CDC Closes Outbreak Investigation on CRF Frozen Vegetables

CDC has ended the frozen vegetable outbreak investigation associated with frozen vegetables produced in Washington state that were contaminated with Listeria.  Overall, a total of nine people in four states became infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes in four states with 3 deaths. (Two of the three deaths have not been officially linked to Listeria.)

There may be additional illnesses since this is a frozen product and may still be stored in some people's freezer.

 

CDC News Release

http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/frozen-vegetables-05-16/index.html

Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Frozen Vegetables (Final Update)

 

At a Glance:

Case Count: 9  (http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/frozen-vegetables-05-16/epi.html)

States: 4  (http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/frozen-vegetables-05-16/map.html)

Deaths: 3

Hospitalizations: 9

Recall: Yes  ( http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/frozen-vegetables-05-16/advice-consumers.html) 

 

Entrée Products Recalled Due to Meat Contaminated Ingredient

ConAgra is recalling Chang's entrée products including Mongolian Beef and Spice Chicken for potential metal contamination due to a supplier issue.  According to the USDA posted recall notice:

"The problem was initially discovered on July 1, 2016, when an establishment employee observed metal fragments while dispensing sugar from a supplier for sauce formulation during processing. The resulting sauce is a component in the frozen entrée products. On July 14, 2016, ConAgra Foods was notified by the supplier of an FDA recall involving multiple production lots of sugar due to potential metal contamination. The recall action involved additional lots of sugar potentially used in FSIS regulated products at ConAgra Foods, and resulted in this expansion of the initial recall action."

 

There is no indication of whether there was an in-line metal detector or other control mechanisms for the entrée production or by the supplier for sugar production.

  

USDA News Release

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2016/recall-056-2016-release-expansion

ConAgra Foods Recalls Frozen Chicken and Beef Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

Class I Recall 056-2016 EXP

Health Risk: High Jul 15, 2016

 En Español

  

Two Flavored Cake Mixes Recalled by GM Due to Potential E. coli O121 Contamination

Two flavors of cake mix under the Betty Crocker brand have been added to the flour recall by General Mills.   Betty Crocker Delights Super Moist Party Rainbow Chip Cake Mix and Betty Crocker Delights Super Moist Carrot Cake Mix have been recalled due to the potential for the flour to contain E. coli O121, a STEC strain.

The baking process will eliminate the organism, but of course there are those who are prone to eat raw cookie dough or offer it to children (this is worse because children would be more susceptible to infection.  FDA issued an Advisory against eating raw cookie dough.


General Mills News Release
http://www.generalmills.com/en/News/NewsReleases/Library/2016/July/betty-crocker-mix-recall/07382396-c01d-4b3a-b86b-ce8b7e556641
Jul 11, 2016
Two flavors of Betty Crocker cake mix recalled

Consumers reminded not to consume uncooked cake batter or raw flour products

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota - Out of an abundance of caution, two flavors of Betty Crocker cake mix sold in the U.S. and one flavor sold in Canada have been added to General Mills’ previously announced flour recall from July 1, 2016. No illnesses reported to date have been connected to cake mix. No other General Mills or Betty Crocker mixes are included in this recall.

FSIS Announces Online Posting of Location-Specific Food Safety Data

USDA / FSIS announced today that they will begin sharing information on food safety data specific to slaughter and processing facilities in the United States.

According to the news release:

• "Initially, FSIS will share information on the processes used at each facility, giving more detail than is currently listed in the searchable establishment directory, as well as a code for each facility that will make it easier to sort and combine future datasets by facility. Additionally, FSIS will release results for Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) and Salmonella in ready-to-eat (RTE) products and processed egg products."
• "On a quarterly basis, FSIS will then begin to share other datasets, including results for Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Salmonella in raw, non-intact beef products; results for Salmonella and Campylobacter in young chickens and young turkeys, comminuted poultry, and chicken parts; routine chemical residue testing data in meat and poultry products; and advanced meat recovery testing data."

This will be interesting.   How will fear mongers spin Salmonella data on social and mass media?  Yes, raw meat can have Salmonella and Campylobacter. 

 

 

FSIS Newsroom
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/news-releases-statements-transcripts/news-release-archives-by-year/archive/2016/nr-071116-01
FSIS to Begin Posting Location-Specific Food Safety Data Online
Data Sharing Plan Will Promote Transparency for Consumers and Further Improve Food Safety at Meat and Poultry Facilities
Jul 11, 2016

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