Washington Firm Recalls Whole Roaster Hogs Due to Salmonella

A Washington firm is recalling whole roaster hogs after that firms product was linked to an outbreak of Salmonella.

This same firm had a recall last summer due to the same issue...Salmonella.  The strain in that case was Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i, the same strain that was in this case.  So if one had to guess, this strain could have developed a niche within the process facility and then get onto the hog carcass in higher numbers.  A virulent strain, it then cross contaminates surfaces when handled by those barbequing the hogs, or perhaps the hogs are not getting to the final temperature.

FSIS issued a health alert about the safety procedures needed when cooking whole hogs. "Roasting a pig is a complex undertaking with numerous potential food handling issues. FSIS urges consumers to keep the four food safety steps in mind: Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill."
USDA FSIS News Release
Link.
 Kapowsin Meats Inc. Recalls Pork Products Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination
Class I Recall 062-2016
Health Risk: High Jul 21, 2016

Catfish Recalled Due to Illegal Antimicrobial Agent, Crystal Violet

A Louisiana company, Haring Catfish, is recalling catfish after USDA found high levels of  gentian violet, also known as crystal violet.  Crystal violet has been used in the past as an antimicrobial  having antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-parasitic properties, but has been discontinued for use in fish farms because it has been found to be carcinogenic.  According to an FDA bulletin - "CV [crystal violet] is readily absorbed into fish tissue from water exposure and is reduced metabolically by fish to the leuco moiety, leucocrystal violet (LCV).[4] Crystal violet is also mutagenic [along with malachite green, another dye that had been used for fish farms] and is not approved for use in aquaculture."


USDA Recall Notice
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2016/recall-060-2016-release
Haring Catfish, Inc. Recalls Siluriformes Fish Products Due To Possible Adulteration
Class II Recall 060-2016
Health Risk: Low
Jul 14, 2016

CDC Closes Outbreak Investigation on CRF Frozen Vegetables

CDC has ended the frozen vegetable outbreak investigation associated with frozen vegetables produced in Washington state that were contaminated with Listeria.  Overall, a total of nine people in four states became infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes in four states with 3 deaths. (Two of the three deaths have not been officially linked to Listeria.)

There may be additional illnesses since this is a frozen product and may still be stored in some people's freezer.

 

CDC News Release

http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/frozen-vegetables-05-16/index.html

Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Frozen Vegetables (Final Update)

 

At a Glance:

Case Count: 9  (http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/frozen-vegetables-05-16/epi.html)

States: 4  (http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/frozen-vegetables-05-16/map.html)

Deaths: 3

Hospitalizations: 9

Recall: Yes  ( http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/frozen-vegetables-05-16/advice-consumers.html) 

 

Entrée Products Recalled Due to Meat Contaminated Ingredient

ConAgra is recalling Chang's entrée products including Mongolian Beef and Spice Chicken for potential metal contamination due to a supplier issue.  According to the USDA posted recall notice:

"The problem was initially discovered on July 1, 2016, when an establishment employee observed metal fragments while dispensing sugar from a supplier for sauce formulation during processing. The resulting sauce is a component in the frozen entrée products. On July 14, 2016, ConAgra Foods was notified by the supplier of an FDA recall involving multiple production lots of sugar due to potential metal contamination. The recall action involved additional lots of sugar potentially used in FSIS regulated products at ConAgra Foods, and resulted in this expansion of the initial recall action."

 

There is no indication of whether there was an in-line metal detector or other control mechanisms for the entrée production or by the supplier for sugar production.

  

USDA News Release

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2016/recall-056-2016-release-expansion

ConAgra Foods Recalls Frozen Chicken and Beef Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

Class I Recall 056-2016 EXP

Health Risk: High Jul 15, 2016

 En Español

  

Two Flavored Cake Mixes Recalled by GM Due to Potential E. coli O121 Contamination

Two flavors of cake mix under the Betty Crocker brand have been added to the flour recall by General Mills.   Betty Crocker Delights Super Moist Party Rainbow Chip Cake Mix and Betty Crocker Delights Super Moist Carrot Cake Mix have been recalled due to the potential for the flour to contain E. coli O121, a STEC strain.

The baking process will eliminate the organism, but of course there are those who are prone to eat raw cookie dough or offer it to children (this is worse because children would be more susceptible to infection.  FDA issued an Advisory against eating raw cookie dough.


