Ark Establishment Recalls Boneless Chicken Bites After USDA-FSIS Received Consumer Complaints for Pieces of Hard Plastic

Simmons Prepared Foods Inc., a Van Buren, Ark. establishment, is recalling approximately 26,550 pounds of TGI Fridays boneless chicken bites products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically pieces of clear, hard plastic.  The problem was discovered when the firm notified FSIS that it had received consumer complaints reporting that clear, hard plastic was found under the breading of the boneless chicken bites.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/simmons-prepared-foods-inc--recalls-boneless-chicken-bites-products-due-possible
Simmons Prepared Foods, Inc. Recalls Boneless Chicken Bites Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2023 - Simmons Prepared Foods Inc., a Van Buren, Ark. establishment, is recalling approximately 26,550 pounds of TGI Fridays boneless chicken bites products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically pieces of clear, hard plastic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Ohio Firm Recalls Deli Salad Items Due to Potential Listeria Contamination

Herold’s Salads of Cleveland is recalling assorted deli salads packaged in various sizes. Recalled products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  There have been no reported illnesses or adverse health effects reported to date, however, Herolds Salads Inc. is proactively recalling specific batches to which this risk applies. 

Recalls of this nature often occur due to Listeria being found during testing, probably found in the processing environment.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/herolds-salads-inc-voluntarily-recalls-assorted-deli-salads-due-possible-contamination-listeria
Herolds Salads Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Assorted Deli Salads Due to Possible Contamination with Listeria monocytogenes
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  December 16, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  December 16, 2023  Updated on 12/20/23
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Company Name:  Herold’s Salads Inc.
Brand Name:  Multiple brand names
Product Description:  Various Deli Salads

Ohio Firm Recalls Cookie Bites for Undeclared Allergens

Eban’s Bakehouse is recalling all of its Sweet Indulgences cookie bites, packaged in 12-count, 11.85 oz boxes, due to undeclared milk and soy allergens. The labeling issue was discovered during a routine inspection conducted by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. There have been no reports of illness involving the products addressed in this recall.

The issue is that ingredients were not investigated and associated allergens identified.  For example, butter is listed, but the allergen milk was not identified.  The soy coming with the soy lecithin used in chocolate.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/ebans-bakehouse-issues-voluntary-recall-due-undeclared-milk-and-soy-allergens
Eban’s Bakehouse Issues a Voluntary Recall Due to Undeclared Milk and Soy Allergens
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  December 16, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  December 16, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared milk and soy
Company Name:  Eban’s Bakehouse
Brand Name:  Eban’s Bakehouse
Product Description:  Cookie Bites

MA Firm Recalls Bagged Mung Bean Sprouts After State Lab Tests Finds Listeria

Chang Farm, Whatley, MA is recalling 12 oz Nature’s Wonder Mung Bean Sprouts, with the sell-by date of December 13th, 2023 because of the presence of Listeria monocytogenes (L. Monocytogenes).

The recall was initiated after a random sample was collected and analyzed by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), which resulted in confirmation of presence Listeria Monocytogenes in the product.
The product has been distributed to retail stores and wholesalers throughout MA, CT, NY and MD.
No illnesses have been reported to date.

The product is not labeled as RTE product.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/chang-farm-recalls-natures-wonder-mung-bean-sprouts-because-possible-health-risk
Chang Farm Recalls Nature’s Wonder Mung Bean Sprouts Because of 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:  Chang Farm
Brand Name:  Nature's Wonder
Product Description:  Mung Bean Sprouts

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