MI Establishment Recalls Pork Rind Product Due to Lack of Federal Inspection

Mitten Gourmet, LLC, a Freeland, Michigan establishment, is recalling approximately 1,137 pounds of ready-to-eat pork rind products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.  The problem was discovered during routine FSIS surveillance activities when the ready-to-eat pork rind products were observed for sale without the USDA mark of inspection. FSIS determined that the producer is not an FSIS-inspected facility.

According to the Mitten Gourmet website "Mitten Gourmet is a family owned small business established in 2018. Our family loves the feeling of having fresh homemade products in our everyday lives. We want to provide the same feeling to you and your family.  The moral of our story is simple, our products we create are small batch and handcrafted, with the goal of providing you with tasteful products that are made fresh to order."

This company produces a number of snacks including popcorn, pretzels and cotton candy, and if one had to guess, decided to add pork rinds, a USDA regulated product,  but failed to get USDA inspection. 

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/mitten-gourmet-llc-recalls-ready-eat-pork-rind-products-produced-without-benefit
Mitten Gourmet, LLC, Recalls Ready-to-Eat Pork Rind Products Produced without Benefit of Inspection

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, May 10, 2023 – Mitten Gourmet, LLC, a Freeland, Michigan establishment, is recalling approximately 1,137 pounds of ready-to-eat pork rind products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Peanut Butter Cookies Packaged as Oatmeal Cookies Recalled Due to Undeclared Peanut

Albertsons Companies has voluntarily recalled 18-count packages of Oatmeal Cookies that were sold at the Safeway grocery store at 14020 Main Street, Duvall, Wash. between April 5 to April 17, 2023. We have received a report that a package of cookies was labeled as Oatmeal Raisin but may have contained Peanut Butter Cookies. As a result, peanuts and soy were not listed within the ingredient statement.

Note...the label does have a precautionary statement that includes peanuts, but it does not prevent having to conduct a recall due to undeclared peanuts.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/albertsons-companies-voluntarily-recalls-oatmeal-raisin-cookies-sold-safeway-store-duvall-wash-due
Albertsons Companies Voluntarily Recalls Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Sold at a Safeway Store in Duvall, Wash. Due to an Undeclared Peanut and Soy Allergen
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 09, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  May 11, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Peanut and Soy
Company Name:  Albertsons Companies
Brand Name:  Safeway
Product Description:  Oatmeal Raison Cookies

Imported Black Fungus (Nam Meo) Recalled After Testing by State Lab Finds Three Strains of Salmonella

AH USA GROUP INC. is recalling its TW4115 Black Fungus (Nam Meo) product due to possible Salmonella contamination.  The "state of Pennsylvania collected a sample of the product and found traces of salmonella. According to the testers, three types of salmonella were detected, Salmonella Javiana, Salmonella Mgulani, and Salmonella Weltevreden." 
The recalled TW4115 Black Fungus (Nam Meo) product was distributed in the following states: California, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Georgia, Washington, Arizona, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. through small grocery stores.  Product is imported from China.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/recall-press-release-tw4115-black-fungus-nam-meo
Recall Press Release: TW4115 Black Fungus (Nam Meo)
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 11, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  May 11, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Salmonella
Company Name:  AH USA Group, Inc.
Brand Name:  Ah
Product Description:  Black Fungus (Nam Meo)

Pesto Packed into Hummus Dip Containers Recalled for Undeclared Milk and Walnuts

Bakkavor USA is issuing a voluntary recall of Trader Joe’s Genova Pesto (SKU# 15759) because the product may contain undeclared milk and walnuts.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered at a retail store that the Genova Pesto was mistakenly packaged into tubs marked "Hummus Dip”. These tubs do not contain an allergen declaration of milk or walnuts, which are both found in the Genova Pesto.

From the pictures, the top lid label stating pesto was correct, but the tubs pre-printed container label states hummus.  So someone put the wrong preprinted tubs into the filler.  An Allergen Preventive Control would include ensuring both the lid and container are in agreement with the product being packed.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/bakkavor-usa-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-and-walnuts-trader-joes-genova-pesto
Bakkavor USA Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk and Walnuts in Trader Joe’s Genova Pesto
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 04, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  May 09, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Product may contain undeclared milk and walnuts
Company Name:  Bakkavor USA
Brand Name:  Trader Joe’s
Product Description:  Genova Pesto Packaged in Tubs Marked Hummus Dip

Yogurt Parfaits Recalled Due to Undeclared Soy

Sodexo is voluntarily recalling 8 .53oz packages of Simply To Go Strawberry Yogurt Parfaits and 9.24oz packages Simply To Go Blueberry Yogurt Parfaits because they may contain undeclared soy ingredients.
No illnesses or deaths have been reported to date.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sodexo-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-soy-yogurt-parfaits
Sodexo Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Soy in Yogurt Parfaits
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 09, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  May 09, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared soy
Company Name:  Sodexo
Brand Name:  Simply To Go
Product Description:  Strawberry Yogurt & Blueberry Yogurt Parfaits

MA Sprout Operation Expands Recall to All Product Due to Listeria

Chang Farm of Whatley, MA is expanding their May 5th recall to include ALL Mung Bean Sprouts and Soy Bean Sprouts within expiry because of the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes (L. Monocytogenes)

An expansion of a recall due to Listeria is too often a common outcome when the Federal inspectors find that the company did not have adequate Listeria controls in place.  So the initial recall in this case was discovered through State lab testing.  Investigators will often launch an inspection of the facility.  If they find that there are systemic issues that would indicate broader contamination, the company will be asked to expand the recall to more product.  In this case, all product produced by the company is being recalled (although for sprouts, there may not be a whole lot of product in commerce due to the short shelf life).

