Bagged Fresh Spinach Recalled After State Lab Testing Finds Listeria

Fresh Express has issued a voluntary recall of a Fresh Express Spinach, 8 oz. size, with product code G332 and use-by date of December 15 and Publix Spinach, 9 oz size, with product code G332 and a now expired use-by date of December 14 due to a potential health risk from Listeria monocytogenes.
The recall was initiated after routine sampling conducted by the Florida Department of Agriculture yielded a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes in a single randomly selected package of spinach. Fresh Express immediately notified affected retailers and instructed them to remove the recalled items from store shelves and all inventories.  To date no illnesses are reported in connection with the recall and no other Fresh Express products are being recalled.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/fresh-express-announces-recall-limited-spinach-products-due-possible-health-risk
Fresh Express Announces Recall of Limited Spinach Products Due to Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  December 15, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  December 15, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Fresh Express
Brand Name:  Fresh Express & Publix
Product Description:  Spinach

Quaker Oats Recalls Granola Products Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

The Quaker Oats Company today announced the recall of specific granola bars and granola cereals listed below because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.  
The products listed below are sold throughout the 50 United States, Puerto Rico, Guam and Saipan.
To date, Quaker has received no confirmed reports of illness related to the products covered by this recall.

While the company did not specifically state the reason for the recall, outside the fact that there were no reported illnesses, this would lead one to believe that it was perhaps a positive test result.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/quaker-recalls-granola-bars-and-granola-cereals-due-possible-health-risk
Quaker Recalls Granola Bars and Granola Cereals Due to Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  December 15, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  December 15, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential for Salmonella contamination
Company Name:  The Quaker Oats Company
Brand Name:  Quaker
Product Description:  Granola Bars and Granola Cereals

Cases of Lead Poisoning from Apple Sauce - Could This be the Result of Intentional Contamination?

As an update on the contaminated apple puree product that resulted in over 100 reported cases of lead poisoning cases in children, FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones indicated to Politico that this may be a case of intentional contamination.  “We’re still in the midst of our investigation. But so far all of the signals we’re getting lead to an intentional act on the part of someone in the supply chain and we’re trying to sort of figure that out,”  “My instinct is they didn’t think this product was going to end up in a country with a robust regulatory process,” Jones said. “They thought it was going to end up in places that did not have the ability to detect something like this.”

According to the article in Politico, the "FDA continues to investigate a number of theories for how the pouches became contaminated, and has not drawn any conclusions about the way the lead was added, why or by whom. The FDA says it currently believes the adulteration is “economically motivated.” That generally refers to ingredients being altered in order to make products appear higher in value, often so companies can produce a cheaper item and sell it at an elevated price."

Politico
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/14/applesauce-pouches-may-have-been-contaminated-on-purpose-fda-foods-chief-says-00131797
AGRICULTURE
Applesauce pouches may have been contaminated on purpose, FDA foods chief says

The food safety agency continues to investigate dozens of incidents of lead poisoning in U.S. children linked to three brands of cinnamon applesauce pouches.
By MARCIA BROWN and MEREDITH LEE HILL
12/14/2023 01:29 PM EST

FDA Advisory Issued for Clams Harvested from Unapproved Waters

FDA issued an advisory about not consuming Red’s Best chopped clams that were likely harvested from prohibited waters in MA on 11/25/2023 and 11/26/2023.  Clams harvested from prohibited waters may be contaminated with human pathogens, toxic elements or poisonous or deleterious substances and can cause illness if consumed. Clams are filter feeders that remove and bioaccumulate bacteria and other pathogens from the water. It is not uncommon for shellfish to be consumed raw and whole. 

https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-restaurants-and-retailers-not-serve-or-sell-and-consumers-not-eat-certain-chopped-clams
FDA Advises Restaurants and Retailers Not to Serve or Sell and Consumers Not to Eat Certain Chopped Clams Likely Harvested from a Prohibited Area in Massachusetts and Distributed by Red’s Best

Salmonella-in-Diced-Onion Outbreak Over, Investigation Finds Salmonella at Farm

CDC declared the Salmonella outbreak associated with diced onions is now over. The onion product produced in August by Gill Onions of Oxnard CA, has cased 80 illnesses with 18 hospitalizations and 1 death. The product was recalled in October.

