More Tahina Recalled After Michigan Ag Finds Salmonella in Product

A Michigan company is recalling tahina (tahini) after the Michigan Dept of Ag tested and found product positive for Salmonella.  No illnesses have been reported.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/five-star-food-recalls-sham-gardens-excellent-tahina-because-possible-health-risk
Five Star Food Recalls Sham Gardens Excellent Tahina Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: January 15, 2020 

FDA Publish Date: January 21, 2020 

Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:Foodborne Illness  Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella
Company Name: Five Star Food Inc. 

Brand Name: Sham Gardens
Product Description:  Tahina

Michigan Processor Agrees to Stop Production After Unable to Control Listeria

A Michigan food processor agreed to suspend operations after years of not being able to get compliant with regulation.   Home Style Foods of  Hamtramck, MI, a manufacturer of ready-to-eat seafood and deli salads, failed to get take sufficient corrective actions to get their Listeria monocytognes issues under control.  From the notice:

"According to the complaint filed with the consent decree, the FDA inspected the facility seven times between May 2009 and June 2018. During each inspection, the FDA investigators observed significant objectionable conditions. The FDA also found L. mono in the facility in two of the inspections, including the most recent inspection. The company was issued an FDA Form 483 after each of the seven inspections, was issued a warning letter in April 2016 and the company attended a regulatory meeting with the FDA in January 2017. The defendants repeatedly promised to take corrective actions to address the objectionable conditions. However, the FDA’s June 2018 inspection showed that the defendants have failed to take effective measures to bring Home Style Foods’ ready-to-eat food processing operations into compliance with the law."

FDA News Release
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/michigan-based-food-manufacturer-agrees-stop-production-after-repeated-food-safety-violations
Michigan-based food manufacturer agrees to stop production after repeated food safety violations
For Immediate Release:January 13, 2020

Sandwich Recall for Listeria Expanded

Lipari Foods expanded their recall of Premo and Fresh Grab sandwiches due to the potential for Listeria monocytogenes.  The recall comes after the supplier of those sandwiches, JLM Manufacturing expanded their recall.  The recall was initially made after environmental sampling returned a positive test result for Listeria monocytogenes.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lipari-foods-issues-voluntary-recall-expansion-additional-sandwiches-due-potential-contamination
Lipari Foods Issues Voluntary Recall Expansion on Additional Sandwiches Due to Potential Contamination of Listeria Monocytogenes
Summary
Company Announcement Date: January 13, 2020
FDA Publish Date: January 13, 2020
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name: Lipari Foods, LLC
Brand Name:  Premo,& Fresh Grab
Product Description:  Sandwiches

FDA Warning Letter to RTE Salad Processor

FDA issued a Warning Letter to a RTE Salad company after FDA's inspection found Listeria in the processing environment.  Accordingly, FDA's Warning Letter states that the facility's Preventive Control plan is not adequate.  They  did "not identify and implement a preventive control adequate to significantly minimize or prevent the hazard of the environmental pathogen L. monocytogenes from contaminating RTE produce in your facility".  Further, "did not implement your preventive control to prevent cross-contamination during washing. "

The validation of their process was also off the mark.   The facility "did not properly validate your preventive control for the use of (b)(4) to prevent cross-contamination. The study presented by your firm is titled “EPA Food Contact Sanitizer Test for Previously Cleaned Food Contact Surfaces (AOAC Germicidal and Detergent Sanitizing Action of Disinfectant) against Salmonella choleraesuis and Listeria monocytogenes.” That study pertains to food contact surfaces and was not designed to validate, nor is it adequate to validate, the antimicrobial efficacy of peracetic acid against pathogen cross-contamination during the produce washing process."

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/country-fresh-inc-591206-12122019
FDA WARNING LETTER
Country Fresh Inc.
MARCS-CMS 591206 — December 12, 2019

E.coli Outbreaks Linked to Salinas Romaine Declared Over, Investigation Continues

The FDA is lifting the consumer advisory to avoid romaine lettuce from Salinas growing region.  This is both E.coli outbreaks, one for the Romaine lettuce outbreak as well as the chopped Salad Kits.

"The FDA and CDC have been tracking two multi-state romaine lettuce outbreaks. Today, federal health officials are declaring both multi-state romaine lettuce outbreaks over. One of the outbreaks sickened 167 people in 27 states. The other outbreak, linked to Fresh Express salad kits, sickened 10 people in five states."

