Company Issues Warning for Frozen Tilapia, Rejected During Import, Now Stolen

A Washington company issued a warning letter for frozen tilapia after that imported frozen tilapia, set for re-export back to Taiwan, was stolen.  The fish was being getting shipped back after a laboratory had found the presence of Salmonella on the product as part of the import check.  However,  the container with product was stolen as it sat in the company's container yard.  The container was recovered less than 2 weeks later. 


https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm608581.htm
Golden International Corporation Issues Public Safety Warning For Stolen Tilapia Because of Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
May 22, 2018

FDA Warning Letter Issued to NE Candy Company, Company Up for Auction

FDA issued a warning letter to New England Confectionary Company, or NECCO, the maker of Sweethearts, NECCO Wafers, and Mary Jane candies.

A basic summary of the findings:

• Excessive / uncontrolled rodent activity throughout facility
• Leaks in facility from duct work occurring in areas where product is processed
• Improper cleaning of equipment resulting in residuals being left on equipment and utencils
• Inadequate cleaning of non-food surfaces
• Improperly maintained or constructed equipment that creates un-cleanable conditions

From the letter, the company had an opportunity to improve after initial inspections, and the Warning Letter was sent after inadequate response.

It seems that NECCO had filed for bankruptcy protection and  was going up for auction.  Not sure if the mice are placing a bid.

FDA WARNING LETTER
CMS # 545899
VIA UNITED PARCEL SERVICE
DELIVERY SIGNATURE REQUESTED
May 16, 2018

Question of the Week - Coconut a Tree Nut Allergen?

Is coconut a tree allergen?    FDA classified coconut in the Big 8 Allergen groupings as a tree nut.  Technically, coconut is not a botanical nut, but is a one seeded drupe, or a one seeded fruit.  But since it can be argued that it is a nut of sorts, it can be added with the other tree nuts.  No harm, no foul.

Coconut allergies are pretty rare, but for the few of those who are allergic, it can be serious, including anaphylaxis.  There is much less likelihood of cross reactivity from the other tree nuts to coconut in terms of allergies, although there have been a few cases.

https://acaai.org/allergies/types/food-allergies/types-food-allergy/tree-nut-allergy
https://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/knowledgebase/coconut/

Prevention of Foreign Material Contamination

There has been a number of food product recalls triggered by complaints.  The cost of a recall can far outweigh the cost of preventive measures.  This can include equipment such as metal detectors and X-ray equipment. or enacting more stringent procedures. 

• Single and dual-energy X-ray equipment are becoming more within the reach of small companies in terms of price.  
• Metal detectors and bone collection systems must be properly maintained in order to ensure effectiveness.   
• Employee awareness and adherence to proper procedures are also critical to foreign material control.

The National Provisioner

https://www.provisioneronline.com/articles/106166-preventing-foreign-material-contamination-in-meat-and-poultry-processing?
Food Safety
Preventing foreign-material contamination in meat and poultry processing
Rich Mitchell
May 1, 2018

Ohio Company Recalls Nut Products After Positive Listeria on Production Equipment

An Ohio company is recalling bags and tubs of nut products for Listeria monocytogenes.  "This recall was initiated after Hickory Harvest staff performed routine in house environmental testing, the presence of Listeria monocytogenes on a piece of production equipment."

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm608230.htm
Hickory Harvest Recalls Certain Island Fruit Mix and Organic Nut Mix Products Because of Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
May 10, 2018

Jars of Tahini Recalled After a Sample Tests Positive for Salmonella

Ziyad Brothers Importing is voluntarily recalling certain lot codes of Ziyad Brand Tahini after testing conducted by the Michigan Dept of Health found Salmonella in a sample.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ziyad-brothers-importing-recalls-tahini-because-of-possible-health-risk-300651192.html
Ziyad Brothers Importing Recalls Tahini because of possible health risk
News provided by  Ziyad Brothers Importing
May 18, 2018, 14:34 ET

FDA Dashboard Provides Easy Way to Check Supplier Status

FDA has provided a Data Dashboard webpage that allows one to search multiple databases.

