A Distributor of Salmonella Contaminated Papayas Identified

FDA released an update regarding the ongoing Salmonella outbreak associated with papayas.  At this point, the FDA investigation "indicates that Agroson’s LLC of Bronx, New York, is the exclusive distributor of the imported papayas that likely made consumers from this outbreak sick. The papayas are sold under the brand name Cavi. To date, there have been no positive product samples."

With this, FDA lifts the hold on Mexican papayas.  There was no indication in the notice where the NY distributor sourced the papayas.

To date, there have been 71 cases with 27 hospitalizations,  All cases originated in the northeastern section of the US.

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/salmonella-uganda-likely-linked-whole-fresh-papayas-june-2019
Salmonella Uganda Likely Linked to Whole, Fresh Papayas, June 2019
Consumers in all states warned to avoid Cavi brand whole, fresh papayas distributed by Agroson’s LLC
Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 71
Hospitalizations: 27
Deaths: 0
Last illness onset: June 16, 2019
States with Cases: CT (14), FL (1), MA (5), NJ (18), NY (27), PA (4), RI (1), TX (1)

July 5, 2019

Growers Express Recalls Fresh Processed Vegetable Products After Positive Listieria Finding

Growers Express production facility in Biddeford, Maine is recalling  select fresh vegetable products  including packaged varieties of butternut squash, cauliflower, zucchini and a butternut squashed based veggie bowl due to the potential for contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.  According to the report, the recall was issued after being notified of a single positive sample by the Massachusetts Department of Health

"Most of the affected products are labeled with a “Best If Used By” Date of June 26 – June 29, 2019"...so a three day production window....and it should be noted that product has already its expiration date.  The company has stopped production and is "deep sanitizing the entire facility and our line equipment, as well as conducting continued testing on top of our usual battery of sanitation and quality and safety tests before resuming production."

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/growers-express-issues-voluntary-recall-multiple-fresh-vegetable-products-due-potential
Growers Express Issues Voluntary Recall of Multiple Fresh Vegetable Products Due to Potential Contamination of Listeria monocytogenes
Summary
Company Announcement Date: June 30, 2019
FDA Publish Date: July 01, 2019.
Product Type:Food & Beverages
Produce Reason for Announcement:  Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name: Growers Express
Brand Name:  Green Giant Fresh, Growers Express, Signature Farms, Trader Joe’s
Product Description:  Butternut squash, cauliflower, zucchini, and butternut squash based veggie bowl products

Are You Using A Thermometer for Cooking Your Burger on the 4th? Why You Are Probably Not

Thermometers are the most effective way to determine if food is safe.  That is, to determine if specific temperatures have been reached to ensure leathality for pathogens of concern.  A recently published study looked at 85 studies from the past 21 years to see why thermometers are used or not used.  For those using thermometers, the motivators for thermometer use were to protect
those for whom the food is prepared and to improve food quality.

However, the majority of people do not use thermometers with the barriers being categorized into two major groups: “the belief that a thermometer is not necessary” and “the difficulty of selecting and using a thermometer.”

Barrier type 1 - Belief that a thermometer is not necessary -

1. Preference for alternative techniques. 

"Many consumers (47 to 51%) responded that it is unnecessary to use a cooking thermometer to check the doneness of an egg or meat dish. The most frequently reported alternative to food thermometer use was use of color to determine the doneness of the meat. Consumers also determined the doneness of egg or meat dishes by touch, taste, recipe cooking time, inserted a knife to examine the internal texture, inserting a toothpick or other utensil to see whether it came out clean, or other indications of texture, such as shaking an egg dish and considering it done when the item was firm.

2. Mainstream media and food professionals seldom serve as role models and often negate the need for food thermometers. 

Food workers indicated they were less likely to use a food thermometer when the managers were perceived as not caring about or monitoring this activity; some workers reported that their managers were bad examples when using thermometers. Food workers who were less likely to use a thermometer also believed that their boss, coworkers, customers, and the health inspector would not support thermometer use. Some culinary preparations seldom incorporate temperature measurement. Young Asian consumers reported not seeing a food thermometer used in their daily lives.

3.  Limited awareness of potential health issues associated with current practices.

4. Limited knowledge and awareness related to thermometer use for specific food groups.

Barrier type 2 - Difficulty of selecting and using a thermometer.

1. Difficulty in selecting the type of food thermometer.
2. Availability of food thermometers.
3. Lack of skills related to use of food thermometers.
4. Limited knowledge related to endpoint temperatures.
5. Inability to calibrate food thermometers.
6. Lack of knowledge of food thermometer cleaning and sanitation.

Are you making excuses or are you going to control your process?


Journal of Food Protection, Vol. 82, No. 1, 2019, Pages 128–150
doi:10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-18-245
Copyright , International Association for Food Protection

ABSTRACT

Motivators and Barriers to Cooking and Refrigerator Thermometer Use among Consumers and Food Workers: A Review

FDA Invetigating Link Between Salmonella Outbreak and Fresh Papayas from Mexico

FDA issued a Investigation Notice on potential link of Salmonella to fresh papayas from Mexico.  FDA is "investigating a multistate outbreak of 62 Salmonella Uganda illnesses potentially linked to whole, fresh papayas imported from Mexico.  These illnesses have been reported in eight states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Florida, and Texas."

