USDA Issues Public Health Alert for Idaho Establishment's Beef Jerky Product Due to Potential Plastic Foreign Material

USDA-FSIS is issuing a public health alert for ready-to-eat (RTE) beef jerky stick products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically plastic. Product was produced by Top Notch Jerky  of Sugar City, ID.   FSIS did not request a recall because the affected products are no longer available for purchase.  The problem was discovered after the firm notified FSIS that it received consumer complaints reporting transparent pieces of plastic in the beef stick products.


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-ready-eat-beef-jerky-stick-products-due-possible
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ready-to-eat Beef Jerky Stick Products Due to Possible Extraneous Material Contamination

WASHINGTON, July 02, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), is issuing a public health alert for ready-to-eat (RTE) beef jerky stick products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically plastic. FSIS did not request a recall because the affected products are no longer available for purchase.

South Carolina Establishment Recalls Turkey Bacon Products After Positive Listeria Test

Kraft Heinz Foods Company, a Newberry, S.C., establishment, is recalling approximately 367,812 pounds of fully cooked Oscar Mayer brand turkey bacon products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm).  The problem was discovered after the establishment's laboratory testing indicated the product may be contaminated with Lm.

These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide and some were exported to the British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/kraft-heinz-foods-company-recalls-turkey-bacon-products-due-possible-listeria
Kraft Heinz Foods Company Recalls Turkey Bacon Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, July 2, 2025 – Kraft Heinz Foods Company, a Newberry, S.C., establishment, is recalling approximately 367,812 pounds of fully cooked turkey bacon products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Ohio Firm Recalls Chocolate Product for Undeclared Milk

Mellace Family Brands California, Inc. of Warren, OH is recalling Wegmans Semi – Sweet Chocolate Nonpareils, because they contain undeclared milk allergen.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that Wegmans Semi-Sweet Chocolate Nonpareils contained a milk allergen and was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of milk. This Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the suppliers’ manufacturing process.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/mellace-family-brands-california-inc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-allergen-wegmans-semi
Mellace Family Brands California, Inc. Issues An Allergy Alert On Undeclared Milk Allergen In Wegmans Semi-Sweet Chocolate Nonpareils
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 25, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  June 30, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared milk allergen
Company Name:  Mellace Family Brands California, Inc.
Brand Name:  Wegmans
Product Description:  Semi-sweet Chocolate

FDA Reports Cucumber-linked Salmonella Outbreak Over, No Information on Source at Farm

FDA has released notice the the Salmonella outbreak associated with cucumbers from Bedner Growers, Inc., of Boynton Beach, Florida, and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc., of Delray, Florida, is over. There have been 69 total cases with 22 hospitalizations.

Epidemiologic and traceback information demonstrated that cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers, Inc., in Boynton Beach, Florida, were the source of illnesses in this outbreak.  As part of this investigation, FDA collected a product sample of Bedner Growers, Inc., cucumbers from a distribution center in Pennsylvania. Salmonella was detected in the sample of cucumbers. Whole Genome Sequencing analysis determined that the product sample contained Salmonella Montevideo, which matched the strain of Salmonella linked to illnesses in this outbreak.

Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 69
Hospitalizations: 22
Deaths: 0
Last Illness Onset: May 29, 2025
States with Cases: AL, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MA, MI, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, and VA
Product Distribution: Nationwide

Outbreak Investigations & Safety Advisories
FDA Human Foods Program
Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Cucumbers (May 2025)
CDC declares outbreak over. FDA’s investigation is complete.

Current Update
June 30, 2025

NJ Establishment Recalls Bologna Products for Mislabeling....Sliding Some Pork Into the Formulation

Gaiser's European Style Provisions Inc., a Union, N.J., establishment, is recalling approximately 143,416 pounds of ready-to-eat bologna due to misbranding - the various bologna products subject to recall contain meat or poultry source materials that are not declared on the product labels.  The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of a complaint received through the OIG’s hotline. FSIS investigated the complaint and determined that the products contained source materials that were not declared on the label.

Interesting to consider how someone knew the contents of the meat products were wrong in order to file a complaint.


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/gaisers-european-style-provisions-inc--recalls-ready-eat-meat-and-poultry-bologna
Gaiser's European Style Provisions Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Meat and Poultry Bologna Products Due to Misbranding

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, June 27, 2025 – Gaiser's European Style Provisions Inc., a Union, N.J., establishment, is recalling approximately 143,416 pounds of ready-to-eat bologna due to misbranding, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The various bologna products subject to recall contain meat or poultry source materials that are not declared on the product labels.

