Oklahoma Dairy Facility Recalls Containers of Milk Due to Presence of Residual Sanitizer

"Hiland Dairy is announcing a recall of the one-half pint (236 mL) 1% low fat chocolate milk that was produced at its Norman, Oklahoma facility only. Some of the products may contain food-grade sanitizers, which could cause illness if consumed....  Hiland Dairy initially learned of a potential issue and then confirmed after internal quality-control testing at the Norman, Oklahoma facility. "

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/hiland-dairy-announces-recall-hiland-dairy-half-pint-1-low-fat-chocolate-milk-cartons
Hiland Dairy Announces Recall of Hiland Dairy Half-Pint 1% Low Fat Chocolate Milk Cartons
Protocols were not followed at the Norman, Oklahoma facility resulting in a small amount of one product being incorrectly filled
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  January 17, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  January 17, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages   Milk/Milk Product
Reason for Announcement:  May contain food-grade sanitizers
Company Name:  Hiland Dairy
Brand Name:  Hiland Dairy
Product Description:  1% low fat chocolate milk

Virginia Company Recalls Butter After Positive Listeria Test

Homestead Creamery Inc of Wirtz, VA, is recalling our unsalted butter because of the potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes,  There have been no reported illnesses.  The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by Homestead Creamery and revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in our unsalted butter.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/homestead-creamery-recall-unsalted-butter-because-possible-health-risk
Homestead Creamery Recall “Unsalted” Butter Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: April 01, 2020
FDA Publish Date:  April 17, 2020
Product Type:  Food & Beverages   Butter/Butter Product
Reason for Announcement:  Foodborne Illness Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Homestead Creamery Inc.
Brand Name:  Homestead Creamery
Product Description:  Unsalted Butter

Orange Cream Bars Recalled After Lot Tests Positive for Listeria

A NY firm is recalling 340 cases  of orange cream bars due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.  This comes after the company's routine testing revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in another production lot that had been fully contained.

Unfortunately, in these cases where Listeria is found in product, the recall often is expanded unless the company can clearly demonstrate that Listeria control had been maintained over time with some plausible exception for the lot that tested positive.

FDA Recall Notice
https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm591580.htm
Fieldbrook Foods Corporation, Announces a Voluntary Recall of Orange Cream Bars for Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
January 5, 2018

Dairy Calves Linked to Outbreak of Antibiotic Resistant Strain of Salmonella

CDC has identified an ongoing Salmonella outbreak associated with dairy calves.  The calves originated in Wisconsin.  The ongoing outbreak has progressed for some time, dating back to January 2015, with now 54 people in 15 states.  It is a multidrug resistant strain of Salmonella Heidelberg.

Dairy Herd Management
https://www.dairyherd.com/index.php/article/cdc-links-salmonella-outbreak-contact-dairy-calves
CDC Links Salmonella Outbreak to Contact with Dairy Calves
John Maday
November 16, 2017 10:18 AM

Still More Recalls Linked to Dairy Powder with Potential Salmonella Contamination

More recalls have been issued for the potentially contaminated dried dairy powder.
The recall list was last posted on January 2.  Since then, recalls have been posted by Hostess for their White Peppermint Twinkies,  Palmer for certain chocolate candies, HyVee for candy products,  Tupperware for a seasoning product, and Dutch Valley for a snack mix.  Thus far, there have been no reported illnesses and not product has testing positive for the Salmonella pathogen.

Hostess Brands, LLC Issues Voluntary Recall of Limited-Edition Holiday White Peppermint Hostess® Twinkies® because of Possible Health Risk
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm536055.htm
For Immediate Release - January 9, 2017

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Blue Bell Ice Cream Linked to 3 Deaths of Hospitalized Patients

Blue Bell ice cream is being linked to 3 deaths and 2 other illnesses that occurred in one Kansas hospital and over the course of one year.  The patients were not hopitalized for Listeria but came into contact it while there at the hospital.  All were older patients.  While the patients were infected with one of four strains, 3 of the strains have been found in product samples by South Carolina Dept of Health during routine testing.  After investigating the facility, Texas Department of Health collected samples from the manufacturing facility and found the organisms in the same products.

A later news report stated that officials said that Listeria may be a factor and that four of the five ate milkshakes made with the ice cream. Interesting.

So a few things to note.
1) To date, this is the only setting that had an outbreak.  Why one hospital?
2) Was product handled by the hospital?  It would appear so that milkshakes were made from the ice cream.

So while it is yet to be determined, if you had to guess, could it be that indeed the Listeria was present in the ice cream, but the fact that milkshakes were served, could indicate that though handling and preparation, the organism was able to grow to a higher level within the milkshake during preparation and handling.  Could it be that the patients left the milkshake warm up before eating, or ate it over the period of a day.  So this served as amplification step?  Perhaps this is why we didn't see any cases associated with frozen treats?  You are not going to eat them after they melted.  Of course this is all hard to tell based upon the limited information provided in the news reports.

KRQE News 13
http://krqe.com/ap/officials-listeriosis-not-cause-of-3-deaths-may-be-factor-2/
Officials: Listeriosis not cause of 3 deaths, may be factor
By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and JUAN A. LOZANO, The Associated Press Published: March 14, 2015, 5:19 pm Updated: March 14, 2015, 5:19 pm

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (AP) — A foodborne illness linked to some ice cream products might have been a contributing factor in the deaths of three hospital patients in Kansas, health officials said Saturday.

But listeriosis didn’t cause the deaths, according to Kansas Department of Health and Environment spokeswoman Sara Belfry.

Officials have not released the names of the five patients at Via Christi St. Francis hospital in Wichita, Kansas, who developed listeriosis in after eating products from one production line at the Blue Bell creamery in Brenham, Texas.

But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the five individuals were older adults and three of them are women. The CDC did not specify the gender of those patients who died.