FDA Warning Letter - DE Facility with No Food Safety Plan for RTE Hummus

FDA issued a Warning Letter to M. Fierro & Sons, LLC, a manufacturer of ready-to-eat (RTE) hummus and cheese manufacturing facility located in Wilmington, DE.

The list of violations is long and quite scary considering they are making RTE products such as hummus and cheese. 

• No Food Safety Plan - so specific pathogens were not identified nor were appropriate controls.
• Inadequate controls for cooking and cooling of product.
• No allergen controls
• No environmental controls and monitoring
• Improper cleaning and sanitizing.

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/m-fierro-sons-llc-641400-01192023
M. Fierro & Sons, LLC
MARCS-CMS 641400 — JANUARY 19, 2023


Recipient:
Mr. William J. Meany
Owner
M. Fierro & Sons, LLC
1025 N. Union Street
Wilmington, DE 19805-2752
United States

Upstart (in US) Supermarket Chain Recalls Cocktail Shrimp After Testing Finds Listeria

Lidl US has announced a voluntary recall of ready-to-eat Tapas branded Cocktail Shrimp by Lidl, 7 oz., due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.   The recall was issued as a result of routine testing, which revealed that the finished product contained the bacteria. Lidl performs this testing on an ongoing basis to help ensure safe and quality products for our customers. Lidl US has ceased the production and distribution of the product as we continue our investigation in conjunction with the FDA to resolve the issue. Lidl US has received no reports or complaints of illness related to this product to date.

The product was distributed to all Lidl US store locations. Lidl US has store locations in Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Lidl is a German discount supermarket chain which launched stores in the US in 2017.  After its first stores in VA and NC, it now has more than 150 stores on the East Coast.  It has a similar approach as Aldi, another German food store, but has been described as a bit more upscale.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lidl-voluntarily-recalls-7-oz-tapas-branded-cocktail-shrimp-lidl-due-possible-health-risk
Lidl Voluntarily Recalls 7 oz Tapas Branded Cocktail Shrimp by Lidl Due to Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  March 01, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  March 01, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Lidl US
Brand Name:  Tapas
Product Description:  Cocktail Shrimp

Candy Company Recalls Chocolate Product For Undeclared Allergens After Packaging Error by Co-packer

Russell Stover Chocolates of Kansas City, Missouri, is voluntarily recalling two (2) Best Before Dates of its Sugar Free Peanut Butter Cups in 2.4 oz packaging due to the potential for undeclared pecans. The recalled Sugar Free Peanut Butter Cups may contain Sugar Free Pecan Delights.  The recall was initiated following consumer contacts regarding the wrong product inside the outer packaging for Sugar Free Peanut Butter Cups product. Russell Stover has received no reports of any illness or allergic reactions related to this issue to date.  An error by the firm’s 3rd party co-packing company resulted in individually-wrapped Sugar Free Pecan Delight products being placed in the outer packaging for Sugar Free Peanut Butter Cups. The inner packaging correctly identifies the products as Sugar Free Pecan Delights and the physical Sugar Free Pecan Delight product appears distinct from the Sugar Free Peanut Butter Cup product.

Co-packing is very common today with an estimated 25% of branded product co-packed or co-manufactured.  Brand owners have to ensure that their co-packing partners have tight systems for managing quality and food safety.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/russell-stover-chocolates-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-pecan-sugar-free-peanut-butter-cups
Russell Stover Chocolates Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Pecan in Sugar Free Peanut Butter Cups
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  February 28, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  February 28, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Pecan
Company Name:  Russell Stover Chocolates
Brand Name:  Russell Stover
Product Description:  Sugar Free Peanut Butter Cups

WA Firm Recalls Distributed Seafood Products That Had No Allergen Labeling

Lemonland Food Corp of Kent, Washington initiated a recall of seasoned fisheries and seasoned vegetable products because it may contain undeclared soy, wheat, sesame, peanut, walnut, milk, crab, shrimp, and fish.  The firm distributed un-labeled plastic containers in 6oz, 8oz, 12oz, and 16 oz to H-mart, G-mart and M2M retail stores in Washington between 2/16/23 and 2/23/23. Those containers were labeled with H-mart, G-mart or M2M white adhesive labels and the allergens may have not been declared properly.  The allergens mis-labeling issue was discovered during the inspection by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) on February 22, 2023. The firm has stopped producing, re-packing, and distributing since February 23, 2023, and will resume operation when the new labels are available.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lemonland-food-corp-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-soy-wheat-sesame-peanut-walnut-milk-crab-shrimp
Lemonland Food Corp Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Soy, Wheat, Sesame, Peanut, Walnut, Milk, Crab, Shrimp, Fish (Anchovy, Big Eye Herring, Golden Threadfin Bream, Hairtail, Lizard Fish, Sardine, Pollock) In Multiple Products
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  February 28, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  February 28, 2023
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential or Undeclared Allergen/ Crustacean Shellfish, Fish, Milk, Peanuts, Soybean, Tree Nuts Wheat
Company Name:  Lemonland Food Corp
Brand Name:  No Brand name Listed on Package
Product Description:  Seasoned fisheries and seasoned vegetable products

USDA Issues Health Alert for Pasta Sauce Labeled as Pizza Sauce

USDA-FSIS is issuing a public health alert due to concerns that fully cooked, ready-to-eat (RTE) pasta sauce labeled as pizza sauce contains anchovies and milk, known allergens, as well as ground beef and sulfites, which are not declared on the product label. The problem was discovered after the firm received a consumer complaint that meat was in the pizza sauce and notified FSIS. The establishment determined that employees labeled a limited number of “Bolognese Pasta Sauce” packages as “Homestyle Pizza Sauce”.

