Hostess Expands Recall of Zingers Due to the Potential for Mold

Hostess Brands, LLC (“Hostess Brands”) is expanding its voluntary recall of certain Hostess® Raspberry Zingers® because the product may develop mold prior to the best by date.  The initial recall was issued on July 21, 2020.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/hostess-brands-llc-expands-voluntary-recall-certain-hostessr-raspberry-zingersr-due-potential-mold
Hostess Brands, LLC Expands Voluntary Recall of Certain Hostess® Raspberry Zingers® Due to the Potential for Mold
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 25, 2020
FDA Publish Date:  August 25, 2020
 Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential to contain mold
Company Name:  Hostess Brands LLC
Brand Name:  Hostess
Product Description:  Raspberry Zingers

Gift Baskets Packed with Peach Salsa Recalled Due to Usage of Potentially Salmonella-tainted Peaches

Russ Davis Wholesale (RDW) is recalling Peach Salsa under the Crazy Fresh and Quick & Easy brands in an abundance of caution due to possible contamination with Salmonella.  This recall is in response to Wawona Packaging initiating a recall of peaches early in the day August 22, 2020 as an ingredient provider to Russ Davis Wholesale.

Hard to tell if the peach salsa was processed using a heat treatment of just simply a fresh mix.  Being that the label on the peach salsa product required that the product be refrigerated, one could guess that at the most, it was a mild heat treatment.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/russ-davis-wholesale-recalls-peaches-and-peach-salsa-because-possible-health-risk
Russ Davis Wholesale Recalls Peaches and Peach Salsa Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 25, 2020
FDA Publish Date: August 25, 2020
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential for Salmonella contamination
Company Name:  Russ Davis Wholesale
Brand Name:  Crazy Fresh and Quick & Easy an Unbranded and Bountiful Fresh gift baskets
Product Description:  Peach Salsa and Gift Baskets

This Week in Mislabeled Product for Week Ending 8-29-20

Granola Bars Labeled Incorrectly - TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (NYSE: THS) is voluntarily recalling certain Chewy Granola Bars sold under the brand name Signature Select because the outer carton indicates that the product is Chocolate Chip variety, while some of the individually-wrapped product contained in the carton may be Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip variety.  TreeHouse discovered the issue after receiving three consumer complaints. At this time, TreeHouse has received one report of an allergic reaction associated with this product.

Worcestershire Contains Soy and Anchovies (Fish) -  Sauce of Iron River, Michigan is recalling two flavors of barbeque sauces, because the products contain undeclared Soy and Anchovies. This announcement was initiated after the omission on the label was discovered August 20 of this year during a routine operations inspection. This inspection revealed that two ingredients, soy and anchovies (fish), were used in the brand of Worcestershire sauce 

Egg Noodles Labeled as Other Noodles - Riviana Foods Inc. is voluntarily recalling 19,931 cases of certain coded Ronzoni Smart Taste Extra-Wide Noodle cellophane packages that contain an egg noodle product. The affected Ronzoni Smart Taste Extra-Wide Noodle packages do not declare the allergen “egg”, which is an ingredient in the noodle product. The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product containing egg was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of egg. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in Riviana’s packaging review processes.

Wrong Bag For Chips - Frito-Lay today issued a voluntary recall of select 1 oz., 1 1/2 oz., 2 5/8 oz., 7 3/4 oz., 12 1/2 oz., 15 1/2 oz. bags of Lay’s Barbecue Flavored Potato Chips because they may contain undeclared milk ingredients. The recall was initiated after it was discovered that bags of Lay’s Barbecue Flavored Potato Chips were inadvertently filled with another flavor of potato chips, potentially exposing consumers to undeclared milk.

Dry Dog Food Recalled After Sample Tests Positive for Salmonella

Sunshine Mills, Inc. is issuing a voluntary recall of Nature’s Menu® Super Premium Dog Food with a Blend of Real Chicken & Quail because of the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. 

"The potential for contamination was noted after the firm was notified by the Georgia Department of Agriculture when a sample of a single 3-pound bag of the product was collected and tested positive for Salmonella. The firm conducted testing of multiple samples of the same lot which all tested negative for Salmonella. Salmonella may not be evenly distributed throughout a lot which is why it could have been found on one sample and not on multiple other samples of the same lot. However, out of an abundance of caution, Sunshine Mills, Inc. has chosen to issue a voluntary recall of the above-referenced lots of Nature’s Menu® Super Premium Dog Food with a Blend of Real Chicken & Quail in furtherance of its commitment to the safety and quality of its products."

