Three Raw Pet Food Recalls

There were three recalls of raw pet foods - one for Listeria, one for Salmonella, and one due to improper procedures for un-eviscerated fish that could be a Clostridium botulinum issue.  In this case, it was that the fish were too big making the drying process potentially more difficult.

• OC Raw Dog, LLC of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, is recalling approximately 1,560 lbs of Chicken, Fish & Produce Raw Frozen Canine Formulation which was manufactured on 10/11/2017 with a lot number 3652 and a use by date of 10/11/18. We are voluntarily recalling because of potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.  OC Raw was notified by the FDA of the contamination after it was reported that New Jersey Department of Food and Agriculture tested the product and found it to be positive.
• OC Raw Dog, LLC of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, is recalling the Freeze Dried Sardines because the fish have exceeded the FDA compliance guideline for fish larger than 5 inches. The FDA has determined that salt-cured, dried, or fermented un-eviscerated fish larger than 5 inches have been linked to outbreaks of botulism poisoning between 1981 and 1987 and again in 1991. Because OC Raw Dog Freeze Dried Sardines are larger than 5 inches there is a possible health risk. Clostridium botulinum can cause severe and potentially fatal toxicity in both animals consuming the pet treat and people handling the pet treat or coming in contact with contact areas that have been exposed o the product. OC Raw was notified by the Minnesota Department of Food and Agriculture after a sample of our OC Raw Dog Freeze Dried Sardines were collected and determined to contain un-eviscerated or intact un-gutted fish that measure 6-61/2 inches which is greater than FDA guidelines of 5 inches for un-eviscerated fish.
• TruPet, LLC of Milford, OH, is voluntarily recalling a limited amount of Boost Me Mighty Meaty Beef Topper Meal Enhancer because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.  The recall is being issued in an abundance of caution following the FDA’s collection of a retail sample from a single batch which tested positive.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm605374.htm
OC Raw Dog, LLC RECALLS one lot of Chicken, Fish & Produce BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE HEALTH RISK
For Immediate Release
April 20, 2018

Number of E. coli Infection Cases Linked to Chopped Romaine Lettuce Increases

CDC updated information on the E. coli outbreak associated with romaine lettuce.  There are now 53 people infected in 16 dates.  Of those, 31 have been hospitalized with five who have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure. No deaths have been reported.

No specific source or reason for the contamination has been identified outisde the fact the product was from Yuma Az.

https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2018/o157h7-04-18/index.html
Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Chopped Romaine Lettuce
Posted April 18, 2018 4:15 PM EST

What's New?

• Eighteen more ill people have been added to this investigation since the last update on April 13, 2018. 
• Five more states have reported ill people: Alaska, Arizona, California, Louisiana, and Montana.
• Nine more hospitalizations have been reported, including two people who developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome.

FDA Issues 483 Report on Facility Issues at Egg Farm Responsible for Salmonella Outbreak

FDA issued a 483 Report for Inspectional Observations for the Rose Acre Farm facility in light of the 23 cases of salmonellosis related to thier eggs and associated recall of 207 million eggs.

The issues indicate the facility had a rodent issue as well as sanitation issues.  Records indicate a rodent issue and this was verified in that numerous rodents had been spotted during the inspection.  Issues with sanitation were also noted including improper cleaning practices, placement of food contact surfaces on the ground, and excessively filthy equipment.

It is not uncommon to have mice in the manure pit, and that is where most of the mice sightings were made.  The more important issue was to what degree was Salmonella within the laying flocks and in the the environments where chicken were housed.  Uncontrolled movement of mice and poor cleaning could be factors, but hard to determine the impact of them on the prevalence of Salmonella in chickens and in environment. 

