FDA Issues Warning Letter to Missouri Sprout Producer

FDA issued a Warning Letter to St. Louis Calco, a sprout operation located in Fenton, MO.

The company was cited for:

1. Did not establish and implement a written environmental monitoring plan that is designed to identify Listeria species or Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes).
2. Did not establish and implement a written sampling plan to test spent sprout irrigation water (SSIW) or in-process sprouts for pathogens
3. Did not clean and sanitize food contact surfaces you use to grow, harvest, pack, or hold sprouts before contact with sprouts or seeds or beans used to grow sprouts

Issues included:   

• The sprouts pool was observed with buildup of residue on the walls, bottom of pool and drain covers.
• The belts of the sprouts pool had pieces of sprouts still present on the belts.
• The wall around the sprouts collection table at the end of the sprouts pool had apparent mold growth where sprouts are in contact with the wall.
• The mung bean sprout’s growing bins and soybean sprout’s growing buckets were observed to have buildup of brown residues when being actively used for growing your sprouts.
• The metal on the outside of your growing bins and wall holding pins were observed to have buildup of brown residues. This metal was observed to be in direct contact with growing mung bean sprouts.

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/st-louis-calco-llc-669917-03212024
WARNING LETTER
St. Louis Calco, LLC
MARCS-CMS 669917 — March 21, 2024

FDA Issues Warning Letter to Company Failing to Properly Acidify Tea Beverage

FDA issued a Warning Letter to Brewing Market Coffee, an acidified manufacturing facility located in  Boulder, Colorado.  The company failed to file a process for Black Tea Chai and employees were not properly trained.  Along with this, they failed to properly monitor pH.

The company "failed to exercise sufficient control, including frequent testing, and recording of results, so that finished equilibrium pH values for acidified foods are not higher than 4.6, as required by 21 CFR 114.80(a)(2). Specifically, the pH buffers used to calibrate your pH meter are maintained at ambient room temperature. On December 15, 2023, you tested the final pH of your Black Tea Chai drink, Lot (b)(4), immediately after heating the drink. The temperature of the drink at the time of the pH measurement was observed to be (b)(4)oF. You did not allow the Black Tea Chai drink to reach ambient room temperature before taking your final pH reading. Additionally, you did not allow the Black Tea Chai drink to reach equilibrium before taking the final pH measurement. You are not measuring the pH of your chai drinks, which are shelf-stable, after they have reached equilibrium."

This is interesting in that there are no low acid particulates to classify this as an acidified food where the equilibrium pH would be a concern.  Yes, achieving the proper pH is need, and if they were not doing that it is an issue, however, this would not have been classified as a what we normally view as an  acidified food.

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/brewing-market-coffee-682451-04252024
WARNING LETTER
Brewing Market Coffee
MARCS-CMS 682451 — April 25, 2024

NC Firm Recalls Snack Mix After Mispacking Issue Results in Undeclared Allergens

Truly Good Foods, Charlotte, NC, is recalling its 3.25-ounce packages of Grabeez The Big Cheese Snack Mix cups with a Best Before 041625 because they contain undeclared almonds and cashews.  The recall was initiated on September 23, 2024 after a customer noticed an incorrect cup. The firm discovered that the tree nut-containing product was distributed in mislabeled packaging that did not reveal the presence of almonds and cashews. The product inside the cup could be Healthy Trails Mix which contains raisins, sunflower seeds, almonds, pumpkin seeds, and cashews.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/truly-good-foods-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-almonds-and-cashews-grabeez-big-cheese-snack-mix
Truly Good Foods Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Almonds and Cashews in Grabeez The Big Cheese Snack Mix 3.25 oz Cup
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 24, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  September 25, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Almonds and Cashews
Company Name:  Tropical Nut & Fruit d.b.a. Truly Good Foods
Brand Name:  Grabeez
Product Description:  Trail Mix with peanuts, pretzels, and crackers.

Pennsylvania Pet Food Establishment Recalls Raw Dog Food After Testing Finds Salmonella and Listeria

FDA issued a health alert about dog food sold by a Pennsylvania Company, Lystn, LLC d.b.a./ANSWERS Pet Food. for potential Salmonella and Listeria contamination. This comes after samples collected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration were reported to have tested positive for the presence of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.   The FDA collected and tested unopened retail samples of products after receiving three consumer complaints of illness in dogs that ate the products.

The lots referenced below were distributed throughout the United States in retail stores and direct online sales. No illnesses associated with these lots have been confirmed.

According to the website, the food is fermented and this fermentation is supposed to help protect against pathogens.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/answers-pet-food-voluntarily-withdrawals-certain-limited-lots-beef-and-chicken-dog-foods-due
ANSWERS Pet Food Voluntarily Withdrawals Certain Limited Lots of Beef and Chicken Dog Foods Due to Potential Salmonella and Listeria
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 22, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  September 23, 2024
Product Type:  Animal & Veterinary  Food & Beverages  Pet Food
Reason for Announcement:  Due to Potential Salmonella and Listeria
Company Name:  Lystn, LLC. d.b.a. ANSWERS
Brand Name:  ANSWERS
Product Description:  Beef and Chicken Dog Foods

Surveys Show People Stressed About the Safety of Food

An article posted elsewhere discussed two recent surveys on people's concern with the food supply.  One is a Gallup poll stating that "Americans’ confidence in the federal government’s ability to ensure the safety of the U.S. food supply has reached a record low".  The other from the International Food Information Council (IFIC) stated "Confidence in the safety of the food supply is down from last year 

(62%, down from 70% in 2022). This confidence dropped most among Millennials and Hispanic  consumers.  Among multiple food safety issues, consumers are most concerned  about carcinogens in food, foodborne illness from bacteria, and  pesticides. Of those concerned with foodborne illness, nearly all are  familiar with “best by” dates, but only 2 in 3 (67%) are familiar with  what to do when their food has been recalled and far fewer (39%)  are familiar with the USDA’s Meat and Poultry Hotline."

