Europe - Eggs Contaminated with Pesticide Removed from Shelves

In Europe, eggs (and products made from eggs) from farms in the Netherlands and Belgium are being pulled from store shelves after it was found that those farms used a banned pesticide, Fiponil, a substance used to kill lice and ticks in chickens.  Product was shipped to  countries that have received the eggs are the UK, Sweden, Austria, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Denmark and Switzerland.

Brittan’s Food Standards Agency says it is "very unlikely" there is any health risk.  However it is caused quite a stir throughout the EU.

BBC News
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-40896899
Eggs containing fipronil found in 15 EU countries and Hong Kong
8/11/17

Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Papayas Increase to 141 Cases

The case count for those impacted by the Salmonella outbreak associated with Maradol papayas continues to increase.  As of 8/11/17, infections have been reported in 19 states with a total of 141 cases with 45 hospitalizations and 1 death.

The Maradol papayas originated from the Carica de Campeche farm in Mexico.  FDA has issued warning for 3 brands - Caribeña, Cavi and Valery brands of Maradol papayas.  Recalls were issued for each of the brands ( Caribeña, Cavi, and Valery ).

FDA has issued an import alert.  (Import Alert 99-35)

Several types of Salmonella bacteria have been isolated, including Salmonella Agona, Salmonella Kiambu, Salmonella Gaminara, Salmonella Thompson, and Salmonella Senftenberg.

Posted 8/11/17

CDC Outbreak Notice
https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/kiambu-07-17/index.html
Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Kiambu and Salmonella Thompson Infections Linked to Imported Maradol Papayas

This Week in Mislabeled Product

Each week, we normally see numerous recalls issued that involve mislabeling of product.    In most cases, theses calls involve allergen risks.  This past week was no exception.  The scope of these recalls vary as well as the way in which the mislabeling issue was identified. 

A Wisconsin firm is recalling hamburger patties after receiving complaints that hamburger patties with cheese, a dairy allergen, and bacon were mislabeled as plain patties.

A St. Louis, Mo. establishment, is issuing an allergy alert on 13 German Chocolate Cakes labeled as regular chocolate cake because the product contains pecans that are not listed on the ingredient label.  The issue was discovered by an employee

A Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 2,133 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) beef products due to misbranding. The products contain monosodium glutamate (MSG) that was not declared on the product labels.  The issue was discovered during a USDA / FSIS inspection.

Taylor Farms Retail, Inc. in Salinas is conducting a limited recall of 293 cases of Taylor Farms Creamy Homestyle Coleslaw Kits due to an undeclared milk allergen.  Milk is an ingredient in the dressing packet included in the salad kit. The undeclared allergen was discovered through a quality check.

USDA / FSIS Recall Notice
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/FSIS-Content/internet/main/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2017/recall-091-2017-release
Kenosha Beef International, LTD. Recalls Beef Products Due To Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens
Class I Recall091-2017
Health Risk: HighAug 9, 2017

Black Forest Ham Recalled for Not Declaring Malted Barley on Label

A Maryland Company is recalling close to 120,000 lbs of RTE Black Forest Ham because the product label did not have an ingredient - Malted Barley.  The recall came after a complaint was made.

The recall notice states that the absence of malted barley as an undeclared allergen.  And while barley is allergenic, it is not included within FALCPA.   It does contain gluten however.

USDA / FSIS Recall Notice
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/FSIS-Content/internet/main/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2017/recall-088-2017-release
Hahn Brothers, Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Ham Products Due To Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens
Class II Recall 088-2017
Health Risk: Low 

Aug 5, 2017

Why Is the UK Afraid of Importing US Chicken Meat?

There has been much scuttlebutt regarding the UK not wanting to allow importation of US chickens. While EU has banned US chickens since 1997, the issue has been raised as the UK plans to exit the EU.  Will the UK now allow the importation of US chickens?  Well, it seems that they have issue with the fact that the US uses a chlorine disinfection step to get rid of the pathogenic microbes.  But it is not the fact of chlorine that bothers our friends across the ocean, but it is the fact that we have to use chlorine in order to compensate for what they consider our less than clean birds.

According to UK food safety expert, Simon Dawson - there is no issue with chlorine, and that chlorine can be a useful tool in reducing harmful pathogens, such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, that are naturally associated with the birds.  And there is no real evidence that our birds are not as clean, but rather is more precautionary...based on "no poultry welfare standards" in the US and "also been reports, including undercover video evidence by the Humane Society of the United States, of both inhumane and unsanitary practices being carried out".

