Case of Intention Adulteration - Disgruntled Employee from Chemical Company Hacks Into Chemical Cleaning System

In South Carolina, a disgruntled former employee of a chemical cleaning company is accused of hacking into a remote chemical cleaning system used by a South Carolina poultry plant, changing "he distribution, flow rates and solution levels throughout multiple stages of the poultry processing at the Sumter company, identified only as “Company P,” the indictment said."

The chemicals whose dosage the former  senior electronics customer service support employee manipulated were peracetic acid and sodium hydroxide, which are “hazardous chemicals that pose a health risk to humans, both in their under-application and over-application,” the indictment said.

Cybersecurity has become an important facet of a company's food defense plan.  In this case, we see the importance of remote access to chemical addition.

The State - CRIME & COURTS
https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article305396216.html
‘Disgruntled’ man sabotaged SC chicken plant, threatened public health, feds say By John Monk Updated April 30, 2025 2:27 PM

NY Establishment Recalls Sausage and Sliced Meat Products for Excessive Sodium Nitrite Levels

Smith Packing, LLC, a Utica, N.Y. establishment, is recalling approximately 18,792 pounds of various ready-to-eat sausage and sliced meat and poultry products due to sodium nitrite levels that exceed the regulatory limit. The problem was discovered after the firm notified FSIS that it had received consumer complaints of products that were off-taste and off-color.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/smith-packing-llc-recalls-sausage-and-sliced-meat-and-poultry-products-due-sodium
Smith Packing, LLC Recalls Sausage and Sliced Meat and Poultry Products Due to Sodium Nitrite Levels in Excess of Regulatory Limit

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2025 – Smith Packing, LLC, a Utica, N.Y. establishment, is recalling approximately 18,792 pounds of various ready-to-eat sausage and sliced meat and poultry products due to sodium nitrite levels that exceed the regulatory limit, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

NJ Establishment Recalls Pork Bun Product for Undeclared Sesame

ACC Central Kitchen LCC., a Thorofare, N.J. establishment, is recalling approximately 64,008 pounds of pork bun products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens - the product contains sesame, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label. .  The problem was discovered during routine FSIS in-plant verification activities when FSIS inspection personnel noticed that the sesame ingredient used in the pork buns was not declared on the product label.


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/acc-central-kitchen-llc-recalls-pork-bun-products-due-misbranding-and-undeclared
ACC Central Kitchen LLC Recalls Pork Bun Products Due To Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2025 – ACC Central Kitchen LCC., a Thorofare, N.J. establishment, is recalling approximately 64,008 pounds of pork bun products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains sesame, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.

Trader Joe's Salad Product Recalled for Undeclared Milk After Cheese Crumbles Packets Mistakenly Added Instead of Crispy Onion Packets

Taylor Fresh Foods Illinois is recalling a limited quantity of Trader Joe’s Sesame Miso Salad with Salmon because the topping packet may potentially contain an undeclared milk allergen.  The product may contain milk that is not declared on the label. 500 units of the salad were mistakenly packaged with a sealed packet of parmesan cheese crumbles (instead of a packet of crispy onions).

A number of recalls such as this have occurred when the incorrect packet is added to the product.  We discuss the importance of having preventive controls for labeling, but consideration must be given to ensuring the proper addition of these packets into kit-type packs.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/trader-joes-sesame-miso-salad-salmon-voluntarily-recalled-due-undeclared-milk-allergen
Trader Joe’s Sesame Miso Salad with Salmon Voluntarily Recalled Due to Undeclared Milk Allergen
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  April 28, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  April 29, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential or Undeclared Allergen - Milk
Company Name:  Taylor Fresh Foods
Brand Name:  Trader Joe’s
Product Description:  Sesame Miso Salad with Salmon

Macadamia Nut Company Recalls Product with Undeclared Almonds and Cashews; Highlights the Need for Verifying Co-Manufacturers Allergen Controls

Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company LLC of Kea’au, HI is voluntarily recalling Mauna Loa Dark Chocolate Covered Macadamias (0.6oz and 4oz bags), due to the possible presence of undeclared almonds and cashews.  The recall was initiated after Mauna Loa’s internal quality control process identified that the affected batch, manufactured by a third-party co-manufacturer, contained undeclared almonds and cashews. Immediate action was taken to contain the affected product, notify the third-party co-manufacturer, alert consumers and distributors, and report the issue to the FDA.  The recalled Mauna Loa Dark Chocolate Covered Macadamias are packaged in 0.6oz and 4oz bags and were distributed to multiple retail locations in AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, IL, ME, MI, NJ, OR, PA, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, and Guam.

