Candy Products REcalled Due to Undeclared Milk and Tree Nut Allergens

Queen Bee LLC (Lovell, WY) issued a voluntary recall of candy products purchased within the last year. The voluntary recall impacts a variety of honey caramel candy products and chocolates that may contain undeclared allergens including tree nuts and dairy (milk).  The undeclared tree nut allergen issue was identified as part of a result of a routine food safety inspection and the incorrectly labeled milk and tree nut allergen was the result of a label review.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/queen-bee-llc-voluntary-recall
Queen Bee LLC Voluntary Recall
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  April 28, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  May 03, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Chocolate/Cocoa Product
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Tree Nuts
Company Name:  Queen Bee Gardens
Brand Name:  Bee
Product Description:  Chocolate Candy Products

Chocolate Recalled Due to Undeclared Milk Due to Supplier Error

The TJX Companies, Inc. of Framingham, MA is recalling certain vegan chocolate products because they may contain undeclared milk.   One illness has been reported to date in connection with the recalled products. The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the products labelled as “Dairy Free” contained milk. Subsequent investigation indicated that this was caused by a manufacturing error at the supplier’s facility. As a result, TJX is recalling all items for sale in our stores that were manufactured in this facility.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/tjx-companies-inc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-certain-vegan-chocolate-products
The TJX Companies, Inc. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Certain Vegan Chocolate Products
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 01, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  May 01, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Milk
Company Name:  The TJX Companies
Brand Name:  Pimlico Confectioners, Keats London
Product Description:  Vegan Chocolate Products

Retailer Recalls Co-manufactured Cookies After Two Complaints for Metal Fragments

H-E-B is voluntarily issuing a recall for H-E-B Bakery Two Bite Brownies (12 oz) and H-E-B Simply Delicious Cookies with Brownie Bites Party Trays for potential metal fragments in product. The potentially affected products were manufactured by an outside supplier and distributed only to H-E-B and Joe V’s Smart Shop stores in Texas and Mexico.  H-E-B made the decision to issue a recall upon investigation of two consumer complaints. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/specific-items-containing-h-e-b-bakery-two-bite-brownies-manufactured-outside-supplier-voluntarily
Specific Items Containing H-E-B Bakery Two Bite Brownies Manufactured by an Outside Supplier Voluntarily Recalled for Potential Presence of Metal Fragments
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  April 29, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  April 29, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:   May contain metal fragments
Company Name:  H-E-B
Brand Name:  H-E-B Bakery
Product Description:  Two-Bite Brownies

FDA Issues Guidance on FSVP That Now Requires Appropriate DUNS Number on Entry Filing

FDA provided updated guidance for the FSVP program.  Previously, the FDA allowed the filer of the entry to use a generic number for the unique facility identifier on the entry form.  FDA 2018 guidance "provided for the temporary use of the entity role code “UNK” (to represent “unknown”) in lieu of a DUNS number, to be provided in the Entity Number field for importer identification when filing entry with CBP for a food subject to FSVP."  Entry filers must now use an appropriate DUNS number (Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System number).

Guidance for Industry: Compliance with Providing an Acceptable Unique Facility Identifier for the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for Food Importers Regulation | FDA

Guidance for Industry: Compliance with Providing an Acceptable Unique Facility Identifier for the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for Food Importers Regulation
APRIL 2022
Docket Number:
FDA-2011-N-0143

First Human Case of Bird Flu Reported in US

The CDC is reporting the first case of bird flu to affect a human.  The infected person was handling chickens as part of a culling operation (culling = eliminating).   It is important to note that "while pathogenic avian influenza is a serious concern for our nation’s poultry industry", it is not an issue in the human population.

Meating Place
https://www.meatingplace.com/Industry/News/Details/104436
CDC reports first human infection of bird flu as USDA commits $263M to APHIS

By Susan Kelly on 4/29/2022

A man under the age of 40 who culled poultry on a Colorado farm tested positive this week for avian influenza A (H5) in the first bird flu case in a human in the current U.S. outbreak, state health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Thursday.

USDA Issues Alert for Trader Joe's Recalls Frozen Chicken Products Imported Without USDA Stamp

USDA FSIS is issuing a public health alert for ready-to-eat (RTE) frozen chicken products that did not receive the benefit of import reinspection. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase. The problem was discovered during routine FSIS surveillance activities of imported products.

This is clearly a rookie mistake....distributing products in the US that do not bear the USDA stamp  thus indicating it was not inspected.

FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ready-to-Eat Frozen Chicken Products Imported Without the Benefit of Import Reinspection | Food Safety and Inspection Service (usda.gov)
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ready-to-Eat Frozen Chicken Products Imported Without the Benefit of Import Reinspection

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, April 28, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for ready-to-eat (RTE) frozen chicken products that did not receive the benefit of import reinspection. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase.

Fish Sandwiches Recalled After Isolated Case of Large Fish Bones

Gorton’s Seafood is voluntarily recalling frozen seafood item, Gorton’s Fish Sandwich - 100% Whole Fillets, 18.3 oz, due to the isolated and unusual potential presence of large and/or sharp bone fragments. While there have been no reports of injury from the product to date, the company is taking this action to ensure the safety and well-being of all of our consumers. Consumption of this recalled product may pose a choking hazard or other physical injury.

As part of the hazard analysis, fish bones would be identified as a hazard in the filleting process. Is it a hazard likely to occur....from this recall, we would say yes.  Then what critical controls points would be utilized?

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/gortons-issues-voluntary-recall-small-quantity-fish-sandwich-fillets
Gorton's Issues Voluntary Recall for Small Quantity of Fish Sandwich Fillets
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  April 27, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  April 28, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Presence of bone fragments
Company Name:  Gorton’s Seafood
Brand Name:  Gorton’s
Product Description:  Fish Sandwich
Company Announcement  Gloucester, MA (April 27, 2022)

NJ Establishment Recalls Ground Beef After FSIS Testing of Imported Raw Materials Finds E. coli O103

Lakeside Refrigerated Services, a Swedesboro, N.J. establishment, is recalling approximately 120,872 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O103.  The problem was discovered during routine FSIS testing of imported products. There have been no confirmed reports of illness or adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/lakeside-refrigerated-services-recalls-ground-beef-products-due-possible-e-coli-o103
Lakeside Refrigerated Services Recalls Ground Beef Products Due to Possible E. coli O103 Contamination

TN Company Selling Beef Jerky Online Recalls Product for Not Having USDA FSIS Inspection

Online food sales are often viewed as one of these grey areas with regard to regulations.  Companies that sell direct to the consumers often view themselves as retailers outside of federal regulation.  However, as seen in this case, a Tennessee company has to recall beef jerky product after being cited b USDA for not producing under FSIS inspection.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/tennessee-brown-bag-llc-recalls-beef-jerky-products-produced-without-benefit
Tennessee Brown Bag, LLC Recalls Beef Jerky Products Produced without Benefit of Inspection

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2022 - Tennessee Brown Bag, LLC, a Hixson, Tenn. establishment, is recalling approximately 4,590 pounds of beef jerky products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.