This Week in Mislabeled Products - Week ending September 22, 2018

No Allergen Declaration on Label - Purus Labs, Inc of Plano, Texas is recalling MyoWhey Chocolate Cookie Crunch,because it may contain undeclared milk and soy.  The recall was initiated after a routine inspection by the Texas Department of State Health Services determined that the product had been distributed without proper allergen labeling for milk and soy.

Wheat on Ingredient List but not Allergen Declaration - Lidl US has voluntarily recalled all Bellona brand “Milk Chocolate Flavored Coated Wafer with Hazelnut Crème Filling and White Chocolate Flavor” confections as a precautionary measure because the allergen statement does not include wheat.  Wheat flour is correctly listed as the second ingredient on the package, but the allergen statement does not include wheat alongside the properly declared allergens listed.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm621293.htm
Purus Labs Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk and Soy in MyoWhey
For Immediate Release
September 20, 2018

TX Establishment Recalls Beef Jerky Due to Metal Piece Complaint

An El Campo, Texas establishment is recalling approximately 690 pounds of ready-to-eat teriyaki beef jerky products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically pieces of hard metal.  The problem was discovered when the establishment received a consumer complaint from a retail store customer regarding metal in the teriyaki beef jerky product

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-083-2018-release
Junior’s Smokehouse Processing Plant Recalls Beef Jerky Products due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination 
Class II Recall 
083-2018 
Health Risk: Low 
Sep 21, 2018 

NY Establishment Recalls Meat Product for Excessive Nitrite Levels

A Rochester, N.Y., establishment is recalling approximately 6,082 pounds of ready-to-eat olive loaf pork products due to sodium nitrite levels in excess of the regulatory limit. The problem was discovered on Sept. 20, 2018 by FSIS inspectors while performing routine label verification activities. FSIS discovered that the establishment’s formulation for the use of sodium nitrite, a restricted ingredient, exceeded the regulatory limit.  There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-082-2018-release
Zweigle’s Inc. Recalls Olive Loaf Pork Products due to Sodium Nitrite Levels in Excess of Regulatory Limit 
Class II Recall 
082-2018 
Health Risk: Low 
Sep 20, 2018 

Ground Meat Recalled after being Linked to 18 Cases of E. coli O26 Infection

Cargill Meat Solutions, a Fort Morgan, Colo. establishment, is recalling approximately 132,606 pounds of ground beef products made from the chuck portion of the carcass that may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O26.

CDC reports that there have been 18 cases in 4 states.  Of these, 6 have been hospitalized and there has been one death.  The product was packed in June with the onset of illness ranging from July 5 through July 25, 2018.  The outbreak appears to be over at this point, but there is the concern that some may have frozen the product.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-081-2018-release
Cargill Meat Solutions Recalls Ground Beef Products due to Possible E. Coli O26 Contamination
Class I Recall
081-2018
Health Risk: High
Sep 19, 2018

FDA Statement on Efforts to Prevent Cyclospora

FDA released a statement concerning Cyclospora in produce in light of the two large outbreaks - Fresh Express and McDonald's Salads where 511 cases where people were infected, and the Del Monte Veggie Tray with 250 cases.

In short, they were not able to find a source in either of the outbreaks, but with the new test they developed, they detected Cyclospora in domestically grown cilantro and romaine lettuce.  From the statement,  "During our investigation, two samples of domestically grown romaine lettuce were also found to be positive for Cyclospora even though they were not sourced from locations associated with the lettuce that was linked to this outbreak. None of the romaine lettuce associated with these positive test results for Cyclospora went into the marketplace and all of the produce suspected of being contaminated was destroyed, preventing additional Cyclospora illnesses from occurring. "

Though increased surveillance of domestic and imported produce along with the implementation of the Produce Safety Rule by farms, FDA hopes to get a handle on this parasite.

https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm620867.htm
Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on the FDA’s ongoing efforts to prevent foodborne outbreaks of Cyclospora
For Immediate Release
September 18, 2018

Canada - Warning of Risk Associated with Salmonella in Undercooked Raw Breaded Chicken Product

The Canadian Government issued a warning statement on breaded raw chicken products and the risk of Salmonella due to undercooking.  Over the past 16 months, there have been hundreds of cases of Salmonella infection despite ongoing efforts on education.