However, little has been determined on how the contamination events occurred.   The investigation continues.


https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-romaine-salinas-california-november-2019
Outbreak Investigation of E. coli: Romaine from Salinas, California (November 2019)
Outbreak appears over; FDA investigation efforts continue

January 15, 2020

Recommendation

As of January 15, 2020, the CDC reports that the outbreak appears to be over. Contaminated romaine from the Salinas, CA growing region that made people sick in this outbreak is likely no longer available. Consumers need not avoid romaine lettuce, or any other produce, from the Salinas, CA growing area.

Case Counts

Total Illnesses: 167

 Hospitalizations: 85

 Deaths: 0

 Last illness onset: December 21, 2019

 States with Cases:  AZ (4), CA (8), CO (6), DE (1), FL (4), IA (1), ID (4), IL (15), MD (5), MI (2), MN (7), MT (1), NE (2), NJ (9), NC (3), NM (2), NY (3), OH (12), OR (1), PA (21), SC (1), SD (1), TN (1), TX (6), VA (6), WA (6), WI (35)

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-salad-mix-december-2019
Outbreak Investigation of E. coli: Salad Mix (December 2019)
Outbreak linked to Fresh Express brand Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kits appears over
January 15, 2020

Recommendation

As of January 15, 2020, the CDC reports that the outbreak appears to be over.
Contaminated Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped salad kits that made people sick in this outbreak are likely no longer available on the market.

BPA Substitute in BPA-free Containers May Have Similar Concerns

A study out of the University of Guelph shows that a BPA-replacement chemical used in food packaging, named BPS or Bisphenol S may have similar effects to BPA.

BPA is a chemical used in plastic package manufacturing and there has been scrutiny of this chemical and its impact on health.  BPA has been eliminated from plastic used for baby bottle manufacturing.
"Because of the concern about its potential toxicity in humans, BPA is increasingly replaced by structurally similar chemicals, in particular bisphenol F (BPF) (4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl-methane) and bisphenol S (BPS) (4,4′-sulfonylbisphenol), in the manufacturing of polycarbonates and epoxy resins."  However, surveys of urinary levels show that BPS is almost ubiquitous. {Lehmler, etal 2018] 

So BPA-free may not be much different than containers with BPA for those looking to avoid the packaging additive.

https://news.uoguelph.ca/2020/01/bpa-replacement-hinders-heart-function-u-of-g-study-reveals/
BPA Replacement Hinders Heart Function, U of G Study Reveals
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
BPA’s counterpart replacement BPS can hinder heart function within minutes of a single exposure, according to a new University of Guelph study.

MSG Added to Popular Chicken Sandwiches

The fast food chains are battling it out on the chicken sandwich front, and with news that McDonald is testing a new chicken sandwich, it was revealed that the top chicken sandwiches (Chick-fil-a and Popeyes) are using MSG - monosodium glutamate - as a flavor enhancer. Over the past years, MSG has garnered a bad reputation for causing headaches in people who are sensitive. It is also said to trigger migraines, those intense throbbing headaches that can last a day or so.

Many companies have removed MSG from their product labels years ago (although replaced by natural substitutes actually containing MSG), so it is surprising to find MSG in these popular chicken sandwiches.

MSG is naturally present in many foods and as an ingredient, it adds savory flavor or 'umami'. "Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of the common amino acid glutamic acid. Glutamic acid is naturally present in our bodies, and in many foods and food additives"

FDA considers the addition of MSG to foods to be “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS). Although many people identify themselves as sensitive to MSG, in studies with such individuals given MSG or a placebo, scientists have not been able to consistently trigger reactions."

"FDA requires that foods containing added MSG list it in the ingredient panel on the packaging as monosodium glutamate. However, MSG occurs naturally in ingredients such as hydrolyzed vegetable protein, autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed yeast, yeast extract, soy extracts, and protein isolate, as well as in tomatoes and cheeses. While FDA requires that these products be listed on the ingredient panel, the agency does not require the label to also specify that they naturally contain MSG. However, foods with any ingredient that naturally contains MSG cannot claim “No MSG” or “No added MSG” on their packaging. MSG also cannot be listed as “spices and flavoring.”

