Trader Joe's Recalls Frozen Chicken Dinner Due to Listeria

Trader Joe’s is recalling a frozen chicken product, Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice after routine testing found the product was contaminated with Listeria. 240 cases were shipped to 14 eastern US states and DC. The product was made in Canada.

 The product is a frozen product and would be considered heat and serve (although a final temperature of 165ºF is listed as a temperature that should be reached before serving. http://onefoodguy.blogspot.com/2009/08/triumphant-return-of-tuesdays-tastings.html). Freezing will prevent the organism from growing, so the risk then comes down to the level of contamination to start and to what degree can we expect the heating to reduce that initial contamination. Of course, if a consumer puts the frozen product in the refrigerator for a few days before cooking, those Listeria levels could rise once the product thaws. Overall, it may not be a high risk, but a risk that the consumer probably does not want, and should not have to expect. Since this product was pre-cooked, the facility should be controlling Listeria in the post-process environment (after cooking through packaging).

 This is the second recall to hit the media in the last few months. The last was the Sunland peanut butter that was contaminated with Salmonella and resulted in 41 becoming infected. Trader Joe’s is a company that sources its products from food manufacturers and therefore must ensure that those suppliers have good food safety programs. Having two recalls does raise concern about the company’s sourcing program.

 

Nearly 5,000 pounds of Trader Joe's chicken and rice recalled

 http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-trader-joes-chicken-rice-recall-20121203,0,5193331.story

 By Tiffany Hsu
December 3, 2012, 8:19 a.m.

Trader Joe’s is facing yet another recall, this time affecting nearly 5,000 pounds of its store brand Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice, which may be contaminated with listeria bacteria.

The producer of the product, Canadian company Aliya’s Foods Limited, issued a voluntary recall of 4,865 pounds of the frozen food, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Martha Stewart, celebrity chef and author, contracts Salmonella

Martha Stewart contracted Salmonella over Thanksgiving from mishandling food in the form of raw turkey.  While we hate to see anyone become ill, having a celebrity chef come down with Salmonella can have a positive outcome.  Too often we see these celebrity chefs demonstrating poor practices, whether it is inadequate hand washing, cooking to the incorrect temperatures, or canning foods using the oven technique.  But my hope is that Martha will use this experience as motivator to endorse good safety practices.

Of course, in one of the news stories she has an idiot quote about a silver lining… “I lost some weight,”.  I can see it now, a bunch of kitchen debutantes licking raw chicken as a way to lose weight.  So much for my wishful thinking.

Salmonella: Martha Stewart Sickened Last Month After 'Handling So Many Turkeys'

Posted: 12/06/2012 11:06 am EST

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/06/salmonella-martha-stewart-infection-salmonellosis-_n_2250353.html

Martha Stewart was confined to her bed for several days last month because of salmonella infection, the New York Post's Page Six reported.

“I never get sick, but I came down with salmonella. I think I caught it because I was handling so many turkeys around Thanksgiving," Stewart told Page Six. "I was on the 'Today' show, I did a number of other [Thanksgiving] appearances. It really hit me hard and I was in bed for days. It was terrible."

Veggie Burger Product Recalled Due to Potential for Listeria monocytogenes

Veggie Patch, a manufacturer of vegetable based food items, is recalling meatless burgers and falafel because their own internal testing program detected Listeria monocytogenes. What is the risk:

• The meatless burgers are soy-based products (Ingredient statement below), which are considered a TCS food in the FDA Food Code. That is, the product will support the growth of organisms such as Listeria.
• The product is considered fully cooked, so the instructions (attached below) are what would be considered heat-and-serve. These instructions would not be considered validated cooking instructions needed to destroy pathogens if present. (http://www.gmaonline.org/downloads/wygwam/121894_1.pdf is a guidance document for validating cooking instructions.)
• This is a frozen product, so while frozen, that will prevent the growth of Listeria. Of course, if the consumer thaws the product and then holds it for days before consuming, this will allow for growth.

Question is, to what degree does the company’s food safety program, including sanitation, limit this recall to the day in question.

 

FDA News Release

VEGGIE PATCH® Voluntarily Recalls Two Items- The Ultimate Meatless Burger and Falafel

- Due To Possible Risk Of Contamination By Listeria monocytogenes

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm330342.htm

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 30, 2012 – VEGGIE PATCH® is voluntarily recalling two products --The Ultimate Meatless Burger and Falafel-- due to a risk of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy persons may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.

 

The Ultimate Meatless Burger and Falafel, from VEGGIE PATCH, with the specific use-by dates and UPC codes listed below were distributed to a select number of retailers and distributors.

 9-ounce trays of refrigerated, fully cooked, VEGGIE PATCH, The Ultimate Meatless Burger with a Use-By date, Jan/12/2013; UPC code 6-10129-00211-5 (which can be found on back of package)

9-ounce trays of refrigerated, fully cooked, VEGGIE PATCH, Falafel with a Use-By date, Jan/15/2013; UPC code 6-10129-06619-3 (which can be found on back of package)

Fear the Grocery Carts?

Here is a study just released in Food Protection Trends. The study shows that grocery carts are a bit unsanitary as indicated by the presence of bacterial indicators (APC, coliforms, generic E. coli). While the study is a bit soft in the methodology (should have actually checked for pathogens, should have used better methods for testing), it does show that shopping carts are not the cleanest things in the world, and there is the possibility that carts can be a source of contamination, primarily children riding in those carts (putting their fingers on the cart seat and then sticking those same fingers in their mouth).  

But before we all go crazy worrying about grocery carts, it is important to point out this is just one of many risks that we all face each day. How about that grass where the kid is crawling….might that be a place where birds, dogs, or cats may have pooped? The refrigerator where juices from raw meats may have dripped…did it get on the apples?. That grocery store conveyor, where the packs of raw meat may have dripped…could those drops contaminated your other food packages?. How about those reusable grocery bags that never get washed after being used to carry raw meat? Where did you put your hands while eating lunch on a park bench where earlier, a group of the pigeons deposited their load as they flew by? Certainly it is important that we take precautionary measures such as washing our hands, cooking our food, and washing our grocery bags, but for each study that comes out that demonstrating the somewhat obvious, we cannot let the potential of contacting a contaminated surface become the bane of our lives. As they say, the key to a healthy immune system is a constant challenge.