 "FDA collected multiple water, environmental, and product samples from the farm that supplied the contaminated onions to Gills Onions. Six of the samples, three water and three environmental, were positive for Salmonella spp. Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis confirmed that the strain of Salmonella found in isolates associated with three of the samples matched the same strain of Salmonella causing illnesses in this outbreak. Additional Salmonella isolates from the samples were detected, and CDC identified people who got sick with these strains of Salmonella. FDA and CDC partners reviewed the available data; however, there was not enough epidemiologic or traceback evidence to implicate a product or source of contamination for those illnesses."

Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 80
Hospitalizations: 18
Deaths: 1
Last Illness Onset: November 11, 2023
States with Cases: AZ, CA, CO, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, MA, MI, MT, NY, ND, OH, OR, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY
Foodservice Product Distribution*: Nationwide and Canada
Retail Product Distribution*: AZ, CA, ID, MT, OR, WA

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-onions-october-2023
Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Onions (October 2023)
FDA’s Investigation is complete. CDC declares outbreak over.
Current Update
December 13, 2023

WA State Establishment Recalls Beef Soup After Plant-based Chicken Label Applied

USDA FSIS issued a public health alert for ready-to-eat (RTE) product labeled as birria-inspired beef soup due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen due to mislabeling issue. The product labeled as birria-inspired beef soup may actually contain plant-based chicken noodle soup, which contains sesame,  an allergen, which is not declared on the product label.  The issue was discovered by the retailer after a store employee identified a case of RTE Plant-Based Chicken Noodle Soup product bearing the correct top label but incorrect front and back labels. 

Strange that Plant-Based Chicken Noodle Soup contains no chicken.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-beef-soup-product-due-misbranding-and-undeclared
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Beef Soup Product due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergen

FRESH FOODS OF WASHINGTON LLC

Iowa Firm Recalls Candies for Undeclared Egg Allergens

Valley View Candies of Edgewood, IA is recalling All Fudge products - Peanut Butter Fudge, Maple Nut Fudge, Chocolate Fudge, Chocolate Walnut Fudge, because it may contain undeclared eggs.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the fudge products containing egg was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of egg.   

The issue appears to be the fact that the recalled products all contain marshmallow cream, an item which will normally contains egg whites as an ingredient.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/valley-view-candies-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-egg-fudge-products
Valley View Candies Issues an Allergy Alert on Undeclared Egg in Fudge Products
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  December 14, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  December 14, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared eggs
Company Name:  Valley View Candies
Brand Name:  Valley View Candies
Product Description:  Peanut Butter, Maple Nut, Chocolate, and Chocolate Walnut Fudge

Colorado Company Recalls Product Due to Undeclared Allergens Again

Bobo’s of Loveland, Colorado is issuing a voluntary recall of Bobo’s Peach Oat Bars because they may contain undeclared coconut.   The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product containing coconut was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of coconut on the ingredient deck.

This is not the first boo-boo for Bobo's involving incorrect packaging leading to a allergen-related recall.  In 2021, there were two recalls, one for peanuts in Maple Pecan Bars, and the other was peanuts in Almond Butter Bars.  The well developed and implemented Allergen Preventive Control would ensure that labeling errors such as this not occur.

Bobo’s Issues a Voluntary Allergy Alert on Undeclared Coconut in Product
Summary
Company Announcement Date: December 09, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  December 12, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared coconut.
Company Name:  Bobo’s
Brand Name:  Bobo’s
Product Description:  Peach Oat Bars

Ill Dairy Recalls Non-Egg Egg Nog, Holiday Nog, for Containing Egg

Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. of Edwardsville, ILL has initiated a voluntary recall on specific batches of private label Holiday Nog purchased in United Dairy Farmers stores between December 4th through December 6th, 2023, that may contain an undeclared egg allergen.  This specific batch may have been mis-labeled related to egg allergens

Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. of Edwardsville, ILL has Initiated a Voluntary Recall on Specific Batches of Private Label Holiday Nog Purchased in United Dairy Farmers Stores Between December 4th Through December 6th, 2023, that May Contain an Undeclared Egg Allergen
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  December 08, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  December 08, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared egg
Company Name:  Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc
Brand Name:  United Dairy Farmers
Product Description:  Holiday nog