Poppy Seed Dressing Recalled as pH Issues Raise Concern for Clostridium botulinum Growth

Drew’s Organics, LLC of Chester, VT is voluntarily recalling one lot code of Aldi Simply Nature Organic Poppy Seed Dressing due to a processing issue that could allow for microbial growth.  The recall was initiated after Drew’s Organics, LLC observed a color difference in the Simply Nature Organic Poppy Seed Dressing after manufacturing. Investigation revealed out of spec pH with the potential for microbial growth, including Clostridium botulinum, rendering it unsafe for consumption.

As we know, the pH of these types of products has a limit of 4.6 to prevent the growth of Clostridium botulinum, the causative agent of botulism.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/drews-organics-llc-issues-voluntary-recall-aldi-simply-nature-organic-poppy-seed-dressing-potential
Drew’s Organics, LLC Issues Voluntary Recall of Aldi Simply Nature Organic Poppy Seed Dressing for Potential Clostridium botulinum Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 16, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  September 16, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential for microbial growth
Company Name:  Drew’s Organics, LLC
Brand Name:  Simply Nature
Product Description:  Organic Poppy Seed Dressing

Fresh Parsley Recalled After State Testing Finds STEC (Pathogenic E. coli)

Buurma Farms Inc. of Willard, OH, is voluntarily recalling 320 boxes of its Plain Parsley after testing showed possible contamination with Shiga-toxin producing E.coli.  The product being recalled is Buurma Plain (flat leaf) Parsley with a harvest date of August 30, 2021 from their Gregory, Michigan location. A random, routine regulatory sample collected on 9/7/21 at a customer’s distribution center by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) tested positive for non-O157 STEC (Shiga-toxin producing E. Coli) and reported 9/13/21.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/buurma-farms-inc-recalls-plain-flat-parsley-due-possible-health-risks
Buurma Farms Inc. Recalls Plain (Flat) Parsley Due to Possible Health Risks
Summary
Company Announcement Date: September 14, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  September 15, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  May contain Shiga-toxin producing E.coli
Company Name:  Buurma Farms Inc.
Brand Name:  Buurma
Product Description:  Plain (Flat Leaf) Parsley

Raspberry Fudge Cordial Ice Cream Recalled Due to Undeclared Peanuts Traced to Third Party Manufacturer

Velvet Ice Cream has issued a voluntary recall of its 56oz Raspberry Fudge Cordial Ice Cream because it may contain undeclared peanuts.  Velvet was notified of the issue by a single customer and has since learned that the cause of the error has been traced to a third-party manufacturer packaging error. One carton has been affected at the time of this release.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/velvet-ice-cream-voluntarily-recalls-raspberry-fudge-cordial-ice-cream-due-undeclared-peanuts
Velvet Ice Cream Voluntarily Recalls Raspberry Fudge Cordial Ice Cream Due to Undeclared Peanuts
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 13, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  September 14, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  May contain undeclared peanuts
Company Name:  Velvet Ice Cream
Brand Name:  Velvet
Product Description:  Raspberry Fudge Cordial Ice Cream

Stuffed Shells Recalled After Complaints of Foreign Material in the Form of Metal

Seviroli Foods of Bellmawr, NJ is recalling H-E-B Jumbo Stuffed Shells - 22 oz due to potential presence of foreign material in product (Metal).  The issue was discovered on September 09, 2021, after H-E-B was notified of four customer complaints. All product related to this recall has been removed from H-E-B store shelves.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/seviroli-foods-voluntarily-issues-recall-h-e-b-jumbo-stuffed-shells-22-oz-due-potential-presence
Seviroli Foods Voluntarily Issues a Recall of H-E-B Jumbo Stuffed Shells - 22 Oz Due to Potential Presence of Foreign Material
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 14, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  September 14, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:   Presence of foreign material (metal)
Company Name:  SEVIROLI FOODS, INC.
Brand Name:  H-E-B
Product Description:  Jumbo Stuffed Shells

RTE Breadsticks Recalled for Undeclared Sesame After Comingling Issue Identified

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for ready-to-eat (RTE) breadsticks, meat and cheese products containing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated breadsticks that have been recalled by the producer, Jag Specialty Foods, due to concerns that the products may have comingled with sesame breadsticks and sesame seeds. Sesame is not declared on the product label.  The problem was discovered when Daniele International observed that breadsticks received from Jag Specialty Foods that do not contain sesame were comingled with sesame breadsticks and sesame seeds and notified their supplier and FSIS.

As we know, sesame was added to the list of allergens that must be declared on labels.  This law does no go into place until 2023.

FSIS Announcement
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-meat-snack-products-containing-fda-regulated
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert For Meat Snack Products Containing FDA-Regulated Breadstick Products That Have Been Recalled Due To Misbranding And An Undeclared Ingredient

Illinois Establishment Recalls Uninspected Meat Products After Anonymous Tip

AS Foods Enterprises Inc., an Elk Grove Village, Ill., establishment, is recalling approximately 3,768 pounds of beef and chicken empanada products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection and bearing a label with a false USDA mark of inspection.   The problem was discovered after FSIS received an anonymous tip and initiated an investigation.

If the inspectors don't catch you initially, you can always count on your competitors turning you in.  Not saying that is what happened in this case, but that would be my bet.


