Friday, July 22, 2016

Supermarkets Recall Foodservice Bean Salad Items Because of Supplier Listeria Concern

Supermarket chains Giant and Wegman's are recalling bean salad after notification by the bean supplier of Listeria contamination.  The product is a foodservice item that is sold in display cases by the pound.

Giant News Release
 https://giantfoodstores.com/product-recalls/recall-details/?recallid=urn:uuid:C91FAD3A-F4CE-46B9-18D8278FEF62D8CB&page=1
PRODUCT RECALL: Own Brands 3 Bean Salad

Canned Beans Recalled After Consumer Finds Broken Ink Pen in Can

Hy-Vee is recalling cans of black beans after a broken pen was discovered in a can by a consumer.  According to the report "The potential for contamination was discovered after Faribault Foods, Inc., Hy-Vee’s supplier, announced it was issuing a recall after one consumer reported finding a partial ink pen in one container. "

Wow, this is something we talk about, but here it is, a broken pen in product.  You wonder if the person knew they dropped it in the facility, or it was just left in a spot where it fell into the process?  Clearly, it has become a very expensive pen.

FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm512511.htm
Hy-Vee Voluntarily Recalls a Limited Quantity of Its No-Salt-Added Black Beans Due to Potential Presence of Foreign Material
 

ConAgra Expands Recall of Frozen Entree Products With Potential Metal Contamination

 ConAgra is expanding their recall of PF Chang branded frozen entrees.  The initial recall, issued on July 7th was for metal pieces that were found in the sugar used in the formulation..a supplier related issue.  The recall was expanded on "July 14, 2016, ConAgra Foods was notified by the supplier of additional production lots of sugar that were impacted, such that the initial recall needed to be expanded to include additional P.F. Chang’s Home Menu Brand meals.". 

It was also pointed out in the recall notice that " these products are not served in P.F. Chang’s restaurants. Meals in P.F. Chang’s restaurants are made fresh every day and in every restaurant."
FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm512050.htm
ConAgra Foods Expands Recall of P.F. Chang’s Home Menu Brand Meals Available in Grocery Retailers Due to Potential Presence of Foreign Material ConAgra Foods Does Not Make Meals for P.F. Chang’s Restaurants

For Immediate Release
July 16, 2016

Insulated Water Bottles Recalled Due to Lead Issues

LL Bean is recalling kid's water bottles because the bottle base has high levels of lead that may result in lead contamination of liquids stored in those water bottles.


US Consumer Product Safety Commission
 https://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/GSI-Outdoors-Recalls-Childrens-Water-Bottles/#remedy
GSI Outdoors Recalls Children’s Water Bottles Due to Violation of Lead Standard; Sold Exclusively at L.L.Bean

Recall date: July 19, 2016
Recall number: 16-227

Recall Summary
Name of product: Kids’ insulated water bottles

Washington Firm Recalls Whole Roaster Hogs Due to Salmonella

A Washington firm is recalling whole roaster hogs after that firms product was linked to an outbreak of Salmonella.

This same firm had a recall last summer due to the same issue...Salmonella.  The strain in that case was Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i, the same strain that was in this case.  So if one had to guess, this strain could have developed a niche within the process facility and then get onto the hog carcass in higher numbers.  A virulent strain, it then cross contaminates surfaces when handled by those barbequing the hogs, or perhaps the hogs are not getting to the final temperature.

FSIS issued a health alert about the safety procedures needed when cooking whole hogs. "Roasting a pig is a complex undertaking with numerous potential food handling issues. FSIS urges consumers to keep the four food safety steps in mind: Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill."
USDA FSIS News Release
Link.
 Kapowsin Meats Inc. Recalls Pork Products Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination
Class I Recall 062-2016
Health Risk: High Jul 21, 2016

Monday, July 18, 2016

Catfish Recalled Due to Illegal Antimicrobial Agent, Crystal Violet

A Louisiana company, Haring Catfish, is recalling catfish after USDA found high levels of  gentian violet, also known as crystal violet.  Crystal violet has been used in the past as an antimicrobial  having antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-parasitic properties, but has been discontinued for use in fish farms because it has been found to be carcinogenic.  According to an FDA bulletin - "CV [crystal violet] is readily absorbed into fish tissue from water exposure and is reduced metabolically by fish to the leuco moiety, leucocrystal violet (LCV).[4] Crystal violet is also mutagenic [along with malachite green, another dye that had been used for fish farms] and is not approved for use in aquaculture."


USDA Recall Notice
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2016/recall-060-2016-release
Haring Catfish, Inc. Recalls Siluriformes Fish Products Due To Possible Adulteration
Class II Recall 060-2016
Health Risk: Low
Jul 14, 2016

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
Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Frozen Vegetables (Final Update)
 
At a Glance:
Deaths: 3
Hospitalizations: 9
 

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
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
  

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

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.