Freeze Dried Blueberries Recalled For High Lead Content Linked to Source In Lithuania

BrandStorm Inc. announced it is voluntarily recalling 2 lots of Organic Freeze-Dried Blueberry (lot # 2021363-1 & 2022026-1) pouches because of the presence or potential presence of lead above the FDA's recommended limits; per the serving size specified on the nutritional facts panel.  Natierra Organic Freeze-Dried Blueberries 1.2oz were distributed in the United States through retail and online stores services. The issue is isolated of two batches of Natierra Freeze-Dried Blueberries.

The concern was identified upon testing conducted by a lab in Maryland. An investigation was conducted by the packing site. The original heavy metal reports received for the crop year showed no presence of lead and-or cause for batch testing. After further investigation it was found that the products county of Origin is Lithuania and aggressive monitoring of heavy metals may be deemed necessary. As an immediate action the packing site is actively working to enhance food safety system by implementing mandatory batch testing for heavy metal.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/urgent-nationwide-voluntary-recall-natierra-organic-freeze-dried-blueberry-lot-2021363-1-2022026-1
URGENT: Nationwide Voluntary Recall of Natierra Organic Freeze- Dried Blueberry (lot # 2021363-1 & 2022026-1) Due to levels of Lead
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  July 14, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  July 14, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Freeze Dried Blueberry
Company Name:  BrandStorm Inc.
Brand Name:  Natierra
Product Description:  Freeze Dried Blueberry

Florida Ice Cream Facility Recalls Ice Cream Linked to Listeria Outbreak

Big Olaf Creamery of Sarasota, Florida is recalling all flavors and all lots of Big Olaf brand ice cream products because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  This comes as FDA and CDC identified the ice cream as being linked to an outbreak with 23 people infected  from 10 states. 

From one website that shared FL Dept of Health results of testing, 16 of the 17 product samples tested by the State were positive for Listeria.  This would indicate a serious post-process contamination source...perhaps a valve or gasket? 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/big-olaf-creamery-recalls-ice-cream-because-possible-health-risk
Big Olaf Creamery Recalls Ice Cream Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  July 13, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  July 13, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Big Olaf Creamery, LLC
Brand Name:  Big Olaf
Product Description:  Ice cream

KS Dairy Recalls Chocolate Ice Cream Due to Undeclared Peanuts

Belfonte Dairy is announcing a recall of the 1.5 quarts (1.41 L)“Chocolate to Die For” Premium Ice Cream produced at its Kansas City ice cream manufacturing facility. The product may contain undeclared peanuts.  Belfonte initiated the recall after receiving a consumer complaint, where it was discovered that the Chocolate to Die For cartons of ice cream were distributed in packages that did not declare the presence of peanuts.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/belfonte-dairy-announces-recall-belfonte-premium-ice-cream-chocolate-die-15-quart-package
Belfonte Dairy Announces Recall of Belfonte Premium Ice Cream “Chocolate to Die For” 1.5 Quart Package
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  July 13, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  July 13, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Ice Cream/Frozen Dairy
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared peanuts 
Company Name:  Belfonte Dairy
Brand Name:  Belfonte
Product Description:  Chocolate to Die For Premium Ice Cream

Cookies Recalled Due to Potential Plastic Pieces in Product

Enjoy Life Natural Brands LLC announced today a voluntary recall, out of an abundance of caution, of a limited quantity of a select list of baked snacks products due to the potential presence of hard plastic pieces. The company became aware of this issue as a result of internal quality assurance surveillance.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/enjoy-life-natural-brands-llc-conducts-nationwide-voluntary-recall-select-bakery-products-due
Enjoy Life Natural Brands, LLC Conducts Nationwide Voluntary Recall of Select Bakery Products Due to Potential Presence of Foreign Material
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 30, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  July 12, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Product may contain hard plastic pieces
Company Name:  Enjoy Life Natural Brands, LLC
Brand Name:  Enjoy Life
Product Description:  Baked snacks

Chicken-based Dog Treats Recalls After State Laboratory Finds Salmonella

Stormberg Foods is recalling various sizes and batches of our Beg & Barker Chicken Breast Strips Dog Treat, Billo’s Best Friend Chicken Breast Strips Dog Treat, and Green Coast Pets Chicken Crisps Dog Treat products due to a potential contamination of Salmonella. On July 6, 2022, the firm was notified by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA & CS) that a sample they collected tested positive for Salmonella spp.

