Gluten Free Waffles Recalled After Mislabeling Issue with Gluten Containing Product

Van’s International Foods (“Van’s” or “the Company”) is voluntarily recalling certain packages of Van’s Gluten Free Original Waffles, because they may contain undeclared wheat.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that wheat-containing product was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of wheat. Subsequent investigation indicates that the problem was caused by the inclusion of a limited number of cartons for Van’s Gluten Free Original Waffles with a pallet of cartons intended for wheat containing products. Immediate steps were taken to prevent recurrence.

As part of  being in compliance with the Preventive Controls regulations, the company would have an allergen preventive control for labeling.  A difficulty here is that someone improperly stored pre-labeled cartons on the wrong pallet, perhaps these cartons were from a previous production run, and at the end of that production run, the remaining unused cartons were returned back to the label storage area and improperly placed on the pallet of gluten-containing cartons.  It is easy to see how a box or two of cartons on the pallet could have been missed, even if there were some checks in place at the point of labeling.  The allergen preventive control at the point of labeling needs to address this type of situation.  This could include an entire pallet check, a control component for the return of unused labels, and/or an inline bar code reader.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/urgent-food-recall-vans-gluten-free-original-waffles-due-potential-presence-undeclared-wheat
Urgent Food Recall of Van’s Gluten Free Original Waffles Due to Potential Presence of Undeclared Wheat Allergen
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  July 03, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  July 03, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Wheat
Company Name:  Van’s International Foods
Brand Name:  Van’s
Product Description:  Gluten Free Original Waffles

Breakfast Sandwich Cookies Recalled for Undeclared Peanuts

Mondelēz Global LLC announced today a voluntary recall of two varieties of belVita Breakfast Sandwich products [cookies], manufactured in the United States and sold nationwide, due to the possibility that the products may contain undeclared peanut resulting from cross-contact on a single manufacturing line. The company "became aware of this issue during an internal manufacturing inspection, when [they] found the potential presence of peanut protein residue on the line used to make these products. There have been three unconfirmed reports of possible allergic reaction to date related to these products."

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/mondelez-global-llc-conducts-voluntary-recall-two-varieties-belvita-breakfast-sandwich-products-sold
Mondelēz Global LLC Conducts Voluntary Recall of Two Varieties of belVita Breakfast Sandwich Products Sold in the United States Due to Undeclared Peanut Allergen
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  July 03, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  July 03, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared peanuts
Company Name:  Mondelez Global LLC
Brand Name:  belVita
Product Description:  Breakfast sandwich products

Change in Nut Mix Ingredient Leads to Recall of Party Mix Due to Undeclared Walnuts

Fry Daddy’s Brand of Walker, Michigan is voluntarily recalling its Party Mix in all flavors and sizes due to undeclared walnuts.  "This occurred due to a change to the deluxe mixed nuts removing hazelnuts and pistachios and adding walnuts to the party mix. The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the product containing walnuts was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of walnuts. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the company’s production and packaging processes.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/fry-daddys-brand-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-walnut-all-party-mix-products
Fry Daddy’s Brand Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Walnut in all Party Mix Products
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 30, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  July 03, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared walnuts
Company Name:  Fry Daddy’s Brand
Brand Name:  Fry Daddy
Product Description:  Party Mix

FDA Issues Warning Letter to OH Bakery

FDA issued a Warning Letter to an Ohio Bakery for the following issues:

Lack of Allergen Preventive Control for Sesame

• The "facility’s written hazard analysis for the buns did not consider allergen cross-contact at all steps where your sesame seed buns and non-sesame seed buns are made on shared equipment (e.g., “(b)(4),” “Baking,” “Depanning,” “Cooling,” and “(b)(4)”). Your facility manufactures at least 21 bun products that contain allergens (such as wheat, soy, and sesame); products containing different allergen profiles (i.e., with or without sesame seeds) are processed on shared equipment and using shared utensils on the same production day."
• The facility did "not adequately controlling the hazard of allergen cross-contact during our inspection. FDA investigators observed apparent sesame residue on the “(b)(4) conveyor” after sanitation had been completed for the changeover from a sesame seed bun batch to a non-sesame seed bun batch produced on shared equipment. Our investigators observed sesame seeds immediately after the buns were depanned, which you consider to be part of the bun cooler. When this was pointed out by the investigators, the non-sesame seed bun was already traveling along the conveyor with sesame seed residue still present even though an employee was trying to clean it."

