Monday, July 1, 2024

Washington State Company Recalls Dried Orzo and Dried Campanelle Due to Potential Molding

Wildly Beloved Foods of Clinton, Washington is recalling approximately 30 packages of Orzo (vegan) Dried and 30 packages of Campanelle (vegan) Dried, 10 oz, due to potential mold growth contamination.  The recall was initiated after determining the product was under-dried and finding three packages within the company's retail marketplace that had the beginning signs of mold.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/wildly-beloved-foods-recalling-orzo-vegan-dried-and-campbell-vegan-dried-due-potential-mold
Wildly Beloved Foods is Recalling Orzo (Vegan) Dried and Campbell (Vegan) Dried Due to Potential Mold
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 24, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  June 24, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential to be contaminated with mold
 Company Name:  Wildly Beloved Foods
Brand Name:  Wildly Beloved Food
Product Description:  Dried Orzo and Dried Campanelle

Maryland Ice Cream Company Recalls Product After FDA Finds Listeria

Totally Cool, Inc. of Owings Mills, Maryland is recalling multiple brands of ice cream products, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  Totally Cool, Inc. has ceased the production and distribution of the affected products due to FDA sampling which discovered the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. The company continues its investigation and is taking preventive actions. No other products produced by Totally Cool, Inc. are impacted by this recall.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/totally-cool-inc-recalls-all-ice-cream-products-because-possible-health-risk
Totally Cool, Inc., Recalls All Ice Cream Products Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 24, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  June 24, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Ice Cream/Frozen Dairy
Reason for Announcement:  Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Totally Cool, Inc.
Brand Name:  Multiple brand names
Product Description:  Ice Cream Products

Ohio Company Recalls Hedgehog Feed After State Lab Finds Salmonella

Vitakraft Sun Seed Inc. of Weston, OH is recalling Sun Seed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food and Vitakraft Vita Smart Hedgehog Food because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.  The initial recall was issued on June 21, and then expanded by the company on June 28, 2024.  

Products from the recalled lot were distributed to the following states: AZ, CA, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, AND WI.

Vitakraft Sun Seed was notified on June 18, 2024, by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture that Salmonella was detected in an inspection sample of product from Lot Number 417429. The tests which identified the bacteria were part of random testing performed by the State of Minnesota on consumer products, and not prompted by any consumer concerns. To date, there have been no reports of illness.






https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/vitakraft-sun-seed-recall-sun-seed-vita-prima-hedgehog-food-due-possible-salmonella-health-risk-0
Vitakraft Sun Seed Recall of Sun Seed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food Due to Possible Salmonella Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 28, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  July 01, 2024
Product Type:  Animal & Veterinary  Food & Beverages  Animal Feed
Reason for Announcement:  Due to potential Salmonella contamination
Company Name:  Vitakraft Sun Seed Inc.
Brand Name:  Sunseed Vita Prima
Product Description:  Hedgehog Food

Imported Dog Treats Sold Online Recalled for Potential Metal Contamination

TDBBS LLC, of Richmond, VA is voluntarily recalling 3,551 bags of Green Tripe dog treats due to the potential presence of foreign metal objects in the dog treat.  The recalled product was distributed between February to May 2024, and sold nationwide in retail stores and through online mail orders.  Product is imported from Turkey.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/tdbbs-llc-recalls-green-tripe-dog-treats-due-potential-foreign-metal-object-contamination
TDBBS LLC Recalls Green Tripe Dog Treats Due to Potential Foreign Metal Object Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 20, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  June 21, 2024
Product Type:  Animal & Veterinary
Reason for Announcement:  May Contain Metal Objects
Company Name:  TDBBS LLC
Brand Name:  BARKWORTHIES and BEST BULLY STICKS
Product Description:  Green Tripe Dog Treats

Canned Coffee Recalled for Failing to Meet Regulatory Requirements That Address Clostridium botulinum

Snapchill LLC (Snapchill) of Green Bay, WI is voluntarily recalling all canned coffee products manufactured by the company, within expiration date, because their current process could lead to the growth and production of the deadly toxin, botulinum toxin, in low acid canned foods.  The problem was identified when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified Snapchill that the low acid canned foods process for manufacturing the recalled products was not filed with FDA, as is required by regulation. No illnesses have been reported to-date, and Snapchill is not aware of any instances in which the company’s products contained botulin toxin. 

