Listeria Strains in Caramel Apple Outbreak Found in Apple Packing Shed

 FDA announced that the two strains of Listeria responsible for the caramel apple outbreak were found in the apple packing facility. 

Like the Listeria outbreak in cantaloupes,  this brings increased attention to apple control in the fruit packing area.

FDA Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm429689.htm

Bidart Bros. Works with Federal and State Officials to Determine Source of Listeriosis-Associated Outbreak

Contact:
Consumer:
(661) 399-0978

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — January 9, 2015 — Bakersfield, Calif. — Today, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the results of findings from additional tests performed on samples collected from Bidart Bros. apple processing plant. Test results confirm two strains of Listeria monocytogenes were found at the apple processing facility and are believed to be the same strains associated with the outbreak. Those same strains were also found in Bidart Bros. apples collected from a retailer by the FDA. Today, the CDC confirmed that the majority of the persons made ill reported consuming caramel-coated apples.

“The results are devastating to the Bidart family,” says Leonard Bidart, President Bidart Bros. “As a family-owned grower operating in California since the 1930s, we place safety at the forefront of everything we do. Our hearts go out to all who have been impacted by the apple-related listeriosis outbreak.

Rule Delayed Requiring Labeling of Mechanically Tenderized Meat

A rule requiring the mandatory labeling of mechanically tenderized meat was delayed due to slow government action.

The rule was proposed because of the higher food safety risk associated when meat is tenderized using blades or needles.  The blades or needles can force bacteria deeper into the meat, and so this meat then needs to be cooked a little more in order to destroy those backer and thus ensure safety.  That is, you don't want to serve mechanically tenderized meat rare or medium rare....it needs to be cooked to 155F internal versus 145 F as is done for intact meat (straight cuts of steak).    Of course, many people do not know this, and cook those mechanically tenderized steaks like they would intact steaks..  Labeling would indicate to people that these steaks need to be cooked to 155F internal temperature.


Food Safety Magazine
http://www.foodsafetymagazine.com/news/mandatory-labeling-for-mechanically-tenderized-meat-delayed-until-at-least-2018/
Mandatory Labeling for Mechanically Tenderized Meat Delayed Until At Least 2018
News | January 5, 2015
 By Staff

According to a final rule by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), mechanically tenderized beef products will not require special safety labels for at least another three years. The tenderization process softens the meat with tools and devices that are known to cultivate pathogens that can lead to foodborne illness.

Lack of Allergen Control by Spice Supplier's Supplier Results in Recalls

Updated 1/12/14

A PA firm is recalling a wide range of spices because the Cumin ingredient they used may contain peanuts, an issue that originated with their supplier.

There have been two assoicated recalls by food companies because the supplier of the spice had allergen issues.  In this case, a cumin spice may have been contaminated with peanut.  Because it is peanut, it is a Class I recall.

This is not the first time we have seen spice supplier have allergen issues that resulted in downstream recalls.  There was a similar recall in November.  Smaller companies are often challenged because of limited resources to properly vet their suppliers regarding allergen control.  And even with a thorough audit that reveals a decent program, mistakes cans still occur.  



FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm429688.htm
Con Yeager Spice Company Issues a Voluntary Recall for Ground Cumin and Seasoning Blends (containing Ground Cumin) Due to Potential Undeclared Peanut Allergens

Contact:
Consumer:
1-800-222-2460

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — January 9, 2015 — New Castle, PA and Zelienople, PA — Con Yeager Spice Company has issued a voluntary recall for multiple sized packages under multiple brand names of ground cumin and multiple seasoning blends (containing ground cumin) due to undeclared Peanut allergens in the ground cumin.

People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanuts run the risk of serious or life threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. To date, there have been no consumer complaints or reports of allergic reactions at this time. Con Yeager Spice Company is asking customers at risk for peanut allergies to discontinue using the product immediately.

Con Yeager Spice Company was notified by the supplier Morris J. Golombeck Inc. that the ground cumin product had tested positive for traces of peanut protein. This spice is used in a variety of Con Yeager Spice Company seasoning blends and sold as a single ingredient product. Product packaging includes clear plastic bag in a box, clear plastic minijar, pint, quart, gallon jug containers and plastic bags. Our product identifiers are the product’s 5 digit item key and 6 digit item lot number beginning with a decimal point located on the labeling.