FDA 483 Report - Rose Acre Farms
https://www.fda.gov/downloads/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/OfficeofGlobalRegulatoryOperationsandPolicy/ORA/ORAElectronicReadingRoom/UCM604794.pdf

FEI NUMBER 2000023438
NAME AND TITLE OF INDIVIDUAL TO WHOM REPORT IS ISSUED TO:
Nathan K. Nickolisen, Complex Manager
FIRM NAME Rose Acre Farms -Hyde County Egg
CITY, STATE AND ZIP CODE Pantego, NC 27860
STREET ADDRESS 1560 Hyde Park Canal Road
TYPE OF ESTABLISHMENT INSPECTED Shell Egg Producer

FDA 483 Report
Date of Inspection 3/26 - 4/11/18

CDC MMWR: 2016-2017 Outbreak of Salmonella Outbreak from Undercooked Ground Beef

A CDC MMWR article details the investiation into a 2016-2017 Salmonella outbreak associated with ground beef.  "Contaminated ground beef was the likely source of a protracted outbreak of 106 Salmonella Newport infections, 42 hospitalizations, and one death in 21 states during October 2016–July 2017. While no direct link was found, whole genome sequencing suggests dairy cows were the ultimate outbreak source."

Traceback to an individual farm or processing lot was not possible.  "In the current outbreak, as has been observed in previous outbreaks, ground beef purchases traced back to numerous lots and slaughter/processing establishments (6). One possible explanation is that dairy cows carrying a high Salmonella load that overwhelmed antimicrobial interventions could have gone to multiple slaughter/processing establishments (7), resulting in contamination of multiple brands and lots of ground beef. This might explain the reason for failure to identify a single, specific source of contaminated ground beef."

CDC MMWR
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6715a2.htm?s_cid=mm6715a2_e
Protracted Outbreak of Salmonella Newport Infections Linked to Ground Beef: Possible Role of Dairy Cows — 21 States, 2016–2017
Weekly / April 20, 2018 / 67(15);443–446
Katherine E. Heiman Marshall, MPH1; Mackenzie Tewell, MPH2; Selam Tecle, MPH3; Molly Leeper, MPH1; Jennifer Sinatra, DVM4; Bonnie Kissler, MPH4; Adrienne Fung, MPH5; Kerri Brown, MSPH6; Darlene Wagner, PhD1; Eija Trees, PhD1; Kelley B. Hise, MPH1; Vishnu Chaturvedi, PhD7; Linda K. Schlater, DVM8; Brenda R. Morningstar-Shaw, MS8; Laura Whitlock, MPH1; Kristin Holt, DVM4; Karen Becker, DVM4; Megin Nichols, DVM1; Ian T. Williams, PhD1; Michael Jhung, MD1; Matthew E. Wise, PhD1; Laura Gieraltowski, PhD1 (View author affiliations)

Freeze Dried Raw Pet Food Recalled Due To Listeria Concerns

K9 Natural Ltd is voluntarily recalling four batches of the K9 Natural Frozen Chicken Feast 2.2lb and 11lb bags that was imported into the US market in June 2017 because that product has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

The product is a freeze dried 'raw' food  produced in New Zealand.  The product was shipped in June of 2017, so this testing was probably not part of the importation process.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm604645.htm
K9 Natural Ltd Voluntarily Recalls K9 Natural Frozen Chicken Feast Raw Pet Food 2.2lb And 11lb Bags Because Of Possible Listeria Monocytogenes
For Immediate Release
April 13, 2018

207 Million Whole Shells Eggs Recalled After Linked to Salmonella Outbreak

An Indiana company is voluntarily recalling approximately 207 million whole shell eggs after they were linked to 22 cases (reported) of infection from Salmonella Braenderup.  The eggs were distributed from the farm in Hyde County, North Carolina and reached consumers in the following states: Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia through retail stores and restaurants via direct delivery.  Brands include Food Lion, Great Value, Glenview, Country Daybreak, Coburn Farms, Sunshine Farms, Crystal Farms, Nelms, and Waffle House.  The recall after a number of Salmonella cases were reported.

Rose Acre Farms is a family-owned company headquartered in Seymour, Ind., and has 17 facilities in eight states.  The Hyde County farm produces 2.3 million eggs a day and has 3 million laying hens.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm604640.htm
Rose Acre Farms Recalls Shell Eggs Due to Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
April 13, 2018

E. Coli STEC Outbreak Linked to Chopped Romaine Lettuce from Yuma AZ

The source of the the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has just been identified as romaine lettuce from Yuma AZ.   Since the last updated on April 10th by CDC, there are now 35 illnesses from 11 different states.  Pennsylvania leads the tally with 9 cases.  Of the 35 cases, 22 people have been hospitalized.

