Putting Fungi to Work - Creating Flavor Compounds

• Scientists have found a way to generate a potent wild strawberry scent by allowing one particular fungus to work on the pulp, seeds, and skin of black currants, a type of berry commonly grown in Europe.  
• Their motivation was to cheaply reuse agricultural waste, converting it into “natural flavors in a highly sustainable way,” says Helgor Zorn, a food scientist at the Institute of Food Chemistry and Food Biotechnology at Justus Liebig University Giessen in Hesse, Germany, and one of the researchers.
• Sustainably creating a wild strawberry scent is useful, because although wild strawberries have an odor and flavor that’s more concentrated and more potent than their domesticated counterparts, an individual wild strawberry is small. It doesn’t contain many aromatic compounds. Real wild strawberries are also hard to find in their forest homes.

Popular Science
This fungus makes food waste smell like strawberries (popsci.com)
Get this: Fungus can make trash smell like strawberries

A fungus named Wolfiporia cocos fermented the leftovers from old berries to make a new, pleasant aroma.

BY RAHUL RAO | PUBLISHED NOV 18, 2021 8:00 AM

MI Establishment Recalls Fully Cooked Ham and Pepperoni Products After FSIS Sampling Reveals Listeria monocytogenes

Alexander & Hornung, a St. Clair Shores, Michigan establishment and business unit of Perdue Premium Meat Company, Inc., is recalling approximately 234,391 pounds of fully cooked ham and pepperoni products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The problem was discovered when the company notified FSIS that product sampling reported positive Listeria monocytogenes results.  There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/alexander-hornung-recalls-fully-cooked-pork-products-due-possible-listeria
Alexander & Hornung Recalls Fully Cooked Pork Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2021 – Alexander & Hornung, a St. Clair Shores, Michigan establishment and business unit of Perdue Premium Meat Company, Inc., is recalling approximately 234,391 pounds of fully cooked ham and pepperoni products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Chicken Bologna Product from Canada Recalled After FSIS Finds Product Not Reinspected by USDA

Erie Meat Products Ltd., the importer of record in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, is recalling approximately 1,224 pounds of fully cooked chicken bologna products that were imported and distributed into the United States without the benefit of FSIS import reinspection.  The problem was discovered during routine FSIS surveillance activities of imported products.


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/erie-meat-products-ltd.-recalls-chicken-bologna-products-imported-without-benefit
Erie Meat Products Ltd. Recalls Chicken Bologna Products Imported Without Benefit of Inspection

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2021 – Erie Meat Products Ltd., the importer of record in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, is recalling approximately 1,224 pounds of fully cooked chicken bologna products that were imported and distributed into the United States without the benefit of FSIS import reinspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

FDA Proposes Rule on Assessment of Agricultural Water Used on Crops Covered in Produce Safety Rule

FDA proposed updated rules on the agricultural waters used on covered produce (other than sprouts).  In the initial release as part of the Produce Safety Rule, there were requirements for pre-harvest microbial quality criteria and testing.  In the proposed rule, there are systems-based pre-harvest agricultural water assessments.  "These assessments would be used to identify conditions that are reasonably likely to introduce known or reasonably foreseeable hazards into or onto produce or food contact surfaces, and to determine whether corrective or mitigation measures are needed to minimize the risks associated with pre-harvest agricultural water."

This assessment would take various factors into account including:

• The Agricultural water system - the location and nature of the water source, the type of water distribution system and the degree to which the system is protected from possible sources of contamination,
• Agricultural water practices - the type of application method (such as overhead sprinkler or spray; drip, furrow, flood, and seepage irrigation) and the time interval between the last direct application of agricultural water and harvest of the covered produce (other than sprouts)
• Crop characteristics - Susceptibility of the produce to surface adhesion or internalization of hazards
• Environmental conditions - Frequency of heavy rain or extreme weather events that may impact the agricultural water system, air temperatures and sun (UV) exposure
• Other factors

FSMA Proposed Rule on Agricultural Water | FDA
FSMA Proposed Rule on Agricultural Water

Tahini Recalled After State Testing Lab Finds Salmonella

International Golden Foods, Inc (IGF) of Bensenville, IL is voluntarily recalling certain lot codes of the Al kanater brand tahini because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.  This problem was revealed as a result of a random sampling by the Michigan Department of Agriculture. Although we have not received the final laboratory reports, IGF is recalling product with the lot codes listed above.  No illnesses have been reported to-date in connection with the Al Kanater Brand Tahini.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/international-golden-foods-inc-igf-recalls-tahini-because-possible-health-risk
International Golden Foods, Inc (IGF) Recalls Tahini Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 30, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  November 30, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Salmonella
Company Name:  International Golden Foods, Inc.
Brand Name:  Al Kanater
Product Description:  Tahini

FDA Issues Final Rule on Laboratory Accreditation for Analysis of Foods - What Does That Mean to Me

FDA passed the final rule on Laboratory Accreditation for Analysis of Food (LAAF).  Basically, FDA approves, or "recognizes" groups that can provide accreditation to laboratories.  These accredited laboratories can then do food testing for specific issues.

