Controversial Palm Oil is Everywhere

 A Daily Mail article states that researchers are asking for more studies on the health aspects of palm oil.  I did not realize the extent of palm oil usage until traveling overseas where palm oil is the primary oil used...it is pretty much in everything.  While the US uses far more corn and soybean oil, there is an increasing use of palm oil, especially now that trans fats have been banned.  This growth is expected to exceed 20% per year.

What are the advantages of palm oil?

• Inexpensive
• Increased stability in heat applications, high smoke point
• Longer shelf-life.
• No trans fats
• Non-animal source

The application properties are linked to the fact that it is highly saturated.  Like coconut oil, it is solid at room temperature, but is slightly lower in the level of unsaturated fats (50% vs 85%).  Because of its lower cost, it becomes an excellent in fry applications or as an ingredient in confectionery, chocolate, or bakery products.

So there is a question of how healthy is palm oil, especially as it becomes a bigger part of the food we eat.

Another complaint is the degree to which manufacturers cheapen food with palm oil.  Will we see the amount of palm oil in foods nudging higher in order to keep food cost low, for example, replacing cocoa butter in chocolate or dairy fat in ice cream?

But there is another issue.  Palm oil comes from palm trees which are grown in tropical areas of the world.  As more and more of tropical acreage is plowed under for palm trees, what long term impact will increased usage have on the environment including the wildlife in those areas?  Can it be made in a way that can be considered sustainable?  A certifying group, RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) has established criteria for sustainable palm oil and provides a mechanism for those using palm oil to identify more sustainable sources.  But how much will that prevent deforestation?  As large multinational companies buy the RSPO certified oil, there is bound to be smaller companies no longer to pay the premium for this, and will end up buying oil produced by less sustainable sources.  Not unless all sources are forced to become RSPO certified producers.

Daily Mail.com
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6618407/Palm-oil-industry-deploying-tactics-similar-alcohol-tobacco-industries.html
Is palm oil safe? Studies into the controversial oil have been 'authored by the industry' as researchers demand independent probe
•Four of nine studies showing 'overwhelming' positives were from the industry
•Palm oil is expected to be used more as a trans fat - known as bad for health
•Researchers calling for more independent research and to be wary of lobbyists

By Vanessa Chalmers Health Reporter For Mailonline

Published: 04:35 EST, 22 January 2019  | Updated: 06:17 EST, 22 January 2019

Baby Spinach Recalled for Potential Salmonella Contamination

Satur Farms, 3705 Alvah's Lane, Cutchogue, NY 11935 is voluntarily recalling Baby Spinach and Mesclun with the specific lot numbers following routine sampling by Florida Department of Agriculture and New York State Department of Agriculture and markets that determined teh potential for Salmonella contamination.  The product package indicates the spinach originated in Florida.

Whole Foods also issued a recall notice for a multitude of product made with the recalled baby spinach.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm629755.htm
[Baby Spinach] Product Recall Because of Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
January 23, 2019

Gold Medal Flour Recalled After Product Testing Indicated Potential Salmonella Contamination

General Mills issued a recall of five-pound bags of its Gold Medal Unbleached Flour with a better if used by date of April 20, 2020 for the potential of Salmonella after sample testing of the product. 

While proper cooking of product made from flour would eliminate Salmonella, the concern is that people may under cook items made from flour or that flour dust in the kitchen may contaminate food or food contact surfaces.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm629754.htm
General Mills Recalls Five Pound Bags of Gold Medal Unbleached Flour
For Immediate Release
January 23, 2019

This Week in Mislabeled Products for Week Ending January 19. 2019

Coconut in Seasoning Ingredient Mix But Not on Label - Custom Made Meals, LLC, a Denver, Colo., establishment, is recalling approximately 7,954 pounds of chicken skewer products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, - the products contain coconut, a known tree nut allergen that is not declared on the product label. "The problem was discovered on Jan. 16, 2019, when establishment personnel observed production employees with nut allergen stickers and determined that a “Coconut Teriyaki Tropical” seasoning was being utilized on the product."

