Two NY Meat Operators Charged with Using Phony USDA Stamps to Upgrade Meat

Two Brooklyn meat cutters are charged with fraud for using fake USDA stickers to change cheaper grades of meat into more expensive ones.  "Howard Mora, 67, and Alan Buxbaum, 65, are on the block for allegedly loading up on “Choice”-grade beef and selling it as superior “Prime”-grade meat while at the helm of A. Stein Meat Products between 2011 and 2014."  If convicted, the pair face up to 20 years in prison.

NY Post
https://nypost.com/2019/09/24/beef-sellers-used-fake-usda-stamps-on-low-quality-cuts-feds/
Beef sellers used fake USDA stamps on low-quality cuts: feds
By Andrew Denney and Ebony Bowden
September 24, 2019 | 7:28pm

This Week in Allergen Related Recalls for Week Ending September 28, 2019

Third Party Packers Have Packaging Error - Weaver Fundraising, LLC (Indianapolis, IN) is voluntarily recalling 15 oz. tins containing Trail’s End Chocolatey Caramel Crunch because they may inadvertently contain almonds, cashews and pecans. The recalled tins of Chocolatey Caramel Crunch were distributed to consumers through Boy Scout councils located in Houston, Texas and Corpus Christi, Texas and none were sold thru retail. The issue stemmed from an error made by one of its third party packagers in labeling the tins, and the situation has been remediated.

Cookie Dough has Undeclared Nuts and Peanuts - California New Foods has issued a voluntary recall of frozen and refrigerated cookie dough products due to a lack of labeling that addresses the potential for the products to contain peanut and walnut allergens. The recalled products are not in production and are not currently sold in stores. Consumers, however, may have the products at home. The recall was necessitated by a consumer complaint.

Two Meat Processing Executive Face Up to Five Years in Prison for Cheating the Prison System

Two executives at West Texas Provisions Inc. face up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to selling more than 775,000 pounds of uninspected, misbranded or adulterated meat to 32 prison institutions in 18 states, for which the BOP paid $1,011,166.72.   They also processed whole cow hearts labeled as ground beef.  According to the report, "They kept the whole hearts offsite until inspectors left the premises, then processed the hearts on nights and weekends, when inspectors weren’t working".

Meatingplace
https://www.meatingplace.com/Industry/News/Details/87930
Execs plead guilty to selling adulterated beef to prisons
By Tom Johnston on 9/27/2019

Salmon Product Recalled After Product Tests Listeria Positive

Euphoria Fancy Food Inc of Brooklyn, NY is recalling its 7.05 oz packages of “CAPITAN K” salmon slightly salted pieces because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The contamination was discovered after sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture and Market Food Inspectors and subsequent analysis by Food Laboratory personnel revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenesin some 7.05 oz vacuum packages of “CAPITAN K” salmon slightly salted pieces.  Product was made in Russia. It appears to be a ready-to-eat product.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/euphoria-fancy-food-inc-recalls-capitan-k-salmon-fillet-due-possible-health-risk
Euphoria Fancy Food Inc. Recalls “Capitan K Salmon Fillet” Due to Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: September 20, 2019
FDA Publish Date: September 24, 2019
Product Type: Food & Beverages Fish
Reason for Announcement: Due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name: Euphoria Fancy Food Inc
Brand Name: Captain K
Product Description: Salmon slightly salted pieces

Eggs Fall Off Truck Onto PA Roadway

In Hegins Township, PA, a load of eggs fell off of a truck onto the roadway making it far less than egg-scellent driving conditions.  The driver of the truck said the containers fell over easy as the load shifted.  Motorists said it was no yolk  to drive on, especially where the road was dippy allowing the material to lay in the roadway.  Police worried that motorists rolling along too fast could be toast, having to shell out a lot of cash if there was a crack-up.  Cleanup crews scrambled to the site and hatched up a cleanup plan to remove the debris before a fowl smell developed.  Local resident flocked to the scene to chick'en on the situation.

https://www.newsbreakapp.com/n/0Mwr4fDs?s=i4&pd=01B3PIHz
136,000 eggs fall off truck into a Pennsylvania highway
whdh.com - 17 hours ago (9/26/19)

FDA Issues Warning Letter to NY Bakery for Rodents and Filth

FDA issued a Warning Letter to a NY Ready-to-Eat (RTE), baked goods manufacturing facility.
Due to the length of the write-up, a quick summary is here:

• No Preventive Controls Plan.
• Numerous rodents, rodent poop, and cockroaches around food and food contact packaging
• Filth was found on the packaging and on equipment
• Sanitation was inadequate for food processing equipment in terms of allergen control
• Facility had a bunch of issues - gaps in doors, poor flooring, etc
• Used color material that they should not have used
• Did not label allergen on label
• Etc

How does a facility like this operate?

