FDA Updates Ongoing Investigation into Hepatitis A Associated with Frozen Strawberries

FDA provided an update of the Hepatitis A outbreak that was linked to frozen strawberries. As of July 18, 2023, there are now ten cases of Hepatitis A linked to frozen strawberries with 4 of those hospitalized. All cases are on the West Coast of the US. The last reported case was on June 4, 2023.

FDA last reported on this outbreak in mid-June. At the time, there was one less case than was reported now.  The problem is of course, with frozen product, people may still have these frozen strawberries in their freezer.


https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-hepatitis-virus-infections-frozen-strawberries-february-2023
Outbreak Investigation of Hepatitis A Virus Infections: Frozen Strawberries (February 2023)
Do not eat recalled Frozen Strawberries. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.

Current Update
July 20, 2023

Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 10
Hospitalizations: 4
Deaths: 0
Last Illness Onset: June 4, 2023
States with Cases: CA (2), HI (1), OR (1), WA (6)

Product Distribution: Nationwide

As of July 18, 2023, a total of 10 outbreak-associated cases of hepatitis A have been reported from four states. Based on epidemiological data collected by CDC, 10/10 (100%) people who provided information about what they ate before becoming ill reported eating frozen organic strawberries.

FDA Completes Investigation into Illness Outbreak Related to Mushrooms in MT (May 2023)

FDA announced that the investigation of illness related to mushrooms sold by MT restaurant.

"Morel mushrooms are a type of edible mushroom that are commonly foraged from the wild and are sometimes cultivated for commercial sale. Morel mushrooms are generally considered safe to eat, but they may contain some toxins that can cause health problems. The toxins in morel mushrooms that may cause illness are not fully understood; however, using proper preparation procedures, such as cooking can help to reduce toxin levels."

"Although the mushrooms sampled from the restaurant were found to be true morels, there are varieties of “false morels” that may be mistaken for a true morel due to a similar appearance. “False morels” are toxic and should not be consumed, cooked or uncooked. Gyromitrin is a toxin found in some varieties of false morel mushrooms and it has been linked to several cases of mushroom poisoning and can be fatal even in relatively small amounts. Gyromitrin poisoning can cause symptoms such as headache, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, loss of coordination, and in severe cases, seizure, heart failure, liver and kidney damage and death. Gyromitrin toxin can be partially broken down by high temperature; however, even with cooking, toxins may remain and can lead to illness or toxicity."

Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 51
Hospitalizations: 3
Deaths: 2
Last Illness Onset: April 21, 2023
States with Cases: MT

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-illnesses-morel-mushrooms-may-2023
Investigation of Illnesses: Morel Mushrooms (May 2023)

FDA assisted Montana state partners with an investigation of multiple illnesses at a single restaurant. FDA’s investigation is complete.

Recall of Beef Jerky Product Sold Online By Non-inspected TN Firm

 Suya Slice, LLC, a Memphis, Tenn. establishment, is recalling approximately 445 pounds of ready-to-eat beef products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection.  Products were sold online as well as at retail.  The problem was discovered when FSIS followed up on a referral from the Illinois Department of Agriculture and observed beef products that did not have the USDA mark of inspection at a retail location. Upon further investigation, FSIS determined that the products were not produced in an FSIS-inspected establishment.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/suya-slice-llc-recalls-ready-eat-beef-products-produced-without-benefit-inspection
Suya Slice LLC, Recalls Ready-to-Eat Beef Products Produced Without Benefit of Inspection
FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, July 14, 2023 – Suya Slice, LLC, a Memphis, Tenn. establishment, is recalling approximately 445 pounds of ready-to-eat beef 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.

MD Facility Recalls Pork Dumplings Not Produced Under USDA Inspection

Mulan Dumpling, LLC, a Hyattsville, Md. establishment, is recalling approximately 1,560 pounds of frozen meat and poultry dumpling products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection
Although the products subject to recall bear the USDA mark of inspection, they were produced in an establishment without a federal grant of inspection. These items were shipped to retail grocery store locations in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.  The problem was discovered when FSIS received a referral from the Maryland Department of Health and observed that the meat and poultry dumpling products were produced and sold by an establishment that was not inspected by FSIS.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/mulan-dumpling-llc-recalls-frozen-meat-and-poultry-dumpling-products-produced
Mulan Dumpling, LLC, Recalls Frozen Meat and Poultry Dumpling Products Produced Without Benefit of Inspection
FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2023 – Mulan Dumpling, LLC, a Hyattsville, Md. establishment, is recalling approximately 1,560 pounds of frozen meat and poultry dumpling 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.

Lunch Kits Recalled After Supplied Ingredient Was Subject to Cross Contact with Allergen

"The USDA FSIS is issuing a public health alert for Never Any! brand ready-to-eat (RTE) ham and cheese lunch kits containing chocolate chip cookies that may contain peanut, a known allergen, which is not declared on the finished product label. A recall was not requested because the products are believed to no longer be available for purchase.  The problem was discovered when the producing establishment was notified by their chocolate chip cookie supplier that the chocolate chip cookies may contain peanut residue, a known allergen, which is not declared on the label. "  The product was made in Canada by Maple Leaf Foods and was distributed by Aldi retail chain. 

This is an issue which is getting more attention - an ingredient supplier's allergen control program. In this case, the supplier of the chocolate chip cookie item allowed allergen cross contact with peanuts. While this is a USDA product, the FDA covers this as part of the Preventive Control regulation under Supply Chain Preventive Control.  In the upcoming update to the FSPCA training curriculum that covers this regulation, there will be added attention to this issue.

 

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-never-any-brand-ready-eat-ham-and-cheese-lunch-kits
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Never Any! Brand Ready-To-Eat Ham and Cheese Lunch Kits Due to Misbranding and an Undeclared Allergen

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, July 19, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for Never Any! brand ready-to-eat (RTE) ham and cheese lunch kits containing chocolate chip cookies that may contain peanut, a known allergen, which is not declared on the finished product label. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers with an allergy to peanut are aware that this product should not be consumed. A recall was not requested because the products are believed to no longer be available for purchase.

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