Imported Indian Spice Blend Recalled for Potential Salmonella Contamination

Everest Food Products Private Limited of Gujarat, India has been notified by FDA that samples of their products, Sambhar Masala and Garam Masala, have tested positive for Salmonella. These products were not distributed by Everest Food Products Private Limited and they were not intended for distribution or sale in the US market. Amin Trading Agency LLC., Edison, NJ. sourced our products from Indian markets and distributed them in the US market. Amin Trading Agency LLC. is conducting a recall of these products because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

These are Indian spice blends used for cooking Indian dishes. Sambar is a lentil and vegetable based stew (primarly lentils, tamrid pulp, spices (samabar masala) cooked with vegetables like carrot, potatoes, okra, pumkin, bottle gourd, radish, brinjal and small onions/ shallots) and is extremely popular in the South of India.  Ingredients in this spice blend include Coriander, Chilly, Gram Dhal, Urad Dhal, Fenugreek, Kashmiri Chilly, Salt, Turmeric, Asafoetida, Curry Leaf.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/recall-everest-brand-sambhar-masala-and-garam-masala-us-due-possible-health-risk
Recall of Everest Brand Sambhar Masala and Garam Masala in the U.S. Due to Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 30, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  June 30, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Spices, Flavors & Salts
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Foodborne Illness-Salmonella
Company Name:  Everest Food Products Private Limited
Brand Name:  Everest
Product Description:  Sambhar Masala and Garam Masala spices

CDC MMWR - Incidence of Foodborne Infections 2022

CDC released its report on the incidence of foodborne infections.  Interesting items from this report:

• During 2022, FoodNet identified 25,479 cases of infection, 5,981 hospitalizations, and 170 deaths
• Campylobacter and Salmonella are the leading causes of bacterial enteric infections transmitted commonly by food. 
• During 2022, FoodNet identified higher incidences of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Yersinia, Vibrio, and Cyclospora infections compared with 2016–2018. Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, and Listeria incidences did not change [from 2016–2018].
• Many COVID-19 pandemic-related factors influencing enteric disease transmission, detection, and reporting (3,4) ended by 2022. The incidence of infections caused by pathogens transmitted commonly through food during 2022 generally returned to levels observed during the pre-pandemic period, 2016–2018.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7226a1.htm

Preliminary Incidence and Trends of Infections Caused by Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food — Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, 10 U.S. Sites, 2022

Weekly / June 30, 2023 / 72(26);701–706

Summary

What is already known about this topic?
Campylobacter and Salmonella are the leading causes of bacterial enteric infections transmitted commonly by food. Reported incidence of enteric infections was lower during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021) compared with previous years.

What is added by this report?
During 2022, FoodNet identified higher incidences of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Yersinia, Vibrio, and Cyclospora infections compared with 2016–2018. Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, and Listeria incidences did not change.

What are the implications for public health practice?
Progress in reducing enteric infection incidence was not observed during 2022, as influences of the COVID-19 pandemic subsided. Collaboration among food growers, processors, retail stores, restaurants, and regulators is needed to reduce pathogen contamination during poultry slaughter and to prevent contamination of leafy greens.

Another Recall for Fruit Product that Used Recalled Pineapple with Potential for Listeria

Townsend Farms Inc. of Fairview, Oregon out of an abundance of caution is voluntarily recalling specific frozen fruit products linked to mango chunks supplied by SunOpta (Sunrise Growers) due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.  This follows along with other recalls that were issued last week because of this issue from the pineapple supplier.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/townsend-farms-inc-voluntarily-recalling-specific-frozen-fruit-products-because-possible-listeria
Townsend Farms Inc. Voluntarily Recalling Specific Frozen Fruit Products Because of Possible Listeria monocytogenes Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 28, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  June 28, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination
Company Name:  Townsend Farms Inc.
Brand Name:  Private Selection
Product Description:  Multiple frozen fruit with mango products

Another Recall of Jelly Cups Due to the Potential Choking Hazard

Foremost Foods Corp of Pomona CA, a distributor of food products, is recalling Mini Fruit Jelly Cups due to the products being a potential choking hazard based off the product size. Small jelly cups have previously been implicated in choking deaths of children.  Just last week, another distributor recalled a similar (or the same) product.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/foremost-foods-corporation-voluntarily-recalls-pamana-brand-mini-fruit-jelly-cup-3527oz-because
Foremost Foods Corporation Voluntarily Recalls Pamana Brand Mini Fruit Jelly Cup (35.27OZ) Because of Potential Choking Hazard
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 26, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  June 26, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Choking Hazard
Company Name:  Foremost Foods Corporation
Brand Name:  Pamana
Product Description:  Fruit Jelly Snack

FDA Releases FAQs on Traceability Rule - What Does It Answer for Retail Establishments and Restaurants

 The new Traceability Rule, as part of the FSMA set of regulations, goes into effect in January, 2026.  AS you may know, it requires entities who perform certain tasks (Critical Tracking Events  or CTEs) along the food supply chain to keep and share information, termed (Key Data Elements or KDEs) and maintain a traceability plan, but only for those items on the Food Traceability List (FTL).  We have more on this posted here - Penn State Food Safety Blog: FDA Rolls Out Traceability Rule as Part of FSMA Regulations

FDA released on 6/26/2023 its FAQ's that attempt to provide 'clarification' to this overly complex rule.