Bacterial Contamination of Shopping Carts and Approaches to Control

Charles P. Gerba* and Sheri Maxwell
Dept. of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Food Protection Trends, Vol. 32, No. 12, Pages 747–749

Summary

Placing children in grocery shopping carts has been implicated recently as a source of infection with Salmonella and Campylobacter in young children. This study was conducted to assess the occurrence total bacteria, coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli on grocery shopping cart handles and seats. A total of 85 shopping carts in parking lots of grocery stores were tested in five major metropolitan areas across the United States. The total numbers of heterotrophic bacteria were as great as 1.1 × 107 on the handle and seat. Coliforms were detected on 72% (62) of the carts. E. coli was identified on 18 of 35 carts (51%) on which coliform identifi­cation was conducted. The results of this study suggest the need for improved sanitation of shopping cards/baskets to reduce exposure to pathogens and potential transmission of microbial infections among shoppers.

Antibiotic-resistant pathogens in pork - reviewing the CR news release

Perhaps you have seen the latest food safety news to hit the mass media - antibiotic resistant bacterial pathogens in pork.

Is there need to worry - No.

1) Is pork that bad? No, all raw meat products - whether pork, beef, poultry, or fish - have the potential to carry bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella, or E. coli. Therefore, one just needs to properly cook (to eliminate those organisms) and properly hande (to prevent cross contamanation) raw meat products to prevent any potential for illness. Remember, use a thermometer.

2) What about the antibiotic resistance? Antibiotic resistenace adds no special ability for these organisms to resist heating and sanitizers, so these bacteria will be controlled the same as any other bacteria though proper cooking and cleaning. The biggest concern with these types of organsims are with high risk groups, so it is especially important to ensure the use of good practice when preparing food for these groups (including the elderly and young children).

 It is true that there is a link between the use of antibiotics in livestock and a higher level of antibiotic resistant organisms that can be found in that meat. And it is true that anitibiotics have been overused in livestock as well as for humans (have you been given antibiotics for a viral infection?). However, the epidemiolgical evidence is lacking in showing a tie between those organisms and increased human illness. To combat the concern, FDA recently released a guidance to promote the judicious use of medically important antibiotics in food-producing animals (http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm299802.htm).

It is also important to note that one can find antibiotic resistant organsims in organically grown meat. So I do not agree with the assertion that is made that one should buy organically certified meat. If you feel that there are quality aspects related to organic meat, than that is one thing. But the fact that the meat is organic does not provide any real benefit regarding safety.

What’s in that pork?
 We found antibiotic-resistant bacteria and traces of a veterinary drug

Consumer Reports magazine: January 2013 http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/pork0113.htm

 Our analysis of pork-chop and ground-pork samples from around the U.S. found that yersinia enterocolitica, a bacterium that can cause fever, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, was widespread. Some samples harbored other potentially harmful bacteria, including salmonella. And there are more reasons to be concerned about “the other white meat.”
Some of the bacteria we found in 198 samples proved to be resistant to antibiotics commonly used to treat people. The frequent use of low-dose antibiotics in pork farming may be accelerating the growth of drug-resistant “superbugs” that threaten human health.

FDA Prevents Sunland Foods from Reopening

FDA flexed its new regulatory muscle as granted through FSMA and shut down Sunland Foods, the maker of contaminated Trader Joe's Peanut Butter.  Sunland was planning to reopen the processing facility this week, but FDA suspended the facility's registration due to a 'reasonable probability' that their product could cause serious health problems.  Numerous issues in the facility had been cited (http://pennstatefoodsafety.blogspot.com/2012/11/fda-investigation-report-on-sunland.html) including FDA's assertion that Sunland knowingly shipped contaminated product.  Sunland denies this claim.  

Now it is up to the company to prove its case in court in order to resume operations.

FDA's decision to shut a facility down begins a new chapter for food processors and their interaction with FDA under FSMA.  Most consumers would probably agree that this facility deserved to be closed.  But we don't know to what degree the facility had made steps to improve since the initial recall back in late September.  (http://pennstatefoodsafety.blogspot.com/2012/09/supplier-of-trader-joes-peanut-butter.html)  Was Sunland Foods unable to get up to standard in the last 2 months, or were there issues so numerous and/or bad that FDA still deemed the facility a risk to consumers?   What will be interesting moving forward is how FDA will use this new power.  Will it be used as a preventive tool, shutting plants down before the products they produce causes illness?  And if so, to what degree of risk will federal inspectors be willing to accept?  Listeria in a drain?  Salmonella in a product that is not fully cooked?  Or will it be used as a punitive action - a way to make a facility involved in an outbreak prove that it has made the necessary changes?

 

FDA halts company's peanut butter operations

The FDA suspended Sunland's registration over salmonella concerns.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/26/fda-peanut-butter-salmonella/1728017/?sf7473491=1

USAToday Health and Wellness  6:17PM EST November 26. 2012 -
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration halted operations of the country's largest organic peanut butter processor Monday, cracking down on salmonella poisoning for the first time with the new enforcement authority the agency gained in a 2011 food safety law.
FDA officials found salmonella all over Sunland Inc.'s New Mexico processing plant after 41 people in 20 states, most of them children, were sickened by peanut butter manufactured at the Sunland plant and sold at Trader Joe's grocery chain. The FDA suspended Sunland's registration Monday, preventing the company from producing or distributing any food.
The food safety law gave the FDA authority to suspend a company's registration when food manufactured or held there has a "reasonable probability" of causing serious health problems or death. Before the food safety law was enacted early last year, the FDA would have had to go to court to suspend a company's registration.
Sunland had planned to reopen its peanut processing facility on Tuesday and a spokeswoman said before the

Dumb Ways to Die - Eating Poisonous Mushrooms

3 people died from eating wild mushrooms.  As you read the story below, please click on youtube link below for a little ditty that provides a nice accompaniment to the story.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJNR2EpS0jw&sns=em

Nov 21, 7:30 PM EST

3rd person dies in Calif. from mushroom poisoning

By TRACIE CONE
Associated Press

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MUSHROOM_DEATHS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-11-21-19-21-28

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) -- A third person has died from eating poisonous mushrooms at a California senior care facility where a caretaker found the fungus in the backyard and used it to make soup, authorities said Wednesday.

The 90-year-old man died on Saturday, state Department of Social Services spokesman Oscar Ramirez told The Associated Press. The Placer County Sheriff's Office identified him as Frank Warren Blodgett.

Ramirez said an official with Gold Age Villa in Loomis called Monday to report the third death. State officials are continuing to investigate the incident that sheriff's investigators have described as a terrible accident.

Three other people were sickened when they ate the soup made from the poisonous mushrooms on Nov. 8, including the caretaker who made it. Their conditions have not been made public.

