Tahini Product Recalled After State Laboratory Finds Positive Salmonella Sample

KAREEM MART of Garden City, MI, is recalling its 1lb, 2lb, 10kg of “Tahina” food treats because they have the potential to be contaminated with salmonella.  The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing from samples in the stores by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).  There have been no reported illness to date.  Production of the product has been suspended while the FDA and the company continue their investigation as to the source of the problem.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/kareem-mart-recalls-tahina-because-possible-health-risks
Kareem Mart Recalls “Tahina” Because of Possible Health Risks
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  March 02, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  March 05, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential for Salmonella
Company Name:  Kareem Mart
Brand Name:  Kareem Chef
Product Description:  Tahina (Ground Sesame Paste)

FDA Issues Announcement and Letter Regarding Toxic Compounds in Baby Foods

FDA issued a follow-up to their earlier response on heavy metals in baby food.  As you many remember, a US Senate Subcommittee released a report on compounds such as arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury in baby food, for which FDA issued a response.  This current issuance, A Letter to Industry basically reminds baby food companies "of their existing responsibility to consider risks from chemical hazards, including toxic elements, when conducting a hazard analysis, including for products for babies and young children. The preventive control provisions require industry to implement controls to significantly minimize or prevent any identified chemical hazards requiring a control. "

In this Letter, "FDA does not advise parents and caregivers to throw out their supply of packaged baby foods or to stop feeding their babies and children certain foods altogether. Eliminating food groups from your children’s diet in order to avoid certain toxic elements that occur in the food supply may result in deficiencies in certain nutrients and potential poor health outcomes."

It also tell parents that if they make their own food, they are unlikely to do a better job than the food companies.   "For parents who choose to make their own baby foods, it is important to know that this is not likely to reduce potential exposure to toxic elements in baby foods and may instead result in higher concentrations, as food manufacturers have the capability to implement strategies that result in using ingredients with lower concentrations of toxic elements. Finally, we want to stress that it is critical that parents and caregivers not attempt to make and feed their infants homemade infant formula—as this is extremely unlikely to reduce exposure to toxic elements and has resulted in infants suffering life-threatening consequences, including severe nutritional deficiencies and microbial foodborne illness."

Are there many who are left thinking...well, tell us how bad is it?  What are the real risks?  Well FDA starts the letter with this "We share the public’s concerns for the health of America’s children, and want to reassure parents and caregivers that at the levels we have found through our testing, children are not at an immediate health risk from exposure to toxic elements in foods. "  

In an announcement issued the same day, FDA stated some of their planned actions.

• Issuing guidance to identify action levels for contaminants in key foods, with plans to revisit those levels on a regular basis and lower them if appropriate, as well as providing guidance to industry on how to meet their obligations under current regulations;
• Increasing inspections and, as appropriate, taking compliance and enforcement actions;
• Boosting sampling of foods for babies and young children, including sharing results; and
• Working with government, academia and industry to support research and development of additional safety information on toxic elements in foods for babies and young children and additional steps that industry can take to further reduce levels.

Constituent Updates
https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-letter-industry-chemical-hazards-including-toxic-elements-food-and-update-fda-efforts-increase
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
_______________________________________
FDA Letter to Industry on Chemical Hazards, including Toxic Elements, in Food and Update on FDA Efforts to Increase the Safety of Foods for Babies and Young Children

March 5, 2021

Raw Pet Food Recalled After FDA Sampling Finds Salmonella and Listeria

Bravo Packing, Inc. of Carneys Point, NJ is recalling all Ground Beef and Performance Dog, a frozen raw pet food because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. Bravo Packing, Inc. is voluntarily recalling the products after samples of Performance Dog and a sample of Ground Beef were collected during an FDA inspection, tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.

Bravo issued a series of recalls for their raw pet food in 2013, 2014 and 2015 for Salmonella and/or Listeria.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/bravo-packing-inc-recalls-all-performance-dog-and-ground-beef-raw-pet-food-because-possible
Bravo Packing, Inc. Recalls All Performance Dog and Ground Beef Raw Pet Food Because of Possible Salmonella and Listeria Monocytogenes Health Risk to Humans and Animals
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  March 03, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  March 03, 2021
Product Type:  Animal & Veterinary
Food & Beverages  Pet Food
Reason for Announcement:  Potential for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Bravo Packing, Inc.
Brand Name:  Bravo Packing, Inc.
Product Description:  Ground Beef and Performance Dog, frozen raw pet food

Sprinkles Recalled Due to Reaction to Undeclared Milk

Wilton Brands of Naperville, Illinois announced today a voluntary national recall of all lots of six sprinkles products and one kit containing affected sprinkles, because they may contain undeclared milk.  This recall is being initiated because of one reported allergic reaction to date associated with one of the recalled products. Wilton is recalling all affected products with a similar formulation. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/wilton-brands-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-7-sprinkle-products
Wilton Brands Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in 7 Sprinkle Products
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  March 03, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  March 03, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  May Contain Undeclared Milk
Company Name:  Wilton Brands
Brand Name:  Wilton, Tasty by Wilton, and Holiday Home
Product Description:  Sprinkle Products

Rice Crisps Recalled Due to Undeclared Soy

The Quaker Oats Company, a subsidiary of PepsiCo, Inc., today issued a voluntary recall for 3.03 oz. bags of Quaker Rice Crisps Sweet Barbecue Flavor because they may contain undeclared soy ingredients.

While no reason for the issue was listed, these issues can often be related to a mis-formulation by the company or by an ingredient by the supplier.

