Canada - Recall of Eclairs for Salmonella and Smoked Salmon for Listeria

Associated Grocers is recalling certain Celebrate brand frozen profiteroles and eclairs from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination.  This recall was triggered by findings from an investigation into a foodborne illness outbreak

 Delta Pacific Seafood Ltd. is recalling Western Family brand Original Wild Sockeye Smoked Salmon Nuggets from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.  This recall was triggered by the company [Internal testing?]

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2019-07-25/eng/1564102652457/1564102654776
Food Recall Warning - Certain Celebrate brand frozen profiteroles and eclairs recalled due to Salmonella

Kansas Spice Company Recalls Taco Seasoning After Notified by Ingredient Supplier of Potential Salmonella Contamination

Williams Foods issued a recall for their taco seasoning after their cumin supplier notified them that another cumin customer had tested and found Salmonella in a lot of cumin product, the same lot sold to Williams.

"These items contain cumin spice involved in a recall initiated by our supplier, Mincing Spice Co. Mincing has issued a recall for a specific lot of cumin they produced because a sample from that lot was tested by one of Mincing's customers and was found to be potentially contaminated with Salmonella. A portion of the lot recalled by Mincing was supplied to Williams Foods, LLC".

What were the supplier verification activities and now how does the company change them to reflect the increased risk?

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/williams-foods-llc-initiates-voluntary-recall-taco-seasoning-product-due-possible-presence
Williams Foods LLC Initiates a Voluntary Recall of Taco Seasoning Product Due to Possible Presence of Salmonella Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date: July 25, 2019
FDA Publish Date: July 25, 2019
Product Type:Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Due to possible presence of Salmonella contamination
Company Name: Williams Foods LLC
Brand Name:  Great Value, HEB
Product Description:  Taco Seasoning Products

TX Establishment Expands Recall of Hummus Product Due to Listeria

Pita Pal Foods, LP of Houston, TX has expanded their initial recall (posted on July 17) of  hummus products to add a month more of production dates, now made between May 15, 2019 through July 11, 2019...originally May 30 to June 25.   The recall is "due to concerns over Listeria monocytogenes, which was identified at the manufacturing facility (not in finished product) during an FDA inspection.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/pita-pal-foods-lp-recalls-various-hummus-and-dips-due-possible-health-risk-0
Pita Pal Foods, LP Recalls Various Hummus and Dips Due to Possible Health Risk

Ongoing Cyclospora Outbreak in Northeastern US....FDA Warns Fresh Basil May Be a Source.

Cyclospora, the single celled parasite has caused numerous cases of infection in the northeastern states.   Massachusetts is reporting over 100 cases since May and Virginia has had 39 cases and Maryland has had 42 according to the Washington Post (June 25).

FDA issued a warning for fresh basil in that it may be potentially related to the outbreak.  The exporting firm, Siga Logistics de RL de CV of Morelos, Mexico,  has agreed with the FDA to issue a recall of their product

Symptoms for this parasite include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and fatigue and can last from a few days to over a month.

Fresh raw produce is often the source with the parasite getting onto the produce through irrigating with contaminated water.  Like cilantro which has been the source food for Cyclospora, basil is a herb that is used fresh and must be more washed more gently in order to preserve leaf integrity.

The Packer
https://www.thepacker.com/article/northeastern-cyclospora-outbreak-source-investigated
Northeastern cyclospora outbreak source investigated 
Chris Koger
July 25, 2019 11:24 AM

Alabama Facility Issues Recall Due to Employee Injury Leading to Possible Human Blood Contamination of Raw Meat Products

US Foods, a Birmingham, AL, establishment, is recalling approximately 712 pounds of raw beef and pork products that may be adulterated due to possible product contamination after it was discovered by the facility that an employee may have cut himself during production (potential for bloodborne pathogens).  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-076-2019-release
US Foods Recalls Raw Beef and Pork Products Due to Possible Product Contamination 
Class I Recall 
076-2019 
Health Risk: High 
Jul 20, 2019 

Milk form NE PA Creamery May Be Linked to 17 Confirmed Yersinia Infections

Pennsylvania Dept of Health released a health advisory for those who may have purchased milk from Creamworks Creamery in Waymart, PA (Wayne County) because the product may contain  Yersinia enterocolitica, a food borne bacterial pathogen.   Product from this establishment may be linked to 17 laboratory-confirmed illnesses caused by Yersinia enterocolitica.

Y. enterocolitica

• Gram negative, short rods
• Can grow at refrigeration temperatures and has been an issue in products such as pasteurized whole milk and tofu.  Commonly found in pork and can be an issue in undercooked pork.
• Heat sensitive, so easily eliminated by proper pasteurization.  Poor sanitation and improper sterilization techniques by food handlers, including improper storage, may be a source of contamination.  
• Has a high infectious dose (>10E4 cu), so a small level of contamination would need time for growth.
• It causes fever, diarrhea and abdominal pain, which is often mistaken as a appendicitis.  It may also lead to some autoimmune complications.
• Symptoms develop after 4 to 7 days and may last 1 to 3 weeks.
• Cases of infection are fairly rare in the US.

