Monday, August 22, 2022

Allergenic Reaction to Cashew in Mislabeled Coconut Bites Leads to Recall

The Gluten Free Bar of Grand Rapids, MI is issuing a voluntary recall on The GFB 1.2 oz Dark Chocolate Coconut Bites because it may contain a potential undeclared allergen, cashew.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the product potentially contained cashews from an isolated incident and was distributed in packaging that did not declare cashews. To date, one allergic reaction has been reported.   

The Gluten Free Bar Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Cashew in The GFB 1.2oz Dark Chocolate Coconut Bites
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 16, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  August 16, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared cashews
Company Name:  The Gluten Free Bar
Brand Name:  The GFB
Product Description:  Dark Chocolate coconut bites

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Illinois Establishment Recalls Pizza After Consumer Complaint of Metal Pieces

Home Run Inn Frozen Foods, a Woodridge, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 13,099 pounds of frozen meat pizza product that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically metal.  The frozen meat pizzas were produced on June 6, 2022.  There was no indication of the source of the metal.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/home-run-inn-frozen-foods-recalls-frozen-meat-pizza-due-possible-foreign-matter

Home Run Inn Frozen Foods Recalls Frozen Meat Pizza due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

HOME RUN INN FROZEN FOODS

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, August 14, 2022 – Home Run Inn Frozen Foods, a Woodridge, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 13,099 pounds of frozen meat pizza product that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically metal, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Salad Kits Recalled For Unlabeled Allergens After Wrong Dressing Packet Used

Fifth Season announced today that it is issuing a voluntary recall for a limited amount of its branded Crunchy Sesame Salad Kits due to the possible inclusion of an ingredient not listed on the product label. The Salad kit may contain a dressing packet that contains milk and egg, which is not declared on the label.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/fifth-season-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-dairy-and-eggs-crunchy-sesame-salad-kit
Fifth Season Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Dairy and Eggs in Crunchy Sesame Salad Kit
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 14, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  August 14, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared eggs and milk
Company Name:  Fifth Season
Brand Name:  Fifth Season
Product Description:  Crunchy sesame salad kit

Sushi Recalled Due to Unlabeled Allergens

Sushi sold at Geissler’s Supermarkets in Connecticut  is being recalled for not listing the appropriate allergens.   From the store's website, it  appears that these packages utilize print-and-apply labels, so this would mean that the label was improperly loaded into the label printing system.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/consumer-protection-issues-food-safety-warning-ez-noble-sushi-ez-noble-sushi-voluntarily-recalling
Consumer Protection Issues Food Safety Warning for EZ Noble Sushi EZ Noble Sushi is voluntarily recalling the products, which contained unlabeled allergens
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 11, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  August 12, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Unlabeled eggs, milk and wheat
Company Name:  EZ Noble Sushi
Brand Name:  EZ Noble Sushi
Product Description:  Sushi products

CA Firm Expands Recall of Nutritional and Beverage Products That May Contain Hazardous Microbes

Lyons Magnus LLC (“Lyons Magnus” or the “Company”)  is expanding its July 28, 2022 recall.  A potential for microbial contamination, including from the organisms Cronobacter sakazakii and Clostridium botulinum, after it was determined the product did not meet specification for commercial sterility.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lyons-magnus-expands-voluntary-recall-include-additional-nutritional-and-beverage-products-due
Lyons Magnus Expands Voluntary Recall to Include Additional Nutritional and Beverage Products Due to the Potential for Microbial Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 10, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  August 10, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Meal Replacements
Reason for Announcement:  Due to the potential for microbial contamination, including Cronobacter sakazakii and Clostridium botulinum
Company Name:  Lyons Magnus LLC
Brand Name:  Lyons, Barista, Ready Care, various
Product Description:  Nutritional and beverage products

Sunday, August 7, 2022

Virtual Audits - Understanding the Issue of Video Capture

 At the IAFP Annual Meeting this past week, an interesting session was held on remote or virtual audits.  While there is agreement that virtual audits are here to stay, at least for certain aspects of an audit, the presenters discussed the limitations of such an audit.  One of the most important was that an auditor will not have true view of the situation within a facility.  But for the company being audited, one important issue is video capture, or taking a video of an operation and sending it to the auditor.  This is what they term video capture.

