In Memoriam - Dr. Nelson Cox

I have been fortunate over the years to have known many great food microbiologists. One of them, Dr. Nelson Cox, recently passed. A top-notch researcher with USDA ARS in Athens GA, he was a bigger-than-life personality that captured the attention of the room as soon as he entered.  He has published a extensively (close to 400 papers are on Reseachgate), primarily focused on pathogens that are associated with poultry.

https://www.onlineathens.com/obituaries/pgsc0704484
Dr. Nelson Anthony Cox, Jr.

Dr. Nelson Anthony Cox Jr., an award-winning research microbiologist who spent his career helping to protect the safety of the nation’s food supply, died on Thursday, January 25, 2024. He was 81 years old. Dr. Cox spent over 50 years as a research microbiologist working with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service, where he was one of the first young scientists hired to the staff of the Russell Research Center in Athens, Ga. Since retiring in 2022, he has split his time between Athens and Cary, North Carolina.

Illinois Establishment Recalls Chicken Flavored Base Containing Beef Base with Soy Allergen

Vanee Foods, a Broadview, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 9,564 pounds of chicken flavored base product due to misbranding and undeclared allergens.  The problem was discovered when the recalling firm notified FSIS that they shipped beef base product that may be incorrectly labeled as chicken flavored base.  The product labeled as chicken flavored base may actually contain beef base, which contains soy and wheat, known allergens, that are not declared on the product label.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/vanee-foods-recalls-chicken-flavored-base-products-due-misbranding-and-undeclared
Vanee Foods Recalls Chicken Flavored Base Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens

FSIS Announcement
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2024 - Vanee Foods, a Broadview, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 9,564 pounds of chicken flavored base product 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 flavored base may actually contain beef base, which contains soy and wheat, known allergens, that are not declared on the product label.

MD Firm Issues Additional Recall for Soybean Sprout Product Potentially Contaminated with Listeria

Nam & Son of MD, Jessup, MD is recalling one-pound bags of soybean sprouts, with the sell-by date of December 21, 2023, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The company had posted a recall on December 28, 2023 for soybean sprout product with a different sell by date (12/14/2023)

"The recall was initiated after a random sample was collected and analyzed by the state of Maryland, which resulted in confirmation of presence Listeria Monocytogenes in the product. The company has actively started investigating the root cause of the problem. All retail stores who have this “Sell By” date on the packaging should remove this product from their shelves"

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/nam-son-md-recalls-soybean-sprouts-because-possible-health-risk-0
Nam & Son of MD Recalls Soybean Sprouts Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  February 01, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  February 01, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination
Company Name:  Nam & Son
Brand Name:  Sam Sung
Product Description:  Soy Bean Sprouts

NY Firm Recalls Rice Product After Incorrect Boxing Results in Undeclared Soy Allergen

Hearty Acquisitions Inc. of Brooklyn, NY, is recalling its pints of "Tomato Basil with Rice EXP 3/22/2024" 16 Oz containers because they contain Butternut Squash Bisque resulting in soy being undeclared on the label.   The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the soy containing product was distributed in packaging that was labeled as “Tomato Basil With Rice EXP 3/22/2024” and did not reveal the presence of soy. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by mislabeling of the product during the boxing process.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/hearty-acquisitions-llc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-soy-tomato-basil-rice-exp-3222024
Hearty Acquisitions Llc Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Soy in Tomato Basil with Rice Exp 3/22/2024
Summary
Company Announcement Date: February 01, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  February 01, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Soy
Company Name:   Hearty Acquisitions Inc.
Brand Name:  Hearty Acquisitions Inc.
Product Description:  Tomato Basil with Rice

Quaker Oats Adds Another Product with Potential for Salmonella Contamination to the Recall List

The Quaker Oats Company today announced an expansion of thier series of recalls to add an additional granola bar to the U.S. Recalled Products list because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.  The last recall was posted on January 12th, 2024.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/update-quaker-issues-revised-recall-notice-additional-product-due-possible-health-risk
Update: Quaker Issues Revised Recall Notice With Additional Product Due to Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  January 31, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  January 31, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential for Salmonella contamination
Company Name:  The Quaker Oats Company
Brand Name:  Quaker
Product Description:  Quaker Chewy Dipps Llama Rama bars and more

NY Firm Recalls Chocolate Ice Cream After Customer Discovers Peanut Butter in Product