Inadvertent Peanut Contamination - Mojave Foods Corporation is initiating a voluntary recall of El Guapo Chile Habanero and Chile Pasilla-Ancho pouches due to an unlabeled peanut allergen. While no reason was stated, one would guess this was a cross contact issue involving a wrong ingredient or perhaps a processing line that was inadequately cleaned.

Supplier Issue Results in Undeclared Peanuts - RXBAR is voluntarily recalling certain varieties of bars because they may contain undeclared peanuts. From the release, "RXBAR identified the potential for peanut in two varieties – Chocolate Sea Salt and Coconut Chocolate – in December and initiated a recall of those varieties. We are expanding the recall out of an abundance of caution after recently receiving consumer contacts regarding allergic reactions to additional varieties. Our investigation concluded that the issues stem from a specific ingredient supplied by a third party. We immediately changed suppliers for this ingredient when the issue arose."

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-005-2019-release
Custom Made Meals, LLC Recalls Chicken Skewer Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens
Class I Recall
005-2019
Health Risk: High
Jan 18, 2019

Consumer Complaints of Black Rubber Pieces Forces Recall of Pork Patties

Johnsonville, LLC, a Sheboygan Falls, Wis. establishment, is recalling approximately 48,371 pounds of raw ground pork patty products that may be contaminated with black rubber pieces.  The problem was discovered when the firm received three consumer complaints regarding black rubber in the product.  FSIS was notified on Jan. 17, 2019.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-003-2019-release
Johnsonville, LLC Recalls Raw Ground Frozen Cheddar Cheese and Bacon Flavored Pork Patty Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination 
Class I Recall  003-2019 
Health Risk: High  Jan 18, 2019 

Canada - Smoked Salmon Recalled After Positive Listeria Testing by CFIA

A Canadian seafood company is recalling certain brands of smoked salmon, Salmon Village brand Hot Smoked Atlantic Salmon Nuggets, from the marketplace after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) testing found Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

With smoked salmon, Listeria contamination is a potential risk in post process handling and processing, especially dicing or slicing operations.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2019-01-17/eng/1547779415158/1547779417014
Food Recall Warning - Certain Salmon Village brand Hot Smoked Atlantic Salmon Nuggets recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes
Recall date:January 17, 2019 
Reason for recall:Microbiological - Listeria 
Hazard classification:Class 1 
Company / Firm:Delta Pacific Seafoods 
Distribution: Alberta , British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan
Extent of the distribution:Retail   

Another Watchdog Group Issues a Food Safety Report

Watchdog groups are important for safety of products, including food products.  And I think we understand that there will be a certain amount of spin used to hype up the call to action.  The latest is from a group called U.S. PIRG.  They stretch the math a good bit and miss the important underlying detail.

Statement
"There has been a 10-percent increase in food recalls overall between 2013 and 2018." 
Comment
This does not mean our food is less safe, but rather, our surveillance, detection, and tracking has improved dramatically.  Our ability to find and link contamination events through networks linked to CDC and our use of whole genome sequencing. 

Statement
"Recalls of meat and poultry alone increased by 83 percent over the last five years."
Comment
But if you look at the types of recalls that we are seeing, many recalls logged in this period are related to foreign objects.  USDA in conjunction with the meat  industry has done a tremendous job in reducing serious outbreaks related to E. coli and Listeria. 

Statement
"Karthikeyan cited the March 2018 romaine lettuce recall from Yuma, Arizona that killed five people and made more than 200 sick due to an outbreak of E.coli."
“A simple solution to this, which would have likely prevented the outbreak, would be to set public health limits on how much dangerous E. coli can be in water on produce farms,” Karthikeyan said.
Comment
This is not an easy fix.  If it were easy, it would have been fixed.  We understand that contaminated irrigation water is a critical factor, but keeping small levels of contaminants out of miles and miles of surface water is just not easy.

