Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Cucumbers Up to 341 Cases in 30 States

CDC reports that there are now 341 cases of salmonelloisis related to cucumbers.  The California company issued a recall last week, for cucumbers, but still has no idea of how the product became contaminated.  In a press release, they stated that they have ceased all operations.

CDC Website
http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/poona-09-15/index.html
Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Poona Infections Linked to Imported Cucumbers
Posted September 9, 2015 4:30 PM ET

Read the Recall & Advice to Consumers, Restaurants, and Retailers >>

• CDC, multiple states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Poona infections.
• 341 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Poona have been reported from 30 states, an increase of 56 cases since the last update on September 4. 

Cucumbers from California Recalled for Potential Link to Salmonella Outbreak

A California company is recalling cucumbers because these cucumbers might be linked to a Salmonella outbreak.  It is reported that there are illnesses in 27 states.


FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm461382.htm
Andrew and Williamson Fresh Produce Recalls Limited Edition Brand® Cucumbers Because of Possible Health Risk
Contact: Consumer: 619-661-6004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — September 4, 2015— Andrew and Williamson Fresh Produce (“A&W”) of San Diego, California is voluntarily recalling all cucumbers sold under the Limited Edition® label during the period from August 1, 2015 through September 3, 2015 because it may be contaminated with Salmonella.

A&W is currently working with health authorities to determine if, in fact, this product is the source of an outbreak of Salmonella with illnesses being reporting in as many as 27 states.

Kraft Expands Sliced Cheese Product Recall Because of More Plastic Film Complaints

Kraft is expanding its recall to 335,000 cases of cheese product because they received more complaints of small pieces of plastic film remaining on the cheese product slices.

Kraft initially recalled 36,000 cases of sliced cheese product after receiving 10 complaints (3 reports of consumer choking) on the individually wrapped cheese product when the wrapping does not completely come off leaving a strip of plastic film.

Washington Post
To Your Health
Kraft cheese expands recall of American cheese singles by 10 times
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/09/04/kraft-cheese-expands-recall-of-american-cheese-singles-by-10-times/

By Elahe Izadi September 4 at 12:22 PM

Kraft has massively expanded its voluntary recall of some American cheese singles, due to new consumer complaints about the plastic film representing a potential choking hazard, the company announced Thursday.

Food Truck Provider Linked to E.coli Outbreak at Farmers' Market

Mexican food sold at a farmers' market in King County, WA (Seattle) is being linked to E. coli outbreak.  According to a recent report, there are now 10 illnesses.

The vendor, Los Chilangos, utilizes food trucks for providing food.   Food trucks are a growing trend, especially on the west coast.  While farmers' markets was the venue in this case, I think it is important to note that this is not what one would consider as the traditional farmers' market food vendor.  However, both farmers' markets and food trucks are gaining additional scrutiny from food safety professionals, because both are easier markets to enter for boding food entrepreneurs.

 

 

KIROTV.com

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/e-coli-case-being-investigated-king-county/nnWgd/

Health investigators: E. coli cases linked to food sold at farmers markets

Updated: 11:18 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015 | Posted: 3:54 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015

 By KIRO 7 STAFF

 

King County Public Health is investigating six E. coli cases that appear to be linked to a food sold at local farmers markets.

• 6 sickened
• 3 hospitalized
• Los Chilangos food service shut down
• Owners working with health department

“Through a few initial interviews with ill people, we determined that everyone who became sick had something in common – they ate food prepared by, a local food vendor called Los Chilangos,” Public Health staff said in a statement.

 

Los Chilangos serves food at seven farmers markets in King and Snohomish counties, operates two food trucks, and also caters events. The kitchen was told to stop producing food, as were the food trucks that used it. 

Bottled Water Recalled Due to Milk Allergen

A Texas company is recalling gallons of bottled water after a quality review found that the water may have milk allergen in it.

How can something like this arise?  Often times milk bottling operations will also bottle water using the same equipment (cold fill type of operation).  A good sanitation regime should get rid of any residual allergens, but if something is not completed properly, residual allergens may be left in pipes or the filler.

FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm461121.htm
H-E-B Issues A Voluntary Recall On Hill Country Fare One Gallon Spring Water Due To The Possible Presence Of Undeclared Allergen

Voluntary recall specific only to stores in the Houston, Central Texas and the Gulf Coast areas

Contact:  Consumer: Leslie Sweet, H-E-B (512) 293-1220

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 2, 2015 – Austin, TX – H-E-B has issued a voluntary recall specifically for the Hill Country Fare One Gallon Spring Water with the Best By date of December 19, 2015, due to the possible presence of a milk allergen. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product. There have been no consumer complaints or reports of illness.

H-E-B discovered the issue on September 1, 2015, during quality assurance product reviews. This recall is specific to one gallon containers of Hill Country Fare Spring Water with a Best By Date of December 19, 2015. No other H-E-B or Hill Country Fare products are impacted by this voluntary recall.

Frozen Corn Recalled for Listeria After Positive Test Result

Another frozen vegetable product is being recalled for Listeria.  In this case, it is frozen corn.  Listeria was found through testing conducted by the State of Tennessee.

In making frozen cut corn, the corn is husked, cut, water blanched followed by immediate cooling, IQF freezing and then packaging.  The water blanch temperature will be greater than 180F, generally 190 to boiling.  Therefore, any Listeria contamination would need to come from the post-blanch environment - from cooling to packaging.

Frozen corn is generally cooked by the consumer before serving, although there may be some RTE applications (although can't think of any).  Therefore, frozen corn would not have been considered a high risk product, so unsure why the State of TN decided to test this item.

Just this week, frozen green beans were recalled due to Listeria.


FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm460634.htm
Bonduelle USA Recalls Frozen Corn Because Of Possible Health Risk

Contact:
Consumer:
1-877-990-2662

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 31, 2015 – Brockport, NY – Bonduelle USA Inc. of Brockport, NY is recalling 9,335 cases of frozen corn because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

CDC MMWR - An Increase in Strongyloidiasis Cases in LA

According to CDC's MMWR weekly report, there has been an increase in the number of cases of Strongyloidiasis in LA County, California.  While there were none in 2012, there were 14 cases in 2013 and 29 cases in 2014.

So what the heck is strongyloidiasis?  Just because you wanted to know.......

So, there you are out tending your garden (or whatever they do in LA where one has their hands in the soil), and this little parasitic worm burrows into your skin and then finds its way to your intestines where it creates a never-ending maternity ward for more parasitic worms.  Isn't that a pleasant thought.

Strongyloidiasis is a disease caused by a nematode, or a roundworm, in the genus Strongyloides. While there are a number of species of this roundworm that can infect birds, reptiles and such, Strongyloides stercoralis is the primary species that infects humans. The larvae are only about 1.5mm in length and are found in the soil. "When the larvae come in contact with skin, they are able to penetrate it and migrate through the body, eventually finding their way to the small intestine where they burrow and lay their eggs and these eggs hatch into larvae in the intestine. Most of these larvae will be excreted in the stool, but some of the larvae may molt and immediately re-infect the host either by burrowing into the intestinal wall, or by penetrating the perianal skin. This characteristic of Strongyloides is termed auto-infection. The significance of auto-infection is that unless treated for Strongyloides, persons may remain infected throughout their lifetime."
"The majority of people infected with Strongyloides are without symptoms. Those who do develop symptoms tend to have non-specific, or generalized complaints. Some people develop abdominal pain, bloating, heartburn, intermittent episodes of diarrhea and constipation, a dry cough, and rashes. Rarely people will develop arthritis, kidney problems, and heart conditions."

"In the United States, Strongyloides has classically been associated with uniformed-service veterans who returned from tropical regions such as Southeast Asia and the South Pacific during World War II. Small domestic studies have shown locations of infection in rural Appalachia. The highest rates in the United States have been documented in immigrant populations."



