Papayas Recalled After Tests Positive for Salmonella and New Outbreak

A California produce company is recalling Maradol Papaya after product tested positive for Salmonella.  Testing appears to have been done by FDA. 

This recall comes after a large Salmonella outbreak linked to papaya occurred in August.  This recent recall however, is an example of why it is important to track issues of the same or related product.  it only makes sense that when an outbreak occurs in product, in this case papaya, then the regulatory agencies will be focused on that and similar products.

FDA Recall Notice
https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm575287.htm
Bravo Produce Inc. Recalls Maradol Papaya from Productores Y Exportadores De Carica Papaya De Tecomán Y Costa Alegre SPR of RL and Packed by Frutas Selectas De Tijuana, S. De R.L. De C.V. Because of Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
September 10, 2017

British Online News Report on Fear of Terrorist Attacks Using Food

A British online news report raises concern of an ISIS fueled terror attack through the contamination of food in grocery store.

Mail OnLine
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4858242/ISIS-tells-fanatics-poison-food-Western-supermarkets.html#ixzz4s6QDPZDL
ISIS tells its fanatics to poison food in Western supermarkets after testing the method on its prisoners in Iraq

• ISIS leaders are reportedly planning on poisoning food in UK and U.S. shops 
• Used prisoners in Mosul, Iraq as guinea pigs to test poisons in foodI
• Details of their 'tests' uncovered when Mosul was liberated this year 

By Sara Malm for MailOnline

Published: 15:30 BST, 6 September 2017  | Updated: 18:31 BST, 6 September 2017

This Week in Mislabeled Product - Sept 8, 2017

A grocery chain is recalling semi-sweet chocolate chips because the bags may contain milk chocolate chips and milk is not declared on the label.  While the statement does not tell how the issue was discovered, one could imagine either a some left-over milk chocolate chips left on the packaging line, or someone dumped the wrong chips during packaging operations.

A grocery store chain is recalling assorted muffin four packs that may include a banana nut muffin containing walnuts where that nut allergen not listed on the label.

FDA Recall Notice
https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm574585.htm
Wakefern Food Corp. Voluntarily Recalls ShopRite Semi-Sweet Real Chocolate Chips
September 1, 2017

Plant-based Hamburger With Bioengineered Soy Meat Protein Questioned on Allergen Issue

The primary ingredient in the plant based hamburger (yeah, a fake burger) is being questioned due to the fact that it may be an allergen.  According to this article, the company had tested the bioengineered soy leghemoglobin for safety, but the FDA may still have concerns.

My concerns are a little different.....

Food Business News
http://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/news_home/Business_News/2017/09/Impossible_Burger_environmenta.aspx?ID={5C9956A8-4832-4A78-A853-05ECE1FF3D41}&e=mwb124@psu.edu
Impossible Burger, environmentalists clash over key ingredient
 Sept. 5, 2017 - 
by Erica Shaffer

Infant Probiotic Solution Recalled Due to Potential Choking Concern

Garden of Life is recalling their Baby Organic Liquid Formula because there is inadequate instructions for delivering the product to infants.  Evidently, the product is too thick.  Directions for using syringe are not adequate.


This is a probiotic solution.

FDA Recall Notice
https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm575135.htm
Garden of Life LLC Issues Recall of Baby Organic Liquid Formula
For Immediate Release
September 7, 2017

FSIS Issues Updated Compliance Guideline for Control of Pathogenic E. coli (STEC) in Non-intact Beef

FSIS released an updated 2017 Compliance Guidance on Minimizing the Risk of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Raw Beef (including Veal) Processing Operations.  This guideline updates and combines information from both the 2008 Sampling Beef Products forEscherichia coli O157:H7 (August 12, 2008) and •Sanitation Guidance for Beef Grinders (January 2012).  "This guideline incorporates current Agency thinking on the use of antimicrobial treatments, establishment sampling programs, and other measures in the establishment’s HACCP system."

This guidance states "FSIS is revising [the previous guidance documents] because it has seen that many small and very small establishments have had difficulty in designing and supporting their HACCP system (e.g., HACCP plan, Sanitation Standard Operating Procedure, or other prerequisite program) in a manner to prevent, eliminate, or reduce STEC to an acceptable level."

The guidance applies to non-intact beef products including: "ground beef; beef that an establishment has injected with solutions; beef that is vacuum tumbled with solutions; beef that an establishment has mechanically tenderized by needling, cubing, pounding devices (with or without marinade); beef that an establishment has reconstructed into formed entrees; and diced beef less than ¾ inch in any one dimension."

Sliced Produce Recalled Due to Listeria

A Florida produce operation is recalling diced produce due to the potential for Listeria.  The product, packed in clear plastic container or in Styrofoam trays overwrapped with clear plastic film, is being recalled as the result of a single routine sample taken at a retail store in Georgia which revealed that the finished product tested contained the bacteria.

The product has already passed its expiration date.  The delay was probably related to sampling / testing / reporting.

In cases like this, the source of contamination often originates in the environment of the slicing and packaging operation.  Slicing/dicing equipment is a primary culprit because of the difficulty cleaning. Packaging machinery is another potential source.

FDA Recall Notice
https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm574624.htm
Country Fresh Orlando LLC, Recalls Product Because of Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
September 2, 2017

Bad Pet Ideas for Little Kids - The Turtle Edition

CDC is reporting a large Salmonella outbreak linked to little turtles - 37 cases with 16 hospitalizations.  While FDA has banned the sale of little turtles (less than 4 inches) back in the 1970's for this reason, we have continued to have outbreaks.  Turtles and other reptiles can carry Salmonella and this is an issue with little kids in that they may be less likely to wash their hands afterwards, or may stick the animal in or around their mouth.  Other pets that have been problematic - baby chicks, frogs, and hedgehogs.  

CDC Outbreak Report
https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/agbeni-08-17/index.html
Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Agbeni Infections Linked to Pet Turtles, 2017
Posted August 29, 2017 1:00 PM ET

FDA Enforcement Report - Week of August 30, 2017 - Summary

FDA's Weekly Enforcement Reports - Whereas not all recalls are announced in the media or on FDA's Recalls press release page, all recalls go into FDA's Enforcement Report once they are classified according to the level of hazard involved.

As a way to see more fully issues occurring, we thought we might summarize the food related items (allergen issues are posted on This Week in Mislabeled Product).

• Go-Fresh of MN and Fresh Venture of CA Mary's Harvest Fresh Foods, Inc. of OR were impacted when firm test results found potential E-coli O26 contamination in Broccoli Florets. This has impacted a number of brands. - Class 2
• Lakeside Foods of WI is recalling french style green beans for potential Listeria contamination.  This company has has Listeria contamination issues in the past.  Class 2
• Koogee-Queen Anne, of KY is recalling ice bream products due to E. coli and high coliform counts. - Class 2

It is interesting to note how these recalls were classified.  The recalls for broccoli due to E. coli O26 and for green beans due to Listeria were classified as Class 2 recalls even though these are serious pathogen.  This is because the packages had validated cooking instructions, with the thought that proper cooking would minimize the risk of these pathogens.   Now if these pathogens had genetic matches to a serious outbreak as determined by WGS, then this would be a different story.