NY Firm Recalls Imported Tahini After State Lab Testing Finds Salmonella

Roland Foods, LLC (“Roland Foods”) of New York, New York is recalling a specific production code of Roland® Tahini (100% Ground Sesame Seeds) 16 oz. because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.  The recall was as the result of a routine sampling program by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, which revealed that the product tested positive for Salmonella. The company has ceased distribution of the product and has initiated an investigation in partnership with the manufacturer as to the root cause of the problem

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/roland-foods-llc-recalls-rolandr-tahini-100-ground-sesame-seeds-16-oz-because-possible-health-risk
Roland Foods, LLC Recalls Roland® Tahini (100% Ground Sesame Seeds) 16 Oz. Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  February 27, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  February 28, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
Company Name:  Roland Foods, LLC.
Brand Name:  Roland
Product Description:  Tahini

Imported Cake Products Recalled for Undeclared Egg

LQNN Inc., of Garden Grove, California, is voluntarily recalling Banh Ba Xa and varieties of Banh Pia because they may contain undeclared egg.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the affected products may have been mistakenly had an egg wash applied. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem may have been caused by a mistake in the manufacturer’s production and packaging process.

According to Wikipedia, Banh Ba Xa is a "sweetheart cake or wife cake or marriage pie is a traditional Chinese cake with a thin crust of flaky pastry, made with a filling of winter melon, almond paste, and sesame, and spiced with five spice powder.[1] "Wife cake" is the translation of 老婆饼 from Chinese, and although the meaning is "wife", the literal translation is "old lady cake", paralleling the colloquial usage of "old lady" for "wife" in English. In Hong Kong, it is known as a specialty of the Yuen Long District.[2]"

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lqnn-inc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-egg-banh-ba-xa-and-banh-pia-products
LQNN, Inc. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Egg in Banh Ba Xa and Banh Pia Products
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  February 23, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  February 23, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared egg
Company Name:  LQNN, Inc.
Brand Name:  Saigon Gourmet
Product Description:  Banh Ba Xa and Banh Pia

Imported Dietary Supplements Recalled for Containing Yellow Oleander, a Poisonous Plant

 San Luis, AZ, G.A. Mart dba H&Natural, is voluntarily recalling 2 lots of H&NATURAL TejoRoot, 10g pills and 2 lots of H&NATURAL Brazil Seed, .167g Seeds to the consumer level. The products have been found via random FDA testing to contain yellow oleander, a poisonous plant native to Mexico and Central America.

Another recall, Backstage Center, issued a recall of approximately 280 Bottles of Alipotec Raiz de Tejocote, dietary supplements, that are labeled with the "Alipotec King" sticker. This recall is being initiated because FDA analysis found that the product contains toxic yellow oleander.

Risk Statement: Ingestion of yellow oleander can cause neurologic, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular adverse health effects that may be severe, or even fatal. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cardiac changes, dysrhythmia and more.

The company, H&Natural, has received one report of gastrointestinal illness, including painful symptoms in conjunction with internal bleeding in connection with H&NATURAL TejoRoot and has not received any reports of adverse events in connection with H&NATURAL Brazil Seed.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/ga-mart-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-hnatural-tejoroot-and-hnatural-brazil-seed-dietary
G.A. Mart Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of H&NATURAL TejoRoot and H&NATURAL Brazil Seed Dietary Supplements Due to the Presence of Yellow Oleander (Thevetia peruviana), a Poisonous Plant Native to Mexico and Central America
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  February 23, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  February 23, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Product contains yellow oleander, a poisonous plant
Company Name:  G.A. Mart dba H&Natural
Brand Name:  H&Natural
Product Description:  Brazil Seed Pure Natural Semilla de Brasil & Tejo Root, Raiz de Tejocte

FSIS Issues Health Alert for Prepared Meals Sold Online Due to Undeclared Egg Allergens

USDA-FSIS is issuing a public health alert for Nurture Life’s Chicken Parm with Super Veggie Spaghetti meal products due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen. The product’s spaghetti component contains egg white, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label. FSIS is issuing this public health alert rather than a recall because the the product is no longer available for purchase.  The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified that the firm discovered that egg was not declared on the label during an internal audit.