FDA Investigation Report on Sunland Foods - Findings Very Troubling

FDA released the findings from the Sunland Food investigation.  This investigation was conducted after Trader Joe's peanut butter, which was made by Sunland, was linked to 41 cases of Salmonella in 20 states.
The findings are very troubling. (Each numbered bullet point references a spot in the report).

1. Company shipped product after their own testing found it to contain Salmonella.  Occurance in 11 lots.
2. Five lots tested and found to be negative by company were actually positive when tested by FDA.
3. 28 environmental samples were found to be positive for Salmonella.
4. The FDA tested and found shelled peanuts contaminated which resulted in Sunland expanding the recall to that product line.
5. Poor employee practice including the lack of hand washing.
6. No records for the documentation of cleaning processing equipment.
7. Reuse of sacks for both raw and finished product without cleaning.
8. Poor plant drainage systems that prohibited good cleaning.
9. Storage of raw peanuts allowed for cross contamination (birds were flying into the uncovered trailers.  Storage conditions also allowed for moisture and pest entry).

FDA Investigates Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney Infections Linked to Peanut Butter made by Sunland Inc.

Posted November 21, 2012
http://www.fda.gov/food/foodsafety/corenetwork/ucm320413.htm

Updates

November 14, 2012 - FDA posts observations from recent inspection at Sunland Inc.  
The FDA has made the observations from its recent inspection of Sunland ^Inc.1 publicly available.  This inspection was conducted between September 17 and October 16, 2012, and became part of the investigation of the Salmonella Bredeney outbreak linked to peanut butter made by Sunland Inc.
During this inspection investigators found that conditions in the company’s facility, the company’s manufacturing processes, and the company’s testing program for Salmonella may have allowed peanut butter that contained Salmonella to be distributed by the company.

[1] The FDA found that between June of 2009 and August of 2012, Sunland Inc. had distributed, or cleared for distribution, portions of 11 lots, or daily production runs,  of peanut or almond butter after its own testing program identified the presence of at least one of nine different Salmonella types (Arapahoe, Bredeney, Cerro, Dallgow, Kubacha, Mbandaka, Meleagridis, Newport, and Teddington) in those lots.  Two of these lots showed the presence of the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bredeney.

[2] Equally important, five product samples collected and analyzed by FDA from Sunland Inc. showed the presence of Salmonella, but had not been identified as containing Salmonella by Sunland Inc.’s internal testing.  Among those products were peanut butter and shelled raw peanuts.  Two of these samples showed the presence of the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bredeney.

Fresh Express Recalls Bagged Greens..Again

Fresh Express is recalling bagged spinach for Salmonella after a sample, as part of USDA sampling program, came up positive.  There were no illnesses reported.

This is a reported fifth time a Fresh Express product has been recalled due to a pathogen positive test.  Why so many, the Oregonian Newspaper asks.  To be fair, there seems to be an increase in these type of recalls in produce overall.  Has the amount of testing increased?  Perhaps a government agency that was just a moment from being eliminated has picked up their game.  Or is it that bagged produce more likely to contain pathogens when compared to unprocessed greens?  But are unprocessed greens tested at the same level as bagged greens?  We do know that bagged chopped greens are considered a TCS food (temperature control for safety, or what used to be known as PHF, or potentially hazardous food).  This is because pathogens, if present, have better growth potential in the chopped greens compared to whole greens. So, there is a greater need to have no pathogens present in those products.  But to what degree is it possible to completely eliminate all pathogens while still maintaining a product that does not taste like sanitizer?  Remember, these greens are grown in fields, and birds and other critters will poop there.  So without a silver bullet to completely eliminate this bacterial risk, testing is bound to discover a positive from time to time thus resulting in a recall, and hopefully not an illness.  Processors of this type of product, therefore, need to put in controls and then manage those controls to minimize the risk. Retailers and consumers must control that product through proper refrigeration.

Salmonella in spinach: fifth Fresh Express recall in three months

Published: Friday, November 09, 2012, 9:12 AM Updated: Friday, November 09, 2012, 1:09 PM
Lynne Terry, The OregonianThe Oregonianhttp://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2012/11/salmonella_in_spinach_fifth_fr.html
Fresh Express, which sells a variety of bagged greens, is recalling packaged spinach over salmonella.

This is the company's fifth recall of bagged greens since August over bacterial contamination. This time it is pulling spinach with a use-by date of Nov. 7 sold in 9 oz. packages. The potentially tainted spinach was sold to stores in 18 states, including Oregon, Washington Idaho and California.Fresh Express, owned by Chiquita Brands International Inc. in North Carolina, said in its recall notice on the Food and Drug Administration website that the contamination was spotted in a test by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Tiffany Breaux, a Chiquita spokeswoman, said in an email that the company reviewed its records and conducted an “intensive investigation" into the contamination. Apparently, its staff was unable to trace the source of the pathogens.

It's unclear where the greens were grown and where and how they were packaged. Breaux indicated that the recalls have not prompted any change in the company's food safety system.

In the past three months, Fresh Express has pulled bagged greens after positive bacterial tests by federal authorities. In October, the company recalled hearts of romaine salad tainted with salmonella. In September, it again pulled hearts of romaine salad but over listeria contamination. Also in September, it pulled leafy green romaine salad over listeria, and in August it recalled hearts of romaine over listeria.

Both salmonella and listeria can cause serious gastro-intestinal symptoms and even death. Listeria poses a particular threat to pregnant woman, causing still births and miscarriages.

Both bacteria can end up in a variety of food but bagged greens are considered high risk because of the possibility of contamination spreading when one tainted leaf of lettuce, for example, is mixed with other greens and packaged.

But so many recalls by one company in such a short time frame is unusual. The last time before August that Fresh Express pulled contaminated greens from the market was in April 2011 when it recalled 9 oz. bags of spinach tainted with salmonella.

 

Fresh Express Recalls Limited Quantity of 9 oz. Spinach Due to Possible Health Risk

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm327401.htm

Contact
Consumer
1 - (800) 242-5472

Media
Tiffany Breaux 1 - (704) 280-5938
Barbara Hines 1 - (972) 724-3049

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 7 , 2012 - Charlotte, North Carolina - Fresh Express Incorporated is conducting a voluntary, precautionary recall of a limited quantity of Fresh Express Spinach with a Use-by Date of November 7 and Product Code of S299B25 due to a possible health risk from Salmonella.

