'Free From" Foods - The Extra Burden for Manufacturers

An interesting read in Bloomburg on the 'Free-From" foods and the impact on how food is being produced.  The 'Free-From' foods are those that foods that make label claims that include  'antibiotic free', 'gluten free', 'GMO free'.

The sales of these label-claim foods are increasing.  "Products labeled antibiotic free saw growth rates of nearly 20 percent, followed by soyfree at 19 percent and hormone and antibiotic-free at 15 percent."

As food scientists, we recognize that these claims may have little to no impact on health, and where there is a health impact, such as with gluten, there is a very limited number of people affected.  According to one report, 1 in five consumers are avoiding or reducing gluten in their diet, but more than a 1/3 of them have no reason for doing it, while only 8% are gluten sensitive with another 9% claiming inflammation from gluten.  The rest do it because they view it as healthy...more or less.

Regardless of whether we agree on the need for these label-claim items, people are increasingly purchasing them.

For manufacturer's of these types of foods, there are challenges. The first is having transparency.  People know want to know where their food is from, and if they are concerned about GMOs, they want to know the manufacturer is making their food without GMOs...saying so is not enough.

Sourcing is an issue for many of these producing.  Securing a steady source of antibiotic chickens in massive quantities can be difficult.   Chickens will get sick.  Farmers risk loosing a lot of chickens if illness is passed through the flock.  GMO free is difficult.  Grains for example can be hard not to have small amounts of GMO product getting mixed in when you consider the long supply chain from the field to processor with numerous silos and trucks all along the way.

For companies that handle 'free from' and traditional ingredients, managing inventories of numerous ingredients and applying controls to prevent cross contact can be difficult.  Then managing production to make sure there is proper handling of in-process materials, proper clean-out of equipment between production runs, and then labeling.

The positive is the added margin that goes along with these products.   If one is willing to put in  the extra controls, there are people willing to pay a premium.

Bloomburg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-09/-free-from-foods-are-changing-the-way-your-meals-are-produced
‘Free-From’ Foods Are Changing the Way Your Meals Are Produced
By Jen Skerritt, Megan Durisin, and Craig Giammona
September 09, 2018 5:00 AM Updated on September 10, 2018 6:00 AM

RTE Sliced Steak Product Recalled After Samples Test Positive for Listeria

A Kentucky establishment is recalling approximately 6,720 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) Philly Beef Steak products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes.  "The problem was discovered on Sept. 7, 2018, when the establishment received results from their laboratory that four finished product samples from their Aug. 9, 2018 production were potentially positive for Listeria monocytogenes.:

This lot that tested positive had a production day nearly a month after that product was produced.  Not sure of the reason for delay, but it best to test immediately if a company is testing their own product.  Also, if this was the only lot of product tested, there may be additional lots of product that are positive as well.  Unless there is a specific reason how one lot can be positive and the others are not, then it may be expected that contamination may be present in other lots.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-078-2018-release
CTI Foods LLC Recalls Ready-To-Eat Philly Steak Products Due To Possible Listeria Contamination
Class I Recall 
078-2018 
Health Risk: High 
Sep 11, 2018 

Spam - Carving Out A Niche for Canned Meat

An interesting read in FoodDive on Spam, a cured canned meat product developed 80 years ago.  At that time, it was claimed to be a miracle meat, and was a protein source for many during the Great Depression.  Over the past half century, it has been endlessly mocked, and used as a moniker for junk email.

But Spam has hung around and is finding a resurgence.   "Spam's sales have been helped by the growth of the Asian American population in the U.S. — they are more likely to consume the product than any other nationality.  Even some McDonald's in Hawaii and high-end restaurants in New York City and Los Angeles incorporate Spam into their dishes."