So how does this impact the food processor?

There is very little impact on the food processor unless you run into some issues on import or suspected food issue.  Specifically it applies to certain situations:

• to support removal of a food from an import alert through successful consecutive testing requirements;
• to support admission of an imported food detained at the border because it is or appears to be in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act;
• required by existing FDA food safety regulations, when applied to address an identified or suspected food safety problem (i.e., certain tests of shell eggs, sprouts, and bottled drinking water);
• required by a directed food laboratory order, a new procedure being implemented in this final rule that will allow FDA to require use of a LAAF-accredited laboratory to address an identified or suspected food safety problem in certain, rare circumstances; and
• conducted in connection with certain administrative processes such as testing submitted in connection with an appeal of an administrative detention order.

So not all food tested has to be conducted by an LAAF accredited laboratory, although a laboratory carrying LAAF accreditation may provide them some clout in the analytical testing world.

https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/fsma-final-rule-laboratory-accreditation-analyses-foods-laaf

FSMA Final Rule on Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods (LAAF)

Dec 1, 2021

FDA Warning Letter - NY Chocolate Company

FDA issued a Warning Letter to Maribel's Sweets, Inc. of Brooklyn, a manufacturer of Ready-to-Eat (RTE) chocolate products (including chocolate bars, ganache, hot chocolate, and cookies), and repacker of chocolate products.

FDA "determined that the RTE chocolate products manufactured in [the] facility are adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) [21 U.S.C. § 342(a)(4)] in that they were prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have become contaminated with filth or rendered injurious to health. In addition, failure of the owner, operator, or agent in charge of a covered facility to comply with the preventive controls provisions of the CGMP & PC rule."

Regarding the Preventive Control Plan
1) The company "did not prepare, or have prepared, and implement a food safety plan as required" by regulation.
2) Did not conduct a hazard analysis which would include identifying Salmonella, mycotoxins, and allergens as hazards of concern, and with that, appropriate controls were not identified.

Regarding GMPs

1) The facility was in poor shape including having cracks in the floor and peeling paint

2) Inadequate cleaning

3) Inadequate controls for allergens

4) Poor personal hygiene practices 

FDA Warning Letter
https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/maribels-sweets-inc-616288-10252021
Maribel's Sweets, Inc.
MARCS-CMS 616288 — OCTOBER 25, 2021

Longtime Penn State Short Course Contributor, Richard Kammerling, Passes

We were saddened to learn that Richard Kammerling, pest control expert and an instructor for Penn State's Food Safety and Sanitation Short Course, passed away this month.   In his presentations, he stressed being accountable for pest management systems and preparing for the unexpected.  With a lifetime of experiences, he made the topic of Pest Control exciting.  Many will not only remember Richard for his outstanding presentations on pest control management, but for his humor and friendly manner.  He loved to give people the 'business', especially the rest of the Penn State Food Science instructors.   He will be missed.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/newsday/name/richard-kammerling-obituary?id=31647824

Always, the last slide of his presentation.......

DON'T TAKE SHORTCUTS!

Bread Recalled After Packaged Incorrectly Resulting in Undeclared Sesame

Calise & Sons Bakery, Inc. of Lincoln RI is recalling bread packaged in the wrong bread bag.  The company produced Italian Scala Bread (Italian bread w/Sesame Seeds) and by error were packaged in a bag that says Golden Flax Seed Scala Bread, photos below. A total of 689 packages were produced that went out to markets in RI, MA, NH and CT.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/calise-sons-bakery-inc-recalls-golden-flax-scala-bread-because-possible-health-risk
Calise & Sons Bakery, Inc. Recalls Golden Flax Scala Bread Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 24, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  November 29, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared sesame seeds
Company Name:  Calise Bakery
Brand Name:  Calise Bakery
Product Description:   Golden Flax Seed Scala Bread