Frozen Blackberries Recalled Due to Potential for Hepatitis A

FDA issued a consumer alert for frozen blackberries potentially contaminated with hepatitis A virus (HAV).    The notice states, "At this time, the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are not aware of any cases of hepatitis A linked to the consumption of Kroger Private Selection brand frozen blackberries."  Although nothing was stated, this indicates that someone who handled the product in the up-stream supplier chain had been diagnosed with Hepatitis A.

Kroger issued a recall for the frozen blackberries and the Triple Berry Medley.  The product was sold at Kroger stores.  Costco also recalled product that was shipped to 5 states.

The concern is that if the infected person contaminated the berries when handling the product, even a small amount on the frozen berries could make someone ill.   Of course, many of the berries would be eaten in the raw form.

https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/public-health-alert-concerning-hepatitis-virus-contamination-kroger-brand-frozen-blackberries
Public Health Alert Concerning Hepatitis A Virus Contamination of Kroger Brand Frozen Blackberries
June 7, 2019

New Third Party Audit Parameter - Food Safety Culture Assessment

It seems like there is always something new that can be added to the third-party audit....and now there is the Food Safety Culture Assessment.  A number of companies including Ecolab and Culture Excellence have developed tools "to help measure and advance food safety behaviors and the overall food safety culture within food retail organizations."

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ecolab-launches-food-safety-culture-123000672.html
Ecolab Launches Food Safety Culture Assessment to Help Improve Food Safety Behavior
Business WireJune 7, 2019
ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Fake Food Safety Video Reaches Close to 100 Million People in Two Days

An article in NewStatesman discusses how a video with questionable food safety claims regarding food products was seen by 90 million people in two days.  In the video, the 'artists' show how manufacturers use fake food to fool consumers (you can watch the video from the link below)

Being released by a US entity, it is easy for many to assume that the cases were from US companies.  But that was not the case - "When asked about the research that went into making the video, First Media provided a list of links for each clip. Eleven of the 16 were from a mix of Indian sources relating to alleged food scandals in the country; from the urbane Instagram influencers of New Delhi to national newspapers and rural TV channels. One, relating to red dye on sweet potatoes, came from the official food standards authority in India. "

While the author's claim good intent in increasing awareness, it does show how fast fake news can be distributed, and if well produced, it can be quite convincing.

NewStatesman
https://www.newstatesman.com/science-tech/social-media/2019/06/how-spurious-food-safety-claims-reached-audience-almost-90-million
How spurious food safety claims reached an audience of almost 90 million in a few days

Prevalence of Salmonella and Pathogenic E. coli in Raw Wheat and the Need for Control

In a recently published study, the research shows that Salmonella and pathogenic E. coli is found in raw wheat, and with that, can be found in raw flour.   A total of 5,176 wheat samples were tested for enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., and L. monocytogenes.

• Salmonella was in 1.23% of the samples (average level of 0.110 MPN/g), 
• EHECs occurred in 0.44% of the samples (0.039 MPN/g), 
• Listeria spp. occurred in 0.08% of samples (0.020 MPN/g), but L. monocytogenes was not detected.

A few important discussion points:

• "Contamination sources are diverse and vary with several conditions, including weather, temperature, precipitation, time of flowering, and time of harvest."   So there is no silver bullet in eliminating this contamination from getting on the raw product.
• "There are two main pathways in which the presence of pathogens in wheat flour can cause human illness: (i) by the consumption of raw dough and (ii) through cross-contamination. The widespread use of wheat products in foods and the occurrence of outbreaks associated with wheat products confirm that eating raw wheat products poses a risk for foodborne illnesses."  As processors as well as consumers, these vegetative pathogens must be considered as being potentially present, and with that, we need to have a process to eliminate the organism (baking) and procedures against cross contamination with the raw flour (cleaning).

