Tortilla Products Recalled After Complaints of Brittle Plastic Contaminaiton

A Texas establishment is recalling ~23,500 lbs of beef & cheese tortilla products after the company received complaints of foreign objects in the product, specifically clear, brittle plastic.  There have been no reported injuries.

USDA Recall Notice
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2016/recall-119-2016-release
Ruiz Food Products, Inc. Recalls Beef and Cheese Tortilla Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
Class II Recall 119-2016
Health Risk: Low Dec 21, 2016

State Health Department Investigates Own Foodborne Illness Outbreak

An outbreak of foodborne illness affected 70 of the 200 NM State Health Department employees who attended the departmental holiday luncheon.  Epidemiologists from the Department are now investigating their own outbreak.  The luncheon was catered.  No word yet on the cause or the source.

Santa Fe New Mexican
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/staff-members-ill-after-department-of-health-luncheon/article_32e58635-07a0-5aaf-a4df-4ac5b6ea76e9.html
70 staff members ill after Department of Health luncheon

C. perfrigens Identified as Cause of Thanksgiving Foodborne Illness Outbreak

Shortly after Thanksgiving, an outbreak of foodborne illness was reported in California that was linked to a Thanksgiving charity event.  There were 3 deaths and another 22 others who were ill.  The causative agent was found to be Clostridium perfringens, a sporeforming pathogen that can grow rapidly when food is temperature abused.

The actual food source of the bacteria was not found, however investigators "found most of the ill people ate turkey and mashed potatoes and they all ate around the same time. Some dishes served at the event, including cooked turkey, were brought to the site after they were prepared in private homes."

A similar scenario occurred in a 2015 outbreak linked to a Thanksgiving luncheon.  In this case, 40 became ill from food contaminated with Clostridium perfrigens.  In this case however, food was prepared by a caterer.

Clostridium perfrigens: 

• Is a gram positive sporeforming anaerobe.
• Is widely distributed in the environment, but can be found in the intestines of animals and humans (but in small numbers).
• Spores are heat resistant and can survive boiling temperatures.  (Dvalues at 100C can range from 0.31min to 17.5min),
• In heat-treated foods that are temperature abused, this organism can divide in as fast as every 10 minutes.  (The heat treatment eliminates any competitive flora.)  Common food sources include cooked meat foods such as stews and casseroles that are temperature abused.
• Symptoms are caused by ingestion of large numbers ( > 106) vegetative cells or >106 spores/g of food. Toxin production in the digestive tract (or in vitro) is associated with sporulation.  This usually occurs about 16 hours after ingestion.  As the organism numbers increase, it produces an enterotoxin, and this entertoxin is responsible for the illness
• The primary symptoms are cramping and diarrhea and usually dissipate within 24 hours.

The cooling procedures in the Food Code and Appendix B for USDA are established taking C. perfringens into account.

This event points out the risk of having volunteers prepare food in their own home.  In many cases, these people have not been trained in preparing large quantities of food and/or preparing food for events outside of their own home.  In the latter, food transportation can be an issue, especially in warmer areas like California.

CBS SF Bay Area News
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2016/12/20/common-bacteria-caused-antioch-thanksgiving-dinner-deaths/
Common Bacteria Caused Antioch Thanksgiving Dinner Deaths
December 20, 2016 11:43 AM

ANTIOCH (CBS SF) — A common food-borne bacteria was responsible for three deaths and the illnesses suffered by 22 others following a Thanksgiving meal sponsored by a community church at Antioch’s American Legion auditorium, health officials announced Tuesday.

FDA Makes Complaint Database Available, Updates Process for Filing Complaints by Consumers

FDA is making its adverse-event database available.  This list voluntary reports of adverse effects from food as well as reports of drugs.

"The new data can be particularly helpful in the area of food-safety issues, Jacobson said, because the FDA has “a very limited budget, and traditionally has been behind the curve in identifying problems and trying to correct them.”
The database “gives some hint about hot spots in the food supply,” Jacobson said. “If you see large numbers, it’s probably not some random consumer making a spurious association between a headache and something they ate.” 

In the past, this information was available though the Freedom of Information Act, now, it will be available for researchers, companies, and of course lawyers.

Interestingly, FDA receives only about 7500 complaints per year.  Not a lot when you think about the number of products sold each day to 320 million people.

The FDA updated procedures for filing complaints for consumers.  FDA directs consumers on how to report non-emergency complaints.   They can call the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator assigned for each state or to go online and report to MedWatch website.

