Baby Powder with Talc Recalled Due to Potential Asbestos Contamination

Dynarex Corporation is expanding the recall initiated on September 19, 2024 to include an additional 373 cases of item number 4875, Dynacare Baby Powder, 14 oz., as well as 647 cases of item number 4874, Dynacare Baby Powder, 4 oz., because they have the potential to be contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is often found near talc, an ingredient in many cosmetic products. Asbestos, however, is a known carcinogen and its health risks are well-documented. If talc mining sites are not carefully chosen or if proper steps are not taken to adequately purify the talc ore, it may contain asbestos.

From the American Cancer Society:

• Talc is mined from the earth. In this natural form, some talc contains asbestos, a substance known to cause cancers in and around the lungs when inhaled.
• In 1976, the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrances Association (CTFA), the trade association representing the cosmetic and personal care products industry, issued voluntary guidelines stating that all talc used in cosmetic products in the United States should be free from detectable amounts of asbestos according to their standards.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/dynarex-corporation-expands-recall-include-additional-products-due-possible-health-risk
Dynarex Corporation Expands Recall to Include Additional Products Due to Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 28, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  October 28, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Metal or Chemical Contaminant
Company Name:  Dynarex Corporation
Brand Name:  dynacare
Product Description:  Baby Powder

Maryland Firm Recalls Tarts Due to Undeclared Almond

Atwater’s of Baltimore, MD, is recalling its clam shell packages of spider web tarts sold 10/19/24 and 10/20/24 because they contain undeclared almond flour.   The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the almond containing product was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of almonds, see below for photos of both the product and packaging in question. Subsequent investigation indicated the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the company’s production and labeling processes.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/atwaters-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-tree-nuts-spider-web-tart
Atwater’s Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Tree Nuts in “Spider Web Tart”
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 28, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  October 28, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Allergens
Company Name:  One Roof, LLC.
Brand Name:  Atwater’s
Product Description:  Tarts

Costco Smoked Salmon Recalled Due to Listeria

Acme Smoked Fish Corporation is issuing a recall of 111 cases of Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon in twin 12oz package, UPC 0 96619 25697 6, Lot# 8512801270, Best-by-Date 11/13/2024 due to laboratory testing confirming Listeria monocytogenes on October 21, 2024.   There are no illnesses reported, so it is likely this recall was issued due to testing.

Smoked salmon has a history of Listeria monocytogenes contamination, especially when it is sliced.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/acme-smoked-fish-corporation-recalls-kirkland-signature-smoked-salmon-due-listeria-monocytogenes
Acme Smoked Fish Corporation Recalls Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon Due to Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 25, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  October 26, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Fish
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Foodborne Illness – Listeria monocytogens
Company Name:  Acme Smoked Fish Corporation
Brand Name:  Kirkland Signature
Product Description:  Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon

Frozen Pie Crust and Products Made With Pie Crust Recalled Due to Undeclared Eggs

Grand Central Bakery Portland, OR and Seattle, WA is recalling U- Bake frozen pie products and frozen pie dough because they may contain undeclared egg.  The recall was initiated after an employee noted that egg was added to the above pie dough products and distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of egg.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/grand-central-bakery-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-egg-u-bake-pie-crust-u-bake-apple-pie-u-bake
Grand Central Bakery Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Egg in U-Bake Pie Crust, U-Bake Apple Pie, U-Bake Marionberry Pie, and U-Bake Chicken Pot Pie
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 25, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  October 26, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential or Undeclared Allergen – Egg
Company Name:  Grand Central Bakery
Brand Name:  Grand Central
Product Description:  U-Bake Pie Crust, U-Bake Apple Pie, U-Bake Marionberry Pie, U-Bake Chicken Pot Pie

Two Additional Recalls Linked to Recalled Chicken Product

Sprouts Farmers Market has voluntarily recalled select lots of our Chicken Street Taco kits supplied by Fresh Creative Foods on 10/11/2024, due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. This recall follows a recall issued by a recall initiated by Fresh Creative Foods, a division of Reser’s Fine Foods, Inc which is related to the recalled RTE chicken meat recalled by BrucePac, of.

Fresh Express is voluntarily recalling a limited number of Gourmet Café Chicken Caesar Salad Bowls due to the inclusion of recalled chicken items from BrucePac, an outside ingredient supplier. The BrucePac recall is due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The fresh vegetable components are not impacted by this recall.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sprouts-farmers-market-has-voluntarily-recalled-select-lots-our-chicken-street-taco-kits-supplied
Sprouts Farmers Market has Voluntarily Recalled Select Lots of Our Chicken Street Taco Kits Supplied by Fresh Creative Foods, Due to Possible Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date: October 11, 2024
FDA Publish Date: October 24, 2024
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement: Potential Foodborne Illness – Listeria monocytogens
Company Name: Sprouts Farmers Market
Brand Name: Sprouts
Product Description: Chicken Street Taco Meal Kit

CA Noodle Company Received FDA Warning Letter for Failure to identify Hazards and Implement Controls

