Retailer Issues Recall for Steam-in-Bag Vegetables Due to Supplier Recall of Butternut Squash with Potential Listeria Contamination

The Florida based retailer Publix is recalling steam-in-bag vegetable products after their supplier, Pero Family Farms had issued a recall for butternut squash due to potential Listeria contamination.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/publix-steam-bag-product-recall
Publix Steam In Bag Product Recall
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  January 14, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  January 21, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Publix Super Markets, Inc.
Brand Name:  Publix
Product Description:  Steam in bag products containing butternuts squash

Bags of Potato Chips Recalled for Allergens After 50 Bags Packed with Wrong Product

Frito-Lay today issued a recall for 50 bags of 13 1/2 oz. “Party Size” bags of Ruffles Original Potato Chips because after it was discovered that the 50 bags of Ruffles Original Potato Chips were inadvertently filled with potato chips of another flavor and thus had an undeclared allergen, in this case, milk.

You may 'recall' that last month, Frito Lay received a Warning Letter from FDA for  poor allergen control procedures that had resulted in two allergen-related recalls.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/frito-lay-issues-voluntary-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-small-number-ruffles-original-potato-chips-0
Frito-Lay Issues Voluntary Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Small Number of Ruffles Original Potato Chips
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  January 21, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  January 21, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Snack Food Item  
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared milk
Company Name:  Frito Lay
Brand Name:  Ruffles
Product Description:  Potato Chips

Raw Pork Sausage Product Recalled After Complaints for Foreign Material in Form of Red Rubber Pieces

Bob Evans Farms, Inc. (“Bob Evans”), a Xenia, Ohio establishment, is recalling approximately 4,200 pounds of pork sausage product that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically thin blue rubber.  The raw, pork sausage item was produced on December 17, 2020.  The problem was discovered when Bob Evans notified FSIS that they received consumer complaints.

Bob Evans Farms Inc. Recalls Pork Sausage Product Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination (usda.gov)
Bob Evans Farms Inc. Recalls Pork Sausage Product Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
Class II Recall

003-2021
Health Risk: Low

Jan 21, 2021

Two Companies Recall Butternut Squash Products Due to Listeria

Pero Family Farms Food Company, LLC of Delray Florida and Lancaster Foods LLC of Jessup MD are recalling Butternut Squash products due to Listeria.  There is no information on how the Listeria presence was detected.  The two recalls are probably related, but there isn't any further information on how.  The Pero Family Farm recall notice does state that the butternut squash was purchased through a distributor Race West Company, of Clarks Summit, PA.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/pero-family-farms-food-co-issues-voluntary-recall-due-possible-health-risk
Pero Family Farms Food Co. Issues Voluntary Recall Due to Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  January 15, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  January 19, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Pero Family Farms Food Company, LLC
Brand Name:  Pero Family Farms
Product Description:  Butternut squash cubes, chunks, and spirals.

Reusable Takeout Food Containers?

An article in Fast Company discusses the use of reusable packaging for takeout food by the NY delivery service DeliverZero.  Basically the food comes in a reusable polypropylene containers that are returned through the delivery service.  The customer can hold the container for up to 6 weeks to return or they are charged $3.25.

From a food safety and quality perspective, there can be many concerns...containers not adequately cleaned, containers used to store things that are not food grade with the potential to leach into the plastic, the plastic absorbing odors, the plastic being marred by acid foods like tomato products during reheating, etc.  Then one has to wonder about the costs going into recycling containers...gas for vehicles used in collecting the containers, costs of cleaning, costs for culling out bad containers, and at the end, you still have plastic.  I guess I would prefer a compostable container.

It was pointed out to me that another challenge is getting the customers to understand what they are to do with the reusable containers - that it needs to be returned, how returns occur, preparation steps such as washing or rinsing, etc.

Fast Company
https://www.fastcompany.com/90591190/this-new-delivery-service-cuts-down-on-takeout-waste-by-sending-your-food-in-reusable-packaging
01-07-21WORLD CHANGING IDEAS
This new delivery service cuts down on takeout waste by sending your food in reusable packaging
Just give your old ones to the driver when your next order arrives.

Beef Jerky Recalled Due to Missing Allergen on Label

USDA FSIS issued a public health alert for ready-to-eat (RTE) beef jerky products due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen in that the product contains anchovies, an fish allergen, which is not declared on the product label.  "The product labeled as “CHARLIE BROWN FARMS PREMIUM BEEF JERKY Original Prime Rib” contains Worcestershire, which is not listed as an ingredient, but was utilized in the product formulation."


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/news-releases-statements-transcripts/news-release-archives-by-year/archive/2021/pha-01152021-01
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Beef Jerky Products Due to Misbranding and an Undeclared Allergen

Hot Pockets Recalled After Complaints of Foreign Material

Nestlé Prepared Foods, a Mt. Sterling, Ky. establishment, is recalling approximately 762,615 pounds of not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) pepperoni hot pockets product that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically pieces of glass and hard plastic.  The product covers production from Nov. 13, 2020 through Nov. 16, 2020.  The problem was discovered when the firm received four consumer complaints of extraneous material in the pepperoni hot pocket product.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2021/recall-002-2021-release
Nestlé Prepared Foods Recalls Not-Ready-to-Eat Pepperoni Hot Pockets Product Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
Class I Recall

002-2021
Health Risk: High

Jan 15, 2021

Oklahoma Dairy Facility Recalls Containers of Milk Due to Presence of Residual Sanitizer

"Hiland Dairy is announcing a recall of the one-half pint (236 mL) 1% low fat chocolate milk that was produced at its Norman, Oklahoma facility only. Some of the products may contain food-grade sanitizers, which could cause illness if consumed....  Hiland Dairy initially learned of a potential issue and then confirmed after internal quality-control testing at the Norman, Oklahoma facility. "

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/hiland-dairy-announces-recall-hiland-dairy-half-pint-1-low-fat-chocolate-milk-cartons
Hiland Dairy Announces Recall of Hiland Dairy Half-Pint 1% Low Fat Chocolate Milk Cartons
Protocols were not followed at the Norman, Oklahoma facility resulting in a small amount of one product being incorrectly filled
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  January 17, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  January 17, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages   Milk/Milk Product
Reason for Announcement:  May contain food-grade sanitizers
Company Name:  Hiland Dairy
Brand Name:  Hiland Dairy
Product Description:  1% low fat chocolate milk

Chocolate Products Recalled After Customer Complaint for Foreign Object - Brittle Plastic

Lake Champlain Chocolates (LCC) is issuing a public alert and a voluntary recall on select LCC milk chocolate products after a consumer reported finding brittle plastic pieces in a finished product.  This company's products are normally packed as part of the variety within gift packages, boxes and baskets  There is a set range of products which can be determined through best-by date range (but being in a variety pack may make this difficult.)  There was no reason listed as to where the plastic may have originated.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/potential-foreign-object-recall-lake-champlain-chocolates-issues-voluntary-recall-selected-milk
Potential Foreign Object Recall Lake Champlain Chocolates Issues Voluntary Recall on Selected Milk Chocolate Products
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  January 16, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  January 16, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages   Chocolate/Cocoa Product
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Foreign Objects - Brittle Plastic Pieces
Company Name:  Champlain Chocolate Company
Brand Name:  Champlain Chocolate Company
Product Description:  Select LLC Milk Chocolate Products