Bloomburg BNA
https://www.bna.com/fda-food-cosmetics-n73014448792/
FDA Food, Cosmetics Data Boon for Attorneys, Companies
December 19, 2016

Campbell Soup Revives Hundred Year Old Soup Recipe

A cool article in Fortune magazine about the Campbell Soup Company resurrecting one of its earliest soup recipes - a Beefsteak Tomato Soup recipe from 1915.  In sticking with the original recipe, the Company had to find a local tomato supply.  One change that was made was reducing the amount of salt.

Back in the day, there were no large supermarkets, but rather small grocery stores dotted the neighborhoods. Here, commercially processed foods such as canned soups and sliced bread were first sold, becoming staples in the diets of those hard working Americans.  These commercially made foods made lives easier for those people who worked long hours in the coal mines, steel mills, and clothing factories.

Fortune 

http://fortune.com/2016/12/19/campbell-soup-old-soup-recipe/
What Campbell Learned From a 101-Year-Old Tomato Soup Recipe

Almost all Americans have a few old family recipes on file to make beloved, home-made meals. At Campbell Soup, these recipes can go back a little further than a generation or two.

Gift Baskets Packed with Recalled Savory Twists

Those who purchased Wine County Gift Baskets in the past few months are being asked to check if they have Blue Cheese Savory Twists.  This item is being recalled by Houdini Inc because recalled dairy powder was used as an ingredient.  Consumers are to dispose of the product which may contain Salmonella.

There have not been any reported illnesses to date related to the dairy powder ingredient, but this is an example of how far ingredients can move in the supply chain.  It is also a reminder of how a supplier's supplier can impact downstream sales, including repackers like this gift basket purveyor.

WPRI.com

http://wpri.com/2016/12/19/salmonella-risk-prompts-recall-of-gift-basket-snack/
Salmonella risk prompts recall of gift basket snack
By Shaun Towne Published: December 19, 2016, 5:18 pm Updated: December 19, 2016, 5:27 pm

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — If you bought or received a Wine Country Gift Basket in the past few months, Rhode Island health officials are urging you to check for one snack in particular.

CSPI's 10 Worst Food and Supplement Scams of 2016

CSPI's '10 of the Worst Food and Supplement Scams of 2016' is a good reminder that some foods are not as they are made to appear. That is, the marketing does not match what is actually the product inside the container. For example:

"Suja Green Delight. A 12-ounce bottle of this “green” smoothie costs about $4. Its first ingredient is cheap, nutrient-poor apple juice, not the kale, spinach, or other veggies that consumers probably expect. Suja’s King of Greens and Easy Greens also have more apple juice than any of their greens."

 It is worth a look at how marketers try to capitalize on trends and unsuspecting consumers.

CSPI - Center or Science in the Public Interest
10 of the Worst Food and Supplement Scams of 2016
From the Files of Nutrition Action Healthletter
December 19, 2016
https://cspinet.org/news/10-worst-food-and-supplement-scams-2016-20161219

Additional Recalls Linked to Powdered Dairy Milk Recall - Updated

List updated on 12/21/16.  This was initially posted on 12/12/16. - Additional Recalls Linked to Powdered Dairy Milk Recall

Secondary recalls, or recalls issued for using an ingredient that was recalled, are coming in the aftermath of the dairy powder recall earlier this month. Last week, 2 recalls were issued by two different companies for pancake and waffle mix.

These recalls listed here have the dairy powder product being used as an ingredient.  In some, they are part of a dough mix.  In other product, the dairy powder was used as an ingredient in the flavor / seasoning mix.  The concern would be if the mix were to get onto a surface that was not then adequately cleaned, or if product made with the mix was not adequately cooked.

In addition to the FDA announced recalls, there are a number of recalls occurring in foodservice / retail establishments.  Albertson's and Safeway is recalling bakery items that used the dairy powder in cream mixes.  H-E-B is recalling similar items made with cream mix.  The cream mix was made by Dawn Food Products

FDA RECALL NOTICES

USDA Recommends Using 'Best if Used By” Date Label

As part of its initiative to help reduce the amount of wasted food in this country, USDA is recommending that manufacturers use the term 'Best if Used By" for the label date when the product should be used by the consumer. They feel that by having a standardized terminology on the package, consumers will be more apt to adhere. The hope of course, is that they will use the product before that date.

