Study - TV Cooking Shows Don't Demonstrate Good Food Safety Practices

A newly released study shows that television cooking shows show improper food safety techniques.   “The majority of practices rated were out of compliance or conformance with recommendations in at least 70% of episodes and food safety practices were mentioned in only three episodes,” said lead author Nancy L. Cohen, PhD, RD, LDN, FAND.

This study shows what many food safety experts have been saying for some time....that cooking shows are awful when it comes to food safety.   To be honest, most cooking shows are not really focused on how to cook, but rather on eating food (eating weird foods, finding restaurants, food facts, etc).


Newswise
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/664417/?sc=dwhn
Television Cooking Shows Overlook Safe Food Handling Practices Many programs miss the opportunity to model proper safety measures, according to a new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior

Co-Pack Facility Responsible for Ice Cream Recall Due to Listeria

A California company is recalling their fancy ice cream after FDA found Listeria in product and in the co-packing facility.

We see many entrepreneurs who focus on the marketing and sales and leave the manufacturing of the product to someone else.  Know the risk associated with those products and understand how the co-packer is controlling that risk.  Many would-be marketers ask if they should take a HACCP or Preventive Controls class - absolutely.  Should you institute a supply-chain control program to including audit and testing - absolutely, especially if the hazard analysis identifies potential risks.

The AC Creamery recall is also related to this co-packer. http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm527875.htm

FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm528091.htm
McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams Recalls Select 16oz. Packages Due To Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
November 4, 2016

Vending Company Recalls Food Items Not Properly Labeled (Including Allergens)

A PA vending firm is recalling a wide range of items because they did not have ingredient labels on their product which means that they did not have any allergen listing. 

I guess they were not paying attention in the ServSafe class.

FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm528146.htm
Crescent Vending Co. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared (Wheat, Soy, Milk, And Egg) in ProductFor Immediate Release
November 5, 2016

Maintenance Issue Results in Foreign Material in Reformed Chicken Patties

Another complaint for plastic in reformed chicken patties that resulted in recalling  over 20,000 lbs of product.  This time it was blue plastic and the issue was brought to light by 3 customer complaints.  According to the report - "The problem was discovered when the firm received notification of three consumer complaints mentioning firm blue plastic in their product. The product was contaminated around the time a trim repair was made on belt material."

Issue - Maintenance
FSIS Recall Notice
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/FSIS-Content/internet/main/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2016/recall-103-2016-release
OSI Industries, LLC Recalls Chicken Products Due To Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
Class II Recall 103-2016
Health Risk: Low Nov 6, 2016

How Local is That Produce Item at the Farmers' Market?

A TV News report out of Philadelphia shows that some produce items sold at Farmers' Markets are not grown on the local farm, but rather the same commercially grown items sold at the grocery store.  Sure, it is still fresh, but not grown by the guy selling it, or probably not grown in the same region.  The problem is that people don't realize it and they are spending more for it than they would at the grocery store.

This should not come as a surprise.  If you are buying berries in Lancaster at this time of the year, it is probably not grown anywhere near Lancaster.  Farmers' markets vendors will supplement what they grow with other items to have a broader offering.  To get these items, they often go to the same produce wholesalers / distributors where your grocery store gets them.  And because they are buying in smaller quantities, they pay more and thus charge more.
There is no problem with this as long as the consumer understands what they are buying.  It the consumer wants to pay a couple extra bucks to help support their local farmers' market vendor, have at it.  If you feel you have been duped, then talk with your farmers' market vendor.  Find out which items are truly local.  Also, understand what crops are grown in your area and the season for that crop.

(Thanks Josh for this link).

ABC News Channel 6 Philadelphia
http://6abc.com/food/action-news-investigation-is-farmers-market-produce-really-from-farm/1588491/
FOOD & DRINK
Action News Investigation: Is farmers market produce really from the farm?
Friday, November 04, 2016 11:56AM
ST. DAVIDS, Pa. (WPVI) -- An Action News investigation revealed not all those fruits and vegetables, packaged alongside local grown produce, may actually be from nearby farms.

