Determining the Impact of Cyber Attacks on Food Safety in Light of the JBS Event

An article in Huffington Post (below) discusses the recent cyber attack on JBS, the world's largest meat supplier.  While this resulted in a momentary hold up of the meat supply and not a food safety risk, it does show the vulnerability of a company's digit control system to an attack.

But what if this was impacted the controls for formulation or temperature control, there could be a food safety issue, and certainly a food quality issue.

A white paper titled "Adulterating More Than Food The Cyber Risk to Food Processing and Manufacturing" developed by the Food Protection and Defense Institute (link below) outlines cyber risk and some actions that food companies can take.  One of those actions is to extend your Food Defense and Food Safety programs to address cybersecurity.  

This begins with a risk analysis of the operations involving maintenance and IT staff to understand the involvement of digital control systems within the work flow and then developing practices that would mitigate potential issues.

Huffington Post
What The JBS Meat Hack Means For Consumers, Pricing And Food Safety | HuffPost Life
What The JBS Meat Hack Means For Consumers, Pricing And Food Safety
Will prices go up? Will the meat make us sick? Here's what to know for both the present and the future.
By Heide Brandes
06/04/2021 05:45am EDT

Organic Coriander Recalled After Sampling Finds Salmonella

Olde Thompson LLC. Oxnard, CA in cooperation with the FDA is recalling Olde Thompson and Sun Harvest Organic Ground Coriander in 1.5oz glass jar with flip top closure, Lot # 23632 and 23631 due to possible contamination by Salmonella.  The bacterium was discovered during routine sampling of raw materials.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/olde-thompson-llc-issues-voluntary-recall-olde-thompson-and-sun-harvest-organic-ground-coriander-due
Olde Thompson LLC Issues A Voluntary Recall of Olde Thompson And Sun Harvest Organic Ground Coriander Due to Possible Salmonella Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 04, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  June 04, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Salmonella Contamination
Company Name:  Olde Thompson, Sun Harvest
Brand Name:  Olde Thompson, Sun Harvest
Product Description:  Organic Ground Coriander

USDA Issues Health Alert for Breaded Stuffed Chicken Products Due to Salmonella

USDA-FSIS is issuing a public health alert due to concerns about illnesses caused by Salmonella Enteritidis that may be associated with frozen, raw, breaded and pre-browned, stuffed chicken products. These items may be labeled "chicken cordon bleu", chicken with “broccoli and cheese”, or "chicken Kiev".

FSIS is investigating a Salmonella Enteritidis illness cluster with the CDC and state partners. FSIS suspects that there may be a link between the frozen, raw, breaded, and pre-browned stuffed chicken products and this illness cluster based on information gathered in conjunction with the CDC and state partners. Cases have been identified with illness onset dates ranging from February 21, 2021 to May 7, 2021.As part of the investigation, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture collected frozen, raw, breaded, stuffed chicken products from a retail store for testing. The raw product samples tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis. At this time, the production lots tested in Minnesota are not known to have been purchased by any of the case patients. FSIS has not received any purchase documentation, shopper records, or other traceable information at this time. 

The products of concern may appear to be ready-to-eat but are in fact raw and need to be fully cooked before consumption. Many of these stuffed chicken products were labeled with instructions identifying that the product was uncooked (raw). The labels also identified cooking instructions for preparation in an oven. Some of the patients reported that they did not follow the cooking instructions and reported microwaving the product, cooking it in an air fryer or cooking it in the oven for less than the recommended time and without using a meat thermometer to confirm the recommended temperature was achieved. 

This is a similar issue faced by Canadian producers who manufactured similar products as well as in the US.

Penn State Food Safety Blog: Canada - Another Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Uncooked Breaded Chicken (2019)

https://pennstatefoodsafety.blogspot.com/2018/09/canada-warning-of-risk-associated-with.html

(2018)

Penn State Food Safety Blog: Barber Foods Expands Recall of Chicken Kiev After Additional Illnesses Reported (2015)

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-frozen-raw-breaded-stuffed-chicken-products-due
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Frozen Raw Breaded Stuffed Chicken Products Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination

WA Company Recalls Meatballs and Pork Patties Due to Unlabeled Allergens

King's Command Foods, LLC., a Kent, Wash. establishment, is recalling approximately 20,025 pounds of fully cooked, not shelf stable meat and poultry meatballs and pork patties due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains egg, milk, and/or wheat, known allergens, which is not declared on the product label.  The problem was discovered when the establishment determined that allergen-containing ingredients may have comingled with the recalled products that do not normally contain the identified allergens.  There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/kings-command-foods-llc.-recalls-meat-and-poultry-meatballs-and-pork-pattie-products
King's Command Foods, LLC. Recalls Meat and Poultry Meatballs and Pork Pattie Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens
KING'S COMMAND FOODS, LLC
FSIS Announcement
WASHINGTON, May 28, 2021 - King's Command Foods, LLC., a Kent, Wash. establishment, is recalling approximately 20,025 pounds of fully cooked, not shelf stable meat and poultry meatballs and pork patties due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains egg, milk, and/or wheat, known allergens, which is not declared on the product label.

