Exporting Food to EU - Limits on What You Can Call Cheese Products

An article in the Wall Street Journal, "The U.S. Has a Beef With Europe—Over Cheese" discusses the push by Europe to prevent US manufacturers who export cheese from using terms like Feta, Gorgonzola and Parmesan. The EU states that these cheeses must be made in certain countries to be sold under those names in the EU. There is concern by US producers that this trend will extend to other products like cured meats. "EU officials said these protected products, known as “geographical indications,” represent intellectual property and command a premium because consumers associate these products with the regions responsible for their high reputation.  EU officials say their system doesn’t prevent U.S. producers from selling their wares abroad—it only limits how they can label certain items in the EU and other countries where these protections are part of trade agreements. "

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-u-s-has-a-beef-with-europeover-cheese-2880b63e
The U.S. Has a Beef With Europe—Over Cheese
Feta, Gorgonzola and Parmesan must be made in certain countries to be sold under those names in the EU

WASHINGTON—Klondike Cheese sells its crumbly, Wisconsin-made cheese as feta throughout the U.S. 

In Europe, the company would have to label it white-brined cheese, or some variation that doesn’t mention the word feta. The company doesn’t even bother exporting it there.

Not being able to call the cheese feta “effectively closes off that entire market for me,” said Luke Buholzer, vice president of sales at Klondike, which makes Odyssey-brand feta cheese. 

Klondike is among the U.S. companies bristling as the European Union expands its list of foods, wines and spirits whose names are reserved for use by traditional local producers. There are now more than 3,500 of these protected items, up almost 28% since 2010, according to data from AND International, an independent food industry research firm.

Continues (subscription maybe needed) - https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-u-s-has-a-beef-with-europeover-cheese-2880b63e

CA Establishment Recall RTE Chicken Potstickers Due to Undeclared Allergens

Day-Lee Foods Inc., a Santa Fe Springs, Calif., establishment, is recalling approximately 10,511 pounds of frozen ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken potsticker products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens.  The product labeled as chicken potstickers may actually contain mandarin orange chicken, which contain milk and eggs, known allergens, that are not declared on the product label.  The problem was discovered when the establishment notified FSIS that it received a customer complaint indicating they purchased a box of Chicken Potstickers but found it actually contained Mandarin Orange Chicken instead. The Mandarin Orange Chicken product contains milk and eggs, known allergens that are not declared on the Chicken Potsticker label.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/day-lee-foods-inc--recalls-frozen-ready-eat-poultry-products-due-misbranding-and
Day-Lee Foods Inc. Recalls Frozen Ready-To-Eat Poultry Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens

DAY-LEE FOODS INC.

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2023 – Day-Lee Foods Inc., a Santa Fe Springs, Calif., establishment, is recalling approximately 10,511 pounds of frozen ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken potsticker products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product labeled as chicken potstickers may actually contain mandarin orange chicken, which contain milk and eggs, known allergens, that are not declared on the product label.

MO Establishment Recalls Raw Beef Product for Foreign Material, Specifically Soft Clear Plastic

USDA issued a Public Health Alert for raw beef product produced by Cargill Meat Solutions' Marshall, MO, for foreign matter, specifically soft, clear plastic.  The problem was discovered when the establishment notified FSIS that it received a complaint from a retail store that soft, clear plastic was noticed in the product.  A recall was not requested because the product is no longer available for purchase, but USDA is concerned about product that may be stored frozen.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-raw-beef-product-due-possible-foreign-matter
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Raw Beef Product Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
CARGILL MEAT SOLUTIONS

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns of a raw beef product that may be contaminated with extraneous material, specifically soft, clear plastic. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers are aware that this product should not be consumed. A recall was not requested because the product is no longer available for purchase.

Retailer Issues Two Recalls Soup for Insects and Falafel for Rocks

Trader Joes issued two food product recalls this week - broccoli cheddar soup that may contain insects and ready-to-eat falafel that may contain rocks.  "Both affected products have since been removed from Trader Joe's shelves and destroyed. No adverse health effects have been reported to date in relation to the broccoli cheddar soup recall, and no information was provided about any potential injuries or health events due to the recalled falafel."

https://www.health.com/trader-joes-falafel-soup-recall-7567745#
Trader Joe's Recall: Certain Falafel and Soup Products May Contain Rocks, Insects
By Julia Landwehr
Updated on July 31, 2023
Fact checked by Sarah Scott

Trader Joe's has issued recalls for two popular products due to the potential presence of insects and rocks, the company said in two separate press releases.

FDA Issues Warning Letter to Small NJ Italian Foods Co

FDA issued a Warning Letter to a pretty small NJ Italian Food company who did not have a Food Safety Plan.  There continues to be issues involving small food companies that have yet to address FSMA regulations.   Many may feel that they are flying under the radar.  This is such a case where this small Italian food company did not have a food safety plan, and along with that, did not have documented controls in place for allergens among other potential hazards.

Here is a pic taken from a Google search of the address.  Looks to be a retail operation that is doing distribution.  If FDA can find this place located in a neighborhood in Trenton.......