WARNING LETTER
Crispy Delight Corp.
MARCS-CMS 585315 — September 06, 2019

FDA Warning Letter Issued to Processor of RTE Food

FDA Issued a Warning Letter to Flying Food Group, a group that makes RTE products for airlines.

Hazard analysis did not recognize Listeria as a hazard for exposed RTE product - ."....you did not appropriately evaluate environmental pathogens in accordance with 21 CFR § 117.130(c)(ii). You manufacture RTE foods that are exposed to the environment at several steps (e.g., meat slicing, produce cutting, batching, assemble product) where the food could be contaminated with environmental pathogens, such as L. monocytogenes, and the food does not receive a subsequent control for environmental pathogens."

Through FDA sampling, Listeria on food contact (zone 1) and adjacent areas (zone 2) -  "eleven environmental swabs collected by FDA during our most recent inspection were positive for L. monocytogenes. Of the eleven positive swabs, five swabs were collected from food contact surface areas, and six swabs were collected from areas adjacent to food contact surface areas."

There was no preventive control for Listeria - "As evidenced by environmental findings that indicate a resident strain of L. monocytogenes in your facility, environmental pathogens are a hazard in your facility; your sanitation controls (i.e., your SSOPs) are not adequate to ensure that your facility is maintained in a sanitary condition to significantly minimize or prevent the hazard of the environmental pathogen L. monocytogenes, as required by 21 CFR §§ 117.135(a)(1) and (c)(3)."

GMP issues 

• Did not clean your utensils or equipment as frequently as necessary to protect against allergen cross-contact and contamination of food - Exposed slices of meat were observed being stored on and in contact with the sides of a stainless-steel rack that contained visible debris.  Exposed single use food containers were observed stored inside crates that contained visible dirt and debris
• Employees were observed touching the sides of crates with visible debris without cleaning, sanitizing, or changing their gloves prior to handling bread slices used to make chicken & smoked bacon sandwiches.

Allergen not identified on Hazard Analysis even though different allergen groupings on shared equipment - You did not identify undeclared allergens and allergen cross-contact as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard requiring a preventive control. Your facility manufactures various products with different allergen profiles on the same day and on shared equipment. Your hazard analysis in “FSQ 01-01, General Food Safety/HACCP Plan 080218” considers allergens as potential chemical hazards at the (b)(4) and “(b)(4)” steps, indicating that allergens do not require a preventive control.

Missing Supply Chain Preventive Control for Supplier-Washed Leafy Greens - washing of leafy vegetables and conveying leafy vegetables in water-based systems such as flumes. You have indicated that such washing/sanitizing is done by suppliers or inhouse. When done by suppliers, a supply-chain program would be required. In addition, for RTE produce that does not have a kill step, you should evaluate the need for a supply-chain program that addresses growing/harvesting by farms, which may be your suppliers or your supplier’s supplier.

FDA Warning Letter
https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/flying-food-group-llc-581977-08122019
Flying Food Group, LLC 
MARCS-CMS 581977 — August 12, 2019

Florida Supermarket Closes Operations as State Finds Listeria Throughout Operation

A Florida grocery store closed its business after a reinspection by the State of Florida found Listeria throughout the operation.

"Samples collected on Sept. 9 found evidence of listeria bacteria on various surfaces around the store, leading inspectors to issue 15 stop-sale and stop-use orders. Inspectors last tested food samples from the Margate store on Aug. 6. Six samples were collected and no listeria was found. No illnesses have been reported."

Before it shut down, the store tried to sell of its product at fire sale prices.  Unfortunately, this included product that may have been subject to Listeria contamination.  This caused the State to issue an order to cease all operations.  Some of this product came from quarantined area.

It is a rare occurrence where a retail store is shut down by the State due to Listeria positive samples...it is also rare that a state department monitors Listeria in a retail operation to begin with.  In this case, the initial sampling occurred in the first quarter of the year with Listeria being found.  The retail established dumped product and resumed operations.  In September, the store was respected and Listeria was found again.  Easy to guess that if the State had sampled a month after the initial sampling, they would have found it.

