Food safety incidents
The INFOSAN Secretariat was involved in 51 food safety incidents concerning WHO Member States (MS) and territories from all WHO regions during the fourth quarter of 2023. This included 34 incidents involving a biological hazard [Listeria monocytogenes (13), Salmonella spp. (10), E. coli (3), Bacillus cereus (2), Cronobacter sakazakii (2), Clostridium spp. (1), mould (1), Staphylococcus aureus (1), Vibrio spp. (1)]; eight involving a chemical hazard [lead (2), aflatoxins (1), CBD (1), cyanide (1), histamine (1), mercury (1), organophosphates (1)]; seven involving a physical hazard [plastic (3), foreign bodies (3), glass (1)]; and two involving an undeclared allergen/ingredient [gluten (1), milk (1)].
The food categories most commonly involved in the 51 incidents during the fourth quarter of 2023 were composite milk and dairy products (8); snacks, desserts, and other foods (7); fruit and fruit products (6); fish and other seafood (5); meat and meat products (5); vegetables and vegetable products (5); nuts and oilseeds (2); cereals and cereal based products (2); composite food (2); food for infants and small children (2); herbs, spices and condiments (2); starchy roots and tubers (2); alcoholic beverages (1); non-alcoholic beverages (1); and unidentified food category (1).
Due to the active engagement of INFOSAN members and partners, 41% of incidents were reported to the INFOSAN Secretariat through the European Commission’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), 40% by INFOSAN members (emergency contact points and focal points) and 19% through various WHO channels.
Reports of adverse health events in the United States of America linked to the consumption of applesauce products containing cinnamon from Ecuador
In November 2023, the INFOSAN emergency contact point (ECP) in the United States of America (USA) notified the INFOSAN Secretariat of a recall in the USA of applesauce products containing cinnamon from Ecuador due to the detection of high concentrations of lead. According to the information shared on the website of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about the investigations performed in the USA, as of 22 January 2024, 90 complaints and/or reports of adverse health events have been reported in the USA potentially linked to the consumption of recalled products. Recalled products were internationally distributed to Cuba and the United Arab Emirates.
The INFOSAN Secretariat engaged the ECP in Ecuador to seek additional information about any potential further international distribution of recalled products directly from Ecuador. The ECP in Ecuador confirmed that recalled products were only distributed to the USA. Additional information about investigations and the response in Ecuador to this event are available on the website of the National Agency for Regulation, Control and Health Surveillance of Ecuador.
ECPs in Cuba and the United Arab Emirates were notified of the international distribution of recalled products directly by the INFOSAN Secretariat. No further adverse health events linked or potentially linked to the consumption of recalled products have been reported to the INFOSAN Secretariat.
As of 30 January 2024, collaborative investigations conducted in Ecuador and the USA have not uncovered any additional products containing cinnamon with elevated levels of lead subject to international distribution, nor have there been reports of adverse health events associated with the consumption of other food items containing cinnamon. Investigations are ongoing, and the INFOSAN Secretariat will provide further updates to the Network as soon as additional information becomes available.
Lead has been identified by WHO as one of 10 chemicals of major public health concern needing action by Member States to protect the health of workers, children and women of reproductive age.
Key facts
- Exposure to lead can affect multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to young children and women of child-bearing age.
- Lead in the body is distributed to the brain, liver, kidney, and bones. It is stored in the teeth and bones, where it can accumulate over time. Human exposure is usually assessed through the measurement of lead in blood.
- Lead in bone is released into blood during pregnancy and becomes a source of exposure to the developing fetus.
- There is no level of exposure to lead that is known to be without harmful effects.
- Lead exposure is preventable.
For more information about lead poisoning please visit, the World Health Organization’s website, here.
Capacity building activities
Virtual national workshop with national authorities in Guyana
In November 2023, Guyana authorities participated in a two-day virtual workshop to strengthen their participation in INFOSAN. The workshop provided attendees with key information about how the Network operates during food safety emergencies. It also allowed for national authorities in Guyana to deepen their understanding of how INFOSAN and the National Focal Point for the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) should collaborate during food safety emergencies at the national level. A simulation exercise was conducted to provide participants with a real-life case of a food safety emergency.
Introductory webinar with Afghanistan
National authorities in Afghanistan joined INFOSAN in November 2023. To assist their participation in the Network, the INFOSAN Secretariat organized an introductory webinar with the new INFOSAN members in Afghanistan. The introductory webinar provided new members with information about how INFOSAN enables the rapid exchange of information during food safety emergencies. A demonstration on how to use the INFOSAN community website was also facilitated.
Virtual regional meeting: Strengthening the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) in the Americas in 2023
INFOSAN members in the Americas gathered for the tenth occasion to jointly discuss how to continue strengthening their work. Held on 29–30 November 2023, the meeting brought together ECPs, INFOSAN focal points (FP) and the national focal points for IHR (2005) from all WHO Member States in the region.
Embedded within the framework of the Regional Strategy to Strengthen INFOSAN in the Americas, attendees deliberated on the role of INFOSAN and national food safety emergency response plans in the overall implementation of the IHR and the strengthening of core competencies to respond to food safety emergencies. Discussions are set to provide a foundation for developing key actions to strengthen coordination and communication for food safety emergency response at the national and regional level.
Bi-regional hybrid meeting: Enhancing INFOSAN in the Asia-Pacific Region in 2023
On 5–6 December 2023, INFOSAN members in the Asia-Pacific region met at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, to engage in discussions centred on enhancing food safety emergency response in regions through multisectoral and international collaboration. Deliberations aimed at improving communications between INFOSAN members and the INFOSAN Secretariat, as well as advocating to harmonize approaches to food safety emergency response and preparedness.
INFOSAN members in the region received updates on advancing the INFOSAN Global Strategy 2020–2025 and on laying the groundwork to define subsequent actions. These actions aimed at further bolstering and revising national food safety emergency response plans, alongside fostering multisectoral collaboration aligned with implementation of the IHR (2005).