March '23 Explosion at PA Chocolate Plant Result of Discontinued, But Leaking Gas Line

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has found evidence of two natural gas leaks that may have caused the March 24, 2023, explosion and fire at the R.M. Palmer Co. chocolate plant in West Reading, Pa., that killed seven people, injured 11 and destroyed Building 2 of the facility.  The NTSB investigation indicates that natural gas was leaking from a DuPont Aldyl A service tee that was installed by the natural gas service provider in 1982 and later determined to be susceptible to performance failures by pipeline industry guidance.  They replaced this service tee in 2021 with a new service line, however, the old 1982 tee remained connected to the natural gas supply.

Food Processing
https://www.foodprocessing.com/workforce/worker-safety/news/33008440/ntsb-crack-in-retired-gas-service-tee-may-have-led-to-rm-palmer-chocolate-plant-explosion
NTSB: Crack in Retired Gas Service Tee May Have Led to R.M. Palmer Chocolate Plant Explosion
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation reveals crack in service tee retired from service in 2021, but not disconnected from the natural gas supply.
Andy Hanacek
July 19, 2023

PA Ag Issues Warning for Raw Goat Milk After Campylobacter Detected

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture warns that consumers should immediately discard raw goat milk sold from Dove Song Dairy doe to possible contamination with Campylobacter. Three people who consumed this product and became ill with campylobacteriosis were reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Raw milk samples tested by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture are presumptively positive for Campylobacter.

People with Campylobacter infection usually have diarrhea (often bloody), fever, and stomach cramps. Nausea and vomiting may accompany the diarrhea. Symptoms usually begin two to five days after infection and last about one week

Daily Review
https://www.thedailyreview.com/news/consumers-should-discard-dove-song-dairy-brand-raw-goat-milk-due-to-possible-contamination-pa/article_fb94a95c-dc8b-5de3-8449-ad2ac629785d.html
Consumers should discard Dove Song Dairy brand raw goat milk due to possible contamination: Pa. Ag. Dept.

For The Review Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Jul 19, 2023

FDA Acknowledges There Is Alignment of 3rd Party Audit Standards with FSMA Regulations

FDA released results of their evaluation of 3rd party audit standards to assess whether those standards are in alignment with FDA FSMA regulations.  FDA finding of alignment indicates that the relevant technical components of the PC Human Food or Produce Safety rules have been addressed.  

Why is this important?  "Under FSMA, the PC Human Food rule, Preventive Controls for Animal Food (PC Animal Food) rule, and Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) rule – allow for third-party audits to be used as supplier verification activities."  As is common industry practice, "Buyers and others in the food supply-chain often use third-party audits to assess the quality and safety of a product. "  So, "a finding of third-party audit standards alignment with the FSMA regulations could help give importers and receiving facilities confidence that the standards used to audit their suppliers adequately address applicable FDA food safety requirements. This information, along with results of a firm’s audits, also could help inform the FDA in determining risk prioritization and resource allocation."

So these audit standards were found to be in alignment:

Preventive Controls for Human Foods (PCHF)

• BRC Global Standard Food Safety plus the Global Standard Food Safety, Issue 9, Interpretation Guideline
• FSSC 22000 Scheme 5.1 for Food Manufacturing plus the FSSC 22000 Version 3 FSMA PCHF Report Addendum
• SQF Food Safety Code: Food Manufacturing, Edition 9 plus the SQF Addendum for the Preventive Controls for Human Food

Produce Safety Rule (PSR)

• GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance – All Farm Base-Crops Base – Fruit and Vegetables Checklist. Version 5.4-1-GFS plus the GLOBALG.A.P. Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule Add-on Module Version 1.3

https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-announces-alignment-findings-voluntary-pilot-program-evaluate-third-party-food-safety-standards
The FDA Announces Alignment Findings from Voluntary Pilot Program to Evaluate Third-Party Food Safety Standards

Constituent Update

July 17, 2023

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the findings from the voluntary pilot program to evaluate alignment of private third-party food safety audit standards with the food safety requirements in two regulations issued to implement the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) - the Preventive Controls for Human Food (PC Human Food) and the Produce Safety rules.