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sunshine-mills-inc-issues-voluntary-recall-natures-menur-super-premium-dog-food-blend-real-chicken
Sunshine Mills, Inc. Issues Voluntary Recall of Nature’s Menu® Super Premium Dog Food with a Blend of Real Chicken & Quail Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 24, 2020  

FDA Publish Date: August 24, 2020
Product Type: Animal & Veterinary  Pet Food
Reason for Announcement:  Salmonella
Company Name: Sunshine Mills, Inc.
Brand Name: Nature’s Menu
Product Description: Nature’s Menu Super Premium Dog Food with a Blend of Real Chicken & Quail

England - Farmer Convicted of Contaminating Baby Food With Metal Shards

In England, a farmer was convicted of contaminating baby food with metal shards in an attempt to extort money in exchange for revealing where the jars were placed.  He will serve between 8 and 17 years in prison.

https://news.sky.com/story/sheep-farmer-guilty-of-contaminating-baby-food-with-metal-and-blackmailing-tesco-staff-12053014

Sheep farmer guilty of contaminating baby food with metal and blackmailing Tesco staff

Nigel Wright, 45, tried to extort £1.4m in bitcoin from the supermarket, the Old Bailey heard

Thursday 20 August 2020

This Week in Mislabeled Products for Week Ending 8-21-2020

Ingredient Missed on Label - Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling Vegan Vanilla Cake from 21 stores across Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and one store in Tallahassee, Florida, due to an undeclared soy (soy milk) allergen.  This is a print-and-apply label.....seems like somebody needs a better process for inputting and verifying ingredient information on this print-on-demand labels.  

Brazil Nuts in Mixed Nuts, but Don't Belong There - Superior Nut Company of Cambridge, MA is recalling Southern Grove Mixed Nuts Less than 50% Peanuts, because it may contain undeclared Brazil Nuts. The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product containing Brazil Nuts was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of Brazil Nuts.

Wrong Potato Chips in the Bag - Frito-Lay announced a limited voluntary recall of a very small number of $1.29 1 1/2 oz. bags of Ruffles Original Potato Chips because they may contain undeclared milk ingredients.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that a small number of bags of Ruffles Original Potato Chips were inadvertently filled with another flavor of potato chips, potentially exposing consumers to undeclared milk.

Soup with Pasta and Meatballs Labeled as Chicken Noodle - Faribault Foods Inc., a Faribault, Minn. establishment, is recalling approximately 15,134 pounds of canned soup product due to misbranding and undeclared allergen- the product contains milk and soy, known allergens, as well as beef and pork, which are not declared on the product label.  The cans labeled as chicken noodle soup actually contain a meatball and pasta product.  The problem was discovered when the firm’s distributor notified FSIS of consumer complaints that the soup contained meatballs and pasta instead of chicken and noodles.

FDA Warning Letter - Firm with Allergen Mislabeling Issue

FDA issued a Warning Letter to a Pennsylvania company for an allergen mislabeling issue.  It started with the employee putting the wrong label on the back of the bottles.  While the company did issue a recall for the product, FDA issued a Warning Letter that the company did not "identify and implement preventive controls to provide assurances that any hazard requiring a preventive control (i.e., undeclared allergens) will be significantly minimized or prevented, and the food manufactured, processed packed or held by your facility will not be adulterated under section 402 or misbranded under section 403(w) of the Act, as required by 21 CFR 117.135(a)(1) and (c)(2). Specifically, {the company] did not identify and implement food allergen controls at the labeling step adequate to significantly minimize or prevent the hazard of undeclared allergens, as evidenced by your firm’s mislabeling the back ingredient label of the Vodka Sauce. This incorrect labeling caused your product to contain an undeclared major food allergen."

According to the Letter, "On March 20, 2020, after being notified by your customer of the mislabeled product, your firm recalled the Whole Foods brand Vodka Sauce. The Vodka Sauce, which contains milk, was mislabeled with Puttanesca Sauce back panel ingredient labels that do not declare milk. In documentation provided to the Office of Human and Animal Food Operations Division 2 East Recall Coordinator on March 20, 2020, you stated, “The associate that was changing over the label machine did not properly check the new roll of labels.” On June 10, 2020, you provided an updated “Procedure for Proper Packaging and Labeling,” and records of employee training as evidence of corrective actions taken by your firm."

A Warning Letter issued for allergen mislabeling is not common, and while it is hard to know the specifics of the situation, this action seems to be somewhat heavy handed.   

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/winter-gardens-quality-foods-inc-608240-08052020
Winter Gardens Quality Foods, Inc.
MARCS-CMS 608240 — August 05, 2020
Recipient:
Thomas Bross, IV
President
Winter Gardens Quality Foods, Inc.
304 Commerce Street
New Oxford, PA 17350-1723
United States

FDA Updates Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Thomson Intl Onions, Hello Fresh Issues Recall

FDA provided an update on the Salmonella outbreak associated with onions from Thomson International.  AS of 8/18/2020, there are 869 cases with 116 hospitalized.  As for cause, the investigation is till ongoing.

In a related recall, HelloFresh is directly its customers to discard all onions received from May 8 through July 31, 2020 after it was notified by its supplier that it used the recall onions.

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-newport-red-onions-july-2020
Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Newport: Red Onions (July 2020)
Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled onions from Thomson International, Inc. or products containing recalled onions..

Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 869
Hospitalizations: 116
Deaths: 0
Illness Onset Date Range: August 4, 2020

States with Cases: AK (15), AL (1), AZ (35), AR (2), CA (115), CO (25), CT (2), DE (2), FL (5), GA (6), HI (3), ID (34), IL (49), IN (3), IA (23), KS (2), KY (1), ME (5), MD (7), MA (2), MI (44), MN (18), MS (4), MO (10), MT (63), NE (10), NV (11), NH (1), NJ (2), NM (1), NY (10), NC (5), ND (9), OH (11), OR (94), PA (15), RI (2), SC (1), SD (20), TN (5), TX(2), UT (105), VA (10), WA (50), WV (2), WI (10), WY (17)

FDA Issues Warning on Bagged and Loose Peaches Due to Salmonella, Retailers Issue Recalls

Update (8/22) - FDA is including bagged peaches and peaches sold loose.  "On August 22, 2020, Prima Wawona expanded their recall to include bagged and bulk, or loose, peaches that they supplied to retailers nationwide."  The retailer Wegmans issued recalls for peaches as well as other products the store made from peaches.  Other retail brands were also recalled including Kroger and Prima.

FDA issued a warning on Wawona-brand bagged peaches sold at ALDI. FDA states in this warning that they are "investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections potentially linked to bagged peaches sold at ALDI stores in multiple states. The peaches are in Wawona-brand 2-pound, clear plastic bags sold in ALDI stores from June 1, 2020 until present. Based on information collected from ill persons, CDC has identified bagged peaches from ALDI stores as a likely source of Salmonella Enteritidis infections. As of August 19, 2020, CDC is reporting a total of 68 cases across 9 states.

For this level of contamination on tree fruit, there seems that the packing facility would need to be involved. One could guess the washing/rinsing system would need to have had the contamination. And with a product packed like this, it could appear as a ready-to-eat item so the consumer may be less likely to wash before eating. Not to say that the recommended washing, which is rinsing under running water, would eliminate a high level of contamination.

ALDI is voluntarily recalling assorted peaches received from this supplier, Wawona Packing Company.

ALDI has removed the affected peaches from select ALDI stores in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia

FDA Outbreak Investigation
https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-enteritidis-bagged-peaches-august-2020
Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Enteritidis: Bagged Peaches (August 2020)
Do not eat, sell, or serve Wawona-brand bagged peaches sold at ALDI stores in multiple states
Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 68
Hospitalizations: 14
Deaths: 0
Last Illness Onset Date: August 3, 2020
States with Cases: IA, MD, MI, MN, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WI
Product Distribution*: CT, IA, IL, KY, MA, MI, MN, ND, NH, NY, OH, RI, SD, VT, WI, WV
*Distribution has been confirmed for states listed, but product could have been distributed further, reaching additional states

This Week in Mislabeled Products for Week Ending August 13, 2020

Sub-Ingredients Not Listed, and Thus, Allergens Missed on Label - Serafin Fishery is recalling its 8-ounce containers of Salmon Dip and Whitefish Dip because they may contain undeclared anchovies, eggs, milk and soy.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered during an inspection conducted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development that the products’ labeling did not list all of the products’ ingredients. 

Wrong Chocolates in the Box - Abdallah Candies of Apple Valley, MN is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of Lund’s and Byerly’s 16 oz. sea salt caramels with code AC31 on the bottom of the box. The boxes contain sea salt almond caramels instead of sea salt caramels.

Supplier Error on the Sauce Packet Packaging - Haven’s Kitchen, legally known as Haven’s Kitchen Home, LLC of New York, NY is voluntarily recalling one lot of Golden Turmeric Tahini sauce because it may contain Gingery Miso sauce which contains undeclared soy. The recall was initiated after it was discovered that pouches labeled Golden Turmeric Tahini were filled with another flavor of our sauce that contains soy. Our manufacturer is investigating how the error occurred and is making any necessary changes to their production and packaging processes to ensure accuracy for our products.

Wine Windows Remind Us Of The Need to Find Ways to Live with Contagious Organisms

An article in Decanter describers the return of wine windows....small windows in which drink was served to patrons during the times of the bubonic plague.  Now with COVID-19, there is a move to revive these wine windows.

Hopefully, this scourge. like the bubonic plague centuries ago, will pass.  But it is important that we learn how to live with it, because who knows whether the next contagion  will be right around the corner.  Or if it will be worse.   Hiding from it will only get us so far, but as we have seen with this virus, we can manage.  We need to accept the masks just as we accept wearing shoes or underwear.  Giving people some extra space is not a bad thing.  Minding our own health conditions with a nod towards staying home if not right is also good.   

A glass of Chianti please.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_91BtNCQyh/?utm_source=ig_embed

Decanter
https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/wine-windows-italy-covid-19-442211/
Italian city reopens ancient ‘wine windows’ during Covid-19