So could we see Spam-tizers on the menu next to the charcuterie plate?

https://www.fooddive.com/news/spamalot-consumers-cant-get-enough-of-the-mercilessly-mocked-meat/525327/
Spamalot: Consumers can't get enough of the mercilessly mocked meat 

Salmonella Outbreak at San Antonio Mediterranean Grill

A large Salmonella outbreak in San Antonio, TX where over 200 calls with the claim of becoming ill after eating at a Mediterranean grill.  The owner suggested that hummus may be the source.

https://www.mysanantonio.com/food/article/Pasha-Mediterranean-Grill-source-outbreak-13213466.php
Pasha Mediterranean Grill owner says he was told suspected source of outbreak
By S. M. Chavey, mySA.com / San Antonio Express-News and Peggy O'Hare
  Updated  5:50 pm CDT, Friday, September 7, 2018 

NPR on Why Not to Freak on Foodborne Illness

A report on NPR discusses the impact of technology on detecting foodborne illness.  While it may seem like there are more outbreaks, much of it is our ability to detect these illnesses.  

Some insight provided by Penn State's own, Dr. Ed Dudley.  (There are many who wish his name was spelled 'Dudely' instead of Dudley, because then he could be Dr. Dude...or the Dude..just our opinion man)

NPR Salt

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/09/10/645562083/food-safety-scares-are-up-in-2018-heres-why-you-shouldnt-freak-out
Food For Thought
Food Safety Scares Are Up In 2018. Here's Why You Shouldn't Freak Out

This Week in Mislabeled Product - Week Ending 9-8-18

A Sunnyvale, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 371 pounds of raw chorizo sausage products due to misbranding, The product contains sesame seed, which is not declared on the product label.  The problem was discovered by FSIS during routine inspection label verification activities.

An Indianapolis, Ind. establishment, is recalling approximately 242 pounds of fully cooked chicken salad product due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen - the contain tree nuts (walnut), a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.  The problem was discovered after the firm received a consumer complaint

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-077-2018-release
New York Style Sausage Co. Recalls Raw Chorizo Sausage Products due to Misbranding and an Undeclared Ingredient 
Class II Recall
077-2018
Health Risk: Low
Sep 5, 2018

Cage Free Eggs Recalled After Linked to Salmonella Outbreak

An Alabama establishment is recalling Cage Free Eggs after there were reported Salmonella illnesses after use of the eggs.  There have been 14 illnesses with 2 hospitalizations.

The concern with eggs is that if Salmonella is not controlled in the flocks, it can be passed to the eggs.  Control in cage-free environments may be an issue, but the circumstances in this particular case were not detailed.

https://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/UCM619945.htm
FDA Investigating Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis Linked to Shell Eggs from Gravel Ridge Farms

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local partners, are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses that is linked to shell eggs.

Update - September 10, 2018

Raw-Meat Pet Foods Recalled Due to Potential Pathogen Contamination

There were two recent recalls of raw-meat pet food.  One recall was for Salmonella and Listeria.  The other was for Listeria.  The most recent recall was initiated after a state laboratory tested and found the product positive for the pathogens.  The company stated that they had done their own testing and did not find anything.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm619888.htm
Steve’s Real Food Voluntarily Recalls One Lot of Turducken Recipe, One Lot of Quest Emu, and One Lot of Quest Beef Due to Possible Salmonella and L. Mono Contamination
For Immediate Release
September 7, 2018

Update on Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Honey Smack Cereal

CDC and FDA issued an update on Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Kellogg's Honey Smacks Cereal.  There are now 130 cases reported, but from 100 cases the July update.

A few items to note.

• Ill people range in age from less than one year to 95, with a median age of 57.  One would have thought that the median age would have been much lower with the thought that this cereal would have been eaten primarily by children, however, with a median of 57, clearly half are older adults.
• Illnesses started on dates from March 3, 2018, to August 7, 2018 with a recall posted on June 14th.  There was an issue getting the product off the store shelves, but probably more difficult in getting people to remove it from their own pantries.  "People who recently became ill report eating Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal that they had in their homes."  

https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/Mbandaka-06-18/index.html
Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Mbandaka Infections Linked to Kellogg’s Honey Smacks Cereal
Posted September 4, 2018 4:00 PM ET