PA Ag Issues Food Safety Warning for Small Processor's Cheese Potentially Contaminated with Listeria

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture warns that consumers should discard "Hilltop Meadow Farm" brand '60 Day Aged Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese' with sell by dates of 9/21/2023 or earlier. Testing of this cheese confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/agriculture-department-warns-consumers-discard-hilltop-meadow-farm-brand-contaminated-60-day-aged
Agriculture Department Warns Consumers To Discard “Hilltop Meadow Farm” Brand Contaminated ‘60 Day Aged Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese’
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 22, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  November 28, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Cheese/Cheese Product
Reason for Announcement:  Presence of Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Hilltop Meadow Farm
Brand Name:  Hilltop Meadow Farm
Product Description:  Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese

Convenience Store Chain Recalls Fruit Cups Linked to Recalled Cantaloupe With Salmonella Potential

Kwik Trip, Inc. has initiated a voluntary recall of three varieties of fresh-cut fruit cup and tray products listed below because they contain cantaloupe from TruFresh which has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.  Products were distributed to Kwik Trip, Kwik Star, Stop-N-Go, Tobacco Outlet Plus Grocery, and Tobacco Outlet Plus convenience stores in the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, and South Dakota.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/kwik-trip-inc-recalls-specific-fruit-cups-and-trays-due-potential-salmonella-contamination
Kwik Trip, Inc. Recalls Specific Fruit Cups and Trays Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 27, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  November 28, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
Company Name:  Kwik Trip, Inc.
Brand Name:  Kwik Trip
Product Description:  Fruit cups and trays containing cantaloupe.

Credit Cards Used to Track Customers Exposed to Botulinum Toxin Tainted Sardines in France

In a report on a 2023 botulism outbreak in France that was linked to improperly processed home canned sardines, investigators discuss the importance of credit card information in tracking additional people who may have eaten the food made with the tainted sardines.  The importance of this was that many people who ate at the restaurant had traveled into the city as part of an international event, the Rugby World Cup.   Investigators used credit card information to identify 29 people who may have been exposed.  "Between 11 and 17 September 2023, 15 suspected cases of botulism among 29 exposed individuals were identified from seven countries: UK (n = 4), Canada (n =3), Ireland (n =3), the United States (US) (n =2), France (n =1), Germany (n =1) and Greece (n =1). All cases reported consuming preserved sardines marinated in oil and herbs at Restaurant A. Several cases reported a bad taste or bad smell from this dish."  "Of the 15 cases, .......13 were hospitalised with six requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. All except for the deceased case received heptavalent ABCDEFG botulinum antitoxin [2]."

"In this outbreak investigation, rapid identification of customers exposed to the implicated food was possible through interrogation of credit card payments and retrieval of personal contact information via the credit card companies. Given the severity of botulism, the credit card companies fully cooperated with the health authorities and contacted the identified customers for approval before forwarding the contact details. This enabled contacting and urgently referring three symptomatic British citizens unaware of their illness to an emergency unit for prompt administration of botulism antitoxin."

As for the sardines, "The inspectors did not identify any deviations in food storage but noted incorrect sterilisation techniques in the preparation of canned food."

Eurosurveillance
https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.47.2300624?
Foodborne botulism outbreak involving different nationalities during the Rugby World Cup: critical role of credit card data and rapid international cooperation, France, September 2023

Turkey Gravy Recalled for Undeclared Soy Due to Mislabeling of Beef Gravy

Seneca Foods Corporation is announcing a voluntary recall of mislabeled Hy-Vee Turkey gravy in glass jars that actually contains beef gravy. This product could potentially contain a soy allergen which is not declared on the label. Seneca is now retrieving improperly labeled Hy-Vee Turkey Gravy from its distribution system. This recall only affects Hy-Vee Turkey Gravy product sold by Hy-Vee. 

