Supplier Recall of Dark Chocolate for Undeclared Milk Allergen Triggers Customer Recalls

A number of recalls have been issued for dark chocolate products after the supplier, GKI foods, recalled the dark chocolate ingredient because it had undeclared milk.

GKI Foods LLC
Blue Marble, Roundy's Select, and HyVee

Dark Chocolate Products

CVS Gold Emblem, Ocean State Candy, Hannaford Excellent, Market Basket, & Weigels
New American Food Products, LLC
Dark Chocolate Products  

Aurora, AG Supermarkets, Belmont Market, and others
Aurora Products, Inc.
Dark Chocolate Products

Toothsome Chocolate Emporium
Rucker’s Makin’ Batch Candies, Inc.
Dark Chocolate Coffee Beans

Uncle Buck’s and Family Choice
Rucker’s Wholesale and Service Co
Dark Chocolate Peanuts

21st Century Snack Foods
21st Century Snack Foods
Dark Chocolate Almonds

Shoreline Fruit and Cherry Bay Orchards

Shoreline Fruit LLC

Dark Chocolate Covered Cherry Products

Wegmans, Alpine Valley, Circle K and others First Source

Dark Chocolate Products

Meijer
Meijer
Dark Chocolate Products

Figi
Dark Chocolate Gingersnaps


https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm582769.htm
First Source Issues Allergy Alert for Undeclared Milk in Several Dark Chocolate Products Received from our Supplier GKI Foods LLC
For Immediate Release
October 30, 2017

Camel Milk Seized in Kansas City

US Federal authorities seized 4300 16oz bottles of frozen raw camel milk, camel colostrum, and camel kefir which were stored in a Kansas City warehouse.   One issue was that they were shipped across state lines which was illegal.  Second is that the label and website health claims made are not scientifically supported (see Warning Letter).  One of those claims being that camel milk can help people with autism.   FDA issued an alert earlier this year stating that camel milk is not a treatment for autism.

I see that camel milk is also a 'thing' for putting in your coffee.  According to a Huffington Post article, camel milk is slightly sweet and creamy and slightly salty.  And even more nutritious.  The hard part may be deciding one hump or two.

http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article179929871.html#storylink=cpy
Feds seize gallons of camel milk they allege was illegally shipped to Kansas
By Tony Rizzo  trizzo@kcstar.com
October 20, 2017 10:07 AM

This Week in Mislabeled Product (ending 10/27/17)

Earthbound Farm LLC of San Juan Bautista, CA is voluntarily recalling 1,755 cases of the Earthbound Farm Organic Chopped Asian Style Salad Kit with an expiration date of October 24, 2017 and UPC of 32601 95134, because it was discovered that some of the bags contain the dressing/toppings packets for the Southwest Chopped Salad Kit rather than for the Chopped Asian Style Kit. The Southwest dressing contains egg and milk that are not declared as ingredients on the bag of the Asian Style Salad Kit. A consumer contacted us after noticing the dressing packet declared "contains egg and milk," allergens that are not declared on the label of the Asian Style Salad Kit.

A PA retailer is recalling Giant Eagle brand Breaded Shrimp due to an undeclared egg allergen. Giant Eagle became aware of the issue during a routine label inspection. The product label for the shrimp, which contain egg, omitted egg as an allergen

Tres Latin Foods is voluntarily recalling two batches of production of Kale & Pinto Bean 10 oz. pupusas and one batch of its Black Bean & Sweet Corn pupusas due to an undeclared milk allergen.


https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm581578.htm
Earthbound Farm LLC Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk and Egg in One Batch of Earthbound Farm Organic Chopped Asian Style Salad Kit
For Immediate Release
October 21, 2017

Frozen Raw Tuna Recalled After Positive Salmonella Test

Relish Foods, Inc., a Calif., seafood distributor, is voluntarily recalling raw frozen Newport brand tuna loins and steaks (5 to 8 lb. tuna loins, 3 to 5 lb. tuna loins, 6 oz. tuna steaks, and 4 oz. tuna steaks). The recall is the result of sampling by the FDA which revealed that the product has potential to contain the bacteria Salmonella.  Product was distributed in the western states to both retail and foodservice outlets.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm582049.htm
Relish Foods, Inc. Recalls Frozen Tuna Loins Because of Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
October 24, 2017

Follow-up for VA Chili Cook-off Salmonella Outbreak

As a follow-up to a Salmonella Outbreak associated with a volunteer fire company's chili cook-off from a few weeks back, a suspect product has been identified - Crab Shack Clam Chowder.  The County Health Department says that there have been 180 cases reported so far.

To help the restaurant from taking a big hit, the Eastern Shore Health Department director proclaimed the restaurant was fine, and demonstrated that fact by making a stop at the eatery and having lunch.  He pointed out a fact we know well, that restaurants can run into problems when they do these temporary events.

10 WAVY.com
http://wavy.com/2017/10/24/officials-180-reports-of-illness-following-chincoteague-event/
Officials: 180 reports of illness following Chincoteague event

NY Cheese Company Recalls Cheese Products After Presumptive Positive Listeria Test

A NY cheese company is recalling some of its cheese products due to Listeria after tests came back as presumptive positive for Listeria.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm582124.htm
Cooperstown Cheese Company Recalls Cheese Because of Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
October 22, 2017

Produce Grown in Greenhouse Recalled Due to Potential E. coli Issue

BrightFarms, a company that grows produce in greenhouses, is initiating a voluntary recall of packaged produce sold in Roundy's Supermarkets due to the potential presence of E. coli at its Rochelle, Illinois greenhouse farm.   BrightFarms chose to take this action out of an abundance of caution after receiving routine lab results and discovering that certain product may have been compromised.