No illnesses or consumer complaints have been reported to Fresh Express at this time in association with this recall. No other Fresh Express products are subject to this recall.

The recall notification is being issued out of an abundance of caution due to an isolated instance in which a random sample yielded a positive result for Salmonella under U.S. Department of Agriculture's random sample testing program. Fresh Express is coordinating closely with regulatory officials.

Fresh Express customer service representatives are already contacting relevant retailers to confirm the recalled product has been removed from store shelves and inventories and that none is available for consumer purchase. Customers with questions are instructed to contact their usual Fresh Express customer service representative. The recalled salads were distributed primarily in the Western region of the U.S.

Consumers who may have purchased the recalled salad are asked not to eat it, but to throw it out instead. Fresh Express is offering a full refund. Consumers with questions or who would like to secure a refund may call the Fresh Express Consumer Response Center at (800) 242-5472 during the hours of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

Specific recall information follows:

• Product Being Recalled: Fresh Express Spinach in 9 oz. package
• Product Code: S299B25 (located in upper right corner on front of package)
• Use-by Date: November 7 (also located in upper right hand corner of package)
• Distribution: Primarily in the Western region of the U.S.

Salmonella is an organism that may cause fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and possibly bloody diarrhea in healthy individuals. It can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Consumers with these symptoms should consult their health care provider.

Fresh Express Precautionary Salad Recall-11/7/12
(No other Fresh Express Salads are included in this recall)

Brand	Product Name	Size	UPC	Production Code	Best If Used By Date	POSSIBLE DISTRIBUTION STATES
Fresh Express	Spinach	9 OZ.	0 71279-13204 4	S299B25	NOV7	AZ, CA, CO, HI, I D, KS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM,OK,OR,SD, TX, UT, WA,WY

Nestle recalls Nesquick Chocolate Powder

Nestle is recalling Nesquick Chocolate Powder after the supplier of one the product’s ingredient issued a recall.  The ingredient, calcium carbonate, was being recalled due to the possible presence of Salmonella.  There have been no reports of illness.

 

Nestlé USA Announces Voluntary Recall of NESQUIK® Chocolate Powder

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm327533.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 8, 2012 - Nestlé USA announced the voluntary recall of limited quantities of Nestlé NESQUIK® Chocolate Powder in the 10.9, 21.8 and 40.7 ounce canisters. The voluntary recall is limited to only NESQUIK Chocolate Powder, which was distributed nationally. No other varieties of NESQUIK powder or any sizes or flavors of NESQUIK ready-to-drink are affected by this recall.

Nestlé is removing the canisters from distribution because the company was notified by an ingredient supplier, Omya Inc. that it has issued a recall of certain lots of its ingredient, calcium carbonate due to possible presence of Salmonella. Calcium carbonate is used in NESQUIK as an ingredient. There have been no reports of any illnesses or adverse health effects associated with the affected product.

To ensure the safety of consumers, Nestlé is recalling selected NESQUIK Chocolate Powder. The recall is limited to the following sizes, UPC and production codes of NESQUIK Chocolate Powder:

Size	UPC Code	Production Codes
40.7 oz. Chocolate (72 servings)	0 28000 68230 9	2282574810 2282574820
21.8 oz. Chocolate (38 servings)	0 28000 68090 9	2278574810 2278574820 2279574810 2279574820 2284574820 2284574830 2285574810 2285574820 2287574820 2289574810 2289574820
10.9 oz. Chocolate (19 servings)	0 28000 67990 3	2278574810

The affected NESQUIK Chocolate Powder was produced during early October, 2012. To locate the production code, consumers should look on the bottom of the canister, adjacent to the consumer expiration date. All affected products have an expiration date of BEST BEFORE Oct 2014.

Consumers who may have purchased the affected NESQUIK Chocolate Powder should not consume it, but instead should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund or contact Nestlé Consumer Services at (800) 628-7679.

The most common symptoms of Salmonella infection are diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever, which develop within eight to 72 hours of eating or drinking contaminated food. The illness usually lasts for four to seven days and most people recover without treatment. However, salmonellosis can be severe or even life threatening for infants, older people, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems. Individuals experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention.

Nestlé is dedicated to the health and safety of its consumers. For these reasons, the company initiated this voluntary recall. We apologize to our consumers and sincerely regret any inconvenience created by this incident.

Wegmans spinanch salad mix and Bolthouse sliced carrots recalled

There are two produce related recalls.

 - Wegman’s is recalling it Organic Spinach and Spring Mix Blend after it was linked to now 19 cases of E. coli O157:H7 cases in New York. The product was co-packed for Wegman’s by Massachusetts based Spring Garden. The product was sold between Oct 14th and Nov 1st.

 - Bolthouse Foods of Bakersfield CA is recalling carrot chips. A sample of the carrot chips were tested by NC Health and found to be positive for Salmonella. There have been no reported illnesses. Product was co-packed for store brands including Safeway Farms and Supervalu’s Farm Stand.


Three more E. coli cases added to outbreak
Wegmans recalled spinach and spring mixes due to outbreak

Democrat and Chronicle.com 10:05 PM, Nov 5, 2012http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20121105/NEWS01/311050058

Three additional cases of E. coli have been linked to organic spinach and spring mix blends sold by Wegmans Food Markets.

Guideance for Food Operations Exposed to Floods and Hurricanes

When a major disaster strikes, the safety of food becomes a major question.  In some cases refrigeration is lost for several days, in other cases, food is exposed to contaminated water.

For consumers, careful evaluation is needed for those foods stored in a the refrigerator or freezer that has lost electrical power ( http://extension.psu.edu/food-safety/news/2012/power-outages-and-freezer-failures , http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm076881.htm) and what to do when returning to a home that has been in a hurricane or flood (http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm076993.htm).

For businesses that handle food, FDA provides guidance for disasters.

·        Handling of food items exposed to flood waters (http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodDefense/Emergencies/FloodsHurricanesPowerOutages/ucm112723.htm).  It is important to note that jars with screw tops and bottles with crimp lids (beer and soda bottles) be destroyed.  The reason for this is that debris may become lodged in the space between the cap and jar.   

·        Disposal of food items (http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodDefense/Emergencies/FloodsHurricanesPowerOutages/ucm112717.htm)

·        Restaurants and Grocers reopening after flood or hurricane (http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodDefense/Emergencies/FloodsHurricanesPowerOutages/ucm112713.htm)

·        Decontamination of transport vehicles (http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodDefense/Emergencies/FloodsHurricanesPowerOutages/ucm112728.htm).

