Growers Express Expands Recall of Fresh Processed Vegetable Product After Additional Listeria Positive

Growers Express is expanding its original recall of frozen vegetables posted on July 1 originating from their Biddeford Maine production facility.   The release states, "After further testing of an additional product lot from the suspected source of the recall, a single retail sample was found to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The company has expanded the list of recalled products to include certain specific fresh Brussels sprouts, fresh cauliflower florets and fresh green beans products with the “best by” or “pack dates” identified in the chart below."

So basically, they held four days of production (Best by 6-26 to 6/29) thinking they had captured the issue, but after testing, they found an additional positive sample in a different production lot.  Being that they found one positive, one would guess that this indicates that the contamination level is low.   This is a challenge with Listeria contamination.....a small amount getting into production of product, probably a  difficulty-to-find point source that contributes a few cells throughout production.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/growers-express-expands-voluntary-recall-select-fresh-vegetable-products-due-potential-contamination
Growers Express Expands Voluntary Recall of Select Fresh Vegetable Products Due to Potential Contamination of Listeria monocytogenes

Michigan Establishment Recalls Frozen Meatloaf Due To Complaint of Metal Bits

Ada Valley Gourmet Foods, Inc., an Ada, Mich. establishment, is recalling approximately 3,490 pounds of raw ground beef meatloaf products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically broken metal bits.  The problem was discovered on July 11, 2019, when a customer notified the plant of the problem.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-073-2019-release
Ada Valley Gourmet Foods, Inc. Recalls Beef Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
Class I Recall 
073-2019 
Health Risk:High 
Jul 13, 2019 

Over 100 with E. coli after Visiting Minnesota Lake on 4th

Between 120 and 150 people have become infected with pathogenic E. coli after boating on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota. Environmental factors are the most likely source.

Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/at-least-140-report-sickness-after-lake-minnetonka-boating-on-july-4th/512542682/
Nearly 120 report sickness after Lake Minnetonka boating on July 4th
Five beaches in the metro area remain closed due to high bacteria
counts.
By Katy Read (http://www.startribune.com/katyread/
131074183/) Star Tribune
JULY 11, 2019 — 5:07AM

Woman Charged After Video of Her Child Licking a Tongue Depressor and Placing it Back

A woman was charged with tampering, a felony, after she posted a video of her 10 year old daughter licking a tongue depressor in the doctor's office examination room and then returning it to the same jar.  This comes after last week's ice cream tampering issues when on two different occasions, stupid people opened, licked, and replaced cartons of ice cream.

PennLive
https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2019/07/woman-charged-after-recording-daughter-licking-tongue-depressor-in-doctors-office-and-putting-it-back.html
Woman charged after recording daughter licking tongue depressor in doctor’s office and putting it back
7/12/19   8:17 AM

This Week in Mislabeled Product for Week Ending July 13, 2019

Consumer Allergic Reaction Triggers Recall of  Meal Bars -  PROBAR LLC of Salt Lake City, UT has initiated a voluntary recall of select flavors and lots of Meal® bars, including Chocolate Coconut, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Original Trail Mix, Wholeberry Blast and Superfood Slam due to the possible presence of undeclared milk and soy allergens. PROBAR learned of the issue after receiving a complaint of an allergic reaction in a consumer after eating a PROBAR: MEAL Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip bar. Our investigation determined that an ingredient potentially contained milk and soy. To date, PROBAR has received this one report of illness.

Someone Missed that Worcestershire Sauce Contains Fish (anchovies) - .Baumer Foods, Inc. of Metairie, LA is recalling 10 oz PICS Soy Sauce, because it may contain undeclared fish   The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product was labeled as Soy Sauce without the known fish allergen but the bottle actually contained Worcestershire sauce. Worcestershire Sauce has the known allergen fish. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary oversight during the packaging processes.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/probar-llc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-and-soy-select-flavors-meal-r-bars
PROBAR LLC Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk and Soy in Select Flavors of Meal ® Bars
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  July 11, 2019
FDA Publish Date:  July 11, 2019
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Meal Replacements
Reason for Announcement:Undeclared Milk and Soy
Company Name:PROBAR
Brand Name:PROBAR
Product Description:Multiple flavors of Meal Bars

Hamburger Buns and Hot Dog Buns Recalled Due to Potential for Hard Plastic

Flowers Foods, Inc. is voluntarily recalling hamburger and hot dog buns and other bakery products due to the potential presence of small pieces of hard plastic that may have been introduced during production.  The company initiated the recall following the discovery of small pieces of hard plastic in production equipment.No related injuries or illnesses have been reported.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/flowers-foods-issues-voluntary-recall-hamburger-and-hot-dog-buns-and-other-bakery-foods-due-plastic
Flowers Foods Issues Voluntary Recall of Hamburger and Hot Dog Buns and Other Bakery Foods Due to Plastic Pieces Found in Products
Summary
Company Announcement Date: July 09, 2019
FDA Publish Date: July 10, 2019
Product Type:Food & Beverages  Bakery Product/Mix
Reason for Announcement: Potential Presence of Small Pieces of Hard Plastic
Company Name:Flowers Foods, Inc.
Brand Name: Multiple brands
Product Description:  Hamburger and Hot Dog Buns

Meat and Gravy Product Recalled After Complaint of Clear Pliable Plastic

Fairmont Foods, Inc. of Fairmont, Minn. is recalling approximately 35,145 pounds of ready-to-eat pork and beef gravy products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically clear pliable plastic (ingredient packaging material??).  The firm contacted FSIS after they received a report that a consumer found a piece of the soft pliable plastic in the product.  There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. 