South Florida Sun Sentinel
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-bz-penn-dutch-immediate-shut-down-20190919-itojdrhlpndtni7xs2366k2bwi-story.html
State shuts down Penn Dutch in Margate for ‘endangering public health’ over listeria
By Doreen Christensen
South Florida Sun Sentinel |
Sep 19, 2019 | 8:22 PM

CDC Report - Surveillance for Foodborne Disease Outbreaks United States, 2017 Annual Report

CDC issued report of foodborne illness in the U.S. -  Surveillance for Foodborne Disease Outbreaks United States, 2017 Annual Report.
 Highlights

• In 2017, 841 foodborne disease outbreaks were reported, resulting in 14,481 illnesses, 827 hospitalizations, 20 deaths, and 14 food product recalls.
• Norovirus was the most common cause of confirmed, single-etiology outbreaks, accounting for 140 (35%) outbreaks and 4,092 (46%) illnesses. Salmonella was the next most common cause, accounting for 113 (29%) outbreaks and 3,007 (34%) illnesses, followed by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, which caused 19 (5%) outbreaks and 513 (6%) illnesses, and Clostridium perfringens, which caused 19 (5%) outbreaks and 478 (5%) illnesses.
• Mollusks (41 outbreaks), fish (37), and chicken (23) were the most common single food categories implicated. The most outbreak associated illnesses were from turkey (609 illnesses), fruits (521), and chicken (487).
• As reported in previous years, restaurants (489 outbreaks, 64% of outbreaks for which a single location of preparation was  reported), specifically restaurants with sit-down dining (366, 48%), were the most commonly reported locations of food preparation associated with outbreaks.

Quality Control Office Pleads Guilty to Falsification of Records, Awaits Sentencing

A 60 year old woman, acting as a meat company's quality control officer, is now facing up to 5 years in prison for assisting the company's owner in falsifying E. coli test results.  The  owner of New England Meat Company agreed to a plea deal in August where he admitted that the test results were fake.

http://www.courant.com/breaking-news/hc-br-stafford-springs-guilty-fake-e-coli-tests-20190923-h7o7nmqnmvbftfdcid3j7stf4a-story.html
Stafford Springs meat packing plant employee pleads guilty to faking E. coli test results
By Zach Murdock
Hartford Courant |
Sep 23, 2019 | 5:14 PM

Caviar Recalled Due to Processing Error That Could Lead to C. botulinum Growth

Roland Foods, LLC of New York, New York is initiating a voluntary recall of its red and black lumpfish caviar products, which were manufactured at Ora ehf in Iceland, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum.  The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing found that the product experienced a processing issue.  Production and distribution of the product has been suspended as FDA and the company continue their investigation as to the source of the problem.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/roland-foods-llc-initiates-voluntary-recall-roland-red-lumpfish-caviar-and-roland-black-lumpfish
Roland Foods, LLC Initiates a Voluntary Recall of Roland Red Lumpfish Caviar and Roland Black Lumpfish Caviar Due to Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: September 20, 2019 

FDA Publish Date:September 20, 2019 

Product Type:Food & Beverages 

Reason for Announcement:  Potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum
Company Name:Roland Foods, LLC 

Brand Name: Roland
Product Description:  Red Lumpfish Caviar and Black Lumpfish Caviar

CDC Report - 2017 E. coli Outbreak Associated with Soy Nut Butter

 CDC released a report detailing the 2017 E. coli outbreak of E. coli O157 linked to soynut butter that resulted in 32 cases from 12 states with twenty-six (81%) cases occurred in children ( <18 years old) and with 8 of those children developing hemolytic uremic syndrome (impacting kidney function).

The facility had multiple issues as was detailed in the FDA 483 report. although the ultimate ingredient source was not identified.

Items of note from the report:

• The was the first time a peanut butter alternative such as soy nut butter has been implicated as the source of an outbreak of STEC infections in the United States
• More than one-quarter of the case patients developed HUS, and all but 1 were children <18 years old.  
• CDC identified a subcluster in an Oregon child care center where secondary transmission might have contributed to the spread of the outbreak -this serves as a reminder to child care providers of the importance of appropriate hand-washing and hygiene practices to prevent the spread of infections in these settings and that children with STEC O157 infection should be excluded from attending child care centers until 2 stool cultures (obtained at least 48 hours after antimicrobial therapy, if given, has been discontinued) have negative results for STEC.
• This outbreak serves as a reminder of the important role manufacturers play in preventing foodborne outbreaks and the role brand owners have in overseeing their product safety. Soy nut butter is a ready-to-eat food with a long shelf life, and multiple foodborne outbreaks have been identified over the past few years linked to other ready-to-eat, long-shelf-life foods, such as a powdered meal replacement product, sprouted nut butters, and chia powder.
• Product contamination may have occurred through use of a contaminated ingredient or cross-contamination from contact with contaminated equipment or surfaces during manufacturing. However, because ingredient sample results were negative and multiple objectionable conditions were identified during the facility’s inspection, it was not possible to determine which specific route led to product contamination.

