Outbreak Investigation Update - Salmonella in Red Onions - October 2020

FDA issued an update on the Salmonella outbreak associated with red onions which was first identified in July when Canadian authorities issued notice.  In the US, there were 1,127 cases with 167 hospitalizations.  The onions originated from Thompson International, which issued a recall, and that recall spurned other recalls where the onions were used in various other products.

At this point, CDC is saying that that outbreak appears over.  While FDA identified Thompson International as the source, FDA had not been able to identify any definitive reason for the contamination. 

 "FDA has completed over 2000 product and environmental analyses from multiple Thomson International Inc. locations and surrounding areas, including water, soil, and scat samples. Although a variety of genetic strains of Salmonella Newport have been detected, as well as multiple other Salmonella serotypes, a genetic match to the outbreak strain has yet to be identified in any of the samples collected. Additional sample analysis is underway. Although the outbreak is being declared over, the FDA will continue its root cause investigation and will communicate any findings that could assist future prevention efforts. "

FDA Outbreak Investigation
https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-newport-red-onions-july-2020
Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Newport: Red Onions (July 2020)
CDC announces the end of the outbreak; FDA continues its investigation.

Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 1,127
Hospitalizations: 167
Deaths: 0
Last illness Onset Date: September 11, 2020
States with Cases: AK (25), AL (2), AZ (39), AR (2), CA (128), CO (32), CT (2), DE (2), FL (8), GA (11), HI (3), ID (43), IL (54), IN (4), IA (31), KS (3), KY (3), ME (6), MD (7), MA (2), MI (47), MN (19), MS (5), MO (11), MT (72), NE (10), NV (11), NH (1), NJ (12), NM (3), NY (14), NC (6), ND (9), OH (11), OK (1), OR (109), PA (27), RI (3), SC (1), SD (23), TN (7), TX (2), UT (115), VA (10), WA (150), WV (3), WI (11), WY (27)

FDA Warning Letter - Inadequate Allergen Controls at Salad Kit Company

A California salad processor was issued a Warning Letter by FDA for not have an Allergen Preventive Control at the masterpack addition step (the point in the process where the add the packets of salad add-ons....like dressing, nuts, etc. In the case that required a recall, “[t]he incorrect masterpack (kit with dressing and other toppings) was unintentionally used during the production of the [Tuscan Herb Chopped Salad Kit,]” "The masterpack used held dressing that contained peanut butter and almond, cashew, and chow mein noodle (wheat) toppings" Not items that would be added to a Tuscan Herb Chopped Salad. The firm "indicated that the cause was that [the company] “did not have a robust enough verification process for product changeover.”

So FDA issued a Warning Letter for not identifying and implementing food allergen controls adequate to significantly minimize or prevent the hazard of undeclared allergens as evidenced by [the] firm using an incorrect masterpack in your Tuscan Herb Chopped Salad Kit. This masterpack addition error caused {the] product to contain undeclared major food allergens."


FDA Warning Letter

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/dole-fresh-vegetables-inc-608414-09252020

Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. 

MARCS-CMS 608414 — September 25, 2020 

FDA Warning Letter - Inadequate Allergen Controls at Chip Factory

An Indiana potato chip manufacturer was issued a Warning Letter as part of an inspection in response to a recall.  The recall was issued "after being notified by consumers that cheddar cheese flavored chips were found in bags of Kroger brand Sweet & Mesquite BBQ Flavored Potato Chips"

The company was cited for having an inadequate Food Safety plan, specifically, the company "did not identify and implement food allergen controls at the seasoning step adequate to significantly minimize or prevent the hazard of undeclared allergens as evidenced by [the] firm using cheddar and sour cream flavored seasoning instead of barbecue flavored seasoning while producing Sweet & Mesquite BBQ Flavored Potato Chips".  

Basically, there was no substantial control to make sure the flavor added to the product matched the label on the bag in which the finished chips were packed.  A pretty easy preventive control to implement, and perhaps one the company did not see as necessary because a simple control had worked in the past.  Not this time.  A simple error could have been easily been avoided by raising this to the level of a preventive control.

FDA Warning Letter

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/saratoga-potato-chips-llc-608017-09242020

Saratoga Potato Chips LLC
MARCS-CMS 608017 — September 24, 2020 

Intentional Contamination - Man Arrested for Putting Razor Blades in Pizza Dough

In Maine, a 38 man was arrested for putting razor blades in pizza dough sold at the supermarket.  The man was a former employee of the company which makes the dough.  

The razor blades were discovered by a customer who purchased the product.  The supermarket reviewed surveillance video and were able to identify the suspect.  "Authorities immediately released a physical description of Mitchell as well as a description of his car in an appeal to the public to help them track down the suspect as quickly as possible. They were able to arrest him within about two hours approximately 50 miles away in Dover, New Hampshire, according to a separate police statement announcing his arrest."

ABC News
https://abcnews.go.com/US/man-arrested-stuffing-razor-blades-consumers-pizza-dough/story?id=73559166
Man arrested for stuffing razor blades into consumers' pizza dough
The supermarket chain has now issued a full product recall.
ByJon Haworth
October 12, 2020, 6:20 AM

A man has been arrested after he was reportedly caught putting razor blades into pizza dough that was then sold to customers, according to the Saco Police Department in Maine.

