France - Botulism Outbreak Linked to Homemade Preserved Sardines

Homemade sardine preserves served at a wine bar in the southwestern city of Bordeaux are being linked a botulism outbreak that has affected a dozen people and causing the death of one woman.  According to the NY Times article, "One woman who lives in the Paris region died after returning home and checking into a hospital, doctors said on Wednesday. Her partner was also hospitalized. Eight of the other victims are still at a hospital in Bordeaux. Most of them are in intensive care and receiving respiratory assistance."  Botulism pensioning is caused by a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum as it grows in improperly processed food products.  When consumed, the toxin shuts down the autonomic nervous system, paralyzing muscles including those muscles needed for breathing.

"The restaurant owner acknowledged that some of the preserves had a “bad smell” when he opened them, but he said the ones he served to his customers appeared safe, according to local officials."

NY Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/13/world/europe/france-botulism-sardines.html
One Dead in Botulism Outbreak Traced to Sardines at Bar in France
At least a dozen people became ill after eating at a popular organic wine bar in Bordeaux. Health officials blamed contaminated homemade preserves.

USDA Issues Health Alert for Gluten-Free Soup After Gluten Detected

USDA FSIS issued a public health alert for a ready-to-eat (RTE) Kirkland Signature chicken tortilla soup product due to misbranding. The label declares the product as gluten-free, but gluten was detected in the product, thus a false negative claim.   A recall was not requested because the affected products are no longer available for purchase.  The problem was discovered when the establishment notified FSIS that laboratory testing found gluten in the chicken tortilla soup, which is labeled as gluten-free.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-kirkland-signature-chicken-tortilla-soup-product-due
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Kirkland Signature Chicken Tortilla Soup Product Due to Misbranding

KETTLE CUISINE MIDCO, LLC

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2023 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for a ready-to-eat (RTE) Kirkland Signature chicken tortilla soup product due to misbranding. The label declares the product as gluten-free, a false negative claim. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers with reactions to gluten are aware that these products should not be consumed. A recall was not requested because the affected products are no longer available for purchase.

Youth Death Potentially Linked to Consumption of Hot Pepper Product, Part of Social Media Challenge

Paqui, an Austin, Texas-based chip company is pulling its One Chip Challenge from the store shelves after the death of a 14-year old Massachusetts boy which may be related to eating the chip. The company's product has promoted its "One Chip Challenge" on social media.  According to the challenge, a person would see how long they can wait before having something to drink after eating a chip.

The chip is seasoned "with Carolina Reaper Peppers roughly 1.7 million Scoville Units and the Naga Viper Pepper at roughly 1.4 million Scoville Units, a unit used to measure the heat of peppers. A jalapeño registers between 2,500 and 8,000 Scoville Units, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology."

.The product is said to be made for adults, but of course children are going to eat this.  According to one expert, "....if saliva-laden capsaicin gets into the lungs, it can cause pneumonitis — an inflammation that can be serious, especially for people with preexisting conditions". (Yahoo)

CA Firm Recalls Mooncakes Due to Undeclared Egg Allergen

Sheng Kee of California, Inc. is voluntarily recalling varieties of Mooncake Gift Boxes for customers that have any issues because they may contain undeclared egg wash.  The recalled Mooncakes were distributed nationwide in retail stores and through mail orders. We are working with our wholesalers and retailers to relabel and refit the current boxes.  The voluntary recall was initiated after it was discovered that the egg-containing products were distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of egg. 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/sheng-kee-california-inc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-egg-following-traditional-mooncake-products
Sheng Kee of California, Inc. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Egg in the Following Traditional Mooncake Products
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 11, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  September 11, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Snack Food Item 
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared egg.
Company Name:  Sheng Kee of California, Inc.
Brand Name:  Sheng Kee of California
Product Description:  Assortment of flavored mooncakes in gift boxes.

