This Week in Mislabeled Product for Week Ending October 19, 2019

More Dried Fruit Recalled Due to Sulfites - Peekay International Inc. 56 12 56th Street, Maspeth, NY is recalling its 7 ounce and 14 ounce packages of “KESHAV Dry Apricot” food treats because they contained undeclared sulfites. The recall was initiated after routine sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspectors and subsequent analysis by Food Laboratory personnel revealed the presence of sulfites in the 14 ounce packages of “KESHAV Dry Apricot” which were not declared on the label.

Fish Missed as Part of Furikake Seasoning - Samurai, Inc. of Honolulu, Hawaii is conducting a voluntary recall on 16,660 packages of Furikake Popcorn, because it may contain undeclared Fish.   The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product containing fish was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of the allergen. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a breakdown in the company's Food Safety Allergen Control Program.  ("Furikake  is a dry Japanese seasoning meant to be sprinkled on top of cooked rice, vegetables, and fish. It typically consists of a mixture of dried fish, sesame seeds, chopped seaweed, sugar, salt, and monosodium glutamate - Wikipedia)

Natural Pork Casings Used, But Not Listed -  YOUBITE, LLC, a Camarillo, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 7,197 pounds of raw and ready-to-eat, pork sausage and turkey sausage products that contain either natural sheep or natural pork casings that were not declared on the product label,  The problem was discovered by FSIS during routine inspection activities.  There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

Seafood Company Expands Recall for Frozen Tuna Due to Histamine Levels

A Florida distributor of frozen tuna is expanding its October 2nd recall to include two additional weeks of production.  Initially, the recall included all product from 04/2/19 thru 5/14/19, but now have expanded that recall from 4/1/19 thru 5/31/19.  The initial recall started after there were 4 cases of scombroid poisoning which is a reaction to high histamine levels in the product.  No reason was stated on why the recall was expanded.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/mical-seafood-inc-voluntarily-expands-tuna-recall-possible-scombroid-poisoning
Mical Seafood Inc. Voluntarily Expands Tuna Recall for Possible Scombroid Poisoning
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 10, 2019
FDA Publish Date:  October 15, 2019
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Fish
Reason for Announcement:  Elevated levels of histamine
Company Name:  Mical Seafood, Inc.
Brand Name:  Mical Seafood
Product Description:  Yellowfin Tuna loins, poke, steaks, ground meat and saku

Ukraine - Massive Salmonella Outbreak at Wedding

With much on Ukraine in our national news, why not a Ukrainian food safety news story.  This comes to us from our friend Volodymyr Gerainmovych.

Close to 130 people came down with salmonellosis after attending a wedding in a western Ukrainian village.  Many of the ill were children.  From testing, it appears that the Salmonella strain was in many of the foods served, thus indicating heavy cross contamination in the food preparation area.  And many of the other foods had other types of bacterial contamination.
Toasting with vodka , no matter how many shots, will not help.

UNN
https://www.unn.com.ua/uk/news/1828623-masove-otruyennya-na-vesilli-na-bukovini-zakhvorilo-mayzhe-130-osib
Mass poisoning at a wedding in Bukovina: nearly 130 people fell ill

KIEV. October 7. UNN. After eating at a wedding in the village of Putyla, Bukovina poisoned 129 people, including 36 children. This UNN reported referring to the Chernivtsi Regional Laboratory Center MoH.

Britain - Man Dies After Eating Really Hot Fish Cake

In Britain, a man died after eating an overly hot fish cake that later caused his throat to swell to a point where he couldn't breath, resulting in death from asphyxiation.


Fox News
https://www.foxnews.com/health/british-man-dies-fish-cake
Man died after 'very hot' fish cake burned his throat so badly he couldn’t breathe: report
By Madeline Farber | Fox News

10/10/19

A new report says a 51-year-old British wedding planner died earlier this year after he reportedly ate a fish cake so hot it burned his throat, causing swelling to his airways that ultimately impeded his breathing.

This Week in Allergen Related Recalls for Week Ending October 12, 2019

Mislabeled Shrimp Product - Fisherman’s Pride Processors Inc. of Vernon, CA is recalling 100 bags of Schwan’s Brand “Garlic Herb Shrimp” with date code 4A924608xx-B1 due to undeclared milk and soy.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that Schwan’s Garlic Herb Shrimp #567 was found in cases labeled Schwan’s Shrimp Scampi #530. Subsequent investigation found packaging of Schwan’s Garlic Herb Shrimp #567 was used to package Schwan’s Shrimp Scampi #530.

Labeling Misses Nuts - California New Foods has expanded its voluntary recall of frozen cookie dough products due to a lack of labeling that addresses the potential for the products to contain peanut and walnut allergens.

