Organic Walnuts from CA Firm Linked to E. coli Outbreak

FDA is reporting that an E. coli outbreak has been linked to Organic Walnuts produced by Gibson Farms, Inc. of Hollister, California.  To this point, 12 people have become ill with 7 hospitalizations.  Of 10 people interviewed, all 10 (100%) reported eating walnuts, and almost all reported buying organic walnuts from bulk bins in food co-ops or natural food stores.

Gibson Farms recalled Organic Light Halves and Pieces shelled walnuts after Gibson Farms received information that they may have the potential to be contaminated with E. Coli 0157:H7.  The Organic Light Halves and Pieces shelled walnuts were sold to distributors located in CA and WA.  Gibson Farms, Inc. has voluntarily recalled the product(s) after being notified by the CDC of 12 recorded illnesses allegedly linked to the consumption of organic halves and pieces shelled walnuts. A full investigation is currently under way to determine the potential source of the contamination.

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-o157h7-bulk-organic-walnuts-april-2024

Outbreak Investigation of E. coli O157:H7: Bulk Organic Walnuts (April 2024)

Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled organic walnuts sold in bulk bins at natural food and co-op retailers in multiple states. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.

Case Counts

Total Illnesses: 12

Hospitalizations: 7

Deaths: 0

Last Illness Onset: April 4, 2024

States with Cases: CA, WA

Product Distribution*: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, KS, LA, MT, NE, NM, NV, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, and WY

Ice Cream Cups Recalled for Potential Metal Contamination

H-E-B is voluntarily issuing a recall for 12-count packages of 3-ounce cups of Creamy Creations ice cream in select flavors for potential metal. To date, there have been no injuries related to this recall. All product related to this recall has been removed from store shelves.

While there is no reason stated for how the metal was determined to be in the product, it is interesting to see that there is close to two weeks of production involved in the recall.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/h-e-b-issues-voluntary-recall-3-ounce-cups-creamy-creations-ice-cream-select-flavors
H-E-B Issues Voluntary Recall for 3-Ounce Cups of Creamy Creations Ice Cream in Select Flavors
Summary
Company Announcement Date: April 27, 2024
FDA Publish Date: April 29, 2024
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement: Potential presence of metal fragments
Company Name: H-E-B
Brand Name: H-E-B
Product Description: Creamy Creations ice cream

Imported Soft Cheese is Recalled After Positive Listeria Tests

Tama Corporation of Doral FL is recalling 24-ounce containers of "Queso de Mano PAISA" have contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.  "The recall was initiated after one laboratory analysis came out suspicious of that lot sample being contaminated. After a second analysis, this was confirmed. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem."

Queso de Mano is a soft, fresh cheese typical of a Venezuelan cheese.   PAISA is a Venezuelan company.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/tama-corporation-recalls-product-because-possible-health-risk
Tama Corporation Recalls Product Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  April 25, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  April 26, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  TAMA Corporation
Brand Name:  PAISA
Product Description:  Queso de Mano PAISA

USDA Finalizes Rule on Control of Salmonella in Raw Breaded Stuffed Chicken Products

USDA FSIS issued final declaration that Salmonella is considered an adulterant in raw breaded stuffed chicken product when "they exceed a specific threshold (1 colony forming unit (CFU) per gram or higher) for Salmonella contamination."  According to USDA, "This final determination marks the first time that Salmonella is being declared an adulterant in a class of raw poultry products. This policy change is important because it will allow us to stop the sale of these products when we find levels of Salmonella contamination that could make people sick.”  It is important to note that "FSIS will consider to be adulterated any raw breaded stuffed chicken products that include a chicken component that tested positive for Salmonella at 1 CFU per gram or higher."  

Raw breaded stuffed chicken products are pre-browned and may appear cooked, but the chicken is raw. The products are typically cooked by consumers from a frozen state, which increases the risk of the product not reaching the internal temperature needed to destroy Salmonella. Despite FSIS’ and industry’s efforts to improve labeling, these products continue to be associated with Salmonella illness outbreaks.

Will need to review the 78 pages to get the finer points of this.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/documents/FSIS-2022-0013F.pdf

https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2024/04/26/usda-finalizes-policy-protect-consumers-salmonella-raw-breaded
USDA Finalizes Policy to Protect Consumers from Salmonella in Raw Breaded Stuffed Chicken Products

Press Release
Release No. 0072.24
Contact: USDA Press
Email: press@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, April 26, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today announced its final determination to declare Salmonella an adulterant in raw breaded stuffed chicken products when they exceed a specific threshold (1 colony forming unit (CFU) per gram or higher) for Salmonella contamination.

Warning Letters Issued to Two CA Food Importers for Issues on FSVP

Warning Letters were issued to two CA food importers.

