Baby Food Manufacturer Recalls Rice Cereal, Decides to Discontinue Product Line

"Beech-Nut Nutrition today has issued a voluntary recall of one lot of Beech-Nut Stage 1, Single Grain Rice Cereal. This recall is a result of a routine sampling program by the State of Alaska which found that samples from that production lot of Beech-Nut Stage 1, Single Grain Rice Cereal tested above the guidance level for naturally occurring inorganic arsenic set by the FDA in August 2020, though the rice flour used had been tested and confirmed as being below the FDA guidance level for inorganic arsenic."

"FDA has recognized that trace elements such as these are widely present in the environment, including water, soil and food; and has also stated that exposure to elevated levels of naturally occurring inorganic arsenic can pose a health hazard to young children."

"In addition to issuing the voluntary recall, Beech-Nut has also decided to exit the market for Beech-Nut branded Single Grain Rice Cereal. Beech-Nut is concerned about the ability to consistently obtain rice flour well-below the FDA guidance level and Beech-Nut specifications for naturally occurring inorganic arsenic."

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/beech-nut-nutrition-company-issues-voluntary-recall-one-lot-beech-nut-single-grain-rice-cereal-and
Beech-Nut Nutrition Company Issues a Voluntary Recall of One Lot of Beech-Nut Single Grain Rice Cereal and Also Decides to Exit the Rice Cereal Segment
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 08, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  June 08, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Presence of Inorganic Arsenic above Guidance Levels
Company Name:  Beech-Nut
Brand Name:  Beech-Nut
Product Description:  Stage 1, Single Grain Rice Cereal

Fish Dip Recalled After Using Recalled Smoked Fish Product

Smilin’ Bob’s, a Florida establishment, is voluntarily recalling Smilin’ Bob’s Original Smoked Fish Dip and Smilin’ Bob’s All Natural Smoked Fish Dip after using recalled product from Banner Smoked Fish, Inc. which recalled smoked fish due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/smilin-bobs-voluntarily-recalls-smilin-bobs-smoked-fish-dip-products-because-possible-health-risk
Smilin’ Bob’s Voluntarily Recalls Smilin’ Bob’s Smoked Fish Dip Products Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 07, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  June 08, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Smilin’ Bob’s
Brand Name:  Smilin’ Bob’s
Product Description:  Smoked Fish Dip

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)