·        Water subject to a boil advisory (http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/FoodDefenseandEmergencyResponse/ucm211373.htm).

·        Crops (http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/FoodDefenseandEmergencyResponse/ucm274683.htm).

Problems at NECC facility that led to meningitis outbreak

This is not food related, but the issues seen at this facility that made the contaminated epidurals that led to the fungal meningitis outbreak provide lessons in product and environmental control.

 · Firm shipped product before receiving sterility results (results were negative however).

· Firm didn't follow established standards for autoclaving and didn't keep products in the autoclave for the minimum 20 minutes needed to ensure sterility

· Firm didn't thoroughly clean powder hoods used to protect pharmacists while they prepare compounded substances. Investigators observed residual powder within the hood, which could lead to contamination of medications
· Mats designed to trap dirt and other contaminants were visibly soiled, and a leaking boiler next to the clean room caused water to pool around it and adjacent walls, creating conditions that could support contaminant growth, according to the findings.

In the report below, Massachusetts Governor Patrick states that over the years, some pharmacies have evolved from neighborhood drug stores to large-scale manufacturers that sell products across state lines, and that regulations in Massachusetts and at the federal level have not kept pace with the changes. He said that he had directed the pharmacy board to start making unannounced inspections of compounding pharmacies that make sterile injectable medications and strengthen penalties for pharmacies that don't comply with rules.

Not sure I want my local pharmacy making medicine, especially ones that can be injected in me. Dispensing medicine is one thing, but making it, no thanks.  

We see this type of thing in food companies as well…the firm expands into a niche outside of their core competency and grow the business, but never become technically competent in that new business. They fail to spend the capital on the facility needed to meet the requirements of producing that product. Then, as more product is shipped, the inevitable production error occurs, impacting far too many.


Report airs problems at firm linked to fungal meningitis outbreak
Lisa Schnirring Staff Writer
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/other/news/oct2412fungal2-jw.html

Oct 24, 2012 (CIDRAP News) – Massachusetts officials yesterday said New England Compounding Center (NECC), the firm linked to a multistate fungal meningitis outbreak, sent shipments from two of the recalled lots before it received sterility testing results. 

Investigators also found black particulate matter in several unopened vials of the recalled methylprednisolone acetate, which was used in epidural injections for back pain and injections for peripheral joint problems, according to a report of preliminary investigation findings.

Federal officials have said that as many as 14,000 patients could have been exposed to the recalled injections.

Nine more infections have been reported in the outbreak, raising the number of infections to 317, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its latest update. One more death was reported, putting that total at 24, and the number of affected states held steady at 17. 

The CDC reported one more joint infection linked to the contaminated steroids, raising that number to five, and it said 54 cases have now been confirmed with lab tests. So far all but two of the infections involve Exserohilum rostratum, a type of black mold that hadn't previously been known to cause meningitis. 

In a press conference with reporters yesterday, Madeleine Biondolillo, MD, who directs the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality, said the investigation began on Sep 25 and involves collaboration with their colleagues at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since Oct 1. She said the investigation is ongoing and that authorities have obtained evidence, reviewed NECC's standard operating procedures, probed the company's records, and interviewed its employees.

NECC didn't label the medications for specific patients, a violation of Massachusetts licensing regulations for compounding pharmacies, Biondolillo said.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) investigation report, NECC's sterility tests on the shipments sent before results came in didn't show contamination. However, investigators said they were still exploring the adequacy of NECC's testing methods.

In addition, authorities found that the company didn't follow established standards for autoclaving and didn't keep products in the autoclave for the minimum 20 minutes needed to ensure sterility.

The report also says NECC didn't thoroughly clean powder hoods used to protect pharmacists while they prepare compounded substances. Investigators observed residual powder within the hood, which could lead to contamination of medications.

Mats designed to trap dirt and other contaminants were visibly soiled, and a leaking boiler next to the clean room caused water to pool around it and adjacent walls, creating conditions that could support contaminant growth, according to the findings.

At the media briefing, Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick said federal officials have launched a criminal investigation into NECC's actions and he announced more steps the state and its Board of Pharmacy have taken in response to the steroid contamination, including permanently revoking NECC's operating license and those of its three principal pharmacists.

"Those whose laboratory practices caused this outbreak should never practice pharmacy or manufacture in Massachusetts again," he said.

Patrick said that, over the years, some pharmacies have evolved from neighborhood drug stores to large-scale manufacturers that sell products across state lines, and that regulations in Massachusetts and at the federal level have not kept pace with the changes. He said that he had directed the pharmacy board to start making unannounced inspections of compounding pharmacies that make sterile injectable medications and strengthen penalties for pharmacies that don't comply with rules.

The state will now require compounding pharmacies in Massachusetts to submit annual production, volume, and distribution reports to make it easier for authorities to flag operations that are acting more like manufacturers, which require federal licensing and extra scrutiny, Patrick said. He added that the state will require compounding pharmacies to report interactions with federal regulators and will form a special commission to examine best practices in other states and what changes may be needed at the federal level.

Summary of the FDA Requirements for Food Facility Registration

The FDA has updated the registration process for food facilities and that registration is now open. According to the FDA, “Biennial Registration Renewal for Food Facilities began at 12:01 AM on October 22, 2012. The updated food facility registration system is accepting food facility registration renewals.” The registration, initially required under the Bioterrorism Act of 2002 was updated as part of the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011.  

· It is required for any facilities, domestic or foreign that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food for human or animal consumption in the US, including those companies who produce products that do not enter interstate commerce.

· If you registered before, you must re-register

· Facilities must register from Oct 1 to Dec 31 of even numbered years (2012, 2014, etc) 

· Who does not need to register? Farms (that do not process), retail food establishments, restaurants, and non-profit that complies with 21 CFR 1.227(b) (7) and facilities that are regulated exclusively, throughout the entire facility, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Federal Meat Inspection Act the Poultry Products Inspection Act or the Egg Products Inspection Act.);

· Email address for facility contacts now must be included.

· Registration information http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FSMA/ucm314178.htm


Food Facility Registration Requirements under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act
http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm324801.htm
October 19, 2012

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today issued further information and guidance regarding registration requirements for domestic and foreign manufacturers, processors, packers or holders of food for human or animal consumption based on changes made by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The updated food facility registration system will become available at 12:01 a.m. Monday morning, October 22, 2012.

Food producers and manufactures have long been required to register with the Food and Drug Administration. There is no fee to register or renew the registration of a food facility. Facilities can register online, via mail or fax. FDA encourages online registration as a quick and efficient means for food facility registration.