• There is the Compliance Dashboard with lists recalls, inspections, compliance actions by date.
• The FSMA Data Search & Information - one can search for a specific firm / supplier in this database, which includes applicable recalls, import alerts and refusals associated with a food company.      Link to Supplier Search 

This should make searching a specific FDA regulated facility much easier.  A good site to bookmark.

https://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Transparency/InspectionComplianceDataDashboard/default.htm
FDA Data Dashboard

This Week in Mislabeled Product - Week Ending May 19, 2018

Wrong Product In Package - A CA based snack company is recalling certain 16 OZ. bags of Tropical Trail Mix because they may contain milk, soy, wheat and cashew allergens and this is not declared on the package.  Century Snacks believes this is an isolated incident, due to an error by our packaging supplier, involving a very small quantity of incorrectly filled Tropical Trail Mix bags. [Operational error]

Mislabeled Meat Stick - A Wash. establishment, is recalling approximately 8,535 pounds of ready-to-eat pepperoni sticks due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen - the products contain milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label. "The problem was discovered on May 17, 2018, when the firm received a customer complaint that a package of “Hempler’s Family Classic Pepperoni, Natural Smoke Flavor Added,” contained a different product identified as “Hempler’s Pepperoni with Jalapeno and Cheese, Natural Smoke Flavoring Added.” The retail establishment notified the firm, who informed FSIS of the problem." [Operational error]

Improperly Designed Label - A company packing product for Aldi, (BLM Prod.-u. Vertriebsges. mbH & Co. KG), is voluntarily recalling Priano Rosso Pesto Sauce as it may contain undeclared milk and egg. The product recall was initiated after it was discovered in a label review that the product containing egg and milk was delivered with a label not explicitly indicating the presence of those ingredients. [Label Design and Review Errors]

Undeclared Sulfites Discovered by State Laboratory - An Oakland Park FL foodservice company is recalling its 15 ounce packages of The Peruchef brand dry potato because it may contain undeclared sulfites. 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. 

Soy in Ingredient Missed on Finished Product Label - A Grand Rapids, Mich. establishment, is recalling approximately 308,430 pounds of various beef, pork, and turkey ready-to-eat hot dog and sausage products due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen, the products contain soy, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label. The problem was discovered on May 12, 2018 by the establishment during product inventory activities. The establishment noticed that the label for the spice mixture used in the production of one of their Beef Polish sausage contained hydrolyzed soy protein as an ingredient. However, the Beef Polish Sausage does not list the soy ingredient on the finish product label. Although the Beef Polish sausage product is the only product that is formulated with the spice mix containing the soy ingredient, there are several other ready-to-eat sausage and hot dog products made with beef, pork, and turkey that are implicated in this recall action due to potential cross contamination via shared equipment during the raw and ready-to-eat processing steps.

Wrong Label Applied to Product - A Fall River, Mass., establishment, is recalling approximately 720 pounds of Chicken Tortilla Soup products due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen - the products contain wheat, which is not declared on the product label. Some of the product labeled as Chicken Tortilla Soup may actually contain Southwest Style Corn Chowder which contains wheat. The problem was discovered on May 14, 2018, when the firm received a customer complaint that the master container was labeled as “Chicken Tortilla Soup,” and contained a different product, “Southwest Style Corn Chowder.”

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm608251.htm
Century Snacks LLC Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Milk, Soy, Wheat and Cashews in Snak Club Family Size Tropical Trail Mix
For Immediate Release
May 18, 2018

CDC Update - Romaine Lettuce From Yuma Has Passed

CDC stated that romaine lettuce from Yuma likely out of food supply system, so customers no longer need to be concerned.  The total count of infected is at 172 with 75 hospitalizations and 1 death.

The Packer reported that the current price of romaine has fallen by more than 50% as the crop now turns to the California harvest.

CDC Outbreak Update
https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2018/o157h7-04-18/index.html
Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Romaine Lettuce
Posted May 16, 2018 4:00 PM ES