As pointed out in an earlier post, there are no indications that the food supply is less safe, in fact, probably more safe than it had been.  This is not to say we are void of issues.  There are food related outbreaks.  There are also some unknowns regarding micro-levels of chemicals in food where more research is needed.  However, is this something that should be causing us stress? Hopefully not.

If you are concerned about something, avoid it.  Take heart that over 300 million people in the US eat food everyday (hopefully) and the number of issues is very small.  And the issues are normally recalls, not outbreaks.   Our biggest issues are related to the fact we need to balance what we eat, control how much we eat, and follow proper food handling and preparation procedures.

So to what degree does the onslaught of information fed to us each day via social and mainstream media impact this stress.  Certainly in an election year, we are inundated with information, some of it exaggerated or over emphasized perhaps.  And now that one of the parties has grabbed the food safety mantra, can we expect to see even more of this type of information?

https://news.gallup.com/poll/650024/trust-government-assurance-food-safety-hits-record-low.aspx
Trust in Government Assurance of Food Safety Hits Record Low
Americans' faith in the safety of food at grocery stores also declines

Milk Recalled After Firm Determines Potential for Residual Almond Contamination

HP Hood LLC, Lynnfield, MA, is recalling five SKUs of 96 oz containers of LACTAID Milk because the product may contain trace amounts of almond, which is not listed on the label.  This issue was discovered as a result of routine maintenance programs which revealed the potential for trace amounts of almond.  No illnesses have been reported to date.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/hp-hood-llc-recalls-select-units-96-oz-refrigerated-lactaid-milk-due-possible-almond-allergen
HP Hood LLC Recalls Select Units of 96 oz Refrigerated Lactaid Milk Due to Possible Almond Allergen

Summary  

Company Announcement Date:  September 20, 2024

FDA Publish Date:  September 20, 2024

Product Type: Food & Beverages Milk/Milk Product

Reason for Announcement:  Potential or Undeclared Allergen – Tree Nuts (almond)

Company Name:  HP Hood LLC

Brand Name:  Lactaid

Product Description: Lactaid 96 oz milk carton varieties

Hawaii Firm Recalls Coconut Cookies For Undeclared Milk Missed as Sub-Ingredient

KTM Services, Inc. of Honolulu, HI is recalling its 5.3 ounce and 17.7 ounce packages of Enjoy Premium Taro Cookie and Enjoy Premium Coconut Cookie because they contain undeclared Milk. The recall was initiated after information was confirmed that the Milk-containing product sub-ingredient (Sodium Caseinate-Milk derivative) was distributed in packaging without Milk on the label. Investigation indicates the problem was caused by a manufacturer’s sub-ingredient error. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/ktm-services-inc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-cookies
KTM Services Inc. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Cookies
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 10, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  September 19, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared milk allergen
Company Name:  KTM Services Inc
Brand Name:  Enjoy Premium
Product Description:  Coconut and Taro Cookies

Deli Meat Plant Responsible for Listeria Outbreak to Close, FSIS Notice of Suspension

Boar's Head Provisions has decided to shut down their Jarrett, VA facility in light of the Listeria outbreak that was linked to product produced at that facility.  There have been at least 57 cases with 9 deaths.

The closure affects 500 union workers as well as management.

The FSIS USDA Notice of Suspension is posted below.  It is interesting that the FSIS intensive sampling only found one positive in the environment...and that was on a pallet jack.  It is important to point out that this intensive sampling occurred as the company found out that product was involved in an outbreak, so did the plant get an opportunity to do a more intensive cleaning, was the plant operational at the time of sampling, was sampling done during operations and with that, was it done after production was going for 2 to 4 hours?  What did the company's internal sampling regiment results indicate, and how intensive of a program was it?

USA Todayhttps://www.newsbreak.com/share/3595027287273-boar-s-head-to-close-virginia-plant-linked-to-listeria-outbreak-500-people-out-of-work
Boar's Head to close Virginia plant linked to listeria outbreak, 500 people out of work
By Mary Walrath-Holdridge and Mike Snider, 

USA TODAY,

9/13/24

The Jarratt, Virginia Boar's Head plant linked to the ongoing multistate listeria outbreak is closing permanently, the company announced on Friday.

Michigan Establishment Issues Recall after Swapping Labels on Both Pork and Beef Sausage

Dearborn Sausage Company, Inc., a Dearborn, Mich. establishment, is recalling approximately 1,944 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) wiener products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens - the labels of the two products implicated in the recall were inadvertently swapped resulting in soy, a known allergen, and pork not being declared on the product labels.  

The problem was discovered when the establishment received a complaint from a retailer that the products they received may have been incorrectly labeled. The establishment determined that they inadvertently mislabeled beef wiener products as beef and pork wiener products and vice versa. The products labeled as beef and pork wiener products actually contain beef wiener products that contain soy; therefore, soy is not declared on the finished product label. Additionally, the product labeled as beef wiener products actually contain beef and pork wiener products, therefore, pork is not declared on the finished product label.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/dearborn-sausage-company-inc--recalls-wiener-products-due-misbranding-and-undeclared
Dearborn Sausage Company, Inc. Recalls Wiener Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens