollar race among agriculture companies and will be available for sale in Argentina this June.

 

Canadian Salmonella Outbreak

The Public Health Agency of Canada provided an update on April 13, 2026 on a Salmonella outbreak linked to pistachios which is still active since recording the outbreak’s first infection. Twenty-six persons have been hospitalized.

 

Snails in Ecuadorian Pineapples

While not considered a pathogen, a quarantine pest, a small snail of the genus Succinea has been found in GreenControl-LA pineapples from Ecuador. If the pest is found at destination, the cargo can be destroyed or returned. Traditional measures such as methyl bromide are not effective in controlling the snail as it is extremely resistant to conventional treatments.

 

Legal Issues

California Food Safety Bills

Bills now pending in the California’s state legislation address toxic chemicals on produce, heavy metals in supplements, and ultra-processed food (UPF).

 

President wants 100% American farm workforce

Agricultural Secretary Brooke Rollins last summer said the Trump Administration’s goal is to create a 100% American farm workforce. Since then, the Administration has quietly conceded that too few Americans want these grueling jobs, and that its policy is in risk of driving up food prices. It is now taking steps to hire seasonal guest workers on H-2A visas. With the current near cessation of illegal aliens, higher wages for have not resulted in attracting more U.S. workers for temporary or seasonal agricultural jobs. (WSJ, 7 April, 2026.

 

Requirement for Legal Foreign Labor for Farms

In the “Letter to the Editor” section of the April 11, 2026 edition of the Wall Street Journal, Zippy Duvall, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation stressing the need for legal foreign labor on US farms. He noted that Americans prefer other jobs over the hard work of farming and that fewer than 1% of available jobs are ever filled by an American. This means that 1000’s of positions go unfilled and that fruit goes unpicked and tomatoes rot in fields. Qualified Guestworkers are willing to provide to do this work. He stressed that the President and Congress must pass long-overdue legislation that reduces costs and allows guestworkers to provide a stable agricultural workforce.

 

US Department of Justice Investigation of Beef Prices.

The Justice Department’s antitrust division is investigation whether large meatpackers supplying American consumers engaged in criminal anticompetitive conduct after President Trump called for a probe of the companies. Criminal antitrust cases are typically reserved for allegations of price fixing, market collusion or competitors rigging their bids to customers. Officials have not revealed it the investigation is a criminal probe. (WSJ, 21 April, 2026)

 

Personnel

Mindy Brashears is back as Under Secretary for Food Safety at the USDA. She as confirmed this past December and is serving for a second time as the federal government’s top food safety official. She last held the job from March 23, 2020 to January 20 2021