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/chang-farm-expands-recalls-mung-and-soy-bean-sprouts-because-possible-health-risk
Chang Farm Expands Recalls Mung and Soy Bean Sprouts Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 09, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  May 09, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Chang Farm
Brand Name:  Nature’s Wonder & Chang Farm
Product Description:  Bean Sprouts

Over 30 Ill and 2 Deaths Linked to MT Restaurant, Mushrooms Potential Source

Montana Dept of Health has reported an outbreak that has affected over 30 people with at least two deaths after eating at Dave's Sushi in Bozeman MT. "The manner and cause of death for these two individuals will remain pending until autopsy and toxicology results are available. The pattern of illness identified through case investigation, to date, indicates individuals became sick within 30 minutes to 4.5 hours after their meal. Preliminary investigative findings indicate that food containing morel mushrooms may be the exposure of concern. Currently, no pathogen/toxin has been identified, and both state and federal partners continue to test clinical and food samples."

Montana State Health Department
https://dphhs.mt.gov/News/2023/May/GallatinCity-CountyHealthDepartment,DPHHSContinuetoInvestigateFoodborneOutbreak
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 03 2023
Contact:
Jon Ebelt, Communications Director, DPHHS, jebelt@mt.gov
Holly Whaley, Communications Specialist, Gallatin City-County Health Department, holly.whaley@gallatin.mt.gov
Gallatin City-County Health Department, DPHHS Continue to Investigate Foodborne Outbreak

The Gallatin City-County Health Department, the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), other local health departments, and federal agencies continue to investigate the foodborne illness outbreak linked to eating food at Dave’s Sushi in Bozeman.

The investigational activities are ongoing, and DPHHS and the Gallatin City-County Health Department acknowledge that the investigation may not be able to identify a specific pathogen as the source of this outbreak. This outbreak appears to be isolated to people who ate at Dave’s Sushi between March 31 and April 17, 2023. The restaurant remains closed, and there does not appear to be any further risk to the public.

USDA Released Guidance Document on RTE Fermented, Salt-Cured and Dried Products

USDA-FSIS issued a draft guidance document for the safe processing of RTE Meat products, specifically those that are fermented, salt-cured, and dried.   

FSIS-GD-2023-0002: FSIS Ready-to-Eat Fermented, Salt-Cured, and Dried Products Guideline (usda.gov)  https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/documents/FSIS-GD-2023-0002.pdf

• Fermented Genoa salami, hard salami, pepperoni, turkey pepperoni, summer sausage, Abruzzese, Lebanon bologna, sopressata, thuringer, mettwurst, saucisson, chorizo, chourico, soudjouk (sujuk or soujouk), pickled pigs’ feet, bologna in vinegar, landjager 15 
• Salt-cured Prosciutto ham, Parma ham, Westphalian ham, Bayonne ham, Serrano ham, Black Forest ham, country ham, pancetta, coppa, capocolla, bresaola, beef prosciutto, basturma, duck prosciutto, linguica, salchichon 18 
• Dried dried beef, beef jerky1, beef nuggets, steak tenders, kippered beef, meat sticks, turkey jerky, tasajo, pemmican, pipi kaula, droëwors, biltong, jamon (jambon), longanisa, (some) saucisson, (some) chorizo, dried soup mixes/soup bases, freeze-dried entrees, fried pork skins/rinds/cracklings/chicharrones, lard

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/federal-register-rulemaking/federal-register-notices/availability-fsis-ready-eat-fermented
Availability of FSIS Ready-To-Eat Fermented, Salt-Cured, and Dried Products Guideline

DOCKET NUMBER
Docket No. FSIS-2022-0011
FEDERAL REGISTER STATUS
Notice of availability and request for comments
PROPOSED DATE
May 05, 2023
Summary
FSIS is announcing the availability of and requesting comments on a guidance document for small and very small meat and poultry establishments manufacturing ready-to-eat (RTE), shelf-stable, fermented, salt-cured, and dried meat and poultry products, that do not use cooking as the primary lethality step. This guideline addresses many commonly asked questions concerning the food safety hazards associated with these products and the key steps in each process needed to ensure safety. This guideline replaces and expands upon information previously found in other guidance documents addressing the safe production of RTE fermented meat and poultry products.

USDA Issues Public Health Alert for CA Establishment's Frozen Meatloaf Due to Undeclared Milk

USDA issued a Public Health Alert for frozen ready-to-cook meatloaf entrée products produced by A.J. SONS, INC. of Laguna Beach, CA for undeclared milk.  These items were shipped to organizations serving the senior population in Southern California and were further distributed through home-delivery meal service programs.

The problem was discovered by FSIS during a routine label verification task. FSIS inspectors observed that the meatloaf contained milk, but the establishment did not list milk as an ingredient on the case label. The individual trays delivered to consumers do not include an ingredient statement. Consumers should be aware that in addition to milk, this product also contains the allergens egg, soy, and wheat.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-frozen-meatloaf-entree-products-due-misbranding-and
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Frozen Meatloaf Entree Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns that frozen ready-to-cook meatloaf entrée products may contain undeclared milk, a known allergen. These entrees are removed from their master carton and delivered to consumers in ready to prepare trays that do not bear an ingredient statement. While egg, soy, and wheat are declared in the ingredient list that appears on the carton, milk is not. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers with allergies to egg, milk, soy, and wheat are aware that these products should not be consumed. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for distribution to consumers.