Food Safety Update for July 10, 2015

Avian Influenza Outbreak in birds has come to a halt with no new cases reported since June 17th.  It has been one of the most devastating outbreaks of bird flue with approximately 48 million birds affected.  According to reports, there is a lot of room for improvement in responding to such a serious outbreak.

In Texas, there are an increased number of illnesses due to the parasite Cyclospspora.  There have been 151 cases reported.  (Story/link below).

 

In North Carolina, one restaurant has been linked to 267 cases of salmonellosis.  Bad BBQ.  (Story/Link below)

 

In a recent study, it was found that farmers should wait for 24 hours after a rainfall or irrigating before harvesting.  The research was based upon the presence of Listeria.

   

Summary Data for Beef and Veal Carcass Baseline Survey

In USDA's Constituent Update, July 2, 2015,  FSIS provides a summary of preliminary data for the first six months of the Beef and Veal Carcass Baseline Survey (B-VCBS) that looks at the prevalence of Salmonella and E.coli on carcasses, - after removing the hide, and after cleaning the carcass (before it goes into the chiller - pre-chill).  FSIS is collecting swab samples from steers, cows, bulls, dairy cows, heifers, and veal carcasses in order to estimate the level of these organisms and to see whether  and to evaluate the pre-evisceration and pre-chill dressing procedures and slaughter controls.  From the document:

What do can be taken away from this:
1) The interventions used by the industry accomplish a big reduction in the level of pathogenic organisms on the meat.
2) Pathogens are present on the meat.  As pointed out in the release, additional interventions may occur after chilling,, so the number of percent positive purchased by the consumer will probably be lower (and have been shown to be lower).  However, consumers must still consider the fact that pathogens can be present.

Blue Bell to Conduct Trial Production Run in AL Facility

After ceasing operations in April / May to clean up their operation in light of product being linked to cases of Listeriosis, Blue Bell Ice Cream will run a trial production run in their Alabama facility.

The costs of this contamination event will be tremendous.  First and foremost, are the people who contracted Listeria and their associated costs.  Then the legal fees.  The cost to the people who were laid off or furloughed (roughly 1,400 in each category).  The company also has the cost of the recall and the lost revenues for 4 months of product.  Then there will be costs associated with resuming production....costs of improvements to the operation, retraining of employees, conducting trial runs, etc.  Getting back into the market place will not be cheap....regaining freezer shelf-space (you don't think those retailers let that space go empty for 4 months), restarting a distribution system, etc.  And then regaining sales....the loyal will be back, but many other will be hesitant or leery, while others have moved on to other brands....the lost customer is very difficult, if not impossible to recover.

And what if they find it again....certainly this has been the case in a number of facility-related contamination events......


CBS DFW
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2015/07/08/blue-bell-to-begin-trial-runs-in-july/
Blue Bell To Begin Trial Runs In July
July 8, 2015 1:34 PM 

FORT WORTH (KRLD/CBSDFW.COM) – After a nearly four month absence from store shelves, Blue Bell ice cream could make a comeback before summer’s end.

The company will begin trial runs at its Sylacauga, Alabama plant during the week of July 20, as part of its plan to get the ice cream back in grocer’s freezers.

Bottle Water Recalled Due to E. coli

On June 23rd, a Canadian company recalled bottled water produced at two Pennsylvania bottling facilities.  These plants produced a number of store brands for various retail customers.

Bottling water seems easy, but any manufactured food or beverage product must be produced with adequate food safety systems in place.

In this case, generic E. coli were found, which are not necessarily pathogens.  But the presence of these organisms indicates the potential for enteric pathogens, and at the least, that unsanitary conditions exist.  Companies use E. coli testing because it is a good indicator and is a relatively simple analysis.

Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/22/bottled-water-e-coli-contamination_n_7640010.html
14 Brands Of Bottled Water Voluntarily Recalled Due To Potential E. Coli Contamination
By Alena Hall 
Posted: 06/22/2015 5:51 pm EDT Updated: 06/23/2015 11:59 am EDT

A water bottling company that is responsible for 14 different brands issued a voluntary recall on Monday after discovering that one of their spring water sources tested positive for E. coli bacteria.

“E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes," a representative of Niagara Bottling LLC said in a statement. "Microbes in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly and people with severely compromised immune systems."

Four Salmonella Outbreaks Linked to Backyard Chickens

Backyard chickens...there is an increasing trend for towns to allow for backyard chickens.  Even State College, PA permits people to have backyard chickens, although there are rules.  However, 4 recent outbreaks of Salmonella associated with backyard chickens remind us that there is a risk.

If raising chickens in the backyard, keep them in the backyard.  Letting them in the house, cuddling with them, or smooching them is not a good idea.  Wash hands after handling poultry.  This is especially true for children.

