Are Meat Alternatives in Your Future?

While meat consumption worldwide continues to increase, there are many Americans who have reduced their consumption of meat and those who have eliminated meat from their diet.  With this, there is a push to meat alternatives -

1. Plant based - those derived from plant based products including "Beyond Burger (made of pea protein, canola oil and coconut fat, colored with beets) and the Impossible Burger (soy protein, coconut oil and its central meat-like ingredient soy leghemoglobin, or “heme,” produced with a genetically modified yeast). The other variety is cultured meats, derived from extracted animal cells and cultivated into products that manufacturers claim are virtually identical to meat from slaughtered animals."
2. Animal cultured meats - derived from extracted animal cells and cultivated into products that manufacturers claim are virtually identical to meat from slaughtered animals. Animal cell culture "refers to the process by which cells are grown in a controlled artificial environment.  Cells can be maintained in vitro outside of their original body by this process which is quite simple compared to organ and tissue culture."

While plant based meats are already being sold, animal cell culture has number of hurdles before it will be available.  First is the regulatory hurdle - FDA and USDA must determine the potential hazards, oversight considerations, and labeling of cell cultured food products derived from livestock and poultry tissue.  Then there is the cost associated with commercialization.   If you have done cell culture work you know that it is not easy.....it is not like growing bacteria or yeasts.  Conditions must be more exact and controlled (proper nutrients, gases, etc.  Contamination is a huge issue.)  Scaling up these processes will take a lot of investment, but it seems that there are a lot of people lining up to invest.

What do you think?  Are you willing to eat meat where growth started on a plate. For me, between the two, I have to go with the plant based items.  Heck, just throw a good marinara sauce on soy meatball filled with onion and garlic rather than some petri-animal tissue thing.

Bloomsberg Businessweek
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-25/we-ll-always-eat-meat-why-more-of-it-won-t-be-meat-quicktake
We’ll Always Eat Meat. But More of It Will Be ‘Meat’
By
Deena Shanker  and  Lydia Mulvany
‎January‎ ‎25‎, ‎2019‎ ‎12‎:‎00‎ ‎AM

This Week in Mislabeled Products for Week Ending January 26, 2019

Milk Missed on Label - Harvest Food Group, Inc., a Chicago, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 47,332 pounds of Not Ready-To-Eat (NRTE) chicken fried rice products due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen,  milk, which is not declared on the product label.  The problem was discovered by the firm during a label inventory check.

Milk Missed on the Label II - Perrigo Company, in coordination with The Kroger Company, is initiating a voluntary recall of one production lot of Simple Truth Organic Banana, Strawberry & Apple Fruit Puree with Nonfat Greek Yogurt (LOT L8159, best by 08/06/2019, produced in Spain) due to improper labeling that does not indicate the presence of milk, posing a potential risk to consumers with milk allergies.   An investigation determined that the Nutrition Facts Panel, Ingredient Declaration, and Allergen Statement on the back label of the package are incorrect on this lot due to a printing error.

Egg Missed on Label - Ottogi America, Inc. announced today it is recalling below 21 items due to a possibility of containing egg ingredient undeclared on the packages.  There was no information on how this was missed.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-007-2019-release
Harvest Food Group, Inc. Recalls Poultry Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergen
Class I Recall
007-2019
Health Risk: High
Jan 25, 2019

Nut Butters Recalled for Listeria After Co-packer Issues Recall Due to Listeria

A California company is recalling all lots of their branded nut butter after their co-packer issued recall.  Recall dates cover a year's production although it seems that tests were on recent lots.

This comes after December's recall for nut butter due to Listeria that was manufactured by Oskri of Wisconsin.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm629819.htm
SL: Recall of Thrive Market Nut Butters Due to Potential Health Risk
For Immediate Release
January 24, 2019

Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums Recalled After Positive Listeria Test

Jac. Vandenberg, Inc. of Yonkers, New York is recalling produce from Chile -  1,727 cartons of Fresh Peaches, 1,207 cartons of Fresh Nectarines and 365 cartons of Fresh Plums - after testing indicated the presence of  Listeria monocytogenes.  The produce was distributed in 18 different states through small and large retailers including Walmart.

"The recall was the result of a routine sampling program by the packing house which revealed that the finished products contained the bacteria. The company has ceased the distribution of the product as FDA and the company continue their investigation as to what caused the problem."

This is a difficult situation.  Bulk product passing through the packing house is sampled and tests positive with the results taking a few days to come.  In the meantime product has entered a vast system for distribution.  Control is best applied at the point of origin, which in this case, is in Chile.  If there are no controls, or inadequate controls, testing becomes a gamble.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm629797.htm
Jac. Vandenberg, Inc. Recalls Fresh Peaches, Fresh Nectarines and Fresh Plums Because They May Be Contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes
For Immediate Release
January 24, 2019

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