FDA Publishes Final Rule for Use of Agricultural Water on FSMA Covered Produce

FDA released their final rule on agricultural water for produce. "Farms are required to conduct assessments of their pre-harvest agricultural water annually, and whenever a significant change occurs, to identify any conditions likely to introduce known or reasonably foreseeable hazards into or onto covered produce or food contact surfaces."   The rule provides the various factors that go into the evaluation.  

 "The final rule replaces certain pre-harvest agricultural water requirements for covered produce (other than sprouts) in the 2015 produce safety rule with requirements for systems-based agricultural water assessments to determine and guide appropriate measures to minimize potential risks associated with pre-harvest agricultural water."  It "establishes requirements for agricultural water assessments that evaluate a variety of factors that are key determinants of contamination risks associated with pre-harvest agricultural water. This includes an evaluation of the water system, water use practices, crop characteristics, environmental conditions, potential impacts on water from adjacent and nearby land, and other relevant factors."


https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-publishes-landmark-final-rule-enhance-safety-agricultural-water?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
FDA Publishes Landmark Final Rule to Enhance the Safety of Agricultural Water
Constituent Update
May 2, 2024

Public Health Alert for Chorizo After Consumer Complaints Filed for Hard Plastic and Metal in Product

USDA-FSIS issued a public health alert due to concerns of raw pork chorizo products that may be contaminated with a foreign material, specifically hard plastic and metal.  The product was produced by San Antonio Packing Company of San Antonio, TX.   The problem was discovered after the firm notified FSIS that it had received a consumer complaint reporting that pieces of hard plastic and metal were found in the raw pork chorizo product.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-raw-pork-chorizo-products-due-possible-foreign
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Raw Pork Chorizo Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

WASHINGTON, May. 2, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns of raw pork chorizo products that may be contaminated with a foreign material, specifically hard plastic and metal. FSIS is issuing a public health alert to ensure that consumers are aware that this product should not be consumed. A recall was not requested because the product is no longer available for purchase.

Raw Ground Beef Recalled for E. coli O157:H7 After Segregated Product Mistakenly Used

Cargill Meat Solutions, a Hazleton, Pa., establishment, is recalling approximately 16,243 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.  The establishment reported the issue to FSIS after they identified that previously segregated product had been inadvertently utilized in the production of ground beef.  These items were shipped to Walmart retail locations nationwide.

Ouch.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/cargill-meat-solutions-recalls-ground-beef-products-due-possible-e--coli-o157h7
Cargill Meat Solutions Recalls Ground Beef Products Due to Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2024 - Cargill Meat Solutions, a Hazleton, Pa., establishment, is recalling approximately 16,243 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

NJ Establishment Updated Their Recall of RTE Prosciutto

ConSup North America Inc., a Lincoln Park, N.J. firm, is updating an earlier recall of ready-to-eat (RTE) sliced prosciutto ham product produced in Germany without the benefit of equivalent inspection.  The initial recall was posted on April 24, 2024.  According to the USDA, the "details of this recall were updated to reflect that the product was shipped to retail locations nationwide."

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
Editor's Note: April 30, 2024 - Details of this recall were updated to reflect that the product was shipped to retail locations nationwide.

VT Company Recalls Frozen Meat Pizza Due to Undeclared Soy

802 VT Frozen, a Newport, Vt. establishment, is recalling approximately 8,221 pounds of frozen meat pizza due to misbranding and undeclared allergens.  The description is 802 VT Frozen MEAT!!! CRISPY WOOD-FIRED CRUST HAND MADE PIZZA” with “best if used by” dates of April 25, 2024, through April 25, 2025The problem was discovered during routine FSIS verification activities. FSIS determined that the product contained soy, which was not declared on the label.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/802-vt-frozen-recalls-frozen-meat-pizza-products-due-misbranding-and-undeclared
802 VT Frozen Recalls Frozen Meat Pizza Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens

WASHINGTON, April 26, 2024 – 802 VT Frozen, a Newport, Vt. establishment, is recalling approximately 8,221 pounds of frozen meat pizza due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains soy, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.

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.