Byrne Dairy, Inc. of Syracuse, New York is voluntarily recalling its Byrne Dairy Mighty Fine Chocolate Ice Cream in half gallon cartons with a Last Date of Sale of 10/4/2024 because it may contain undeclared peanuts.  The recall was initiated as a result of a consumer complaint that product containing peanut butter was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of peanuts due to mislabeling of the product. As a result of a manufacturing error, the Chocolate Ice Cream may also contain peanut butter.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/byrne-dairy-recalls-mighty-fine-chocolate-ice-cream-half-gallons-dated-1042024-due-undeclared
Byrne Dairy Recalls Mighty Fine Chocolate Ice Cream in Half Gallons Dated 10/4/2024 Due to Undeclared Peanuts
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  January 30, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  January 30, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Ice Cream/Frozen Dairy
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared peanuts
Company Name:  Byrne Dairy Inc.
Brand Name:  Byrne Dairy
Product Description:  Mighty Fine Chocolate Ice cream

FDA Issues Updated Appendix 1, Part of the Hazards Guidance Document

FDA issued the updated Appendix 1 of their Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food: Draft Guidance for Industry document.  Appendix 1 is the  Known or Reasonably Foreseeable Hazards (“Potential Hazards”), a tool to help assist companies conducting the hazard analysis as part of preparation of the hazard analysis.  Table 1 of this appendix lists biological hazards and Table 2 lists chemical hazards.  In the previous version there was a table 3 that looked at process related hazards, but this aspect is now just listed in text.

The document can be found here.
Draft Guidance for Industry Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food: Appendix 1 (January 2024) (fda.gov)

FSPCA will be adopting this into their new updated version 2.0 of the Preventive Controls for Human Foods Curriculum on track to come out this year.

We will have to do some work on it before providing additional comment.

https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-publishes-revised-draft-introduction-and-appendix-preventive-controls-human-food-guidance?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
FDA Publishes Revised Draft Introduction and Appendix to the Preventive Controls for Human Food Guidance
Constituent Update
January 30, 2024

Unfortunate Disconnect Between Supplier and Retailer Leads to Death Due to Undeclared Peanuts

Tragic stories bring home the importance of preventing simple errors such as getting proper labels on packages.  In a most recent case, a 25 year old world-class dancer "tragically lost her life due to anaphylactic shock resulting from a severe allergic reaction to a cookie manufactured by Cookies United and sold by the supermarket chain Stew Leonard's. The FDA and Stew Leonard's issued a recall of the Vanilla Florentine Cookies that were sold at Stew Leonard's in Danbury and Newington, CT from November 6 – December 31, 2023.  The cookie contained peanuts which were not listed as part of the ingredients."

Unfortunately for Steward Leonards, they were made aware of the inclusion of peanuts earlier in the year, but failed to update their label.  From Cookies United Press Release "Stew Leonard’s claimed in an earlier press release that “The cookies contain peanuts, which was an ingredient not disclosed to Stew Leonard’s by the manufacturer.” [bold is ours]  Unfortunately, considering the tragedy of these circumstances, we need to point out that Stew Leonard’s was notified by Cookies United in July of 2023 that this product now contains peanuts and all products shipped to them have been labeled accordingly.  This product is sold under the Stew Leonard’s brand and repackaged at their facilities.  The incorrect label was created by, and applied to, their product by Stew Leonard’s."

A very unfortunate disconnect between the supplier and the retailer.

Update on Lead Contamination in Applesauce Pouches (1/30/24)

FDA and CDC provided updates (1/30/24 and 1/26/24 respectfully) on the lead contamination issue in apple cinnamon fruit pouches.  CDC has received reports of 98 confirmed cases, 269 probable cases, and 37 suspected cases for a total of 404 cases from 43 different states through their reporting structure.  (FDA is reporting 90 reported cases).  This number of reported cases is up 88 cases from the Jan 5, 2024 update.

"FDA has no indication that this issue extends beyond these recalled products and does not have any confirmed reports of illnesses or elevated blood lead level adverse events reported for other cinnamon-containing products or cinnamon.  As of January 29, 2024, FDA has not received any additional confirmed complaints/reports of adverse events potentially linked to recalled product."

FDA’s investigation is ongoing to determine the point of contamination and whether additional products are linked to illnesses


https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-elevated-lead-chromium-levels-cinnamon-applesauce-pouches-november-2023?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Investigation of Elevated Lead & Chromium Levels: Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches (November 2023)
Current Update
January 30, 2024

FDA has no indication that this issue extends beyond these recalled products and does not have any confirmed reports of illnesses or elevated blood lead level adverse events reported for other cinnamon-containing products or cinnamon.