Stormberg Foods LLC Recalls Chicken Strips and Chicken Crisps Products for Dogs Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination | FDA
Stormberg Foods LLC Recalls Chicken Strips and Chicken Crisps Products for Dogs Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  July 12, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  July 12, 2022
Product Type:  Animal & Veterinary
Reason for Announcement:  Salmonella
Company Name: Stormberg Foods
Brand Name:  Beg & Barker, Billo’s Best Friend, and Green Coast Pets
Product Description:  Chicken dog treats

Chicago Company Recalls Gochujang-Glazed Pork Chop Bowls Sold Online Due to Undeclared Peanut

Tovala of Chicago, Illinois, is voluntarily recalling Gochujang-Glazed Pork Chop Bowl and Gochujang-Glazed Salmon Bowl prepared meals, because they may contain undeclared peanuts.  The Gochujang-Glazed Pork Chop Bowl and Gochujang-Glazed Salmon Bowl meals were distributed through Tovala’s weekly direct-to-consumer meal delivery service to customers across the continental United States who selected the meals for delivery the week of July 4, 2022. Tovala directly notified customers by email and push notifications who were shipped the affected meals, as well as disabled the QR codes used for cooking the meals.  This recall was initiated after Tovala discovered that an ingredient sourced from a third-party supplier contained an undeclared peanut allergen. The ingredient was used in the Gochujang Glaze, which was included in the recalled meals. To date, the company has received one report of an adverse reaction.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/tovala-issues-voluntary-allergy-alert-undeclared-peanuts-prepared-meals
Tovala Issues a Voluntary Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanuts in Prepared Meals
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  July 12, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  July 12, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared peanuts
Company Name:  Tovala
Brand Name:  Tovala
Product Description:  Gochujang-Glazed Salmon and Pork Bowls

Slow Laboratory Confirmation Forces Company to Recall Product on Presumptive Results

Hy-Vee, Inc. is voluntarily withdrawing all varieties and all sizes of its Hy-Vee Potato Salad and Mealtime Potato Salad due to a presumptive positive microbial result on the line that the potatoes were processed on. While final test results are not expected for approximately 7-10 days, due to the holiday weekend Hy-Vee elected to withdraw all product today from its shelves and service cases pending final test results.

Would love to get a better understanding of the delay here.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/hy-vee-voluntarily-withdraws-all-potato-salad-varieties-due-presumptive-positive-microbial-test

Hy-Vee Voluntarily Withdraws All Potato Salad Varieties Due to Presumptive Positive Microbial Test Result
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  July 01, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  July 08, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Presumptive positive microbial test
Company Name:  Hy-Vee, Inc.
Brand Name:  Hy-Vee, Inc. and Mealtime
Product Description:  Potato Salad

FDA Outbreak Investigation of Listeria Linked to Small Ice Cream Processor

FDA, CDC and local agencies are investigating a Listeria outbreak linked to ice cream sold by Big Olaf Creamery, a Sarasota, Florida ice cream processor. .   To this point, there have been a total of 23 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes reported from 10 states with 1 death and one fetal death.

There are many small ice cream processors throughout the country.  This should serve warning that the operations need to review their Food Safety Plan with an eye on Listeria control.

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-listeria-monocytogenes-ice-cream-july-2022
Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Ice Cream (July 2022)
Do not eat, sell, or serve ice cream products from Big Olaf Creamery of Sarasota, FL. FDA’s outbreak investigation is ongoing.

Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 23
Hospitalizations: 22
Deaths: 1
Fetal Loss: 1
Last illness onset: 6/12/2022
States with Cases: CO (1), FL (12), GA (1), IL (1), KS (1), MA (2), MN (1), NJ (1), NY (2), PA (1)
Product Distribution*: FL
*Distribution has been confirmed for states listed, but product could have been distributed further, reaching additional states

FDA Survey of PFAS Chemicals in Seafood - Is There a Bigger Concern?

FDA conducted a limited survey of seafood for PFAS.  FDA tested 81 samples of clams, cod, crab, pollock, salmon, shrimp, tuna, and tilapia (most of which were imported to the United States).   The goal was to determine if a wider survey is needed.

The FDA determined that samples of canned clams, which were from China, had sufficent level so that "the estimated exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a type of PFAS,[would be] a likely a health concern. For these canned clam samples with the two highest levels of PFOA, there would be a potential health concern for consumers who eat more than approximately 10 ounces (oz) of these clams per month, except for young children, who should limit consumption to 2 oz per month."  This product was recalled.

"The FDA initiated this seafood survey based on our prior testing of foods from the general food supply obtained from the FDA’s Total Diet Study (TDS), which found relatively low levels of PFAS in a few seafood samples. The percentage of seafood samples with detectable PFAS, the types of PFAS detected, and the levels detected in multiple samples are higher in this survey than we have found in the overall TDS samples. This is not unexpected, as seafood may be at increased risk for PFAS contamination from the environment. Therefore, we tested more samples of specific types of seafood, and in this survey our researchers tested for certain types of PFAS that have been identified in the literature as being more prevalent in seafood. Additionally, other studies in the scientific literature on clams from China and Europe have reported a range of levels of PFOA, including elevated levels."


https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-shares-results-pfas-testing-seafood
FDA Shares Results on PFAS Testing in Seafood

Constituent Update
July 6, 2022