RTE Chili Cheese Wieners Recalled After State Lab Finds Listeria in Sample

USDA FSIS is issuing a public health alert because Family Fare, a Chippewa Falls, Wisc. establishment, produced ready-to-eat chili cheese wieners that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. A recall was not requested because it is believed that the products are no longer in commerce.  The ready-to-eat chili cheese wieners were produced on Sept. 21, 2022.  The problem was discovered when the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture reported to FSIS that some product was found to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes during routine testing.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-ready-eat-chili-cheese-wieners-due-possible-listeria
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ready-To-Eat Chili Cheese Wieners Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

Swiss American Recalls Cheese That is Part of Old Europe Cheese Recall

Swiss American is recalling St Louis Brie products after being alerted by the manufacturer Old Europe Cheese, Inc. that the products could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. This is part of a voluntary broader recall by the manufacturer Old Europe.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/swiss-american-participates-manufacturer-old-europes-recall-brie-and-camembert
Swiss American Participates in Manufacturer Old Europe’s Recall of Brie and Camembert
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 04, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  October 04, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Cheese/Cheese Product
Reason for Announcement:  Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Old Europe Cheese, Inc
Brand Name:  Saint Louis
Product Description:  Brie wedges and variable weights

Whole Foods Market Recalls Zerto Fontal Cheese for Undeclared Egg

Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling Zerto Fontal cheese from fifty-four stores in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York because the product contains egg lysozyme, an egg white protein, which is not declared on the product label. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/whole-foods-market-issues-allergy-alert-zerto-fontal-cheese-sold-connecticut-new-jersey-and-new-york
Whole Foods Market Issues Allergy Alert for Zerto Fontal Cheese Sold in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York
Company Announcement Date:September 30, 2022
FDA Publish Date:September 30, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Product labeling fails to declare eggs
Company Name:  Whole Foods
Brand Name:  Zerto Fontal
Product Description:  “Zerto Fontal”, Cheese

Chicago Company Recalls Chocolate Frozen Bananas After Discovery of Undeclared Peanuts in the Form of Peanut Butter

Diana’s Bananas, LLC of Chicago is announcing an allergy alert and voluntary recall of its 10.5-ounce packages of Milk Chocolate Banana Babies dipped frozen bananas that may contain undeclared peanuts.  The voluntary recall comes after it was discovered that the product was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of peanut butter.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/dianas-bananas-issues-allergy-alert-undelcared-peanuts-milk-chocolate-banana-babies
Diana’s Bananas Issues Allergy Alert on Undelcared Peanuts in Milk Chocolate Banana Babies
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 29, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  September 30, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Peanut
Company Name:  Diana’s Bananas, LLC
Brand Name:  Diana’s
Product Description:  
Milk Chocolate Banana Babies, 10.5 oz

Bottles of Chai Concentrate Mix Recalled for Under-processing Issue

The Chai Box announced a recall of 16 oz glass bottles Chai Concentrate Mix, UPC 7 93611 81925 2 and 64 oz plastic bottles of Chai Concentrate Mix UPC 7 93611 81926 9 and 16 oz glass bottles Unsweetened Chai Concentrate Mix, UPC 793611819252 and 64 oz plastic bottles of Unsweetened Chai Concentrate Mix UPC 793611819269 due to potential under-processing which may lead to Clostridium botulinum contamination. These deviations were part of the commercial sterilization process and could result in contamination by spoilage organisms or pathogens, which could lead to life-threatening illness if consumed. 

"We were notified of the problem during a process review by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The products were shipped nationwide to consumers, retailers and wholesalers. Some product was also shipped to two consumers in Canada. Product is available online and via retail and wholesale facilities."


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/chai-box-announces-voluntary-recall-chai-concentrate-mix-and-chai-concentrate-unsweetened-mix-due
The Chai Box Announces Voluntary Recall of Chai Concentrate Mix and Chai Concentrate Unsweetened Mix Due to Potential Clostridium Botulinum Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date: September 29, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  September 29, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential under-processing which may lead to Clostridium botulinum contamination.
Company Name:  The Chai Box
Brand Name:  The Chai Box
Product Description:  CHAI CONCENTRATE MIX AND CHAI CONCENTRATE UNSWEETENED MIX

Old Europe Cheese Expands Recall of Its Brie Cheeses Due Listeria

Old Europe Cheese, Inc. of Benton Harbor, MI is expanding its voluntary recall of Brie cheeses announced on September 30, 2022, because of potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, to include additional products, specifically baked brie cheeses

This action was triggered after a full environmental audit of 120 samples, both of products and of the company’s facilities. None of the products showed contamination, but one of the facility’s samples tested positive. The strain from that positive case has been linked to 6 cases of Listeriosis dating from 2017 to 2022. These cases were not previously linked to this company’s products, but Old Europe Cheese decided to issue this voluntary recall in order to avoid any risk to their customers

The Company has decided to voluntarily initiate the product recall based on these results and with a focus on their consumers’ health. The source of potential contamination has been identified and Old Europe Cheese is taking active measures to eliminate it. Production of these products has been stopped and will not restart until the Company has full confidence in the effectiveness of the applied measures


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/old-europe-cheese-inc-expands-voluntary-recall-its-brie-cheeses-due-possible-health-risk
Old Europe Cheese, Inc. Expands Voluntary Recall of Its Brie Cheeses Due to Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 05, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  October 05, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Cheese/Cheese Product
Reason for Announcement:  Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Old Europe Cheese, Inc.
Brand Name:  Multiple
Product Description:  Brie and Camembert Cheeses

