Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Retailer Recalls Chocolate Covered Almonds After Customer Finds Chocolate Covered Cashews

Meijer is announcing a recall of certain packages of Frederik’s Dark Chocolate Almonds because they may also contain dark chocolate-covered cashews, which are not declared on the label. 
This recall was initiated after Meijer was informed of the issue by a customer who received the product.

Here is a case where there is probably improper line cleanout resulting in some cashew product getting mixed with almond product.  Since they are different nut allergens, a recall is needed.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/meijer-issues-recall-frederiks-dark-chocolate-almonds-due-presence-undeclared-cashews
Meijer Issues Recall on Frederik’s Dark Chocolate Almonds Due to Presence of Undeclared Cashews
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 13, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  June 16, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared cashews
Company Name:   Meijer
Brand Name:  Frederick’s by Meijer
Product Description:  Dark Chocolate Almonds

Vitamin Gummies Recalled After Retail Customer's Allergy Testing Finds Undeclared Peanut

Company Announcement: June 12, 2025, Vita Warehouse Corp. is voluntarily recalling one lot of Welby® brand Vitamin B12 Energy Support gummy product 1000 mcg 140 gummies, Berkely Jensen® Vitamin B12 1000 mcg 250 Gummies, and VitaGlobe™ Vitamin B12 Extra Strength 60 Gummies due to the potential presence of undeclared peanuts.

"This voluntary recall was initiated after the retailer, ALDI, conducted routine testing as part of their standard protocol to verify the accuracy of allergen-related claims made on their product labeling, specifically a “does not contain peanuts” statement. One test result indicated a potential presence of a peanut allergen. Although internal testing conducted by Vita Warehouse Corp. has verified the absence of peanuts in the product, the recall is being initiated out of an abundance of caution to ensure consumer safety and trust."

This is one of those cases where you wish you had more information.  Did the gummy manufacturer handle peanuts in their facility?  If not, how certain could one be regarding the testing protocol?

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/vita-warehouse-corp-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-peanut-allergen-aldi-welbyr-berkley-jensenr-and
Vita-Warehouse Corp. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanut Allergen in ALDI Welby®, Berkley Jensen®, and VitaGlobe™ Vitamin B12 Gummy Products
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 12, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  June 13, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared allergen - peanut
Company Name:  Vita Warehouse Corp.
Brand Name:  Welby, Berkely Jensen and VitaGlobe
Product Description:  Gummy products

NJ Firm Recalls Dried Apricots Due to Undeclared Sulfites

Turkana Food Inc. Kenilworth, NJ is recalling 352 cases of Floria Dried Apricots because the product contains UNDECLARED SULFITES on the package label.  The recall was the result of a routine sampling performed by the New York State Department of Agriculture and markets which revealed that the finished products contained Sulfites that were not listed on the product labelling. The company has ceased production and distribution of the products as FDA and the company continue their investigation to correct the issue with the manufacturer.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/turkana-food-inc-recall-flora-dried-apricots-undeclared-sulfites-product-labeling-because-possible
Turkana Food Inc. Recall Flora Dried Apricots with Undeclared Sulfites on Product Labeling Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 12, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  June 12, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential or Undeclared Allergen - Sulfites
Company Name:  Turkana Food Inc.
Brand Name:  Floria
Product Description:  Dried Apricots

NY Distributor Recalls Enoki Mushrooms, Just Another Recall of Enoki Mushrooms Due to Listeria

Hofood99 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 Michigan and subsequent analysis by Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) Laboratory Division revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

The recalled Enoki Mushrooms were distributed nationwide in retail stores.  No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/hofood99-inc-recalls-enoki-mushroom-due-possible-health-risk
Hofood99 Inc Recalls Enoki Mushroom Due to Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 11, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  June 11, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Foodborne Illness – Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Hofood99 Inc.
Brand Name:  No Brand
Product Description:  Enoki Mushrooms

NY Distributor Recalls Salted, Smoked Herring Due to Improper Processing

P. East Trading Corp. of Bronx, NY is recalling Salted Smoked Split Herring because the product was found to be over 5" in length and uneviscerated, as such having potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum.  The sale of uneviscerated fish over 5" in length may contain Clostridium botulinum spores as they are more likely to be concentrated in the viscera than any other portion of the fish.  The "Salted Smoked Split Herring" was sampled by a New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspector and subsequent analysis of the product by New York State Food Laboratory personnel confirmed the herring was not properly eviscerated prior to processing.

The recalled "Salted Smoked Split Herring" was distributed to retail locations in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut in 18 lbs. wooden boxes with container code Lot 1 PRC5073. The "Salted Smoked Split Herring" is a product of Canada manufactured by Sea Star Seafood Ltd.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/p-east-trading-corp-distributors-issues-alert-uneviscerated-salted-smoked-split-herring-due
P. East Trading Corp Distributors Issues Alert on Uneviscerated 'Salted Smoked Split Herring’ Due to Potential Clostridium Botulinum Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 10, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  June 10, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages 
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Foodborne Illness – Clostridium Botulinum
Company Name:  P. East Trading Corp Distributors
Brand Name:  No Brand
Product Description:  Uneviscerated Salted Smoked Split Herring

Washington Firm Recalls Cooked Shrimp After Listeria Detected on In-process Sample

Bornstein Seafoods of Bellingham, Washington is recalling 44,550 Lbs. of Cooked & Peeled Ready-To-Eat Coldwater Shrimp Meat (see table below for multiple lot codes) because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The recall was the result of the firm’s routine sampling program and Listeria monocytogenes was detected in an in-process shrimp sample in a food production environment. The company has ceased the distribution of the product as the company continues our root cause investigation as to what caused the problem.

