Frozen Smoothie Products Recalled Due to Potential Listeria

Blendtopia Products, LLC is voluntarily recalling 29,078 cases of 7 ounce frozen Blendtopia brand Superfood Smoothie Kits because of potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The company discovered the issue through its quality control processes. The issue is believed to be isolated to a supplied ingredient.

So what is a smoothie kit? From the website -
What is in one smoothie kit/pouch?
"Each smoothie kit contains organic frozen fruit and veggies as well as 1.5oz of frozen superfood chips. The superfood chips are comprised of our proprietary organic superfood blend + organic banana puree. All you have to do is empty the contents of the smoothie pouch into your blender, add 12oz of blending liquid and give your blender a whirl! One smoothie pouch/kit will make (1) 18oz or (2) 9oz smoothies."
Shipping
"We ship our smoothies in insulated packaging on dry ice so they stay frozen throughout the entire trip. Make sure to pop them in the freezer as soon as they arrive."

Blending Instructions:

"Remove superfood packet from pouch! Blend pouch + superfoods with 12oz liquid of choice. Plant-based milks such as almond milk or coconut milk are preferred."

An interesting concept.  As a product with no reduction step performed by the consumer, the ingredients must be free of any biological hazards and those ingredients must be assembled / handled in a way that does not contribute contamination to the finished product.  And if Listeria were present, such as in this case, the organism would not likely grow on the items in the packet, especially if frozen.  The risk would be proliferation occurring once the smoothie was made.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/blendtopia-products-llc-voluntarily-recalls-frozen-smoothie-products-due-possible-health-risk
Blendtopia Products, LLC Voluntarily Recalls Frozen Smoothie Products Due to Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: February 10, 2020
FDA Publish Date:February 10, 2020
Product Type:Food & Beverages Milk/Milk Product
Reason for Announcement: Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:Blendtopia Products, LLC
Brand Name: Blendtopia
Product Description: Frozen smoothie products

RI Establishment Recalls Nut Butter After Testing Detects Listeria

Nuts ‘N More of East Providence, RI. is recalling 4143 jars of plain Peanut Spread because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria species and to protect the public from a potential health hazard. The recall was a result of potential Listeria species in a finished product found through routine testing conducted by an outside laboratory. The company has ceased the production and distribution of this product as State of Rhode Island and the company continue their investigation.

There was a similar issue last year involving Listeria in nut butter where a Wisconsin company detected Listeria in nut butter.   That recall expanded as it was found the company did not have control.  It will be seen if this recall is expanded beyond the one lot recalled.

How the Listeria got into the product is hard to know without knowing the process. This product is a concoction of ingredients including peanuts, pea powder, peanut oil, palm oil, flax, vanilla, maple flavor, sea salt and sunflower lecithin. It may lack a thermal process, thus having ingredients free of pathogens and having a clean process is critical.  While growth would not be expected in the product thus reducing the risk, we can never be certain how much of the organism may be present or how someone will use the product.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/nuts-n-more-llc-recalls-plain-peanut-spread-because-possible-health-risk
Nuts ‘N More LLC. Recalls: Plain Peanut Spread Because Of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: February 07, 2020
FDA Publish Date: February 07, 2020
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement: Potential contamination with Listeria sp,
Company Name: Nuts ‘N More LLC
Brand Name: Nuts ‘N More LLC
Product Description: Plain Peanut Spread

This Week in Mislabeled Products for Week Ending February 8, 2020

Two print-and-apply labels developed incorrectly in that they missed allergens.

New Seasons Market has issued a recall for a total of 30 Grab N' Go Vegetarian Lasagna w/ Gluten-Free Pasta units (UPC 52390), with packed on dates 2/1-2/3, and sell by dates 2/6-2/9.  This product is being voluntarily recalled due to the presence of an undeclared allergen (soy).

Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling select bundt cakes and chocolate dipped cookies from stores in Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia and Washington D.C. because they contain undeclared milk.  I guess they just missed the milk as an ingredient when designing the labels.  (But notice the precautionary label - made in a facility that processes 'everything'...so like it's a cake facility....chocolate cakes...fish cakes, crab cakes,.....)

Coronavirus Update - WHO Situation Report - February 7, 2020

The number of cases of Coronavirus continues to rise.

In China, the doctor who first called attention to the virus has died, reportedly from the virus.  His death has sparked a backlash against China's censorship of him and others who were punished after providing early warning.

Update from World Health Organization
https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200207-sitrep-18-ncov.pdf?sfvrsn=fa644293_2
Novel Coronavirus(2019-nCoV) Situation Report – 18  - February 7, 2020

SITUATION IN NUMBERS total and new cases in last 24 hours
 Globally
              31 481 confirmed (3205 new) 
China
             31 211 confirmed (3151 new) 
              4821 severe (962 new)   
               637 deaths (73 new)
Outside of China     
                270 confirmed (54 new)       
                  24 countries         
                    1 death  .
      United States - 12 confirmed
      Canada - 7 confirmed

EU - Ongoing Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Eggs Highlights Tracking Issues

In Europe, an ongoing Salmonella outbreak associated with eggs shows the difficulty the EU is having in knowing the extent of the issue as well as understanding the egg supply element.  Further, there seems to be little information on the consumer component - what is being communicated to consumers on use of eggs in regard to handling..  Reading through the lengthy report, I am struck by the variation between countries in terms of reporting.  It seems that the issue is only in the UK, but I suspect that the UK is better at confirming, tracking and reporting.

