IL Restaurant Norovirus Outbreak with 173 Reported Ill

McHenry County Department of Health (IL) issued their investigative report into a Norovirus outbreak associated with 173 people becoming ill.

"It could not be determined during this outbreak investigation exactly how Norovirus was introduced into the food establishment. Typically, Norovirus is introduced into a food establishment through a contaminated food product or through an ill individual. The epidemiological investigation confirmed that there were multiple food items associated with illness, and multiple sources of illness. MCDH is also aware of Norovirus infection in the community at the time of the outbreak, through investigation of an unrelated, confirmed outbreak  of Norovirus at a local school. Therefore, the likelihood a food item was received at the food establishment already contaminated with Norovirus is low, and this is unlikely to be the source  of the outbreak."

https://www.mchenrycountyil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/109263/638024843979870000
Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE) Outbreak:
D.C. Cobb’s
McHenry, Illinois
September 2022

Investigated by:
McHenry County Department of Health
2200 North Seminary Avenue
Woodstock, Illinois 6009

LA Establishment Recalls Cooked Chicken Breast Patty Product for Extraneous Clear Hard Plastic

Foster Farms, a Farmerville, La. establishment, is recalling approximately 148,000 pounds of fully cooked frozen chicken breast patty products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically hard clear pieces of plastic.  The problem was discovered when the firm notified FSIS that it received consumer complaints reporting hard clear plastic embedded in fully cooked, frozen, breaded chicken breast patty products with a best by date of Aug. 11, 2023.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/foster-farms-recalls-fully-cooked-frozen-chicken-patty-products-due-possible-foreign
Foster Farms Recalls Fully Cooked Frozen Chicken Patty Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2022 – Foster Farms, a Farmerville, La. establishment, is recalling approximately 148,000 pounds of fully cooked frozen chicken breast patty products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically hard clear pieces of plastic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

TX Establishment Recalls Meat-containing Potstickers That Were Repacked Without Inspection

JYC Enterprise, Inc., a Houston, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 33,280 pounds of frozen chicken and pork potsticker products that were repackaged, relabeled, and distributed without the benefit of federal inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.  The problem was discovered during routine FSIS verification activities. FSIS determined that the firm repackaged and relabeled the potsticker products without the benefit of federal inspection.

Another instance of a company repackaging meat-containing products and not getting USDA-FSIS inspection.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/jyc-enterprise-inc--recalls-chicken-and-pork-potsticker-products-produced-without
JYC Enterprise, Inc. Recalls Chicken and Pork Potsticker Products Produced Without Benefit of Inspection

FSIS Announcement
WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2022 – JYC Enterprise, Inc., a Houston, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 33,280 pounds of frozen chicken and pork potsticker products that were repackaged, relabeled, and distributed without the benefit of federal inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Whole Foods Recalls Dipping Caramel for Undeclared Wheat

Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling Dipping Caramel from five stores in Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska because the product may contain wheat, which is not declared on the product label.  The mislabeling issue was discovered by a store employee. No illnesses have been reported to date.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/whole-foods-market-issues-allergy-alert-dipping-caramel-sold-five-stores-colorado-kansas-and
Whole Foods Market Issues Allergy Alert for Dipping Caramel Sold in Five Stores in Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 27, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  October 27, 2022
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared wheat
Company Name:  Whole Foods Market
Brand Name:  Whole Foods Market
Product Description:  Dipping caramel

FDA Updates on FSMA Inspections for FY22

FDA inspections are beginning to pick back up after a slow down during COVID pandemic.

Specialty Foods Association
https://www.specialtyfood.com/news/article/fda-reveals-fsma-experience-fspca-annual-conference/
10/26/2022

FDA Reveals FSMA Experience at Annual Conference

Author:  Ron Tanner

FDA Reveals FSMA Experience at Annual Conference

FDA has emerged from the pandemic with a renewed emphasis—and a new approach—to inspecting manufacturers for compliance with the Preventive Controls for Human Food regulations of the Food Safety Modernization Act and to inspecting importers to determine whether they are following the Foreign Supplier Verification Program.

“Our inspections are still ebbing and flowing but we are moving in the right direction,” said Glenn Bass, deputy director, human and animal food operations—west, Office of Regulatory Affairs, FDA, during last week's Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance Annual Conference. “We continue to rethink our field activities based on what we learned during the pandemic.”

