RTE Meals Recalled Due to Potential Presence of Listeria monocytogenes

Reichel Foods of Rochester, Minn is recalling 15880 pounds of ready-to-eat meals, called Armour Active Packs, due to the potential presence of Listeria monocytogenes.  The contamination issue was discovered through 3rd party testing.  There have been no reported illnesses.  Product was shipped to 4 states (PA, TX, IN, and MN.)

The product is a multi-unit product targeted for children.  Within the pack, there is a meat and cheese wrap long with an apple and apple dip.  Since children are considered a high risk group, it is especially concerning.

Listeria monocytogenes contamination would most likely come from the plant environment.  In a product like this, we may see the opportunity for contamination coming from the slicing of meat (or shredding of cheese), layering of meat and cheese onto the bread, and/or the packing of the wrap into the case.
Plants packing product like this would be expected to have a stout Listeria control plan in place, which would include sanitation, hygienic control during processing, and an environmental monitoring program.


USDA New Release
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_053_2012_Release/index.asp

Minnesota Firm Recalls Ready-To-Eat Meat and Poultry Products Due To Potential Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination
  Recall Release CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-053-2012 HEALTH RISK: HIGH
Congressional and Public Affairs
Bill Bagley
(202) 720-0286

WASHINGTON, August 5, 2012 – Reichel Foods, a Rochester, Minn. establishment, is recalling approximately 15,880 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The products subject to recall include: [View Labels (PDF Only)]

5.6 oz. packages of "Armour Active Packs Turkey & Cheese Wrap" Package Code 1026090112 or Case Code 27815-17994
5.6 oz. packages of "Armour Active Packs Ham & Cheese Wrap" Package Code 1026090112 or Case Code 27815-17995

All the products were produced between July 23, 2012, and July 26, 2012, and have a "sell by" date of Sept. 1, 2012. The packages bear the establishment number "P-19941" or "Est. 19941" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were shipped to distribution centers in Indiana, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Texas. When available, the retail distribution list will be posted on FSIS' website at www.fsis.usda.gov/
FSIS_Recalls/
Open_Federal_Cases/
index.asp.

The problem was discovered by the establishment, through microbiological testing by a third party. FSIS and the company have not received reports of illnesses due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.

NC Company Recalls Cantaloupes Due to Listeria

Burch Equipment of North Carolina is recalling approximate 189,000 cantaloupes after a product tested positive for Listeria and a then follow-up inspection indicated sanitary issues at the packing facility. There have been no reported illnesses.  Product has been shipped to over 10 different states.

Interesting was that the tests were preformed by the USDA Microbiological Data Program, a program that was on the government chopping block just a few weeks ago. One may figure that this would help their future survival, and be a warning to other produce packers that a program fighting for survival may be working a bit harder to find contaminated product and nab few big headlines.

One would have figured that after the Jenson Cantaloupe Listeria issue, anyone packing cantaloupe would have paid close attention to the issues and then went to some great extremes to put in Listeria control measures in place. But clearly there are some who are not reading the paper and seeing the implications..implications not only for the company, but for the lareger industry. And really, this needs to extend to those packing any type of produce item that has the potential to support Listeria.

FDA Recall -- Firm Press Release
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm314213.htm

FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.
Burch Equipment LLC Corrects Cantaloupe Variety Subject to Recall
Contact:
Consumer:
910-267-5781burch@intrstar.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 3, 2012 - Burch Equipment LLC, North Carolina, is correcting the variety of cantaloupe involved in recalls initiated on July 28 and August 2, 2012. Previous announcements incorrectly identified the cantaloupes as being the Athena variety. The cantaloupes affected by the recall are the Caribbean Gold variety.

Athena cantaloupes are not subject to the recall.

Today’s announcement is not an expansion of the recall; no additional products are being recalled at this time.

The firm voluntarily recalled 580 cases of cantaloupes on July 28, and voluntarily recalled an additional 13,888 cases of cantaloupes (9 cantaloupes per case) and 581 bins of cantaloupes (110 cantaloupes per bin) on August 2, due to the potential for being contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Melons affected by this recall total 188,902.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The whole Caribbean Gold variety cantaloupes were shipped between July 15th and July 27th and distributed in FL, GA, IL, MD, ME, NC, NJ, NY, PA, SC and VA. The whole cantaloupes are identified by a red label reading Burch Farms referencing PLU # 4319. All cantaloupes involved in the recall were grown by Burch Farms, however some of the cantaloupes may have been identified with a "Cottle Strawberry, Inc." sticker referencing PLU #4319. Cottle Farms is not involved in this recall. Cantaloupes from Burch Farms were shipped in both corrugated boxes (9 cantaloupe per case) and in bulk bins.

