MD Produce Packing Facility Recalls Bagged Leafy Greens After NY State Lab Detects Listeria

Update May 12, 2023 - Additional product added

Lancaster Foods is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of 3 brands of already-expired Robinson Fresh, Lancaster, and Giant brand Kale, Spinach and Collard Green products produced at the company’s Jessup, Maryland facility. This recall is due to a possible health risk from Listeria monocytogenes. The recall was initiated after notification that a random sample of a single bag of Chopped Kale Greens product with a “BEST IF USED BY May 1 2023” date collected by the New York Agriculture and Markets Food Safety Division tested positive for the Listeria pathogen.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lancaster-foods-announces-voluntary-recall-various-expired-kale-spinach-and-collard-green-products

Lancaster Foods Announces Voluntary Recall of Various Expired Kale, Spinach and Collard Green Products Due to Potential Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 05, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  May 06, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential for Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Lancaster Foods, LLC
Brand Name:  Robinson Fresh, Lancaster, Giant
Product Description:  Kale, Spinach, Collard Green products

MA Sprouting Facility Recalls Bean Sprout After NY State Lab Finds Listeria

Chang Farm, 301 River Road, Whatley, MA is issuing a voluntary recall of Mung Bean Sprouts; all 10lb bags (as some bags may not have sell-by dates), as well as 12 oz retail bags, both packaged on April 23rd, 2023 (distributed on April 24th, 2023), produced by Chang Farm, with the specific sell-by date of May 7th, 2023 because of the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes.  Sample analysis by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ (NYSDAM) Division of Food Safety and Inspection confirmed Listeria Monocytogenes.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/chang-farm-recalls-mung-bean-sprouts-because-possible-health-risk
Chang Farm Recalls Mung Bean Sprouts Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 05, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  May 05, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential for Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Chang Farm
Brand Name:  Chang Farm, Nature’s Wonder
Product Description:  Mung bean sprouts

NH Greenhouse Facility Recalls Salad Greens After State Testing Finds E. Coli (STEC)

Update May 15 - Recall cancelled - Penn State Food Safety Blog: Recall for Product from Indoor Farm Cancelled After State Laboratory Discovers It Made Error

lēf Farms of Loudon, N.H. is voluntarily recalling a single lot of the lēf Farms “Spice” Packaged Salad Greens ("best by" date 5/5/23, lot number SP10723- 1RGH1, UPC 8 50439 00709 1) produced in its Loudon, New Hampshire greenhouse because they have the potential to be contaminated with Escherichia coli 0157:H7 (E. coli) bacteria.  No illnesses have been reported to date. The recall was initiated when the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture received a positive test result for E. coli 0157:H7 in a single package of lēf Farms “Spice” Packaged Salad Greens (4 oz) as part of routine testing.

lēf Farms, now a part of BrightFarms, is an indoor growing facility that services the New England states.  This is just another case related to the concerns of controlled environment growing facilities.  Last month, we discussed this as part of recall from a MI facility.  And there was also a recall from a GA facility.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lef-farms-recalls-spice-packaged-salad-greens-because-possible-health-risk
lēf Farms Recalls “Spice” Packaged Salad Greens Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 04, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  May 04, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Due to potential Escherichia coli 0157:H7 (E. coli) contamination
Company Name:  lēf Farms
Brand Name:  lēf Farms
Product Description:  Salad greens

Potato Chips Recalled for Undeclared Milk After Complaint Issued

Frito-Lay today issued a voluntary recall of a limited number – 146 bags – of 13 oz. and 15 5/8 oz. of Lay’s Classic Potato Chips that may contain undeclared milk ingredients from sour cream and onion potato chips. The recall is the result of an investigation following a consumer complaint.

Frito Lay has had a number of allergen related issues over the past several years.  In 2020, FDA issued a Warning Letter to the company after two allergen recalls at separate facilities.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/frito-lay-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-lays-classic-potato-chips-distributed-connecticut
Frito-Lay Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Lay’s Classic Potato Chips Distributed in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 04, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  May 04, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Snack Food Item  
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared milk
Company Name:  Frito-Lay
Brand Name:  Lay’s
Product Description:  Classic potato chips

Imported Tahini Recalled After State Lab Testing Finds Salmonella

Rushdi Food Industries, an Israeli based manufacturer, is voluntarily recalling their Mighty Sesame 10.9 Oz Organic Tahini (Squeezable) with the specific expiration date of 9/25/23 due t0 potential Salmonella contamination.  This recall was initiated when the company received a notification by the FDA and the Ohio Department of Health of the potential presence of Salmonella in this specific lot. The company has received no reports of illness or injury to date.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/rushdi-foods-issues-voluntary-recall-one-lot-their-mighty-sesame-organic-tahini-109-oz-squeeze-0
Rushdi Foods Issues a Voluntary Recall on One Lot of Their Mighty Sesame Organic Tahini 10.9 oz Squeeze Bottle
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 03, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  May 03, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Dressing/Condiment 
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Foodborne Illness/Salmonella
Company Name:  Rushdi Food Industries
Brand Name:  Mighty Sesame Co.
Product Description:  Organic Tahini