FDA Issue Warning Letter to Spice Repacker

FDA issued a Warning Letter to El Gordo Spices of Dallas TX,  where herbs, spice, and seafood are repacked and warehoused.  During our inspection, FDA investigators found serious violations of the Seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation - failure of a processor of fish or fishery products to have and implement a HACCP plan that complies with this section or otherwise operate in accordance with the requirements of Part 123, renders the fish or fishery products adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) [21 U.S.C. § 342(a)(4)]. Based on the inspectional findings, the shelf stable ready-to-eat (RTE) Whole Dried Shrimp and Ground Dried Shrimp were found to be adulterated, in that they have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have been rendered injurious to health.

Further, FDA reviewed labels of repacked products (Ground Dried Shrimp, Whole Dried Shrimp, Sesame Seeds, Textured Soybeans, Ground Cumin, and Whole Bay Leaves) and found serious violations of the Food Labeling regulation.

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/el-gordo-spices-llc-639957-09302022
WARNING LETTER

El Gordo Spices, LLC
MARCS-CMS 639957 — SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

CA Firm Recalls Cookies for Undeclared Almonds and Hazelnuts

Daiso California LLC of La Mirada, CA is recalling its Tiramisu Twist Cookies (sku 4562138450820) because the product contains almonds and hazelnuts, ingredients that are not identified on the packaging.   The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the Tiramisu Twist Cookie packaging did not adequately disclose the presence of the nuts. Sale of the product has been suspended, and Daiso California has pulled the product from store shelves.  There has been one reported case of allergic reaction to this product.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/daiso-issues-allergy-alert-tiramisu-twist-cookies-almonds-and-hazelnuts-not-identified-ingredients
Daiso Issues Allergy Alert on Tiramisu Twist Cookies Almonds and Hazelnuts Not Identified as Ingredients on Packaging
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 27, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  October 28, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Bakery Product/Mix
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared almonds and hazelnuts
Company Name:  Daiso California LLC
Brand Name:  Daiso
Product Description:  Tiramisu Twist Cookies

TX Establishment Recalls Shepard's Pie for Foreign Material - Copper wire

Lone Star Bakery, Inc., a China Grove, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 5,740 pounds of beef shepherd’s pie products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically copper wire pieces.  The problem was discovered when the firm notified FSIS that they received consumer complaints reporting entwined copper wire embedded in beef shepherd’s pie products with a use by date of Sept. 23, 2023.  (Copper wire would indicate a maintenance related issue?)


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/lone-star-bakery-inc--recalls-beef-shepherds-pie-products-due-possible-foreign
Lone Star Bakery, Inc. Recalls Beef Shepherd’s Pie Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
LONE STAR BAKERY, INC.

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2022 – Lone Star Bakery, Inc., a China Grove, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 5,740 pounds of beef shepherd’s pie products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically copper wire pieces, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

MI Company Recalls Gelato for Undeclared Egg Allergen Due to Formulation Change

Zingerman’s Creamery of Ann Arbor, MI is recalling 173 pints of Paw Paw Gelato, 50 quarts of Paw Paw Gelato, 58 pints of Harvest Pumpkin Gelato, 10 quarts of Harvest Pumpkin Gelato that are currently out in commerce because it may contain undeclared Egg allergen.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that Paw Paw and Harvest Pumpkin Gelato containing ‘Egg’ was distributed in packaging that ‘Egg’ was included on the “made in facility” allergens but not included on the ingredients and allergen declaration. Earlier this year, Zingerman's Creamery made some recipe changes to our gelato bases to include egg yolk, to improve the overall quality. All of our gelato labels were updated to reflect the egg yolk change as well. However, our seasonal flavors (Paw Paw and Harvest Pumpkin) were accidentally overlooked. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by human error of mislabeling.  (This is a label redesign oversight).


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/zingermans-creamery-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-egg-paw-paw-and-harvest-pumpkin-gelato
Zingerman’s Creamery Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Egg in Paw Paw and Harvest Pumpkin Gelato
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 26, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  October 27, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared eggs
Company Name:  Zingerman’s Creamery
Brand Name:  Zingerman’s
Product Description:  Harvest Pumpkin gelato and Paw Paw gelato