General Mills News Release
http://www.generalmills.com/en/News/NewsReleases/Library/2016/July/betty-crocker-mix-recall/07382396-c01d-4b3a-b86b-ce8b7e556641
Jul 11, 2016
Two flavors of Betty Crocker cake mix recalled

Consumers reminded not to consume uncooked cake batter or raw flour products

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota - Out of an abundance of caution, two flavors of Betty Crocker cake mix sold in the U.S. and one flavor sold in Canada have been added to General Mills’ previously announced flour recall from July 1, 2016. No illnesses reported to date have been connected to cake mix. No other General Mills or Betty Crocker mixes are included in this recall.

FSIS Announces Online Posting of Location-Specific Food Safety Data

USDA / FSIS announced today that they will begin sharing information on food safety data specific to slaughter and processing facilities in the United States.

According to the news release:

• "Initially, FSIS will share information on the processes used at each facility, giving more detail than is currently listed in the searchable establishment directory, as well as a code for each facility that will make it easier to sort and combine future datasets by facility. Additionally, FSIS will release results for Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) and Salmonella in ready-to-eat (RTE) products and processed egg products."
• "On a quarterly basis, FSIS will then begin to share other datasets, including results for Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Salmonella in raw, non-intact beef products; results for Salmonella and Campylobacter in young chickens and young turkeys, comminuted poultry, and chicken parts; routine chemical residue testing data in meat and poultry products; and advanced meat recovery testing data."

This will be interesting.   How will fear mongers spin Salmonella data on social and mass media?  Yes, raw meat can have Salmonella and Campylobacter. 

 

 

FSIS Newsroom
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/news-releases-statements-transcripts/news-release-archives-by-year/archive/2016/nr-071116-01
FSIS to Begin Posting Location-Specific Food Safety Data Online
Data Sharing Plan Will Promote Transparency for Consumers and Further Improve Food Safety at Meat and Poultry Facilities
Jul 11, 2016

FDA Warning Letter Issued to Chester, PA Warehouse - Reason...for Being Nasty

We often get questions about the safety of the food supply, and our general response is - overall, our food is safe.  But then, you read something like this and start to think otherwise.   This was an FDA Warning Letter issued to a warehouse / distribution company in Chester, PA.    If you like to look at the outside of the location, you can see the location  on Google maps from 2012 but there are more recent pics on line.

 Observations directly from inspection notes:

• firm did not have running water in either the ladies or men’s restrooms used by employees. Further, the toilets and hand washing sinks were not functioning, and there are no other sinks in your facility.  used buckets, filled with water, to flush the toilets and wash their hands after using the restrooms. You informed our investigator that these buckets are prefilled with water at the hose bib where the water supply line was cut and placed in the restrooms for immediate use and others stored outside the restrooms as reserves to be used later. Further, you informed our investigator that these buckets are used interchangeably for toilet flushing and handwashing and that the buckets are not cleaned or sanitized.
• a wooden desk with dirt and green stains on it, being used as a food preparation table. You informed our investigator that the desk is not cleaned with detergent or sanitizer, and is sometimes wiped down with a paper towel and water from a bucket in the restroom.
• green leafy particles and brown dried debris on knives stored in a wooden desk. You informed our investigator that these knives are used to cut produce and were not cleaned after use, but are cleaned prior to being used again with a paper towel and water from a spray bottle. 
• an orange and white cat was moving freely throughout the warehouse. 
• rodent excreta pellets - multiple occurrences
• mold in coolers - multiple occurrences
• a stack of 5 pallets; a barrel; equipment, and tools that were rusted; and wood and debris were scattered within 3 feet of the west side of the facility where the trailer is located. Further, there were vines draped along the east and west walls, with high grass and weeds that engulfed the perimeter on the south, east and west.
• that the thermometer used in produce cooler #1, where you store vegetables, fruit, and other food articles, was not operational. Further, you informed our investigator that that this thermometer had never been calibrated and was not used for over ten years
• an apparent fetid odor of rot, in unrefrigerated produce cooler #3. You informed our investigator that this is where spoiled products and trash are stored, until taken to the dumpster located outside your facility. For example, a container of spoiled onions, cardboard boxes, and other foreign matter was observed scattered on the floor in the cooler. Further, you informed our investigator that produce cooler #3 has not been cleaned in years.
• an employee smoking a cigarette and grabbing onions with his bare hand from an unmarked box, to fulfill an order for a customer

  

FDA WARNING LETTER

http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/2016/ucm509003.htm

16-PHI-07

June 23, 2016