Animal Feed Recall - Alfalfa Blocks Recalled, Linked to Death of 45 Horses Due to Botulism Poisoning

Manzanola Feeds is voluntarily recalling certain lots of Top of the Rockies Alfalfa Cubes because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum.  The recalled Top of the Rockies Alfalfa Cubes are approximately 1 inch cubes, packaged in a 50 pound bag,  There have been 45 horse deaths associated with this issue, to date.

According to the FDA Advisory - "Some of the alfalfa cubes have been reported to contain what appears to be fur and animal tissues, indicating that material from an animal or animals may have been incorporated into the cubes during alfalfa harvesting. Some people have reported a foul odor in some of the bags. Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that causes botulism, is commonly present in decaying animal carcasses. Testing of the alfalfa cubes and other feed and tissue samples is in progress."


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/manzanola-feeds-recalling-certain-lots-top-rockies-alfalfa-cubes-due-possible-clostridium-botulinum
Manzanola Feeds is Recalling Certain Lots of Top of the Rockies Alfalfa Cubes due to Possible Clostridium botulinum Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  December 16, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  December 16, 2022
Product Type:  Animal & Veterinary  Livestock Feed
Reason for Announcement:  Potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum
Company Name:  Manzanola Feeds
Brand Name:  Top of the Rockies
Product Description:  Alfalfa Cubes

Texas Firm Recalls Cat Food Due To Salmonella Contamination

TFP Nutrition announced today that it is issuing a voluntary recall of a dry cat food - HEB Texas Pets Indoor Complete Dry Cat Food  due to potential Salmonella contamination.   The product was manufactured on November 13, 2022, at its Nacogdoches, Texas facility.





https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/tfp-nutrition-initiated-voluntary-recall-16-lb-bags-heb-texas-pets-indoor-complete-dry-cat-food
TFP Nutrition Initiated Voluntary Recall of 16 lb. Bags of HEB TEXAS PETS Indoor Complete Dry Cat Food Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  December 16, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  December 16, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Salmonella contamination
Company Name:  TFP Nutrition
Brand Name:  HEB TEXAS PETS
Product Description:  HEB TEXAS PETS Indoor Complete Dry Cat Food

RTE Crispy Chicken Entrée Recalled After Consumer Finds Shrimp in Product

Mountain View Packaging, LLC, a Boise, Idaho establishment, is recalling approximately 6,013 pounds of frozen, ready-to-eat Crispy Chicken with Almonds entrée products due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen - the product contains shellfish (shrimp), a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.  The problem was discovered when the firm notified FSIS that they received a consumer complaint reporting shrimp in a product labeled as Crispy Chicken with Almonds entrée.


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/mountain-view-packaging-llc-recalls-frozen-ready-eat-crispy-chicken-almonds-entree
Mountain View Packaging, LLC, Recalls Frozen Ready-To-Eat Crispy Chicken with Almonds Entrée Products Due to Misbranding and an Undeclared Allergen
MOUNTAIN VIEW PACKAGING, LLC

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2022 – Mountain View Packaging, LLC, a Boise, Idaho establishment, is recalling approximately 6,013 pounds of frozen, ready-to-eat Crispy Chicken with Almonds entrée products due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains shellfish (shrimp), a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.

Seattle Company Recalls Long Pepper Product After Mold and Mycotoxin Detected in Sample

Something South African LLC of Seattle, WA is recalling the Peppercorn Collection Gift Set, affected Best Before End (BBE) date of JUN/2024, Batch 494951-T, because mold (Aspergillus brasiliensis) and Ochratoxin A were detected in the Malaysian Long Pepper.

"The recall was initiated when our supplier notified us that mold (Aspergillus brasiliensis) and Ochratoxin A were detected in the Malaysian Long Pepper. The company has ceased the production and distribution of the product as our supplier continues with their root cause investigation."

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/something-south-african-llc-recalls-peppercorn-collection-gift-set-because-possible-health-risk
Something South African LLC Recalls the Peppercorn Collection Gift Set Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  December 15, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  December 15, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Mold (Aspergillus brasiliensis) and Ochratoxin A contamination
Company Name: Something South African LLC
Brand Name:  World Market

Product Description:   Pepper Collection Gift Set

Protein Powder Recalled for Milk Allergens Due to Mislabeling

Power Life Nutrition of Woodland Hills, CA is voluntarily recalling a limited amount of its High Impact Plant Protein due to a labeling error. For a brief period during the manufacturing process, jars containing High Impact Whey Protein were mislabeled as High Impact Plant Protein. The mislabeled product is safe to consume for consumers who ordered High Impact Whey Protein, but it does not contain an allergen declaration for the milk allergen in the product.

"The recall was initiated after it was discovered that a limited quantity of units of High Impact Whey Protein incorrectly contained the label for High Impact Plant Protein. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by an error in the manufacturer’s packaging process manufacturer." [?]

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/thgh-partners-llc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-power-life-plant-protein
THGH Partners LLC Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Power Life Plant Protein
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  December 15, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  December 15, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Milk
Company Name:  THGH Partners LLC
Brand Name:  Power Life
Product Description:  High Impact Plant Protein

Just Another Recall of Enoki Mushrooms After Listeria Detected in Sample

Utopia Foods Inc of Glendale, NY, is recalling its 200g packages of “Enoki Mushrooms”, imported from China and distributed nationwide in the US, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The recalled “Enoki Mushrooms” were distributed nationwide in produce wholesale companies.  No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The potential contamination was noted by a routine sampling conducted in the State of Missouri revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the 200g packages of “Enoki Mushrooms”.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/utopia-foods-recalls-enoki-mushrooms-because-possible-health-risk
Utopia Foods Recalls “Enoki Mushrooms” Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  December 13, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  December 13, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Listeria monocytogenes contamination
Company Name:  Utopia Foods Inc
Brand Name:  Utopia Foods Inc
Product Description:  Enoki Mushrooms

Infant Formula Recalled After Cronobacter-Postive Sample Detected at Copacker

ByHeart, a next-generation baby nutrition company, is voluntarily recalling five batches of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula due to the potential for cross-contamination with Cronobacter sakazakii.  No distributed ByHeart product has tested positive for the bacteria.