https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2019/09/12/peds.2018-3978
A Multistate Outbreak of E Coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Soy Nut Butter

This Week in Allergen Related Recalls for Week Ending September 21, 2019

Chicken Meal With Soy Ingredient Labeled as Beef Meal Astrochef LLC., a Rockwall, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 11,475 pounds of frozen chicken pub style entrees labeled as beef pub style entrees due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the product contains soy, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.  The problem was discovered when Conagra Brands received consumer complaints reporting that the product was incorrectly labeled.

Cake Item with Egg Mislabeled as Lemon Dessert Bars with No Egg - .Schwartz Brothers Bakery of Seattle, WA is recalling 24 units of Lemon Dessert Bars, sell by date 09/21/19, because it may contain undeclared Egg.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that some of the Lemon Pound Cake, which contain Egg, was mislabeled as Lemon Dessert Bars. The Lemon Dessert Bars label does not declare Egg.

Wrong Product Labeled as Gluten Free Product - Perdue Foods, LLC, a Perry, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 495 pounds of frozen ready-to-eat chicken products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the product contains wheat, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label. The frozen ready-to-eat chicken products are labeled as gluten free chicken breast tenders but contain chicken nugget products. The problem was discovered when the company notified FSIS that they received two consumer complaints regarding the mislabeled product.

Peanut Butter Cookies Do Contain Peanut - Southeastern Grocers (SEG), the parent company of BI-LO, Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarkets and Winn-Dixie stores, is issuing a voluntary recall for two 18-count cookie products sold in the bakery due to the inclusion of an undeclared allergen in the products.  The 18-count Variety Pack containing Peanut Butter Cookies and the 18-count Peanut Butter Cookie did not include peanut ingredients on the label.

Bags of Flour Recalled After Sample Test Positive for E. coli

General Mills announced today a voluntary national recall of five-pound bags of its Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour with a better if used by date of September 6, 2020. The recall is being issued for the potential presence of E. coli O26 which was discovered during sampling of the five-pound bag product.  No illnesses have been reported.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/general-mills-recalls-five-pound-bags-gold-medal-unbleached-all-purpose-flour
General Mills Recalls Five Pound Bags of Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour

Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 16, 2019
FDA Publish Date:  September 16, 2019
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  E. coli O26
Company Name:  General Mills
Brand Name:  Gold Medal
Product Description:  Unbleached All Purpose Flour

Producer of Ultra-fresh, Organic Meals is Recalling Salads After Spinach Supplier Has E. coli Positive Samples

A California-based food company, self-described as a producer of ultra-fresh, organic meals,  is voluntarily recalling 76 salads and wraps that contain spinach that may be contaminated with E. coli.  Spinach from a supplier tested positive for a 'small amount' of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria.  Urban Remedy will no longer buy spinach from that supplier.  At this point, the product has already exceeded it's shelf-life date. 

Not sure whether it was pathogenic E. coli or generic E. coli.  Not sure what constitutes 'a small amount.'  Not really sure what differentiates fresh from ultra-fresh.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/urban-remedy-voluntarily-recalls-76-salads-wraps-may-contain-ecoli-bacteria-no-illnesses-reported
Urban Remedy Voluntarily Recalls 76 Salads, Wraps That May Contain E.Coli Bacteria No Illnesses Reported, Company Taking Preventive Action

Summary

Company Announcement Date:  September 12, 2019

FDA Publish Date:  September 13, 2019

Product Type:  Food & Beverages Prepared Food

Reason for Announcement:  may be contaminated with E. coli

Company Name:Urban Remedy

Brand Name: Urban Remedy

Product Description: Salads and Wraps

This Week in Allergen Related Recalls for Week Ending September 14, 2019

NY Ag and Markets Test Finds Undeclared Milk Allergen in Sports Drink - Stark Group International of Greenvale, NY is recalling all codes of its 100 gram packages of Ritter Sport -KAFFEESPLITTER because they may contain undeclared milk allergens.  The recall was initiated after routine sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspectors and subsequent analysis by Food Laboratory personnel revealed the presence of undeclared milk allergens in the 3.5 ounce/100 gram packages of Ritter Sport– KAFFEESPLITTER which did not declare a milk ingredient on the label.

