NY Nut and Fruit Processor Source of Listeria Related Recalls

Over the past several days, many of the listeria - nut/dried fruit recalls have been linked to a company called HVF, Inc. AKA - Hudson Valley Farms. This includes the recent hummus recall due to pine nuts from HVF as well as other recalls such as protein bars from GoMarco, granola products from New England Bakers, and Protein Bars and Bits from Bulletproof 360. It is hard to tell what the ultimate source of these recalls, but clearly HVF is a major link, if not the primary source.

Here again is what appears to be an ingredient supply issue that triggers recalls among a number of further processing facilities.  In this case, the ingredient was produced by a very small processing facility - what kind of supplier controls were in place?  How legitimate is this supplier?

One concern was that the supplier information was not readily available online.  No website was present - was it there and taken down, or was there never one to start?  Wouldn't it be better to have a supplier who is there when there is an issue and to state the nature of the issue on their website?

It was difficult to tell the scope of the operation. According to a story in the Miami Herald, HVF is a company of 10 people or less. Looking further, it appears to be part of a larger group with the parent appearing to be a company called Bedemco, an importer of nut and fruit products.  HVF may just be a packing facility for this family run company.

 Not much on Bedemco either.  According to the LinkedIn page:

With four generations of experience, BEDEMCO INC. has become a leader and innovator in the import, export, packaging, market planning and development of a wide range of agricultural products. We supply bulk and packaged dried fruit, nuts, specialty products, sun dried and processed vegetables, including conventional, unsulfured and organic items, to an assortment of food industries throughout North America. We are committed to this industry - to source quality products and provide services efficiently and in a way that is globally responsible. With a wealth of accumulated experience in understanding this business and the varying needs and applications of our customers, we are uniquely qualified to assist you. All of us will work continuously to provide the products you need when you need them.

FDA Recall Notice
United Natural Trading LLC Announces Voluntary Recall of Products Containing Organic and Natural Chopped Dates Due to Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
June 16, 2017
Contact
Consumers & Media
Melissa McCullough mmccullough@unfi.com 732-650-9905

Announcement
View Product Photos


United Natural Trading LLC, Edison, NJ, is voluntarily recalling a limited number of products containing Organic and Natural dates (see below) and sold under the Nature’s Promise, Woodstock, Market Basket, and Wholesome Pantry brands due to a possible health risk from 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 symptoms. 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.

Description Lot Number Best By Date UPC# Nature’s Promise Organic Campfire Trail Mix 12oz. 17100 11/23/2017 688267066092
Nature’s Promise Organic Campfire Trail Mix 12oz. 17115 12/23/2017 688267066092
Nature’s Promise Cranberry Trail Mix 12oz. 17138 11/18/2017 688267066122
Nature’s Promise Cascade Trail Mix 12oz. 17158 12/30/2017 688267066160
Woodstock Organic Kumbaya Mix 10oz. 17096 11/23/2017 042563009366
Woodstock Organic Kumbaya Mix 10oz. 17124 11/23/2017 042563009366
Woodstock Organic Kumbaya Mix 10oz. 17100 11/23/2017 042563009366
Market Basket Cape Cod Cranberry Mix 10oz. 17132 12/30/2017 049705408322
Market Basket Cascade Trail Mix 11oz. 17156 12/30/2017 049705408377
Market Basket Fiber Frenzy 10oz. 17150 12/30/2017 049705409107
Wholesome Pantry Cape Cod Cranberry Mix 8oz. 17142 12/30/2017 041190054855
Wholesome Pantry Organic Trail Mix 8oz. 17142 12/14/2017 041190054992
Wholesome Pantry Organic Trail Mix 8oz. 17160 12/15/2017 041190054992


The lot numbers are printed on the back of each retail bag. The date containing products were shipped to retailers and distributors in limited quantities throughout the United States.

This recall was issued as a precaution because our firm received a recall notice from Hudson Valley Farms/ Bedemco recalling their natural and organic dates for potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

No illnesses have been reported in association with the recall and no other date containing products under the brands are being recalled to date.

Consumers who have any remaining product with these lot numbers should not consume it, but rather should discard it. Consumers should retain their store receipts, packaging reflecting lot numbers or any other proof of purchase they may have or return to the store for a refund. Retailers and consumers with questions may call Millie Carra at United Natural Trading, LLC customer service at 732-650-9905, which is open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (EST) Monday - Friday.

Miami Herald

http://www.miamiherald.com/living/food-drink/article156832414.html

FOOD & DRINK JUNE 18, 2017 9:41 AM

A small company has a big listeria problem

BY DAVID J. NEAL

dneal@miamiherald.com

Hudson Valley Farms is a food company claiming 10 or fewer employees. They don’t even have a working website. How big a deal could a listeria problem there be? Problem enough to be the source

for at least three of the seven listeria-related national food recalls posted to the FDA site Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Hudson Valley Farms makes nuts and nut butter products for various food manufacturers at its Highland plant two hours north of New York City. Listeria has been found at HVF’s plant. That nasty news at an ingredient supplier sends voluntary recall ripples among customer companies.

GoMacro director of operations Tony Saarem said Thursday that HVF supplied the almonds used in their recalled MacroBars and ThriveBars. Saarem said HVF told GoMacro Tuesday it was expanding a previous recall to include the production period covering the almonds that went to GoMacro.

GoMarco encourages customers with questions about the recall to phone Saarem at

608-627-2310 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or email him at

tony@gomacro.com.

HVF also supplied ingredients to New England Natural Bakers, which late Thursday announced a recall of its Organic Muesli, Evoke Organic Classic Swiss, Evoke Organic Athlete Fuel and Millville Fruit & Nut Whole Grain Granola. Consumers with more questions can call 413-772-2239 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Bulletproof 360’s recall notice for five of its Collagen Protein Bars and Protein Bites, sold nationally and internationally, stated HVF supplied the cashew butter used in the product. While listeria wasn’t on the equipment used to make that cashew butter, Bulletproof’s announcement stated, it was in another part of the HVF facility. Bulletproof’s customer service number is 425-434-9704, Monday

through Friday, from noon to 8 p.m.

Rest of article - http://www.miamiherald.com/living/food-drink/article156832414.html