Nut Mix Recalled After Mislabeling Issue Leads to Undeclared Almonds

Schnuck Markets, Inc. of St Louis, MO has issued an allergy alert due to a mislabel on select containers of Culinaria Nut Mixes. The products may have mislabeled packaging, and the Culinaria Cashew & Macadamia mix may contain almonds, which is an allergen for some people. Due to the mislabel, the Culinaria Cashew & Almond Mix may not contain the correct ingredients listed on the package.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/schnucks-issues-allergy-alert-select-culinaria-nut-mixes-due-mislabel-product-may-contain-undeclared
Schnucks Issues Allergy Alert on Select Culinaria Nut Mixes Due to a Mislabel, Product May Contain Undeclared Almonds
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  April 29, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  May 02, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared almonds
Company Name: Schnucks Markets, Inc.
Brand Name:  Culinaria
Product Description:  Nut Mixes

Mezcal Drinking Cups Recalled for Risk of Leaching Lead

Del Maguey Co., New York, NY is conducting a voluntary recall of certain ceramicware cups called copitas – small artisan cups traditionally used for drinking mezcal – because they may exceed FDA guidance levels for leachable lead.

The copitas were distributed free-of-charge to consumers at retail locations, events and tastings across the United States. Copitas were also included in value-added packs (VAPs) sold by retail stores since October 2022; the VAPs included a 750ml bottle of Del Maguey Vida de Muertos mezcal and 4 copitas. This recall covers all copitas distributed by Del Maguey to date.

The cup is made of red clay, with applied enamel on the surface that holds liquid inside. It holds a maximum of 1 oz, and measures 2.5 inches wide and 1 inch in height. The copitas can be identified by the embossed brand name “Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal” which encircles the word “Mexico” located on the inside of the cup. Images of the copitas and the VAPs sold at retail are pictured below.

"To date, no complaints of illness or injury related to usage of the copitas have been reported."  For one, I'm not sure the average consumer would recognize they are suffering the effects of lead poisoning with identifying the cups as the source.  Secondly, in order to get sufficient amount of lead ingested, one would probably have to consume an awful lot of mezcal, to the point where the alcohol consumed would be a bigger issue.  It is not like they are storing the booze in the cup.  Certainly not the same risk posed to ancient Romans who stored wine in leaden vessels.  But you never know.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/del-maguey-issues-voluntary-recall-promotional-ceramicware-cups-called-copitas-used-drinking-mezcal
Del Maguey Issues Voluntary Recall of Promotional Ceramicware Cups Called ‘Copitas’ -- Used for Drinking Mezcal Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 01, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  May 01, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  May exceed FDA guidance levels for leachable lead.
Company Name:  Del Maguey Co.
Brand Name:  Del Maguey
Product Description:  Copitas-Artisan ceramicware cups

FDA Issues Warning Letter to MI Processor of RTE Seasoned Pretzels

FDA issued a Warning Letter to Pop Daddy Popcorn Whitmore Lake, MI a processor of ready-to-eat (RTE) seasoned hard pretzels.  The Warning Letter included the following items:

Did not identify environmental pathogens as a food safety hazard in processing of RTE product with exposure.

• "Did not consider contamination with environmental pathogens as a potential food safety hazard at the Mixing or Packaging/Sealing step to evaluate whether it requires a preventive control."

Examples of poor practices when handling RTE food 

"an employee was observed to touch an electrical control panel (which is not cleaned between production runs within a production day), dump a tumbler filled with RTE seasoned pretzels into a plastic bucket, scoop a handful of these seasoned pretzels from the bucket with their gloved hand, and place them back into the tumbler. The same employee then proceeded to open a box of pretzels including the interior bag and scoop those pretzels with a gloved hand into a plastic pitcher before placing those pretzels into the tumbler."

"During production of Pop Daddy Dill Pickle pretzels (Lot # 22822.1), plastic buckets containing RTE seasoned pretzels were sitting atop flattened cardboard on the floor. A bucket was observed slightly overhanging the cardboard and partially exposed to the floor. An employee’s hands were observed to touch the bottom of the buckets while emptying them into a packaging hopper, in the process also touching the inside of the buckets. The employee then placed the buckets under the mixing tumbler to fill with the next batch of RTE seasoned pretzels, without the buckets being washed or sanitized."

