FDA Issues Alert on Marshmallow-Dipped Candy Products After Worker Diagnosed with Hepatitis A

FDA issued a health alert for Bauer's Candies Modjeska (individually wrapped marshmallow-dipped in chocolate or caramel candies) after a worker tested positive for Hepatitis A.  Although this warning was issued last month, there does not appear to be a recall posted on the FDA website.

Hepatitis A can last for extended periods of time (testing is difficult to determine) on food and food contact surfaces, so it can be expected that if the virus was present on the product it could be transmitted to food.

This example demonstrates the need to have employee health controls in place, including instructing workers to notify management if they have, or have been exposed, to the virus, or have the symptoms.

As a customer, I would be completely ticked off if I had contracted Hepatitis A from chocolate covered marshmallows.  I don't even care for chocolate covered marshmallows which even make it even worse.

From Wikipedia - A Modjeska is a confection consisting of marshmallow dipped in caramel. It was created in the 1880s in Louisville, KY by confectioner Anton Busath to honor Shakespearean actress Helena Modjeska, who was performing there at the time. Other Louisville shops began to make versions of the candy, which continues to be popular in the region today.  Helena Modjeska (October 12, 1840 – April 8, 1909), whose actual Polish surname was Modrzejewska (Polish pronunciation: [mɔdʐɛˈjɛfska]), was a renowned actress who specialized in Shakespearean and tragic roles. (Pic below)

https://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/SafetyAlertsAdvisories/ucm627841.htm
Public Health Alert Concerning a Possible Hepatitis A Contamination of Bauer’s Candies’ Modjeskas
12/06/2018

Sandwich Products Recalled After FDA Finds Positive Listeria Environmental Samples

A SC ready-to-eat sandwich company, Grand Strand Sandwich, is recalling sandwich product after FDA notified them that environmental swabs taken from the meat slicing area were positive for Listeria..

Interesting, the firm was notified by FDA three weeks after the swabs were taken.  According to the release, the firm is notified on the January 3rd and swab sampling  were collected on December 11, 2018. A company cannot expect FDA to provide instantaneous results back, but rather must be proactive in terms of understanding risk exposure.  Was the company doing their own testing?  Did they take duplicates or sample at the next available opportunity?

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm629322.htm
Grand Strand Sandwich Company Recalls Lunch Box Sandwiches Italian Subs Lunch Box Sandwiches Ham & Swiss Croissants And Lunch Box Sandwiches Ham & Cheese Due To Possible Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination
For Immediate Release
January 7, 2019

Retailer Recalls Cooked Shrimp For Being Undercooked

Kroger recalled cooked shrimp on  sold in MI, OH, and VA due to the fact they were raw or undercooked. Product affected was manufactured on two dates - 8/25 and 8/26/18.
This issue date was 12/26/18, which would indicate 1) it was discovered through customer complaints, and 2) with the holiday at hand, it was probably a good likelihood that people ate undercooked shrimp. 

Personally, I prefer to cook my own shrimp.

CBS News
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kroger-shrimp-recall-cooked-shrimp-michigan-ohio-virginia/
Shrimp recalled in 3 states over potential health hazard

Retailer Recalls Cheesecakes After Supplier Notification for Salmonella

An Iowa based retailer is "voluntarily recalling its cheesecakes made with Diamond Crystal Brands cheesecake mix due to the potential that they may be contaminated with Salmonella. The potential for contamination was brought to Hy-Vee’s attention today after receiving a letter from the supplier."

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm629310.htm
Hy-Vee Voluntarily Recalls Cheesecakes Made with Diamond Crystal Mix
For Immediate Release
January 4, 2019

This Week in Mislabeled Products for Week Ending January 5, 2019

Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips in Wrong Bag - Olde York Potato Chips of Brampton, Ontario is recalling Clancy's Wavy Potato Chips 10 oz (UPC 0 41498 16306 8) with the specific lot code BEST If Used By FEB 22 19 1A6 because they may contain undeclared milk.  The issue was discovered when two consumers reported nding sour cream& onion seasoning on Clancy's Wavy Potato Chips 10 oz BEST If Used By FEB 22 19 1A6. Olde York conducted an investigation which indicated that the problem was caused by an isolated breakdown in the company's cleaning process.

