Maine Seafood Company Recalls Lobster Meat After Internal Testing Finds Listeria

Greenhead Lobster Products of Bucksport, Maine is recalling 5,749 lbs. of frozen cooked lobster meat because of a potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.  The potential for contamination was noted after a routine sampling program by the company revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. 

Interesting point - This operation uses HPP (high pressure processing) to remove the meat from the shell.  The high pressure causes a contraction (more or less) of the meat but not the shell, allowing the meat to be pulled out of the shell.  

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/greenhead-lobster-products-recalls-frozen-cooked-lobster-products-because-possible-health-risk
Greenhead Lobster Products Recalls Frozen Cooked Lobster Products Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 02, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  October 02, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Greenhead Lobster Products
Brand Name:  Greenhead
Product Description:  Frozen cooked wild caught lobster meat

Federal Officials Seize Food Products from A Nasty Florida Warehouse

FDA issued a news release that US Marshalls conducted a mass seizure of spices and food additive product from a Miami warehouse after FDA inspectors determined that the site was unsanitary, and with that, the products were deemed to be adulterated  .  "The food products seized at the property include more than 25,000 boxes/bags of bulk ready-to-eat spices and food additives, such as monosodium glutamate, crushed red chili and sesame seeds."

"The complaint alleges that an inspection of Lyden Spice Corporation that the FDA conducted between June 8 and June 28, 2021, revealed insanitary conditions, including rodent feces too numerous to count on and around pallets with containers of food, evidence of rodent gnawing and urine on food containers, and rodent nesting material between food pallets. The FDA investigators also observed live and dead insects on food packaging, as well as apparent bird droppings in the food storage area."


Federal officials seize spices and food additive products held under insanitary conditions from a Florida warehouse | FDA
Federal officials seize spices and food additive products held under insanitary conditions from a Florida warehouse
For Immediate Release:
October 01, 2021

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that, on behalf of the agency, the U.S. Marshals Service conducted a mass seizure of FDA-regulated spices and food additive products held for sale under insanitary conditions. Specifically, these food products were exposed to widespread rodent infestation as well as other pests, such as live and dead insects.

UK - Teenager Death from Allergic Response to Sesame Impetus for New Allergen Labeling Law

The United Kingdom passed a new allergen labeling law after a teenage died from eating a baguette with undeclared sesame.   "Natasha's Law" will require full ingredient and allergen labelling on all food made on premises and pre-packed for direct sale.

She succumbed from anaphylaxis after she ate sesame in a baguette.  The sesame was baked into the dough, of an artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette bought from a Pret shop at about 07:00 BST in Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport on 17 July 2016.  After eating the item, "she began to feel ill during a British Airways flight, and suffered a cardiac arrest. Despite her father administering two EpiPen injections, she died later the same day."

The Food Standards Agency (UK) lists 14 allergens that require identification in food - celery, cereals containing gluten (such as barley and oats), crustaceans (such as prawns, crabs and lobsters), eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs (such as mussels and oysters), mustard, peanuts, sesame, soybeans, sulphur dioxide and sulphites (at a concentration of more than ten parts per million) and tree nuts (such as almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios and macadamia nuts).  This new law "applies to any business that is preparing, packing and selling food from the same premises, or food that is packed and then sold from a mobile stall or vehicle. This includes: cafes and coffee shops, takeaway and fish & chip restaurants, sandwich shops, farm shops, as well as work, school and hospital canteens."

In the US, sesame was recently added to the list of allergens that require labeling.  Mandatory labeling goes into effect in January of 2023.  

This case demonstrates that there are people who can have serious symptoms form sesame.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-58756597
Pret allergy death: Parents welcome Natasha's allergy law
By Alex Therrien
BBC News
10/1/21

Firm Recalls Frozen RTE Hot Dog Product After UDSA Finds Firm Had Received Report Indicating Listeria-Positive Food Contact Surface

Espi’s Sausage and Tocino Co., a Seattle, Wash. establishment, is recalling approximately 2,048 pounds of frozen ready-to-eat chicken and pork hot dog products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The problem was discovered by FSIS during an assessment of the establishment’s sampling records that indicated the firm received confirmation from their third-party lab that a product contact surface had returned positive for Listeria monocytogenes.  There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

While it is difficult to know specifically what occurred in this case, it seems as though there was little to no corrective action taken in response to a food contact surface that tested positive for Listeria.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/espis-sausage-and-tocino-co.-recalls-ready-eat-chicken-and-pork-hot-dog-products-due
Espi’s Sausage and Tocino Co. Recalls Ready-to-Eat Chicken and Pork Hot Dog Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination
FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2021 – Espi’s Sausage and Tocino Co., a Seattle, Wash. establishment, is recalling approximately 2,048 pounds of frozen ready-to-eat chicken and pork hot dog products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Taco Seasoning Blend Recalled Due To Undeclared Wheat After Mislabeling Error

B&G Foods announced today it is voluntarily recalling 3,867 cases of 23 oz. Tone’s Taco Seasoning Blend, with “best by” dates of SEPT 03 24 and SEPT 06 24, due to the presence of undeclared wheat.  A portion of the individual containers within those cases were mistakenly labeled on the back with the back labels for Tone’s Lemon Pepper Seasoning Blend, which does not list wheat as an allergen.