CDC - MMWR
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6433a8.htm?s_cid=mm6433a8_e
Increase in Reports of Strongyloides Infection — Los Angeles County, 2013–2014
Weekly
August 28, 2015 / 64(33);922-923
Curtis Croker, MPH1; Rosemary She, MD2

During the 1990s, reports of infection with the nematode (roundworm) Strongyloides stercoralis submitted to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) ranged from 40 to 50 per year, but by 2000, reports had decreased to five per year; in 2006, Strongyloides infection was removed from the LACDPH reportable disease list. Currently, it is only reported at the discretion of Los Angeles County clinicians and laboratories as an unusual disease occurrence. LACDPH currently only monitors case counts and does not investigate reported Strongyloides cases. During 2013–2014, an increase in Strongyloides cases occurred, with 43 cases reported.

Bread Recalled After Complaints of Broken Glass

A bread company is recalling loaves of bread after receiving complaints of broken glass on the outside of bread.  The company said the glass is from a broken light bulb.

In today's audit-ready world, having unshielded light bulbs is very uncommon, let alone to have one break in an area where product is exposed.  Being that the complaints state the glass was located on the outside of the loaves, the bulb breaking event would have had to occur after panning somewhere through baking on through to packaging.

Recognizing a bulb had broke in that area, immediate corrective action that would have included putting any product that had the potential for exposure, would have prevented this massive recall.

This is a great learning opportunity to be shared with employees on 1) keeping an eye open for anything that can present a hazard and 2) the importance of taking immediate action.


FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm460059.htm
Bimbo Bakeries Voluntary Regional Recall of Certain Limited Breads Produced Under the Sara Lee, Great Value, Kroger, Bimbo, Nature’s Harvest and L’Oven Fresh Brands

Contact:   Consumer:  1-800-984-0989

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — August 26, 2015 — HORSHAM, PA — Bimbo Bakeries USA has initiated a voluntary regional recall of certain bread products under the Sara Lee®, Kroger®, Bimbo®, Nature’s Harvest®, Great Value and L’Oven Fresh® brands due to the possible presence of fragments of glass caused by a broken light bulb at one of its bakeries.

Frozen Green Beans, 2014 Pack Date, Recalled for Listeria

An organic frozen vegetable division of General Mills, Cascadian Farms, is recalling 2 lots of frozen cut green beans after a sample of the 18 month old product was found to be positive for Listeria.  There have been no reported illnesses.

There are a number of interesting points to note:

• The product was produced close to 18 months earlier, so it is curious why the product was just tested now. 
• Beans would have been blanched, so it is likely this is a case of post-process contamination....either occurring during initial bulk packing or repacking.
• The beans would have been from the 2013 harvest and frozen in bulk until repacked or the product was imported from another country...so there would be a lot of handling.
• This type of product would likely be cooked by the consumer.  The label would have instructions for cooking and provided those instructions were followed, then Listeria would be eliminated.
• Now that product from this facility was found to be positive for Listeria, will additional product be tested, including more recent product (if it hasn't been so already) and will there be a surge of attention brought to this facility (as well as other facilities that pack similar product).
• Frozen vegetables were also recalled in April after the facility had Listeria positive results for environmental samples. 

 

General Mills News Release

http://www.generalmills.com//en/News/NewsReleases/Library/2015/July/cc-recall/3b3a9c6b-4989-464c-91f6-289a55888a27

Aug 26, 2015

General Mills voluntarily recalls a limited quantity of frozen Cascadian Farm Cut Green Beans

  

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota - General Mills today announced a voluntary Class I recall of a limited quantity of frozen Cascadian Farm Cut Green Beans produced over two days in March 2014. The recall is being issued as a precaution after one package of finished product tested positive for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. No related illnesses have been reported in connection with this product.

 

This voluntary recall is limited to 10-ounce bags of frozen Cascadian Farm Cut Green Beans with either of two “Better If Used By” dates printed on the package:

 

10APR2016

11APR2016

 

The recalled product was produced and packaged in 2014. No other varieties or production dates of Cascadian Farm products are affected by this recall.