Urgent – Food Recall Because of Potential Undeclared Allergen Due to Mislabel
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 21, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  November 22, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared soy
Company Name:  Seneca Foods Corporation
Brand Name:  Hy-Vee
Product Description:  Turkey Gravy

Gift Baskets Recalled for Undeclared Nut Allergens After Discovery of Incorrect Labeling of Hazelnut Cookies

Wine Country Gift Baskets is taking precautionary measures of voluntarily recalling all gift baskets produced with Acorn Baking Company raspberry crème filled cookies. During production, it was discovered that some packages of the raspberry crème filled cookies contained hazelnut crème filled cookies. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/urgent-food-recall-raspberry-creme-filled-cookie
Urgent Food Recall— Raspberry Crème Filled Cookie
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 24, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  November 24, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Hazelnuts
Company Name:  Wine Country Gift Baskets
Brand Name:  Acorn Baking Company
Product Description:  Raspberry crème filled cookies

CDC Provides Update on Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Cantaloupes, Now Close to 100 Infected

CDC provided an update on cases of Salmonella infection associated with cantaloupes. In the November 24th update, CDC states that there are now 99 cases of Salmonella infection with 2 deaths. This is 56 more cases than reported on November 20th. A recall of the cantaloupes from Sofia Produce of Arizona was first announced on November 9th, and then expanded on November 19th.  Additional recalls were posted on November 22nd and on November 24 for whole cantaloupes and cut cantaloups in trays (see below).

There are now 32 states with cases.



CDC Food Safety Alert
https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/sundsvall-11-23/index.html
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Cantaloupes
Fast Facts
Illnesses: 99 (56 new)
Hospitalizations: 45 (28 new)
Deaths: 2 (2 new)
States: 32 (17 new)
Recall: Yes
Investigation status: Active (first posted on November 17, 2023)

MA Firm Recalls Brownies After Improper Labeling Results in Undeclared Peanuts

Dianne's Fine Desserts of Newburyport, MA 01950 is voluntarily recalling 512 cases (2048 trays) of Gordon Food Service (GFS) Sienna Bakery® Chocolate Decadent Brownies (GFS#226240) and Sienna Bakery® Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies (GFS#226260) due to inadvertent mislabeling of the inner tray of brownies, resulting in undeclared peanuts.  The voluntary recall was initiated after a customer complaint noting that product containing peanuts was distributed in packaging that did not have the presence of peanuts called out on the label.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/diannes-fine-desserts-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-peanut-allergen-sienna-bakeryr-chocolate
Dianne's Fine Desserts Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanut Allergen in Sienna Bakery® Chocolate Decadent Brownies
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 21, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  November 22, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Peanut
Company Name:  Dianne's Fine Desserts
Brand Name:  Sienna Bakery
Product Description:  Chocolate Decadent Brownies

Florida Retailer Recalls Egg Custard Pie for Mislabeled Allergens Because May Contain Coconut Custard Pies

Publix Super Markets, Inc. has initiated a voluntary recall on specific batches of private label Egg Custard Pie purchased Publix stores in Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach counties between Octo. 20, 2023, and Nov. 16, 2023, that may contain an undeclared coconut allergen:
The Egg Custard Pie package may contain a coconut pie.

Probably an easy mistake to make, so tight controls are needed during the packaging process.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/publix-voluntarily-recalls-private-label-egg-custard-pie-may-contain-coconut-pie
Publix Voluntarily Recalls Private Label Egg Custard Pie That May Contain Coconut Pie
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 21, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  November 21, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Coconut
Company Name:  Publix Supermarkets Inc.
Brand Name:  Publix Supermarkets, Inc.
Product Description:  Egg Custard Pie

FDA Issues Warning Letter to Noodle Company

FDA issued a Warning Letter to Wan-Gee Foods of St. Louis MO. The company manufacturers not-ready-to-eat noodle products (i.e., wonton wrappers, egg roll wrappers, and noodles) .