In this outbreak, a good bet would be post-process contamination with time between the contamination event and consumption to allow for growth.  The dairy makes, pasteurizes, and bottles their own milk and that milk is sold  there onsite or through local retailers.

Pennsylvania Dept of Health News Release
https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Health-Details.aspx?newsid=626

07/19/2019

Department of Health Warns Residents Not to Consume Milk from Wayne County Dairy, Harmful Bacteria May Be Present

Egg Salad and Similar Salad Items Recalled After Sampled Product Tests Positive for Listeria

A Tennessee food establishment, Elevation Foods, is recalling containers of Archer Farms-brand egg salad; Freskëtbrand egg salad, tuna salad, and Thai lobster salad; and Archer Farms-brand deviled egg sandwiches produced on June 18, 2019 after testing by Florida Dept of Ag found  positive Listeria monocytogenes in 3 samples.  The state shelf life dates on the product vary, but are generally about 6 weeks, plenty of time for growth of Listeria at refrigerated temperatures.  (6 week old egg salad or tuna salad sounds less than desirable.)

It will be interesting to see if additional lot codes are recalled.  Having 3 positives in a given sampling could mean a more serious issue and with that, more additional date codes may need to be recalled.   While no illnesses have been reported, whole genome sequencing may unveil some linkage, hopefully not.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/elevation-foods-recalls-packaged-egg-salad-tuna-salad-thai-lobster-salad-and-archer-farms-deviled
Elevation Foods Recalls Packaged Egg Salad, Tuna Salad, Thai Lobster Salad, and Archer Farms Deviled Egg Sandwiches Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: July 19, 2019
FDA Publish Date: July 19, 2019
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Elevation Foods, LLC
Brand Name:  Archer Farms, Freskët
Product Description:  egg salad, tuna salad, Thai lobster salad, and deviled egg sandwiches

This Week in Mislabeled Products for Week Ending July 20, 2019

Breaded Chicken Labeled as Unbreaded Creates Allergen Issue - Koch Foods, a Fairfield, Ohio establishment, is recalling approximately 743 pounds of fully cooked boneless chicken bites due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the products contain soy, milk, and eggs, known allergens, which are not declared on the product label.  The problem was discovered when the firm received a customer complaint reporting that the product was incorrectly labeled.  The 'frozen, fully cooked breaded boneless chicken bites' were labeled as 'fully cooked chicken strips' (unbreaded) and were produced on May 31, 2019

Fish Cakes Have Undeclared Allergens - Wismettac Asian Foods, Inc., Santa Fe Springs, CA is issuing a voluntary recall for eight (8) types of Shirakiku brand imported fish cake products because of the possible contamination of some allergens (Milk, Egg and Crustacean shellfish).  The recall was discovered through testing conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency discovered the presence of the listed allergens that were not listed on the product label. The manufacturer in Kagoshima, Japan has been made aware of the issue and is conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the issue so corrections can be implemented.

Missing Wheat in Marinade - Fieldsource Food Systems, Inc., a Brea, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 12,953 pounds of diced beef and chicken products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens - the products contain wheat, an allergen, which is not declared on the product label.  The problem was discovered during routine label verifications being performed by FSIS.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-075-2019-release
Koch Foods Recalls Breaded Poultry Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens 
Class I
Recall  075-2019 
Health Risk: High 
Jul 18, 2019

CDC Report - 2017 Norovirus Outbreak Highlights the Need for Facility Controls

In CDC MMWR, a report discusses an outbreak of Norovirus that occurred at an Nebraska Event Center in 2017.  This outbreak continued for over two weeks with 159 people suffering from norovirus infection (three confirmed and 156 probable).  In the period of  the outbreak, October 27–November 18, 2017, nine events were held at the facility.  Two issues were cited...improper decontamination of facilities after the onsite of initial illness at the facility and then allowing people to come back to work too soon after being ill.

"The investigation revealed a public vomiting episode at the facility on October 27 and at least one employee involved with preparing and serving food who returned to work <24 hours after symptom resolution, suggesting that a combination of contaminated environmental surfaces and infected food handlers likely sustained the outbreak."

Norovirus is an issue in these settings when someone has become ill because:

1. The virus is highly contagious, requiring only a small amount of virus to be present in order to cause illness (infectious dose capable of causing infection with as few as 18–2,800 virus particles) 
2. Infected people shed a large numbers of virus particles, even those with asymptomatic infections. 
3. Norovirus is resistant to many common commercial disinfectants and is able to persist on environmental surfaces for up to 2 weeks or longer.

Strict controls are needed when someone onsite becomes ill.  The area must be completely disinfected and anyone exposed must be excluded from the workplace.

CDC MMWR
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6828a2.htm
Successive Norovirus Outbreaks at an Event Center — Nebraska, October–November, 2017
Weekly / July 19, 2019 / 68(28);627–630
Rebecca J. Free, MD1,2; Bryan F. Buss, DVM2,3; Samir Koirala, MBBS2; Monica Ulses4; Anna Carlson, PhD2; Brianna Loeck, MPH2; Tom Safranek, MD2 (View author affiliations)