OR Company Recalls Dark Chocolate Product After Determining Product Contains Milk

Momyer Distribution Inc of Salem, Oregon is recalling Dark Chocolate Almonds because they may contain undeclared milk.   The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of milk.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/momyer-distribution-inc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-dark-chocolate-almonds
Momyer Distribution Inc. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Dark Chocolate Almonds
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 28, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  September 28, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Milk
Company Name:  Momyer Distribution Inc
Brand Name:  PRODUCE, Holly Hill
Product Description:  Dark Chocolate Almonds, 9.5 oz container

MI Cheese Company Recalls Brie and Camembert Cheese After Linked to Listeria Outbreak

FDA is investigating a Listeria outbreak that has been linked to Brie and Camembert soft cheese products manufactured by Old Europe Cheese, Inc. of Benton Harbor, MI, and sold at various retailers under multiple labels and brands, including Reny Picot.  According to CDC, there have been 6 cases so far, with 5 of those people being hospitalized.

The processor, Old Europe Cheese, Inc has recalled all Old Europe Cheese Brie and Camembert products with best by dates through 12/14/2022 . There are over 20 brand named products that were distributed from August 01, 2022 through September 28, 2022 and were available at supermarkets, wholesale and retail stores nationwide and Mexico; retailers include Albertsons, Safeway, Meijer, Harding’s, Shaw’s, Price Chopper, Market Basket, Raley’s, Save Mart, Giant Foods, Stop & Shop, Fresh Thyme, Lidl, Sprouts, Athenian Foods, Whole Foods." 


https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-listeria-monocytogenes-brie-and-camembert-soft-cheese-products-september-2022
Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Brie and Camembert Soft Cheese Products (September 2022)
Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled Brie and Camembert soft cheese products from Old Europe Cheese, Inc. FDA’s outbreak investigation is ongoing.

Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 6
Hospitalizations: 5
Deaths: 0
Last illness onset: August 5, 2022
States with Cases: CA, GA, MA, MI, NJ, TX
Product Distribution: Nationwide

Parasite - Incidence of Anisakis in Japan

 An interesting report in this month's Emerging Infectous Disease involves Anisakis, a parasite commonly linked with raw or undercooked seafood, and its incidence in Japan, a country that consumes a large amount of raw seafood in the form of sushi and sashimi.  Researchers estimated that the annual incidence is close to 20,000 cases per year.  I think that many people assume that sushi and sushimi represents zero risk, especially when we think of Japan.  This is not the case.

"In Japan, A. simplex s.s. nematodes are responsible for the highest incidence of anisakiasis, whereas the species A. pegreffii is the leading cause of anisakiasis in Europe and South Korea (2). A. simplex s.s. nematodes penetrate the muscles of various fish species at a higher rate than A. pegreffii (11), which could partly explain the smaller proportion of A. pegreffii anisakiasis cases in Japan because A. pegreffii nematodes are often removed with fish viscera during the preparation of sushi and sashimi. Furthermore, fish habitat can corroborate the difference in predominant anisakid nematode species between South Korea and Japan; A. simplex s.s.–carrying fish are predominant in the Pacific side of Japan, whereas A. pegreffii–carrying fish are more common in the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea, located between South Korea and Japan (11)"

"As preventive measures, the government of Japan has repeatedly instructed local establishments (e.g., restaurants, fish mongers, and grocery stores) and consumers to freeze seafood at −20°C for at least 24 hours before consuming it raw or to remove anisakid nematodes during cooking."   In the US, there is no regulated standard for 'sushi grade seafood' but this term generally means that that the seller has determined that the fish is acceptable for eating raw based on several factors, including if that the fish has been frozen according to a validated freezing schedule for parasite reduction.

Anisakiasis, the disease caused by infection of this worm.  According to the CDC, "when certain infected marine mammals (such as whales or sea lions) defecate into the sea, eggs are released and become infective larvae while in the water. These larvae are ingested by crustaceans, which are then eaten by fish or squid. When humans eat raw or undercooked infected fish or squid, they ingest nematode larvae. Once inside the human body, the larvae can invade the gastrointestinal tract. Eventually, the parasite dies and produces an inflamed mass in the esophagus, stomach, or intestine."

"Some people experience a tingling sensation after or while eating raw or undercooked fish or squid. This is actually the worm moving in the mouth or throat. These people can often extract the worm manually from their mouth or cough up the worm and prevent infection. Also, some people experience vomiting as a symptom and this can often expel the worm from the body."

Anisakiasis Annual Incidence and Causative Species, Japan, 2018–2019 - Volume 28, Number 10—October 2022 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC
ISSN: 1080-6059
Emerging and Infectious Disease Journal
Volume 28
Number 10—October 2022
Anisakiasis Annual Incidence and Causative Species, Japan, 2018–2019
Hiromu SugiyamaComments to Author , Mitsuko Shiroyama, Ikuyo Yamamoto, Takashi Ishikawa, and Yasuyuki Morishima

Author affiliations: National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan (H. Sugiyama, I. Yamamoto, Y. Morishima); Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan (M. Shiroyama); BML, Inc., Saitama, Japan (T. Ishikawa)

Abstract

Using data from 2018–2019 health insurance claims, we estimated the average annual incidence of anisakiasis in Japan to be 19,737 cases. Molecular identification of larvae revealed that most (88.4%) patients were infected with the species Anisakis simplex sensu stricto. Further insights into the pathogenesis of various anisakiasis forms are needed.