Store Recalls Happy Face Cookies for Undeclared Allergen After Audit Finds Wrong Ingredient Used

Giant Eagle, Inc. has issued a voluntarily recall of “Happy Face Cookies” sold in bakery departments at two Ohio Giant Eagle supermarkets in Geneva and Ashtabula due to the possibility the product may contain an undeclared milk allergen.  Giant Eagle was made aware of the issue during a routine audit of store-made product recipes and discovered the wrong ingredient was being used.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/two-giant-eagle-stores-recall-cookies-due-undeclared-milk-allergen
Two Giant Eagle Stores Recall Cookies Due to Undeclared Milk Allergen
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  March 31, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  April 01, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Milk
Company Name:  Giant Eagle, Inc.
Brand Name:  Happy Face Cookies
Product Description:  Cookies

Peanut Butter Recalled After Potential Metal Contamination Issue Discovered by Facility

Skippy Foods, LLC is voluntarily recalling 9,353 cases, or 161,692 total pounds, of a limited number of code dates of SKIPPY® Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread, SKIPPY® Reduced Fat Chunky Peanut Butter Spread and SKIPPY® Creamy Peanut Butter Blended With Plant Protein due to the possibility that a limited number of jars may contain a small fragment of stainless steel from a piece of manufacturing equipment.  There have been no consumer complaints associated with this recall to date, and all retailers that received the affected product have been properly notified.  The manufacturing facility’s internal detection systems identified the concern.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/voluntary-class-ii-recall-announced-limited-number-jars-skippyr-reduced-fat-creamy-peanut-butter
Voluntary Class II Recall Announced for a Limited Number of Jars of Skippy® Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread, Skippy® Reduced Fat Chunky Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy® Creamy Peanut Butter Blended with Plant Protein
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  March 30, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  March 30, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  May contain a small fragments (stainless steel)
Company Name:  Skippy Foods, LLC
Brand Name:  Skippy
Product Description:  Reduced Fat Creamy and Chunky Peanut Butter

KS Firm Recalls Fruit Trays Containing Cantaloupe After FDA Testing Finds Salmonella

Liberty Fruit Company, Inc. is recalling certain packages containing cantaloupe because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.  The potential for contamination was noted after a routine collection sample and analysis by the FDA resulted in a positive test for Salmonella.  To date, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/liberty-fruit-company-inc-recalls-processed-cantaloupe-possible-health-risk
Liberty Fruit Company, Inc. Recalls Processed Cantaloupe For Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  March 28, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  March 29, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Fruit/Fruit Product
Reason for Announcement:  Potential for Salmonella
Company Name:  Liberty Fruit Company, Inc.
Brand Name:  Carol's Cuts
Product Description:  Fruit Trays Containing Cantaloupe

Chocolate Cookie Bunny Hutch Kits Recalled After Allergen 'Contains Statement' Misses Milk Although Listed in Ingredients

Wilton Industries, Inc. of Naperville, Illinois is initiating a voluntary recall of Ready to Build Chocolate Cookie Bunny Hutch Kit due to a milk allergen missing from the “Contains” statement. The ingredient list on the package lists “Skim Milk Powder” as an ingredient, however the “Contains” statement did not include “Milk” as required. This labeling oversight was brought to the company's attention as a result of a consumer inquiry. Following our own internal review, we confirmed “Skim Milk Powder” was included in the ingredient list, but was not listed in the “Contains” statement.

So this is a label design issue.  While the ingredient statement lists the milk powder, someone forgot to add it in the allergen 'Contains' statement.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/wilton-industries-inc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-ready-build-chocolate-cookie-bunny-hutch

Wilton Industries, Inc. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Ready to Build Chocolate Cookie Bunny Hutch Kit
Summary
Company Announcement Date: March 25, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  March 28, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Milk
Company Name:  Wilton Industries, Inc.
Brand Name:  Wilton
Product Description:  Ready to Build Chocolate Cookie Bunny Hutch Kit

AZ Firm Recalls Dried Strawberries Due to Undeclared Sulfites

SunTree Snack Foods LLC, of Phoenix, AZ, is recalling Good & Gather Dried Sweetened Strawberries, because the product contains undeclared sulfite.  The recall was initiated due to Florida's Department of Agriculture performing a sampling. The results of the sampling indicated the above lots contained sulfites that were not declared on the label.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/suntree-snack-foods-llc-issues-voluntary-recall-dried-sweetened-strawberries-due-potential
SunTree Snack Foods, LLC. Issues Voluntary Recall of Dried Sweetened Strawberries Due to Potential Undeclared Sulfites
Summary
Company Announcement Date:   March 23, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  March 24, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Sulfites
Company Name:  SunTree Snack Foods
Brand Name:  Good & Gather
Product Description:  Dried Sweetened Strawberries