Burch Equipment LLC is requesting any consumer that may have one of these cantaloupes to discard the product.

There have been no illnesses reported to date. FDA and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are working with Burch Equipment LLC following a random sample of a Caribbean Gold variety cantaloupe testing positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The recall expansion was based on unsanitary conditions found at the cantaloupe packing shed during FDA’s ongoing inspection that may allow for contamination of cantaloupes with Listeria monocytogenes.

Questions can be directed to Burch Equipment LLC at 910-267-5781 Monday through Friday, (9:00am to 4:00pm) or email burch@intrstar.net
FDA finds unsanitary conditions at Burch Farms packing shed
The Packer 08/02/2012 4:55:00 PM
Coral Beach http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-enewsletter/Week_In_Review/164806206.html

A recall of about 5,200 Athena cantaloupes in two states ballooned to more than 188,900 cantaloupes distributed in 10 states after inspectors found “unsanitary conditions” at Burch Equipment LLC’s cantaloupe packing facility.

The Faison, N.C., grower, which operates under the name Burch Farms, initially recalled 580 cases of cantaloupes July 28. A positive result for listeria from a random sampling by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Microbiological Data Program sparked the recall.

The voluntary recall expanded Aug. 2 to include 13,888 cases and 581 bulk bins of the Athena melons. No illnesses had been reported, according to the Aug. 2 recall notice. The cases each hold nine melons and the bins each have 110 cantaloupes.

“The recall expansion is based on unsanitary conditions found at the cantaloupe packing shed during FDA’s ongoing inspection that may allow for contamination of cantaloupes with listeria monocytogenes,” the Aug. 2 notice states.

Onion Recall Cascades as Customers Recall Products Made with Suspect Onions

The Gill Onion recall is cascading as a number of retail chains are recalling products made with the recalled onions. To date, there have been a dozen or so companies recalling products made with the recalled onions. Here, like so many past recalls, we can see the impact of upstream suppliers on their customers. Traceability is key in that you know who your suppliers are, and where their product is being used.

The best news is that there have been no illnesses to date. In such a big recall, you might expect to have some illnesses associated with the product. So what are some reasons. Certainly luck may be a part of it, but there may be a few others that impact this:
- Low level of contamination.
- The Listeria monocytogenes serotype involved – As per Dr. Steve Knabel ‘of the 13 serotypes, there are 4 that account for the vast majority of cases of human illness.’ There are serotypes of L. monocytogenes that do not have the necessary genes to cause disease. While it is unknown at this point if this is the case, we can’t assume that it is. Further, if the conditions in the processing facility supported one serotype of L. monocytogenes, then it often assumed that those conditions can support the more virulent strains.


Gills recall sparks dozens of related product recalls
08/02/2012 3:06:26 PM
Coral Beachhttp://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-news/Gills-recall-sparks-dozens-of-product-recalls-164791766.html

A recall of one day’s production from a Gills Onions plant — that was expanded a week later to an “undeterminable” volume — caused a cascade effect as retailers and processors recalled more than 150 fresh products.

As of Aug. 2, fears of listeria contamination spurred five retail chains and seven fresh food producers to voluntarily recall products because they included recalled Gills onions.
No illnesses have been linked to any of the recalled produce or fresh products, according to multiple FDA recall notices at http://tinyurl.com/FDA-recalls.

Gills, Oxnard, Calif., initially recalled about 6,000 pounds of fresh-cut onions and celery July 18 after a random sample taken at retail by the Food and Drug Administration tested positive for listeria.

The company expanded the recall July 26 to include an unknown volume of whole onions and other chopped onions because investigators found listeria at one of Gills’ two Oxnard fresh-cut facilities. That facility has been closed since July 17 when FDA officials notified Gills of the positive test at retail, according to Gills spokeswoman Amy Philpott.

“Because the July 25 expanded recall does not include a beginning use-by-date, but rather included recalled products with use-by dates on or before Aug. 3, the number of recalled pounds is undeterminable,” according to a Gills onion statement.

“In the interest of public health, the company simply included all recalled products in the marketplace,” according to the release.

Philpott said the facility will remain closed until the listeria contamination problem is resolved. Gills continues to operate another processing facility in a separate building.
“They are running extra shifts, but orders are a bit behind,” Philpott said, adding that some retail and specialty product orders probably will not be met.

“Steve Gill has said it will take as long as it takes to resolve the problem.”

Gill has not been available for interviews, but he did include a statement in the recall notice: “We’ve identified the problem, and we are taking aggressive actions to prevent this from happening again.”

The actions include forming a panel of food safety experts and microbiologists with expertise in listeria control, expanding required microbial surveillance and sanitation programs, and continued testing.

“They also have a team looking at possibly redesigning the facility,” Philpott said.

