Advent Calendars with Chocolate w/ Creamy Filling Recalled After Testing Finds Salmonella

Lidl US has announced a voluntary recall for the 8.4 oz Favorina branded Advent Calendar (Premium Chocolate with a Creamy Filling) due to potential Salmonella contamination.  This issue was found during routine testing, which Lidl performs on an ongoing basis to help ensure safe and quality products for our customers. Lidl US has received no reports or complaints of illness related to this product to date.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lidl-voluntarily-recalls-84-oz-favorina-branded-advent-calendar-premium-chocolate-creamy-filling-due
LIDL Voluntarily Recalls 8.4 Oz Favorina Branded Advent Calendar (Premium Chocolate with a Creamy Filling) Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date: December 06, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  December 06, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential presence of Salmonella
Company Name:  Lidl US
Brand Name:  Favorina
Product Description:  Advent Calendar (Premium Chocolate with a Creamy Filling)

Recall Issued After Meltaway Mixup - Peanut Butter Packaged Instead of Mint

Cranberry Sweets & More of Coos Bay, Oregon is voluntarily recalling its 4 and 8 ounce packages of "Mint Meltaways" candies because they may contain undeclared peanuts.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the Peanut Butter Meltaways product was mis-labeled as Heirloom Mint Meltaways and peanut was not declared on finished product label. The firm’s subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the company's packaging process. The process has been corrected and the company has instituted additional safety checks and corrective actions.

Labeling verification as part of the Allergen Preventive Controls could entail continuous organoleptic testing.  Any volunteers?

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/cranberry-sweets-more-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-peanuts-mint-meltaways
Cranberry Sweets & More Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Peanuts In “Mint Meltaways”
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  December 06, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  December 06, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Chocolate/Cocoa Product
Reason for Announcement:  Potential or Undeclared Allergen/Peanut
Company Name:  Cranberry Sweets & More
Brand Name:  Cranberry Sweets
Product Description:  Mint Meltaways

USDA Issues Health Alert for Ground Meat After Positive Pathogenic E. coli Test

USDA is issuing a public health alert for ground beef sold at La Michoacana Meat Market, in Greenville, Tex., after a sample of the product tested positive for the presence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7. A recall was not requested because there is no product currently available for sale to consumers; however, the ground beef product may remain in consumers’ homes and could cause illness if eaten.  The problem was discovered during routine FSIS product testing when a sample confirmed positive for the presence of E. coli O157:H7. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-ground-beef-products-tested-positive-e--coli-o157h7
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ground Beef Products That Tested Positive for E. Coli O157:H7

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for ground beef sold at La Michoacana Meat Market, in Greenville, Tex., after a sample of the product tested positive for the presence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7. A recall was not requested because there is no product currently available for sale to consumers; however, the ground beef product may remain in consumers’ homes and could cause illness if eaten.

Ham and Cheese Loaf Products Recalled After Being Sliced on Equipment Exposed to Under-processed Product

Kraft Heinz Foods Company, a Kirksville, Mo. establishment, is recalling approximately 2,400 pounds of ready-to-eat ham and cheese loaf products due to possible cross-contamination with under-processed products.  The problem was discovered when the establishment notified FSIS that the product was sliced on the same equipment as product that had been under processed, and the equipment was not cleaned between runs of the under-processed and fully cooked product. This has led to concerns of possible cross-contamination of the fully cooked ham and cheese loaf product.

This scenario is easy to imagine.  Product is produced that is under-processed and put on hold.  But the post-processing equipment, now exposed to under-processed meat potentially containing pathogens like Salmonella or Listeria, is not completely cleaned prior to running good product.

When under-processed product touches the equipment on the post-process side of the operation (what is considered the RTE side or clean side of the operation), then all that equipment must receive a complete sanitation.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/kraft-heinz-foods-company-recalls-ready-eat-ham-and-cheese-loaf-products-due
Kraft Heinz Foods Company Recalls Ready-To-Eat Ham and Cheese Loaf Products Due to Possible Cross-Contamination From Under-Processed Products
KRAFT HEINZ FOODS COMPANY

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2022 – Kraft Heinz Foods Company, a Kirksville, Mo. establishment, is recalling approximately 2,400 pounds of ready-to-eat ham and cheese loaf products due to possible cross-contamination with under-processed products, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Chilean Frozen Raspberries Recalled After FDA Detects Hepatitis A

Exportadora Copramar is recalling 1260 cases of James Farm frozen raspberries due to the potential of the product being contaminated with Hepatitis A.  U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) testing indicated the presence of Hepatitis A in James Farm branded frozen raspberries identified by UPC Code: 76069501010 and Lot Code - 22-165.  The product is exclusively sold through Restaurant Depot/Jetro locations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.  Product is from Chile.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/exportadora-copramar-recalls-james-farms-frozen-raspberries-due-possible-health-risk
Exportadora Copramar Recalls James Farms Frozen Raspberries Due to Possible Health Risk