Mining Tweets for Targeting Restaurant Inspections

A number of cities have begun analyzing Twitter or other web-based public review/grading systems such as Yelp as a way to target restaurant inspections.  Basically, they have computer systems which search through tweets and/or reviews looking for specific indicators, collect the data and spit out restaurant names that meet the criteria warranting inspection.

 In the Chicago initiative, using data from March 23, 2013 and November 10, 2014, they flagged 3,594 tweets as potential food poisoning cases. Of these tweets, they determined 419, roughly 12 percent, as likely cases.   While not clearly stated if it is in the same time frame, they conducted 133 inspections and found that 40% of them had serious violations, or 53 establishments.
I guess I am supposed to think this is cool, but it just seems so backwards.  Using resources to scour through people's comments that they post in a few seconds, it just seems a bit, passive. And knowing that foodborne illness can occur in any length of time, from minutes to days after eating a food, what is the chance that someone is going to know which food made them sick.  Also considering that the occasional belly ache is often attributed to some food they ate, and that rarely does one attribute the illness to food they made at home, will inspectors be chasing after establishments that don't deserve to be scrutinized. Clearly, 60% of those inspected did not have significant issues.

Using those same resources, and having a designated line for complaints, would they have not found those 53 establishments, or even better, using those resources to fix issues in establishments before those issues led to someone becoming ill.  

The financial costs of establishing and maintaining these systems were not provided in the HPR piece attached here, so it is hard to say if they are getting bang for the buck. If the cost is minimal, then it is no big deal, especially if they are using this to augment their current inspection system.   But I am inclined to think that more of a direct approach to ensuring safety...regular on site inspections and requirements for establishments to have trained manager/employees. 



Harvard Political Review
http://harvardpolitics.com/united-states/food-safety-numbers/
Food Safety in Numbers
By Advik Shreekumar

On March 23, 2013, the civic organization Smart Chicago launched an ambitious program to enhance the city’s food safety efforts: Foodborne Chicago. Using a mix of statistical techniques and computer science, Foodborne searches Twitter for complaints of food poisoning, then follows up with users and generates formal investigations. Chicago is not alone in these efforts; San Francisco, Boston, and New York City are all in the process of implementing similar initiatives to better enforce their health codes.

Foodborne Chicago and its sibling programs are bold attempts to modernize governance, harnessing the massive streams of information on social media sites. However, while these initiatives have the potential to dramatically improve public health, they also grant additional power to the companies holding the data. This, in turn, will challenge traditional notions of privacy and property.

Walnut Pieces Recalled After Retail Sample Tests Positive or Salmonella

A Wisconsin company is recalling walnut pieces after  a sample of the product was found to be positive for Salmonella, discovered during FDA routine retail testing.

 FDA recall notice

The Morning Call
http://www.mcall.com/business/mc-candy-sold-in-pa-recalled-for-possible-salmonella-contamination-20150106-story.html
Candy sold in Pa. recalled for possible salmonella contamination
By Morning Call staff
   
Walnut candies sold in 27 states including Pennsylvania were recalled Monday for possible salmonella contamination. Eillien's Candies Inc. said in a press release issued through the Food and Drug Administration that it is voluntarily recalling Walnut Pieces candy because some of the products may be contaminated with salmonella.

Update - Listeria Contaminated Caramel Apples

The CDC reports as of January 1, 32 people have become ill with 6 deaths related to Listeria contaminated caramel apples.

The FDA investigation traced the apples to Bidert Brothers Packing of CA.  Their Granny Smith and Gala Apples appear to be the likely source.   Companies which received apples from Bidert Bros issued recalls.

Happy Apple

California Snack Foods

Pacific Coast Fruit

Merb’s Candies

.
FDA completed sampling of the Bidert facility, but has not yet issued a report of their findings.

Quat Sanitizer - a Review of Efficacy

 A review article, Quaternary Ammonium Biocides: Efficacy in Application, published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, looks at the use of quat, or quaternary ammonium, sanitizers and the fact that some organisms may be more tolerant than others.  It states that this is a tolerance issue, not a resistance issue.  So while the use of quat sanitizers are important, more information is needed in field application to understand real efficacy and survival.

