Oregon Firm Recalls Meal Kits Made with Recalled Chicken Ingredient with Listeria

Reser’s Fine Foods is recalling a limited number of meal kits due to the inclusion of recalled chicken from their ingredient supplier (BrucePac) which had issued a recall of its RTE chicken product due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.  Reser’s Fine Foods is no longer using any ingredients from the ingredient supplier’s (BrucePac) impacted facility.

This is interesting from a supplier control perspective.  To what degree did they rely on USDA inspection?  

Reser’s Fine Foods Announces Voluntary Recall of Limited Number of Meal Kits Due to Recalled Chicken from Ingredient Supplier (BrucePac)
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 10, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  October 11, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination
Company Name:  Reser’s Fine Foods
Brand Name:  Bistro 28, Don Pancho
Product Description:  Meal kits containing chicken

Oklahoma Establishment Recalls RTE Meat and Poultry Products For Listeria

Update October 11 - 

Editor's Note: Oct. 11, 2024 - FSIS wants to make sure consumers are aware that some of the recalled products could bear a different establishment number on the label due to further distribution and processing by other establishments. Consumers are urged to carefully review the information, including the product and label information, included in the BrucePac Ready-to-Eat Meat and Poultry Recall Press Release.

Editor's Note: Oct. 10, 2024 - The list has been updated with additional products that used the recalled ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. Please check back frequently as additional products could be added. 

BrucePac, a Durant, Okla. establishment, is recalling approximately 9,986,245 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The ready-to-eat meat and poultry items were produced from June 19, 2024, to October 8, 2024. These products were shipped to other establishments and distributors nationwide then distributed to restaurants and institutions.

The problem was discovered after FSIS performed routine product testing of finished product containing RTE poultry products produced by BrucePac and confirmed those products positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Subsequent FSIS investigation identified BrucePac RTE chicken as the source of the Listeria monocytogenes.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/brucepac-recalls-ready-eat-meat-and-poultry-products-due-possible-listeria
BrucePac Recalls Ready-To-Eat Meat and Poultry Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

FSIS Announcement

Editor's Note: Oct. 9, 2024 - Details of this recall were updated to include the product list of items with a best by date from 6/19/25-10/8/25.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2024 – BrucePac, a Durant, Okla. establishment, is recalling approximately 9,986,245 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

USDA Issues Health Alert for Undeclared Allergen in Already Expired Salad

USDA-FSIS issued a public health alert for chicken salad products labeled as Cranberry Chicken Salad due to misbranding and undeclared allergens. The product labeled as Cranberry Chicken Salad may actually contain Classic Chicken Salad, which contains wheat that is not declared on the product label. A recall was not requested because the affected product is no longer available for purchase.  The problem was discovered when the establishment notified FSIS that it received a customer complaint that packages labeled as Cranberry Chicken Salad contained Classic Chicken Salad.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-ready-eat-cranberry-chicken-salad-products-due
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ready-To-Eat Cranberry Chicken Salad Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens

Hans Kissle Company, LLC
FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for chicken salad products labeled as Cranberry Chicken Salad due to misbranding and undeclared allergens. The product labeled as Cranberry Chicken Salad may actually contain Classic Chicken Salad, which contains wheat, a known allergen, that is not declared on the product label. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers with allergies to wheat are aware that this product should not be consumed. A recall was not requested because the affected product is no longer available for purchase..

CDC Report - 2023 Trichinellosis Outbreak in NC Linked to Bear Meat

A 'presumed' outbreak of trichinellosis occurred in western North Carolina in November, 2023, resulting in 10 cases of parasitic infection. All cases were linked to a gathering where attendees consumed undercooked bear meat.

"Because black bears are common hosts for Trichinella spp., communicating methods for properly cooking and preparing wild game meat is important. Cooking game meat to a safe internal temperature (≥165°F [≥74°C]) will kill Trichinella spp. and prevent infection, whereas freezing might not be sufficient."

Very similar to an outbreak of Trichinella in 2022 that was linked to undercooked raw bear meat.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7340a4.htm
Notes from the Field: Suspected Outbreak of Trichinellosis Associated with Undercooked Bear Meat — North Carolina, November 2023
Weekly / October 10, 2024 / 73(40);906–907

Bread Company Takes Allergen Labeling Stand Against FDA and Consumer Groups

An article this week about Bimbo Bakeries holding off against FDA on an allergen labeling issue.

Meeting allergen labeling requirements can be difficult for some operations that handle formulations with different allergens.  Sesame, a allergen recently added to the list of allergens requiring labeling, has been a challenge for some companies like Bimbo Bakeries.  To address this, Bimbo along with some other companies have started adding  small amounts of sesame to foods that didn't have it previously — and then listing it as an ingredient.  These companies said "they did that because it was too difficult and expensive to keep sesame used in one part of a baking plant out of another and they wanted to avoid liability and cost. The FDA has said that such actions are legal, although they violate the spirit of the law [Allergen Labeling}"

But CSPI and other food safety advocates said the standoff [by Bimbo] continues a practice that misleads the estimated 33 million Americans with food allergies and results in limited choices for the more than 1.6 million who are allergic to sesame.