"It was determined that 3,867 cases of Tone’s Taco Seasoning Blend, which contain wheat, may contain some individual containers which are mistakenly labeled on the back as Lemon Pepper Seasoning Blend, which does not declare wheat. The product name appears on the top of the front and back label. Containers labeled as Tone’s Taco Seasoning Blend on both the front and back of the container correctly declare the presence of wheat. Containers labeled as Tone’s Taco Seasoning Blend on the front and Lemon Pepper Seasoning Blend on the back do not list wheat as an allergen. Therefore, B&G Foods is issuing this recall for Tone’s Taco Seasoning Blend with the particular UPC and “best by” dates listed above."

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/bg-foods-issues-voluntary-allergy-alert-undeclared-wheat-limited-number-cases-tonesr-taco-seasoning
B&G Foods Issues Voluntary Allergy Alert on Undeclared Wheat in a Limited Number of Cases of Tone’s® Taco Seasoning Blend
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 29, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  September 30, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared wheat
Company Name:  B&G Foods Inc.
Brand Name:  Tone’s
Product Description:  Taco Seasoning Blend

NJ Firm Recalls Crabcakes Due to Undeclared Egg Allergen

Cuisine Innovations Unlimited, LLC of 180 Lehigh Avenue, Lakewood, NJ, is recalling its 8.5-ounce, 6-piece packages of “Vemondo Vegan Crabless Mini Crabcakes” by Lidl because they contain undeclared egg yolks.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the egg yolk-containing product was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of egg yolks.  No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/cuisine-innovations-unlimited-llc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-egg-yolks-vemondo-vegan-crabless
Cuisine Innovations Unlimited, LLC Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Egg Yolks in “Vemondo Vegan Crabless Mini Crabcakes” by Lidl
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 28, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  September 28, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Seafood/Seafood Product
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared egg yolks
Company Name:  Cuisine Innovations Unlimited, LLC
Brand Name:  Vemondo by Lidl
Product Description:   Vegan Crabless Mini Crabcakes

Taco Cheese Curds Recalled for Undeclared Wheat

Picket Fence Creamery, LLC, is recalling its 12 oz. boxes of taco cheese curds as they may contain undeclared wheat, and its key lime pie ice cream, as it may contain undeclared wheat.  This recall was initiated after it was discovered that a wheat containing product was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of wheat.  No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the taco cheese curds, or key lime pie ice cream.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/allergy-alert-undeclared-wheat-cheese-curds-and-ice-cream
Allergy Alert on Undeclared Wheat in Cheese Curds and Ice Cream
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 27, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  September 27, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared wheat
Company Name:  Picket Fence Creamery, LLC
Brand Name:  Picket Fence Creamery, LLC
Product Description:  taco white cheddar cheese curds and key lime pie ice cream

Fruit Pies Recalled Due to Undeclared Allergens on Print-and-Apply Label

Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling select whole and sliced Apple and Cherry Pies from five stores in the Mid-Atlantic Region because they contain undeclared milk and egg.  All affected product has been removed from store shelves and no allergic reactions have been reported to date. The mislabeling issue was discovered by a Whole Foods Market team member after inspecting the ingredients on the scale label.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/allergy-alert-issued-undeclared-milk-and-egg-apple-and-cherry-pies-sold-five-whole-foods-market
Allergy Alert Issued for Undeclared Milk and Egg in Apple and Cherry Pies Sold at Five Whole Foods Market Stores in Mid-Atlantic Region
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 24, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  September 24, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared milk and eggs

Company Name: Whole Foods Market
Brand Name:  Whole Foods Market
Product Description:  Apple Pie and Cherry Pie

Nut Mix Product Recalled for Glass, Believed to be Supplier Related

SunTree Snack Foods LLC, of Phoenix, AZ, is recalling specific items of Happy Belly, Prince & Spring, Harris Teeter, and HEB brand names that contain specific lots of cashews due to the potential presence of glass pieces. No injuries have been reported to date. Although our investigation is ongoing, we believe the source of the glass is cashews that were an ingredient common to the products subject to this recall. SunTree Snack Foods, LLC is taking this action out of an abundance of caution.  The recall was initiated after a customer notified the firm that the product contained glass pieces.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/suntree-snack-foods-llc-issues-voluntary-recall-roasted-salted-cashew-halves-pieces-and-trail-mix
Suntree Snack Foods, LLC. Issues Voluntary Recall of Roasted Salted Cashew Halves & Pieces and Trail Mix Containing Roasted Salted Cashews Due to Potential Presence of Glass Pieces