CA Company Recalls Beef Jerky for Undeclared Sesame Oil

Legacy Food Company, Inc., a Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 67,895 pounds of beef jerky due to misbranding and an undeclared ingredient-  contains sesame oil, which is not declared on the product label.  The problem was discovered during routine FSIS label verification activities when it was determined that the labels did not accurately list all sub-ingredients.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/legacy-food-company-inc.-recalls-beef-jerky-products-due-misbranding-and-undeclared
Legacy Food Company, Inc. Recalls Beef Jerky Products Due to Misbranding and an Undeclared Ingredient
LEGACY FOOD COMPANY INC,
FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, May 26, 2021 – Legacy Food Company, Inc., a Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 67,895 pounds of beef jerky due to misbranding and an undeclared ingredient, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains sesame oil, which is not declared on the product label.

Company Recalls Pet Food After State Testing Lab Finds Salmonella Positive Sample

Sunshine Mills, Inc. is issuing a voluntary recall of certain dog food products because of the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.  The potential for contamination was noted after the firm was notified by the distributor, Fleet Wholesale Supply Company, who was informed by Minnesota Department of Agriculture when a sample of 5 lbs. Sprout Sporting Dog Food product was collected and tested positive for Salmonella during routine surveillance.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sunshine-mills-inc-issues-voluntary-recall-certain-dog-food-products-because-possible-salmonella
Sunshine Mills, Inc. Issues Voluntary Recall of Certain Dog Food Products Because of Possible Salmonella Contamination.

Summary

Company Announcement Date:  June 02, 2021

FDA Publish Date:  June 03, 2021

Product Type:  Animal & Veterinary  Pet Food

Reason for Announcement: Salmonella contamination

Company Name: Sunshine Mills, Inc.

Brand Name: Sportsman’s Pride, Sprout Sporting, Intimidator, FRM Gold Select

Product Description: Dog Food Products

NY Food Company Recalls All Smoked Fish Products After FDA Inspection Determines Unsanitary Conditions

Banner Smoked Fish, Inc. of Brooklyn, NY is voluntarily expending recalling its SMOKED FISH, SALADS, PICKLED FISH PRODUCTS, and CREAM SAUCE PRODUCTS (product names and photos of labels are listed below) of all products within expiry, in all package sizes, all package types and all lots.   There are 85 different products included in the final recall which was initially issued on June 2nd, expanded on June 3rd and then expanded again.  According to the report, "The products were found to be processed under unsanitary condition. The problem was discovered through FDA routine inspection. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem."

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/banner-smoked-fish-expends-recalls-smoked-fish-products-salads-pickled-fish-products-and-cream-sauce
Banner Smoked Fish Expends Recalls Smoked Fish Products, Salads, Pickled Fish Products, And Cream Sauce Products Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 04, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  June 04, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination
Company Name:  Banner Smoked Fish, Inc.
Brand Name:  Banner and multiple other brands
Product Description:  Smoked Fish Products (Salmon, Lox, Trout, and more)

Five Companies Issue Recalls for Imported Mushrooms Due to Listeria

Three food companies/distributors are recalling mushroom product after testing determined the presence of Listeria.

• California Terra Garden Inc. of Commerce, CA is recalling all cases of its 150g/5.3-ounce packages of Seafood Mushroom (Product of China)
• CONCORD FARMS of Vernon, CA is recalling enoki mushrooms grown in Korea
• Sun Hong, Inc 1105 W Olympic Blvd, Montebello, CA 90640 is recalling All Cases of Seafood Mushroom (Product of China) Net Wt 5.3 oz./150g
• Marquis Worldwide Specialty Inc of City of Industry, CA is recalling All of the Organic Enoki Mushroom 200g,
• Rainfield Marketing Group, Inc. of Vernon, CA is recalling all cases of its 150g packages of Enoki Mushrooms (Product of Korea)

There has been a large number of recalls for imported mushrooms due to Listeria.  It will not be surprising to see a larger action from FDA regarding these products.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/california-terra-garden-inc-recalls-seafood-mushroom-because-possible-health-risk
California Terra Garden Inc. Recalls Seafood Mushroom Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: May 28, 2021
FDA Publish Date: May 29, 2021
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement: Potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination
Company Name: California Terra Garden Inc.
Brand Name: Guan’s
Product Description: Seafood mushrooms

Colorado Food Company Expands Recall of Cheese Product Due to Potential Listeria Contamination

Interstate Food Products of Lakewood Colorado, is recalling Jalapeno Cream Cheese, Queso,and Spicy Queso, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  This is an expansion of the initial recall (as predicted).  The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by the FDA revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in 13.5-ounce packages of Little Hatches Jalapeno Cream Cheese, Queso and Spicy Queso.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/interstate-food-products-recalls-little-hatches-jalapeno-cream-cheese-sell-date-521-and-queso-spicy
Interstate Food Products Recalls Little Hatches Jalapeno Cream Cheese, Sell by Date Is 5/21 and Queso, Spicy Queso, Sell by Date of 5/28 Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 28, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  May 28, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Interstate Food Products
Brand Name:  Little Hatches
Product Description:  Jalapeno Cream Cheese, Queso and Spicy Queso Dip