Food Banks Expanding Capacities in Light of COVID, But Face Supply Chain Issues

Food banks proved vital during the COVID pandemic, serving a greater number of people than they ever had before.  With that, many have undertaken expansion projects to build capacity to serve, whether that be in the expansion of refrigerated storage or moving into the preparation of food.   At the same time, the same supply chain issues that have driven up costs for the entire food sector are also now impacting food banks in cost, both food and transportation, and availability.

https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-atlanta-utah-beb8c68cfad61e8bf8dc11e315169864
Food banks embark on expansions with lessons from COVID
By SUDHIN THANAWALA
November 4, 2021

ATLANTA (AP) — Food banks across the country are pursuing major expansion projects driven in part by their experiences during the pandemic, when they faced an explosion of need.

WA Establishment Recalls Ground Chicken Burgers After Complaints for Bone Material

Innovative Solutions, Inc., a Kent, Wash. establishment, is recalling approximately 97,887 pounds of raw ground chicken patty products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically pieces of bone.  The problem was discovered after the firm received consumer complaints reporting findings of bone in the chicken burger product.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/innovative-solutions-inc.-recalls-chicken-patty-products-due-possible-foreign-matter
Innovative Solutions, Inc. Recalls Chicken Patty Products Due To Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, INC
FSIS Announcement

Salmonella Outbreak in Salame Update - PA Establishment Recalls Salame Sticks After October Public Health Alert

CDC reports that there are now 31 cases of salmonella infections, with 6 hospitalized, linked to Citterio brand Premium Italian-Style Salame Sticks.

Euro Foods, a Freeland, Penn. establishment, is recalling approximately 119,091 pounds of salame stick products that may be contaminated with Salmonella. Although a public health alert was issued for the salame stick products on October 29, 2021 with FSIS believing that the product was no longer in commerce, further follow-up by FSIS found product available at one retail location and two Citterio salame stick samples previously collected by the California Department of Public Health have tested positive for Salmonella.

Euro Foods Dba Citterio USA Corp. Recalls Salame Stick Products Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination | Food Safety and Inspection Service (usda.gov)

Euro Foods Dba Citterio USA Corp. Recalls Salame Stick Products Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination

Oregon Processor Recalls Salmon Lox After WA State Testing Finds Listeria

Oregon Lox Company of Eugene, Oregon is issuing a voluntary recall of various brands of Wild Cold Smoked Keta Salmon Lox, specific lot number 22821, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes  (the notice actually states rnonocytogenes...I guess the rn looks like m, and this is not a new species).  The recall was the result of a routine sampling by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. This recall is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/oregon-lox-company-recalls-wild-cold-smoked-keta-salmon-lox-because-possible-health-risk
Oregon Lox Company Recalls Wild Cold Smoked Keta Salmon Lox Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 11, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  November 12, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Listeria monocytogenes contamination
Company Name:  Oregon Lox Company
Brand Name:  Aqua Nova, North Coast, Tony’s
Product Description:  Salmon Lox

Mango Yogurt Recalled After Discovery That Containers Filled With Egg-containing Pumpkin Yogurt

Ellenos Real Greek Yogurt of Federal Way, WA is recalling Mango Greek Yogurt 16 oz. cups because it may contain undeclared egg.   The recall was initiated when a few 16oz cups containing dark brown puree instead of bright yellow Mango puree were discovered. After a full internal investigation, it was determined that Mango yogurt cups were inadvertently used and packed with pumpkin yogurt product. The Mango yogurt cup label does not declare egg.  No illnesses or deaths have been reported to date.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/ellenos-real-greek-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-egg-mango-greek-yogurt-16-oz-cup
Ellenos Real Greek Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Egg in Mango Greek Yogurt 16 oz. Cup
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 10, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  November 11, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Yogurt/Yogurt Product
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Egg
Company Name:  Ellenos Real Greek Yogurt
Brand Name:  Ellenos
Product Description:  Mango Greek Yogurt

Frozen Cooked Shrimp Recalled for Listeria

Southeastern Grocers (SEG), the parent company of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarkets and Winn-Dixie stores, is recalling its Fisherman’s Wharf brand Jumbo Cooked Shrimp, Frozen 16-20 count. The recall is due to the detection of possible listeria on the product.  The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing revealed the presence of Listeria in 16-20 count 16 oz. bags of Fisherman’s Wharf brand frozen Jumbo Cooked Shrimp. Sale of the product has been suspended while FDA and the company continue to investigate the source of the problem.

It will be interesting to see if additional product is recalled, because as we have seen with Listeria, if not being controlled well, there will be other lots involved.

Secondly, when possible, cook your own shrimp.

Southeastern Grocers Recalls Fisherman’s Wharf Brand Jumbo Cooked Shrimp, Frozen 16-20 Count, Due to Possible Health Risk | FDA
Southeastern Grocers Recalls Fisherman’s Wharf Brand Jumbo Cooked Shrimp, Frozen 16-20 Count, Due to Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 03, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  November 05, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Possible Listeria
Company Name:  Southeastern Grocers
Brand Name:  Fisherman’s Wharf
Product Description:  Jumbo Cooked Shrimp, Frozen

Virtual Audits - The Case Against Citing EU Audit of Ukrainian Produce

 An article in the lawyer-sponsored report was reprinted throughout the mass media - Ukraine – Audit finds fruit contamination may go undetected in Ukraine – Microbial Contamination.  Having spent time there, I was curious about this report as I knew that Ukrainian berries were doing quite well in international trade.  In reviewing this report from the EU, I found that it was a virtual audit.  So product from a whole country was getting slammed by people who did not actually visit any farms, but evaluated State controls.  As it is here for exporting or importing commodities, the quality and safety standards are between the purchaser and the supplier.  For those companies that export, they have to meet their purchaser's requirements through enacting required policies and procedures.  In the US, we require that companies, not the countries, follow FDA (FSMA) or USDA regulations. 

