FDA Warning Letter Issued to Chester, PA Warehouse - Reason...for Being Nasty

We often get questions about the safety of the food supply, and our general response is - overall, our food is safe.  But then, you read something like this and start to think otherwise.   This was an FDA Warning Letter issued to a warehouse / distribution company in Chester, PA.    If you like to look at the outside of the location, you can see the location  on Google maps from 2012 but there are more recent pics on line.

 Observations directly from inspection notes:

• firm did not have running water in either the ladies or men’s restrooms used by employees. Further, the toilets and hand washing sinks were not functioning, and there are no other sinks in your facility.  used buckets, filled with water, to flush the toilets and wash their hands after using the restrooms. You informed our investigator that these buckets are prefilled with water at the hose bib where the water supply line was cut and placed in the restrooms for immediate use and others stored outside the restrooms as reserves to be used later. Further, you informed our investigator that these buckets are used interchangeably for toilet flushing and handwashing and that the buckets are not cleaned or sanitized.
• a wooden desk with dirt and green stains on it, being used as a food preparation table. You informed our investigator that the desk is not cleaned with detergent or sanitizer, and is sometimes wiped down with a paper towel and water from a bucket in the restroom.
• green leafy particles and brown dried debris on knives stored in a wooden desk. You informed our investigator that these knives are used to cut produce and were not cleaned after use, but are cleaned prior to being used again with a paper towel and water from a spray bottle. 
• an orange and white cat was moving freely throughout the warehouse. 
• rodent excreta pellets - multiple occurrences
• mold in coolers - multiple occurrences
• a stack of 5 pallets; a barrel; equipment, and tools that were rusted; and wood and debris were scattered within 3 feet of the west side of the facility where the trailer is located. Further, there were vines draped along the east and west walls, with high grass and weeds that engulfed the perimeter on the south, east and west.
• that the thermometer used in produce cooler #1, where you store vegetables, fruit, and other food articles, was not operational. Further, you informed our investigator that that this thermometer had never been calibrated and was not used for over ten years
• an apparent fetid odor of rot, in unrefrigerated produce cooler #3. You informed our investigator that this is where spoiled products and trash are stored, until taken to the dumpster located outside your facility. For example, a container of spoiled onions, cardboard boxes, and other foreign matter was observed scattered on the floor in the cooler. Further, you informed our investigator that produce cooler #3 has not been cleaned in years.
• an employee smoking a cigarette and grabbing onions with his bare hand from an unmarked box, to fulfill an order for a customer

  

FDA WARNING LETTER

http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/2016/ucm509003.htm

16-PHI-07

June 23, 2016

 

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