A Chicago firm is recalling cooked chicken tamale product (considered RTE) because the product was produced in a facility that did not have a Listeria control program as well as a HACCP plan for this type of product.
From the recall notice (below), it appears that this company packed raw product. They can not begin to run cooked product without establishing a Listeria Control program to prevent contamination that can occur in the post-lethality environment (areas where product is exposed after cooking and prior to packaging). Listeria is likely to be found in a raw meat facility. Before someone would begin packing a cooked product, they would need to put controls in place, otherwise, it is likely to contaminate the cooked product
One could guess that the co-packer in this case, had an opportunity to sell cooked product, but did not go through the proper steps necessary, including developing a HACCP plan for that product, which would have included a hazard analysis. In that hazard analysis, Listeria would be identified as a hazard likely to occur. From there, the facility would put control measures in place to prevent the contamination of the fully cooked finished product.
USDA News Release
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2015/recall-014-2015-release-update
Illinois Firm Recalls Chicken Products Produced Without Adequate Ready-To-Eat HACCP Plan and a Listeria Monocytogenes Program
Class I Recall 014-2015
Health Risk: High Jan 17, 2015
Distribution List PDF
En Español
Congressional and Public Affairs Whitney Joy (202) 720-9113
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17, 2015 – La Guadalupana Wholesale, Inc., a Chicago, Ill., establishment, is recalling approximately 8,856 pounds of chicken tamales because they were not produced under a fully implemented Ready-To-Eat (RTE) Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan; a Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) program; and a hazard analysis, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
The recall is being edited to include an additional 1,248 pounds of chicken tamales produced from Dec. 1, 2014, through Jan. 5, 2015 with the establishment number “P-6794” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
On Jan. 17, 2015, the company recalled 8,856 pounds of chicken tamales produced from Dec. 1, 2014, through Jan. 5, 2015. To read the recall release, click here. The following products listed below were included in the initial recall:[Labels (PDF Only)]
2 packs of 6 tamales in each vacuum-packed bag of “LA GUADALUPANA CHICKEN TAMALES”
The products bear the establishment number “P-21094” inside the USDA mark of inspection with packaging dates from Nov. 19, 2014 through Jan. 4, 2015 on the label. The products were produced from Dec. 1, 2014 through Jan. 5, 2015, and then packaged using a Cryovac machine by a co-packer of La Guadalupana Wholesale from Nov.19, 2014 through Jan. 2, 2015. La Guadalupana Wholesale’s co-packer did not conduct a hazard analysis to determine the food safety hazards reasonably likely to occur in the cryovacing process and did not identify the preventive measures the establishment could apply to control those hazards. The chicken tamales are a RTE product and fall within the Fully Cooked Not Shelf Stable category. As such, their production requires an Lm program. The product is also processed by means of physical handling and packaging, thus further requiring a HACCP plan. They were distributed for retail sale in Chicago, Ill.
The problem was discovered by an FSIS inspector, who was conducting a sanitation task in the co-packer’s establishment and saw plant personnel handling the RTE product in a room where raw product is also handled. An investigation was conducted and found that the co-packer had not conducted an RTE hazard analysis, developed or implemented a HACCP plan for the chicken tamales, or developed and implemented an Lm testing program. Thus, there is no assurance the products are wholesome and; therefore, safe for consumption. Consequently, the products may support the growth of pathogens that may be detrimental to health.
FSIS and the company have received no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.
FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.
Consumers and media with questions about the recall may contact the company’s general manager, Alejandro Castro at info@senortamale.com or at 1-866-954-3654.
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