Public Health Alert for Beef Tallow illegally Imported into the USA

USDA FSIS is issuing a public health alert for beef tallow products that were illegally imported from Mexico and are ineligible for entry into the United States. The products were not certified for export to the U.S. by the government of Mexico as being produced under equivalent inspection, they do not identify a certified establishment number on their packaging, and they were not presented to FSIS for import reinspection as required. These factors make the products ineligible to import into the U.S. and unfit for human consumption. FSIS is continuing to investigate how these products entered the country.


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-ineligible-beef-tallow-products-imported-mexico
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ineligible Beef Tallow Products Imported From Mexico

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for beef tallow products that were illegally imported from Mexico and are ineligible for entry into the United States. The products were not certified for export to the U.S. by the government of Mexico as being produced under equivalent inspection, they do not identify a certified establishment number on their packaging, and they were not presented to FSIS for import reinspection as required. These factors make the products ineligible to import into the U.S. and unfit for human consumption. FSIS is continuing to investigate how these products entered the country.

Tortilla Strips Recalled After Mispackaging Results in Undeclared Wheat Allergen

Sugar Foods, a company headquartered in California, is recalling 3.5 ounce pouches of Fresh Gourmet Tortilla Strips Santa Fe Style with UPC Code 7 87359 17504 6 and Best By Date June 20, 2025 due to a contamination of undeclared wheat allergen.  On November 19, 2024, the firm was contacted by a consumer stating the pouches contained Crispy Onions instead of the Tortilla Strips. The Crispy Onion Strips contains wheat which is not listed on the label for the Tortilla Strips. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sugar-foods-recalls-fresh-gourmet-tortilla-strips-santa-fe-style-35-ounce-pouch-due-undeclared-wheat
Sugar Foods Recalls Fresh Gourmet Tortilla Strips Santa Fe Style 3.5 Ounce Pouch Due to Undeclared Wheat
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 22, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  November 22, 2024
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Wheat
Company Name:  Sugar Foods
Brand Name:  Fresh Gourmet
Product Description:  Fresh Gourmet Tortilla Strips Santa Fe Style

Two Pet Food Distributors Recall Chicken Chip Dog Treats Due to Potential Salmonella

Two pet food distributors are recalling chicken chip treats due to potential Salmonella contamination. Gaines Pet Treats LLC, of Birmingham, AL is voluntarily recalling 204, 5-ounce bags of "Gaines Family Farmstead Chicken Chips" treats for dogs and Carolina Prime Pet, Inc. of Lenoir, NC, is recalling 400 16-ounce bags of "Hollywood Feed Carolina Made Chicken Chips" treats for dogs.  The potential for contamination was noted after testing performed by a third-party laboratory identified contamination in a related yet commercially unreleased lot of the same product.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/gaines-pet-treats-llc-voluntarily-recalls-gaines-family-farmstead-chicken-chips-dogs-due-possible
Gaines Pet Treats LLC Voluntarily Recalls “Gaines Family Farmstead Chicken Chips for Dogs” Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 22, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  November 22, 2024
Product Type:  Animal & Veterinary  Pet Food
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Salmonella Contamination
Company Name:  Gaines Pet Treats LLC
Brand Name:  Gaines Family Farmstead
Product Description:  Chicken Chips Dog Treats

Michigan Company Recalls Ground Beef Linked to E. coli Outbreak in Minnesota

Wolverine Packing Co., a Detroit, Mich. establishment, is recalling approximately 167,277 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.  The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture of a group of ill persons who had reported that they consumed ground beef prior to their illness.  

This is a food service product, so not an issue for consumers purchasing from the grocery store, although it is a reminder that it is always important to cook ground meat burgers to the proper temperature....and the way to verify that is using a thermometer.

"FSIS was notified of illnesses on November 13, 2024, and working in conjunction with Minnesota Departments of Agriculture and Health, FSIS determined that there was a link between the ground beef products from Wolverine Packing Co. and this illness cluster. On November 20, 2024, a ground beef sample collected by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture as part of an outbreak investigation tested positive for E. coli O157. To date, 15 case-patients have been identified in one state with illness onset dates ranging from November 2, 2024, to November 10, 2024"

"The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has identified 10 cases of E. coli O157 infection in people who had eaten burgers at multiple locations of Red Cow, a table-service restaurant chain with locations in Hennepin, Ramsey and Olmsted counties. One additional case reported dining at Hen House Eatery in Minneapolis, which received the same ground beef product suspected in this investigation."

https://www.health.state.mn.us/news/pressrel/2024/ecoli111524.html

Minnesota Department of Health News Release

Nov. 15, 2024

E. coli O157 infections linked to consumption of burgers from Twin Cities restaurants

Health officials urge people with gastrointestinal illness, especially bloody diarrhea, to contact their health care provider

Health officials are urging people to contact their health care provider if they ate a hamburger, especially if undercooked, at a table-service restaurant since Oct. 31 and then developed diarrhea, particularly bloody diarrhea, in the following week.  

Listeria Outbreak Linked by FSIS Testing to RTE Pork Product Produced by SC Company

A Listeria outbreak has 11 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria from four states, reported as of Nov 22, 2024.  "Sick people's samples were collected from October 24, 2021, to July 31, 2024. Of 11 people with information available, nine have been hospitalized. In California, one pregnant person and their twins were sick and both infants died. Listeria was found in a sample from the mother and from one of the twin infants, but it could not be found in a sample from the other infant. "

"On October 21, 2024, FSIS conducted routine testing and follow-up activities of finished product by Yu Shang Food, Inc. Testing confirmed that the product was contaminated with Listeria. WGS showed that the Listeria in the pork snout product is closely related to bacteria from sick people. This means that people likely got sick from eating foods produced by Yu Shang Food, Inc."

