Last year, Chobani recalled yogurt due to extensive mold contamination. The recall was issued after numerous consumer complaints. According to the FDA Inspection report (page 6 if you really want to see), the Idaho Department of Agriculture knew about the mold issue 2 months before the recall. Idaho DofA denies this claim.
MagicValley.com
http://magicvalley.com/news/local/article_686ede3a-0735-5e15-90be-0eb801c48c87.html#.VIMXFpr9qOE.twitter
State Knew Chobani Yogurt was Tainted Months before Recall, FDA Says
December 05, 2013 2:00 am • By Joe Cadotte - jcadotte@magicvalley.com
TWIN FALLS • The Idaho Department of Agriculture saw moldy yogurt during a routine inspection at Chobani two months before the company issued a voluntary recall, says a U.S. Food and Drug Administration report obtained by the Times-News under a Freedom of Information Act request.
The state denies the FDA claim.
Showing posts with label yogurt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yogurt. Show all posts
Monday, December 8, 2014
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Moldy Yogurt Can Make You Sick
In September of 2013, a manufacturer of Greek yogurt recalled product in September of 2013 due to the fact that consumers were complaining of mold in the product. While it was claimed to be a spoilage mold, there were reported illnesses.
Researchers discovered that the mold found in yogurt, Mucor circinelloides f. circinelloides, can cause illness. While this organism is traditionally looked upon as a opportunistic pathogen, it can survive through the GI tract, as was seen in mice studies. The researchers also indicated the potential to produce harmful metabolites, although Mucor circinelloides has not been known to produce mycotoxins. According to the report, "This study demonstrates that M. circinelloides can spoil food products and cause gastrointestinal illness in consumers and may pose a particular risk to immunocompromised patients."
Now, it is hard to tell from this report whether there was an gastrointestinal infection associated with these cases or people are just reacting to the metabolites produced by the mold. Generally in past cases where infections have occurred in people, there have normally been underlying health issues in the person.
So from a more simplistic viewpoint, when one eats food that has mold that shouldn't be there, there is a good possibility it is going to give one an upset stomach, at the least. Molds will produce metabolites within the food, or even in the gut, that can cause an adverse reaction. Certainly some molds will be worse than others...some can produce really bad metabolites, some that have been categorized as mycotoxins, while others can cause infections, especially in high risk individuals.
It is interesting to point out, that manufacturer of the yogurt product has been critical of this report.
Consumers - Don't eat food that has mold that shouldn't be there, especially if you are in a high risk group.
Producers and processors - prevent food from unwanted mold...most of this can be prevented through good sanitation, but processing controls may also be needed.
MBio
http://mbio.asm.org/content/5/4/e01390-14
Analysis of a Food-Borne Fungal Pathogen Outbreak: Virulence and Genome of a Mucor circinelloides Isolate from Yogurt
Researchers discovered that the mold found in yogurt, Mucor circinelloides f. circinelloides, can cause illness. While this organism is traditionally looked upon as a opportunistic pathogen, it can survive through the GI tract, as was seen in mice studies. The researchers also indicated the potential to produce harmful metabolites, although Mucor circinelloides has not been known to produce mycotoxins. According to the report, "This study demonstrates that M. circinelloides can spoil food products and cause gastrointestinal illness in consumers and may pose a particular risk to immunocompromised patients."
Now, it is hard to tell from this report whether there was an gastrointestinal infection associated with these cases or people are just reacting to the metabolites produced by the mold. Generally in past cases where infections have occurred in people, there have normally been underlying health issues in the person.
So from a more simplistic viewpoint, when one eats food that has mold that shouldn't be there, there is a good possibility it is going to give one an upset stomach, at the least. Molds will produce metabolites within the food, or even in the gut, that can cause an adverse reaction. Certainly some molds will be worse than others...some can produce really bad metabolites, some that have been categorized as mycotoxins, while others can cause infections, especially in high risk individuals.
It is interesting to point out, that manufacturer of the yogurt product has been critical of this report.
Consumers - Don't eat food that has mold that shouldn't be there, especially if you are in a high risk group.
Producers and processors - prevent food from unwanted mold...most of this can be prevented through good sanitation, but processing controls may also be needed.
MBio
http://mbio.asm.org/content/5/4/e01390-14
Analysis of a Food-Borne Fungal Pathogen Outbreak: Virulence and Genome of a Mucor circinelloides Isolate from Yogurt
Friday, September 6, 2013
Chobani Recalls Greek Yogurt Due to Quality Issues
Chobani is recalling its Greek Yogurt due to issues encountered by consumers, namely product bloating / swelling. News reports suggest the issue may be related to mold and that there may be some related illnesses.
Initially the company cited this as a quality issue and did not recall the product. But after public outcry and a solid media beat-down, the company issued a recall and ceased distribution of the product (Guardian article below).
Chobani pioneered Greek yogurt, and now controls 35% of the Greek yogurt market. And this market has taken a serious bite out of the traditional yogurt markets, now accounting for about 1/3 of the US yogurt market. Much of this is due to the products higher protein content compared to traditional yogurt (see the nice NY Times article below).
This issue and the lack of a firm response will certainly give the competitors a leg up. Especially when this company had such a ‘consumer oriented’ brand. We’ll need to watch how market share changes after this incident. This case is one of those hard lessons all food companies can learn from.
FDA News Release
Chobani, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Greek Yogurt Because of Product Concerns
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 5, 2013 - Chobani, Inc., of Twin Falls, Idaho is voluntarily recalling Greek Yogurt.
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm367298.htm
The company has ceased the distribution of the product due to reports of product bloating and swelling and some claims of illness as the company continues its investigation to identify the root cause.
Initially the company cited this as a quality issue and did not recall the product. But after public outcry and a solid media beat-down, the company issued a recall and ceased distribution of the product (Guardian article below).
Chobani pioneered Greek yogurt, and now controls 35% of the Greek yogurt market. And this market has taken a serious bite out of the traditional yogurt markets, now accounting for about 1/3 of the US yogurt market. Much of this is due to the products higher protein content compared to traditional yogurt (see the nice NY Times article below).
This issue and the lack of a firm response will certainly give the competitors a leg up. Especially when this company had such a ‘consumer oriented’ brand. We’ll need to watch how market share changes after this incident. This case is one of those hard lessons all food companies can learn from.
FDA News Release
Chobani, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Greek Yogurt Because of Product Concerns
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 5, 2013 - Chobani, Inc., of Twin Falls, Idaho is voluntarily recalling Greek Yogurt.
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm367298.htm
The company has ceased the distribution of the product due to reports of product bloating and swelling and some claims of illness as the company continues its investigation to identify the root cause.
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