It is important for companies that use co-packers to understand the potential allergen risk at these co-manufacturers and that these co-manufacturers have a solid allergen control program in place, including appropriate allergen preventive controls.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/mauna-loa-macadamia-nut-company-llc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-almonds-and-cashews-mauna-loa
Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company, LLC Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Almonds and Cashews in Mauna Loa Dark Chocolate Covered Macadamias (0.6OZ and 4OZ)
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  April 26, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  April 26, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared cashew, almond
Company Name:  Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company LLC
Brand Name:  Mauna Loa
Product Description:  Dark Chocolate Covered Macadamias

NH Snack Company Recalls Snack Mix After Discovery of Undeclared Almonds

New England Village Foods of Milford NH is recalling all lots of 5 -ounce and 10 -ounce containers of New England Village Snacks “19th Hole Snack Mix” because they may contain undeclared almonds.  The recall was initiated after a customer discovered that the almond-containing product was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of almonds. Subsequent investigation indicates the issue was caused by a temporary breakdown in the companies packaging process.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/new-england-village-foods-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-almonds-19th-hole-snack-mix
New England Village Foods Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Almonds in “19th Hole Snack Mix”
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  April 24, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  April 24, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared almonds
Company Name:  New England Village Foods
Brand Name:  New England Village Snacks
Product Description:  19th Hole Snack Mix

NY Distributor Recalls Enoki Mushrooms after State Laboratory Finds Listeria in Sample

Harvest NYC Inc of Brooklyn, NY 11231 is recalling its 200g packages of Enoki Mushroom, because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The contamination was discovered after samples were collected from a store in Buffalo, NY and subsequent analysis by NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Laboratory revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in some 200g packages of Enoki Mushroom.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/harvest-nyc-inc-recalls-enoki-mushroom-due-possible-health-risk
Harvest NYC Inc Recalls Enoki Mushroom Due to Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  April 16, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  April 18, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Produce
Reason for Announcement:  Due to possibility of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
Company Name:  Harvest NYC Inc
Brand Name:  Hofood99 Inc
Product Description:  Enoki Mushrooms

Reminder Notice of Recall of Baby Teething Chew Stick After Reports That Product Still Available for Sale

Gerber Products Company issued a second press release about their January 31st  recall and discontinuation of all batches of GERBER® SOOTHE N CHEW® TEETHING STICKS due to a potential choking hazard for babies and young children.  The company did this after recent reports of recalled product still available for sale on some retailer shelves and online.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/recall-reminder-gerber-products-company-previously-recalled-and-discontinued-all-batches-gerberr
Recall Reminder: Gerber Products Company Previously Recalled and Discontinued All Batches of Gerber® Soothe N Chew® Teething Sticks Due To Potential Choking Hazard
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  April 18, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  April 18, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential choking hazard for babies and young children
Company Name:  Gerber Products Company
Brand Name:  Gerber
Product Description:  Gerber® Soothe N Chew® Teething Sticks

USDA Withdraws Proposed Rule on Heightened Salmonella Control Standards for Raw Poultry

The USDA is withdrawing a recently proposed policy that had the goal of reducing specific strains of Salmonella in raw poultry products.

(https://pennstatefoodsafety.blogspot.com/2024/07/usda-proposes-new-policy-for-raw.html)

The proposed policy was set to establish final product standards to prevent raw chicken carcasses, chicken parts, ground chicken, and ground turkey products that contain any type of Salmonella at or above 10 colony forming units (CFU) per gram/ml and any detectable level of at least one of the Salmonella serotypes of public health significance from entering commerce. Salmonella Enteritidis, Typhimurium in chicken and Hadar, Typhimurium, and Muenchen for for raw comminuted turkey.

The current standards are still in place.  And there will always be the need for consumers to practice safe handling and preparation procedures with raw poultry.

https://apnews.com/article/poultry-salmonella-food-poisoning-usda-081dafd3c8a75c3ef2203d260584a893
USDA withdraws a plan to limit salmonella levels in raw poultry
By JONEL ALECCIA

Updated 4:39 PM EDT, April 24, 2025

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The Agriculture Department will not require poultry companies to limit salmonella bacteria in their products, halting a Biden Administration effort to prevent food poisoning from contaminated meat.