"In most countries, the number of cases found to be genetically linked to this outbreak (confirmed and historical-confirmed cases) is not only influenced by the incidence of the infection, but also by national laboratory practice and capacity. If not available at national level, ECDC has supported countries who have identified probable cases by MLVA with sequencing services for case confirmation. However, for about half of the Member States who are not routinely reporting MLVA or sequencing data to ECDC, the epidemiological situation of this outbreak remains unknown. The true extent of this outbreak is likely under-estimated. Information on the travel history of some outbreak cases point at transmission occurring in countries not yet performing molecular typing and therefore without the capacities to detect outbreak cases."

https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/multi-country-outbreak-salmonella-enteritidis-infections-linked-eggs-fourth
Multi-country outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to eggs, fourth update 
Risk assessment  
6 Feb 2020
Executive summary

More Bad Press for Chipotle as Workers Throw Jabs Regarding Food Safety Practices

A new report was made public on allegations from 47 workers on food safety practices at Chipotle in NY City.  In the Business Insider article, "workers said that bonuses paid to restaurant managers are based on performance goals "that include minimizing labor costs," creating a "highly pressurized environment." That pressure can lead to "cutting corners on food safety," workers said. Bloomberg previously reported on the workers' allegations on February 5."

It goes on to report that "Workers also said that managers at locations across New York City are often tipped off about when their restaurant will be audited for cleanliness, and that managers "have relaxed rule following outside of inspection periods" but increase food safety protocols "when an audit is imminent." "Workers also raised concerns about lack of training, understaffing, and aging equipment."

The restaurant chain stated that all matters will be investigated.

Delish.com
https://www.delish.com/food-news/a30798397/chipotle-employees-food-safety-cocern/
Chipotle Employees Say That Workers 'Cut Corners' When It Comes To Food Safety
Chipotle is following up on every allegation.
By Alexis Morillo
Feb 6, 2020

PA Dairy Closed After Owner Charged with Securities Fraud

A PA dairy has closed after it's majority owner was charged with fraud in that he lured investors, mostly local Mennonite and Amish, to invest in a failing organic dairy, about $60 million.  "Court documents said Riehl, 68, lured investors to a fund that made most of its loans to Trickling Springs and paid off older investors with money from new investors. He and a co-conspirator also sold promissory notes in an effort to prop up the struggling creamery, lying to investors that it was profitable when in reality it was losing money, according to court documents."

AP Newswire
https://apnews.com/b0a809bf713992bb5ff7e5889e9a2f07
Prosecutors: Owner of shuttered organic dairy ran $60M fraud
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM
January 31, 2020

Patrons Ill After Doing Shots of Cleaning Chemical Stored in Liquor Bottle

Never put food in non-food containers and never put chemicals in food containers.  A simple rule.  Unfortunately, people do it all the time and the results can be disastrous.  Such as a recent case where a bar worker put cleaning solution into a used liquor bottle.  Somehow that liquor bottle with cleaner inside made it's way back to the bar and was then accidentally served as shots to two patrons (as well as the bartender).  Not a way to clean out the pipes.

KIRO 7
https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/customers-accidentally-served-shots-toxic-cleaning-solution-movie-theater-bar/B7DEYUY5GBARHP44UXR4ALTMKU/
Customers accidentally served shots of toxic cleaning solution at movie theater bar
By: Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Updated: January 31, 2020 - 12:24 PM

Deer Hunters Contract Toxoplasmosis From Undercooked Venison

A recent study published by CDC involves a group of hunters who became infected after all consumed undercooked deer meat.  A group of 10 hunters traveled from Canada to Illinois for a deer hunt.  After returning, about 8 days later, six of the 10 hunters had symptoms of fever, severe headache, myalgia, and articular pain.  It was diagnosed as an acute toxoplasmosis

"Human T. gondii infection is caused by ingestion of tissue cysts in undercooked meat; ingestion of soil, water, or food contaminated with oocysts; or, less frequently, directly from feline feces"

"Little is known of the natural epidemiology of T. gondii infection in white-tailed deer. Given that deer are strict herbivores, it is believed that they become infected postnatally by ingesting oocysts from the environment (7). When ingested, the parasites form tissue cysts in the skeletal muscle and other tissues. When the infected deer die, tissues are scavenged by feline carnivore species, including bobcats and cougars (7). The life cycle then continues, and these cats shed more oocysts into the environment. Estimated Toxoplasma spp. prevalence among white-tailed deer varies across the United States from 15% to 74% (Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota) (7,9,10,12)."

"Recommendations include not eating raw or undercooked game meat and cooking to an internal temperature of at least 160°F. They also recommend washing hands with soap and water after handling raw meat and cleaning all materials that come in contact with raw meat thoroughly after use. In addition, cysts and oocysts of toxoplasmosis might be destroyed by freezing the meat (23,24). Because the prevalence seems to be high in wild animals in which study prevalence was determined, freezing the meat seems to be efficient to destroy cysts and oocysts."

Emerging and Infectious Diseases
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/2/19-1218_article
Volume 26, Number 2—February 2020
Acute Toxoplasmosis among Canadian Deer Hunters Associated with Consumption of Undercooked Deer Meat Hunted in the United States
Colette GaulinComments to Author , Danielle Ramsay, Karine Thivierge, Joanne Tataryn, Ariane Courville, Catherine Martin, Patricia Cunningham, Joane Désilets, Diane Morin, and Réjean Dion