FSIS Issues Warning for Whey Powder with Possible Salmonella Contamination, Impacted Chicken Wings Recalled

FSIS is issuing a public health alert due to concerns that products may be contaminated with Salmonella from whey powder that has been recalled by the producer of the ingredient. FSIS is issuing this public health alert out of the utmost of caution to ensure that consumers are aware that these products, which bear the USDA mark of inspection, should not be consumed.

The whey powder is an FDA-regulated product that is being voluntarily recalled by the producer, Associated Milk Producers, Inc. (AMPI). Additional FSIS-regulated products containing the recalled whey powder may be added to this public health alert as more information becomes available.

Pinnacle Foods, Inc. establishment in Fayetteville, Ark. is recalling HUNGRY MAN CHIPOTLE BBQ SAUCED BONELESS CHICKEN WYNGZ”

The cooking process would most probably eliminate the Salmonella.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/news-releases-statements-and-transcripts/news-release-archives-by-year/archive/2018/pha-07202018-1
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert For Products Containing FDA-Regulated Whey Powder That Has Been Recalled Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination

Ritz Crackers, Gold Fish, Bread, and Swiss Rolls Recalled After Using Whey Powder Found to Contain Salmonella

 After finding Salmonella in whey powder, a supplier's recall has impacted companies making baked products.  First, Mondelez recalled Ritz cracker sandwiches and bits.  Pepperidge Farms is recalling Goldfish crackers.   A Georgia bakery is recalling Swiss Rolls and bread products after using whey product found to contain Salmonella.

The whey powder is an ingredient used in the manufacture of the product.  This ingredient was produced by Associated Milk Producers.

One would expect that Salmonella in the flour would be destroyed in the baking process, so the risk could be considered minimal.  These recalls are done as an extreme precaution.

Huffington Post
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ritz-goldfish-salmonella-recall_us_5b56ba3de4b0fd5c73c84b22
U.S. NEWS
07/24/2018 06:02 am ET 
Ritz Bits, Goldfish Crackers Recalled Over Salmonella Fears
The recalls were prompted by possibly contaminated whey powder.

Florida Establishment Recalls Raw Ground Beef After Internal Testing Finds STEC E. coli

Win Opportunity Knocks, doing business as Ottomanelli Wholesale Meats Inc., a St. Petersburg, Fla. establishment, is recalling approximately 6,020 pounds of fresh and frozen, raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O45, O103 and O145,

The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified that the product was tested by the establishment and found positive for E. coli under their sampling program.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-064-2018-release
Win Opportunity Knocks Recalls Fresh and Frozen, Raw Ground Beef Products Due to Possible E. Coli O45, O103 and O145 Contamination
Class I Recall
064-2018
Health Risk: High
Jul 18, 2018

Ice Cream Cups Recalled After Broken Metal Found in Processing Equipment

H-E-B is voluntarily issuing a recall for two variety packs of Creamy Creations ice cream and sherbets in 3-ounce cups due to broken metal found in processing equipment during routine maintenance.

While one hates to find metal in processing equipment, it is wise to take this precautionary move of conducting a recall while product may still be within their control.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm613925.htm
H-E-B Voluntarily Issues Recall Two Variety Packs of Creamy Creations Ice Creams and Sherbets in 3-Ounce Cups Recalled due to Broken Metal in Processing Equipment
For Immediate Release
July 18, 2018

Frozen Calzones Recalled After Consumers Complain of Foreign Material in the Form of Hard Plastic

Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp., doing business as Stefano Foods based in Charlotte, N.C, is recalling approximately 24,048 pounds of pepperoni five cheese calzones that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically pieces of hard, sharp, clear plastic,
The problem was discovered after several consumers contacted Stefano Foods about the problem. On July 16, 2018, the company notified FSIS.  One consumer reported experiencing a small oral laceration during consumption of the product.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-063-2018-release
Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp. Recalls Pepperoni Five Cheese Calzone Products Due to Possible Extraneous Material Contamination
Class I Recall
063-2018
Health Risk: High
Jul 17, 2018

Pasta Salad Recalled After Potentially Linked to Salmonella Outbreak in Midwest

Hy-Vee, Inc., based in West Des Moines, Iowa, is voluntarily recalling its Hy-Vee Spring Pasta Salad due to the potential that it may be contaminated with Salmonella. The company recalled the produc after learning 20 illnesses in Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa were potentially linked back to customers consuming the salad.  The pasta salad was distributed to all of Hy-Vee’s 244 grocery stores across its eight-state region of Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm613777.htm
Hy-Vee Voluntarily Recalls Spring Pasta Salad Due to Reported Illnesses
For Immediate Release
July 17, 2018

Raw Tuna Poke Kits Recalled After Retailer Sells Them Refrigerated Rather than Frozen

Aldi company is recalling raw tuna poke after its stores sold the product thawed rather than frozen.  The package states Keep Frozen.  Not sure how the retailer marketers missed that.