Statement
“These recalls are a warning to everyone that something is rotten in our fields and our slaughterhouses and government agencies need to make sure that the food that reaches people’s plates are safe.”
Comment
This statement is over the top.  The issues we face from from contaminants that are naturally present...not something rotten.  Animals of all types - cows, birds, geckos - have been associated with pathogens such as Salmonella for as long as those species have existed.  So thier solution - "Prevent the sale of Salmonella-contaminated meats" is just not going to simply happen without changing the fundamental properties of the products we eat.   You are not going to have pasture-raised beef with minimal chemical added that is going to be free from Salmonella. 

Statement
"We’re calling on the USDA to stop allowing the sale of meat that testing reveals is contaminated with dangerous, antibiotic-resistant Salmonella."
Comment
You cannot test your way to safety.  Prevention is key and looking at ways to reduce levels of contamination is important, just as it is to make sure consumers who handle and prepare foods do it correctly.

The group uses the CDC estimate as a goalpost - "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 1 in 6 people in the U.S. get foodborne illness with 128,000 individuals hospitalized and 3,000 dying every year." and suggests these number have to improve.  This number is a calculated guess at best.  The easiest way to improve these numbers is to give them a different statistician.

We get it...we need to improve our system.  But this report looks like it was prepared by junior high school students without a real understanding of the issues and can be considered an insult to those who work everyday to our food safe.

You can find the full report here - LINK.

Philadelphia Tribune
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/watchdog-agency-report-highlights-flaws-in-nation-s-food-safety/article_ca21735e-2ca1-5a1d-811e-bfb06ab309b1.html
Watchdog agency report highlights flaws in nation’s food safety system  
Ayana Jones Tribune Staff Writer
January 17, 2019

Consumer Complaints for Wood Pieces In Chicken Nuggets Triggers Recall

Perdue Foods, LLC, a Perry, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 68,244 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken nugget products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically wood.  The problem was discovered when the firm received three consumer complaints that wood was found in the product. A complaint was also reported to FSIS’ consumer complaint monitoring system. FSIS was notified by the firm on Jan. 17, 2019.

Here is another example of the impact of consumer complaints going into the federal agency's consumer complaint portal.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-002-2019-release
Perdue Foods LLC Recalls Simplysmart Organics Gluten Free Chicken Nugget Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination 
Class I Recall
002-2019
Health Risk: High
Jan 17, 2019

Government Shutdown and Food Safety - Let the Media Begin Their Spin

With the US Government shutdown, there is bound to be numerous news releases on the impact on food safety.  While the FDA has suspended inspections, USDA continues to inspect facilities.  Will our food become more risky?  Reading through the headlines, consumers can be made to feel uneasy, depending on what they read:
Time - You May Be at Higher Risk of Eating Contaminated Food During the Government Shutdown
Live Science - What the Slowdown in FDA Food Inspections Means for You (Spoiler: Don't Panic Yet)

The reality is that food (FDA regulated items) will not instantaneously become more risky.  Yes, FDA inspections are an important part of our food safety system, but their role is more inspection than preventive control.  FDA is not in every facility every day, most facilities would lucky to get a yearly inspection (although I am sure they would not say lucky).  When we look at the major outbreaks this year - the E. coli in Romaine lettuce outbreaks in AZ and CA, it is not like we have inspectors in the fields testing canal water or chasing wild critters away.  And it is not like food processors are a bunch of hoodlums who will suddenly stop obeying regulations because they are less likely to get an inspection.  Processors are businesses who need to produce safe product to stay in business.  If there is an outbreak, there are emergency response personnel.  Plus state inspections are still being conducted, covering FDA regulated facilities.

Longer term however, inspectors are important for reviewing facilities that have complaint issues, or who may have had past transgressions.  Their role is also important for reporting and investigating food facilities who are involved in an outbreak or who have issued a recall.  And true, knowing the cop may be around the corner is more likely to ensure that you don't do the rolling stop at the stop sign.  The vast majority won't, but certainly an arguable point.

Finally, nobody likes to be out of work due to political issues or any issues, especially those issues that do not involve the work that they do.

Forbes
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennysplitter/2019/01/10/what-the-government-shutdown-means-for-food-safety/#2c82f070f6d3
What The Government Shutdown Means For Food Safety
Jenny Splitter  Contributor  Food & Drink  I cover the intersections of technology, farming and food.  Jan 10, 2019