Maryland Company Recalls Potato Salad Due to Use of Peas with Listeria

A Maryland company is recalling potato salad for potential Listeria contamination.  This comes after their supplier of peas, National Frozen Foods, recalled peas for Listeria.  It is important to point out that the product, at this point, is past the expiration date.

The interesting item with this is that the product was shipped using Amazon Fresh, the grocery delivery arm of Amazon.com.  In fact, the product appears to have been made in Maryland and then shipped to Washington state (the recall was announced for product sold in Washington state area.) 

Do you wonder if people who ordered the potato salad realize it was made close to 3000 miles away?
Gaps in the cold supply chain where product may be exposed o higher temperatures can be an issue if Listeria is present in that any prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures can increase growth potential.



FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm510429.htm
Hearn Kirkwood Recalls "Evie's Cheddar Potato Salad" Because of Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
July 6, 2016

Makin' Bacon Jam

 Michael Oraschewsky of Bacon Jams LLC, a West Chester, PA company, discusses the success of his product, Bacon Jams Bacon Spreads, and gives a shout-out to Penn State Food Safety.


Food Business News
http://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/news_home/Business_News/2016/06/The_business_of_making_bacon_j.aspx?ID=%7B960442D7-E85E-4853-AA75-155CB675A1D2%7D&e=mwb124@psu.edu&cck=1
The business of making bacon jams
June 29, 2016 - by Monica Watrous

NEW YORK — Earlier this year, Google identified “bacon jams” as a trending search term.

“Not to say we’re the sole reason behind that, but we’ve had something to do with that,” said Michael Oraschewsky, founder and “executive boar” of The Bacon Jams, L.L.C. Launched in 2013, the West Chester, Pa.-based company manufactures three varieties of gourmet bacon spreads: original, red chili and garlic, and black pepper. Mr. Oraschewsky featured the offerings at the Summer Fancy Food Show, held June 26-28 in New York.

Company Considers Changes After Sunflower Seed Recall

The company responsible for the sunflower seed / Listeria recall, SunOpta, is looking at long term options for the company. One immediate change was to move the Quality function out of operations.

 
Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/pressed-by-big-shareholder-sunopta-taps-adviser-to-review-options/384758211/
Pressed by big shareholder, SunOpta selects adviser to review options
Firm shifts quality assurance duties, hires strategic adviser in wake of sunflower nut troubles.
By Kristen Leigh Painter Star Tribune
June 28, 2016 — 9:08pm

Bolthouse Farms Recalls Protein Drinks Due to Spoilage Issues

Bolthouse Foods is recalling 3.8 million bottles of their protein drinks after spoilage issues occurred in the field.  The issue came to the company's attention through consumer complaints including illnesses.

FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm508221.htm
Bolthouse Farms Voluntarily Recalls Protein Beverages Due to Possible Spoilage
For Immediate Release
June 22, 2016

More Recalls Announced for Listeria Contamination Potential in Frozen Peas

Dutch Treat of Michigan is recalling its Sweet Pea Pasta Salad, Pinnacle and JR Simplot are recalling frozen peas.  All are linked to the National Frozen Foods Recall of frozen peas for Listeria.


http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm507885.htm
Dutch Treat Foods Recalls Sweet Pea Pasta Salad Because of Potential Health Risk
For Immediate Release
June 21, 2016

Protein Drink Recalled Due to Premature Spoilage

HP Hood is recalling 14oz plastic bottles of Muscle Milk due to premature product spoilage.  A packaging defect may be responsible.

FDA News Release
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm507529.htm
HP Hood LLC Voluntarily Recalls Protein Drinks From Its Sacramento Facility Due To Premature Spoilage
For Immediate Release
June 17, 2016

Employee Faces Charges for Tampering After Company Recalls Product for Foreign Matter

A Minnesota firm is recalling 55,000 pounds of product for foreign material and announces that a company employee has been fired for product tampering.  The material, verified to be soil and sand, was found in some of the products.


Meating Place
http://www.meatingplace.com/Industry/News/Details/66992?loginSuccess
GNP recalls chicken tampered with foreign matter, fires employee

School Lunch Provider Recalling Sandwich Items After Positive Listeria Environmental Samples

A California foodservice provider, one that specializes in providing school lunches, is recalling sandwich products after FDA  environmental sampling found Listeria monocytogenes on multiple food contact surfaces,  The products were distributed nationwide but it is unlikely that any of the school districts still have product.

A few things that are icky about this:

1) A place making packaged sandwiches for kids in LA and shipping them nationally.  You would think that someone locally could make sandwiches.  They would probably be fresher.  I wonder what kind of shelf-life they have on this product.

2) A facility making sandwiches for kids does not have a solid food safety program.  Perhaps better stated....they had a bad food safety program because FDA found multiple LM positive food contact surfaces.  Seriously, that is nasty.

3) It is unlikely that these products would be reheated sufficiently, if at all, to destroy the pathogen.

FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm507583.htm
Let's Do Lunch, Inc., dba Integrated Food Service, Voluntarily Recalls Certain Ready-To-Eat Sandwiches Because Of Possible Health Risk

Frozen Peas Recalled Due to Listeria Positive Test Result

A Washington state frozen food company is recalling frozen peas and blends of frozen vegetables that include peas after testing found the product may be contaminated with Listeria.  There have been no reported illnesses.

This recall affects a number of private label brands including those sold through Walmart (Great Value) and Target (Market Pantry).

New York based HelloFresh is also recalling product with peas.  HelloFresh is a mail order company that sends food kits to people for in-home food preparation.   Being that this company direct ships to their customer, making direct contact with those individuals should be easy.

Peas are normally blanched before freezing, and so the Listeria contamination most likely occurred someplace between blanching and packaging.  While frozen peas are normally cooked by the consumer before eating, which if done according to validated cooking instructions posted on the package, would eliminate the pathogen.    However, many use peas as a ready-to-eat ingredient in salads and dips, so in those cases, Listeria could be present.  There is, also a chance that people would not heat the peas sufficiently.

That is the case with associated recalls for product sold through Whole Foods where Green Cuisine is initiating a voluntary recall of “Pesto Pasta Salad with Arugula”.  Another company is recalling wraps because the peas were used.   And then a Portand Oregon company is recalling Macaroni Salad made with peas.  What supplier arrangement was in place...did the manufacturer agree on the use of this product as an ingredient in RTE food.

Allowing the frozen peas to thaw and then sit at refrigerated temperatures (or higher) for a number of days could allow the Listeria, if present, to increase in number.  This could be an issue with mail order products such as those delivered through HelloFresh.

FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm507535.htm
National Frozen Foods Corporation Recalls Frozen Green Peas and Frozen Mixed Vegetables Because of Possible Health Risk