 

   

CDC Outbreak Report

http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/live-poultry-07-15/index.html

Four Multistate Outbreaks of Human Salmonella Infections Linked to Live Poultry in Backyard Flocks

July 1, 2015

 

Highlights

Read the Advice to Backyard Flock Owners »(http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/live-poultry-07-15/advice.html)

CDC, public health, veterinary, and agriculture officials in many states and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) are investigating four multistate outbreaks of human Salmonella infections linked to contact with live poultry.

• As of June 29, 2015, 181 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella have been reported from 40 states.
• 33 ill people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
• Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback findings have linked these four outbreaks of human Salmonella infections to contact with chicks, ducklings, and other live poultry from multiple hatcheries.

High Pressure Processed Pet Food Recalled Because of Listeria

A Wisconsin pet food company is recalling non-thermally processed pet food after the Maryland Department of Agriculture's testing found that the product was positive for Listeria.

There are those that feel feeding dogs raw meat is better.  To provide this product, this company processed meat using HPP (High Pressure Processing) to eliminate pathogens such as Salmonella.  Unfortunately, during post-processing handling, probably packaging, the product was contaminated with Listeria.

 Interesting, on the company's website, they provide access to test results for each lot of product.  The results are for the testing of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella - two pathogens associated with raw beef, but not Listeria, which while can be associated with raw beef, is a pathogen commonly encountered in processing facilities.


NJ.com
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2015/07/dog_and_cat_food_recalled_over_listeria_fears.html
Dog and cat food recalled over Listeria fears
July 6, 2015

A pet food company is recalling 11 of its products nationwide after Listeria was found during a routine test.

Stella & Chewy's was ordered by Maryland Department of Agriculture to stop sale Saturday on its Chicken Freeze-Dried Dinner Patties because the dog dinners tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, the company said in a release.

The Milwaukee-based company then issued a voluntary recall for those meals as well as others that did not test positive but may have been exposed to the lot "as a precautionary measure."

No pet or human illnesses have been reported.

Recall Summary for July 2, 2015

Here is a summary of recent recalls.

FDA Recall Notice
Boulder Dog Food Company, L.L.C. Voluntarily Recalls Seven Bags of Turkey Sprinkles, 3 oz with A "Best By" Date of "05/18/16, 05/28/2016 and 05/30/2016" Due to Possible Salmonella Health Risk
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm453661.htm
July 2, 2015

7 bags of turkey sprinkles were recalled after FDA testing found a positive test for Salmonella. So what is a turkey sprinkle?….Well it is an item you add to dog food to make it tastier for ole Chopper....well being a sprinkle, I guess it is developed for Sparkles.

USDA Recall Notice
Barber Foods Recalls Kiev Stuffed Chicken Product Due to Possible Salmonella Enteritidis Contamination
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/FSIS-Content/internet/main/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2015/recall-096-2015-release
July 2, 2015
Barber Foods of Maine is recalling 58,320 lbs of its frozen Chicken Kiev because of a link to Salmonella illnesses. Here is a product that looks like it is fully cooked, but it is not.


A stream of recalls related to nuts due to Salmonella because of FDA sampling found product positive….a big surprise.

 FDA Recall Notices

Natural Grocers® issues recall on 10oz. Caribbean Nut & Fruit Mix due to possible health risk
lhttp://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm453516.htm
July 1, 2015

Grand BK Corp. Recalls Goodies By Nature Raw Cashews, Net Wt. 9oz Because Of Possible Health Risk
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm453006.htm.
June 27, 2015

Rocky Mountain Foods, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Free Range Snack Co. Brand 16 oz. Island Fruit and Nut Trail Mix and Bulk Macadamia Nuts Because of Possible Health Risk
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm453116.htm

Whole Foods Market Voluntarily Recalls Packaged Raw Macadamia Nuts Due To Possible Health Risk
June 25, 2015
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm452905.htm

2015 Update to the 2013 Food Code

Every four years, the FDA reissues the new version of the food code, and two years after, revisions are made. The FDA just released it’s 2015 update to the 2013 US Food Code. In the news release, the FDA issued these bullet points summarizing the changes:

• Expand the duties of the Person in Charge in a food establishment to include overseeing the routine monitoring of food temperatures during hot and cold holding.
• Expand and clarify the type of information that should be included when a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Plan is required by a regulatory authority.
• Emphasize that cleaning and sanitizing agents should be provided and available for use during all hours of operation.
• Clarify the difference between Typhoid Fever and nontyphoidal Salmonellosis with regard to the reporting of illness and the exclusion and restriction of ill food employees.
• Suggest that regulatory authorities ensure that inspection staff has access to the necessary training and continuing education.

So the regulatory-review minions took a look to see if any of these updates will have an impact.

In the end, there is no major changes, but more clarifications.  Listed below are the key points.

The FDA document listing all changes can be found here, starting on page 13 - http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/GuidanceRegulation/RetailFoodProtection/FoodCode/UCM451981.pdf

 

  

Section 2-201.11

 Duties were added to those designated to the person in charge. While these may have been assumed to be under that person’s responsibilities, now it is in writing. The implications is that the person with certification…the person in charge, would be responsible for on-going safety during operation, including for monitoring of temperatures, sanitizing of services, avoiding bare hand contact with RTE food, reporting of health issues. 

