The US Court of Appeals is allowing the country of origin labeling requirement (COOL) to move forward despite the challenge by meat producers.
The law will require processors and retailers to list where the animals used in the product were born, raised and slaughtered.
While this will provide information to consumers, there is no doubt it will add costs to the system. Just are important is that many countries such as Canada and Mexico will look at this as a trade barrier and may inflict retaliatory tactics to US trade.
Are the costs worth it? Do consumers really care?
Reuters
http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/03/28/usa-courts-regulations-food-idINL1N0MP1C920140328
U.S. meat groups thwarted in bid to block country-of-origin labels
(Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Friday rejected a challenge by meat producers to a federal regulation that specifies labeling requirements for certain meat products, a move applauded by rancher and consumer groups.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Fresh Express Recalls Packages of Salad Due to Listeria
Fresh Express is recalling 10oz and 6 oz packages of Italian Salad due to the potential to be contaminated with Listeria. The product in question is already past its stated expiration date.
There was no information on how the issue was discovered.
FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm391048.htm
Fresh Express Issues Recall of Limited Quantity of Already Expired Italian Salad Due to Possible Health Risk, No Illnesses Cited
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 28, 2014 - Salinas, California – Fresh Express Incorporated has issued a recall of a limited number of cases of 10 oz. and 6oz. Italian Salad with the already expired Use-by Date of March 26 and a Product Code of H071A11A due to a possible health risk from Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses have been reported in association with the recall and no other Fresh Express products are being recalled.
There was no information on how the issue was discovered.
FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm391048.htm
Fresh Express Issues Recall of Limited Quantity of Already Expired Italian Salad Due to Possible Health Risk, No Illnesses Cited
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 28, 2014 - Salinas, California – Fresh Express Incorporated has issued a recall of a limited number of cases of 10 oz. and 6oz. Italian Salad with the already expired Use-by Date of March 26 and a Product Code of H071A11A due to a possible health risk from Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses have been reported in association with the recall and no other Fresh Express products are being recalled.
Reaching Consumers with Product Safety Information - A Challenge for FSMA Regulation
On March 26th, FDA issued advanced notice of their proposed Implementation of the Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act Amendments to the Reportable Food Registry Provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act(link). In summary, FDA is looking for a way to communicate food safety product notices (recalls) to consumers. The objectives are for companies to provide standardized information to FDA, FDA to develop a one-page recall notice regarding that food safety issue with a reportable food, and then that notice will then be distributed by the retail outlets, or grocery chains, to the consumers.
Sounds easy enough, however, there are many challenges in establishing a protocol that will work. Chiefly among them is the fact that consumers are not an easy group to reach with recall this type of information. So how do retailers do this to a point where it is not costly? And from a practical standpoint, will this mandated system have an impact compared to what currently happens today?
This has implications for the manufacturers, but more so for the grocery chains.
Here is a ‘quick’ summary, much taken directly from the seven page document published in the Federal Register.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Two companies vie for Sunland Foods plant
The vultures move in to pick the bones of the Sunland Food company - two companies are bidding for the food plant after Sunland went out of business due to a Salmonella related recall.
Hopefully, the lucky buyer has done their due diligence to ensure that the Salmonella is out of the plant.
The New York Times
Canadian Firm Wins Bidding for Peanut Butter Plant
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2014/03/26/us/ap-us-peanut-butter-plant.html?ref=aponline&_r=3
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSMARCH 26, 2014, 6:57 P.M. E.D.T.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A federal judge Wednesday approved a Canadian company's last-minute $26 million cash offer for an eastern New Mexico peanut butter plant that went bankrupt after a salmonella outbreak and nationwide recall.
But the fight for Sunland Inc. appears far from over.
Lawyers for Hampton Farms of Severn, N.C., which won a first round of bidding for the company last week, were laying the groundwork for an appeal throughout the new auction and hearing where the sale to Golden Boy Foods Ltd. was approved.
At Wednesday morning's bidding, Hampton Farms increased its offer to $25.1 million, but only after making it clear it was doing so under protest and without waiving its right to appeal the ruling that forced the second round of bidding. The hearing to approve the sale was also peppered with motions and testimony aimed at appeal.
Hampton Farms bid $20 million for the plant March 20. But just minutes before a court hearing Friday to approve the sale, Golden Boy Foods called the bankruptcy trustee, Clarke Coll, with a $25 million cash offer.
Hopefully, the lucky buyer has done their due diligence to ensure that the Salmonella is out of the plant.
