Hepatitis A Cases Linked to Fresh Blackberries

A hepatitis A outbreak has been "potentially linked" to blackberries sold by the Fresh Thyme grocery store chain.  To date, there have been 11 cases with 6 hospitalizations in 3 states - Indiana, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.    However, the distributor to Fresh Thyme distributes product in 11 states - Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.  While this product was purchased in the month of September (between September 9 and 30), there is concern that the product may have been frozen by some customers.

One would guess that someone involved in harvesting and/or initial distribution would have had the illness.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/21/health/blackberries-hepatitis-a-outbreak-trnd/index.html
Hepatitis A outbreak 'potentially linked' to blackberries from Fresh Thyme stores, officials say
By Harmeet Kaur, CNN
Updated 4:41 PM ET, Thu November 21, 2019

This Week in Mislabeled Product for Week Ending November 23, 2019

Chicken Product in Port Casing - BrucePac, a Silverton, Ore. establishment, is recalling approximately 55,550 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken sausage products due to misbranding, the products contain a pork casing, which is not declared on the label.  The problem was discovered when the firm notified FSIS that a third-party consultant identified the mislabeling.

Undeclared Sulfites in Dried Fruit - “Euroline Foods LLC” of Staten Island, NY is recalling its 17.65oz (500 gram) packages of “DRY FRUIT MIX “QUINCE COMPOTE” ” because they contain undeclared sulfites.  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 sulfites in the 17.65oz (500 gram) packages of “DRY FRUIT MIX “QUINCE COMPOTE”“ which were not declared on the label. Analysis of the “DRY FRUIT MIX “QUINCE COMPOTE” ” revealed they contained 31.7 mg per serving.  (The consumption of 10 milligrams of sulfites per serving has been reported to elicit severe reaction in some asthmatics. )

Salad Products Recalled Due to Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination

Missa Bay, LLC, a Swedesboro, N.J. establishment, is recalling approximately 75,233 pounds of salad products that contain meat or poultry because the lettuce ingredient may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7,  There have been 17 cases of illness and 7 hospitalizations.  The last case of illness was reported on November 1.  (list of products found here)

The salad products items were produced from October 14, 2019 through October 16, 2019. All of the product that would have been involved in the outbreak is already past the expiration date.

As part of a foodborne illness outbreak investigation, the Maryland Department of Health collected an unopened package of Ready Pac Bistro Chicken Raised Without Antibiotics Caesar Salad with FSIS EST number 18502B on the label. The state collected and tested individual ingredients in the salad and the lettuce tested positive for E. coli O157:H7.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-115-2019-release
Missa Bay, LLC Recalls Salad Products Due to Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination
Class I Recall
115-2019
Health Risk: High
Nov 21, 2019

Three Lots of Cheese Nips Recalled for Plastic from Misplaced Dough Scrapper

Mondelēz Global LLC is recalling three day lot codes of Cheese Nips (11 oz. Box) product in the United States due to the potential presence of small food-grade yellow plastic pieces from a dough scraper that was incorporated into the production process of a small amount of product. The company became aware of this issue when yellow plastic pieces were noticed on the manufacturing equipment.

How much will that $3 plastic dough scrapper end up costing?

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/mondelez-global-llc-conducts-voluntary-recall-limited-quantity-cheese-nips-11-oz-box-product-us-due
Mondelēz Global LLC Conducts Voluntary Recall of Limited Quantity of Cheese Nips (11 oz. Box) Product in the U.S. Due to Potential Presence of Foreign Material
Summary
Company Announcement Date: November 15, 2019
FDA Publish Date: November 20, 2019
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement: Potential presence of plastic
Company Name: Mondelēz Global LLC
Brand Name: Nabisco
Product Description: Cheese Nips

Great News for World Toilet Day, New PSU Toilet Bowl Treatment Improves Efficiency of the Flush

Penn State researchers have come up with a toilet bowl surface treatment to help improve efficiency of the flush by helping the removal of the 'stuff'.    The coating makes the toilets 'self-cleaning' in a sense.  No more skid marks!  What better news for World Toilet Day (November 19th).  (Who knew there was a world toilet day?.....How does one celebrate?  Yeah, that Kool and the Gang song is playing in your mind right now, substituting potty for party).