Missing Milk and Egg on Label - Four Whole Foods Market stores in the Midwest region are voluntarily recalling White Parkerhouse Rolls because they may contain undeclared milk and egg

Marinated Feta and Olives Recalled Due to Temperature Abuse

UNFI, a food distributor, is recalling packages of olives after discovering they may have been temperature abused during distribution or storage.  They state it may be a Clostridium botulinum risk.

UNFI is voluntarily recalling cases of Arla Apetina Marinated Feta & Olives in Oil, Pitted distributed by UNFI. The product requires refrigeration to ensure food safety and we have learned that some product distributed to retail customers from 2 UNFI distribution centers may have been exposed to temperatures above refrigeration during storage and/or distribution by UNFI’S customers. Extended exposure to above-refrigerated temperatures may allow growth of bacteria such as Clostridium Botulinum to reach unsafe levels, which if consumed can cause life-threatening illness or death. Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled. 

Generally, refrigerated packaged products like this will have a secondary barrier to Clostridium botulinum growth in addition to Clostridium botulinum, often times acidification as part of the marination process.  So this is surprising to see.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/unfi-voluntarily-recalls-arla-apetina-marinated-feta-olives-oil-pitted-because-possible-health-risk
UNFI Voluntarily Recalls Arla Apetina Marinated Feta & Olives in Oil, Pitted Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: October 10, 2019
FDA Publish Date: October 10, 2019
Product Type: Food & Beverages Fruit/Fruit Product
Reason for Announcement: Potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum
Company Name: UNFI
Brand Name: Arla
Product Description: Apetina Marinated Feta & Olives in Oil, Pitted

Ice Cream Recalled After Complaint of Plastic Tool Piece in Product

Blue Bell Ice Cream is recalling one specific lot of half gallon Butter Crunch Ice Cream produced on a specific line on August 26, 2019 in its Sylacauga, AL plant after being notified by a consumer of the presence of a piece of a plastic tool in a half gallon of Butter Crunch Ice Cream. "The company investigation revealed the broken tool was inadvertently incorporated into the production process in a small amount of product."

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/blue-bell-ice-cream-recalls-select-lot-butter-crunch-half-gallons-possible-foreign-object
Blue Bell Ice Cream Recalls a Select Lot of Butter Crunch Half Gallons for Possible Foreign Object
Summary
Company Announcement Date: October 08, 2019
FDA Publish Date: October 09, 2019
Product Type: Food & Beverages Ice Cream/Frozen Dairy
Reason for Announcement: Foreign object
Company Name: Blue Bell Ice Cream
Brand Name: Blue Bell
Product Description: Butter Crunch Ice Cream

CDC Report: Tuberculosis in Deer Can Be Transmitted to Hunters During Field Dressing

A CDC report reviews a case of pulmonary tuberculosis in an elderly man that was linked to wild deer.  It serves as a reminder to deer hunters to take this into consideration as they field dress their deer.

Penn State Extension has a guide for safely field dressing your deer.

Penn Live
https://www.pennlive.com/life/2019/09/deer-can-transmit-tuberculosis-to-hunters-warns-cdc.html
Deer can transmit tuberculosis to hunters, warns CDC
Posted Sep 26, 2019
By Marcus Schneck | mschneck@pennlive.com 

A 77-year-old Michigan hunter apparently contracted tuberculosis from an infected wild deer that he killed and field-dressed, providing further evidence that deer with TB can transmit the disease to humans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

RTE Chicken Processor Reissues Recall to Retail Delis for Product Potentially Tainted with Listeria

Tip Top Poultry reissued their recall of RTE frozen cooked, diced or shredded chicken products to notify that retailers may have purchased this product and used it for chicken salad sold in various store delis and foodservice operations.  Stores include Food Lion, IGA, Harris Teeter, Piggly Wiggly, Giant, Aldi, Kroger, as well as others   The initial recall was issued on September 28, 2019.

Another sandwich processor, Jumbo Foods Inc. of Mukilteo, WA issued a recall of its Tuscan Sun (TS) brand chicken salad sandwiches.  Jumbo Foods Inc began shipping these frozen or refrigerated sandwiches products between March 11, 2019 and September 27, 2019. Frozen sandwiches have no sell by or use by date printed on packages and have 8 months shelf life.  (mmm...what's more tasty than an 8 month old frozen chicken salad sandwich).

The issue began in August when the Canadian Food Inspection Agency investigated an outbreak in Canada where 7 people became infected. The CFIA then linked the outbreak to this GA establishment.

In terms of supplier control of a RTE item which would be considered high risk, some state that it should be sufficient for control that a supplier is operating under USDA inspected and that the product is stamped as such.  This is a great example why that in of itself may not be enough.

Next step will be to determine whether this product sold in the US has resulted in any Listeria cases.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-094-2019-release
Tip Top Poultry, Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Poultry Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination
Class I Recall
094-2019
Health Risk: High
Sep 28, 2019