Federal Agencies Investigate Listeria Outbreak Linked to Enoki Mushrooms - Importers Doing Too Little?

FDA and CDC are conducting an investigation into a Listeria outbreak linked to Enoki Mushrooms distributed by Utopia Foods, Inc. of Glendale, New York.  There are 3 cases, with the three people being hospitalized.

The distributor did issue a recall and then expanded that recall.

There has been plenty of concern about the Listeria risk in enoki mushrooms.  The question has to be asked if these importers are doing enough to ensure that their product is safe.

Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 3
Hospitalizations: 3
Deaths: 0
Last illness onset: October 8, 2022
States with Cases: CA (1), MI (1), NV (1)
Product Distribution: Nationwide


https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-listeria-monocytogenes-enoki-mushrooms-november-2022
Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Enoki Mushrooms (November 2022)

Alfalfa Spouts Recalled After FDA Testing Finds STEC (Shiga toxin producing E.coli)

Fullei Fresh is voluntarily recalling Alfalfa Sprouts due to the detection of Shiga toxin producing E.coli (STEC.)    It was detected upon sampling of finished product by the FDA.  The company stated that "STEC is a bacterial strain that is not part of our routine microbial testing conducted in compliance with the FDA’s Produce Safety Rule Subpart M on every lot we produce."

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/fullei-fresh-issues-correction-alfalfa-sprout-recall-because-possible-health-risk
Fullei Fresh Issues Correction on Alfalfa Sprout Recall Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  January 17, 2023
FDA Publish Date:   January 17, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:   Contamination with shiga toxin-producing E. coli
Company Name:  Fullei Fresh
Brand Name:  Fullei Fresh
Product Description:  Alfalfa Sprouts

NJ Firm Recalls Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate for Undeclared Peanuts

Updated on 1/23/23 **A previous version of this press release issued on 1/18/2023. This press release was updated to identify the single unit serving size as “single serve coffee pods”.**

Corim Industries Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanuts in Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate | FDA

A New Jersey firm is recalling its Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate for undeclared peanuts.

According to the release, "The recall was initiated after it was discovered that a replacement flavoring ingredient from a different supplier may have trace levels of peanut that was not declared on bulk label or finished product label to downstream partners. However, testing conducted by Corim indicated that the levels may be below the limit of detection. The firm’s subsequent investigation identified the root cause as a temporary breakdown in the company's supplier documentation process. The process has been corrected and the company has instituted additional safety checks and corrective actions, including discontinuing the use of this particular flavoring ingredient."

So the peanut butter flavor was provided by a non-peanut-containing ingredient.  However. due to a supplier change, this new flavor ingredient may have contained peanut.  My question is, since the label states peanuts, why not use real peanuts?  This may be due to the firm not wanting to introduce peanut allergens into their operation.  I can't imagine someone who is allergic to peanuts actually taking a chance by consuming this product because peanut allergens are not listed.




https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/corim-industries-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-peanuts-peanut-butter-hot-chocolate
Corim Industries Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanuts in Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  January 18, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  January 18, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Peanut Allergen
Company Name:  Corim Industries
Brand Name:  Cocoa de Aroma, Smart Sips and more
Product Description:  Peanut butter hot chocolate products
Company Announcement

NY Distributor of Enoki Mushrooms Expands Recall

Utopia Foods Inc of Glendale, NY, is expanding the recall of its December 2022 recall of enoki mushrooms (because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes to include product with Best by dates “Best before 03/02/2023” or “Best before 03.09.23” which were distributed between January 6th to January 13th, 2023.

The potential contamination was initially found through routine sampling conducted in the State of Missouri  that 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-expands-recall-enoki-mushrooms-because-possible-health-risk
Utopia Foods Expands Recall on “Enoki Mushrooms” Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  January 13, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  January 13, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Produce
Reason for Announcement:  Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Utopia Foods Inc.
Brand Name: Utopia Foods Inc
Product Description:  Enoki Mushrooms

USDA Issues Health Alert for Frozen Cooked Swai Fish

USDA is issuing a public health alert because A & S Produce Inc., a Vernon, Calif. establishment conducting business as Greenland Food Company, produced and distributed fully cooked, frozen swai fried fish cutlet products without the benefit of federal inspection. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase.  The products involved in this public health alert do not bear the establishment number or a USDA mark of inspection. These items were sold at retail locations in California and through online sales.  FSIS discovered the problem when it was conducting surveillance at an online retailer and found FSIS-regulated products without a USDA mark of inspection.