Frozen Fruit Bars Recalled for Undeclared Allergens

Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Inc. is voluntarily recalling a limited number of its Outshine No Sugar Added Strawberry Fruit Bars that may contain an undeclared milk allergen.   The company is recalling this product because it may contain trace amounts of milk. Although the investigation is ongoing, they believe a faulty valve allowed trace levels of milk to be introduced into the product.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/dreyers-grand-ice-cream-inc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-outshine-no-sugar-added-strawberry
Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Inc. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Outshine No Sugar Added Strawberry Fruit Bars in 6 Count Pack
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  July 17, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  July 18, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared milk allergen
Company Name:  Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Inc.
Brand Name:  Outshine
Product Description:  No Sugar Added Strawberry Fruit Bars

DC Establishment Recalls Tubs of Spicy Hummus for Undeclared Sesame After Incorrect Lid Applied

Cava Foods, Inc., a subsidiary of Cava Group, Inc. in Washington D.C., is issuing a voluntary recall of one lot of its packaged CAVA Spicy Hummus due to the potential for the product to contain undeclared sesame, which is a food allergen.   CAVA voluntarily initiated the recall after a single retail store notified the company that packaging lids for CAVA Spicy Labneh (which do not declare sesame as an ingredient) were applied to containers of Spicy Hummus, which contains sesame, a common allergen. The wrong lid was applied to a limited number of Spicy Hummus containers by a third-party supplier.

Here is another recall related to mislabeling where a lid label is applied to the wrong product.  Seems like an easy enough issue to prevent through development and implementation of a good Allergen Preventive Control.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/cava-foods-inc-subsidiary-cava-group-inc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-sesame-cava-spicy-hummus
Cava Foods, Inc., a Subsidiary of Cava Group, Inc. Issues Allergy Alert for Undeclared Sesame in Cava Spicy Hummus
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  July 17, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  July 18, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages Prepared Food  
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared sesame allergen
Company Name:  Cava Foods, Inc.
Brand Name:  CAVA
Product Description:  Spicy Hummus, 8 oz tub

Ohio Firm Recalls Cashew Butter After Product Found to Contain Peanuts or Almonds

Heinen’s of Warrensville Heights, OH is voluntarily recalling Heinen’s Fresh Ground Cashew Butter, due to the possibility that it may contain undeclared Peanuts or Almonds.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product containing Peanuts or Almonds was distributed in Fresh Ground Cashew Butter Containers that did not reveal the presence of additional allergens. Subsequent investigation indicates that this was isolated to a single distributed Sell By Date of 8/27/23

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/heinens-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-peanuts-and-almonds-heinens-fresh-ground-cashew-butter
Heinen’s Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanuts and Almonds in Heinen’s Fresh Ground Cashew Butter
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  July 13, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  July 17, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Butter/Butter Product
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared peanut and almond allergens
Company Name:  Heinen’s
Brand Name:  Heinen’s
Product Description:  Fresh Ground Cashew Butter

Ingredient Supplier of Batter Recalls 6 Million Pounds of Product Due to Salmonella Potential

Newly Wed Foods, an ingredient supplier is recalling 6 million pounds of batters/breaders due to Salmonella. This recall will not be listed on the normal recall page because it is not product that is sold to the consumer. Rather, it is posted on the Enforcement Report page - Enforcement Report (fda.gov). Batter and breader are used in breading applications for foods that will be cooked, generally fried.

California Recall of Asian Chopped Salad Due to Undeclared Allergens Packed With Wrong Condiment Pack

In California, Braga Fresh is recalling a single production run of 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Asian Inspired Chopped Salad Kit 12oz bag purchased from Whole Foods Markets stores.  The product is being recalled because it contains incorrect condiment ingredients resulting in undeclared milk and egg that was not listed on the product label.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/braga-fresh-issues-precautionary-recall-365-whole-foods-market-brand-organic-asian-inspired-chopped
Braga Fresh Issues Precautionary Recall of 365 By Whole Foods Market Brand Organic Asian Inspired Chopped Salad Kit 12oz Bag Due to Potential Presence of Undeclared Allergens
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  July 11, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  July 12, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Prepared Food  
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared milk and egg allergens
Company Name:  Braga Fresh
Brand Name:  365 By Whole Foods Market
Product Description:  Potential or Undeclared Allergen - milk and egg

Thinking of Taking a Cruise - Norovirus Cases from 1st Half of 2023 On Course for Most Cases in over a Decade

The Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) requires cruise ships to log and report the number of passengers and crew who say they have symptoms of gastrointestinal illness. Learn more about illnesses and outbreaks reported to VSP and find information about outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships.

In the first half of 2023, there were 13 reports of ships with Norovirus cases where roughly 3 to 5% of passengers and 1 to 2% of staff became infected.  In 2022, there were 4 cases and in 2021, there was only one case.  We would have to go back to 2012 where there were more cases for the entire year (16) to be more than seen in the first half of this year.