Residual Almond into Milk after Improper Line Clean Out Shamrock Farms of Phoenix, Arizona is issuing a voluntary recall of Shamrock Farms 2% Reduced Fat Vanilla Half Gallon Milk with Best Before Date 3/16/2019. The recall comes after a product retain of Shamrock Farms 2% Reduced Fat Vanilla Half Gallon Milk with Use By 03/16/19 Time Stamp 08:18-11:13 04-05 #1, tested positive for an undeclared tree nut (almond) allergen.The undeclared allergen is due to cross-contact with an almond-contained product in the production facility, and was discovered in retained samples during testing.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm629293.htm
Olde York Potato Chips Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in One Lot of Clancy's Wavy Potato Chips 10 Oz
For Immediate Release
January 4, 2019

Many Adults Who Think They Have Food Allergies Are Not Allergic

In a study published in JAMA Network Open, only about 1/2 of the adults who claim to have a food allergy are actually allergic.  "Researchers discovered that only half of adults with convincing food allergy had a physician-confirmed diagnosis, and less than 25 percent reported a current epinephrine prescription."  The take home here is that if you think you have an allergy, have it medically checked.

They also found that about half of the adults developed one of thier food allergies as an adult.  It was most common for those to develop allergies to shellfish as an adult.  "The study data indicate that the most prevalent food allergens among U.S. adults are shellfish (affecting 7.2 million adults), milk (4.7 million), peanut (4.5 million), tree nut (3 million), fin fish (2.2 million), egg (2 million), wheat (2 million), soy (1.5 million), and sesame (.5 million)."

Children's Hospital of Chicago

https://www.luriechildrens.org/en/news-stories/one-in-10-adults-in-u.s.-has-food-allergy-but-nearly-one-in-five-think-they-do/

One in 10 Adults in U.S. Has Food Allergy, but Nearly One in Five Think They Do

January 4, 2019 

Yuma, AZ Farmers Working to Avoid Another E. coli Outbreak Associated with Romaine Lettuce

As farmers in the Yuma AZ region prepare for the upcoming season, they are also working to prevent another E. coli outbreak that dealt a financial blow to their industry as well as sickened 210 people with 96 hospitalizations (27 developing HUS) and 5 deaths.  Although FDA found water samples from an irrigation water canal in eastern Yuma County tested positive for the same genetic type of E. coli that led to E. coli cases, and that there was a cattle feedlot in the area as a potential source of the harmful bacteria, there has been nothing definitive that has turned up regarding the 22 farm fields.  Subsequent testing didn’t find the outbreak pathogen again in the canal.

"Produce growers in Arizona and California have adopted new standards based on the information gleaned from the FDA, including additional water quality testing, increased attention to weather conditions and longer distances from feedlot operations."  Repair work has also been completed on the canal.  "FDA investigators have returned to the Yuma area to test produce at the post-harvest stage at processors and coolers."

Morning Ag Clips / Associated Press
https://www.morningagclips.com/e-coli-outbreak-still-a-concern-for-yuma-area-ag/
E. coli outbreak still a concern for Yuma-area ag
Efforts continue to identify precise vulnerabilities in industry's practices, infrastructure
PUBLISHED ON January 6, 2019

Wisconsin Manufacturer Recalls Sunflower Butter and Tahini Butter After Copack Customer Issues Recalls Due to Listeria

A Wisconsin firm, Oskri Organics, is recalling sunflower butter and tahini butter after other product it produced for another company, Inspired Organics, issued two recalls of butter products due to Listeria positive tests.  Oskri has "ceased the production and distribution of the product as FDA and Oskri continue their investigation as to what caused the problem."

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm629246.htm
Oskri Organics Corporation Recalls Oskri Organic Sunflower Butter Lot #099, Oskri Tahini Butter Lot #193 and Thrive Sunflower Butter Lot #233 Because of Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
January 2, 2019

Company Expands Recall of Salads After Additional Listeria Found, but Limits Amount of Product Recalled

A California company is expanding a voluntary recall of single-serve salad bowls. The recall comes after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) informed the company that another random sample of their salad with a (5.5oz) with Best Before Date of Dec 29, 2018, so as" a precautionary measure, [the company] is recalling all products produced on the same day, same production line, as the one sample that tested positive by CFIA."  The last recall was issued after CFIA found Listeria on product produced with a Best Before Dec 14th, and the company recalled the product produced on that date.

So will this company just wait for CFIA to find more positives before expanding the recall again?  Having an agency found two product positive should be a clear indication that this company probably does not have Listeria under control.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm629152.htm
Apio Inc. Expands Voluntary Recall of Eat Smart Salad Shake Ups Single-Serve Bowls
For Immediate Release
December 26, 2018