This tuna poke product is packaged raw chunks of tuna that are mixed with an enclosed flavor packet.  Product is kept frozen until the consumer is going to eat the product, at which time they thaw, mix in the flavor packet, and then immediately consume (hopefully).

There are a number of concerns when handling a raw fish product that will be consumed raw.  Thawing and holding not only increases the chance of spoilage, but can be an issue if Listeria is present.  Small levels of Listeria can grow on the product once thawed.  Also, non-proteolytic Clostridium botulinum is also a major concern, especially if the package is oxygen proof.  Lastly, histamine formation in the tuna can also be an issue (scombroid toxin).

This product is available from Amazon.  Crazy to think mailing this product which can be highly susceptible to issues once thawed.  This is a product I think I will just skip.  If I am going to eat raw tuna, it is going to be at a restaurant where control is more guaranteed.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm613673.htm
ALDI Voluntarily Recalls AnnaSea Wasabi Ahi Poke Hawaiian Poke Kits and Limu Ahi Poke Hawaiian Poke Kits Due to Storage at Incorrect Temperature in Area Store
For Immediate Release
July 14, 2018

CDC Issues Warning About Vibrio in Crab Meat From Venezuela

CDC issued a news release about an outbreak of Vibrio parahaemolyticus linked to fresh Crab Meat imported from Venezuela. CDC warns consumers to avoid crab meat from Venezuela, including confirming that crab meat is not from there before consuming.   Twelve people infected with Vibrio parahaemolyticus who ate fresh crab meat have been reported from Maryland, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia.

Cooking food will destroy the organism, so illness occurs when seafood is eaten raw/undercooked or the product is recontaminated after cooking.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a Gram-negative, curve-shaped rod frequently isolated from the estuarine and marine environments of the United States and other tropical-to-temperate coastal areas, worldwide.  Cases are more often seen in the warmer months when the water temperature is greater than 15C (59F).  One study showed that Vibrio infections maybe increasing with global warming and rising water temperatures.

The symptoms of a Vibrio infection from contaminated food include watery diarrhea and the following signs and symptoms within 24 hours (4 to 90 hours) including stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever.  Symptoms usually lasts about 3 days (2 to 6), and most people recover without treatment.  However the illness can lead to septicemia in susceptible people (diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, cancer, AIDS, or other illnesses that result in an immunocompromised state, and those on immunosuppressive medications).

CDC News Release
https://www.cdc.gov/vibrio/investigations/vibriop-07-18/index.html
Multistate Outbreak of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Infections Linked to Fresh Crab Meat Imported from Venezuela
At A Glance
Case Count: 12
Jurisdictions: 4
Deaths: 0
Hospitalizations: 4
Recall: No
Highlights

McDonalds Pulls Salads After Being Linked To Cyclospora Outbreak

McDonald's restaurants in the mid-west have pulled their salads after being linked to a large outbreak of Cyclospora.  This comes after last month's outbreak linked to Del Monte's trays of sliced vegetables.

The reference below lists some of the difficulties of this parasite...one is that it may be more resistant to sanitizers and the other is the ability to attach to produce.

So basically, the parasite gets into water used for irrigation.  The source being fecal contamination from someone who became ill.  Once on the crops, it may not be easy to get rid of it.

Not a lot is know about cyclospora, one of the issues being is that humans are the only known reservoir.  This makes studying using animal models impossible.


CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS,
Jan. 2010, p. 218–234 Vol. 23, No. 1
0893-8512/10/$12.00 doi:10.1128/CMR.00026-09
Copyright © 2010, American Society for Microbiology.
Update on Cyclospora cayetanensis, a Food-Borne and Waterborne Parasite
Yne´s R. Ortega* and Roxana Sanchez
University of Georgia, Center for Food Safety, Griffin, Georgia 30223-1797

"Individuals with Cyclospora infection excrete unsporulated oocysts in their feces (Fig. 1). These oocysts require 7 to 15 days to sporulate under ideal conditions (23 to 27°C) and presumably become infectious to a susceptible host. When food or water contaminated with infectious oocysts is ingested
by a susceptible host, the oocysts excyst and sporozoites are released to infect epithelial cells of the duodenum and jejunum."

"Cyclospora is highly resistant to disinfectants commonly used in food and water processing. This resistance may also be enhanced by the apparent higher binding affinities of the parasite for certain fresh produce. In the case of raspberries, which have been implicated in several outbreaks, the topography of the fruit is characterized by fine hair-like projections that facilitate the entrapment of the “sticky” Cyclospora oocysts. The microenvironment of the berry provides a favorable environment for parasite retention on the fruit. The stickiness of Cyclospora oocysts seems to be stronger than that of Cryptosporidium or Giardia oocysts. The adhesins responsible for this strong attachment to produce are unknown."

NY Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/13/us/mcdonalds-salads-illness-cyclospora-nyt.html
McDonald’s Salads Linked to Intestinal Parasite Outbreak in Midwest
By Matthew Haag
July 13, 2018