The chicken meal packaging does not have a USDA mark of inspection. These items were sold online and shipped directly to consumers nationwide.  Nurture Life is a meal delivery service focused on providing prepared as ready-to-heat meals for children aged 10 months and older.  The company is Chicago based, but information on where the product is processed.

From a quick search, there seems that this company is given a pass because how the company positions itself as healthy.  However, and perhaps this is me, but what about the risk of shipping prepared meals for children through the mail where temperature control is not guaranteed?

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-nurture-life-ready-eat-chicken-meal-product-due
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Nurture Life Ready-To-Eat Chicken Meal Product Due to Misbranding and an Undeclared Allergen

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for Nurture Life’s Chicken Parm with Super Veggie Spaghetti meal products due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen. The product’s spaghetti component contains egg white, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers with an allergy to egg are aware that this product should not be consumed. A recall was not requested because the affected product is no longer available for purchase.

FDA Warning Letters Issued to Food Importer for FSVP - Jan/Feb 2024 Edition

FDA issued Warning Letters to several food importers.  While three of the five were the same old thing, no FSVP for importer food, the other two had FSVP programs (for some items) but these programs were improperly designed and/or implemented.

FDA Issues Warning Letter to Iowa Egg Facility

In June of 2023, the Iowa Department of Agriculture, under contract with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), inspected Iowa Egg Company Inc.'s Osage, IA shell egg farm and egg processing facility, where eggs are washed, graded, and packed.

FDA cited a number of issues where the company was not meeting the requirements.  

• "Did not have and implement a written 'compliant' Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) Prevention Plan that includes, at minimum, the SE prevention measures required by 21 CFR118.4.   Had a plan, but was not viewed as compliant."
• "Did not have written measures to ensure that there is no introduction or transfer of SE into or among poultry houses, as required by 21 CFR 118.4(b). Inspectors observed gaps for potential entry of pests and other animals to the poultry houses (including large gaps in the (b)(4) house), perimeter exhaust fans missing their protective cages, and other fans with protective cages that were not securely fastened."
• "Did not adequately monitor pest activity - the bait consumption was not routinely monitored. Inspectors observed evidence of rodent activity, including droppings and chewed insulation in the (b)(4) house and did not routinely monitor fly activity, did not identify a threshold for acceptable and unacceptable fly activity, and did not identify corrective actions to take if unacceptable activity was observed. Further, flies were observed in the (b)(4) house."
• "SE Prevention Plan did not include cleaning and disinfection procedures for poultry houses, in the event that you have an environment test or egg test that was positive for SE at any point during the life of a flock, as required by 21 CFR 118.4(d)."
• "Did not hold or transport eggs at or below 45°F ambient temperature beginning36 hours after the time of lay, as required by 21 CFR 118.4(e). Your SE Prevention Plan stated “eggs should be stored in a cooler that is (b)(4)”; however, your cooler temperatures routinely exceeded 45°F. For example, from May 4, 2023, through June 4, 2023, the documented cooler temperatures ranged from 51°F to 68°Fconsecutively for 31 days."
• "Did not conduct environmental testing for SE in your poultry houses when laying hens were 40 to 45 weeks of age, as required by 21 CFR 118.5(a). Specifically, the (b)(4) house and the (b)(4) house were tested when the flocks were approximately 48 weeks of age."
• "Did not maintain records regarding your SE Prevention Plan in accordance with the requirements set forth by 21 CFR 118.10."

We take egg safety for granted when we cook those sunny-side up or over easy eggs.  However, if Salmonella is not controlled, these low cook methods may not be sufficient for eliminating a high level of Salmonella.

