Canadian Firm Recalls Fudge Product After Packages Found to Have Mold Growth

Authentik Fudge of Sainte-Julie, Quebec, Canada, is recalling 840 units of Chocolate Fudge with Nuts branded MONTREAL FUDGE, due to potential mold growth contamination.  The company initiated this recall after a consumer complained about some mold pieces inside the purchased box and also found also some remaining unpacked sealed products at the manufactured place that had beginning signs of mold.

Fudge generally has a low water activity level.  If higher, than preservatives can be added.  So if a product does mold where it normally does not, then it may have been mis-formulated.  Another possibility is that the product could have been exposed to excessive moisture from the environment where that moisture condensed on the product surface. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/authentik-fudge-recalls-fudge-nuts-because-potential-mold-growth
Authentik Fudge Recalls Fudge with Nuts Because of Potential Mold Growth
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 21, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  August 22, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential mold growth contamination
Company Name:  Authentik Fudge
Brand Name: Montreal Fudge
Product Description:  Chocolate Fudge with Nuts

NJ Firm Recalls Cinnamon Due to Elevated Lead Levels in Product

Gutierrez Distributor of Passaic, NJ is recalling El Servidor Corp and Gutierrez brand ground cinnamon because it has the potential to be contaminated with elevated levels of lead.  This recall, issued on August 23 expands recall issued on August 19, 2024.  The recall was the result of a sample analysis conducted by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSAGM) that revealed the product contained elevated levels of lead. The Company has ceased the production and distribution of the product as FDA and the company continues their investigation as to what caused the problem.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/gutierrez-distributor-expands-recall-ground-cinnamon-because-possible-health-risk
Gutierrez Distributor Expands Recall of Ground Cinnamon Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 23, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  August 23, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Spices, Flavors & Salts
Reason for Announcement:  Elevated lead
Company Name:  Gutierrez Distributors, LLC
Brand Name:  El Servidor Corp
Product Description:  Ground cinnamon

Popsicles Recalled for Undeclared Milk After Two Reports of Allergic Reaction

Unilever in the United States is recalling approximately 137,000 cases of Popsicle Jolly Rancher Frozen Confection Pop products (single serve offerings) because the products may contain milk, which is not listed as an ingredient on the label.

This recall has been initiated as a result of findings which indicate there may be a presence of milk allergens in the product which is not disclosed on the packaging. There have been two reported allergic reactions in connection with the use of this product

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/unilever-us-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-popsicle-jolly-rancher-singleserve-frozen
Unilever U.S. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Popsicle Jolly Rancher SingleServe Frozen Confection Pops
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 21, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  August 21, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared milk
Company Name:  Unilever US
Brand Name:  Popsicle
Product Description:  Jolly Rancher Green Apple, Blue Raspberry, Grape Frozen Confection Pop

Nut Processor Recalls Walnut Product for Containing Other Nuts Due to Mislabeling

Flagstone Foods, LLC., manufacturer of Emerald Nuts, is issuing a voluntary recall of 6.5oz Emerald Kettle Glazed Walnut lot 2EE06284 because packages contain undeclared Peanuts, Almonds and Pecans.  This recall was initiated after consumers reported finding peanuts, almonds and pecans within packages labelled Emerald Kettle Glazed Walnuts. An investigation identified a limited number of incorrectly labelled packages were produced during the manufacturing process.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/flagstone-foods-llc-allergy-alert-undeclared-peanuts-almonds-and-pecan-emerald-kettle-glazed-walnuts
Flagstone Foods, LLC. Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanuts, Almonds and Pecan in Emerald Kettle Glazed Walnuts
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 16, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  August 20, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared peanuts, almonds, pecans
Company Name:  Flagstone Foods, LLC
Brand Name:  Emerald
Product Description:  Emerald Kettle Glazed Walnuts

Georgia Establishment Recalls RTE Chicken Nuggets After Two Complaints for Metal Contamination

Perdue Foods LLC, a Perry, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 167,171 pounds of frozen, ready-to-eat chicken breast nugget and tender products that may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically metal.  The frozen, ready-to-eat chicken breast nugget and tender items were produced on March 23, 2024.  The problem was discovered after the firm received consumer complaints about metal wire embedded in the product and notified FSIS of the issue.  There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/perdue-foods-llc-recalls-frozen-ready-eat-chicken-breast-nugget-and-tender-products
Perdue Foods LLC, Recalls Frozen, Ready-To-Eat Chicken Breast Nugget and Tender Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

Perdue Foods LLC

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2024 – Perdue Foods LLC, a Perry, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 167,171 pounds of frozen, ready-to-eat chicken breast nugget and tender products that may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically metal, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

USDA FSIS Issues Health Alert on Illeagally Imported Meat Products from Myanmar

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for various meat and poultry products that were illegally imported from the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Myanmar is a country ineligible to export meat and poultry products to the United States.