Summary

Company Announcement Date:  December 03, 2022

FDA Publish Date: December 03, 2022

Product Type: Food & Beverages Fruit/Fruit Product

Reason for Announcement:  Hepatitis A

Company Name:  Exportadora Compramar

Brand Name:  James Farms

Product Description:  Frozen Raspberries

Low Fat Pet Food Recalled After Consumers Notice Product with Gravy

"Nestlé Purina PetCare Company is voluntarily recalling a limited amount of Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Low Fat (PPVD EN Low Fat) prescription wet dog food in 13.4 oz cans due to a labeling error. For a brief period on September 15, 2022, cans of a different complete and balanced adult dog food, Purina ONE True Instinct Tender Cuts In Gravy With Real Turkey & Venison wet dog food, were labeled as PPVD EN Low Fat in one of our factories. The mislabeled diet is safe to feed, but it is not the intended formula for dogs requiring a prescription PPVD EN Low Fat diet, who may have sensitivities to traditional diets or difficulty digesting fat."  The company became "aware of the issue after being contacted by several pet owners who observed the texture of food in their PPVD EN Low Fat cans was not the same as previous meals. The mislabeled product contains chunks in gravy, while the correct product looks more like a pate consistency."

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/nestle-purina-petcare-company-voluntarily-recalls-limited-amount-purina-pro-plan-veterinary-diets-en
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company Voluntarily Recalls a Limited Amount of Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Low Fat Wet Dog Food Due to Labeling Error

Summary
Company Announcement Date: November 30, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  December 02, 2022
Product Type:  Animal & Veterinary  Pet Food 
Reason for Announcement:  Mislabeling
Company Name:  Nestle Purina PetCare Company
Brand Name:  Labeling error
Product Description:  Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Low Fat (PPVD EN Low Fat) prescription wet dog food

FDA Warning Letter to CA Bakery for Having No Food Safety Plan and Having GMP Issues

FDA issued a Warning Letter to The Bonami Baking Company, Inc. of  Pittsburg, CA, a manufacturer of ready-to-eat (RTE) bakery products.  Basically, the company did not have a Food Safety Plan, so there was no evaluaiton for allergens or pathogens or mycotoxins.   On top of that, there was numerous GMP issues with a high number of insect-related sightings.  Finally, there were some misbranding issues.

Now, if one looks at the compay website, it looks like a legitimate operation. 

Bonami Bakery – Bay Area Bakery Shop (thebonamibakery.com)

FDA Warning Letter

The Bonami Baking Company, Inc.
MARCS-CMS 633746 — SEPTEMBER 07, 2022

FDA Issues Warning Letter to MA Fudge Processing Company

FDA issued a Warning Letter to Winfrey's Olde English Fudge, Inc. of  Rowley, MA, a producer of ready-to-eat (RTE) enrobed chocolates and fudge, including Milk Chocolate Pretzels and Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Mini Eggs.

1. You did not conduct a hazard analysis for each type of food manufactured, processed, packed, or held at your facility to identify and evaluate known or reasonably foreseeable hazards to determine whether there are any hazards requiring a preventive control - 

• "Did not identify and evaluate the hazard of allergen cross-contact as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard to determine whether it requires a preventive control. The company manufactures multiple products with different allergen profiles on the same day and on shared equipment, which can result in allergen cross-contact without appropriate controls"

FDA Issues Updated Version of Allergen Guidance for Comment

FDA issued updated Q&A guidance documents (5th edition) on allergen labeling.   The original document (4th edition) was spit into two sets....one being the updated set of Q&A which is labeled as 5th ed. Draft, and the other being those original Q&A are in the document labeled 5th ed. Final.  (Why you may ask?  So the updated or Draft set of Q&A can be made available or open to comment while the Final set of Q&A is not.)

So for our discussion, the Draft version is more important as that represents new or updated thinking by FDA.  (Draft - https://www.fda.gov/media/163454/download)

Here are the primary items discussed in the Draft Guidance:
Sesame is now included, although this fact is not up for comment.
Ingredients and bulk ingredients used in further manufacturing must have allergen declarations.

Incidental allergens must be declared (soy lecithin, for example, used as a processing aid)

Spice and seasoning mixes must declare allergens.

Dietary supplements using roots, leaves stems and bark from tree nuts do not.

Genetic engineering - if allergen is produced, it must be stated.

Specific tree nuts must be listed - the entire list is provided.

The allergen statement as placed on the package is discussed.

The use on multipacks of food within a master pack.

Food ingredients that are derived from allergenic foods (highly refined oils, etc)

Incidental additives is discussed.

Also a section on Dietary supplements.


https://www.fda.gov/media/163454/download
Constituent Updates

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

________________________________________

FDA Issues Guidances on Food Allergen Labeling Requirements

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued two guidance documents about food allergen labeling requirements to help the food industry meet the requirements to list any major food allergen on the labels of FDA-regulated foods. Food labels are a powerful tool to help protect consumers with food allergies. Consumers can avoid ingredients they may be allergic or sensitive to in a food by looking for specific allergen labeling and reading the ingredient list.