The New York Times
Canadian Firm Wins Bidding for Peanut Butter Plant
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2014/03/26/us/ap-us-peanut-butter-plant.html?ref=aponline&_r=3
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSMARCH 26, 2014, 6:57 P.M. E.D.T.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A federal judge Wednesday approved a Canadian company's last-minute $26 million cash offer for an eastern New Mexico peanut butter plant that went bankrupt after a salmonella outbreak and nationwide recall.
But the fight for Sunland Inc. appears far from over.
Lawyers for Hampton Farms of Severn, N.C., which won a first round of bidding for the company last week, were laying the groundwork for an appeal throughout the new auction and hearing where the sale to Golden Boy Foods Ltd. was approved.
At Wednesday morning's bidding, Hampton Farms increased its offer to $25.1 million, but only after making it clear it was doing so under protest and without waiving its right to appeal the ruling that forced the second round of bidding. The hearing to approve the sale was also peppered with motions and testimony aimed at appeal.
Hampton Farms bid $20 million for the plant March 20. But just minutes before a court hearing Friday to approve the sale, Golden Boy Foods called the bankruptcy trustee, Clarke Coll, with a $25 million cash offer.
CDC's An Atlas of Salmonella
Plot a bunch of illness-causing strains of Salmonella over 4 decades onto the maps of the US and you get the Atlas of Salmonella. There are those geeks out there (you know who you are) that will really stick their nose in this, and some that may even consider wall papering their bathroom with it, but for most others.....not really sure at this point.
CDC Website
http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/
New! Public health scientists have tracked Salmonella infections in the United States since 1962. By identifying the structures on the bacteria’s surfaces, scientists can classify the many types of Salmonella into serotypes.
An Atlas of Salmonella in the United States, 1968-2011
[PDF - 248 pages] is the first-of-its-kind report that charts over 40 years of laboratory-confirmed surveillance data on 32 Salmonella serotypes. The report includes analyses by age, sex, season, and geography, down to the county level. This is the first time CDC has posted these data online in a downloadable format.
CDC Website
http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/
New! Public health scientists have tracked Salmonella infections in the United States since 1962. By identifying the structures on the bacteria’s surfaces, scientists can classify the many types of Salmonella into serotypes.
An Atlas of Salmonella in the United States, 1968-2011
[PDF - 248 pages] is the first-of-its-kind report that charts over 40 years of laboratory-confirmed surveillance data on 32 Salmonella serotypes. The report includes analyses by age, sex, season, and geography, down to the county level. This is the first time CDC has posted these data online in a downloadable format.Additional egg products recalled in light of FSIS investigation
Updated 4/1/14
USDA issued a public health alert for egg products due to the fact they were unfit for human consumption. This comes as FSIS investigates a recall that occurred by the Washington state company, Nutriom for a recall they had last month.
It has come to light in this notice that "FSIS issued the original recall because the company allegedly recorded false laboratory results. The company allegedly produced negative laboratory results for Salmonella when the results were actually positive, or reported that sampling had occurred when, in fact, no microbial testing was performed".
This recall expands the previous recall by an additional 118,500 lbs from the original 226,710 lbs. However, the company refused to recall the additional amount and so now FSIS will remove it.
Based upon the letter written by Nutriom in response to the USDA, Nutriom disagreed with the USDA. Further, it indicates the record keeping irregularities were the responsibility of one individual who is no longer with the company.
So it appears from that statement that this is not a system wide issue, but rather a rouge employee issue.
Nutriom produces a dried egg product using a new technology. Salmonella is an issue in egg products and in dried products, so it is important for the process to be sufficient to rid the eggs of pathogens like Salmonella, but it is also important to prevent recontamination of the eggs in the post process environment. Salmonella can survive in dry products and dry process environments for long periods of time, and so can become a environmental contaminate if not controlled.
Nutriom LLC Response to USDA-FSIS Announcement
Nutriom products found to be safe by USDA-FSIS laboratory. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/03/prweb11713376.htm
Lacey, WA (PRWEB) March 29, 2014
Nutriom LLC is a small, family-owned and operated company, founded by an immigrant who came to this country more than 30 years ago looking for opportunity. Nutriom has developed a new technology for dehydrating eggs using its unique, patent-pending drying technology. Nutriom produces a dehydrated egg (“Egg Crystals™”) that when mixed with water and cooked, functions and tastes just like fresh eggs. It is 100% all-natural, pure egg with no added chemicals or preservatives.
USDA issued a public health alert for egg products due to the fact they were unfit for human consumption. This comes as FSIS investigates a recall that occurred by the Washington state company, Nutriom for a recall they had last month.
