RTE Food Items Recalled After Corn Supplier Has Salmonella and Listeria Issue

Five recalls were posted by USDA for RTE products after a corn supplier notified the processing companies that their corn may potentially be contaminated with Listeria and/or Salmonella.  From the notices it is not possible to tell how the corn supplier identified the issue (or who the supplier was).

• a Lewisville, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 217 pounds of ready-to-eat salad with bacon products 
• a Sacramento, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 940 pounds of ready-to-eat salad with chicken products that contain a corn ingredient that may be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes
• a Portland, Ore. establishment, is recalling approximately 916 pounds of ready-to-eat wrap and salad products that contain a corn ingredient that may be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes,
• a Kent, Wash. establishment, is recalling approximately 276 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) pork carnitas bowl products that contain tomatillos that may be adulterated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes
• a Green Cove Springs, Florida establishment, is recalling approximately 738 pounds of ready-to-eat salad with steak that contain a corn ingredient that may be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.

It is interesting that the mass media (1,  2) is not as specific to the issue, leading to the possibility of consumers looking at all salads as opposed to those containing corn.  And how many salads have you purchased containing corn?   However, with that in mind, a further concern for those packing salads will be to what degree could cross contamination have occurred in these facilities leading to other salads being contaminated?

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-092-2018-release

Prime Deli Corporation Recalls Salads Containing Meat Products due to Possible Salmonella and Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination in Corn
Class I Recall
092-2018
Health Risk: High
Oct 16, 2018

Retail Meat Products with Cooking Instructions Recalled after Supplier Notification of Contamination

"Hy-Vee, Inc., based in West Des Moines, Iowa, is voluntarily recalling six of its meat and potato products across its eight-state region due to possible contamination with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.....The potential for contamination was discovered after Hy-Vee's supplier, McCain Foods, announced it was recalling its caramelized mushrooms and fire-roasted tomatoes, which are ingredients that are used in six Hy-Vee products.

This is a supplier related contamination issue which may be related to product and/or environmental testing.   It is interesting in that the recalled products are not ready-to-eat products, but rather have cooking instructions.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm623808.htm
Hy-Vee Voluntarily Recalls Several Meat and Potato Products
For Immediate Release
October 18, 2018

Raw Milk Sold in NW PA Recalled After Linked to Nine Salmonella Cases

Raw milk is being recalled by a dairy in the northwestern part of PA after it was linked to nine cases of Salmonella.  It was sold at local markets in 5 PA counties in the northern corner of the state.

Erie News Now
http://www.erienewsnow.com/story/39280081/milk-sold-in-northwestern-pennsylvania-linked-to-cases-of-salmonella
Milk Sold in Northwestern Pennsylvania Linked to Cases of Salmonella
Nine cases of salmonella have been reported. This is reportedly only linked to the raw whole milk product.
Saturday, October 13th 2018, 1:42 AM EDT
Updated: Saturday, October 13th 2018, 9:38 AM EDT

This Week in Mislabeled Products - Week Ending October 13, 2018

Protein Shakes Missing Almond Flour on Label - Forager Project is recalling three dates of Nuts and Vanilla – Organic Plant Protein Shake because the product contains almond flour which is not declared on the label.  The issue was discovered by the company.

Ice Cream Recalled After Reaction to Undeclared Peanut - Kemps of St. Paul, Minn., is voluntarily recalling Sweet Me Creamery Brookie Dough ice cream, individual pints and pint four-packs, because it may contain an undeclared peanut allergen.  "he recall was initiated following consumer reports of an allergic reaction after consuming the product. The facility has identified corrective actions that will prevent reoccurrence."

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm623242.htm
Voluntary Recall of Limited Amounts of Nuts & Vanilla Protein Plant Shake
For Immediate Release
October 11, 2018

Pistachios Recalled After Positive Salmonella Tests

BazziniI LLC of Allentown, PA is recalling 4,000 pounds of  in-shell pistachios received from one of its suppliers because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. "The recall was initiated as the result of a routine sampling program by the company which revealed that the finished product may contain the bacteria. The company has ceased production and distribution of the above products as FDA and the company continue their investigations."

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm622867.htm
Bazzini LLC Recalls Certain Pistachio Products Because of Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
October 6, 2018

Not-Fully-Cooked Meat Entrees Recalled Due to Spoilage Organisms

Valley Fine Foods, a Forest City, N.C. establishment, is recalling approximately 35,516 pounds of heat-treated, not fully cooked meat and poultry products that may be adulterated due to presence of spoilage organisms that have rendered it unwholesome and unfit for human food.  The problem was discovered on Oct. 4, 2018 by the establishment’s research and development department during routine internal testing. FSIS was notified on Oct. 10, 2018.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-090-2018-release
Valley Fine Foods Recalls Meat and Poultry Products due to Possible Adulteration
Class II Recall 

090-2018
Health Risk: Low 

Oct 11, 2018

Underprocessed RTE Chicken Jerky Product Recalled in Tennessee

A Pigeon Forge, Tenn. establishment, is recalling approximately 23 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken jerky products due to a processing deviation that may have led to underprocessing of products.  The problem was discovered on Oct. 10, 2018 by FSIS inspection program personnel during a records review verification.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-089-2018-release
Jerky Boyz Chicken Jerky Recalls Chicken Jerky Products due to Possible Processing Deviation
Class I Recall 

089-2018
Health Risk: High 

Oct 11, 2018

Wisconsin Firm Recalls Pork Product Due to Listeria Detected by FSIS

Malone’s Fine Sausage Inc., a Milwaukee, Wis. establishment, is recalling approximately 26,323 pounds of ready-to-eat pork head cheese product that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The problem was discovered on Oct. 9, 2018 by FSIS inspection program personnel while verifying the disposition of product that FSIS tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-088-2018-release
Malone's Fine Sausage, Inc. Recalls Pork Head Cheese Products due to Possible Listeria Contamination
Class I Recall 
088-2018 
Health Risk: High 
Oct 10, 2018 

'Embalmed Milk' and Other Challenges Prompting the Early 20th Century Food Laws

An interesting read by Deborah Blum on tainted milk before the days of pasteurization and the Pure Food Laws.  At the turn of the 20th century, milk could be found loaded with bacteria, watered down using contaminated water, plaster dust, or pureed calf brains, or have formaldehyde added as a preservative.

Undark.org
https://undark.org/article/battling-scourge-embalmed-milk/
Battling the Scourge of ‘Embalmed Milk’
How an obscure Indiana public health official pioneered the campaign against tainted dairy products at the turn of the 20th century.
10.05.2018 / By Deborah Blum