Kentucky Distributor Recalls Over 100 Items After Inspectors Find Significant Rat Infestation

On May 27, 2025, Pan-African Food Distributors of Louisville, Kentucky initiated a recall of over 100 food and health care / cosmetic products after an inspection found a rat infestation in the facility.  "FDA continues to have concerns for all products held and distributed by Pan-African Food Distributors due to the insanitary conditions observed at the facility during a routine FDA inspection, including a rodent infestation and numerous rodent droppings on multiple product containers."

"A May 2025 FDA inspection of the firm’s distribution center in Louisville, Kentucky revealed the presence of an active rodent infestation and numerous rodent droppings on multiple product containers. The state of Kentucky has mandated the firm halt operations due to the absence of a required permit and has implemented a blanket quarantine of product. The state is urging the voluntary disposal of all contaminated food and will prohibit the business from reopening until the infestation is completely addressed. FDA has recommended Pan-African Food Distributors recall all products of concern currently on the market, and the firm has agreed. FDA is issuing this public health alert to notify the customers and consumers about the public health risk that these products pose."

https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-consumers-retailers-and-distributors-not-use-eat-sell-or-serve-products-pan-african-food

FDA Advises Consumers, Retailers, and Distributors Not to Use, Eat, Sell, or Serve Products from Pan-African Food Distributors Inc. dba East Africa Boutique LLC
Products were held under insanitary conditions with potential contamination with filth.

Product:  
Potentially contaminated products include cosmetic products, various ready-to-eat and/or shelf stable food items including infant nutritional cereals, baking ingredients, and other food products imported and distributed by Pan-African Food Distributors Inc. doing business as (dba) East Africa Boutique LLC. Products may or may not include a label with the firm name.

Illinois Establishment Recalls Tallow Products After Determination that Products Repackaging Done Without Federal Inspection

Sulu Organics LLC, a Bartlett, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 6,166 pounds of pork lard and beef tallow products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection.  These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide and do not bear the USDA mark of inspection.

The problem was discovered when FSIS received consumer complaints that the pork lard and beef tallow products for sale online did not bear the mark of inspection. FSIS personnel determined the establishment purchased pork lard and bulk beef tallow from an FSIS regulated facility and produced product into smaller retail size containers that were relabeled without the benefit of FSIS inspection

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/sulu-organics-llc-recalls-pork-lard-beef-tallow-products-produced-without-benefit
Sulu Organics LLC Recalls Pork Lard & Beef Tallow Products Produced Without Benefit of Inspection

WASHINGTON, June 3, 2025 - Sulu Organics LLC, a Bartlett, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 6,166 pounds of pork lard and beef tallow products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

USDA Issues Health Alert for Ground Meat Products from VT Establishment That May Contain Pathogenic E. coli

The USDA-FSIS is issuing a public health alert for ground beef products produced by NPC Processing Inc. of Shelburne, VT that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase.  The problem was discovered when the establishment notified FSIS that they shipped into commerce ground beef product that tested positive for E. coli O157:H7.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-ground-beef-products-due-possible-e--coli-o157h7-1
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ground Beef Products Due to Possible E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination

WASHINGTON, June 3, 2025 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers are aware that these products should not be consumed. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase.

Utah Establishment Recalls Jerky and Snack Sticks Due to Undeclared Anchovies Associated with the Worcestershire Sauce

Springville Meat & Cold Storage Co., Inc., Springville, Utah establishment, is recalling approximately 15,388 pounds of heat-treated shelf-stable ready-to-eat (RTE) beef jerky/beef snack stick products and voluntarily inspected elk, venison and buffalo jerky products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens.  The product contains fish (anchovies), a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.  The problem was discovered during production observations by FSIS inspectors, revealing that the Worcestershire sauce used in jerky and snack stick products contained anchovies. The establishment previously used Worcestershire sauce without anchovies, but it was discovered that the new Worcestershire sauce does contain anchovies.