NY State Ag Commissioner Issues Alert for High Sulfite Levels in Licorice Flavored Olives and Dried Plums

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball today alerted consumers that A&C Best Food Trading Inc., of Long Island City, New York 11101, is recalling “Licorice Flavor Olive” and Wife Plum due to the presence of undeclared sulfites. Routine sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets food inspectors and subsequent analysis of the product by New York State Food Laboratory personnel revealed the product contained high levels of sulfites which were not declared on the label. The consumption of 10 milligrams of sulfites per serving has been reported to elicit severe reactions, including anaphylactic shock, in some asthmatics and sensitive individuals.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/consumer-alert-undeclared-sulfites-licorice-flavor-olive
Consumer Alert: Undeclared Sulfites in "Licorice Flavor Olive"
Summary
Company Announcement Date: March 22, 2022
FDA Publish Date: March 23, 2022
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement: Undeclared Sulfite
Company Name: A&C Best Food Trading Inc.
Brand Name: A&C Best Food Trading Inc.
Product Description: Licorice Flavor Olive

Company Recalls Airborne Gummies Due to Container Caps Going Airborne

Reckitt is recalling over 3 million bottles of their famous Airborne Gummies after receiving 70 reports of the seals and caps popping off when opening.  This has resulting in 18 minor injuries.  It seems the jars are over pressurized resulting in the seals and caps popping off the bottles.

Airborne is formulated to support the immune system, but the immune system is not much help against a flying cap (unless to fight infection from the infliction caused by the flying cap).

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Reckitt-Recalls-More-than-Three-Million-Bottles-of-Airborne-Gummies-Due-to-Injury-Hazard
Reckitt Recalls More than Three Million Bottles of Airborne Gummies Due to Injury Hazard

Name of Product: Airborne Gummies (63 and 75 count bottles)  
Hazard: When opened for the first time, pressure build up in the bottle can cause the cap and underlying seal to pop off with force, posing an injury hazard.

FDA Warning Letter for Raw Dog Food Operation For Not Controlling Pathogenic Bacteria

FDA issued a Warning Letter to a California based manufacturer of 'raw dog food'.  In a nutshell, the facility was not really controlling pathogens such as Salmonella or Listeria...in the raw product or from the environment.  Their supposed control for the raw product was intermittently spraying a chemical on the frozen meat at the chipper.  There was improper validation support for efficacy of this procedure (what they were doing was different than the study parameters).  In the environment, Salmonella and Listeria were recovered including from product contact surfaces. 

You can read more about OC Raw Dog from their website. https://ocrawdog.com/testimonials/faqs/

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/oc-raw-dog-llc-615550-02232022

WARNING LETTER
OC Raw Dog LLC
MARCS-CMS 615550 — FEBRUARY 23, 2022

FDA Releases 483 Reports for Infant Formula Manufacturer of Recalled Dried Powder Formula

FDA released its recent inspectional report (FDA 483 Inspectional Observations) dated 1/31-22 to 3/18-22 for Abbott Laboratories' Sturgis Michigan facility. This facity recently recalled baby formula after being linked to 4 infant deaths due to Cronobacter sakazakii. C. sakazakii is a bacterial hazard in baby formula because it can lead to severe infection in death in infants, especially those born prematurely.

From the CDC: "Cronobacter germs can cause a dangerous blood infection (sepsis) or make the linings surrounding the brain and spinal cord swell (meningitis). Infants 2 months of age and younger are most likely to develop meningitis if they get sick from Cronobacter. Other infants more likely to get sick are those born prematurely and those less able to fight germs and sickness because of illness or medical treatment, such as infants receiving chemotherapy for cancer."

A few items from the 483 Report

• FDA found C. sakazakii in the medium and high cares areas on Zone 2 and 3 samples, (with Zone 2 being surfaces adjacent to product contact surfaces and Zone 3 being further away such as floor samples).
• The firm also had positive environmental samples and finished product over a 2.5 year period.
• During inspection, there was a water leak issue in the dryer area, which is supposed to be a dry area. Water issues had been a long identified issue in the facility
• Product contact surfaces were not adequately protected from contamination. (Obs 2)
• Inadequate follow up on consumer complaints (Obs 3)
• Poor adherence to Personal Hygiene program for wearing protective gear (Obs 4) including people failing to sanitize designated work (captive) shoes as they move from area to area.

If you are unfamiliar with a 483 report and the type of issues noted on a report, you may want to check this out.

One thing that stands out is the lack of root cause analysis for issues experienced over time coupled with lax protocols.