FDA Warning Letter - Another Bakery Unaware of the Need to Comply with Preventive Controls Regulation

FDA issued a Warning Letter to a bakery / central kitchen in Alabama.  The bakery had no Preventive Control Plan, and with that, had no controls for hazards one would expect in that type of operation.  Additionally, they had GMP issues, primarily filth insects, facility issues, and sanitation issues.  Finally, there were labeling issues including not properly identifying allergens.

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/pollmans-bake-shops-inc-586422-10092019
WARNING LETTER
Pollman's Bake Shops, Inc. 
MARCS-CMS 586422 — October 09, 2019

Florida Establishment Recalls Raw Beef Product After Positive E. coli Test Results

Pride of Florida, a Raiford, Fla. establishment, is recalling approximately 64,797 pounds of raw beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The raw ground beef items were produced on various dates from Sept. 23, 2019 to Oct. 10, 2019. "The problem was discovered when the firm was notified by their third-party laboratory that a sample was positive for E. coli O157:H7, but the products associated with the sample had already been shipped into commerce. 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-101-2019-release
Pride of Florida Recalls Beef Products due to Possible E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination
Class I Recall
101-2019
Health Risk: High
Oct 18, 2019

Egg Rolls Recalled for Being Produced Under Unsanitary Conditions, Recall Then Expanded

A St. Louis establishment is recalling 126,000 lbs of egg roll products for being produced under unsanitary conditions. The problem was discovered while FSIS was conducting routine food inspection activities.  Product was shipped to institutional locations in Georgia and Missouri.

On 10/25, a week after initial recall, the recall was expanded from 118,00 to 126,000 lbs.

Additional information was difficult to find on the types of conditions inspectors found. In fact, it was difficult to find any information on the company outside of an address in St. Louis that was in the back of some older building complex with no signage posted.

Makes you wonder how one selects this company to supply product.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-100-2019-release
T & R Enterprise USA Inc. Recalls Meat and Poultry Products Due to Insanitary Conditions
Class I Recall
100-2019
Health Risk: High
Oct 18, 2019

Sausage Patties Recalled Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

George’s Prepared Foods, a Caryville, Tenn. establishment, is recalling approximately 6,444 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) pork sausage patty and turkey sausage patty products that may be contaminated with Salmonella.  The problem was discovered when the firm notified FSIS that the firm’s third-party cold storage facility had inadvertently shipped the ready-to-eat products to commerce.

So one could guess that the product had been placed on hold and then was accidently shipped?

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-102-2019-release
George's Prepared Foods Recalls Ready-To-Eat Pork and Turkey Products due to Possible Salmonella Contamination
Class I Recall
102-2019
Health Risk: High
Oct 18, 2019

Imported Meat from Canada Recalled Due to Potential Pathogenic E. coli Contamination

The USDA FSIS issued a public health alert for raw non-intact beef products derived from imported beef from Ontario, Canada that has been recalled by Ryding-Regency Meat Packers, Ltd. because it may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

"The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is conducting a food safety investigation and determined that certain products produced by the company may be contaminated. While Canada is the recalling authority, FSIS is amplifying the recall through this public health alert."

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/news-releases-statements-transcripts/news-release-archives-by-year/archive/2019/pha-101619-01
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Beef Products due to Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination

Ohio Meat Establishment Recalls Taco Bell Meat After 3 Complaints of Foreign Material, Metal

Kenosha Beef International, a Columbus, Ohio establishment, is recalling an undetermined amount of Taco Bell seasoned beef products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically metal shavings.  The problem was discovered when the firm notified FSIS on Oct. 12, 2019, that it received three customer complaints.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-097-2019-release
Kenosha Beef International Recalls Seasoned Beef Products due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
Class I Recall
097-2019
Health Risk: High
Oct 14, 2019

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.