The Food Safety Modernization Act improves the registration process by ensuring, among other things, that the FDA has accurate contact information for each facility. The new registration form also includes new categories of foods. These new categories will help FDA rapidly communicate with the right facilities in the event of an emergency.  

Biennial registration renewal will become available at 12:01 a.m. Monday morning, October 22, 2012. To submit a registration renewal to FDA, a food facility is required to submit required registration information to FDA, including the additional registration information described above. To facilitate this process, the agency is offering technical assistance online and through the help desk. Please check FDA’s food facility registration website for more information and to register online.

Sunland Peanut Butter Recall Impacts Uncrustables

The Sunland Peanut Butter recall continues to drag on. The latest product recalled due to the use of the Sunland Peanut Butter – Smucker’s Uncrustables. Smucker’s points out that the recall only impacts the Uncrustables that were sold for USDA School Lunch Program, and not their other peanut butter related products. In fact, the Sunland product was only used for limited production runs of the Uncrustables. It is also important to not that there have been no illnesses linked to the Smucker’s product.

Companies often supplement their own supply with ingredients produced by others. When this occurs, especially with ingredients to be used in ready-to-eat applications, that purchaser has to make sure that the supplier has a stout food safety program. Companies spend countless millions of dollars establishing a well-respected brand, and can see it tarnished quickly by a less-than-stellar supplier.  

Smucker's Uncrustables sold to schools recalled

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/19/smuckers-uncrustables-recall/1644249/

The J.M. Smucker Co. used peanut butter that was produced by Sunland, a company recently linked to salmonella illnesses.
12:44PM EDT October 19. 2012 - USAToday

 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Officials have told school lunch programs across the country to check to see whether they have any Smucker's Uncrustables sandwiches that might contain peanut butter made by a New Mexico company that is being recalled because of potential salmonella contamination.

The J.M. Smucker Co. used peanut butter that was produced by Sunland Inc. and supplied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in "limited production runs" of 72-count bulk packs of the sandwiches that went to schools under the National School Lunch Program, Smucker's spokeswoman Maribeth Badertscher said in an e-mail Thursday.
Uncrustables are pre-made peanut butter and jelly, pocket-like, circular sandwiches.

 The Orrville, Ohio-based company tests all the incoming USDA-supplied peanut butter it gets, and tests finished products before distributing them, and found no problems, she said.

 But out of "an abundance of caution," and working with federal agencies, she said, Smucker's recently notified school customers that they should check to see if they still have any of the crustless frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from the recalled lots, which all have either expired or will expire soon. They should not be served to students, the company said.

 No other Smucker's products contain peanut butter from Sunland or other outside suppliers, Badertscher said. She said she did not immediately know how many sandwiches were involved.

Sunland shut down its plant in Portales, N.M., last month and recalled more than 200 products made under a variety of brand names after salmonella was found in Trader Joe's Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter. Thirty-five illnesses in 19 states have been linked to Sunland, but no illnesses have been linked to the Uncrustable sandwiches.

"When USDA learned of the FDA recall of certain products manufactured by Sunland, Inc., we coordinated with state agencies to immediately notify individual school districts and ensure that recalled products were identified and destroyed," USDA spokeswoman Alyn Kiel said in an e-mail.

The Smucker's recall was first reported by Food Poisoning Bulletin, a website published by Minneapolis-based food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Fresh Express Recalls Bagged Lettuce Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

Fresh Express, one of the leading manufacturers of ready-to-eat salads is recalling Romaine lettuce hearts.  Product tested as part of the FDA's random testing program was found to be positive for Salmonella.  No illnesses have been reported.

Fresh Express Issues Recall of Limited Quantity of 18 oz. Hearts of Romaine Salad Due to Possible Health Risk

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm323535.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 11, 2012 - Charlotte, North Carolina – Fresh Express Incorporated is conducting a voluntary, precautionary recall of a limited quantity of Fresh Express Hearts of Romaine Salad with a Use-by Date of October 11 and Product Code of S270A24 due to a possible health risk from Salmonella.

No illnesses or consumer complaints have been reported to Fresh Express at this time in association with this recall. No other Fresh Express products are subject to this recall.

The recall notification is being issued out of an abundance of caution based on an isolated instance in which a random sample yielded a positive result for Salmonella as part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s random sample testing program. Fresh Express is coordinating closely with regulatory officials.

Fresh Express customer service representatives are already contacting relevant retailers to confirm the recalled product has been removed from store shelves and inventories and that none is available for consumer purchase. Customers with questions are instructed to contact their Fresh Express customer service representative. The recalled salads were distributed primarily in the West-Northwest and Midwest regions of the U.S.

Consumers who may have purchased the recalled salad are asked not to eat it, but to throw it out instead. Fresh Express is offering a full refund. Consumers with questions or who would like to secure a refund may call the Fresh Express Consumer Response Center at (800) 242-5472 during the hours of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
Specific recall information follows:

 Product Being Recalled: Fresh Express Hearts of Romaine in 18 oz. package
Product Code: S270A24 (located in upper right corner on front of package)
Use-by Date: October 11 (also located in upper right hand corner of package)
Distribution: Primarily in West-Northwest and Midwest regions of the U.S. 

Salmonella is an organism that may cause fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and possibly bloody diarrhea in healthy individuals. It can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Consumers with these symptoms should consult their health care provider.
Fresh Express Precautionary Salad Recall- 10/11/12 (No other Fresh Express Salads are included in this recall)

BRAND	PRODUCT NAME	SIZE	UPC	Production Code	Best If Used By Date	POSSIBLE DISTRIBUTION STATES
Fresh Express	Hearts of Romaine	18 oz.	071279-262017	S270A24	OCT 11	AZ, AR, CA, CO, HI, ID, KS, LA, MN, MT, NV, NM, ND, OK, OR, TX, UT, WA, WI, WY

###

Dog Biscuits Recalled Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination

Dog Biscuits are being recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination.  There have been no reported illnesses.

 Nature's Recipe Voluntarily Recalls Nature's Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits With Real Chicken Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm323823.htm?source=govdelivery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 13, 2012 - Nature’s Recipe brand is voluntarily recalling a limited supply of Nature’s Recipe® Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken, manufactured in one of its U.S. production facilities. This is being done as a precautionary measure, as the product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some, or all, of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected, but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

No pet or consumer illnesses from this product have been reported to date. However, because of its commitment to safety and quality, the Company is conducting a voluntary recall of this product.