Did not verify the effectiveness of this preventive control by performing environmental monitoring 

• "We note that your SOP titled “Environmental Monitoring,” dated October 24, 2018, states that you must (b)(4) take sample swabs at various points of the production process. However, during the inspection your management told FDA investigators that you do not recognize environmental swabbing as a verification of your sanitation controls. In addition, your environmental monitoring SOP did not identify the number of sites to be tested during routine environmental monitoring, the timing for collecting samples, or the test(s) conducted including the analytical method(s) used, as required by 21 CFR 117.165(b)(3)(iii-v)."
• "Did not always follow your procedure. A review of your environmental monitoring results from 2020, 2021, and 2022 (in which you collected (b)(4) swabs respectively on (b)(4) as part of your routine sampling program) found that you frequently obtained results that exceeded your TPC limit of (b)(4) cfu/swab. For example, your 2021 environmental monitoring obtained results of (b)(4) cfu on (b)(4), (b)(4) cfu on (b)(4), and (b)(4) cfu on (b)(4) for the (b)(4) faucet handle. Also, your 2022 environmental monitoring obtained results of (b)(4) cfu on (b)(4) and (b)(4) cfu on (b)(4) for the warehouse worktable. In both cases, upon obtaining unacceptable TPC results, you took follow-up samples, which still indicated unacceptable TPC levels. There is no indication that you took any further action to bring the TPC level down to an acceptable level."

Supplier Preventive Controls for ingredients used in RTE applications

• The "pretzel hazard analysis in your food safety plan, dated March 21, 2022, did not consider pathogens such as Salmonella in your RTE seasoning ingredients to determine whether they require a preventive control. Your process does not apply a lethal treatment to any of your incoming raw materials and ingredients used in production of your RTE pretzels. Some of these seasoning ingredients (e.g., garlic parmesan, dill, and cinnamon) have been associated with pathogens such as Salmonella. 
•  During the inspection, the most recent survey and audit certificate from (b)(4), your supplier for garlic parmesan seasoning, was reviewed. However, the certificate was issued on May 11, 2021, so it was already three months past the annual audit timeframe required by your supply-chain procedure when we reviewed the certificate. Salmonella in RTE pretzels is a hazard that can cause serious adverse health consequences or death and thus an annual onsite audit is the appropriate supplier verification activity unless there is a written determination that other verification activities and/or less frequent onsite auditing of the supplier provide adequate assurance that the hazard is controlled (see 21 CFR 117.430(b)). The audit must be conducted before using the raw material or other ingredient from the supplier and at least (b)(4) thereafter (see 21 CFR 117.430(b)(1)(ii)).

Allergen Preventive Controls

• The "inspection revealed that your preventive controls qualified individual (or an individual under the oversight of your preventive controls qualified individual) was not reviewing your allergen monitoring records to verify that the label checks were operating as intended"

WARNING LETTER
Pop Daddy Popcorn, LLC
MARCS-CMS 646807 — MARCH 28, 2023

FDA Releases Investigation Report on 2022 Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Cantaloupe

FDA released a report on a 2022 Salmonella outbreak that was linked to cantaloupe.  A recall or public health advisory had not been issued at the time because the investigation took longer than the cantaloupe was available for sale.

The investigation did not find a definitive source for the Salmonella strain found in the outbreak, although a common  packinghouse was identified.  The report does give some broad recommendations that packing houses, as well as farms, should be following.   Key among these, from my perspective, developing written procedures (SOPs) for the operation based upon reducing risk and then following these procedures with documentation.  It seems that this was the biggest knock against the firm in this investigation.

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/factors-potentially-contributing-contamination-cantaloupe-implicated-outbreak-salmonella-typhimurium
Factors Potentially Contributing to the Contamination of Cantaloupe Implicated in the Outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium During the Summer of 2022

Full Report - https://www.fda.gov/media/167640/download

In August 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state partners conducted an outbreak investigation into a multistate outbreak of  Salmonella Typhimurium linked to cantaloupe.
• Total Illnesses: 87
• Hospitalizations: 32
• Deaths: 0
• Last Illness Onset: September 11, 2022
• States with Cases: GA (1), IL (5), IN (17), IA (38), KY (3), MI (3), MN (4), MO (2), OH (3), SC (1), WI (10)

The outbreak response investigation found:
1) In August 2022, CDC notified FDA about a multistate cluster of Salmonella Typhimurium illnesses 
with a potential signal for melon exposures. The cases were geographically distributed in the U.S. upper Midwest.
2) The isolates in this cluster of illnesses were within 7 alleles / 11 single-nucleotide polymorphisms 
(SNPs) of two FDA soil swab samples collected from a 2020 outbreak investigation in Indiana. As a part of the 2022 investigation, FDA and state partners collected multiple samples, but none of the resulting isolates were a definitive match to the 2022 outbreak strain.
3) FDA’s 2022 traceback investigation identified 11 points of service, of which 8 traced back to a  common packinghouse. Although a common packinghouse was identified, there was no convergence to a single shipment of products, and therefore three farms that supplied the common packinghouse were identified as potential sources of cantaloupe.