FDA Recall Notice
https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm581532.htm
BrightFarms Announces Voluntary Regional Recall of Produce Due to Potential Presence of E. coli
For Immediate Release
October 20, 2017

Supplier Issue with Listeria-Test-Positive Produce Items Leads to Numerous Recalls of Meals, Kits, and Salad Bar Items

(List Updated 10/25/17)
FDA Link to associated recalls - https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/MajorProductRecalls/default.htm

A number of recalls have been issued that are related to the recall of packaged vegetables by Mann Packing which originated when the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection agency) tested and found Listeria in retail packages of Mann Packing product.  These recalls are by retailers who purchased the prepared (washed, chopped) salad items to use in meals and kits and on salad bars.

A PA establishment is recalling to-be-cooked chicken meals after the company was notified by the supplier of the broccoli, Mann Packing, used in the dishes may contain Listeria.   While this was a not-ready-to-eat product, and it had validated cooking instructions, and the product was at end of shelf-life, the firm decided to recall out of extreme caution.

Other associated recalls:

• Randalls, Tom Thumb and Albertsons stores in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas only are voluntarily recalling Ready. Chef. Go! seafood meal bags and Cod Fillet Seafood Meal Bags.
• Meijer is announcing a recall of various packaged Meijer brand produce items
• Triple B Corporation of Seattle, Washington is voluntarily recalling salad kits and stir fry mixes 
• Triple B Corporation of Anchorage, Alaska is voluntarily recalling broccoli florette's, stir fry kit, vegie trays w/ cauliflower, and a veggie pack combos
• Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling some salads from ten stores in Northern California
• Albertsons, Safeway, Vons and Pak N' Save stores in eight states are voluntarily recalling certain fresh vegetable trays and cups 
• H-E-B announced today that it has issued a voluntary recall for certain H-E-B single-serving  soups made with vegetable products 
• A Portland, Ore. establishment, is issuing a public health alert for ready-to-eat (RTE) kale and broccoli slaw salad with chicken items, produced from Oct. 6, 2017 through Oct. 10, 2017.  A recall was not requested because it is believed that all products are no longer in commerce and are past their “Best by” dates.
• King Soopers said today it has recalled deli broccoli salads and coleslaw that are sold in King Soopers and City Market stores, located in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming. The product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The deli broccoli salads and coleslaw are sold from the service case in the deli department at King Soopers and City Market. King Soopers and City Market have removed these items from store shelves and initiated their customer recall notification system that alerts customers who may have purchased recalled products through register receipt tape messages and phone calls.
• Pacific Coast Fruit Company in Portland, Oregon is voluntarily recalling multiple types of bagged processed salads 
• Paragon Wholesale Foods Corp., of Warrendale, PA, is recalling several lots of 1.7 ounce Broccoli Florets.  The recalled broccoli florets were distributed to multiple schools in the Greater Pittsburgh and Butler, PA areas between 10/9/2017 and 10/16/2017.

USDA Recall Notice
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2017/recall-114-2017-release
Fresh Foods Manufacturing Co. Recalls Chicken Products due to Possible Listeria Contamination 
Class I Recall  114-2017
Health Risk: High  Oct 20, 2017

Jambalaya Outbreak - 2 Different Bacterial Pathogens Responsible - Indicates Two Separate Mishandling Issues

A second bacterial pathogen, Clostridium perfringens, has been identified as part of the large outbreak in Louisiana that has been linked to jambalaya served at a softball fundraising event.  Salmonella had already been isolated, but Clostridium perfrigens has now also been identified in patient stool samples.  As of Friday, 125 cases were confirmed with 37 hospitalized.  One death may also be linked.

While Salmonella effects are due to the infection is causes, Clostridium perfringes produces a toxin that causes the symptoms of diarrhea and abdominal cramps.  It usually occurs in less than a day and those symptoms will normally last for 24 hours. 

The issues of contamination will also be different.  Salmonella is not heat resistant, so either the foods are undercooked or it will contaminate foods after cooking through cross contamination.  Clostridium perfringens is a sporeforming pathogen, and its spores are heat resistant and thus can survive normal cooking conditions such as when making jambalaya.  The key to prevention is proper cooling after the product is cooked.  Basically, the spores survive cooking, but need warmer conditions for growth.  In fact, at optimal growth temperature of 109F to 117F, C. perfringens can multiple every 10 minutes or so.

So clearly, the were some issues when people were making jambalaya....and this can be the case when people are cooking large quantities of food.  For Salmonella to be an issue, the cooks either undercooked it, or they had sloppy procedures that allowed cross contamination.  For the second bacterial pathogen - after cooking (or under-cooking), they did not properly cool the food which provided conditions for C. perfrigens growth.  By regulation, foods such as this must be cooled from 135F to 70F within 2 hours, and from 70F to 41F within 4 hours.  These conditions were established for C. perfringens.  And if large quantities were made, cooling can be difficult.

WWL TV.com
http://www.wwltv.com/news/not-just-salmonella-second-bacteria-idd-in-mass-north-louisiana-illness/485166123
Not just salmonella: Second bacteria ID'd in mass North Louisiana illness
WWLTV 10:45 AM. CDT October 22, 2017