What are your thoughts on this practice?




https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2024/10/09/fda-sesame-warning-bimbo-bakeries/75585660007/
Bakery that makes Sara Lee and Entenmann's pushes back on FDA sesame warning
by Jonel Aleccia
Associated Press
October 9, 2024

A top U.S. commercial bakery is pushing back on a Food and Drug Administration warning to stop using labels that say its products contain sesame — a potentially dangerous allergen — when they don't.

California Co-manufacturer Recalls Bottled Juice That Missed the High Pressure Processing Step

Youngstown Grape Distributors Inc., Reedely, CA co-manufacturer for Happy Moose Juice, is voluntarily recalling Happy Moose Tropical Roots Juice (Lot# H240903-E BEST BY 12/02/2024) and Happy Moose Strawberry Fields (Lot# H240903-H, BEST BY 12/02/2024) because a portion of the production made did not complete the High Pressure Processing (HPP) treatment, which is used to prolong the product shelf-life, prevent spoilage, and significantly reduce the risk of pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and diarrheagenic E. coli.

Youngstown Grape Distributors Inc. Recalls Happy Moose Juice Tropical Roots and Happy Moose Strawberry Fields Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 04, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  October 07, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Juice
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Foodborne Illness
Company Name:  Youngtown Grape Distributors Inc
Brand Name:  Happy Moose
Product Description:  Tropical Roots and Strawberry Fields, 12 oz bottles

Minnesota Firm Recalls Dip Product After Mold Found in Product

Lunds & Byerlys, of Edina, Minn., is voluntarily recalling approximately 500 containers of L&B Lone Star Dip because of potential mold growth contamination.  No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this recall. This product concern was first noticed by store employees, and they notified the company’s Quality Assurance team.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lunds-byerlys-voluntarily-recalls-lb-lone-star-dip-due-potential-mold
Lunds & Byerlys Voluntarily Recalls L&B Lone Star Dip Due to Potential Mold
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 04, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  October 04, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential mold contamination
Company Name:  Lunds & Byerlys
Brand Name:  L&B
Product Description:  Lone Star Dip

Wisconsin Sprout Operation Recalls Product After Positive Listeria Test

Jack and the Green Sprouts, Inc. of River Falls, WI is recalling its 5 ounce packages of Alfalfa and Alfalfa Onion sprouts because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The produce was sold in MN, WI and Iowa at grocery store and local Co-ops.  The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by the company revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in 5 ounce packages of Alfalfa sprouts.  The production of the product has been suspended while the company continues to investigate the source of the problem.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/jacks-and-green-sprouts-recalls-alfalfa-and-alfalfa-onion-sprouts-because-possible-health-risk
Jacks and the Green Sprouts Recalls Alfalfa and Alfalfa Onion Sprouts Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 04, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  October 04, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Jack and the Green Sprouts, Inc.
Brand Name:  Jack & the Green Sprouts
Product Description:  Alfalfa and Alfalfa & Onion Sprouts

FDA Reorganizes to Create Human Foods Program; Introduces Updated Complaint Portal

The FDA announced the reorganization creating the Human Foods Program, "a new model for field operations and other modernization efforts is now in effect."  According to the release, this "is is the single largest reorganization in the agency’s modern history, as it impacts more than 8,000 employees and touches almost every facet of the FDA."

The goal is to better "zero in on those issues where intervention has the greatest opportunity for the prevention of disease and for the promotion of wellness."  FDA states that "An important part of this reorganization also includes restructuring and renaming our field operations unit to focus on inspections, investigations and imports as its core mission. Restructuring the Office of Inspections and Investigations, formerly known as the Office of Regulatory Affairs, extends beyond foods and has an impact on how the FDA oversees all FDA-regulated products. We have created an enterprise-wide structure that will enhance collaboration between our field investigators and other subject matter experts throughout the agency and modernize and strengthen the entire agency to work more cohesively and collaboratively in accomplishing our collective public health mission."

FDA also announced "a new, streamlined approach for processing complaints, including whistleblower complaints, that will improve the Agency’s ability to detect and respond to problems related to FDA-regulated products and better protect public health. A complaint may be about an illness, injury, allergic reaction, or other health-related issue or about defects in the quality or safety of an FDA-regulated food, dietary supplement, or cosmetic product. Now, the public will be able to direct complaints about foods and dietary supplements to HFP by using our online reporting forms."

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fdas-unified-human-foods-program-new-model-field-operations-and-other-modernization-efforts-go
FDA’s Unified Human Foods Program, New Model for Field Operations, and Other Modernization Efforts Go into Effect
The following is attributed to Robert M. Califf, M.D., FDA Commissioner, and Jim Jones, Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods and Michael Rogers, Associate Commissioner for Inspections and Investigations

For Immediate Release:
October 01, 2024