People Licking Ice Cream and Putting Back in the Display - Food Tampering is a Felony

A Texas youth has been identified for allegedly licking a tub of ice cream and then putting it back in the freezer.  The video of the young woman completing the act went viral.  Adulterating food, which this act is certainly that, is a felony offence that could result in an extensive stay in jail as well as hefty fines.  As a juvenile offender, she is not likely to face charges as an adult, so the penalty will be less severe.

A copycat incident occurred in LA when a 36 year old man also popped open a container of ice cream on the store shelf, licked it, and then placed it back.  The man claims to have then purchased the ice cream.

Time for manufacturers to review their packaging with an eye towards product security.

Insider.com
https://www.insider.com/police-identify-ice-cream-licking-culprit-from-viral-video-juvenile-2019-7
Local police have identified the suspected ice cream-licking culprit from viral video

June 8, 2019

Because of Health Concerns, FDA States CBD from Hemp Still Illegal as an Additive to Food

CBD from hemp has received an incredible amount of attention from those who would like to see it added to food.  However, "Other than one prescription drug product to treat rare, severe forms of epilepsy, the FDA has not approved any other CBD products, and there is very limited available information about CBD, including about its effects on the body."  One of the biggest concerns is liver damage which has been shown by studies in mice.   Other issues are the impact on mental health.

"Cannabis is a plant of the Cannabaceae family and contains more than eighty biologically active chemical compounds. The most commonly known compounds are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)."  While the "Farm Bill removed hemp — defined as cannabis and cannabis derivatives with very low concentrations (no more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis) of THC — from the definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act", "CBD products are still subject to the same laws and requirements as FDA-regulated products that contain any other substance."

FDA Public Health News Release
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-you-need-know-and-what-were-working-find-out-about-products-containing-cannabis-or-cannabis
What You Need to Know (And What We’re Working to Find Out) About Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-derived Compounds, Including CBD
Content current as of:
06/19/2019

Death of Australian Man After Eating Gecko Likely Due to Parasite

An Australian man died a horrific death after eating a gecko on a dare.  Initially thought it was a massive Salmonella infection, it is now believed that it was a parasite that led to such dramatic symptoms as "vomiting green bile, his testicles each swelled to the size of a grapefruit with a strange fluid leaking from them — and his stomach was so badly bloated".  All of this within days after eating gecko.  From the article, a taxonomist and ecologist who is an expert in Asian house gecko parasites says a Spirometra tapeworm — which can group to about 4ft — could be what ravaged and ultimately killed the young dad."

Key - Ignore the dares and double dares when it comes to eating raw snails, reptiles, etc


The Sun
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/9429635/dared-eat-gecko-australia-dead-tapeworm/
GRIM TWIST Man who died in agony after ‘gecko eating dare’ may have been killed by a parasitic Spirometra tapeworm, doctors say
Patrick Knox
3 Jul 2019, 16:19

Salmonella Outbreak May be Linked to Pig Ear Dog Treats

CDC identified pig ear dog treats as the likely source of an Salmonella outbreak.  To date, there have been 45 cases with 34 of 38 people interviewed having claimed contact with a dog with 17 of 24 claiming contact with pig ear treats or contact with a dog who had pig ear treats.

Testing done thus far has not identified the outbreak strain,  but they have found other strains of Salmonella.  Testing of the outbreak strain found that the organism is antibiotic resistant.

(Champ's snack of choice is Penn State Summer Sausage....luckily he is a little dude and doesn't eat mass quantities....plus his owner gets to enjoy some as well...all Salmonella free...can't put a price on that.)

https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/pet-treats-07-19/index.html
Outbreak of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Infections Linked to Contact with Pig Ear Dog Treats
Published on July 3, 2019 at 2:45 PM ET

CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDAexternal icon) are investigating a multistate outbreak of multidrug-resistant Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- infections linked to contact with pig ear dog treats.

At A Glance
Reported Cases: 45
States: 13
Hospitalizations: 12
Deaths: 0

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