Date marking is not required with the exception of infant food.  However, it is a good idea to have a time which the product is considered having sufficient quality for consumption.  Manufacturers do not want to have half-spoiled product on the shelf, nor do they want to have people throwing away good food.

To get to the USDA document - Link.


USDA News Release
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/news-releases-statements-transcripts/news-release-archives-by-year/archive/2016/nr-121416-01
USDA Revises Guidance on Date Labeling to Reduce Food Waste
Encourages Industry to use “Best if Used By” on Product Labels

FDA Advisory Against Eating Cheese from PA Goat Cheese Operation

FDA is advising consumers not to eat cheese from a PA firm due to Listeria.  The issue was discovered when "Apple Tree recalled four lots of products manufactured in March and July 2016 on September 20, 2016, after samples of these lots collected by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes". FDA conducted an inspection, and in addition to finding unsanitary conditions, they found Listeria in the environment and the finished product."

Apple Tree Goat Dairy is a family run operation that focuses on boutique / small lot production of organic cheeses.  And while it is easy to get caught up in the mystique of this type of operation, issues can occur.  Just like the Chipotle case, firms dealing with food still must execute on the fundamentals. That includes understanding the risks, putting in controls for those risks, monitoring those controls, and verifying that they work.  This is all part of the craft..it is not just making products, but making products in a safe and sanitary fashion.  And for a cheese operation, that means controlling Listeria.

We see this all too often with food entrepreneurs...they have a great idea on making a product, but never make sufficient effort to learn the fundamentals of food safety and sanitation.  The microorganisms don't care if is organic, family run operation or even a multi-billion dollar facility...if these organisms are not controlled, they will infiltrate and establish themselves in the facility and potentially the product.

FDA Advisory
http://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/SafetyAlertsAdvisories/ucm531535.htm
FDA Advises Consumers Not to Eat Apple Tree Goat Dairy Goat Cheese Products Because of Possible Listeria Contamination
Products Test Positive for Listeria Monocytogenes
December 2, 2016

Chipotle Still Struggling on the Fundamentals

An interesting read in the Washington Post on the troubles that Chipotle is having. After the loss in business related to the outbreaks, sales are still down.  The issues is poor execution of the fundamentals of running an establishment...cleaning, service, etc

"Instead, the company is having trouble getting the basics right: Throughput is down, meaning customers are facing frustratingly long lines. The dining room tables and drink stations are often a mess. And patrons are constantly finding that the burrito assembly line is out of an ingredient or two."

To me, these issues and the food safety issues are all part of the 'fundamentals'...both in training employees on them and then being able to execute them.  Whether those are food safety, or customer service, it is all the base of running an successful establishment.

Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2016/12/14/a-year-after-food-safety-scares-chipotle-has-a-new-set-of-problems/?utm_term=.f259cc611d71
A year after food safety scares, Chipotle has a new set of problems
By Sarah Halzack
BusinessDecember 14 at 6:00 AM

ConAgra Agrees to Plea Deal in 2007 Peter Pan Peanut Butter Outbreak

ConAgra accepted a plea deal of 11.2 million after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge for shipping contaminated peanut butter in a 2007 Salmonella outbreak with over 700 victims.   

From the article:

"The company admitted in the plea agreement that samples obtained after the recall showed that peanut butter made at the Sylvester plant on nine different dates between Aug. 4, 2006, and Jan. 29, 2007, was contaminated with salmonella. Environmental testing conducted after the recall identified the same strain of salmonella in at least nine locations throughout the Sylvester plant".

"As part of the plea agreement, the company admitted that it had previously been aware of some risk of salmonella contamination in peanut butter. On two dates in October 2004, routine testing at the Sylvester plant revealed what later was confirmed to be salmonella in samples of finished peanut butter.  Company employees attempting to locate the cause of the contamination identified several potential contributing factors, including an old peanut roaster that was not uniformly heating raw peanuts, a storm-damaged sugar silo, and a leaky roof that allowed moisture into the plant and airflow that could allow potential contaminants to move around the plant." 

"The company also admitted in the plea agreement that between October 2004 and February 2007, employees charged with analyzing finished product tests at the Sylvester plant failed to detect salmonella in the peanut butter, and that the company was unaware some of the employees did not know how to properly interpret the results of the tests."

The $11.2 million is only a part of the costs.  In addition, ConAgra paid $36 million in civil settlements, $275 million in facility upgrades and new testing procedures, and costs associated with loss in sales and damage to the brand.