The product was made by Heritage Specialty Foods of Milwaukie, OR.


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-new-seasons-pizza-sauce-due-misbranding-and
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for New Seasons Pizza Sauce Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens

HERITAGE SPECIALTY FOODS, LLC

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns that fully cooked, ready-to-eat (RTE) pasta sauce labeled as pizza sauce contains anchovies and milk, known allergens, as well as ground beef and sulfites, which are not declared on the product label. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers are aware that these products should not be consumed. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase.

Canned Shrimp Recalled after Complaints for Leaking Cans

Kawasho Foods USA Inc. of New York, NY, is voluntarily recalling one lot of canned GEISHA Medium Shrimp 4oz. because of reported swelling, leaking, or bursting cans.  The GEISHA Medium Shrimp is packaged in a 4oz. metal can, with UPC 071140003909. The one lot being recalled is LGC12W12E22; BEST BY: MAY/12/2026 and this code appears on the bottom of the product can.  This could be an underprocessing issue, which then it is a risk for Clostridium botulinum.  Other issues could be improper seaming.  Another issue could be thermophilic spoilage.  As an imported product coming from Thailand or other location, exposure to hot conditions during shipment could result in the growth of thermophilic sporeforming spoilage organisms.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/kawasho-foods-usa-inc-announces-voluntary-recall-single-lot-geisha-medium-shrimp-4oz-because
Kawasho Foods USA Inc. Announces a Voluntary Recall of a Single Lot of GEISHA Medium Shrimp 4oz. Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  February 26, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  February 26, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Shellfish
Reason for Announcement:  Potential contamination with Clostridium botulinum
Company Name:  Kawasho Foods USA, Inc.
Brand Name:  GEISHA
Product Description:  GEISHA Medium Shrimp, 4 oz can

Jars of Labeled as Roasted Red Peppers Recalled for Pine Nuts After Mislabeling Issue

Sunny Dell Foods, LLC. of Oxford, PA, is recalling its 12-ounce jars of "Rao’s Homemade Brand Roasted Red Peppers with Portobello Mushrooms" because the affected jars of the condiment may contain undeclared Trees Nuts (Pine Nuts).  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that a tree nut-containing condiment product was distributed in the Rao’s Homemade Brand Roasted Peppers with Portobello Mushrooms packaging that did not reveal the presence of tree nuts (pine nuts). Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by an accidental mislabeling during the production run.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sunny-dell-foods-llc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-tree-nuts-pine-nuts-raos-homemade-brand-roasted
Sunny Dell Foods, LLC Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Tree Nuts (Pine Nuts) in "Rao’s Homemade Brand Roasted Red Peppers with Portobello Mushrooms"
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  February 21, 2023
FDA Publish Date: February 22, 2023
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement: Undeclared Pine Nuts
Company Name: Sunny Dell Foods, LLC
Brand Name: Rao’s Homemade
Product Description: Roasted Red Peppers with Portobella Mushroom

WA Company Recalls Cherry Candy Product for Undeclared Hazelnuts

Chukar Cherry Company of Prosser, WA is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of Cherry Bombs because the product may contain hazelnuts.  No reason was listed.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/chukar-cherry-company-prosser-wa-voluntarily-recalling-limited-quantity-cherry-bombs-because-product
Chukar Cherry Company of Prosser, WA is Voluntarily Recalling a Limited Quantity of Cherry Bombs Because the Product May Contain Hazelnuts
Summary
Company Announcement Date: February 21, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  February 21, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Snack Food Item
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Hazelnuts
Company Name:  Chukar Cherry
Brand Name:  Chukar Cherry
Product Description: Cherry Bombs

FDA Issues Draft Guidance that Plant-based Non-Milk Product Can Be Called Milk

FDA issued a proposal that says plant-based beverages can be called milk provided they list the plant material from which they were derived.  "The rules also call for voluntary extra nutrition labels that note when the drinks have lower levels of nutrients than dairy milk, such as calcium, magnesium or vitamin D. They would continue to allow labels that note when plant-based drinks have higher levels. Fortified soy milk is the only plant-based food included in the dairy category of U.S. dietary guidelines because of its nutrient levels."

AP News
https://apnews.com/article/us-food-and-drug-administration-business-health-nutrition-ed2acef14a014eef30a0fd24f98be07b
No cow needed: Oat and soy can be called milk, FDA proposes