So is this audit accurate, or is it perhaps a knock against some exporting country's product?  Not able to speculate on that, but the thing for us to note is the shortcomings of the virtual audit.  We recently heard from a number of agencies and associations that they are in favor of the virtual audit.  Easy to do for both the auditor and the auditee, what is not to be liked?  

While the virtual audit can be better than no audit at all, and can be adequate when travel is limited, such as the case during the COVID pandemic.  It may be completely adequate when there is only paperwork to check, such as the case with a FSVP audit.  However, a virtual audit can never provide the same information that an actual onsite audit does.

For one, an onsite audit forces that face-to-face communication where it harder to mislead the other.  People are more apt to be honest regarding the findings (not always of course) and recommendations and conversely, the proposed course of corrective action.  Sure there have been rare occasions of when a company is blindsided by the outcome of an audit, but hopefully that comes in the close-out when the auditors are sitting right in front of you.

An onsite audit gets to appraise the conditions as they are (on that day).  And for the auditor, they can get a better understanding of those conditions in context of the product being manufactured.  A seafood plant is much different than a diary.  

They can read the procedures and then go see those procedures in practice.  They can see the process beyond what is written in a flow diagram.  Auditors get to speak to others beyond those on the other side of the screen, including the real people actually operating the equipment or taking the measurements.

Few of us enjoy the onside audit, but it is a more honest way of doing business.  In today's world where the media can spin audit findings far and wide, we want to have the best shot at making the right impression.

Labor Shortage and Impact on Supply Chain and Food Safety

An article in Food Processing Magazine provides insight into the challenges facing the supply chain as the issue facing the broader economy...labor shortage.   Every section of the supply chain, including manufacturing and foodservice/retail is being severely hampered by the lack of labor.  This in turn has impacted inflation, pushing prices higher.  And for those working in the food industry, it can be a challenge to food safety.

While the COVID pandemic has provided swings in demand throwing the supply chain out of balance, it also ushered in this labor issues which have made the post-pandemic recovery much more difficult.  And this difficulty is expected to continue as it is expected that employee shortages will be a long term situation.

There are a number of reasons for the labor shortage.  An article in the Wall Street Journal (link below) and other sources provide insights including these:

• COVID vaccination status - many employers have issued mandates for COVID vaccinations which has resulted in many deciding to leave rather than comply
• Mothers of with young children deciding to leave or needing to leave the workforce due to childcare.  Childcare facilities are also facing a labor shortage and therefore have reduced capacity.  In other cases, mothers have decided to forgo the extra wages they would have earned to stay at home and reduce their risk.
• Older people who had continued to work after retirement age have decided to fully retire.  In some cases, that means taking early retirement.  In other cases, forgoing extra income and making a go of it on their current retirement payments.  Again, much of this may be related to avoiding the risk of becoming ill with the virus while working.
• For those willing to work, there are plenty of job openings giving people choices.  And there are many who have decided they want more out of their job...whether that be higher wages, better working hours,  better working conditions, or a little of each.  Some are sitting it out waiting for the right opportunity, living off current savings while they search.  And with numerous openings, some people are job jumping, perhaps with the notion of prolonging unemployment benefits.
• Absenteeism is also high.  A NAMI executive reports meat companies being challenged with 20% absenteeism of 20% on any given day.  I spoke with one retailer who stated they are forced to live with call offs - either take people when you can get them or force people who are present to work longer hours.

An article in the National Law Review discusses the use of immigration as a solution.  Having multitudes of people crossing the boarder will do little for jobs requiring some level of expertise, but perhaps by working on easing Visa restrictions, companies can pull in talent from areas where there are excess skilled workers.

Clearly this all then represents a challenge for food safety  - from being flexible to changes in the supply chain, to ensuring enough trained people are present to ensure safe production.  Companies will need to adapt their operations because there does not appear to be getting any better in the short term.  investments in technology and/or making changes to HR strategies will be areas of focus.  It is hard to run full speed when a company has an insufficient number of skill workers to properly operate.

Food Processing Magazine
https://www.foodprocessing.com/articles/2021/end-flap-supply-chain
Opinion: The Supply Chain as Scapegoat
The pandemic didn’t cause problems with the supply chain; it exposed them.
By Pan Demetrakakes, Senior Editor
Oct 25, 2021
The supply chain” has been getting a lot of blame lately.

Study - Risk of Spreading Germs in Public Restrooms

A study out of the University of South Australia evaluated the risk of spreading infectious disease in public restrooms.  "A global review of the risks of bacterial and viral transmission in public bathrooms has found that bioaerosols can potentially be transmitted throughout a multi-storey building by defective plumbing and that leaving toilet lids open after flushing can disperse contaminated droplets beyond a metre.  Uncovered rubbish bins in public bathrooms are also flagged as a risk, especially if located under or close to electric hand dryers."  "Open-lid toilet flushing, ineffective hand washing or hand drying, poor surface cleaning, blocked drains and uncovered rubbish bins all contribute to heavy bacterial and viral loads in washrooms."

https://www.unisa.edu.au/media-centre/Releases/2021/public-washrooms-are-flush-with-germs-but-there-are-simple-ways-to-reduce-your-risk-of-infections/
Public washrooms are flush with germs but there are simple ways to reduce your risk of infections
03 November 2021