CA Establishment Recalls Frozen Potstickers After Consumer Complaints Reported For Clear Flexible and Hard Plastic

Ajinomoto Foods North America Inc., a Hayward, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 33,567 pounds of raw, frozen chicken and vegetable potsticker products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically clear flexible and hard plastic.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/ajinomoto-foods-north-america-inc-recalls-raw-frozen-chicken-and-vegetable
Ajinomoto Foods North America Inc Recalls Raw, Frozen Chicken and Vegetable Potsticker Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2021 – Ajinomoto Foods North America Inc., a Hayward, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 33,567 pounds of raw, frozen chicken and vegetable potsticker products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically clear flexible and hard plastic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

CDC Investigation - Source Still Unknown for Ongoing Salmonella Outbreak

CDC and public health and regulatory officials in several states are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Oranienburg infections. The investigation has not yet identified a food linked to illness.

• On September 2, 2021, CDC identified an outbreak of 20 Salmonella Oranienburg infections. Since then, the outbreak has grown rapidly.
• As of September 21, 2021, 279 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Oranienburg have been reported from 29 states (see map). Illnesses started on dates ranging from August 3, 2021 to September 13, 2021 (see timeline).
• Sick people range in age from less than 1 year to 89 years, with a median age of 35, and 59% are female. Of 86 people with information available, 26 have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported.

https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/oranienburg-09-21/index.html

Salmonella Outbreak with Unknown Food Source
Posted September 23, 2021

Fast Facts
Illnesses: 279 (152 new)
Hospitalizations: 26 (8 new)
Deaths: 0
States: 29 (4 new)
Recall: No
Investigation status: Active

Investigation Details
Posted September 23, 2021
September 23, 2021

Shipping Salad with Caesar Dressing Instead of Ranch Dressing Results in Allergen-related Recall Due to Undeclared Anchovies

Ready Pac Foods, Inc.’s establishments in Swedesboro, NJ and Jackson, GA, are recalling approximately 222,915 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) salad products with meat and poultry because the products contain Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated salad dressing that has been recalled by the producer, Litehouse Inc., due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen - the salad dressing component contains anchovies, which is not declared on the salad product label. The problem was discovered when the firm was notified by their salad dressing supplier that a shipment of ranch salad dressing was inadvertently misbranded and may contain Caesar dressing with anchovies.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/ready-pac-foods-inc.-recalls-ready-eat-salad-products-containing-meat-and-poultry
Ready Pac Foods, Inc. Recalls Ready to Eat Salad Products Containing Meat and Poultry Due to Misbranding and an Undeclared Allergen

OH Dairy Recalls Chocolate Milk That Was Improperly Pasteurized

Green Field Farms Dairy of Fredericksburg, Ohio announces a voluntary recall of its Whole Chocolate Milk product, with a code date of 9/29/21, due to a laboratory analysis that indicated this product was not effectively pasteurized.  The issue was discovered during routine product testing conducted by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. There have been no reports of illness involving products addressed in this recall.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/green-field-farms-dairy-issues-voluntary-recall-whole-chocolate-milk
Green Field Farms Dairy Issues Voluntary Recall of Whole Chocolate Milk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 17, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  September 20, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Product was not effectively pasteurized.
Company Name:  Green Field Farms Dairy
Brand Name:  Green Field Farms
Product Description:  Whole chocolate milk

NY Firm Recalls Coriander Chutney After FDA Inspection Finds Undeclared Sulfites, Coconut, and Yellow #5

Joy Gourmet Foods Inc. of Maspeth, NY is recalling its Joy Brand.  Coriander chutney because it contains undeclared sulfites. coconut. FD&C YELLOW#5 .  The recall was initiated after a routine inspection by a United States of America Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Inspector, which revealed that the product contained sulfites, coconut, and FD&C yellow#5 and were distributed in packages that did not declare their presence.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/joy-gourmet-foods-llc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-sulfites-coconut-and-fdc-yellow5
Joy Gourmet Foods LLC Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Sulfites, Coconut and FD&C Yellow#5
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 18, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  September 18, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Sulfites, Coconut, FD&C Yellow #5
Company Name:  Joy Gourmet Foods Inc.
 Brand Name:  Joy
Product Description:  Coriander Chutney

CDC Article - Novel Outbreak-Associated Food Vehicles, United States

An article in the October 2021 issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases, titled Novel Outbreak-Associated Food Vehicles, United States, discusses foods that were responsible for foodborne outbreak, where the food had not been implicated in outbreaks in the past. Of course, we know poultry or leafy greens as vehicles, but from time to time, there are 'novel' foods found be involved.

The article lists several ways in which outbreaks from novel foods differ from outbreaks associated with others.  The study covers the years 2007-2016.

Outbreaks associated with novel food vehicles differed from other outbreaks (i.e., those not associated with a novel food vehicle) in several ways (Table 2). First, 61.1% of outbreaks associated with a novel food vehicle involved exposure in multiple states, compared with 5.7% of other outbreaks (p<0.001). Second, 48.6% of outbreaks associated with a novel food vehicle resulted in a food recall, compared with 5.2% of other outbreaks (p<0.001). Third, the mean numbers of reported primary cases, hospitalizations, and deaths were greater among outbreaks linked to novel food vehicles than among other outbreaks (p = 0.04, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively). Fourth, the percentage of cases that resulted in hospitalization and the percentage of cases that resulted in death were significantly greater among outbreaks linked to novel food vehicles than among other outbreaks. Last, outbreaks associated with a novel food vehicle were more likely than other outbreaks to be caused by Salmonella contamination (p<0.001). Two potential confounding effects were a disproportionate number of Salmonella outbreaks linked to novel foods and potential effects of contamination from ill food workers (sensitivity analyses in Table 2).

While these foods may be novel, none are surprising.  For those that are a type of meat or fish (Bison, Carp, frog, lionfish, swai), they have the same issues associated with similar protein types.  Most of the other items are items grown in nature and eaten with minimal to no processing.  Thus Salmonella tends to be a leading cause of illness associated with these products, as well as other hazards often associated wtih field contamination (STEC, Cyclopora), or basic handling (Listeria, Hepatitis A).

The importance of this is that when conducting the Hazard Analysis, one can't simply see if a food had been involved in past outbreaks.  One must consider where the product comes from and how it had been handled in relation to how it will be further processed (if any) and then consumed.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27/10/20-4080_article

Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal
Volume 27, Number 10—October 2021
Synopsis
Novel Outbreak-Associated Food Vehicles, United States

Bagged Kale Recalled After Testing Finds Listeria

Baker Farms is recalling their Baker Farms, Kroger & SEG Grocers brand names of Kale, 1 lb plastic bags with BEST BY 09-18-2021 107020-21832 due to contamination of Listeria monocytogenes.  The Kroger Co. followed suite and recalled 16-ounce Kroger bagged kale product, produced by Baker Farms.  On 9-15-2021 Baker Farms was notified by a customer that the product test positive for Listeria monocytogenes.  (The reports do not tell who actually conducted the testing).

There have been no reported illnesses.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/baker-farms-recalls-various-brand-name-kale-due-listeria-monocytogenes-contamination
Baker Farms Recalls Various Brand Name of Kale Due to Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 16, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  September 17, 2021
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement: Potential of Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name: Baker Farms
Brand Name: Baker Farms, Kroger & SEG Grocers
Product Description: Bagged Kale

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