The ingredient statement from the company's website states

Ingredients: Whole grain brown rice flour, degerminated milled corn, sunflower oil, sugar, salt, dry whey, brown sugar, onion powder, molasses, buttermilk powder, yeast extract, spices, tomato (dried), garlic powder, citric acid, natural flavor, tocopherols (preservative), paprika (color), gum arabic.
CONTAINS MILK INGREDIENTS.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/quaker-oats-company-issues-voluntary-recall-quaker-rice-crisps-sweet-barbecue-flavor-due-undeclared

The Quaker Oats Company Issues Voluntary Recall of Quaker Rice Crisps Sweet Barbecue Flavor Due to Undeclared Soy Issue
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  February 26, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  March 01, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Snack Food Item
Reason for Announcement:  May Contain Undeclared Soy Ingredients
Company Name:  The Quaker Oats Company
Brand Name:  Quaker
Product Description:  Rice Crisps Sweet Barbecue Flavor

Distribution Company Recalls Canned Meat Product After A Tip to UDSA Officials on Import Violation

Milky Way International Trading Corp., doing business as MW Polar, a Norwalk, Calif., firm, is recalling approximately 297,715 pounds of ready-to-eat canned corned beef products that were imported and distributed in the United States without the benefit of FSIS import re-inspection,
Product was manufactured in Australia and imported over a half year period, June 2020 to January, 2021.

"The problem was discovered after FSIS received a tip from an industry representative indicating that corned beef product received from Milky Way did not undergo FSIS import reinspection."  Nothing like having industry players keeping you honest.  This type of reporting...competitors as informants, happens more often than you think....whether it be improper label claims, pack weight issues, or quality or identity misstatements.  

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2021/recall-008-2021-release
Milky Way International Trading Corp. Recalls Canned Corned Beef Products Imported Without Benefit of Inspection
Class I Recall

008-2021
Health Risk: High

Mar 1, 2021

Research - New Food Allergy Guidelines for Infants Leads to 16% Decrease in Peanut Allergies

A recent study has concluded that the food allergy guidelines for introducing peanut into a babies' diets have led to a 16 percent decrease in peanut allergies in infants.  "The research found the peanut allergy prevalence in 2018-2019 was 2.6 per cent compared to 3.1 per cent in 2007-2011, which amounted to a 16 per cent decrease after accounting for migration and population changes." 

According to the article,  "In the 1990s some guidelines recommended avoiding allergenic foods until age 1-3 years and avoidance of these foods in infancy became widespread"   This thinking was reversed starting in 2008.   Now, "Peanut consumption by 12 months [of age] increased from 28 per cent to 89 per cent in the 10 years to 2019, which may have halted the rise in peanut allergy, the study found."

https://www.mcri.edu.au/news/decrease-peanut-allergy-among-infants-after-guideline-changes
Decrease in peanut allergy among infants after guideline changes
Institute News

Meat Alternatives Gaining Traction, But Will Crickets and Meat-ish Concoctions Be In Your Dinner Plans?

An piece from The Food Institute discusses alternative protein sources going mainstream. This was made more a thing this past week when Bill Gates stated that the rich nations like the US should shift entirely to synthetic beef. In the MIT Technology Review he stated,

I do think all rich countries should move to 100% synthetic beef. You can get used to the taste difference, and the claim is they’re going to make it taste even better over time. Eventually, that green premium is modest enough that you can sort of change the [behavior of] people or use regulation to totally shift the demand.

Is it beyond Bill Gates thinking to consider regulating consumption, it does not seem so. He certainly feels that the term 'meat' should be expanded and that government investment should be poured into this area. Gates is invested in many of the companies including Beyond Meats, Impossible Foods, and Memphis Meats.

According to The Food Institute, "the meat substitutes market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.1% from 2020 to reach $17.5 billion by 2027, providing ample room for further innovation fueled by venture capital piling into the space. The edible insect market, which surpassed $112 million in 2019, is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 26.5% from 2020 to 2027 to reach $4.63 billion by 2027."

So are mealworms, crickets and lab grown meat in your meal plans?  I think the wealthy IT guy would like it to be. 

The Food Institute
You Want Flies with That? – New Alternative Proteins Set to Go Mainstream
February 26, 2021

NJ Cheese Company Expands Recall of Cheese Products Due to Listeria Contamination Issue

El Abuelito Cheese of Paterson, NJ expanded its recall of cheese products to include all Queso Fresco (Fresh, soft cheese), Quesillo (Oaxaca, string cheese), and Requeson (Ricotta) products, because there is the potential for Listeria contamination.  This initial recall was issued on February 19th after CDC and FDA linked the cheese to 7 illness.  The case count for reported illnesses is now stands at 10. "El Abuelito has ceased the production and distribution of the product as FDA and El Abuelito continue their investigation as to what caused the problem."

We noted that this company was issued a Warning Letter in June of 2020.  The company did not have a Food Safety Plan, and during the investigation, a swab sampling found non-pathogenic strains of Listeria. (This an indicator that conditions were present that could support Listeria monocytogenes).  If the company had not implemented a Food Safety Plan with Preventive Controls for environmental contamination after the inspection, the coming litigation will be brutal.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/el-abuelito-expands-recall-include-queso-fresco-quesillo-and-requeson-products-because-possible
El Abuelito Expands Recall to Include Queso Fresco, Quesillo, and Requeson Products Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: February 27, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  February 27, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  El Abuelito Cheese
Brand Name:  El Abuelito, El Viejito and more
Product Description:  Queso Fresco, Quesillo, and Requeson Products