FDA Releases 2019 Testing Report for Yuma AZ Leafy Greens - No Pathogenic E.coli Found

FDA released the results of 2019 sampling of lettuce from the Yuma AZ region, which was the site of the 2018 E. coli outbreak (where over 200 become ill from eating contaminated Romaine lettuce).   In the 2019 sampling which began in mid-December of 2018, FDA "collected and tested 118 samples for each pathogen, with STEC and Salmonella spp. selected because they are the two pathogens most closely associated with leafy vegetables.[2], [3] Each sample consisted of 10 subsamples, and each subsample consisted of one head or two hearts (i.e., the center leaves) of romaine. The FDA did not detect any STEC of concern to human health, though it did find one non-pathogenic STEC strain. The FDA did not detect Salmonella spp. in any of the samples."

"The findings of this assignment suggest that there was no widespread Salmonella or STEC contamination of romaine lettuce from the Yuma growing region during the period when sampling occurred. As a next step, the FDA is working with leafy green stakeholders in the Yuma region to consider a longer-term environmental study to identify and control risks that will prevent future outbreaks, with the ultimate goal of protecting consumers."

https://www.fda.gov/food/sampling-protect-food-supply/microbiological-surveillance-sampling-fy19-romaine-lettuce-commercial-coolers-yuma-arizona
Microbiological Surveillance Sampling: FY19 Romaine Lettuce at Commercial Coolers in Yuma, Arizona

Content current as of:  08/14/2019 

Company Recalls Cooked Poultry Products After Complaint Indicating Potential Undercooking

Taylor Farms Inc., a Chicago, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 342 pounds of breaded chicken products due to a processing defect that may have led to undercooking of products.  The problem was discovered when the recalling firm notified FSIS of a consumer complaint, however 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-083-2019-release
Taylor Farms Illinois Inc. Recalls Chicken Products due to Possible Processing Defect
Class I Recall
083-2019
Health Risk: High
Aug 9, 2019

Bagged Spinach Recalled After Positive Salmonella Test

Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. is  recalling a limited number of cases of baby spinach after a sample of Baby Spinach which yielded a positive result for Salmonella in a random sample test conducted by the Department of Agriculture in Michigan. At the time of recall notification, all product had already passed the expiration date. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/dole-fresh-vegetables-announces-precautionary-limited-recall-baby-spinach
Dole Fresh Vegetables Announces Precautionary Limited Recall of Baby Spinach
Summary
Company Announcement Date: August 09, 2019
FDA Publish Date:  August 09, 2019
Product Type:  Food & Beverages   Produce
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Salmonella contamination
Company Name:  Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc.
Brand Name:  Dole
Product Description:  Baby Spinach

PA Woman Who Relieved Herself in Store on a Bin of Potatoes Gets Off Easy

A 20 year old woman turned herself in to police after she was nabbed urinating on potatoes in Walmart.  She will be charged with “criminal mischief, open lewdness, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.”  I think that is a bit too light on the charges.

NY Post
https://nypost.com/2019/07/30/police-pop-woman-who-peed-on-potatoes-in-walmart/
Police pop woman who peed on potatoes in Walmart 
By Hannah Frishberg
7/30/2019

This Week in Mislabeled Products for Week Ending August 3, 2019

Allergens in Sub-ingredients Missed on Label - Ruleau Brothers Inc. of Stephenson, MI, is recalling its 8 ounce containers of "Door County Whitefish Smoked Whitefish Pate" because they may contain undeclared allergens of Egg, Soy, and Anchovies.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered during an FDA inspection conducted under contract by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development that the product’s labeling did not fully list all ingredients and sub-ingredients contained in the product. Some of these missing ingredients and sub-ingredients contained the allergens of Anchovy, Egg, and Soy.