The issue with video capture is that once it is sent out, the processor loses control of that video and that it can exist forever on someone else's file.   One downside of this is that the audit may never end.  That is, some can review a video again and again, studying it to a much higher degree than possible during an in-person audit.

Before a virtual audit, it is important to review best practice for audits. (Food Safety Magazine, May 21)  One of these is to insist on only using live video with no recording.  Along with this, all shared documents should state 'confidential commercial information'.

Milk in Dark Chocolate? CA Firm Recalls Dark Chocolate Truffles Due to Residual Milk Protein

That’s it Nutrition, LLC of Los Angeles, Calif., is issuing a voluntary recall of its 3.5, 5.0, 16.0 ounce and 12-count packages of Dark Chocolate Truffles because they may contain trace amounts of milk proteins.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the product contained trace amounts of milk proteins and was distributed in packaging that did not disclose the potential presence of milk. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by cross contamination on shared lines with milk chocolate by the chocolate supplier. All That’s it. Dark Chocolate Truffle product produced as of August 1, 2022 has been lab verified and validated by the manufacturer and an independent third-party as being free from all milk proteins.

This is evidently a big issue, dark chocolate product containing residual milk.  Some manufacturers declare milk as an allergen on their dark chocolate product to avoid this type of issue.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/thats-it-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-proteins-dark-chocolate-truffles-various-flavors
That’s It Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk Proteins in Dark Chocolate Truffles (Various Flavors)
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 05, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  August 05, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Chocolate/Cocoa Product
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared milk
Company Name:  That’s it Nutrition, LLC
Brand Name:  That’s it
Product Description:  Dark Chocolate Truffles

Colorado Dairy Recalls Chocolate Milk After Egg Allergen Cross Contact In Filling Operation

Royal Crest Dairy, of Longmont Colorado, is voluntarily recalling Farmer’s 2% Reduced Fat Chocolate Milk Pints with the code date of AUG-22 because it has the potential to be contaminated with an undeclared egg.  The company stated that the "allergen control procedures were not followed after an egg containing product was run through the filler. Once this mistake was discovered, a recall was initiated and customers who had already received the product were contacted. Preventative actions have been taken including better labeling of the product tanks to prevent human error and additional employee allergen training."

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/royal-crest-dairy-voluntarily-recalls-2-chocolate-milk-due-undeclared-egg
Royal Crest Dairy Voluntarily Recalls 2% Chocolate Milk Due to Undeclared Egg
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 05, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  August 05, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Product has the potential to be contaminated with undeclared egg.
Company Name:  Royal Crest Dairy
Brand Name:  Farmer’s
Product Description:  2% Reduced Fat Chocolate Milk

Friday, August 5, 2022

Outbreak Case Counts Increase for Daily Harvest's Lentil and Leek Crumbles, Tara Flour Identified as Cause

As last reported by FDA on 7/28/22 on a disease outbreak associated with Daily Harvest's Lentil and Leeks Crumble, there have been 329 illness events with 113 hospitalized.  The cause of the outbreak has been identified as the Tara Flour, but there is little more information than that.

Case Counts
Total Adverse Illness Events: 329*
Hospitalizations: 113*
Deaths: 0
Last illness onset: July 16, 2022*
States with Adverse Illness Events: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, MD, MA, MN, MS, MI, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI
Product Distribution: Nationwide
*Estimate based on Consumer Complaint and CAERs reports received by the FDA


https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-adverse-event-reports-french-lentil-leek-crumbles-june-2022?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#contact
Investigation of Adverse Event Reports: French Lentil & Leek Crumbles (June 2022)