This is a very common issue when using Worcestershire sauce.  The company uses one without anchovies for which the labels are designed, but then somewhere along the line, someone buys the other (and better) Worcestershire sauce with anchovies but doesn't change the label.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/springville-meat-cold-storage-co--inc--recalls-beef-jerky-beef-snack-stick-products
Springville Meat & Cold Storage Co., Inc., Recalls Beef Jerky/ Beef Snack Stick Products and Voluntarily Inspected Elk, Venison and Buffalo Jerky Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens

FDA Warning Letter to Processor of RTE Smoothie Mix Highlights Common Food Safety Plan Issues

FDA issued a Warning Letter to a Charlotte NC company that manufactures blender bombs....a mixture of ingredients that are put into the blender with juices or other liquid.  This is a RTE product because there will be no lethal step provided by the consumer.

This Warning Letter highlights additional issues that are important when writing and implementing the plan.  

The company did not consider pathogens as a hazard in this RTE product.

"The hazard analysis contained in your Food Safety Plan for Cold Pressed (Unbaked Products), dated October 17, 2022 (“food safety plan”), did not consider vegetative bacterial pathogens as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard for coffee, hemp seeds, and chia seeds to determine whether they require a preventive control. You contract manufacture RTE “Java Jolt Blender Bombs” containing these ingredients, which have been associated with vegetative bacterial pathogens (such as Salmonella spp.). These ingredients do not receive a lethal treatment in your facility."

The hazard analysis contained in your Food Safety Plan for Cold Pressed (Unbaked Products), dated October 17, 2022 (“food safety plan”), did not consider vegetative bacterial pathogens as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard for coffee, hemp seeds, and chia seeds to determine whether they require a preventive control. You contract manufacture RTE “Java Jolt Blender Bombs” containing these ingredients, which have been associated with vegetative bacterial pathogens (such as Salmonella spp.). These ingredients do not receive a lethal treatment in your facility.

The metal detector was identified as a preventive control, but was not operated as though it was a preventive control.  What is more interesting is that the response to FDA  was not adequate.  It is important when responding that one not only shows it was fixed, but provide proof the fix actually works.

"We reviewed your response, including the video you sent showing products being sent through a machine, which was presumably a metal detector. Although your response indicates that this machine was a metal detector, and you provide a metal detector drawing (dated November 19, 2015) that presumably depicts the equipment shown in the video, the video does not provide a complete view of the equipment to allow us to confirm what is being shown. Further, you did not provide any metal detection monitoring records to document the results of the metal detection activity purportedly being shown in the video."

Another issue was environmental pathogens as a hazard but did not put in proper sanitation preventive controls. 

[The company] "did not implement your sanitation preventive control for the environmental pathogens hazard. Your food safety plan identifies environmental pathogens as a hazard requiring a preventive control at various processing steps, such as mixing, tumbling, coating, and packaging, where the RTE “Java Jolt Blender Bombs” are exposed to the environment. These steps occur prior to your products being sealed. The packaged food does not receive any further lethal treatment or otherwise include a control measure (such as a formulation lethal to the pathogen) that would significantly minimize the pathogen."

The company did not follow their own procedures on following corrective actions for a positive Listeria species finding.

You did not follow the corrective actions outlined in your Environmental Monitoring – Listeria procedures, dated June 1, 2021, when you were notified of a presumptive positive Listeria spp. finding on August 24, 2023, for which your facility waived confirmation. According to your Environmental Monitoring – Listeria procedures in effect at the time, when a positive Listeria spp. result occurred, your facility would conduct follow-up environmental sampling that consisted of “(b)(4) swabs total; (b)(4) swabs a day taken on (b)(4) consecutive production days” and send the swabs to a third-party laboratory for analysis. However, your Microbiological Swab Test Logs from August 24-26, 2023, showed that a total of only (b)(4) swabs were taken ((b)(4) swab per day) instead of the required (b)(4) swabs total. Furthermore, instead of sending the swabs to your third-party laboratory for analysis, you tested the swabs in-house.

FDA Warning Letter
https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/golden-grains-bakery-688860-12202024
Golden Grains Bakery

MARCS-CMS 688860 — December 20, 2024
Recipient:
Marc L. Singer, Owner
Ronald L. Nadel, Owner
Golden Grains Bakery
547 Griffith Road
Charlotte, NC 28217-3517
United States

USDA Issues Alert for Frozen Ham Croquets with Undeclared Soy and Sesame Due to Ingredient Change

USDA -FSIS is issuing a public health alert for a frozen not-ready-to-eat ham croquette product due to misbranding and undeclared allergens. The product contains soy and sesame, known allergens, which are not declared on the product label.  The problem was discovered during routine FSIS in-plant labeling verification activities. The establishment used a different breadcrumb ingredient than normally used.