FSIS Inspector Discover Missing Milk on Label Hy-Vee Fresh Commissary, an Ankeny, Iowa establishment, is recalling approximately 6,233 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) beef and chicken products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens - the products contain milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.  The problem was discovered during FSIS in-plant verification activities.

Internal Testing Finds Gluten in Gluten Free Product - Hometown Food Company today initiated a limited, voluntary, consumer-level recall of approximately 374 cases of two specific lot codes of its Martha White Gluten Free Sweet Cornbread Muffin Mix, due to standard quality batch testing that indicated the presence of gluten derived from wheat, rye, barley, or crossbreeds of these grains.

NY Ag and Markets Test Finds Undeclared Milk Allergen - Rong Shing of Brooklyn, NY is recalling 1) its 450g packages of FuPaiYuan Nougat candy amd 2) 450g packages of FuPaiYuan Matcha  candy because both products may contain undeclared eggs and milk allergens  The recall was initiated after routine sampling be New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspectors and subsequent analysis by Food Laboratory personnel revealed the presence of undeclared eggs and milk in the products which did not declare eggs and milk ingredient on the label.

CDC Updates Reported Cases of Hepatitis A Across Country

CDC updated their information on the nationwide Hepatitis A outbreak.  In August of this year, CDC reported 24, 280 cases.   Since that time, 1,200 more cases have been recorded, with the total at 25,484.

Interesting, California, one of the first states to report (and has a huge homeless population), had declared their outbreak over in 2018.

https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/outbreaks/2017March-HepatitisA.htm
Widespread person-to-person outbreaks of hepatitis A across the United States

At A Glance
Since the outbreaks were first identified in 2016, 30 states have publicly reported the following as of September 6, 2019

• Cases: 25,484
• Hospitalizations: 15,330 (60%)
• Deaths: 254

FDA Warning Letter Issued to MA Bakery for Being Nasty

FDA issued a Warning Letter to a Massachusetts bakery, a manufacture of Peggy Lawton Ready-to-Eat (RTE) bakery products, including cookies and brownies.  It seems like this operation checked all the boxes on inspection sheet.  This operation has been operating for over 60 years doing it they way they have always done it.  A write-up in the Boston Globe discusses the company and their success and challenges.  It can be guessed that because they do not sell into larger chains, there was probably never a third party audit conducted.  Keeping low key has allowed them to stay under the radar...unfortunately for their customers.

"FDA determined that "the RTE food products manufactured in your facility are adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) [21 U.S.C. § 342(a)(4)] in that they were prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have been rendered injurious to health. In addition, failure of the owner, operator, or agent in charge of a covered facility to comply with the preventive controls provisions of the CGMP & PC rule (located in subparts A, C, D, E, F, and G of part 117) is prohibited by Section 301(uu) of the Act [21 USC 331(uu)]."