FDA Outbreak Investigation - Hepatitis A in Strawberries

An outbreak of Hepatitis A linked to frozen strawberries reported in September has now resulted in 134 cases of Hepatitis A.  The strawberries were imported from Egypt and FDA has issued an import alert.  The company has also issued a recall.

FDA Outbreak Investigation

http://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm518775.htm

FDA Investigates Outbreak of Hepatitis A Illnesses Linked to Frozen Strawberries

November 3, 2016

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local officials are investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A illnesses linked to frozen strawberries.

CDC Study - Outbreaks Associated with Organic Foods

A study conducted by CDC evaluated the outbreaks associated with organic foods.  From the study: "We identified 18 outbreaks caused by organic foods from 1992 to 2014, resulting in 779 illnesses, 258 hospitalizations, and 3 deaths".  Salmonella and pathogenic E.coli were the leading causes.  There were a range of foods involved: "Eight of the outbreaks were attributed to produce items, four to unpasteurized dairy products, two to eggs, two to nut and seed products, and two to multiingredient foods."  

As stated in this study, it is hard to calculate risk of organic foods compared to conventional foods.  However, we can say that just because it is organic, it doesn't mean that you still don't need proper handling and preparation.

It is also important to point out that over the period of time covered in this study, the capabilities for identifying outbreaks and tracking to the source have improved greatly.  So looking at the number of outbreaks occurring from year to year can be misleading.

Journal of Food Protection, November 2016
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iafp/jfp/2016/00000079/00000011/art00018
Foodborne Disease Outbreaks Associated with Organic Foods in the United States

Oreo Fudge Creames Recalled Due to Milk Allergen, Even Though Listed in Precautionary Statement.

A specific type of Oreo cookie is being recalled after someone had an allergic reaction to milk, and milk was not declared on the label.  It was however, listed in the precautionary statement - "Manufactured on equipment that processes milk.."

The precautionary label is not part of any official allergen labeling rule, so it doesn't provide protection.  Basically you hope someone with a given allergy such as milk would see that and then avoid eating it.  Didn't happen.

From FARRP  - "FDA specifies that such [precautionary] labeling cannot be used as a substitute for good manufacturing practices such as allergen identification and control, cleaning of shared equipment, and segregation during processing. Some consumers believe manufacturers use precautionary labels as a way to protect themselves from legal action in case a food causes a reaction. This is not typically the case since this type of label should only be used by food manufacturers when there actually is a possibility (however small) that the food may contain an allergen which is not an ingredient but may be present as a result of the manufacturing process."
 
FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm527207.htm
Mondelēz Global LLC Conducts Nationwide Voluntary - Recall of Oreo Fudge Cremes Product Sold in the U.S. Recall Due to Milk Allergen Not Listed in Ingredient LineOctober 28, 2016

FDA Guidance - Small Company Version of Preventive Controls for Human Foods

FDA released their guidance titled: Guidance for Industry: What You Need to Know About the FDA Regulation: Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food; Small Entity Compliance Guide.   LINK

This guide was developed to help small companies comply with the FSMA Preventive Controls Rule.

The guide does not introduce anything new.  It is basically a simplified version of the original rule.  Being simplified, the document does make the regulation more approachable.  One particular area is On-Farm Packing and Holding of Food (pg 22).  The guidance discusses those activities not subject to the requirements for Hazard Analysis and Preventive Controls when conducted on farms.

It also reviews the Qualified facility -  a facility that does not need to comply with the Preventive Controls component of the rule (21 CFR 117).  It has been our opinion however, for companies who fit into that definition to consider taking the step and completing the Preventive Controls component.  Why?  If the company grows, looks to gain sales from a customer requiring a HACCP type plan, or just wants to improve the safety of their product, they really need to consider taking this step.