The issue is that the breaded chicken appears to be fully cooked and if one had to guess, people are not using a measuring device.  The reason it looks cooked is that with breaded product, the product is only par-cooked to set the coating.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is requiring industry to implement measures at the manufacturing/processing level to reduce Salmonella to below detectable amounts in frozen raw breaded chicken products that are packaged for retail sale.
Companies have these options (document below).

Option 1 - Include as part of the manufacture of the frozen raw breaded chicken products a cook process that has been validated to achieve a 7-log reduction in Salmonella. (But still list cooking instructions to handle any Listeria concern.

Option 2 - Implement a Salmonella testing program for the raw chicken mixture to demonstrate it has no detectable Salmonella.

Option 3 - Implement a Salmonella hold-and-test program for finished frozen raw breaded chicken products.

Option 4 - Include as part of the manufacture of the frozen raw breaded chicken products, a process or combination of processes that has been validated to achieve a 2-log reduction in Salmonella and implement a Salmonella sampling program for the raw chicken mixture.

From: Public Health Agency of Canada 
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2018/09/council-of-chief-medical-officers-of-health-concerned-about-the-risk-of-salmonella-illness-from-frozen-raw-breaded-chicken-products.html
Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health concerned about the risk of Salmonella illness from frozen raw breaded chicken products 
September 13, 2018 - Ottawa, ON - Government of Canada

This Week in Mislabeled Product - Week Ending 9/15/18

Improper Labeling - Garden Grove, CA is recalling Asian Fusion Cookies due to undeclared allergens of wheat, milk and soy.  The recall was initiated after an inspection by the California Department of Public Health, Food and Drug branch determined that the cookies had been distributed without proper allergen labeling.

Supplier Issue - McCormick & Company, Inc. is initiating a voluntary recall of Meijer Taco Seasoning Mix 4.5 OZ bottle due to an unlabeled milk allergen.  McCormick has alerted Meijer Foods to remove the product with the affected date codes from store shelves and distribution centers immediately, and to destroy this product in a manner that would prevent further consumption

Egg Missing on Label - An Eugene, Ore company is recalling its Gourmet Take Away Sesame Noodle Salad Vegan, because it contains undeclared egg.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product containing egg was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of egg

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm620366.htm
Sarap Asian Fusion Recalls Cookies due to Undeclared Allergens
For Immediate Release
September 12, 2018

EU - Frozen Vegetable Processor Reopens, Listeria Contamination Source is Freezing Tunnel

A Hungarian frozen vegetable company is reopening after being linked to a large listeria outbreak where there were 47 cases with 9 deaths.

The company said they found a 'persistent presence' of the Listeria in the freezing tunnel.  Freezing tunnels are a difficult spot in frozen food facilities.  While Listeria would not be growing when frozen, it is during defrost cycles when growth would occur, or on the input side where warmer product enters the freezer.  Freezers are often huge with a large amount of chain belts that are difficult to clean.

The recall is said to have cost the company $35 million to restart the plant, but does not say this include costs associated with litigation or with recalled product.  The share price also dropped 38 percent, but the stock price did recover some.

Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-greenyard-contamination/greenyard-to-re-open-hungarian-plant-after-finding-listeria-cause-idUSKCN1LT0ZY
Greenyard to re-open Hungarian plant after finding listeria cause
September 13, 2018

Australia - Needle-In-Strawberry Scare

In Australia, there is a scare involving sewing needles inserted into fresh strawberries as a act of intentional contamination.  According to a report (below), "The scare had spread across the nation by Monday, with needles reported found in strawberries in all six Australian states. No injuries have been reported."  Major retailers have pulled strawberries from the store shelves while police are offering a reward on information that could lead to the apprehension of the culprit(s).

Whether this is one person causing multiple issues, or a number of false complaints, or a series of copy cat  cases, it has cost the industry millions of dollars in lost product and lost sales.

Tampa Bay Times
https://www.tampabay.com/ap/world/needle-in-strawberry-scare-spreads-across-australia-ap_worldff3e058738e64533bbb4417ff8a74593
Needle-in-strawberry scare spreads across Australia
Published: September 17, 2018