FSIS Announcement
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/sas-foods-enterprises-inc.-recalls-frozen-fully-cooked-beef-and-chicken-empanada
SAS Foods Enterprises INC. Recalls Frozen, Fully Cooked Beef and Chicken Empanada Products Packaged without Benefit of Inspection

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2021 – SAS Foods Enterprises Inc., an Elk Grove Village, Ill., establishment, is recalling approximately 3,768 pounds of beef and chicken empanada products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection and bearing a label with a false USDA mark of inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Nutty Buddy Cookie Bites Sandwich Cookies Recalled for Undeclared Peanuts Due to Co-Packer Error

McKee Foods of Collegedale, Tenn., is recalling 25 cases of Little Debbie® Mini Nutty Buddy Cookie Bites Sandwich Cookies, because they may contain undeclared pecans.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product containing pecans was included in packaging that did not reveal the presence of tree nuts. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the production processes of the contract manufacturer that makes and packages the product for McKee Foods.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/mckee-foods-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-pecans-little-debbier-mini-nutty-buddy-cookie-bites
McKee Foods Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Pecans in Little Debbie® Mini Nutty Buddy Cookie Bites Sandwich Cookies
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 10, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  September 11, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Snack Food Item
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared pecans
Company Name:  McKee Foods
Brand Name:  Little Debbie®
Product Description:  Mini Nutty Buddy Cookie Bites Sandwich Cookies

Leaf Parsley Recalled After State Sampling Finds Pathogenic E. coli

Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. is voluntarily recalling a limited number of cases of conventional Curly Leaf Parsley. The product being recalled is Dole® Curly Leaf Parsley, with harvest dates of August 18, 2021, and August 19, 2021. A random, routine regulatory sample collected in Michigan tested positive for non-O157 STEC (Shigatoxin-producing E. coli).   This precautionary recall is being initiated due to a positive non-O157 STEC result found on a single sample collected by the Michigan Department of Agriculture during routine random sampling.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/dole-fresh-vegetables-announces-precautionary-limited-recall-curly-leaf-parsley-due-possible
Dole Fresh Vegetables Announces Precautionary Limited Recall of Curly Leaf Parsley Due to Possible Contamination with Non-O157 Shiga-Toxin Producing E. coli
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 10, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  September 10, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Produce
Reason for Announcement:  Non-O157 Shiga-toxin producing E. coli
Company Name:  Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc.
Brand Name:  Dole
Product Description:  Curly leaf parsley

Review Article - Processing Environment Monitoring in Low Moisture Food Production Facilities

In the recent edition of International Journal of Food Microbiology, there is a review article on environmental sampling in low moisture processing environments.  The "current paper aims to summarize and evaluate existing scientific information on outbreaks, relevant pathogens in low moisture foods, and knowledge on indicators, including their contribution to a “clean” environment capable of limiting the spread of pathogens in dry production environments. This paper also outlines the essential elements of a processing environment monitoring [PEM] program thereby supporting the design and implementation of better programs focusing on the relevant microorganisms.'

This paper can provide document support for your PEM program or help with the design a program.  There are many factors used in determining the PEM program including facility design, the process, and the product, so there is no cookie-cutter approach.  This paper discusses how these factors will influence sampling plans.

An important point is made with Listeria sampling in these dry processing environments for low moisture foods (LMF).  "Because the LMF category represents a very low risk for listeriosis, it is generally considered that the use of an environmental monitoring program for Listeria species, is not really a good use of food safety resources (GMA, 2014). Rather, the use of the Enterobacteriaceae as an indicator of the ingress of water, as well as hygiene and sanitation in the post-processing environment, is recommended. Furthermore, with regards to the control of L. monocytogenes in LMF manufacturing facilities, in relation to HACCP, L. monocytogenes in LMF would be considered a very low risk because it does not grow in LMF (Beuchat et al., 2013)."  

Too often we see these types of facilities add Listeria to their sampling regime.  While there are some instances where this could be a factor, perhaps in cases where the ingredient is added to a RTE high moisture food as a post process addition, there should always be careful consideration for what will be tested.

(If you have a problem accessing this paper, please contact me - mwb124@psu.edu)

International Journal of Food Microbiology
Volume 356, 16 October 2021, 109351
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016816052100310X
Review
Processing environment monitoring in low moisture food production facilities: Are we looking for the right microorganisms?
Authors François Bourdichonab Roy Bettsc Christophe Dufourd Séamus Fanninge Jeffrey Farberf Peter McCluregDespoina Angeliki Stavropoulouh Ellen Wemmenhovei Marcel H.Zwieteringj Anett Winkle

Abstract

Processing environment monitoring is gaining increasing importance in the context of food safety management plans/HACCP programs, since past outbreaks have shown the relevance of the environment as contamination pathway, therefore requiring to ensure the safety of products. However, there are still many open questions and a lack of clarity on how to set up a meaningful program, which would provide early warnings of potential product contamination. Therefore, the current paper aims to summarize and evaluate existing scientific information on outbreaks, relevant pathogens in low moisture foods, and knowledge on indicators, including their contribution to a “clean” environment capable of limiting the spread of pathogens in dry production environments. This paper also outlines the essential elements of a processing environment monitoring program thereby supporting the design and implementation of better programs focusing on the relevant microorganisms. This guidance document is intended to help industry and regulators focus and set up targeted processing environment monitoring programs depending on their purpose, and therefore provide the essential elements needed to improve food safety.