Frequently Asked Questions: FSMA Food Traceability Rule
https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/frequently-asked-questions-fsma-food-traceability-rule

One group that will have to face this is Retail Food Establishments (RFEs) and restaurants.  There are two important parts - who is covered and how, and what information is needed?  As for the later, the only information need to be kept is receiving records with the KDEs for those items on the FTL.

And what information would they need to keep (KDEs)

 The following key data elements (KDEs) must be maintained and linked to the traceability lot for the food: 

• Traceability lot code for the food
• Quantity and unit of measure of the food
• Product description for the food
• Location description for the immediate previous source of the food
• Location description for where the food was received
• Date you received the food
• Location description for the traceability lot code source, or the traceability lot code source
• reference
• Reference document type and reference document number

Outbreak of Cyclospora May Be Linked to Imported Broccoli

An outbreak of cyclosporiasis in the US has resulted in 210 cases reported as of June 22, 2023.  While the source has not been definitively determined at this point, "FDA and state and local partners conducted traceback investigations and determined that the broccoli was imported. However, FDA investigators were unable to confirm the specific type or producer of the imported broccoli as the source of the outbreak. This outbreak appears to be over and there is no indication at this time that broccoli continues to be a source of illness for other cases of cyclosporiasis being reported in the United States."

One of the main issues for determining the source is the long time between consumption and symptoms, which can range from one to two weeks. 

Cyclospora is an issue in fresh produce.  "C. cayetanensis is a parasite that must live inside a human host for part of its life cycle, as well as living outside the host during an environmental phase. Although there are many species of Cyclospora, only C. cayetanensis has been known to cause illness in humans, an infection called cyclosporiasis. A person can become infected after ingesting food or water contaminated with the parasite."

Will heating destroy Cyclospora, such as with blanching?  These does not seem to be any history for survival at elevated temperatures, but there are limited studies.

https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/cyclosporiasis/outbreaks/2023/index.html
Cyclosporiasis Illnesses in the United States, 2023
LAST UPDATED JUNE 22, 2023

Fast Facts
Illnesses: 210
Hospitalizations: 30
Deaths: 0
States reporting cases: 22

Imported RTE Pork Rinds from Guatemala Recalled After Inspectors Find the Non-USDA Inspected Product at Store Level

Distribuidora El Paisano Import, LLC, a distributor and the importer of record located in Providence, R.I., is recalling approximately 1,715 pounds of imported ready-to-eat pork rind product that was imported from Guatemala.  The product subject to recall does not bear an establishment number nor a USDA mark of inspection. This item was shipped to retail locations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island.  The problem was discovered during a routine FSIS surveillance activity at a retail store where the agency found the pork rind product from Guatemala. Guatemala is not eligible to import meat products into the U.S.


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/distribuidora-el-paisano-import-llc-recalls-ineligible-ready-eat-pork-rind-product
Distribuidora El Paisano Import, LLC, Recalls Ineligible Ready-To-Eat Pork Rind Product Imported from Guatemala

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, June 20, 2023 - Distribuidora El Paisano Import, LLC, a distributor and the importer of record located in Providence, R.I., is recalling approximately 1,715 pounds of imported ready-to-eat pork rind product that was imported from Guatemala, a country ineligible to export meat products to the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Imported Soup from Canada Recalled After Discovery of Non-Compliance with USDA Inspection Rules for Imported Goods

BCI Foods Inc., the importer of record located in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada, is recalling approximately 13,561 pounds of chicken noodle soup products that were not presented for import reinspection into the United States.  The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified by an import broker that canned chicken soup products imported from Canada were not presented for FSIS import reinspection.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/bci-foods-inc--recalls-chicken-noodle-soup-products-produced-without-benefit-import
BCI Foods Inc. Recalls Chicken Noodle Soup Products Produced without Benefit of Import Reinspection

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, June 20, 2023 - BCI Foods Inc., the importer of record located in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada, is recalling approximately 13,561 pounds of chicken noodle soup products that were not presented for import reinspection into the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Imported Sheep Milk Cheese Recalled Due to Link to Listeria Outbreak in Europe

FMA International of Brooklyn, NY is recalling one lot of SAS Fromagerie Ottavi Tome Corse Sheep Milk Cheese, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, The recall was the result of an ongoing recall and outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes in Europe associated with cheese from SAS Fromagerie Ottavi. FMA International was notified by the France manufacturer and immediately recalled the cheese imported to the United States.

FMA International imported a total of one case from the affected lot.
Ottavi Tome Corse cheese was distributed in the state of Oregon to a specialty food distributor. The one case from the recalled lot has since been accounted for and has been subsequently destroyed. It was never sold to any retailers or restaurants.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/fma-international-recalls-sas-fromagerie-ottavi-tome-corse-sheep-milk-cheese-imported-france-because
FMA International Recalls SAS Fromagerie Ottavi Tome Corse Sheep Milk Cheese Imported From France Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 23, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  June 23, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Cheese/Cheese Product 
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Foodborne Illness
Company Name:  Food Matters Again International
Brand Name:  SAS Fromergerie Ottavi
Product Description:  Tome Corse Sheep Milk Cheese