La Sucursal Produce Inc. located at 1318 E 7th St, Ste 40, Los Angeles, CA 90021-1125 did not develop, maintain, and follow an FSVP for any of the foods that you import, including:  Husk Tomato imported from (b)(4) in (b)(4);  Green Onion imported from (b)(4) in (b)(4);  and Peas imported from (b)(4) in (b)(4).

New India Bazar, Inc., Milpitas, CA  received an inspection in response to the recent recall event associated with MAGGI Noodles imported by the company. Specifically, the product labels imported from the foreign supplier were examined and found to contain undeclared allergens. The label listed “hydrolyzed groundnut protein” as an ingredient without clarifying that this referred to peanuts, and without declaring peanuts on the product label.

In the FSVP inspection, the company did not develop an FSVP for the foods from the foreign suppliers indicated in the attached FSVP011 list, as well as the following foods:  Masala Munch Snack, imported from (b)(4), located in India  Chat Papri, imported from (b)(4), located in India  Gujarati Chavana (snack), imported from (b)(4), located in India

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/la-sucursal-produce-inc-673621-03012024
La Sucursal Produce Inc.
MARCS-CMS 673621 — MARCH 01, 2024

FDA Issues Warning Letter to MO Animal Feed Company

FDA issued a Warning Letter to Appleton City Feed Service LLC of Appleton City, MO for violations to Preventive Controls for Animal Feeds regulations as well as the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD).
The company did not have a Preventive Control Plan for its animal feed product.  There were GMP issues including the lack of control focused on mycotoxins.  There were also issues with separation of feeds for different animal types.  And issues associated with the proper control of medications used in feed.

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/appleton-city-feed-service-llc-662279-11012023
Appleton City Feed Service LLC
MARCS-CMS 662279 — NOVEMBER 01, 2023

Ohio Seafood Facility Issued Warning Letter for Inadequate HACCP Controls

FDA issued a Warning Letter to Euro USA Inc seafood processing facility in Cleveland Ohio.

In brief, the facility failed to set and maintain critical limits for temperature control.  The storage coolers for mollusks and pasteurized crab meat did not have proper temperature settings.  The

receiving CCP for the Combined Molluscan Shellfish HACCP plan that includes reduced oxygen packaged shucked raw, scallops in cans, lists a critical limit that fails to ensure the products were held at adequate temperatures continuously during transit to your facility.  The CP for the Scombroid fish HACCP plan, lists a critical limit that is not adequate to control histamine formation. 

FDA Warning Letter
https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/euro-usa-inc-666173-11222023
Euro USA Inc
MARCS-CMS 666173 — NOVEMBER 22, 2023

Imported Prosciutto Ham Recalled for Being Produced Without Equivalent Inspection

ConSup North America Inc., a Lincoln Park, N.J. firm, is recalling approximately 85,984 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) sliced prosciutto ham product produced in Germany without the benefit of equivalent inspection.  The problem was discovered when Germany’s Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety notified FSIS that H. Klümper GmbH & Co. KG, a Germany establishment, produced a portion of the identified lots without the benefit of equivalent inspection and exported them to the U.S. for distribution.


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/consup-north-america-inc--recalls-ready-eat-sliced-prosciutto-product-produced
ConSup North America Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Sliced Prosciutto Product Produced Without Benefit of Inspection

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2024 – ConSup North America Inc., a Lincoln Park, N.J. firm, is recalling approximately 85,984 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) sliced prosciutto ham product produced in Germany without the benefit of equivalent inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

FDA Warning Letter Issued to MI Company with Nut Labeling Issues

JLM Manufacturing LLC, of Warren, MI, an operating company of Lapiri Foods, was issued a Warning Letter for having consecutive labeling errors that resulted in undeclared nut allergens, thus clearly demonstrating a lack of allergen control at the labeling step.  

• "On August 1, 2023, after being notified of a complaint from a retail store, your firm recalled tubs of the IO Inspired Organics brand Organic Raw Walnut Halves & Pieces. The product was mislabeled with a bottom label identifying the product as cashews in the name, ingredient, and contains statements. The bottom label did not declare walnuts in the ingredient statement or the "Contains” statement."
• "On September 6, 2023, after being notified of a complaint from a retail store, your firm recalled raw filberts/hazelnuts that were mislabeled as “JLM brand Roasted Salted Pecan Halves.” The product was mislabeled with a principal display panel that incorrectly identified the product as Roasted Salted Pecan Halves, while the package contained raw filberts/hazelnuts and the principal display panel did not declare filberts/hazelnuts."
• "On September 9, 2023, after being notified of a complaint by a retail store, your firm recalled the cashews that were mislabeled as “IO Inspired Organics Raw Walnuts.” The product was mislabeled in the pouch for Raw Walnuts while the package contained cashews. The pouch did not declare cashews."

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/lipari-foods-operating-company-llc-669083-04092024

Lipari Foods Operating Company, LLC
MARCS-CMS 669083 — APRIL 09, 2024