Lack of Sanitation Preventive Control in Post-Process Environment

• "Did not appropriately evaluate a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard to determine whether it required a preventive control in your RTE bun products, as required by 21 CFR 117.130(a)(1). Your facility’s written hazard analysis considered biological contamination from the environment at certain post-baking steps but did not identify it as requiring a preventive control at processing steps such as “Depanning,” “Cooling,” “(b)(4), and Packaging.” Your RTE buns are exposed to the environment prior to packaging where they could be contaminated with environmental pathogens such as Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes." 
• The "investigators observed several instances where you did not record sanitation activities at the post-baking steps in your process and did not take corrective actions when sanitation was not performed. Our review of your “Master Sanitation Schedule” records from June 3, 2022, through January 6, 2023, found that you did not record sanitation activities at the frequency for which they should occur. When asked by our investigators about the missing sanitation records, your Senior Engineer stated if there was no record then sanitation did not happen."

Lack of Corrective Action to Environmental Samples

• During the investigators’ review of your environmental monitoring records, it was noted that you have had at least four instances in the not ready-to-eat areas in your facility where you had either a suspected positive or confirmed positive for Listeria with no further action taken.

Pest Control

• At least one live mouse was observed between pallets of (b)(4) bags of (b)(4) brand Pure Granulated Sugar in the warehousing area. Eight incidents of rodent activity were documented in the shipping area, tray washing room, boiler room, and break room by your pest control operator between the period of May 18, 2022, to January 18, 2023, including rodent activity on January 4 and January 18, 2023, in the warehousing area where FDA investigators observed a live rodent during the inspection.
• Apparent rodent excreta pellets (AREPs) were observed on pallets and flooring in the warehousing areas"

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/schwebel-baking-company-653005-06092023

FDA Warning Letter
Schwebel Baking Company

MARCS-CMS 653005 — JUNE 09, 2023

MI Establishment Recalls Beef Wieners Containing Smoked Sausage Product

Perdue Premium Meat Company, Inc., doing business as Alexander & Hornung, a Saint Clair Shores, Mich., establishment, is recalling approximately 3,204 pounds of fully cooked beef wiener products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens.  The product may actually contain smoked sausage, which contains milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the wiener product label.  The problem was discovered when the establishment notified FSIS that one of their customers reported receiving product labeled as beef wieners in cartons labeled as hot smoked sausage. The vacuum-sealed packages labeled as beef wieners were then found to contain the smoked sausages.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/perdue-premium-meat-company-inc--dba-alexander-hornung-recalls-brookside-brand-fully
Perdue Premium Meat Company, Inc., DBA Alexander & Hornung Recalls Brookside Brand Fully Cooked Beef Wiener Products Due to Misbranding and an Undeclared Allergen

PERDUE PREMIUM MEAT COMPANY, INC.

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, July 1, 2023 – Perdue Premium Meat Company, Inc., doing business as Alexander & Hornung, a Saint Clair Shores, Mich., establishment, is recalling approximately 3,204 pounds of fully cooked beef wiener products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product may actually contain smoked sausage, which contains milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the wiener product label.

NJ Importer Recalls Meat Stew Product Sourced From Non-USDA Inspected Facility in Brazil

Panamerican Foods, LLC, a distributor and importer of record located in Kearny, N.J., is recalling approximately 4,978 pounds of the pork and beef bean stew products that were imported from an establishment in Brazil that is not eligible to export meat products to the United States, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.  The problem was discovered when FSIS followed up on a referral from USDA’s Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance Program. The pork and beef bean stew products, which were imported from a Brazilian establishment not eligible to export meat products to the United States, were observed for sale in a retail store.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/panamerican-foods-llc-recalls-ineligible-pork-and-beef-bean-stew-products-imported
Panamerican Foods, LLC Recalls Ineligible Pork and Beef Bean Stew Products Imported from Brazil

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2023 – Panamerican Foods, LLC, a distributor and importer of record located in Kearny, N.J., is recalling approximately 4,978 pounds of the pork and beef bean stew products that were imported from an establishment in Brazil that is not eligible to export meat products to the United States, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

SC Establishment Recalls Corn Dogs After Spoilage Complaint

House of Raeford, a Nesmith, S.C., establishment, is recalling approximately 76,961 pounds of corn dog products due to possible spoilage.  The problem was discovered after the firm notified FSIS that it received consumer complaints that the product had an odor, off appearance, and unpleasant taste.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/house-raeford-recalls-foster-farms-brand-mini-chicken-corn-dog-products-due-possible
House of Raeford Recalls Foster Farms Brand Mini Chicken Corn Dog Products Due to Possible Spoilage
HOUSE OF RAEFORD FARMS

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2023 – House of Raeford, a Nesmith, S.C., establishment, is recalling approximately 76,961 pounds of corn dog products due to possible spoilage, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

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.