Journal of Food Protection
https://jfoodprotection.org/doi/full/10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-18-345
Occurrence and Levels of Salmonella, Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, and Listeria in Raw Wheat
Volume 82, Issue 6 (June 2019) 

This Week in Mislabeled Product for Week Ending June 8, 2019

Nuts in the Pesto Sauce - Whole Foods Market stores in the North Atlantic region are voluntarily recalling the retailer’s specialty made-in-house basil pesto and specialty made-in-house sundried tomato pesto because the products may contain undeclared milk and tree nuts.   The issue was discovered after a customer alerted the store.

Sulfite Testing Discovers They're Missing on the Label - Deep Foods Inc. of Union, NJ is recalling Deep Golden Raisin 7oz., 14oz. and 28oz. Because they contained undeclared sulfites.  The recall was initiated after routing sampling by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer services and subsequent analysis by Food Laboratory personnel revealed the presence of sulfites in the 7 oz. Package of Deep "Golden Raisin" which were not declared on label. The same raisins were packed in 14 oz. And 28 oz. And are included in this recall.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/allergy-alert-issued-undeclared-milk-pine-nuts-and-walnuts-two-specialty-pesto-products-sold-north
Allergy Alert Issued for Undeclared Milk, Pine Nuts and Walnuts in Two Specialty Pesto Products Sold in North Atlantic Whole Foods Market Stores
Summary
Company Announcement Date: June 05, 2019
FDA Publish Date:June 06, 2019

Sausage Pizza Recalled Because it Wasn't Produced Under USDA Inspection

A Brooklyn N.Y. firm is recalling approximately 649 pounds of frozen pizza products that contain pork that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection.  The problem was discovered on June 4, 2019, when the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets contacted FSIS inquiring as to whether the plant was operating under a USDA Grant of Inspection.  [I guess they weren't....yeah, that 3% or more meat added just never seems like enough to bother somebody].

https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2019/06/06/table-87-frozen-pizza-recall/
KOKA CBS 2
USDA Recalls Nearly 650 Pounds Of Table 87 Frozen Pizza Products
June 6, 2019 at 8:50 pm

Europe - Cold Smoked Fish Linked to 18 Cases of Listeria, 5 deaths

In Europe, cold-smoked trout and salmon produced in Estonia has been identified as the source of a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak which has affected 22 people in five countries since 2014.

Food Safety Magazine
https://www.foodsafetymagazine.com/news/cold-smoked-fish-to-blame-for-multi-country-listeria-outbreak/
News | June 4, 2019
Cold-Smoked Fish to Blame for Multi-Country Listeria Outbreak

Brazil - Atypical Case of BSE in Cow Impacts International Trade

A case of BSE, bovine spongiform encephalopathy or mad cow disease, was detected in a 17-year-old cow.  While no meat from this cow entered commerce, several countries immediately banned beef imports from Brazil.

In the US, there are specific regulations for handling SRMs, or specified risk materials, that pose the greatest risk of containing the BSE agent.  The vertebral column and spinal cord of cattle 30 months of age and older are considered to be SRMs.

Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-livestock-madcow/brazil-reports-atypical-case-of-mad-cow-disease-ministry-idUSKCN1T12M0
World News
May 31, 2019 / 5:37 PM / 6 days ago
Brazil reports atypical case of mad cow disease: ministry

Two Recalls Issued for Foreign Material - Sausage Product and Chicken Product

Two companies issued recalls for foreign material.

Johnsonville, LLC., a Sheboygan Falls, Wis. establishment, is recalling approximately 95,393 pounds of its ready-to-eat jalapeño cheddar smoked sausage products that may be contaminated with extraneous material, specifically hard green plastic.  The problem was discovered when the company notified FSIS that they received a consumer complaint regarding green hard plastic in the product.

Perdue Foods LLC., a Bridgewater, Va. establishment, is recalling approximately 31,703 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically pieces of bone material.  The problem was discovered after FSIS and the company received consumer complaints.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-063-2019-release
Johnsonville, LLC. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Jalapeño Cheddar Smoked Sausage Links Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination 
Class I
Recall  063-2019 
Health Risk: High 
May 31, 2019