So it has nothing to do with the fact we have awesome, inexpensive chicken that UK consumers would definitely prefer.  Hmm....I am going to Chick-fil-A for lunch.

The Conversation
http://theconversation.com/chlorine-washed-chicken-qanda-food-safety-expert-explains-why-us-poultry-is-banned-in-the-eu-81921

Chlorine-washed chicken Q&A: food safety expert explains why US poultry is banned in the EU
August 2, 2017 7.03am EDT

NC Establishment Recalls Ground Beef Due to Foreign Material Complaints of Styrofoam Pieces

JBS of North Carolina is recalling 5,000 lbs of ground beef after receiving complaints of foreign material in the form of styrofoam pieces.

USDA Recall Notice
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2017/rc-086-2017
JBS USA Inc. Recalls Beef Products Due To Possible Foreign Matter Contamination 
Class III Recall  086-2017
 Aug 1, 2017

Papaya's Recalled After Linked to Salmonella Outbreak.

A Maryland distributor, Grande Produce, is recalling Cariberia brand of papaya maradol after it was linked to a Salmonella outbreak where there were 47 cases.   The impacted product was shipped July 10 to July 19, so it is unlikely that any of this perishable produce is still around.

While much of the product was pulled back from the distributors, the company should have issued a public recall.  This recall comes a week after Maryland Dept of Ag first issued a warning.

FDA Recall Notice
https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm568780.htm
Grande Produce Issues Voluntary Recall of Limited Quantity of Papaya “Caribeña” Due to Potential Health Risk
For Immediate Release
July 26, 2017

Rogue Employee Posting Photos of Moldy Equipment Goes Viral - Gains International Media Attention

 A new reality for food operations, especially large foodservice chains - a reported issue at one store within a chain that impacts the entire corporation.  This was recently the case for Chipotle where an outbreak at one store gained international attention dropping the company's stock price.  Now a case at a McDonalds store, where a rouge employee posted pictures online of a piece of ice cream equipment that had mold. [Yeah, he could have cleaned it, but instead decided to post pictures online..nice].   Unfortunately, this has gained international attention, being reported in major news media outlets around the world.

Clearly this was not an issue you want to see, but the overall cost of an issue like this can be huge, rippling back in the food chain to the ingredient manufacturers, transporters, etc.  Maintaining a tight system across hundreds or thousands of outlets can be tough.  So it is not only important to have systems in place for running a clean operation, but having systems that encourage employees to report issues, or even handle issues.  Good hiring practices also help.

HuffPost UK LIFESTYLE
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/former-mcdonalds-employee-claims-he-unearthed-dirty-tray-within-mcflurry-machine_uk_5979a01de4b02a4ebb72f709
Former McDonald’s Employee Unearths Gross Find Hidden Within McFlurry Machine
Natasha Hinde Lifestyle writer at HuffPost UK
2/27/17

Failure to Enforce Employee Sick Policy May Be Root to Chipotle Outbreak

In a CNBC news article, investigators found what could be a systemic issue in the under-enforcement of the employee sick policy that keeps ill workers home rather than working.  It is reported that managers from various stores were not executing the policies and forcing workers while ill.

Many have stated that norovirus is also seen at other chains but we just don't hear about it.  And while there is validity to the point that the news media and the business investors are hyper-aware of issues at Chipotle, my point is that the restaurant managers and employees should have been hyper-aware of the need to adhere to policies including the employee health policies, especially in light of the past issues that the chain has suffered.

The US Food Code states that employees who have diarrhea, are vomiting, or have jaundice must be excluded from the workplace.  Company's employee health policies must adhere to this in order to prevent the spread of foodborne illness from organisms such as Hepatitis A, norovirus, Salmonella, STEC E. coli, and Shigella.  These organisms are highly infectious and can be easily passed to consumers via food, especially ready-to-eat food.

CNBC OnLine
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/25/chipotles-recent-norovirus-outbreak-could-be-the-result-of-lax-sick-policy-enforcement.html
Chipotle's recent norovirus outbreak was the result of lax sick-policy enforcement

• A self-identified Chipotle employee alleged in a Reddit post last month that a manager required them to work while sick.
• A Chipotle employee from a different state told CNBC that it was only after the norovirus outbreak last week that their manager began enforcing the sick policy.
• Chipotle's sick policy may not be the only one that managers are overlooking.

Sarah Whitten | @sarahwhit10 

7/27/16