Imported Spicy Tofu Recalled Due to Undeclared Sesame

Shang Hao Jia, Inc. of South El Monte, CA is recalling 50 cases of Danshi brand Spicy Shredded Tofu, because it may contains undeclared sesame.    The recall was initiated after it was discovered during a FDA inspection of the foreign manufacturer that product containing sesame was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of sesame.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/shang-hao-jia-inc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-sesame-danshi-brand-spicy-shredded-tofu
Shang Hao Jia, Inc. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Sesame in Danshi Brand Spicy Shredded Tofu

FDA Issues Warning Letter to CA Manufacturer of Pizza and Sandwiches

FDA issues a Warning Letter to Revolution Foods of Commerce, CA. a manufacturer of ready-to-eat (RTE) packaged food products including cheese pizzas and cheese sandwiches.  Some of the highlights of this report include:

• Although the company evaluated the hazard of undeclared allergens due to incorrect labels at the packaging and labeling application step, they did not identify it as a hazard requiring a preventive control and did not include any rationale for not doing so. The facility manufactures packaged food products containing different allergenic profiles, such as  Double Cheese Torta sandwich (milk, soy, and wheat) and Cheese Pizza Kits (milk, soy, and wheat) so should have identified allergens as a concern.
• The hazard analysis for “Ready to Eat: Hot & Cold Entrees, Wraps, Salads, Snacks and Beverages” identified contamination with vegetative pathogens (cross-contamination) as a hazard requiring a preventive control at the (b)(4) steps (where RTE food is exposed to the environment prior to packaging). 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 written sanitation procedures (“SSOPs”) which identify cleaning and sanitizing operations for equipment and the facility. However, these procedures did not address monitoring of employee handwashing prior to donning gloves and touching RTE ingredients that they assemble into packaged meals, such as Double Cheese Torta sandwiches and Cheese Pizza Kits.
• In addition, environmental monitoring is required if contamination of an RTE food with an environmental pathogen is a hazard requiring a preventive control (see 21 CFR 117.165(a)(3)). However, there was no environmental monitoring program.
• There were also some misbranding issues.

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/revolution-foods-pbc-690586-04072025

WARNING LETTER
Revolution Foods, PBC
MARCS-CMS 690586 — April 07, 2025

FDA Issues Warning Letter To California Baker for Lack of Sanitation Controls

FDA issued a Warning Letter to Marin Baking LLC, a manufacturer of ready-to-eat (RTE) bread products, located in San Rafael, CA.  There were a number of issues including:

• Allergen preventive controls did not include procedures, practices, and processes for ensuring protection of food from allergen cross-contact, including during storage, handling, and use; and for food labeling to ensure the food is not misbranded 
• Sanitation procedures were not completely followed, including not following schedule cleaning procedures.  
• Did not have adequate sanitation verification procedures.
• Did not have adequate controls in place for allergen cross-contact, as evidenced by observations involving sesame seeds. 
• The facility’s written hazard analysis did not consider recontamination with environmental pathogens, such as Salmonella, at all steps where  RTE bread products are exposed to the environment. 
• There were issues with rodents and insects.

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/marin-baking-llc-700600-05282025
WARNING LETTER

Marin Baking LLC
MARCS-CMS 700600 — May 28, 2025
Recipient:
Farid M. Radwan, Co-owner
Michael D. Humphrey, Co-owner
Marin Baking LLC
1512 4th Street
San Rafael, CA 94901
United States

Michigan Confectionary Company Recalls Boxes of Chocolates for Undeclared Pecans

Kilwins Quality Confections, LLC., of Petoskey, Michigan, is voluntarily recalling Mocha Truffles because they may contain undeclared pecans.   The recall was initiated after it was discovered that a product containing pecans was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of pecans.

The recalled Mocha Truffles were distributed by Kilwins Quality Confections, LLC., and may have been sold at nine (9) Kilwins retail stores in the following cities: Orange Beach, AL, located at 4751 Main St, Unit F113; Coral Springs, FL; Vero Beach, FL; Winter Park, FL; Thomasville, GA; Annapolis, MD; Portsmouth, NH; Wilmington, NC, located at 16 Market St; and Alexandria, VA.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/kilwins-quality-confections-llc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-pecans-mocha-truffles
Kilwins Quality Confections, LLC. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Pecans in Mocha Truffles
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 25, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  June 25, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared pecans
Company Name:  Kilwins Quality Confections, LLC
Brand Name:   Kilwins
Product Description:  Mocha Truffles