• No Preventive Control Plan 
• Potentially contaminating product with raw flour (which we know can contain Salmonella) -  empty bags of raw flour were observed placed over racks of ready-to-eat brownies and in direct contact with the pans of cooling brownies
• Improper maintenance - tape is not acceptable for fixes - multiple layers of electrical tape were observed wrapped around a cookie die. The cookie dough is pressed out of the die to make dough in the shape of cookies.
• Improper surfaces for holding RTE product - ready-to-eat brownies were observed placed onto mats prior to being sliced. Areas of the mats appeared to be porous, and the ends of the mats were frayed.
• Unsanitary cleaning equipment - a wire brush duct taped to a wooden pole was observed being used to remove cookie crumbs from the chain conveyor located before the first cooling tunnel. The duct tape was frayed, and there was as an accumulation of apparent food residue on the handle of the wire brush and duct tape and on the bristles of the wire brush.
• Inadequately cleaned transfer containers -  the gray totes used for holding brownie scraps were observed to have an accumulation of apparent food residue on the inside of the tote that comes into direct contact with the brownie scraps that are used to manufacture brownies.
• Non-approved sanitation chemicals and poor cleaning practices- the agent used for cleaning and sanitizing food contact surfaces consists (b)(4), Production employees were observed using this mixture of (b)(4) to wipe down food contact equipment including brownie mats, round blades for slicing brownies, brownie packing line conveyor belts, and the conveyor belts on the cookie line.
• Backflow devices needed on hoses - a hose at a two-bay sink was connected to a drum containing floor cleaner. The hose was equipped with a shut off valve where the hose connects to the drum. The hose lacked an appropriate backflow prevention device.
• Inadequate hand washing stations -  the hand washing sinks located in the cookie packing room were observed to not be operating from May 28, 2019 – May 30, 2019. Additionally, the sink located in the ingredient prep area and the sink located between the dishwasher and floor cleaner dispenser were not equipped with hand sanitizer.
• Unsanitary employee clothing - an employee working in the brownie mixing area was observed to have heavily soiled pants at the beginning of the production day (approximately 5:35 AM) and the employee’s clothing became increasingly more soiled throughout the work day. The employee's soiled pants were observed coming into direct contact with the edge of the depositor hopper each time they leaned over the brownie depositor hopper as they scraped the contents of the brownie batter mixing bowl into the depositor hopper.
• Improper sanitation procedures - the equipment used to manufacture brownie batter was cleaned with water only; the cleaning did not include the use of detergent, physical scrubbing, and a sanitizer.
• Potential cross contamination issues - an employee was observed removing sheet pans of cooked brownies and placing them on a rack immediately beneath sheets pans of uncooked brownies. Additionally, your firm uses the same oven racks for holding sheet pans of uncooked brownies prior to placing the sheet pans in the oven and for holding pans of cooked brownies after they are baked. The brownie racks, which are not placed in the oven, are cleaned every (b)(4) to (b)(4) and were observed to be soiled with apparent uncooked brownie batter and cooked brownie particles.
• Improper dishwasher usage - the dishwasher is loaded along with water and detergent at the beginning of the day. This water/detergent mixture is recycled all day and is not discharged until the end of the day. Additionally, the dishwasher does not utilize a chemical sanitizing agent. The highest temperature achieved during a complete wash cycle according to the temperature monitoring probe on the dishwasher was observed to be 142 °F.
• Inadequate hand washing by employees - numerous occasions identified where employees did not wash their hands as they should have. (see item #9)
• Probable allergen cross contact - the last batch of cookies manufactured on May 28, 2019, consisted of Chocolate Chip Cookies (which contain walnuts), and the first batch of cookies manufactured on the same equipment on May 30, 2019 (the next day of manufacturing), were Oatmeal Cookies (which do not contain walnuts). The equipment was inspected at the end of the day on May 28, 2019, but on May 30, 2019, prior to manufacturing the Oatmeal Cookies, cookie and cookie residue were observed on the chain conveyors, turn tables, cookie magazines, and cookie chutes. You stated the last time the conveyors were cleaned was January 2019.
• Improper bulk storage with the potential for contamination -  an exposed bulk size (b)(4) was observed stored on top of unopened cardboard boxes (b)(4).
• Floors inadequately cleaned and maintained - The flooring near the brownie mixing station and brownie oven was observed to have an accumulation of apparent food residue and grime after cleaning was conducted on May 29, 2019. Additionally, floor tiles were observed in disrepair with an accumulation of apparent food residue and grime in the production area.
• Standing water, a big no-no in dry operations due to microbial proliferation - Water was observed pooling over the floor drain where brownie packing operations are conducted and where employees stand and walk when packaging brownies. Additionally, pooling water was observed in an area along the wall near the shortening dispenser in the brownie batter prep area. 
• Rust and flaking paint - Paint was observed to be peeling and chipping along the wall behind the flour sifter where opened buckets of flour were held.  And the door frames to the humidifier tunnel contained apparent rust and flaking paint.
• No training records - did not have records documenting training in the principles of food hygiene and food safety for employees who manufacture, process, pack, or hold brownies

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/peggy-lawton-kitchens-inc-586321-08292019

WARNING LETTER

Peggy Lawton Kitchens, Inc.
MARCS-CMS 586321 — 

August 29, 2019

Imported Spice Packets Recalled After FDA Sampling Finds Salmonella

House of Spices, an Indian food specialty company, is recalling its Sambar Masala spice after FDA had tested and found that the product was positive for Salmonella.  Based on the picture of the packaged which was posted on the FDA website, the product was sourced from the Middle East.