Peanuts in the Chocolate Chip Cookies - JuJu Bakes, LLC, DBA The Cookie Dough Cafe of Bloomington, IL is recalling 15 cases of 1.6 ounce Chocolate Chip Chilled Gourmet Edible Cookie Dough Bars, because they may contain peanuts.  Allergen issue was found after an employee tasted peanut butter in a bar labeled chocolate chip. The employee sampling the item did not have a peanut allergy and did not experience a reaction. Her observation led to the recall of Lot #19177. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the company's production and packaging processes.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/ruleau-brothers-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-eggs-soy-and-anchovies-door-county-whitefish-smoked
Ruleau Brothers Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Eggs, Soy, and Anchovies in "Door County Whitefish Smoked Whitefish Pate"

Soft Baked Cookies Recalled Due to Plastic Pieces Generated From Packaging Process

Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc. is recalling Entenmann’s Little Bites Soft Baked Cookies (5 pack Mini Chocolate Chip variety) due to the potential presence of visible, blue plastic pieces in the individual packaging pouch. The plastic is not baked into the product since it was introduced during the packaging process. [so the plastic was generated by the packaging equipment / process.]
The company announced the recall after receiving consumer reports of visible, blue plastic pieces found on or packaged with the product. There are no reports of injury to date.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/bimbo-bakeries-usa-voluntary-recall-entenmanns-little-bites-cookies-due-potential-presence-plastic
Bimbo Bakeries USA Voluntary Recall of Entenmann’s Little Bites Cookies Due to Potential Presence of Plastic Pieces
When a company announces a recall, market withdrawal, or safety alert, the FDA posts the company's announcement as a public service. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.
Summary
Company Announcement Date: August 01, 2019
FDA Publish Date:August 01, 2019
Product Type:Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Due to the potential presence of visible, blue plastic pieces
Company Name:Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc.
Brand Name: Entenmann’s
Product Description:  Soft Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies

Report on Listeria Sampling in Produce at Retail

Consumer Reports conducted tests of leafy greens from supermarkets and found Listeria in 6 of 284 samples. Do you stop buying leafy greens - No, the risk is extremely low.

Listeria is a common environmental microorganism and while certain strains can be pathogenic if present in sufficient number and are exposed to high risk populations, there has not been outbreaks from fresh leafy greens eaten as such. In this report, really only one of the sample organisms was deemed as pathogenic, but the level of organism present would not likely to be sufficient to cause an issue.

That said, the produce industry has been working to ensure the risk is minimized through basic GMPs and sanitation.  However, more work is needed to improve risk reduction of this organism in food operations including fresh produce.  More research is needed to better understand this organism in food operations as well as in retail operations.

Consumer Reports
https://www.consumerreports.org/food-safety/leafy-greens-with-listeria-sold-at-major-supermarkets/
Leafy Greens With Listeria Sold at Major Supermarkets
Consumer Reports found the bacteria in prewashed and unbagged products. Here's how to stay safe when eating greens.
By Trisha Calvo
July 26, 2019

Color Additive Regulations Amended to Allow Use of Soy Leghemoglobin in Fake Burgers (Veggie Patties)

FDA agreed to amend the color additive regulations to allow "for the safe use of soy leghemoglobin as a color additive in ground beef analogue products".  Soy leghemoglobin is the substance that gives the Impossible Burger its color and meat like flavor.

Leghemoglobin is a heme containing protein found in plants,  Heme is an iron-containing molecule that is found in animals, such as in hemoglobin and myoglobin.  This soy based heme is actually produced through the use of genetically modified yeast, so that it can produce via fermentation in large batches.

Food Safety Magazine
https://www.foodsafetymagazine.com/news/fda-approves-color-additive-in-food-after-impossible-burger-petition/
NEWS | August 1, 201
FDA Approves Color Additive in Food After Impossible Burger Petition

Processing Issue Results in Recall of Canned Meat Product

Conagra Brands, Inc., a Milton, Pa. establishment, is recalling approximately 32,400 pounds of canned beef products,  a single date lot of BEEFY MAC PASTA IN TOMATO & MEAT SAUCE, due to a potential processing defect, resulting in the potential survival of bacterial pathogens in the products,  The problem was discovered by the establishment on July 27, 2019 during routine activities.

One would guess the processing defect resulted in a potential under processing situation.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-081-2019-release
Conagra Brands, Inc. Recalls Canned Beef Products Due to Possible Processing Defect
Class II Recall 081-2019
Health Risk: Low Jul 31, 2019