SC Firm Recalls Ice Cream Product After State Lab Detects Listeria

Life Raft Treats is recalling their Not Fried Chicken 64 oz bucket, Not Fried Chicken 2.5 oz bar UPC 8 60006 18210 6 and Life Is Peachy 6 count box ice cream products, all with BEST BY DATES up to and including AUG 8212024 due to a potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes.   On September 5, 2023 the firm was notified by South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) that their Not Fried Chicken ice cream treat test positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The firm also decided to recall their Life Is Peachy Ice Cream treats because both products were manufactured in the same room.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/life-raft-treats-recalls-ice-cream-products-not-fried-chicken-and-life-peachy-due-possible-listeria
Life Raft Treats Recalls Ice Cream Products, Not Fried Chicken And Life Is Peachy, Due to Possible Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 06, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  September 06, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Foodborne Illness
Company Name:  Life Raft Treats
Brand Name:  Life Raft Treats
Product Description:  Ice Cream Products

Colorado Establishment Recalls Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Product for Undeclared Allergen Due to Mislabeling

 Custom Made Meals, LLC, a Denver, Col. establishment, is recalling approximately 1,345 pounds of bacon wrapped jalapeno product due to misbranding and undeclared allergen - the product contains milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label. The problem was discovered when the producing establishment notified FSIS that a retail store informed them the product had the incorrect label affixed to the packaging.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/custom-made-meals-llc-recalls-bacon-wrapped-jalapeno-product-due-misbranding-and
Custom Made Meals, LLC Recalls Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Product Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergen

CUSTOM MADE MEALS

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Sep. 09, 2023 – Custom Made Meals, LLC, a Denver, Col. establishment, is recalling approximately 1,345 pounds of bacon wrapped jalapeno product due to misbranding and undeclared allergen, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.

TX Importer Recalling Frozen Pork Products Produced in Mexico That Were Not Re-inspected Upon Entry to US

Empacadora Frape, USA LLC, the importer of record located in Houston, Texas, is recalling approximately 20,455 pounds of frozen, not ready to eat (NRTE) pork chicharron and pork carnitas products that were not presented for import reinspection into the United States.  The products subject to recall bear Mexican establishment number “TIF No. 681” inside the Mexican mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in California.  The problem was discovered during routine FSIS surveillance activities of imported products, and it was determined that the products were not presented for reinspection.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/empacadora-frape-usa-llc-recalls-pork-products-imported-without-benefit-import
Empacadora Frape, USA LLC, Recalls Pork Products Imported Without Benefit of Import Reinspection

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2023, Empacadora Frape, USA LLC, the importer of record located in Houston, Texas, is recalling approximately 20,455 pounds of frozen, not ready to eat (NRTE) pork chicharron and pork carnitas 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.

GA Importer Recalls Canadian Meat Product Which Was Not Reinspected for Import

AJC International, Inc., the importer of record located in Atlanta, Ga., is recalling approximately 17,428 pounds of frozen, raw pork products that were not presented for import reinspection into the United States.  The products subject to recall bear Canadian establishment number “391” inside the Canadian mark of inspection. These items were shipped to distributors in Hawaii, American Samoa and exported to the country of Palau.  The problem was discovered during routine FSIS surveillance activities of imported products, and it was determined that the products were not presented for reinspection.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/ajc-international-inc--recalls-frozen-raw-pork-products-imported-without-benefit
AJC International, Inc. Recalls Frozen, Raw Pork Products Imported Without Benefit of Import Reinspection

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2023 - AJC International, Inc., the importer of record located in Atlanta, Ga., is recalling approximately 17,428 pounds of frozen, raw pork 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.

MO Company Recalls Smoked Sausage After Complaints of Bone Fragments

Hillshire Brands Company, a St. Joseph, Mo. establishment, is recalling approximately 15,876 pounds of blended meat and poultry smoked sausage products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically bone fragments.  The problem was discovered when the firm notified FSIS that it received consumer complaints regarding bone fragments in the product. Also, FSIS received one consumer complaint regarding this issue.

Recalled product was shipped to retail stores in California, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/hillshire-brands-company-recalls-smoked-sausage-products-due-possible-foreign-matter
Hillshire Brands Company Recalls Smoked Sausage Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2, 2023 - Hillshire Brands Company, a St. Joseph, Mo. establishment, is recalling approximately 15,876 pounds of blended meat and poultry smoked sausage products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically bone fragments, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.