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/iowa-egg-company-inc-663904-12152023
Iowa Egg Company Inc.
MARCS-CMS 663904 — DECEMBER 15, 2023

Frying Oil - Quality and Safety Considerations

An article in Food Technology magazine, Ensuring Quality and Safety in Fried Foods, provides basic principles for maintaining frying oil quality and ensuring safety. Many types of foods are fried in oil and these frying operations can occur in all sectors of the food supply chain - large food facilities. restaurant and food service establishments, non-profit fund raising operations, and consumer's home fryers. Frying oils are probably not given much thought until we eat something where that oil has become rancid, giving the food a nasty taste. Other issues for food safety include under-processed/undercooked product and product subject to allergen cross contact.

Additional Recalls Announced as Processors Determine Usage of Recalled Cheese in Products

Two more recalls issued in response to the Rizo-López Foods, Inc. recall of cotija cheese.   Both of these recalls coming a week after Rizo Lopez Foods issued their recall of February 6, 2024.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/bristol-farms-recalls-chicken-taco-kit-because-possible-health-risk
Bristol Farms Recalls Chicken Taco Kit Because of Possible Health Risk
February 14, 2024- Bristol Farms is recalling Chicken Taco Kit 9oz, Sell by 1/18/24, because the Chipotle Crema sauce cup has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Chipotle Crema sauce cup in Chicken Taco kit was manufactured using the Rizo-López Foods, Inc recalled Cojita cheese.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/mg-foods-voluntarily-recalls-ham-cotija-torta-sandwich-distributed-florida-due-possible-listeria
Mg Foods Voluntarily Recalls Ham & Cotija Torta Sandwich Distributed in Florida Due to Possible Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination of Cotija Cheese
Melbourne, Fla. (February 13, 2024) - MG Foods is voluntarily recalling a Ham & Cotija Torta Sandwich on Telera Roll sold in Florida. This voluntary recall is being initiated as a result of the Rizo-López Foods, Inc. recall of cotija cheese

Pathogenic E. coli Outbreak with Ten Illnesses Linked to Raw Milk Cheddar Cheese

CDC and FDA are investigating an E.coli outbreak linked to raw cheddar cheese.  "As of February 16, 2024, a total of 10 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli have been reported from four states [CA - 4, UT - 2, CO - 3, and TX - 1]. Illnesses started on dates ranging from October 18, 2023, to January 29, 2024 (see timeline). Of 9 people with information available, 4 have been hospitalized and 1 developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can cause kidney failure. No deaths have been reported.

•  Of the 8 people interviewed, 6 (75%) reported eating RAW FARM brand raw cheddar cheese.
• WGS showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples are closely related genetically. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food.
• No product samples consumed by consumers or products available for sale have tested positive for E.Coli 0157:H7.
• Raw Farm, of Fresno CA is voluntarily recalling selected date codes of Raw Cheddar Cheese.

Because raw milk cheese is not pasteurized, the heat step is not present that would eliminate pathogens such as E. coli STEC.  Rather, aging along the presence of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are counted on.

Biological control of pathogens in artisanal cheeses - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958694623000316

From the Raw Farm website ( https://rawfarmusa.com/) 

TESTED.

We are deeply committed to the safe production of high-quality raw dairy products. We proudly meet and EXCEED all required California state testing and #dodairydifferent with our unique Test & Hold Protocol that tests for pathogens. 

Of course testing your way to safety is not full proof.

CDC Food Safety Alert
https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/raw-milk-cheese-2-24/index.html
E. coli Outbreak Linked to Raw Milk Cheese
Posted February 16, 2024

Fast Facts
Illnesses: 10
Hospitalizations: 4
Deaths: 0
States: 4
Recall: Yes
Investigation status: Active

Contaminated Food
RAW FARM brand raw cheddar cheese
Flavors include original and jalapeno
All sizes of blocks and shredded packages
Sold nationwide
Raw Farm LLC has agreed to recall products and is working with FDA