The potentially affected lots of Nature’s Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken were distributed nationally, primarily through pet specialty retailers.

Nature’s Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken is sold in 19-ounce stand-up resealable pouches. The product affected by this recall is identified below and has the following "Best If Used By" dates:

Lot Code:	UPC Code:	Size:	Product Name/Description:	Best If Used By Date:
2199TP	30521 51549	19-ounces	Nature’s Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken	10 11 13
2200TP	30521 51549	19-ounces	Nature’s Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken	10 12 13

Product and product lots that do not appear on the list above are not subject to this recall.

Consumers who have purchased the above lots of Nature’s Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken should stop feeding the product and discard immediately. For further information about the recall and for instructions on obtaining replacement product, consumers can use the Contact Us form at www.naturesrecipe.com1 or call the Consumer Hotline, 24 hours a day, at 800-237-3856.


About Nature’s Recipe®

Nature’s Recipe®, a brand of Del Monte Foods, markets a complete line of natural dog food and treats and recently introduced a line of natural cat food. Nature’s Recipe® has been making better pet food where “Every Ingredient Counts® ” for more than 30 years. For additional information about Nature’s Recipe®, visit www.naturesrecipe.com2. 

Sunland Recall Expands Again, Now Includes In-shell Peanuts

The Sunland Food Recall was once again expanded to include in-shell peanut products produced at their Peanut Processing Facility.  This expansion was done as part of the on-going investigation.  According to the CDC, there have been 35 illnesses linked to the Trader Joe brand of peanut butter.(http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/bredeney-09-12/index.html).  No other products have been found to have caused illness, so the expansion of the recall is due to what investigators are discovering in the two plants.

Other companies also continue to recall products with products supplied by Sunland. (below)
 
Sunland, Inc. Announces Voluntary Extension of Ongoing Recall To Include Raw and Roasted Shelled and In-Shell Peanuts Due to Possible Health Risk
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm323824.htm?source=govdelivery


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 12, 2012 - Sunland, Inc. today announced that it is extending its ongoing voluntary recall to include raw and roasted shelled and in-shell peanuts processed in its Peanut Processing Plant because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Specifically, the recall is being extended to include raw and roasted peanuts, both in-shell and shelled, which were processed in its Peanut Processing Plant located in Portales, New Mexico, and which are within their current shelf life or have no stated expiration date.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The original recall initiated by the Company on September 24, 2012, included peanut butter and other nut butter products produced in a separate building from where raw and roasted peanuts are processed. The reason for the initial voluntary recall was the potential for the recalled products to be contaminated with Salmonella. At that time, twenty-nine (29) people had reported Salmonella Bredeney PFGE matching illnesses in approximately eighteen (18) states, and of those who had been interviewed at that time, twelve of fourteen reported having eaten the same single product made by the Company. Since the recall was announced, additional confirmed illnesses have been reported. As of October 5, 2012, the total number of confirmed illnesses reported was thirty-five (35). The most current information available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), regarding confirmed illnesses is available at their website: http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/bredeney-09-12/index.html1

The extension being announced today is the result of the continued joint investigation by the Company and FDA. The Company has ceased the production and distribution of all products from both its Peanut Butter Plant and its Peanut Processing Plant while FDA and the Company continue their investigation.

The raw and roasted peanuts available to retail customers were distributed primarily under the Company’s own label and were distributed primarily to produce houses and nationally to numerous large supermarket, grocery and retail chains. The products also were available for purchase on the internet. The roasted and roasted/salted peanuts being recalled were distributed during the six month period prior to the recall date (April 12, 2012 – October 12, 2012), and will have best by/expiration dates on the packaging from October 12, 2012 through April 12, 2013. The raw peanuts being recalled (shelled and in-shell), were distributed during the twelve months prior to the recall date (October 12, 2011 – October 12, 2012), and will have either best by dates from October 12, 2012 through October 12, 2013 on the packaging, or a “Crop Year” marking on the package of 2011 or 2012, up to and including October 12, 2012.

Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled products are urged not to eat them and to return products to the place of purchase for a full refund or dispose of them immediately. The “Best-If-Used-By” date or product expiration date is printed on the packaging. The UPC used to identify the recalled products is located below the bar code on all products. In-shell peanuts that were sold in 2, 5 and 10 pound mesh bags (raw, roasted and salted/roasted), do not include an expiration date on the mesh bags. All such products should not be eaten and should be returned to the place of purchase for a full refund or disposed of immediately. All expired products should be discarded. Customers who purchased products directly from the Company’s website should discard the products and contact the Company at 1-866-837-1018.

Consumers can contact the Company at 1-866-837-1018 for information on the recall. This toll-free number is operational 24 hours a day.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The most current information available from FDA is posted at the following website: http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/CORENetwork/ucm320413.htm2

The specifics of the affected products are set forth below. Products being added to the list for the first time appear in the first table. All previously identified products follow in the second table.

Creative Energy Foods, Inc. Recalls Ridgebar Brand Nutrition Bars Due to Possible Health Risk Associated With Sunland Inc. Peanut Products
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm323818.htm?source=govdelivery

Due to Sunland Peanut Butter Recall, AdvancePierre Foods Initiates Voluntary Recall of Select Frozen Peanut Butter Products
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm323800.htm?source=govdelivery

Lin-Mar Partners Recalls Roasted Peanut With Chocolate and Peanut Butter Trail Longhorn Bars Because of Possible Health Risk
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm323803.htm?source=govdelivery

Purefit Inc. Announces Voluntary Recall of Purefit Peanut Butter Crunch Bars Because of Possible Salmonella Contamination
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm323825.htm?source=govdelivery

General Mills Voluntarily Recalls Limited Number of Cascadian Farm Snack Bars Containing Peanuts
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm323308.htm?source=govdelivery

Sunland Foods expands recall in light of Salmonella positive envrionmental samples

The peanut butter recall expanded again as Sunland Foods is recalling all products made in its manufacturing plant after March 1, 2010. The initial recall was started when peanut butter made for Trader Joe's was linked to a Salmonella outbreak. That outbreak includes 35 illnesses in 19 states.

The expanded recall includes close to 240 different products and encompasses 2 ½ years of production. The decision to expand the recall comes after investigators found Salmonella in the processing environment as well as in the product.  Impacted retailers now include Safeway, Target, and Whole Foods.

Why would the recall be expanded? After doing the sampling/testing of the processing environment, the FDA determined that the facility had a contamination issue in the facility as evidenced by the positive environmental samples. To push the recall so far back in time may be due to the fact there were inadequate controls in place to control Salmonella - including proper sanitation of the processing environment and environmental monitoring systems demonstrating control.