As part of the requirements, the importer of this product, House of Spices, would have been required to have a FSVP, or Foreign Supplier Verification Program in place, and as part of that program, measures in place to ensure that the supplier of this product had controls for hazards.   And with spices, Salmonella would be a potential hazard.  These measures could include:

• requiring a COA for each lot with sampling and testing from a reputable laboratory, 
• an onsite audit to ensure that 1) spices are being properly treated and 2) the facility had controls to protect against environmental contamination in mixing and packing areas
• the importers own testing protocol which would check incoming lots and serve as a verification of the COA.  One would be looking at large sample quantities (375 g rather than 25g) over multiple units within the lot. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/house-spices-india-issues-recall-mdh-sambar-masala-due-salmonella-contamination
House Of Spices (India) Issues Recall of "MDH Sambar Masala" Due To Salmonella Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date: September 07, 2019 

FDA Publish Date:September 07, 2019 

Product Type: Food & Beverages 

Reason for Announcement: Salmonella
Company Name: House Of Spices India 

Brand Name: MDH
Product Description:  MDH SAMBAR MASALA

Hamburger Buns Recalled After Dough Scrapper Gets 'Incorporated' into Dough

Conagra Brands is voluntarily recalling approx. 2,200 cases of Udi’s Classic Hamburger Buns due to the potential presence of small pieces of white plastic. "The company discovered the issue which occurred when a dough scraper was inadvertently incorporated into the production process for a small amount of the product."  'Inadvertently incorporated' could mean accidently dropped, left in mixer after use, etc.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/udis-classic-hamburger-buns-recalled-due-potential-presence-foreign-material
Udi’s Classic Hamburger Buns Recalled due to Potential Presence of Foreign Material
Summary
Company Announcement Date: September 06, 2019
FDA Publish Date: September 06, 2019
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement: Foreign Object White Plastic
Company Name:Conagra Brands
Brand Name: Udi's
Product Description:  Classic Hamburger Buns

Woman Suffers Severe Injury from Pressure Cooker

An Indian woman suffered a severe injury as the whistle (or pressure relief) from a pressure cooker shot off the canner into her eye and lodged into her scull.

These issues are rare, but serves as a reminder for those using pressure cookers or canners to pay attention when heating under pressure to prevent excess pressure from building up in the canner.  In this case, the woman was doing something else and had ignored the whistling sound generated by the canner and then tried to move the canner rather than just turning off the heat.

Other important measures to take..make sure your canner is clean and in good working condition, including the pressure canner/cooker pressure relief/whistler/giggler value is free of build up and the pressure monitoring gauge is working.  Be sure pressures are within the range called for in the recipe, and take corrective action such as reducing heat if the pressure goes a few pounds above that pressure.  If excessive pressures are reached, turn off the heat completely, and stay away from unit until pressure dissipates.

Fox News
https://www.foxnews.com/health/pressure-cooker-whistle-skull
Pressure cooker whistle shoots off, lodges into woman's skull
By Madeline Farber | Fox News
9/9/19

FDA Issues Consumer Advisory on Yellowfish Tuna Steaks Purchased from Kroger

FDA issued an alert on yellowfin tuna steaks sold through Kroger retail stores.  The issue is the potential for high histamine levels which cause scombroid poisoning.  The high histamine levels occur when the fish had been temperature abused, and when that occurs, spoilage microbes convert the amino acid histidine, which is present as part of the fish protein, to histamine.

"Scombroid symptoms usually develop within a few minutes to an hour after eating contaminated fish. They usually resemble an allergic reaction, such as flushing of the face, headache, heart palpitations, itching, blurred vision, cramps, and diarrhea. Symptoms can be treated with antihistamines. Even without treatment, people usually get better within 12 hours."

According to the report, "FDA became aware of multiple scombroid poisoning cases in individuals who consumed tuna steaks purchased from three separate Kroger retail locations in Ohio."

https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-consumers-not-eat-yellowfin-tuna-steaks-kroger-retail-stores-multiple-states
FDA Advises Consumers Not to Eat Yellowfin Tuna Steaks from Kroger Retail Stores in Multiple States
September 7, 2019

E. coli Outbreak in Philadelphia Affects 14, Source Not Yet Identified

Philadelphia health officials report an outbreak of E.coli that has affected 14, with ages ranging form 7 to 90.  While it is believed it is a 'shared restaurant exposure", no restaurant has been yet identified.

Update 9/9/2019 - 16 cases now reported. Link

Philadelphia Enquirer
https://www.inquirer.com/health/e-coli-outbreak-philadelphia-diarrhea-kidney-failure-food-20190905.html
Philadelphia officials issue health alert over E. coli outbreak
by Rita Giordano, Updated: September 5, 2019

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health on Thursday announced an outbreak of E. coli infections that has sickened 14 people so far.