 Applied and Environmental Microbiology
http://aem.asm.org/content/81/2/464.abstract?etoc
Quaternary Ammonium Biocides: Efficacy in Application

Charles P. Gerba
Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA

ABSTRACT

Bacteria in the Restroom - Pondering Succession and Stability

Did you ever wonder about the bacteria on the surfaces in the restroom?  Well, you probably figured there were bacteria there (and thus you use your foot to flush the commode), but hopefully you pondered deeper thoughts rather than postulating bacterial succession on the floor as well as the seat in which you sit.

Well some did ponder such questions, completed a study and published those results (Ecological Succession and Viability of Human-Associated Microbiota on Restroom Surfaces).  They showed that the ecological succession of bacterial populations does occur and that in general, a stable community does occur after 8 hours, and is made up of skin and environmental organisms rather than gut microorganisms.

"The prevalence of skin-associated, rather than feces-associated taxa, in the late-successional community suggests that organisms are selected for their ability to persist in a dry, aerobic environment, which is a very different environment from the gut. Human-associated microbiota, including Staphylococcus strains, can remain viable on BE surfaces for many hours after their dispersal [cleaning] agents are removed. This suggests that common BE surfaces may be significant fomites for viable human pathogens."

Recall Summary for the 2014 Holiday Season

To catch up on the recalls over the holiday 12/23/14 to 1/4/15),  here is a quick summary (minus Carmel Apples)

1) First, there were ice cream recalls in ice cream products due to Listeria.  They are linked to one supplier, Snoqualmie Gourmet.
 
FDA Recall Notice - 1/3/15
Full Tilt Ice Cream Recalls All Dairy Based Ice Cream Products Except Non-Dairy Frozen Desserts Because of Possible Health Risk

WA based company recalls ice cream due to Listeria. The product contained an ingredient that was recalled by another company.

FDA Recall Notice - 1/3/15
Pink’s Ice Cream Recalls All Ice Cream Flavors Except the Coconut Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert Because of Possible Health Risk
This is another Washington based company recalling because of an ingredient was recalled.

FDA Recall Notice
Great Feeling Foods, LLC Recalls Groove Gluten-Free Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches Because of Possible Health Risk

FDA Recall Notice
Updated Release By Snoqualmie Gourmet Ice Cream, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Ice Cream, Gelato, Custard And Sorbet Because Of Possible Health Risk

 
2) Cheese products were also recalled due to Listeria.
One set was related to Bleating Heart Cheese.
 
FDA Recall Notice - 12/31/14
Whole Foods Market Voluntarily Recalls Cut, Wrapped and Weighed Bleating Heart-Brand Cheeses in Arizona, California and Hawaii Because of Possible Health Risk
"Whole Foods Market is recalling cheese sold in Arizona, California and Hawaii that came from its supplier Bleating Heart Cheeses because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes......"

And Bleating Heart Cheese is expanding their recall.
Bleating Heart Cheese Expanding Voluntary Recall To Include All Cheese Produced Between February 14, 2014 To September 19, 2014

And another recall was a raw milk cheddar product recalled in MI.
Farm Country Cheese House Recalls Raw Milk Cheddar Because Of Possible Contamination With Listeria Monocytogenes


3) There were two separate recalls of pet treats due to Salmonella.

FDA Recall Notice - 12/31/14
Jump Your Bones, Inc. Recalls Roo Bites (Cubes) Pet Treats Because of Possible Salmonella Contamination
These pet treats are being recalled due to the potential to be contaminated by Salmonella.  No illnesses have been reported.

FDA Recall Notice - 12/24/14
Barkworthies® Issues Nationwide Recall of Chicken Vittles Dog Chews
This recall was initiated after CO Department of Ag found a sample positive for Salmonella.


4) And there was a recall of nut products due to the potential for Salmonella.

FDA Recall Notice 12/30/14
John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Fisher Brand 8 oz. Chopped Walnuts and Fisher Brand 8 oz. Pecan Cookie Pieces Because of Possible Health Risk


5) A recall of Bruschetta due to the potential for glass.
American Roland Food Corp. Recalls Two Lots of Roland(R) Bruschetta

6) There were some allergen recalls as well for Hummus, Bread Crumbs, Superfoods Rice, and spice products.