FDA issues a Warning Letter to Alfred Louie Inc, a sprouting operation and noodle manufacturing facility, located in Bakersfield, CA.  The items noted in the Letter include:

• Did not conduct a hazard analysis to identify and evaluate known or reasonably foreseeable hazards for each type of food manufactured,
• Did not identify and evaluate allergens as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard to determine whether allergens are a hazard requiring a preventive control.  The company processes products containing different allergen profiles on the same equipment (e.g., bowl mixer, noodle sheet maker, sheet rollers, former/cutter, and finished product conveyor) and using shared utensils on the same production day.
• Did not identify and evaluate mycotoxins as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard to determine whether they require a preventive control. The company manufactures Pan Fry Fresh Noodles and Deep Fry Fresh Noodles products, which contain wheat flour as an ingredient. Wheat flour has been associated with mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON)
• Did not identify and evaluate metal as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard to determine whether it requires a preventive control. Product is manufactured with processing equipment (e.g., (b)(4) noodle cutters) with metal-to-metal contact. The company does not have metal detectors and are not implementing any other programs, such as visual inspection, to control the metal hazard.
• Misbranding the finished product labels fail to accurately declare major food allergens, as required by section 403(w)(1) of the Act. 

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/alfred-louie-inc-680624-09112024
Alfred Louie, Inc.
MARCS-CMS 680624 — September 11, 2024

Another Biological Hazard of Concern for People on Cruise Ships

A report in CDC MMWR this week looks at two recent Legionnaires Disease outbreaks that were linked to hot tubs on cruise ships.  "Legionnaires disease is a serious pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. Hot tubs can be a source of Legionella growth and transmission when they are inadequately maintained and operated."

The rapid spread of norovirus on cruise ships has been an ongoing risk, and cruise ships lines have established tight procedures for this including extensive cleaning and quarantining those with symptoms.   Now we can add the need to properly maintain hot tubs to that list.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7342a3.htm
Two Outbreaks of Legionnaires Disease Associated with Outdoor Hot Tubs for Private Use — Two Cruise Ships, November 2022–July 2024
Weekly / October 24, 2024 / 73(42);950–954
Sooji Lee, MSPH1; Chris Edens, PhD1; Troy Ritter, PhD2; Luis O. Rodriguez, MS2; Kara Tardivel, MD3; Natalia A. Kozak-Muiznieks, PhD1; Melisa Willby, PhD1; Nancy Ortiz, PhD3; Adam L. Cohen, MD1; Jessica C. Smith, MPH1 (View author affiliations)

Update - E. coli Outbreak Linked to Quarter Pounders, Onions Recalled

CDC provided an update of the E. coli outbreak linked to McDonalds quarter pounders. There are now 77 cases with 22 hospitalizations and 1 death across 13 states. With the federal inspectors focusing in on sliced onions, the supplier, Taylor Farms has recalled whole peeled and diced onions.

This is not the first foodborne illness outbreak linked to onions. 

In 2023, there was a Salmonella outbreak linked to chopped fresh onions from a CA processor. (link)

In 2021, a Salmonella outbreak with 652 was linked to imported onions. (link)

In 2020, a Salmonella outbreak with 1,127 cases (link) 

FDA published their investigation into the 2020 outbreak, and stated potential causes.  If considering how contamination events can occur to an item like onions, one can reflect on this.

While our investigation did not occur during any harvesting activities, visual observations of the implicated red onion growing fields suggested several plausible opportunities for contamination including irrigation water, sheep grazing on adjacent land, as well as signs of animal intrusion, such as scat and large flocks of birds which may spread contamination. Similarly, the investigation did not occur while packing activities were ongoing. However, visual observations and records review of packing house practices confirmed numerous opportunities for spread of foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella, including signs of animal and pest intrusion as well as food contact surfaces which had not been inspected, maintained, cleaned, or sanitized as frequently as necessary to protect against the contamination of produce. 

CDC information on this outbreak.

Fast Facts
Cases: 75 (26 new)
Hospitalizations: 22 (12 new)
Deaths: 1 (0 new)
States: 13 (3 new)

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-o157h7-mcdonalds-quarter-pounders-october-2024?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Outbreak Investigations & Safety Advisories

FDA Human Foods Program

Waffle Recall Expanded to Include All Pancakes and Waffle Products

TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (NYSE: THS) is expanding its voluntary recall (initially posted on 10/18) to include all products manufactured at one facility and still within their shelf-life. The recall is expanded to include frozen toaster waffle, Belgian waffle and pancake products, due to the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  This recall was expanded based on additional testing at the manufacturing facility.  There have been no confirmed reports of illness linked to the recalled products to date. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/treehouse-foods-announces-expansion-voluntary-recall-include-all-waffle-and-pancake-products-due
TreeHouse Foods Announces Expansion of Voluntary Recall to Include All Waffle and Pancake Products Due to the Potential for Listeria monocytogenes Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 22, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  October 23, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Foodborne Illness – Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  TreeHouse Foods, Inc.
Brand Name:  Multiple brand names
Product Description:  Frozen toaster waffles, Belgian waffles and pancakes