USDA has regulatory authority for inspection of Siluriformes.  But Siluriformes, as a group, are more than just catfish.  Here is a listing:

TX Firm Recalls Brownies After Mislabeling Issue Yields Undeclared Allergens

Ameripack Foods LLC of Hughes Springs, TX is issuing a recall for 976lbs. of brownies for H-E-B Meal Simple Chocolate Chunk Brownie 13 Oz due to an undeclared – Soy & Egg. The recall was initiated after discovering that trays of brownies were mislabeled on the back as Sopapilla Cheesecake, which does not list egg and soy allergens, on the product ingredient label.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/ameripack-foods-llc-announces-allergy-alert-undeclared-soy-and-egg-h-e-b-meal-simple-chocolate-chunk
Ameripack Foods LLC Announces Allergy Alert for Undeclared Soy and Egg in H-E-B Meal Simple Chocolate Chunk Brownie
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  January 11, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  January 11, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared soy and egg allergens
Company Name:  Ameripack Foods, LLC
Brand Name:  H-E-B Meal Simple
Product Description: Chocolate Chunk Brownie

FDA Issues Final Guidance for FSVP for Imported Foods

FDA issued the Final Guidance for FSVP, the Foreign Supplier Verification Program.  This document "provide guidance for industry on the requirements for a foreign supplier verification program (FSVP) in 21 CFR part 1, subpart L, that importers of human or animal food must establish and follow to ensure that each food they import into the United States meets applicable U.S. requirements and is not adulterated or (for human food) misbranded with respect to allergen labeling."

When introduced in 2017, this established the requirements for food importers to ensure that significant hazards are identified in foods they import and that the importer was verifying that controls are in place.   However, many food importers are still being found to be out of compliance.  Many of them seem to be unaware that the rule is in place as evidenced by Warning Letters issued by FDA.

The Guidance is lengthy, but should provide answers to most questions posed on the Rule.
Guidance for Industry: Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals (fda.gov)

https://cacmap.fda.gov/index.php/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-issues-foreign-supplier-verification-programs-importers-food-humans-and-animals-final-guidance
FDA Issues the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals Final Guidance
Constituent Update
January 10, 2023

CA Company Recalls Popcorn Snack Products for Undeclared Allergens

Daiso California LLC of La Mirada, CA is recalling the various popcorn snacks, under the brand Tohato and Kashiwado, due of undeclared allergen ingredients.

Daiso had also issued a recall in October of 2022 for cookies that had undeclared almonds and hazelnuts.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/daiso-issues-alergy-alert-tohato-and-kashiwado-snacks
Daiso Issues Alergy Alert Tohato and Kashiwado Snacks
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  January 10, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  January 10, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared almonds, peanuts, soybeans, milk, and shellfish
Company Name:  Daiso California, LLC
Brand Name:  TOHATO and KASHIWADO
Product Description:  Popcorn and other snacks

FDA Issues Warning Letter to Florida Rice Operation for Heavy Pest Activity

FDA issued a Warning Letter to Florida Gold Foods of Kissimmee FL, a firm that handles dried rice, after FDA inspectors found numerous GMP issues including rodent, insect, and animal activity.  (Animal activity -  investigators observed four (4) or more live cats in the northern end of the building and apparent cat feces and urine throughout the warehouse, and they observed a cat running from building (b)(4) with a rodent in its mouth.  Cats are not pest control for food facilities)

FDA also analyzed several samples for filth.  "Results from the Florida Gold brand 2-lb bags of rice demonstrate that this product was adulterated with various species of insects at larval, pupae and adult stages including multi-stage dead beetles, sawtoothed grain beetles, and red flour beetles. Further, the samples collected from within your facility resulted in numerous filth findings including the presence of rodent excreta pellets of a size implicating a rat, fecal material with internal cat/dog hairs, rat/mouse hairs, two (2) feathers identified as songbird feathers, multi-stage beetles (adult and larvae), and insects including but not limited to, flies and moths."

Of course, there were plenty of GMP issues for cleanliness.

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/florida-gold-foods-llc-637153-11222022
WARNING LETTER

Florida Gold Foods LLC
MARCS-CMS 637153 — NOVEMBER 22, 2022