From what is indicated here, the company made an ingredient change with a breading material and did not properly vet the new item for allergens.


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-not-ready-eat-ham-croquette-product-due-misbranding
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Not-Ready-To-Eat Ham Croquette Product Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens

WASHINGTON, June 2, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for a frozen not-ready-to-eat ham croquette product due to misbranding and undeclared allergens. The product contains soy and sesame, known allergens, which are not declared on the product label. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers with allergies to soy and sesame are aware that this product should not be consumed. A recall was not requested because the affected product is no longer available for purchase.

The frozen not-ready-to-eat ham croquette item was produced on various dates in April and May 2025. The following product is subject to the public health alert [view labels]:

1.96-lb. boxes containing "HAM CROQUETTES Las que si tienen el sabor cubano A TASTE OF CUBA CROQUETAS DE JAMÓN" with expiration dates of "November 2025," "December 2025" and "January 2026" printed on the boxes.

The product bears establishment number "EST. 2725" inside the USDA mark of inspection. This item was shipped to distributor locations in Florida.

The problem was discovered during routine FSIS in-plant labeling verification activities. The establishment used a different breadcrumb ingredient than normally used.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an adverse reaction should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' freezers. Consumers who have purchased this product are urged not to consume it. The product should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Media and consumers with questions regarding the public health alert can contact Hernesto Aguirre, Owner, at croquetaslamary@gmail.com.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.

Large Recall of Canned Stew After Complaints for Pieces of Wood

Hormel Foods Corporation, a Tucker, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 256,185 pounds of canned beef stew (Dinty Moore BEEF STEW” with “BEST BY FEB 2028)  product that may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically wood.  The problem was discovered after the establishment notified FSIS that they had received three consumer complaints reporting pieces of wood in the beef stew product.  There have been no confirmed reports of injury due to consumption of this product. 

From this, it appears the entire day's production if being recalled...probably over 100 pallets of product...for wood contamination.  There are not many recalls due to wood, but this is way we avoid the use of wood in processing settings outside of pallets.  So could this be the result of a piece of wood broken off from a pallet?

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/hormel-foods-corporation-recalls-canned-beef-stew-product-due-possible-foreign
Hormel Foods Corporation Recalls Canned Beef Stew Product Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, May 28, 2025 – Hormel Foods Corporation, a Tucker, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 256,185 pounds of canned beef stew product that may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically wood, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Georgia Firm Recalls Bread & Batter Mix For Undeclared Milk After Reported Illness

Homegrown Family Foods of Rome, GA is recalling its Shore Lunch Oven Style Breader & Batter Mix 6oz Box due to the presence of undeclared milk.  On 4/23/2025, the firm was notified by a consumer whose daughter had an allergic reaction. The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product containing the milk ingredient was in packaging that did not properly label the presence of milk

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/homegrown-family-foods-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-shore-lunch-oven-style-breader-batter
Homegrown Family Foods Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Shore Lunch Oven Style Breader & Batter Mix
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 29, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  May 29, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Presence of Undeclared Milk
Company Name:  Homegrown Family Foods
Brand Name:  Shore Lunch
Product Description:  Breading and Batter Mix

California Seafood Company Recalls Stuffed Salmon Due to Undeclared Soy

Santa Monica Seafood of Rancho Dominguez, CA, is voluntarily recalling Atlantic Salmon Portions with Seafood Stuffing because it may contain undeclared soy.   The supplier identified the problem during a routine inspection of label proofs from a completed production batch. This recall was initiated because the product contains soy, a known allergen, but the packaging does not list it as an ingredient.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/santa-monica-seafood-voluntarily-recalls-atlantic-salmon-portions-seafood-stuffing-due-undeclared
Santa Monica Seafood Voluntarily Recalls Atlantic Salmon Portions with Seafood Stuffing Due to Undeclared Soy
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 24, 2025
FDA Publish Date: May 24, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared allergen - soy
Company Name:  Santa Monica Seafood
Brand Name:  Aldi
Product Description:  Atlantic Salmon Portions with Seafood Stuffing