Valdosta Today
http://valdostatoday.com/2016/12/judge-accepts-peter-pan-peanut-butter-settlement/
Judge accepts Peter Pan peanut butter settlement
Newsdesk | December 14, 2016 | 0 Comments

CA Meat Establishment Recalls Meat After Caught Changing Est Number on USDA Mark

A CA meat establishment is recalling 50,000 pounds of meat after they were caught changing the USDA establishment mark of inspection.  According to the USDA notice, "The problem was discovered on Dec. 5, 2016, when FSIS inspection personnel observed establishment employees removing the marks of inspection of the original beef suppliers and replacing them with the King Meat Services, Inc. (Est. 426) mark of inspection."

Perhaps they ran out of their own supply?  Maybe the price they paid was low enough to still provide sufficient margin?

King Meat Services, Inc. Recalls Beef Products Due To Misbranding
Class III Recall  117-2016
Dec 12, 2016

Additional Recalls Linked to Powdered Dairy Milk Recall

Secondary recalls, or recalls issued for using an ingredient that was recalled, are coming in the aftermath of the dairy powder recall earlier this month. Last week, 2 recalls were issued by two different companies for pancake and waffle mix.

These recalls listed here have the dairy powder product being used as an ingredient.  In some, they are part of the dough mix.  In other product, the dairy powder was used as an ingredient in the flavor / seasoning mix.  The concern would be if the mix were to get onto a surface that was not then adequately cleaned, or if product made with the mix was not adequately cooked.

FDA RECALL NOTICES

One Lot of Energy Bars Recalled Due to Foreign Material

Clif Bar & Company is recalling one production lot of Chocolate Hazelnut Butter energy bars due to the presence of small plastic pieces.  One could guess that the issue was discovered through consumer complaints.

 

   

FDA Recall Notice

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm532021.htm

Voluntary Class II Recall of Chocolate Hazelnut Butter CLIF® Nut Butter Filled

For Immediate Release

November 18, 2016

 

Annual USDA Pesticide Analysis Report for Produce

Each year USDA releases their Pesticide Data Program report where they release findings of their sampling/testing program for pesticides in produce.  The overwhelming majority of samples were within EPA tolerances.  A very small percentage, 0.53%, had levels above that. 

• In 2015, over 99 percent of the samples tested had residues well below the tolerances established by the EPA with 15 percent having no detectable pesticide residue.
• Residues exceeding the established tolerance were detected in 0.53 percent (54 samples) of the total samples tested (10,187 samples). Of these 54 samples, 18 were imported (33 percent) and 36 were domestic (67 percent).
• The samples containing pesticides that exceeded established tolerances included: 1 sample of fresh cherries, 4 samples of cucumbers, 3 grape samples, 3 samples of green beans, 1 peach sample, 1 pear sample, 8 samples of spinach, 25 samples of strawberries, 2 tomato samples, and 6 samples of watermelon. (Appendix I of the report has the levels).

One of the interesting lines from the study - "Prior to testing, PDP analysts washed samples for 15-20 seconds with gently running cold water as a consumer would do; no chemicals, soap, or any special wash was used."  There has been a lot of discussion around the washing of produce before consumption when that produce item is considered a raw agricultural commodity.  But does the consumer know that as a fact that they should always wash produce before consuming, not only for residual chemicals, but also for microbiological contamination.

 

 USDA - Pesticide Data Program

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/2015PDPAnnualSummary.pdf

Executive Summary

Pancake Mix Recalled Due to Use of Potentially Contaminated Milk Powder Ingredient

Two companies are recalling pancake mix that used the recalled milk powder as an ingredient.  That milk powder had been recalled a week ago when FDA had seized product due after finding Salmonella in the facility but not the product.

This is interesting in that although the ingredient has never tested positive and there have been no related illnesses, downstream processors are recalling product for their supplier's less-than-clean facility.  Granted that facility did have a persistent strain of Salmonella found throughout the environment, but without knowing the particulars of the facility, it is hard to evaluate the true risk.  But there is a risk, although small, that if Salmonella were present and the consumer making pancakes spills the mix on the counter.  And of course, there are those who may sample the raw batter.

FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm532382.htm
Publix Recalls Publix Premium Pancake and Waffle Mixes Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination
For Immediate Release
December 8, 2016

Study - Restaurant Servers Poor At Communicating Risk of Undercooked Meat

A recent study shows that restaurant servers do a poor job in explaining the risks when customers order undercooked meat, specifically hamburgers.  The majority of servers (77 percent) gave customers unreliable information conveying the risks of undercooked meat.   As we know, raw hamburger can have pathogens such as E. coli STEC and Salmonella.  While it is the consumers choice to buy rare or medium rare hamburgers, they should understand the risk. 