In late May Gills recalled 2,360 pounds of diced red onions in the U.S. and Canada after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency did a random sample and got a positive result for listeria.

Gills built both of the facilities in Oxnard in the late 90s, Philpott said, and both were built specifically for onion processing. Gills started producing in the facility that is now shut down 15 years ago. The other facility, which is larger, opened 12 years ago.

As of the Aug 2, FDA’s recall Web page showed the following recalls related to the recalled Gills onions:

Simmering Soup Inc., Atlanta, recalled Trader Joe’s brand salsas and balela;
Whole Foods Markets recalled about 35 fresh food products in Florida stores;
Cool Creations LLC, North Kansas City, Mo., recalled about 20 fresh food products;
Wegmans Food Markets Inc. recalled six fresh food products;
GH Foods CA LLC recalled almost 90 fresh food products under a variety of store and specialty brands, including: Delish, Albertsons generic label, Garden Highway, Marketside, Natural Directions, Pacific Coast, Raley’s, Safeway Farms, Signature Cafe, Sprouts and Trader Joe’s;
Huxtable’s Kitchen, recalled Trader Joe’s brand roasted butternut squash, red quinoa and wheatberry salad;
Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. LLC recalled Costa Fruit & Produce brand calico bean salad from salad bars;
Spartan Stores, Grand Rapids, Mich., recalled Spartan Fresh Selections three bean salad and broccoli stir fry products;
Publix Super Markets recalled custom sub sandwiches that contain onions;
Ken’s Foods Inc. recalled cole slaw sauce, baked bean sauce and three brands of tartar sauce;
Garden Fresh Foods Inc. recalled ready-to-eat salads, slaw, salsa, bean and dip products; and
San Miguel Produce Inc., Oxnard, recalled packaged salad kits under the Cut ‘N Clean brand.

Gill Onions expands recall of fresh cut onions and celery due to Listeria

Gill Onions of Oxnard CA is expanding its recall due to fact product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  According to the FDA release, the expanded product list includes diced, slivered and whole peeled onions and diced onion/celery mix with use-by-dates on or before August 3.  http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm313399.htm

This recall expands upon the initial recall that was issued on July 18th. http://pennstatefoodsafety.blogspot.com/2012/07/fresh-cut-onions-and-celery-recalled.html

How can this happen.? While the initial recall was based upon a product from retail testing positive, the expanded recall occurred when in-plant testing found more positive Listeria tests.  (http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-news/Gills-expands-onion-celery-recall-listeria-found-at-plant-163863626.html).  Finding Listeria in the plant environment led officials to believe that the Listeria issue was not a single lot issue, but was wider spread within the facility and thus implicated product over multiple lots.

After the cantaloupe recall earlier this year, there has been increasing attention to RTE produce, primarily products like this that have been further processed in some way.  Products like these onions which were sliced, can get contaminated during processing if that process and the environment has not been maintained to the level needed to control Listeria monocytogenes.  In order to do this, processing facilities must have adequate controls including stout sanitation program  but then must also verify that Listeria is not present through an environmental monitoring program. 

As indicated in the Packer article, the facility may need to be redesigned.  This is certainly an issue in older plants find that find they need to make changes in order to meet this increased standard of Listeria free.

Ground meat recalled after linked to salmonellosis cases

Upadate 8/6/12:  CDC updated the number of illnesses to 40.
http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/enteritidis-07-12/index.html


Cargill is recalling approximately 29339 lbs of ground beef after the product was linked to Salmonella enteritidis infections. The recalled product was produced on May 25, 2012 and although the product would be past the expiration date, there is concern that some may still have this meat in thier freezer.

The strain that was responsible for this illness, Salmonella enteritidis or SE, is more often associated with poultry. According to the CDC - "Eggs have been the most common food source linked to SE infections.....Since the early 2000s, poultry has also been found to be a common food source for SE infections. Multiple other, less frequently identified sources include raw milk, pork, beef, sprouts, and raw almonds."

Cargill sells chubs of meat to retailers who then repackage this product into retail sized packages. These packages will have the store brand on the label, but will show the same USDA establishment number 9400.

This is an interesting recall from the standpoint that this strain is not an antibiotic resistant strain of Salmonella and it was in raw meat, not a RTE product. Unlike E. coli STEC strains which are considered an adulterant in ground beef, Salmella is not. Cargill had recalled ground turkey for Salmonella, but those strains were antibiotic resistant and thus more difficult to treat. Well if we can expect that ground beef may have Salmonella present, then why recall? Since this strain in this product has been linked to at least 5 illnesses, USDA and Cargill decided it was in the best interest of the public. However, are we getting to a point when raw meat products will be expected to have no pathogens?

