Frozen Green Beans and Mixed Veggies Recalled After Pet Food Customer Test Indicates Listeria

National Frozen Foods Corporation (NFFC) is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of Not-Ready-To Eat IQF green beans and IQF mixed vegetables because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The recall was initiated based on a 3rd party test result of the IQF Green Beans only by a downstream customer that revealed that the finished products may potentially be contaminated with the bacteria.

This customer was a company who manufactured foods for pets using restaurant grade ingredients.  They also issued a recall for the pet foods.  "JustFoodForDogs (JFFD) of Los Alamitos, CA, is voluntarily recalling its Beef & Russet Potato, Fish & Sweet Potato and Turducken dog food meals in all sizes. JFFD uses 100% USDA and other restaurant grade ingredients in all of its pet food, and because the green beans used in these meals may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes".  "While testing demonstrates that only several dates of production were affected, out of an abundance of caution, JFFD is recalling all of the above mentioned products made from the dates of November 1, 2017 through January 14, 2018. These represent Best By lot code dates on all three of the JustFoodForDogs’ recalled products of 11/01/18 through 01/14/19."

This is another case of a not-ready-to-eat product being recalled for Listeria.  In this case, a the pet food customer who purchased this product to use  as an ingredient in making another product, tested and found Listeria.  Was this customer considering this a RTE product or did the see that there may be some issue where the product coudl be under-cooked?  Regardless, it then triggered the selling company to issue a recall, and thus affecting product sold to customers that would not have had any issue because they would have followed label instructions for cooking.

For the seller, this information needs to be part of the sales agreement with a realistic understanding of the capabilities of meeting that agreement- how the product is going to be used, what are the microbiological requirements that were stated on the specification,  will there be any testing of the ingredient was going - because as in this case, this can affect the sales of a lot of other product sold to other customers.  And if these customers made product, then we can expect cascading recalls to occur.

It is a dog-eat-dog...scratch that....a dog-eat-human food world...

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm593835.htm
National Frozen Foods Corporation Recalls Frozen Green Beans and Frozen Mixed Vegetables Because of Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
January 24, 2018

This Week in Mislabeled Product - Week Ending 1/20/17

Misprinting of Label Leaves Off Milk - Ottogi America, Inc. of Gardena, CA is recalling 6.40 ounce “Rice cake soup” food, because it may contain undeclared milk.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the milk-containing product was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of milk. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a misprinting in the company's packaging processes.

Chicken Salad with Wrong Lid - Duke Sandwich Productions, Inc., an Easley, S.C. establishment, is recalling approximately 743 pounds of chicken salad products due to misbranding - the products were packaged with two different product names. The chicken salad was packaged in the pimento cheese container, but it had “Chicken Salad” listed on the lid.  The problem was discovered on Jan. 16, 2018, after the firm received a complaint from a retail store manager.

Chicken Salad with Wrong Label  Café Spice GCT Inc., a New Windsor, N.Y. establishment, is recalling approximately 289 pounds of chicken salad products due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen, - the chicken salad was packaged with a chicken wrap label. The chicken salad contains milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the chicken wraps’ product labels.  The problem was discovered by a retail customer, who then notified the company. Following the company’s internal investigation, they contacted FSIS.

Almond Flour In Cheesecake Due to Supplier Error  - Nine Whole Foods Market stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island are voluntarily recalling cheesecake bars because the product potentially contained a tree nut allergen (almond flour) that was not listed on the product label. The issue was discovered by Whole Foods Market after the incorrect product was shipped by the supplier to the distributor.

Inadequate Line Cleaning - Palmer Candy Company (www.palmercandy.com), is recalling Sea Salt Caramel Hearts (that were only sold at one store in the Midwest States) due to possible peanut allergen contamination.  "The issue was discovered by Palmer Candy Team Members. During the packing process a peanut was observed stuck to the outside of the Sea Salt Caramel Heart."  This may indicate that the processing line was inadequately cleaned after a peanut production run.

Wrong Package Label - Bellisio Foods, Inc., a Jackson, Ohio, manufacturer, is voluntarily recalling certain Michelina’s Fettuccine Alfredo due to the possibility some packages may contain undeclared chicken with soy that is not listed on packaging.  This recall was issued on 12/22/17, but FDA issued this report this week.  While details are limited, one would guess this was a packaging error when the Alfredo was placed on a chicken and soy containing product.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm592996.htm

Ottogi America, Inc. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Rice Cake Soup

For Immediate Release

January 19, 2018

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Sprouts Sold at Sub Shop Chain

A Salmonella outbreak is being linked to raw sprouts sold at Jimmy John's in Illinois. The State Health Department has requested that the sub shop chain remove sprouts from the menu.  Sprouts have been implicated in a number of outbreaks, including sprouts sold at Jimmy John's (2012).

The Packer

https://www.thepacker.com/article/salmonella-infections-linked-sprouts-jimmy-johns

Salmonella infections linked to sprouts from Jimmy John’s 

Ashley Nickle

January 19, 2018 02:26 PM

New Development to Modify Stainless Steel to Prevent Bacterial Growth

A new process was developed in which stainless steel can be modified to prevent the growth of bacteria. This is an interesting new development for application to the medical field.  Is it something that can be applied to food operations?

Technology Networks.com
https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/stainless-steel-that-is-more-resistant-to-bacteria-296387
Stainless Steel That Is More Resistant to Bacteria
News Jan 17, 2018 | Original Story from the University of Montreal.

CDC MMWR Report - 2017 Legionella Outbreak Associated with Memphis Hotel Hot Tub

In the January 19th MMWR release, an investigative report into a 2017 Legionella outbreak associated with a hotel hot tub and pool.  While the outbreak came to light because of a few cases, many more were found through old-fashioned investigative work rather than sample analysis.