No product has be been recalled at this point.

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-uganda-potentially-linked-whole-fresh-papayas-june-2019
Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Uganda Potentially Linked to Whole, Fresh Papayas, June 2019
Consumers in six states warned to avoid whole, fresh papayas from Mexico

June 28, 2019

Pet (Fish) Food Recalled After Lab Misreads Salmonella Results

A Wisconsin firm is recalling fish food, Aqueon Betta Food, after Salmonella test results were reversed and called positive.  It appears the firm shipped the product on getting negative Salmonella results and then had to conduct a recall after two negatives were confirmed as positive.  "Central Aquatics has appropriate testing protocols and followed all such internal testing protocols. However, the outside independent laboratory contracted to conduct and read Salmonella testing mistakenly indicated the two lots of the recalled product were negative for Salmonella, when in fact it was found to be positive for Salmonella. Central Aquatics immediately initiated steps to recall the subject product upon notification of the error by the independent laboratory."

As indicated in the report, there is little information on the impact of Salmonella on fish, however, the concern would be that people handling the fish food, often dosed to the fish by pouring some in the fish feeders hand,  could be transmitted to that person or others.

The important point in this is the impact of the laboratory and the results they furnish regarding the product.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/central-aquatics-recalls-aqueon-betta-food-95-oz-jar-because-possible-salmonella-health-risk
Central Aquatics Recalls Aqueon Betta Food (.95 oz Jar) Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: June 26, 2019
FDA Publish Date: June 26, 2019

NC Establishment Recalls Sausage Due to Complaint of Metal Piece

An Elon, N.C. establishment, San Giuseppe Salami Co, is recalling approximately 832 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE), frozen andouille sausage products after they received a report that a consumer found a piece of a metal ring in the product, thus indicating that the product may be contaminated with metal extraneous materials.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-071-2019-release
San Giuseppe Salami Co. by Giacomo Recalls Ready-To-Eat, Frozen Andouille Sausage Products due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination 
Class I Recall
071-2019 
Health Risk: High 
Jun 24, 2019

FDA Provides Update on E. coli Outbreak Linked to Flour, More Product Added to Recall

FDA released an update on the outbreak investigation into the illnesses cased by E. coli linked to flour.  There have been 17 cases so far, with the last one occurring mid-April.

Another company was added to those issued a flour related recall due to this.  Brand Castle is recalling cookie and brownie mixes.

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-o26-linked-adm-milling-co-flour-may-2019
Outbreak Investigation of E. Coli O26 Linked to ADM Milling Co. Flour, May 2019

Additional recall linked to ADM Milling Co. flour; Brand Castle, LLC announces recall of several cookie and brownie mixes due to potentially contaminated flour

Case Counts

• Total Illnesses: 17
•  Hospitalizations: 3
•  Deaths: 0
•  Last illness onset: April 18, 2019

Infant Formula Powder Recalled for Potential Foreign Material

Perrigo Company plc is issuing a voluntary nationwide recall a single lot of 35-ounce, 992-gram containers of Parent's Choice Advantage Infant Formula Milk-Based Powder with Iron. because of the potential presence of metal foreign matter,   This product is sold exclusively at Walmart.
"No adverse events have been reported to date, and the recall is being initiated out of an abundance of caution stemming from a consumer report"

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/perrigo-issues-voluntary-recall-parents-choice-advantage-infant-formula-milk-based-powder-iron
Perrigo Issues Voluntary Recall For Parent's Choice Advantage Infant Formula Milk-Based Powder With Iron
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 21, 2019
FDA Publish Date:  June 21, 2019

Bottled Water from Mexico Recalled after Tests Reveal Arsenic Above Regulatory Limits

Keurig Dr Pepper today announced it will voluntarily withdraw Peñafiel unflavored mineral spring water products, imported from Mexico, due to the presence of violative levels of arsenic. Water quality tests of Peñafiel samples conducted by an independent laboratory on behalf of Keurig Dr Pepper detected arsenic at levels that exceeded the FDA’s bottled water standards for mineral water of 10 ppb.

From the published notice, "Arsenic is found in nature, including in aquifers that are the source of mineral water and where levels can vary over time. Keurig Dr Pepper has recently installed enhanced filtration systems at its facilities that produce Peñafiel, and the product now being produced is well within regulatory guidelines."

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/keurig-dr-pepper-announces-voluntary-withdrawal-unflavored-penafiel-mineral-spring-water-does-not
Keurig Dr Pepper Announces Voluntary Withdrawal of Unflavored Peñafiel Mineral Spring Water that Does Not Meet FDA Bottled Water Quality Standards
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 21, 2019
FDA Publish Date:  June 21, 2019