Hazard Analysis and Preventive Controls

• Did not identify Staphylococcus aureus as a hazard of concern which can be an issue if noodle dough is temperature abused.
• "Did not identify and evaluate the hazard of bacterial growth and/or toxin formation {of Staphylococcus aureus] due to lack of time/temperature control as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard to determine whether it requires a preventive control for your canton noodles during finished product storage. The canton noodles are treated as shelf stable, stored at ambient temperatures, and are not labeled to be kept refrigerated or frozen. You do not know the water activity of the finished product canton noodles, including whether it is above 0.85."
• "did not identify and evaluate the hazard of mycotoxins as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard to determine whether they require a preventive control for your noodle products. The noodles contain wheat flour, which has been associated with mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON). Therefore, contamination with mycotoxins is a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard to be considered for these products."
• "did not implement your preventive controls procedures to significantly minimize or prevent contamination with the hazard of metal in your nRTE noodle products. Our investigators observed damage and missing pieces to your metal cutting blades used to shorten the dried noodles after the drying room step. The investigators requested monitoring records associated with the metal detector, but you did not provide them during the inspection."
• "written allergen preventive control does not include procedures, practices, and processes employed for labeling to ensure that all food allergens required to be stated are included on the label for your nRTE noodle products"  "procedure does not ensure all finished product labels declare all allergens present in the finished food to ensure finished food is not misbranded under section 403(w) of the Act (21 CFR 117.135(c)(2) because you do not document your review of finished product labels to ensure all allergens are properly declared."
• "do not maintain any monitoring or corrective action records of your review of your product labels to ensure the allergen ingredients are listed on the label for each batch produced. The only record you maintain for production is your mixing log and it does not include are view of the allergen ingredients in the finished food against the packaging label."

GMPs

• Black mold - "Apparent black mold formed on the ceiling directly over a drying canton noodle product in several locations throughout the room. The apparent mold covered approximately 30 percent of the ceiling. Further, the fans used to blow heated air ((b)(4) degrees Fahrenheit) directly onto the product to dry it were covered in approximately ¼ inch of apparent filth. In addition, the concrete floor along the walls in multiple locations throughout the drying room had what appeared to be white and greenish colored mold. The walls had apparent black mold in several different locations throughout the drying room."
• Product on floor - "Employee hanging noodles on racks (b)(4). During our inspection, our investigators observed the two bins separate, causing an approximate 2-to-3-in. gap in between. This resulted in the bottom quarter of the noodles coming into contact with the floor."
• Condensation - "heavily beaded condensation formed over and falling onto boxed wonton wrappers, lot number 05021168, in the blast storage freezer. Our investigators also observed condensation falling onto packaged finished product. Although the product is wrapped in wax paper, the packaging is made of thin cardboard that is not sealed and the product is susceptible to contamination while it is held overnight in the blast freezer. Our investigators observed ice formed in several other locations in the freezer, including the floor, freezer units, and walls."
• Facility issues / potential foreign objects - "brittle plastic in several areas on the tray was broken and/or frayed. (b)(4) trays being used in production were in similar condition.. Foam was present on the underside of the (b)(4) that comes indirect contact with the top layer of the wrappers during cutting. The foam is porous and not easily cleanable. Our investigators observed deteriorating foam on (b)(4) blade presses ((b)(4) egg roll and (b)(4) wonton), and parts of the foam were missing in several areas around the edges."
• Personal hygiene issues - did not take reasonable measures and precautions to ensure all persons working in direct contact with food, food-contact surfaces, and food-packaging materials conform to hygienic practices while on duty to the extent necessary to protect again contamination of food, as required by 21 CFR 117.10(b). Specifically, on May 2, 2023, five out of ten employees were observed in street clothes covered in apparent filth while handling dough used to manufacture wonton wrappers

Wan-Gee Foods, Inc.
MARCS-CMS 660360 — NOVEMBER 09, 2023
Recipient:
Samson Wang
CEO/President
Wan-Gee Foods, Inc.
10849 Midwest Industrial Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63132
United States