"ByHeart owns its entire manufacturing supply chain with the exception of final canning, which is conducted by a reputable third-party packager. ByHeart is taking this precautionary measure because one test sample collected from the third-party packaging facility tested positive for Cronobacter sakazakii. All product packaged that day, and the first production on the next day, was isolated for destruction and not distributed. Out of an abundance of caution, we are now recalling all product produced during the entire production run."

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/byheart-issues-voluntary-recall-five-batches-its-infant-formula-because-possible-health-risk
ByHeart Issues Voluntary Recall of Five Batches of Its Infant Formula Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  December 11, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  December 11, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential for cross-contamination with Cronobacter sakazakii
Company Name:  ByHeart
Brand Name:  ByHeart
Product Description:  Whole Nutrition Infant Formula, Milk Based Powder with Iron for 0-12months

Rat Sightings Have Been Rising in Large Cities

New York City recently listed a job posting for Director of Rat Mitigation, with a six figure salary to get NYC increase rat problem under control.   But NYC is not alone, nor is at the top of cities having rat problems.  An article in Axios Boston states that Boston state that Boston has the highest level of rat sightings with 21.6% of homes with a rodent sighting...followed by Philadelphia (19.5%), and then New York City (15.3%).

Why the increasing problem?  An article in the Washington Post provided this: "Rats are a fixture of urban life, but early in the pandemic, their populations in urban cores shrank as restaurants, parks and offices shut down — and their access to trash did too.  But many adapted, desperate to survive. They ate off the bottom of restaurant doors in search of food, alpha male rats ate weaker ones, and a large number, to residents’ frustration, migrated."   Basically, rats had to move where prospects for food were greater, and that unfortunately is where people live, store their food and place their trash.

NYC War on Rats: Can 4 New Rodent Laws Fix the Crisis?
NYC believes four rodent-related bills may be the solution to the city's longstanding rat problem. Here are some of the changes you can expect in your community

By Erica Byfield • Published November 18, 2022 • Updated on November 18, 2022 Four new bills were signed into law on Friday, each designed to target one of New York City's longest and strongest enemy: the rat.

CDC Report - Appliances Used to Cook Frozen Stuffed Chicken Products

Frozen breaded stuffed chicken products are viewed as a Salmonella risk due to multiple Salmonella outbreaks over the past decade.  

"These products are partially cooked to set the breading, often making them appear cooked (2). Despite their appearance, these products need to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure that they are safe to eat. Producers began implementing labeling changes in 2006 to more clearly identify these products as raw; many warn against using microwave ovens (microwaves) to prepare them and provide validated cooking instructions solely for conventional ovens (ovens) (3,4). However, outbreaks continued to occur after implementation of these labeling changes (4)"

A study was conducted to see how people normally cook this product.  "Although ovens were the most commonly reported appliance used to cook frozen stuffed chicken products, more than one half of respondents (54.0%) reported using other appliances instead of or in addition to ovens, including microwaves (29.0%), a circumstance that historically has been reported frequently by ill persons in outbreaks associated with frozen stuffed chicken products (1). Respondents with lower incomes and who live in mobile types of homes reported lower oven use and higher microwave use. Persons within these groups might be at increased risk for illness related to both challenges in preparing these foods and access to appliances."

 "Studies indicate that microwaves, air fryers, and toaster ovens inconsistently heat frozen stuffed chicken or frozen raw breaded chicken (4,6,7). Therefore, cooking instructions often do not include information about cooking the product in air fryers or toaster ovens and might warn against using microwaves. However, previous studies have found that some consumers infrequently read package instructions (8,9), including one report that found some consumers discarded packaging when the products were brought home and never saw cooking instructions (9). In this survey, 30% of respondents reported using an air fryer, 29% a microwave, and 14% a toaster oven. These findings suggest that relying on labeling and cooking instructions might not be sufficient to prevent illness. Further, even when cooking these products in an oven, verifying the temperature of the finished product is important (7). However, food thermometer usage can be low; one study found that even among persons who owned a food thermometer, only 38% typically used them to check doneness of frozen chicken products (2)."


https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7148a2.htm?s_cid=mm7148a2_w#contribAff
Appliances Used by Consumers to Prepare Frozen Stuffed Chicken Products — United States, May–July 2022
Weekly / December 2, 2022 / 71(48);1511–1516

Katherine E. Marshall, MPH1,*; Michelle Canning, MPH1,2,*; Michael Ablan, MPH1; Tamara N. Crawford, DBH1; Misha Robyn, DVM1 (VIEW AUTHOR AFFILIATIONS)

Summary

What is already known about this topic?
Frozen stuffed chicken products remain a source of Salmonella outbreaks despite changes to packaging instructing consumers to cook these products in ovens and to avoid using microwaves.

What is added by this report?
More than one half of respondents to an Internet panel survey reported using an appliance other than an oven to cook frozen stuffed chicken products; 29% used a microwave. Respondents with lower incomes and who live in mobile types of homes reported lower oven use and higher microwave use.

What are the implications for public health practice?
Economic and other factors might influence access to recommended cooking appliances. Companies could consider implementing interventions that rely less on labeling and consumer preparation practices to ensure safety.