At this time, no common grower, supplier, distributor, or brand has been identified.

https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2018/o157h7-04-18/index.html
Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Chopped Romaine Lettuce
Posted April 13, 2018 2:00 PM EST

This Week in Mislabeled Products - Week Ending 4/13/18

State Laboratory Detects Undeclared Sulfites on Potatoes - A Miami, FL food company is voluntarily recalling its ten-ounce packages of La Marinera Brand Dried Yellow Potatoes because it may contain undeclared sulfites, a chemical that cause allergic-like symptoms.  The voluntary recall was initiated after routine sampling by the Florida State Department of Agriculture and analysis by food laboratory personnel revealed the presence of sulfites in the product, which were not declared on the label. [operations issue if it was added outside of label, or a label design issue if sulfites are normally added and was not included when label was made]

Mislabeled Sauce - Cookwell & Company Is voluntarily recalling potentially up to 6,522 units of its Four J Charred Tomato & Basil Sauce because it may contain undeclared soy, wheat and fish.  This recall was voluntarily issued by the company after it discovered that the product was unintentionally mislabeled [Operations - labeling issue].

Plain Chocolate Lid on Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream - Stewart’s Shops Corp. is recalling units of Stewart’s pint Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup ice cream because they may have been packaged incorrectly with a “Chocolate” lid. The recall was initiated after it was discovered that a Stewart’s pint Chocolate ice cream lid had been found on a Stewart’s pint Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup ice cream container.[Operations - Labeling / packaging issue]

Wrong Ingredient Adds Undeclared Allergens to Bruschetta Mix - Cut Fruit Express, Inc. of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota is recalling packaged Bruschetta Mixes and Dips because they may contain undeclared milk and soy  According to the report, "The recall was initiated after products that may contain milk and soy were packaged into containers that did not declare the presence of milk and soy. Subsequent investigation indicates that an incorrect ingredient may have been used to produce the product." [Operations - batching error].

Egg Detected By Government Testing - Seoul Trading Corp. is recalling Dong Won brand [breaded] Frozen Shrimp Cutlet from the marketplace because it contains egg which is not declared on the label  This recall was triggered by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) test results. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. [Some types of breading have egg, some don't, so there was either carryover from a previous product, or the breading used had egg which was not caught somewhere in processing or formulation].

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm604556.htm
Guixens Food Group Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Sulfites in La Marinera Brand Dried Yellow Potatoes
For Immediate Release
April 12, 2018

Will Sesame Be Added to the Big Eight for Required Allergen Labeling?

There is a push to get sesame added to those allergens that require labeling as part of the FALCPA -
Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004.  While sesame label declaration is already required in Canada and Europe, it is not here.  It seems though, that many US companies may already be doing so.  Will it get to the point where there is enough pressure to push FDA to add this to the list....not sure, but it may be worth the effort to understand where you may be using sesame, especially when part of a natural flavor or spice ingredient.

According to FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education), a 2010 study indicated that about 0.1 percent of the population has a sesame allergy.  I have never run across anyone who stated having a sesame allergy.

CSPI
https://cspinet.org/news/food-industry-split-disclosing-sesame-allergen-20180413
For Immediate Release: Friday, April 13, 2018
Contact: Jeff Cronin, 202-777-8370 or Ariana Stone, 202-777-8355

Food Industry Split on Disclosing Sesame, an Allergen
CSPI Urges FDA to Require Sesame Labeling and Industry to Close Gaps in Policies

WASHINGTON—Fourteen of 22 major food manufacturing companies declare the presence of sesame and do not obscure it as an unspecified “spice” or “natural flavoring,” according to a new report by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest.  But the remaining companies do not provide appropriate labeling, leaving consumers at risk for potentially life-threatening allergies.