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-072-2019-release
Fairmont Foods, Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Pork and Beef Gravy Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
Class II Recall 
072-2019 
Health Risk: Low 
Jul 9, 2019

Restaurant in FL Linked to Cyclospora Outbreak

A restaurant in Florida has been linked to a Cyclospora outbreak.  The source has yet to be identified, but in many cases related to this parasite, it tends to be produce which was watered or washed with water contaminated with the parasite.

Cyclospora is a single cell parasite where humans are the only definitive host.  From the CDC:

People become infected with Cyclospora by ingesting sporulated oocysts, which are the infective form of the parasite. This most commonly occurs when food or water contaminated with feces is consumed. An infected person sheds unsporulated (immature, non-infective) Cyclospora oocysts in the feces. The oocysts are thought to require at least 1–2 weeks in favorable environmental conditions to sporulate and become infective. Therefore, direct person-to-person transmission is unlikely, as is transmission via ingestion of newly contaminated food or water.

 In the United States, foodborne outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to various types of imported fresh produce, such as raspberries, basil, snow peas, mesclun lettuce, and cilantro; no commercially frozen or canned produce has been implicated to date.

So while many may blame the restaurant, that restaurant was unlikely to have had much impact on removing the parasite if already on the produce.   And this is the challenge with Cyclospora.  Last month, a panel was put together to investigate how this parasite can be controlled.  While some preventive measures were discussed, no specific source was identified.

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/jacksonville/attorneys-2-dozen-sick-after-food-poisoning-at-popular-restaurant
Attorneys: About 2 dozen sick after food poisoning at popular restaurant
Group claims to have contracted parasite from Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant
By Vic Micolucci - I-TEAM reporter, anchor
Posted: 3:10 PM, July 09, 2019
Updated: 12:41 PM, July 10, 2019

FDA Issues a Warning Letter to CA Bakery for Being Nasty

FDA issued a Warning Letter to a CA bakery for, in short, being nasty.   They missed the memo that they had to comply with FDA regulations.  A problem we have seen with many smaller companies that are now required to have registered with FDA and thus are subject to FDA inspection...especially an issue among bakeries.

"..food manufactured in your facility is adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) (21 U.S.C. § 342(a)(4)) in that it was prepared, packed or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with filth or rendered injurious to health.  In addition, failure of the owner, operator, or agent in charge of a covered facility to comply with the preventive controls provisions of the CGMP & PC rule (located in subparts A, C, D, E, F, and G of part 117) is prohibited by section 301(uu) of the Act (21 U.S.C. § 331(uu))." 

The inspection of the company found that they...:

• Did not have a written food safety plan.
• Did not take effective measures to exclude pests from the manufacturing, processing, packing and holding areas to protect against contamination of food on your premises by pest..had rodent excrement and insects in various places.
• Did not clean all food contact surfaces, including utensils and equipment, as frequently as necessary to protect against allergen cross-contact and against contamination
• cutting boards used to prepare products were scarred and heavily stained with a dark residue, and the plastic containers used to hold and dispense various dry ingredients were observed cracked, some being held together with blue tape,
•  ice cream scoop, used to fill lemon poppy muffins which contain almonds and wheat flour, was seen stored in a bucket of water and then used to fill gluten free muffins, which do not contain almonds or wheat flour, without being cleaned between uses
•  prepare products with raw ingredients on the same wooden table that finished products are prepared for further processing and packaging.
• The floors are not constructed in such a manner that they may be adequately cleaned and kept in good repair - specifically, during the inspection our investigators observed standing water and pitted floors with exposed aggregate, immediately adjacent to clean equipment on shelves. 
• Employees working in direct contact with food, food-contact surfaces, and food packaging materials did not conform to hygienic practices 
• Wholesale products are misbranded - the product labels fail to bear the common or usual name of the food, labels fail to bear an accurate statement of the net quantity of contents in terms of weight, measure, or numerical count, labels fail to include the place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor, and the Lemon Poppy and Strawberry Cupcake Muffin products bear or contains a color additive which is unsafe within the meaning of section

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/sweet-production-inc-578494-06172019
WARNING LETTER
Sweet Production Inc.
MARCS-CMS 578494 — Jun 17, 2019