Initially 3 cases were identified, and this led them to the hot tub.  Through proceeding to survey past guest, 92 cases were identified, including nine laboratory-confirmed (urinary antigen positive) cases, 19 probable (self-reported pneumonia) cases, and 64 suspected (self-reported fever and ≥1 compatible symptom*) cases.  Of these, 70 had required medical care, and 16 people were hospitalized and there was one reported death.

Not the way to meet up with Elvis after going into a Memphis hotel hot tub, or any hotel water for that matter.  But how do you know?  In this case, "environmental health specialists conducted an assessment of the hotel aquatics facility and identified improper water treatment monitoring and low chlorine residuals (0 ppm; acceptable range = 1–3 ppm)."  "Laboratory testing of the aquatics facility water samples identified three Legionella polymerase chain reaction–positive samples from the pool, pool sand filter, and hot tub sand filter, and isolated Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 from the hot tub sand filter."   Something to be said about that smell of chlorine when poolside.

CDC MMWR
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6702a5.htm?s_cid=mm6702a5_e
Notes from the Field: Legionellosis Outbreak Associated with a Hotel Aquatics Facility — Tennessee, 2017

FDA to Expedite Recall Postings by Eliminating the Need to Have Classification Status at Time of Posting

FDA released a statement on its plan to expedite the recall postings / alerts to consumer.  The plan to remove the need for the 'recall classification' at the time of posting.  Normally, "only recalls that have already been classified into one of three categories based on the severity of the hazard have been listed in the report".    And, these "recall classifications can sometimes take weeks – or even months when FDA needs to conduct a complex evaluation."

Wow, that was the hold up.  I bet most could probably predict what the classification is just by reading the notice.  For others, it probably doesn't even matter.  But for FDA, determining whether a recall is Class I, II or III can be a lengthy process.  "Such analysis can involve determining whether any diseases or injuries have already occurred, the likelihood that a hazard might occur, or whether vulnerable segments of the population, such as children, are more at risk"

Through some process improvement determination, "FDA has decided that the public would benefit by having recall information about FDA-regulated products as soon as possible, even though further evaluation remains to be done. Moving forward, FDA will include “not-yet-classified” recalls of human drugs, foods, and veterinary products in the weekly Enforcement Report, even while classification work is still ongoing."

FDA Voice
https://blogs.fda.gov/fdavoice/index.php/2018/01/fda-to-expedite-release-of-recall-information

FDA to Expedite Release of Recall Information
Posted on January 18, 2018 by FDA Voice

France - Investigation Deepens Regarding French Infant Milk Contaminated with Salmonella

Investigators are searching French dairy Lactalis for information related to Salmonella outbreak linked to their infant milk.  More than 12 million boxes have been recalled in 83 different countries.  "At least 37 babies are so far reported to have been affected in France, with one case reported in Spain and a further unconfirmed case in Greece."

Reports were also released that the French grocery stores still continued to sell the recalled product.
"This is a major dysfunction in the withdrawal and recall by the operators, who bear responsibility," Agriculture Minister Stephane Travert told reporters.

BBC News
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-42715187
France's baby milk scare: Police search Lactalis sites
17 January 2018

CDC and FDA Hold Off from Implicating Romaine Lettuce in E. coli Outbreak

FDA and CDC did not pull the trigger on making a public notice to avoid romaine lettuce for involvement in an E. coli outbreak.   The Canadians were first to issue a public notice implicating Romaine lettuce on Dec 14th.  At this point, however, there were no additional cases of E. coli infection reported with the last case on December 12th being reported (and recognizing there is a delay from infection and reporting).

In the end, that call was right.  Even if it is found that romaine lettuce was the source, that contaminated product would had already been through the system (considering the short shelf-life of product).  A public notice would have been missed the target and resulted in needless waste.

However, what we did see was a lot of confusion on the part of various entities issuing reactionary notices.  FDA and CDC would have done better to put their findings out there earlier.  Outbreak investigations are not perfect, and while it would have been easier on their part to trash the leafy green industry, relaying the findings would have gone a long way to quieting the alarmists.

https://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/SafetyAlertsAdvisories/ucm591989.htm
FDA Information about E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Likely Linked to Leafy Greens
January 10, 2018

This Week in Mislabeled Product - Ending Jan 13, 2018

Juice Products May Contain Milk Protein - Hiland Dairy is announcing a voluntary recall of two products produced at the Omaha, Nebraska facility, over concerns the products may contain milk protein that could affect those individuals that have sensitivity to milk allergens.  Hiland Dairy initially learned of a potential issue during internal quality control testing at the Omaha facility.

Tofu Product Does Not Declare Soy on Label - Rico Brand of Salt Lake City, Utah is recalling Tofu Breakfast Burrito, because it may contain undeclared Soy [And tofu is fermented soy, so must realize that some consumers may not recognize that fact?].  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the product “Tofu Breakfast Burrito” containing Soybean was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of Soybean. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the company's packaging processes.

Supplier Mistakenly Labels Coconut Macaroons as Oatmeal Cookies -  Dollar General Corporation announced a voluntary recall of a lot of its 12-ounce packages of Clover Valley® Iced Oatmeal Cookies  over concerns of undeclared milk and tree nuts.  Dollar General initially learned of a potential issue based upon information received from a store level employee. The Company promptly contacted the product’s manufacturer who confirmed a production facility labeling error in which Clover Valley® Coconut Macaroons were inadvertently placed in Clover Valley® Iced Oatmeal Cookie packaging.

Hiland Dairy Announces Voluntary Recall Of Hiland Dairy Orange Juice And Tampico Citrus Punch
For Immediate Release
January 13, 2018