Recent Studies Renew Call for Sanitizing Surfaces and Handwashing to Control COVID-19 Virus

Two recently published studies demonstrated that the COVID-19 virus can survive on surfaces for long periods of time.  An Australian study found that with "initial viral loads broadly equivalent to the highest titres excreted by infectious patients, viable virus was isolated for up to 28 days at 20 °C from common surfaces such as glass, stainless steel and both paper and polymer banknotes."  A study out of Japan found that the virus can survive on the skin up to 9 hours.

Certainly aerosolized virus is the primary route of infection.  But as these studies show, contact transmission, such as when the SARS-CoV-2 is on surfaces or on the hands, must be considered.  So with this, surface sanitizing and handwashing must be routinely done.  

The focus for many people has been on mask wearing, but there must be renewed attention to sanitizing surfaces including the hands.  My retail operations have reduced their support for this through not having hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes available.  This needs to improve.

Virology Journal
https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1186/s12985-020-01418-7

The effect oftemperature onpersistence ofSARS-CoV-2 oncommon surfaces

Abstract Background: The rate at which COVID-19 has spread throughout the globe has been alarming. While the role of fomite transmission is not yet fully understood, precise data on the environmental stability of SARS-CoV-2 is required to determine the risks of fomite transmission from contaminated surfaces. 

This Week in Mislabeled Products for Week Ending October 10, 2020

Peanut Butter Cookies Packaged as Wheat Crackers - B&G Foods is recalling a very limited number of boxes of a single date code of 6 oz. Back to Nature Organic Rosemary & Olive Oil Stoneground Wheat Crackers, with a “best by” date of APR 25 2021, after learning that a very limited number of the cracker boxes were inadvertently filled with foil wrapped pouches of peanut butter cookies.  B&G Foods discovered this issue when it received consumer complaints that the foil bags within two boxes of Back to Nature Organic Rosemary & Olive Oil Stoneground Wheat Crackers contained peanut butter cookies. The foil bags do correctly indicate whether the product contains rosemary & olive oil crackers or peanut butter cookies.

Company Recalls Spice Items After Notification by Ingredient Supplier of Potential Salmonella Risk

Sauer Brands, Inc. is  recalling a number of its The Spice Hunter Products due to the potential for  Salmonella. The Salmonella was associated with lots of parsley were used on two specific days in production.   The company states that after initially certifying that the raw material had tested negative for Salmonella, the parsley supplier notified the company that specific lots of organic parsley had the the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.  The company then went and recalled other products produced on those same days out of an abundance of caution regarding potential cross contamination.  

This supplier issue forced the company to evaluate its other products that were produced at the same time as when they handled the potentially contaminated ingredient.  Generally once spices are cleared through testing, they should be good to go.  But what happens when your supplier then calls and says that there may be an issue with one of those approved lots of spice?

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sauer-brands-inc-voluntarily-recalls-certain-spice-hunter-products-because-potential-salmonella
Sauer Brands, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Certain The Spice Hunter Products Because of Potential Salmonella Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date: October 12, 2020
FDA Publish Date:  October 12, 2020
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Salmonella
Company Name:  Sauer Brands, Inc.
Brand Name:  The Spice Hunter
Product Description:  Spices and blends 

Pet Food Company Expands Recall of Pet Food Due to Aflatoxin

Sunshine Mills, Inc. is expanding its September 2 recall of certain pet food products after an FDA investigation determined that additional corn-based products may also contain aflatoxin.  These products were made with corn ingredient that contained Aflatoxin at levels above FDA’s action levels. The product was produced between April 3, 2020 and April 5, 2020 may contain corn from a single load of corn with elevated levels of aflatoxin. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sunshine-mills-inc-expands-previously-announced-voluntary-recall-certain-pet-food-products-due
Sunshine Mills, Inc. Expands Previously Announced Voluntary Recall of Certain Pet Food Products Due to Potentially Elevated Levels of Aflatoxin
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 08, 2020
FDA Publish Date:  October 08, 2020
Product Type:  Animal & Veterinary
Food & Beverages   Pet Food  
Reason for Announcement:  May Contain Aflatoxin
Company Name:  Sunshine Mills, Inc.
Brand Name:  Champ, Field Trial, Good Dog, and Others
Product Description:  Pet Food

Whole and Cut Cantaloupe Recalled for Potential Salmonella Contamination Discovered Through State Testing

Meijer, in conjunction with Eagle Produce, LLC in Aguila, AZ., is recalling of whole cantaloupe and select cut cantaloupe fruit trays and bowls due to the potential risk of Salmonella after sampling by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.  There have been no reported illnesses.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/meijer-recalls-whole-cantaloupes-and-select-cut-cantaloupe-trays-due-potential-health-risk
Meijer Recalls Whole Cantaloupes and Select Cut Cantaloupe Trays Due to Potential Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 07, 2020
FDA Publish Date:  October 07, 2020
Product Type:  Food & Beverages   Fruit/Fruit Product
Reason for Announcement:  Salmonella
Company Name:  Meijer
Brand Name:  Kandy Brand, Meijer Brand
Product Description:  Whole Cantaloupe, Select Cut Cantaloupe Fruit Trays & Bowls