In this case, the company was testing in-process product, probably pulling it after the cook step but before packaging.  Some companies are hesitant about sampling product, but this is good verification procedure to determine control.  Pre-operational environmental sampling may not pick up contamination that is within the machinery because this type of contamination may only be able to detected once processing has started and machinery is moving.  This is especially true with conveyors and bag filling equipment.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/bornstein-seafoods-inc-recalls-cooked-peeled-ready-eat-coldwater-shrimp-meat-because-possible-health
Bornstein Seafoods Inc Recalls Cooked & Peeled Ready-To-Eat Coldwater Shrimp Meat Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 10, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  June 10, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Foodborne Illness – Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Bornstein Seafoods Inc.
Brand Name:  Bornstein Seafoods
Product Description:  Coldwater Shrimp Meat

Monday, June 9, 2025

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Eggs Impacts 79, CA Firm Recalls Implicated Eggs

FDA and CDC report that there is an ongoing Salmonella outbreak related to raw eggs distributed by the August Egg Company of Hilmar, CA.  To this point, there have been  a total of 79 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella from seven states.  There have been 21 hospitalizations, and no deaths have been reported. "Illnesses started on dates ranging from February 24, 2025, to May 17, 2025. Twenty-seven of 30 cases with information available reported exposure to eggs or an egg containing dish before becoming ill."

FDA also conducted an inspection and collected environmental samples at August Egg Company’s processing facility. Two samples from this inspection were positive for Salmonella and found to be a Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) match to the strain of Salmonella causing illnesses in this outbreak.

"Based on WGS analysis, bacteria from 79 people's samples predicted resistance to nalidixic acid and nonsusceptibility to ciprofloxacin (NSC); this NSC strain is related to a strain of Salmonella Enteritidis isolated from chicken, eggs, and backyard poultry. One person's samples also predicted an additional resistance to ampicillin and streptomycin. Most people with Salmonella illness recover without antibiotics. However, if antibiotics are needed, some illnesses in this outbreak may not be treatable with some commonly recommended antibiotics and may require a different antibiotic choice."

August Egg Company of Hilmar, CA is recalling 1,700,000 dozen brown cage free and brown certified organic eggs.  "Recalled brown cage free eggs and brown certified organic eggs were distributed from February 3, 2025, through May 15, 2025, with sell by dates from March 4, 2025, to June 4, 2025, in California and Nevada to retail locations including Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less, and Ralphs.  The eggs were also distributed from February 3, 2025, through May 6, 2025, with sell by dates from March 4, 2025, to June 19, 2025, to Walmart locations in California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Indiana, and Illinois."
August Egg Company began diverting all eggs to an egg breaker in May 2025. This breaking facility processes eggs to eliminate the Salmonella risk.

FDA
https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-eggs-june-2025
Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Eggs (June 2025)

Do no eat, sell, or serve recalled chicken eggs distributed by August Egg Company. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.

Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 79
Hospitalizations: 21
Deaths: 0
Last Illness Onset: May 17, 2025
States with Cases: AZ, CA, KY, NE, NJ, NV, WA
Product Distribution*: AZ, CA, IL, IN, NE, NM, NV, WA, WY
*Distribution has been confirmed for states listed, but product could have been distributed further, reaching additional states

Sunday, June 8, 2025

FDA Issues Warning Letter to Maryland Facility for Lack of Food Safety Plan

FDA issued a Warning letter to One Roof LLC of Baltimore, MD after FDA inspected the ready-to-eat (RTE) food manufacturing facility on October 24, 2024, through December 9, 2024. This inspection was initiated as a follow-up to the voluntary recall of Atwater’s Spider Web Tarts on October 21, 2024, due to undeclared almond in the product.   FDA stated that the "Spider Web Tarts are adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) [21 U.S.C. § 342(a)(4)] in that they were prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have become contaminated with filth or may have been rendered injurious to health. In addition, failure of the owner, operator, or agent in charge of a covered facility to comply with the preventive controls provisions of the CGMP & PC rule."

Basically, the facility did not have a food safety plan for any of the products they produced, and with that, did not have established controls for hazards including allergens.   What controls were in place were not followed per the company's procedures.  The Warning Letter is lengthy covering various aspects that the company should be following.  There are also misbranding violations.

FDA Warning Letter
https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/one-roof-llc-701988-05202025
One Roof LLC
MARCS-CMS 701988 — May 20, 2025

Maryland Firm Recalls Various Products Made with Recalled Cucumbers

TGD Cuts, LLC of Jessup, MD has initiated a voluntary recall of the specific tub and tray items listed below because they contained cucumber from Bedner Growers Inc., which had the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/tgd-cuts-llc-initiated-voluntary-recall-cucumber-bedner-growers-inc-which-had-potential-be
Tgd Cuts, LLC Initiated Voluntary Recall of Cucumber from Bedner Growers Inc., Which Had the Potential to Be Contaminated with Salmonella
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 04, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  June 04, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella
Company Name:  TGD Cuts, LLC.
Brand Name:  Multiple brands
Product Description:  Fresh cucumbers and salsa and salads containing fresh cucumbers