Meatingplace

https://www.meatingplace.com/Industry/News/Details/89734
Industry News - PM
Chicken sandwich wars may heat up as McDonald’s tests MSG
By Chris Scott on 1/14/2020

The ongoing tests of fried-chicken sandwiches by McDonald’s Corp. reportedly are being conducted with a flavor enhancer the fast-food giant does not use in its other food items: monosodium glutamate, more commonly known as MSG.

FDA Warning Letter for Importer Negligent of Having a FSVP Program for Layered Omelets

FDA issued a Warning Letter to an importer who was not in compliance with FSVP (Foreign Supplier Verification Program) for the frozen baked eggs/atsuyaki tamago manufactured by Ahjikan Co., LTD. (Shizuoka Factory), Japan.   The firm did not have a FSVP for this product.

The FSVP regulation requires that importers perform certain risk‐based activities  to verify that human and/or animal food they import into the United States has been produced in a manner that meets applicable U.S. food safety standards.   More specifically, the company should have performed a hazard analysis on the frozen atsuyaki tamago product (a traditional Japanese multi-layered omelet).

So what hazards would one need to consider.  First, Salmonella if the product was not properly cooked.  Then, Listeria contamination would be a hazard to consider for potential cross contamination in the post-process environment.  Depending on what else the facility processed, allergens may also be a hazard requiring control.

WARNING LETTER
Kohyo America, Inc.
MARCS-CMS 593593 — December 23, 2019

This Week in Mislabeled Products for Week Ending January 11, 2020

Rookie Error - Missing the Anchovies in the Worcestershire Sauce - Carso’s Pasta Company, a Lynnwood, Wash. establishment, sold 636 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) Swedish meatball products that were misbranded. The products contain anchovies (fish), which are not declared on the product label. A recall was not requested because it is believed that the products are no longer available for consumers to purchase. The problem was discovered by FSIS during routine label verification activities.

Supplier Cross Contact Issue Results in Undeclared Dairy - Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams has initiated a voluntary recall of three batches of Cold Brew with Coconut Cream Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert pints because they may contain an undeclared milk allergen. The recall was initiated following receipt of a single customer complaint of an allergic reaction. From the Recall Notice..."We have isolated the issue to the sorbet swirl in the flavor. Our investigation is ongoing, but we strongly suspect that a dry ingredient, used only in this flavor, came into contact with dairy powder as the dry ingredient was being produced for us in a partner’s facility.”

Wrong Package Results in Missed Walnut Allergen - Purely Elizabeth is initiating a voluntary recall of their Chocolate Sea Salt Probiotic granola due to a mislabeling error that has resulted in an undeclared allergen (walnuts) being present. This recall has been initiated because it has come to their attention that briefly during production, pouches of Chocolate Sea Salt Probiotic Granola were used to package Maple Walnut Probiotic Granola. All mislabeled pouches of granola were packed into master cases labeled as 8oz Maple Walnut Probiotic Granola.

Wrong Label on Hearing in Cream Sauce - Ducktrap River of Maine of Belfast, Maine is announcing a voluntary recall of Herring Center Cuts in Wine Sauce identified with sell by date Jul 29, 2020 because these products contain undeclared milk due to an incorrect label. While the product in the containers is Herring Center Cuts in Cream Sauce, which contains milk, the containers were mistakenly labeled with the Herring Center Cuts in Wine Sauce labels. Ducktrap initiated the recall after discovering the labeling mistake. Subsequent investigation indicates that the issue is limited only to the specific lot identified above.

Consumer Finds Noodles In a Product with No Noodles - Kettle Cuisine Midco, LLC, a Lynn, Mass. establishment, is recalling approximately 200 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) lentil and beef soup products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The products contain egg and wheat. The problem was discovered when the company received a complaint from a consumer who reported finding noodles in their lentil and beef soup.

Wrong Package with Malted Balls Packed in Chocolate Covered Cashews Container - Cargill is voluntarily recalling 39 one-pound bags of product incorrectly packaged as Wilbur Dark Chocolate Covered Cashews. Sold locally through the Wilbur Chocolate Store in Lititz, Penn., the bags are being recalled out of an abundance of caution because of a wheat allergen presence. Wilbur Dark Chocolate Malted Milk Balls were incorrectly labeled and packaged as Dark Chocolate Covered Cashews. The Malted Milk Balls contain wheat, which is not listed on the incorrect ingredient label. The Dark Chocolate Covered Cashews labels do, however, bear a “may contain wheat” statement.