In the end, informing customers helps the restaurant protect themselves from liability.   Just last year, an outbreak in Vermont occurred when a restaurant was purposely selling undercooked hamburgers.  Of course there is the case that was the impetus for enacting the regulation requiring HACCP regulations in meat operations - Jack in the Box.

Meatingplace
http://www.meatingplace.com/Industry/News/Details/70439
Study: Restaurants not good at explaining risks of undercooked meat to customers
By Michael Fielding on 12/9/2016

Milk Product Producer Issues Recall After FDA Seized Product

(Updated Dec 13, 2016.   Valley Milk Products issued recall announcement on FDA website).

Valley Milk Products issued a recall of milk and buttermilk powder after FDA seized product due to the potential for Salmonella contamination.   As reported a few days earlier, FDA seized product after an investigation found Salmonella in the environment, the same strains that had been hanging around for years.  While FDA had urged the company to recall, they initially refused because they stated that testing had never found Salmonella in product.  Well, FDA felt the environmental evidence was strong enough to warrant seizing product.

It is hard to guess the circumstances that were present to have this standoff, however, it does indicate that FDA will take action based upon conditions that might support adulteration, but not necessarily product contamination.  In this case, the facility had some ongoing issues that should have been resolved, but the degree of risk is hard to guess.

FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm532828.htm
Valley Milk Products, Strasburg, Virginia Recalls Limited Amount of Milk and Buttermilk Powder Because of Possible Health Risks
For Immediate Release December 9, 2016

Cooked Meat Recall Expanded for OK Firm Due to Additional Complaint of Undercooked Meat

An OK company drastically expanded it Nov. 26, 2016 recall for potentially undercooked ready-to-eat chicken from ~20,000 lbs to ~2,000,000 lbs.  The recall now includes about 3 months of production (original was 2 day lots) and covers a wider variety of product.   The expanded recall comes because of an additional complaint of raw product on November 28th.

No illnesses have been reported.

News Release
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/FSIS-Content/internet/main/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2016/recall-115-2016-expanded
National Steak and Poultry Recalls Ready-To-Eat Chicken That May Be Undercooked
Class I Recall 115-2016 EXP
Health Risk: High Dec 4, 2016

Trader Joe's Hummus Recalled for Listeria

A NC facility is recalling Trader Joe's branded hummus after product testing found Listeria contamination.  The products are packed in 16 ounce plastic tubs with a "C in the plant identification code.   The contamination was discovered "after testing by the company revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in product manufactured on the same equipment."

FDA Recall Notice

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm531359.htm
Bakkavor Foods USA, Inc. Issues Voluntary Recalls of Certain Hummus Products Because of Possible Health Risks
For Immediate Release
November 30, 2016

US Marshalls Seize Dry Dairy Ingredients from a Virginia Processing Facility

US Marshalls seized dairy products worth nearly $4 million from a Virginia dairy processing facility.  Products were nonfat milk powder and buttermilk powder packaged in 40- and 50-pound bags for further manufacturing.  This comes after regulators, conducted an investigation of the facility,  "observed poor sanitary practices and reviewed the company’s records, which showed positive results for Salmonella in the plant’s internal environmental and finished product samples. FDA investigators observed residues on internal parts of the processing equipment after it had been cleaned by the company and water dripping from the ceiling onto food manufacturing equipment. In addition, environmental swabs collected during the inspection confirmed the presence of Salmonella meleagridis on surfaces food came into contact with after being pasteurized." 

Through the use of whole genome sequencing on the Salmonella samples, it was determined that the strain found was persistant in that facility over time.  "The sampling results indicate that the Salmonella strains from 2016 are nearly identical to Salmonella strains found at the company in 2010, 2011 and 2013. These findings of Salmonella meleagridis at the company dating back several years demonstrate the existence of a persistent strain of Salmonella at this facility."  

No illnesses have been linked to the product to this point, but that may be due to a number of factors such as actual amount of organisms in product, the virulence of the organism, as well as the application of the milk powder and the type of processes used where this was an ingredient.


FDA News Release
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm531188.htm
Food regulators seize adulterated milk products for food safety violations
For Immediate Release
November 30, 2016