Anyhow, this coating could go a long way in reducing the level of water used in the restroom.  No word on what impact on reducing risk of microbial contamination, but one could expect it would help?

LINK to Video

PSU News
https://news.psu.edu/story/598131/2019/11/18/research/new-slippery-toilet-coating-provides-cleaner-flushing-saves-water
New, slippery toilet coating provides cleaner flushing, saves water Innovative coating could reduce toilet water consumption by half, increase water sustainability
Erin Cassidy Hendrick
November 18, 2019

MD Health Advises Consumers to Avoid Salad Bowl Kits After Linked to E. coli Outbreak

The Maryland Department of Health is advising consumers to not eat Ready Pac Bistro® Bowl Chicken Caesar Salad, lot #255406963, “Best By” date Oct. 31, 2019 after the product was linked to 7 cases of E,coli O157:H7 illness.   According to the report, "Testing of unopened salad purchased by one of the patients identified the presence of E. coli O157 in the romaine lettuce. In addition to Sam’s Club, these salad bowls are distributed to many other retailers. The investigation is ongoing and additional laboratory testing is pending. There have been prior outbreaks of E. coli O157 linked to romaine lettuce."

https://health.maryland.gov/newsroom/Pages/Maryland-Department-of-Health-investigating-E--coli-cluster.aspx

Maryland Department of Health investigating E. coli cluster
November 18, 2019

Cottage Cheese Recalled after Complaints for Plastic and Metal

Kraft Heinz is recalling Breakstone’s Cottage Cheese are voluntarily being recalled due to the potential presence of pieces of red plastic and metal that may have been introduced during production.   The company discovered the issue when it was notified by a consumer of the presence of a piece of red plastic in a container of cottage cheese. There have been six consumer complaints and no reports of illness or injury related to this issue to date

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/select-varieties-breakstones-cottage-cheese-are-voluntarily-being-recalled-due-potential-presence
Select Varieties of Breakstone’s Cottage Cheese are Voluntarily Being Recalled Due to Potential Presence of Foreign Material
Summary
Company Announcement Date: November 15, 2019 

FDA Publish Date:November 15, 2019 

Product Type:Food & Beverages 

Reason for Announcement:  Potential presence of plastic and metal
Company Name:Kraft Heinz Foods Company
Brand Name: Breakstone’s
Product Description: Cottage Cheese

Europe - Frozen Cooked Crayfish Linked to Salmonella Outbreak

In Sweden, frozen cooked RTE crayfish have been linked to a Salmonella outbreak.  The product was sourced from China.  About 30 people have been infected.

https://vaaju.com/swedeneng/ica-recalls-large-crayfish-after-salmonella-alarms/
Ica recalls large crayfish after salmonella alarms
November 8, 2019 Business 0 Views
by Niklas Eriksson
November 8, 2019 16:21

Natural Grocery Store Recalling Organic Soybeans Due to Mold.

Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Markets, Inc., a Lakewood, Colorado-based natural grocery chain, is recalling Natural Grocers brand 2-pound Organic Soybeans because they have the potential to contain mold.  The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by the company revealed the presence of mold.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/natural-grocers-issues-recall-organic-soybeans-due-mold
Natural Grocers Issues Recall on Organic Soybeans Due to Mold
Summary
Company Announcement Date: November 13, 2019

FDA Publish Date: November 13, 2019 

Product Type: Food & Beverages 

Reason for Announcement: Potential to contain mold
Company Name:Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Markets, Inc.

Brand Name: Natural Grocers
Product Description: Organic Soybeans