 As we know, Salmonella can exist for long periods of time in dry environments. If there is no evidence, or inadequate evidence, that the processing environment was properly cleaned over time and there was inadequate evidence that monitoring/testing was completed to verify that cleaning, they may have concluded that there is the potential risk of more products being contaminated over a longer period of time. A case of ‘how do you know?’. One can see the questions being asked during an investigation such as this – how do you know this contamination wasn’t here for a long time? How do you know that employees were properly cleaning? How do you know the right concentration of sanitizer was being applied? How do you know that the cleaning being done was actually controlling Salmonella? This is where record keeping and verification procedures are critical. A little paranoia also helps.

FDA records indicate that in 2010, an investigation found "objectionable conditions", but these were not significant enough to warrant action.

 Sunland, Inc. Announces Voluntary Expansion of Ongoing Recall To Include All Products Manufactured in its Peanut Butter Plant After March 1, 2010 Due to Possible Health Risk
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm322747.htm?source=govdelivery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 4, 2012 – Sunland, Inc. today announced a voluntary expansion of its ongoing recall of all products manufactured in its Peanut Butter Plant because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Specifically, the recall is being expanded to include all products manufactured in its Peanut Butter Plant after March 1, 2010.The scope of the initial recall covered one hundred one (101) products manufactured between May 1, 2012 and September 24, 2012. The expanded recall adds forty-nine (49) products that are currently within the manufacturer’s recommended shelf-life, that is, the “Best-If-Used-By” dates have not expired. The expanded recall also adds ninety (90) products consumers may still have in their homes which are older than the “Best-If-Used-By Date”. Distribution of many of the products being added to the recall was discontinued some time ago. The expanded recall covers all previously identified Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, Cashew Butter, and Tahini products as well as Roasted Blanched Peanut Products. New product categories being added to the list are several varieties of flavored butters and spreads, including Thai Ginger Butter, Chocolate Butter and Banana Butter.

The Company is voluntarily expanding the recall to cover all products manufactured in its Peanut Butter Plant since March 2010 because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. Symptoms of Salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment. However, in some cases, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient requires hospitalization. Older adults, infants and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness from Salmonella infection.

Popcorn Recalled Due to Listeria

Dale and Thomas are recalling various brands of flavored popcorn after the company discovered Listeria through finished product testing.

 A discussion this morning prompted a review of how Listeria could become an issue in popcorn. In general, we would not consider Listeria a hazard in popped or unpopped popcorn. But based on pure conjecture, we would focus on the flavoring used. First, we would assume that the popcorn itself would not be an issue. The temperature used to pop the corn would eliminate Listeria - approximately 181C (357F) to 187C (369F) (Kinetics of Popping Popcorn, Byrd and Perona, 2005). The Listeria issue would be related to the enrobing or coating process, specifically related to the ingredients they are using. Looking at the ingredients for one of the products (below), Aged White Cheddar, there are ingredients that we would consider higher risk, specifically cheese and butter milk, in that these could serve as a growth medium for Listeria. However, once these ingredients are mixed and then enrobed on the popped kernel surface, growth would be unlikely. Other ingredients such as caramel would not likely be an issue.  Being that the cheddar and buttermilk are probably dry and are probably added as a dry mixture, areas where water are introduced increase risk.  This can be residual moisture from cleaning, or water used in and around the flavor mixing process.  Of course if the flavor mix uses added water, then handling from mixing through enrobing is more an issue.








So controlling Listeria would be prior to and including the enrobing step as well as within the post-popping environment – 1) purchasing higher risk ingredients (cheese and buttermilk) with assurance that are they are Listeria free, 2) properly storing and handling these ingredients to prevent contamination, 3) cleaning and sanitizing the mixing kettles, the enrobing equipment and all transfer pipes of enrobing mixture, 4) properly cleaning finished product transfer to packaging equipment and 5) maintaining a clean environment after the heat process.  

One would focus testing efforts on conducting Listeria monitoring through the use of a sponge sampling on the flavor mixing, enrobing, and packaging equipment as well as in the post-process environment. If a niche (a spot where there was product build-up) existed somewhere from the enrobing through packaging, it would unlikely support growth of Listeria, but if it the organism was present in the enrobing mixture at the start, it could get hung up in that post-heat processing equipment and then serve as a contamination source for finished product moving through. The key however, would be the control of high risk ingredients, - specifically their purchase, receipt, storage and handling.

In addition to Listeria as a hazard, Salmonella would be considered another important pathogen that would be considered a hazard.

 

Dale and Thomas Popcorn Issues Voluntary Recall of Certain Popcorn Products Due to Possible Health Risk

SOURCE Dale and Thomas Popcorn

ENGLEWOOD, N.J., Sept. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dale and Thomas Popcorn is voluntarily recalling a limited number of ready-to-eat bags of select flavors of Popcorn, Indiana-brand popcorn products (listed below) because of possible contamination by Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. Anyone who is concerned about a possible health problem or illness should contact a healthcare provider immediately.

Products involved in the recall should not be consumed and may be returned to the point of purchase for a full refund or replacement.

The recalled products were distributed to various retailers, vendors, distribution centers, and consumers through the Internet on or after August 8th, 2012 with Best By dates of February 4th, 2013 through March 12th, 2013. All recalled products were packaged in red bags of various sizes. Consumers can identify if they have purchased an impacted product by looking at the Best By date located in the front, top right corner of the package and the Bag UPC (Code) located in the nutritional panel found on the back, bottom left corner of the package.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120928/NY83405 )

All other Popcorn, Indiana-brand products are safe to consume. 

The potential for contamination was noted after testing by the company revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in some ready-to-eat bags of Popcorn, Indiana-brand products.

Consumers with recalled product(s) should contact Dale and Thomas' dedicated recall hotline (866) 940-7936 Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, or email the company at: recall@daleandthomaspopcorn.com for additional information.

Recalled Flavors - Aged white cheddar, Almond Biscoitti, American Cheese, Apple Crisp, Bacon Ranch, Black and White Drizzle, Caramel, Chocolate Roasted Peanuts, Cinnamon Sugar Drizzle, Dark Fudge Chocolate Chip Drizzle, Kettlecorn, Kettlecorn Multipack, Salat and Pepper, Wasabi


FDA News Release
Dale and Thomas Popcorn Issues Voluntary Recall of Certain Popcorn Products Due to Possible Health Risk
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm321955.htm