The problem was discovered when FSIS was performing routine surveillance activities at a retailer and found meat and poultry products from Myanmar that are not eligible to be exported to the U.S.   FSIS is continuing to investigate how these products entered the country.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-ineligible-meat-and-poultry-products-illegally-0

FSIS Issues Public Health Alert For Ineligible Meat and Poultry Products Illegally Imported From the Republic of the Union of Myanmar

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for various meat and poultry products that were illegally imported from the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Myanmar is a country ineligible to export meat and poultry products to the United States. FSIS is continuing to investigate how these products entered the country.

Recent Food Safety Issues with Raw Milk and Raw Milk Cheese in PA, NY, WA and ID

There have been five recent food safety warnings issued by state regulators for raw milk and raw milk cheese.

• Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture issued a warning for raw milk produced by Meadow View Jerseys brand raw milk after testing confirmed that the milk was contaminated with Shigatoxin-producing E. coli bacteria
• PA Department of Ag issued a warning for raw milk cheese  distributed by BeiHollow Farm, Elizabethville, PA, after testing confirmed that the cheese was contaminated with listeria monocytogenes bacteria.
• Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, reported that 18 people have tested positive for campylobacteriosis, after 17 reported drinking raw milk produced by Paradise Grove Dairy in Jefferson County, Idaho.
• New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets issued a Warning about unpasteurized raw milk from HuHill Farm after samples of that product tested positive for Campylobacter jejuni contamination Fort Plain, New York.
• The Washington Department of Health reported that two people were infected with the same, highly related strain of Campylobacter jejuni after both drank Jim’s Jerseys raw milk produced by Old Silvana Creamery (Arlington, WA).

https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/pda/newsroom/agriculture-department-warns-consumers-to-discard-contaminated-r.html
Agriculture Department Warns Consumers to Discard Contaminated Raw Milk from Meadow View Jerseys Dairy
August 14, 2024
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture warns consumers to immediately discard Meadow View Jerseys brand raw milk purchased between August 5 and 12, 2024, with a sell-by date of August 19, 2024. Routine testing for pathogens confirmed that the milk was contaminated with Shigatoxin-producing E. coli bacteria.

FDA Issues Warning Letter to Ecuadorian Company That Produced Lead-contaminated Apple Sauce

FDA issued a Warning Letter to the company that was responsible for producing the cinnamon apple sauce that was contaminated with lead.  As you may remember, the cinnamon used had been contaminated with lead chromate in what FDA believed to be a case of economically-motivated intentional adulteration.  CDC reported over 300 cases of potential lead poisoning.

The Warning Letter states the obvious about shipping contaminated product to the US, and then provides suggestions on the company's corrective action.


https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/austrofood-sas-679052-08092024
WARNING LETTER
AUSTROFOOD S.A.S.
MARCS-CMS 679052 — August 09, 2024

FDA Warning Letter to NV Spice Company for Inadequate Supply Chain Preventive Controls

FDA issued a Warning Letter to High Quality Organics, a ready-to-eat (RTE) spice facility, located in Reno, NV.  The company processes and packages RTE organic herbs, spices, dried fruit and peels, and dried vegetables.  The main issue was the company relies on others to process products so that they are considered RTE, but does not manage this through the Supply Chain program.

The supply-chain program does not provide assurance that a hazard requiring a supply-chain-applied control has been significantly minimized or prevented, as required per 21 CFR 117.410(c). 

• The company receives untreated herbs, spices, dried fruits and peels, and dried vegetable products and then directs the untreated products to (b)(4) third-party providers that apply a lethality process. 
• The "preventive control measure is “Validated lethality ‘kill step’ with Treatment Certificate”, however, the company's supply chain program does not verify that the parameters selected and applied by 3rd party treatment providers are adequate to control the hazard of vegetative pathogens such as Salmonella. 
• There is no review of the process parameters identified in the treatment certificate from the (b)(4) providers, as identified as a preventive control measure required within Hazard Analysis, and you 
• Did not comprehensively evaluate whether the parameters are appropriate for all your products undergoing the treatment. 
• Did not maintain documentation that the untreated spices you purchase and send to the third-party (b)(4) providers are treated under a validated process that delivers an appropriate destruction of Salmonella.

The company did not conduct a reanalysis of your food safety plan when needed after Ground Organic Parsley, lot # 62868 and lot # 63196, tested positive for the pesticide Chlorpyrifos ((b)(4)).

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/high-quality-organics-inc-677503-07082024
WARNING LETTER
High Quality Organics, Inc.
MARCS-CMS 677503 — July 08, 2024