2nd recall for processor of RTE meat products due to Listeria

Buona Vita, a NJ meat processor, is issuing its 2nd recall this month for Listeria. In the last recall, products from a number of production dates in May were recalled. In this recall, products made on June 26th were recalled. According to the FSIS Release (below), the product was tested by a third party and found to be positive.

(Earlier recall http://pennstatefoodsafety.blogspot.com/2012/07/nj-firm-recalling-frozen-meat-product.html)

Bridgeton meat company issues second voluntary recall in July
Published: Thursday, July 19, 2012, 8:25 PM Updated: Thursday, July 19, 2012, 8:48 PM
By Jason Laday/The News of Cumberland County
http://www.nj.com/cumberland/index.ssf/2012/07/bridgeton_meat_company_issues.html

BRIDGETON — Buona Vita, Inc. is recalling an additional 72,510 pounds of frozen meat and poultry products due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

In an announcement released Thursday evening, officials from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) stated 15 more products made by the Bridgeton-based meat company are being voluntarily recalled, and pose a “high” health risk.

Fresh Cut Onions and Celery Recalled Due to Presense of Listeria

Gills Onions is recalling fresh cut onions and cut celery after random FDA testing yielded a positive result for Listeria. The 6000 pounds of the retail product was shipped to 8 different states and Canada. There have been no reported illnesses. (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm312707.htm).

Gills, one of the nation’s largest family-owned onions growers operates one of the largest, most innovative and sustainable fresh cut onion plants in the world (quoted from their website -http://www.gillsonions.com/). However for Gills, this is their second recall due to Listeria within the last 3 months. On May 19, 2012, Gills Onions initiated a voluntary recall, 2,360 pounds of diced red onions as a result of a routine and random test directed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm304732.htm)

A study published in JFP indicates that Listeria monocytogenes populations will remain constant on fresh cut onions at 4ºC, but will grow slowly at 10ºC (Farber, etal JFP 1997). Certainly, higher temperatures or adding cut onions to a salad or a sandwich and then holding that at an elevated temperature would likely enhance growth potential.


Gills recalls fresh-cut onions, celery in U.S., Canada
The Packer
http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-news/fresh-produce-retail/Gills-recalls-fresh-cut-onions-celery-163045406.html
07/19/2012 11:06:21 AM
Coral Beach

Possible listeria contamination spurred Gills Onions LLC to voluntarily recall 6,000 pounds — an entire day’s production — of diced and slivered red and yellow onions and diced onion-celery mix.

No illnesses had been reported at the time the recall was issued on the evening of July 18, according to Amy Philpott, a company spokeswoman.

The Oxnard, Calif., produce company shipped the onions July 2-4 directly to retailers in Canada and in California, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Washington. There are nine different products in the recall, and they all have July 20 use-by dates.

Employee Fired after Posting a Photo of Himself Standing on Food

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Concern with Dietary Suppliments Increases as Dietary Ingredient Recalled Due to Salmonella

An Illinois company is recalling its dietary ingredient after ‘several’ lots tested positive for Salmonella. This ingredient, made by a subsidiary’s plant in South Korean subsidiary, had already been used in a number of products including a children’s product - which was also recalled (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm311050.htm). The ingredient is an undigestable fiber made from milk and is marketed as an aid for the health of the immune and digestive systems.

There has been a growing concern with dietary supplements. Most of this concern has related to medical claims that are made. Some substances do not live up to the claims, while others may actually have adverse effects (http://health.wolterskluwerlb.com/2012/01/dietary-supplement-concerns-in-2012/ and http://www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements/Alerts/default.htm).

There has also been issue with how some of these are processed. A Chicago Tribune article (below) reported that half of the 450 firms inspected had violations. In the UK, it was just reported that 40% of dietary supplements were irradiated illegally (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-121486/Concerns-dietary-supplements.html).  

Sales of dietary supplements continues to increase. Consumers view dietary supplements as a way to prevent health issues. Some see herbal supplements as more natural. In many cases, supplements are less expensive than over-the-counter drugs. Without the pharmaceuticals industry’s requirements for scientific research to back label claims, an increasing number of companies have entered this market, including pharmaceutical and food companies. 

Westchester firm recalls salmonella-contaminated supplements
No illnesses have been reported; FDA investigating
http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-met-salmonella-supplements-20120719,0,6096142.story

By Trine Tsouderos, Chicago Tribune reporter
July 19, 2012

 Concern over salmonella contamination has prompted a Chicago-area firm to recall nearly 40,000 pounds of a dietary ingredient, a move that in turn prompted several recalls of supplements containing the suspect material.

U.S. Food and Drug Administrationofficials said they are investigating whether the ingredient, sold by Westchester-based Ingredion and made in a subsidiary's plant in South Korea, wound up in other dietary supplements sold to consumers and whether more recalls are necessary.