The issue with this situation is that by regulation, canned coffee meets the definition of a low acid food unless it is acidified to the lower pH.  If not acidified, the pH can be greater than 4.6 (pH of coffee ranges widely).  With that, the processor of liquid canned coffee must file the process with FDA as part of the Low Acid Canned Food regulations (LACF).  These regulations primarily focus on prevention of Clostridium botulinum (the causative agent of botulism poisoning) in canned foods.

There is not substantial publicly available research on the growth of Clostridium botulinum in coffee.  While anyone who has left their coffee in their thermal cup over the weekend knows that not much grows in it...but that is not good enough.  And what happens when we add cream, sugar, of flavors?  Clearly, more publicly available research is needed.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/snapchill-llc-recalls-canned-coffee-products-due-potential-clostridium-botulinum
Snapchill LLC Recalls Canned Coffee Products Due to Potential Clostridium botulinum
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 17, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  June 20, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum
Company Name:  Snapchill LLC
Brand Name:  Snapchill
Product Description:  Coffee Products

NY Sauce Processor Recalls Tomato Basil Sauce Due to Potential Under-Processing

Hudson Harvest of Germantown, NY, is voluntarily recalling Hudson Harvest Tomato Basil Sauce because of reported swelling, leaking, or bursting jars. There is a possibility that the product has been under processed, which could lead to the potential for spoilage organisms or pathogens.

This would be considered an acid food which would hot filled (and perhaps run through a hot water bath or shower afterwards).  While there is the possibility that the pH was higher then it should be (above 4.6), there could be an issue when the pH approaches 4.6 from spoilage organisms.  More likely was the the required hot fill temperature was not maintained during processing.  Exploding glass jars is often the sign of yeast contamination, and this would occur when processing fill temperatures drop too low.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/hudson-harvest-issues-voluntary-recall-tomato-basil-sauce-due-potential-under-processing
Hudson Harvest Issues Voluntary Recall of Tomato Basil Sauce Due to Potential Under-Processing
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 18, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  June 19, 2024
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potentially under processed, which could lead to the potential for spoilage organisms or pathogens
Company Name:  Hudson Harvest
Brand Name:  Hudson Harvest
Product Description:  Tomato Basil Sauce

Monday, June 24, 2024

UK - E. coli Outbreak with 256 Cases Linked to Pre-Packaged Sandwiches

An outbreak of E. coli O145 has been linked to pre-packaged sandwiches.  It is believed that the lettuce leaves used on the sandwiches is the source of E. coli.  There have been 256 cases with 86 of those resulting in hospitalization.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cedd0947e73o
E. coli outbreak put at least 86 people in hospital
June 20, 2024
By Michelle Roberts,
Digital health editor, BBC News

At least 86 people were admitted to hospital for E. coli symptoms linked to an outbreak thought to be caused by some pre-packed sandwiches containing lettuce, health officials have confirmed.

The UK Health Security Agency says cases have slowed but a further 45 infections have been recorded, taking the total to 256.

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Award Winning Microbe Collector!

Some people collect rocks.  Some people collect stamps.  But a true micro nerd collects....microbes.  Recently, one of our own won a huge award for collecting microbes....more specifically E. coli...those bacteria  mostly associated with being 'of fecal origin'.  Edward Dudley, Professor of Food Science and Director of the E. coli Reference Center in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State, has been awarded some fancy award by the United States Culture Collection Network.
Congratulations to him and his team that do such great work!


PSU Professor Honored by National Microbial Research Network
Edward Dudley recognized for his stewardship of Penn State’s E. coli Reference Center

PUBLISHED ON JUNE 4, 2024

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Edward Dudley, professor of food science and director of the E. coli Reference Center in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State, has been awarded the 2023 J. Roger Porter Award by the United States Culture Collection Network in recognition of his outstanding leadership to support novel life science discoveries.

Ohio Firm Recalls Salad Bowls For Undeclared Pecans

Heinen’s of Warrensville Heights, OH is voluntarily recalling Heinen’s Tuscan Salad Bowls, due to the possibility that it may contain undeclared Pecans.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product containing Pecans was distributed in Tuscan Salad Bowls that did not reveal the presence of additional allergens. Subsequent investigation indicates that this was isolated to a single distributed Sell By Date of 6/2/2024

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/heinens-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-pecans-heinens-tuscan-salad-bowls
Heinen’s Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Pecans in Heinen’s Tuscan Salad Bowls
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 30, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  June 14, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Pecans
Company Name:  Heinen’s Inc.
Brand Name:  Heinen’s
Product Description:  Tuscan Salad Bowl