It has come to light in this notice that "FSIS issued the original recall because the company allegedly recorded false laboratory results. The company allegedly produced negative laboratory results for Salmonella when the results were actually positive, or reported that sampling had occurred when, in fact, no microbial testing was performed".
This recall expands the previous recall by an additional 118,500 lbs from the original 226,710 lbs. However, the company refused to recall the additional amount and so now FSIS will remove it.
Based upon the letter written by Nutriom in response to the USDA, Nutriom disagreed with the USDA. Further, it indicates the record keeping irregularities were the responsibility of one individual who is no longer with the company.
So it appears from that statement that this is not a system wide issue, but rather a rouge employee issue.
Nutriom produces a dried egg product using a new technology. Salmonella is an issue in egg products and in dried products, so it is important for the process to be sufficient to rid the eggs of pathogens like Salmonella, but it is also important to prevent recontamination of the eggs in the post process environment. Salmonella can survive in dry products and dry process environments for long periods of time, and so can become a environmental contaminate if not controlled.
Nutriom LLC Response to USDA-FSIS Announcement
Nutriom products found to be safe by USDA-FSIS laboratory. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/03/prweb11713376.htm
Lacey, WA (PRWEB) March 29, 2014
Nutriom LLC is a small, family-owned and operated company, founded by an immigrant who came to this country more than 30 years ago looking for opportunity. Nutriom has developed a new technology for dehydrating eggs using its unique, patent-pending drying technology. Nutriom produces a dehydrated egg (“Egg Crystals™”) that when mixed with water and cooked, functions and tastes just like fresh eggs. It is 100% all-natural, pure egg with no added chemicals or preservatives.
Homemade Mexican-style cheese results in numerous cases of salmonellosis
There appears to be a Salmonella outbreak in Illinois from what we would call 'homemade' or 'black market' Mexican-style cheese. The cheese is unlabeled and is sold in the untraditional channels...aka street vendors, workplace associates, back streets, etc....
You know the commercial......
Don't buy unlabeled cheese from a back alley vendor named Al and wind up praying for death while lying on cold bathroom floor tile.
Chicago Sun-Times
http://www.suntimes.com/news/26480179-418/health-officials-salmonella-linked-to-unlabeled-mexican-style-cheese.html
Health officials: Salmonella linked to unlabeled Mexican-style cheese
BY JORDAN OWEN Staff Reporter March 27, 2014 3:26PM
Updated: March 27, 2014 3:32PM
The Illinois Department of Public Health issued a warning Thursday, saying 100 people have contracted salmonella linked to illegally manufactured Mexican-style cheeses.
Health departments in Cook, DuPage, Boone, Fayette, Kane, Lake, LaSalle, Macon, Marion, McHenry, Vermillion, Washington and Will counties have reported about 100 cases of salmonella believed to be associated with the cheese since July 2012, according to a statement from the department.
IDPH is working to identify the manufacturer of the contaminated cheese, according to the department.
Many cases have reported consuming Mexican-style cheese obtained from worksites, including factories, and at train stations, from street vendors and from relatives and friends, the department said. The cheese is not labeled and is often wrapped in aluminum foil.
You know the commercial......
Don't buy unlabeled cheese from a back alley vendor named Al and wind up praying for death while lying on cold bathroom floor tile.
Chicago Sun-Times
http://www.suntimes.com/news/26480179-418/health-officials-salmonella-linked-to-unlabeled-mexican-style-cheese.html
Health officials: Salmonella linked to unlabeled Mexican-style cheese
BY JORDAN OWEN Staff Reporter March 27, 2014 3:26PM
Updated: March 27, 2014 3:32PM
The Illinois Department of Public Health issued a warning Thursday, saying 100 people have contracted salmonella linked to illegally manufactured Mexican-style cheeses.
Health departments in Cook, DuPage, Boone, Fayette, Kane, Lake, LaSalle, Macon, Marion, McHenry, Vermillion, Washington and Will counties have reported about 100 cases of salmonella believed to be associated with the cheese since July 2012, according to a statement from the department.
IDPH is working to identify the manufacturer of the contaminated cheese, according to the department.
Many cases have reported consuming Mexican-style cheese obtained from worksites, including factories, and at train stations, from street vendors and from relatives and friends, the department said. The cheese is not labeled and is often wrapped in aluminum foil.
NY Company recalls cheese spreads because of linkage to Parkers Farm product
Oscar's Smokehouse is recalling 11 cheese spreads due to the potential to be contaminated with Listeria. This recall is linked to the Parkers Farm recall in that this company used the Parkers Farm product as the base for making their products.
FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm390751.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Oscar’s Smokehouse, Inc. Recalls “Eleven Varieties (11) Of Cheese Spreads” Because of Possible Health Risk
Contact:
Consumer:
1-800-627-3431
Jerold Quintal
518-623-3431
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 26, 2014 - Oscars Smokehouse Inc. of Warrensburg, New York is recalling eleven (11) of its 7-oz. “CHEESE SPREADS” varieties marked with 3 digit lot numbers ranging from” 719-959” because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes:
FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm390751.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Oscar’s Smokehouse, Inc. Recalls “Eleven Varieties (11) Of Cheese Spreads” Because of Possible Health Risk
Contact:
Consumer:
1-800-627-3431
Jerold Quintal
518-623-3431
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 26, 2014 - Oscars Smokehouse Inc. of Warrensburg, New York is recalling eleven (11) of its 7-oz. “CHEESE SPREADS” varieties marked with 3 digit lot numbers ranging from” 719-959” because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes:
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Canadian company recalls cheesy bread due to Listeria
A Canadian company is recalling breaded items with cheese after the product was found to have Listeria. There have been no illnesses associated with the bread items.
This is an interesting case because it is rare that we find a bread item with microbiological pathogen issues, especially Listeria. However, since this is a bread item with cheese, this is what makes it different than regular bread. Being that the Canadian recall notice is chock full of information...not really, we can only guess how the issue occurred. From looking at the pic, it appears the bread was cooked, sliced, and then layered with cheese. Then, to fix the cheese to the top of the bread, it was surface heated to a point where the cheese sticks on the bread but the bread is not reheated. So if this is the case, either the cheese was contaminated before application (either as an incoming ingredient or by the application equipment) and then the organism survived because the fixing heat was no sufficient heat to destroy the organism. If the cheese did receive sufficient heat, then there could have been a post-process contamination event where the cheese, now on the bread, was exposed to Listeria within the environment. Perhaps the cheese wasn't heated at all, and was just added to warm bread, making the contamination event easier to explain.
It is hard to see this as a high risk product from the standpoint that one would expect the water activity (Aw) or available moisture of the cheese to be high enough to support growth.
This is an interesting case because it is rare that we find a bread item with microbiological pathogen issues, especially Listeria. However, since this is a bread item with cheese, this is what makes it different than regular bread. Being that the Canadian recall notice is chock full of information...not really, we can only guess how the issue occurred. From looking at the pic, it appears the bread was cooked, sliced, and then layered with cheese. Then, to fix the cheese to the top of the bread, it was surface heated to a point where the cheese sticks on the bread but the bread is not reheated. So if this is the case, either the cheese was contaminated before application (either as an incoming ingredient or by the application equipment) and then the organism survived because the fixing heat was no sufficient heat to destroy the organism. If the cheese did receive sufficient heat, then there could have been a post-process contamination event where the cheese, now on the bread, was exposed to Listeria within the environment. Perhaps the cheese wasn't heated at all, and was just added to warm bread, making the contamination event easier to explain.
It is hard to see this as a high risk product from the standpoint that one would expect the water activity (Aw) or available moisture of the cheese to be high enough to support growth.
One question was whether this was frozen or refrigerated? Freezing will prevent growth of Listeria and would also mean the product would have to probably be heated before eating. Refrigerated cheesy bread would allow growth, but would also have a limited shelf-life.
How did they find the contamination...were they testing, and if so, why?
Would love to hear any feedback on this one.
This has implications for retail and foodservice operations who make similar breaded products (or even RTE refrigerated pizza), store it and then sell it
CFIA Recall Notice
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-03-21/eng/1395456066871/1395456090254?print=1#recall-photos
Food Recall Warning - Co-op and Market Town Co-op brands bakery products recalled due to Listeria
Recall date: March 21, 2014
Reason for recall: Microbiological - Listeria
Hazard classification: Class 1
Company / Firm: Federated Co-Operatives Ltd.
Distribution: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan
Extent of the distribution: Retail
Reference number: 8723
Recall details
CFIA Recall Notice
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2014-03-21/eng/1395456066871/1395456090254?print=1#recall-photos
Food Recall Warning - Co-op and Market Town Co-op brands bakery products recalled due to Listeria
Recall date: March 21, 2014
Reason for recall: Microbiological - Listeria
Hazard classification: Class 1
Company / Firm: Federated Co-Operatives Ltd.
Distribution: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan
Extent of the distribution: Retail
Reference number: 8723
Recall details
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