This Week in Allergen Related Recalls for Week Ending September 7, 2019

Egg Not on Label - Great One Trading Inc. is recalling the above because it may contain undeclared egg. The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the product containing egg was not revealed on the packaging. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a mislabeling error by the manufacturer.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/great-one-trading-inc-issues-expanding-allergy-alert-undeclared-egg-fishball-products
Great One Trading Inc. Issues Expanding Allergy Alert on Undeclared Egg In Fishball Products
Summary
Company Announcement Date: September 04, 2019
FDA Publish Date:September 04, 2019
Product Type: Food & Beverages Fish
Reason for Announcement: Undeclared Egg
Company Name:Great One Trading Inc.
Brand Name: QQ Fish
Product Description: Fish Ball Products

The Story of Six Sigma Quality Management System

There is an interesting article in Quartz on Six Sigma, the quality management system championed by General Electric. It details how a tool for improving manufacturing precision and efficiency expanded to become guiding principle applied to all aspects of the company.  Employees worked to become green belts and then master black belts, designations for practitioners of Six Sigma.  In time however, GE's fortunes dropped from the high flyer of the 1990's, and with that, Six Sigma lost its luster.

GE was not the only company as many companies including a good number of food companies looked to have Six Sigma trained professionals in key positions.  As a technical professional, I had considered such training.  However, it was time consuming, costly, and difficult to justify.  Not to say these tools and concepts were not beneficial, but basic training in statistical process control and process improvement was sufficient for most applications.

It is not too far back in time when these tools were absolutely needed.  A good example was the US automobile industry of the 1970s and early 80s...you'd be lucky if a new car lasted 5 years without extensive repairs.  For food operations, process efficiency and waste were a major concern.  Now, measurement of many of these factors are automatically measured and controlled...items such as equipment downtime/uptime, fill weight, percent defective, etc.  Still, it is important for employees to understand these concepts and how to apply them in food manufacturing operations.

An important point to recognize is that this is a tool, but when that tool become the overall strategy or when leaders become overly obsessive in its use, then there can be ramifications.  In this case, as pointed out in the article, the company's focus did not support innovation and risk taking.

Quartz at Work
https://qz.com/work/1635960/whatever-happened-to-six-sigma/
DEEP SIXED
Whatever happened to Six Sigma?
By Oliver Staley6 hours ago

Modernizing the Standards of Identity - Names Should Mean Something

Is soy milk really milk?  This is one of a number of food questions that are likely to come up in FDA's upcoming public meeting on the modernizing the Food Standards of Identity.

While to most, the food standards of identity are not an overly exciting topic, but they do serve a purpose in establishing what defines a specific product.  "These regulatory standards specify the characteristics of hundreds of different foods, everything from frozen cherry pie to milk, but critics say many of these definitions are in desperate need of an update, including a definition of milk that specifies that the beverage come from a lactating animal." 

In recent times, there have been a number of  new-to-us type of products entering the marketplace, and they take on familiar names, because it is just easy to assign a name that customers are familiar with.  But is that right?  Sure we know soy milk is not really milk, but do we make assumptions about aht product, perhaps it has the same nutritional value of milk.  What about the producers of regular milk, should they not have some protections against infringement on what they make?  

And perhaps for soy milk, consumer understand that it is different, but will that always be the case?  I am one for having a name mean something.  If it is not the same, then call it something different.  And if it has that name, then there should be certain expectations for what that item is.  

FORBES
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennysplitter/2019/09/05/food-label-redux-fda-to-hold-public-meeting-on-food-standards-of-identity/#40e824187599
Got Food Label Confusion? FDA To Hold Public Meeting On Food Standards Of Identity
Jenny Splitter
Sep 5, 2019, 09:06am

Establishment Recalls 25,000 Pounds of Beef Due to Procedural Test and Hold Error

American Beef Packers, Inc., a Chino, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 24,428 pounds of raw beef products that are deemed unfit for human consumption.  The issue appears to be that the establishment shipped product that was sampled but had not been tested.  According to the report, "The firm notified FSIS on Aug. 30, 2019 that a carcass that was pending laboratory results had been erroneously released and further processed into raw intact and non-intact beef products." 


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-089-2019-release
American Beef Packers, Inc. Recalls Raw Beef Products Deemed Unfit for Human Consumption 
Class II Recall 
089-2019 
Health Risk:Low 
Aug 31, 2019