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/porfirios-italian-foods-inc-656454-06212023
Porfirios Italian Foods, Inc.
MARCS-CMS 656454 — JUNE 21, 2023
Recipient:
Mr. Robert Calabro
Owner
Porfirios Italian Foods, Inc.
320 Anderson Street
Trenton, NJ 08611
United States

Nacho Cheese Flavored Chips Recalled After Incorrect Chips Packaged Resulting in Undeclared Allergens

Frito-Lay has issued a voluntary recall of a limited number – less than 7,000 bags – of 14.5 oz and 1 oz Doritos Nacho Cheese Flavored Tortilla Chips that may contain undeclared soy and wheat ingredients from spicy sweet chili tortilla chips.  The products covered by this recall were distributed at retail stores only in Pennsylvania and other outlets.

So it seems that sweet chili tortilla chips, with their soy and wheat ingredients, were filled into bags of nacho cheese flavored chips.  This created an issue for undeclared allergens.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/frito-lay-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-soy-and-wheat-doritos-nacho-cheese-flavored-tortilla-chips
Frito-Lay Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Soy and Wheat in Doritos Nacho Cheese Flavored Tortilla Chips Distributed in Pennsylvania
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 01, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  August 01, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Snack Food Item
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Soy and Wheat Allergen
Company Name:  Frito-Lay
Brand Name:  Doritos
Product Description:  Doritos Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips

CDC Report on Persistent Strain of Salmonella Linked to Multiple Outbreaks

CDC issued a report on A strain of Salmonella infantis labeled REPJFX01 that has been responsible for multiple outbreaks in the US and abroad.  First identified in 2012, information from more than 2,900 cases have been reported to PulseNet as of December, 2022.  The source of food identified in two of 7 outbreak was raw chicken meat.

"This strain of Salmonella Infantis is relatively diverse genetically. Bacteria in the strain are within 82 allele differences of one another by core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST). This is more genetically diverse than typical multistate foodborne outbreaks, in which bacteria generally fall within 10 allele differences of one another."

What is a persistent strain?

CDC uses “persistent” to describe some strains of bacteria that have caused illness for years. The strains continue to cause illness, even though the number of illnesses they cause might vary over time. The strains are sometimes linked to more than one source, making them harder to control.

Fast Facts
Bacteria Salmonella enterica  Serotype Infantis
Antimicrobial Resistance Profile Multidrug resistant (details below)
Persistent Strain REPJFX01
First Detection June 2012
Illnesses Reported in PulseNet 2,900
Outbreaks Investigated 7
Identified outbreak sources*  

• Raw chicken products (confirmed): 1 outbreak
• Mechanically separated chicken (suspected): 1 outbreak

*Confirmed sources were implicated by epidemiologic plus traceback or laboratory data. Suspected sources were implicated by epidemiologic data only. More info

https://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/dfwed/outbreak-response/rep-strains/repjfx01.html
Persistent Strain of Salmonella Infantis (REPJFX01) Linked to Chicken
Posted July 21, 2023

REPJFX01

REPJFX01 is a persistent, multidrug-resistant strain of Salmonella Infantis bacteria that has caused illnesses and outbreaks in the United States and globally.

Europe- Salmonella Outbreak Possibly Linked to Cherry Tomatoes

In Europe, from August 2022 to July 2023, there have been 92 cases of Salmonella Senftenberg reported with cases in Austria (5), Belgium (4), Czechia (4), Estonia (1), Finland (12), France (16), Germany (26), Ireland (1), the Netherlands (5), Norway (1), Sweden (11), the United Kingdom (4), and the United States (2).    Investigators believe cherry tomatoes as the source, but this has not been confirmed.

From the EFSA report, "The outbreak strain was detected in France from a mixed salad dish, containing cherry tomatoes and green leafy vegetables, prepared on 17 August 2022 but not served. Tomatoes from the salad in France and tomatoes in Austria were suspected as the vehicle of infections by national authorities and were traced back to wholesalers in Germany, the Netherlands and Spain, and to growers in the Netherlands, Spain and Morocco. In the absence of microbiological evidence from the tomatoes, the source of the infections could not be established."

https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/pub/en-8211
Multi-country outbreak of Salmonella Senftenberg ST14 infections possibly linked to cherry like tomatoes
Published: 27 July 2023
Adopted: 27 July 2023

NY Establishment Recalls Products Produced in "Back Room" (Not-USDA-Inspected) Areas

Kingsland Food Processing Corp., a Maspeth, N.Y. establishment, is recalling an undetermined amount of various frozen meat and poultry products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection (USDA).  The problem was discovered when FSIS inspection personnel observed various meat and poultry products being produced in rooms that are not within the official premises of the establishment and, therefore, were not inspected.


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/kingsland-food-processing-corp--recalls-various-frozen-meat-and-poultry-products
Kingsland Food Processing Corp. Recalls Various Frozen Meat and Poultry Products Produced Without Benefit of Inspection

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, July 27, 2023 – Kingsland Food Processing Corp., a Maspeth, N.Y. establishment, is recalling an undetermined amount of various frozen meat and poultry 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.