Yushang Food Inc., of Spartanburg, SC issued an initial recall on Nov 9, 2024, and then expanded on Nov 21, 2024 to include approximately 72,240 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products within their shelf life that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes. The

The problem was discovered after FSIS performed routine testing and follow-up activities of finished product produced by Yu Shang Food, Inc. on October 21, 2024, that confirmed the product was positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Additional testing has confirmed that Listeria monocytogenes was detected in product and in environmental samples collected by FSIS. Whole genome sequencing was conducted determine if these samples match the outbreak strain.  Working in conjunction with public health partners, FSIS determined that there is a link between the RTE meat and poultry products from Yu Shang Food, Inc. and an illness cluster.

https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/investigation-update-meat-and-poultry-11-24.html

Investigation Update: Listeria Outbreak, Meat and Poultry Products, 2024

November 22, 2024

CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections.

Wisconsin University Expands Recall of Mislabeled Ice Cream After Determining Issue Occurred on Other Lot

Babcock Dairy of Madison, Wisconsin, is expanding its November 7, 2024 recall for Orange Custard Chocolate Chip ice cream that may be labeled as Chocolate Peanut Butter.  The products were produced on Sept. 17 and 30, 2024. The issue with the first lot  (Lot for Sept 17) was discovered on the evening of Nov. 4, 2024, when a customer reported the mislabeling. The second lot (Lot for Sept 30) was added to the recall notice after discovery on Nov. 18, 2024. There have been no reports of illness associated with consumption of these products.

This reminds one to check other lots of the same product when first discovering there was an issue on the first lot. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/babcock-dairy-expands-recall-orange-custard-chocolate-chip-and-chocolate-peanut-butter-due
Babcock Dairy Expands Recall on Orange Custard Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Peanut Butter Due to Undeclared Egg
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 19, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  November 19, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Egg
Company Name:  Babcock Dairy
Brand Name:  Babcock Dairy
Product Description:  Orange Custard Chocolate Chip ice cream

Another Cinnamon Powder Recall After State Lab Finds Lead Contamination

IHA Beverage of Commerce, CA is recalling Super Cinnamon Powder 4oz, because it has the potential to be contaminated with elevated levels of lead.  Product was distributed mostly through California retail stores and a few stores across the US.  This recall is being initiated as a result of routine sampling by the Arkansas Department of Health which revealed that the finished products contained elevated levels of lead. The company has ceased the distribution of the product as they continue their investigation as to what caused the problem.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/iha-beverage-issues-voluntary-recall-super-cinnamon-powder-4oz-because-lead-contamination
IHA Beverage Issues a Voluntary Recall of Super Cinnamon Powder 4oz Because of Lead Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 18, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  November 18, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Metal Contaminant - Lead
Company Name:  IHA Beverage
Brand Name: SUPER BRAND
Product Description:  Cinnamon Powder
Company Announcement  

Organic Carrots Linked to E. coli Outbreak with 39 Reported Illness; Product Recalled

The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O121:H19 infections linked to organic whole and baby carrots supplied by Grimmway Farms of Bakersfield, California.  To this point(11/22/24), there are 39 reported illnesses with 15 of those hospitalized and one death.  

Case Count
Total Illnesses: 39
Hospitalizations: 15
Deaths: 1
Last Illness Onset: October 28, 2024
States with Cases: AR, CA, CO, MA, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, VA, WA, WY
Product Distribution: Nationwide
International Distribution: Canada, Colombia, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates

The firm, Grimmway Farms, initiated a voluntary recall of multiple quantities and brands of bagged, organic whole and baby carrots and contacted their distributing customers. Recalled products were shipped directly to retail distribution centers nationwide in the United States and Puerto Rico. These products should no longer be in grocery stores but may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers.

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-o121h19-organic-carrots-november-2024
Outbreak Investigation of E. coli O121:H19: Organic Carrots (November 2024)
11/22/2024
Do not eat or serve multiple brands of recalled bagged organic whole and baby carrots supplied by Grimmway Farms. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.

Canada - Report of Limited Outbreak of Typhoid Fever

We don't see cases of typhoid fever often, but here is a report of a case in Canada that involves an asymptomatic carrier (think Typhoid Mary from late 1800s).  Typhoid fever is a life-threatening infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi. It is usually spread through contaminated food or water, originating with a person having the illness. Unlike the typical Salmonella that are primarily limited to infection of the intestinal tract, once Salmonella Typhi bacteria are ingested, they multiply and spread into the bloodstream leading to prolonged high fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, and constipation or diarrhea.  

Canadian health officials published a report about seven cases of typhoid fever over four years (from 2018 to 2022) that were linked to an asymptomatic chronic S. Typhi carrier who worked irregularly as a food handler at various locations of a grocery store chain. Transmission occurred through food handling, shared workspaces and social and household networks. Although the outbreak was relatively small, six of seven cases were hospitalized with significant morbidity.

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/canada-communicable-disease-report-ccdr/monthly-issue/2024-50/issue-11-november-2024/locally-acquired-typhoid-fever-outbreak-linked-chronic-carriage-ottawa.html
Outbreak Report
Locally acquired typhoid fever outbreak linked to chronic carriage in Ottawa, Canada, 2018–2022
Janice Zhang1,2, Ann Jolly2, Tram Nguyen2, Monir Taha2, Christina Lee3, Antoine Corbeil3, Esther Dapaah2, Jeff Walker2, Curtis Cooper4, Jacqueline Willmore2

Abstract

Background: In Canada, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi infections are uncommon and typically travel-related. In November 2021, Ottawa Public Health identified a link between two typhoid fever cases, with no recent history of international travel, to the same grocery store ready-to-eat counter