 

(I) EMPLOYEES are properly maintaining the temperatures of TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS during hot and cold holding through daily oversight of the EMPLOYEES’ routine monitoring of FOOD temperatures; Pf

J) CONSUMERS who order raw or partially cooked READY-TO-EAT FOODS of animal origin are informed as specified under § 3-603.11 that the FOOD is not cooked sufficiently to ensure its safety; Pf

K) EMPLOYEES are properly SANITIZING cleaned multiuse EQUIPMENT and UTENSILS before they are reused, through routine monitoring of solution temperature and exposure time for hot water SANITIZING, and chemical concentration, pH, temperature, and exposure time for chemical SANITIZING; Pf

(L) CONSUMERS are notified that clean TABLEWARE is to be used when they return to self-service areas such as salad bars and buffets as specified under § 3-304.16; Pf

(M) Except when APPROVAL is obtained from the REGULATORY AUTHORITY as specified in ¶ 3-301.11(E), EMPLOYEES are preventing cross-contamination of READY-TO-EAT FOOD with bare hands by properly using suitable UTENSILS such as deli tissue, spatulas, tongs, single-use gloves, or dispensing EQUIPMENT; Pf

(N) EMPLOYEES are properly trained in FOOD safety, including FOOD allergy awareness, as it relates to their assigned duties; Pf

(O) FOOD EMPLOYEES and CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEES are informed in a verifiable manner of their responsibility to report in accordance with LAW, to the PERSON IN CHARGE, information about their health and activities as they relate to diseases that are transmissible through FOOD, as specified under ¶ 2-201.11(A); Pf and

(P) Written procedures and plans, where specified by this Code and as developed by the FOOD ESTABLISHMENT, are maintained and implemented as required. Pf

  

Section 201.13

 Changes were made in this section to further differentiate Salmonella Typhi and nontyphoidal Salmonella. Now, they designate Typhoid Fever (Salmonella Typhoid) as the reportable illness and call the regular strains of Salmonella as Salmonella (nontyphoidal) instead of nontyphoidal Salmonella. This will help in the education since there is a distinct difference in the types of illnesses each cause. While we do not see many cases of Typhoid Fever, it is a much more serious illness than your garden strains of Salmonella.

   

Section 4-303.11

This addition makes sure that cleaning chemicals are available during all hours of the operation.

4-303.11-Cleaning Agents and Sanitizers, Availability
(A) Cleaning agents that are used to clean EQUIPMENT and UTENSILS as specified under Part 4-6, shall be provided and available for use during all hours of operation

(B) (B) Except for those that are generated on-site at the time of use, chemical SANITIZERS that are used to sanitize EQUIPMENT and UTENSILS as specified under Part 4-7, shall be provided and available for use during all hours of operation.

    

Section 8-201.14

This section titled Contents of a HACCP Plan was updated to list the items needed as part of a HACCP plan for a retail establishment.

 

 

CDC Issues Final Report on Blue Bell, and the Response to FDA

CDC issued the final report on the Blue Bell / Listeria outbreak.  In the final report, 10 people in 4 states had contracted listeriosis.  Blue Bell has recalled all product from the marketplace.

All of the FDA inspection reports can be found here.  Included in this is the response to the FDA 483 report.  Blue Bell informed FDA of their plans to introduce tough measures to control Listeria.

While the organism was found in two of the facilities, it was not found in the Texas facility even though product from that facility was linked to illness.   This can be the case with Listeria in that it only surfaces once in a while.  Because of this, vigilant control measures are needed.

So you can think of what they had in terms of setting some mouse traps in your house.  The set some mouse traps around and in a few traps they caught a mouse.  They cleaned up a bit and reset the trap and caught another mouse.  Cleaned again, reset the trap.  No mouse.  Done?  Not really.  The problem is that when you catch a mouse, you have to understand the potential for mice in other spots, especially around your food (zone 1).  Determination have to be made on where the mouse came from and whether that mouse got into your food.  With this, you have to put measures in place to prevent the mouse from getting anywhere in your house.

Houston Chronicle
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Blue-Bell-can-t-identify-listeria-source-at-6319817.php
Blue Bell can't identify listeria source at Brenham plant

By Mark Collette

June 10, 2015 Updated: June 10, 2015 11:04pm

Blue Bell may never learn how listeria got into the ice cream at its Brenham plant, according to documents released Wednesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but the company plans to introduce some of the toughest bacterial control measures in the industry.

Brenham is the largest of Blue Bell's three plants and its sheer size may have hampered the hunt for contamination points. FDA inspectors swabbed 186 surfaces in the plant in March and didn't find any listeria species. That's despite ice cream from the plant being definitively linked to illnesses.