Man Pleads Guilty of Intentionally Contaminating Food At Kansas Steakhouse

A 21 year old former kitchen employee of a well know Kansas steakhouse has plead guilty of intentionally contaminating food while he worked for the restaurant.  From the new report, "The special agent later provided thumbnails for videos posted to a website from the username “Vandalizer.” The images depicted a male urinating in food contained in restaurant-style bins, pressing food items against his privates and buttocks and using their feet to touch food items."

The restaurant has closed and faces numerous lawsuits.

https://fox4kc.com/news/man-accused-of-contaminating-food-at-leawood-hereford-house-pleads-guilty/
Man accused of contaminating food at Leawood Hereford House pleads guilty
by: Brian Dulle
Posted: Jul 3, 2025 / 05:37 PM CDT
Updated: Jul 3, 2025 / 06:11 PM CDT

FDA Closes Investigation for Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Eggs from California Producer

The FDA and CDC investigated a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to recalled brown cage-free eggs and brown certified organic eggs supplied by August Egg Company, of Hilmar, CA. In this outbreak, there were a reported total of 134 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella from 10 states. There have been 38 hospitalizations, and one death.

CDC has declared the outbreak to be over.  The outbreak was first reported in early June

"As part of this investigation, FDA conducted an inspection with environmental sampling at cage-free laying houses used by August Egg Company. Three environmental samples from this inspection were positive for Salmonella and found to match the strain of Salmonella causing illnesses in this outbreak by whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis. Eggs supplied by this facility were already included in the recall from August Egg Company and should no longer be available for sale."

Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 134
Hospitalizations: 38
Deaths: 1
Last Illness Onset: June 6, 2025
States with Cases: AZ, CA, CO, KS, KY, NE, NJ, NV, UT, 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


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

Current Update
July 10, 2025

Ohio Food Operation Supplying Vending Machines Recalls Sandwich Products With Undeclared Sesame

Sheehan Brothers Vending of Springfield OH is recalling its Cheeseburgers, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Italian Mini Subs, Pepperoni Pizza Sub, Chili Cheese Coney and BBQ Riblet w/coleslaw due to an undeclared Sesame allergen.  The products were available from 7/2/2025 - 7/8/2025 through Micro Markets and Vending Machine locations throughout all of Ohio, Northern Kentucky, Eastern Indiana.

The issue was discovered during a routine inspection conducted by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. There have been no reports of illnesses involving the product addressed in this recall.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sheehan-brothers-vending-issues-voluntary-recall-due-undeclared-sesame-allergen
Sheehan Brothers Vending Issues a Voluntary Recall Due to an Undeclared Sesame Allergen
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  July 08, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  July 10, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared sesame
Company Name:  Sheehan Brothers Vending
Brand Name:  Sheehan Brothers Vending
Product Description:  Cheeseburgers, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Italian Mini Subs, Pepperoni Pizza Sub, Chili Cheese Coney and BBQ Riblet w/coleslaw

FDA Issues Warning Letter to Wisconsin Egg Producer

FDA issued a Warning Letter to Voehlganic Farm LLC of  Westby, WI . a producer of shell eggs.  FDA issued the warning letter for "serious violations of the Prevention of Salmonella Enteritidis in Shell Eggs During Production, Storage, and Transportation regulation (the Shell Egg regulation), Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 118 (21 CFR Part 118)".

The firm did not have and implement a written SE Prevention Plan that includes, at a minimum, the SE prevention measures required by 21 CFR 118.4. With that, the firm had not enacted required procedure for the control of Salmonella.

FDA Warning Letter

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/voehlganic-farm-llc-698230-05282025

Voehlganic Farm LLC
MARCS-CMS 698230 — May 28, 2025

FDA Issue Warning Letter to PA Producer of Raw Pet Food

FDA issued a Warning Letter to Answers Pet Food of Elizabethville, PA after an investigation that was triggered by samples of pet food testing positive for Salmonella and Listeria.

"August 22, 2024, an FDA Investigator purchased samples of your Answers raw pet food from a retailer in Nevada in response to consumer complaints. Sample analysis revealed that all four sampled lots contained Salmonella and/or Listeria monocytogenes, as described below. Therefore, your Answers Pet Food Raw Beef Detailed Formula, lot May 06 2026, Answers Pet Food Raw Beef Straight Formula, lot Jan 31 2026, and your Answers Pet Food Straight Chicken Formula, lots Jan 02 2026 and Mar 11 2026, are adulterate"

First, the fact that the pathogens were present, meant that identified preventive controls were not adequate.

"Your food safety plan identifies process, sanitation, and supply chain preventive controls as part of your “(b)(4) technology” to control pathogens. Yet, your preventive controls are not adequate as shown by the following samples of four products collected at retail and analyzed by FDA that contain Salmonella, L. monocytogenes, or both:"

The company identified sanitation preventive controls, but were not sufficient because Salmonella was present in the environment.

"Your hazard analysis identified Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs) and current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs) as a preventive control for biological hazards (which include pathogens) in your raw pet food at steps (b)(4) of your whey mixture containing lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Inspectional findings that indicate your sanitation preventive control is inadequate include:

i. FDA Investigators collected environmental samples on July 23, 2024, under sample 1263703, that revealed the presence of L. monocytogenes on seven surfaces in your facility, including Zone (b)(4) food-contact surfaces."

The company identified supply chain preventive controls, but did not have evidence for that control.

"you were unable to provide COAs for turkey and pork ingredients used to manufacture your raw pet food between July 22 and July 24, 2024"   "You did not provide documentation of annual onsite audits for your suppliers during the inspection, and you do not have a written justification for accepting LOGs and/or COAs from ingredient suppliers in lieu of an annual onsite audit at your suppliers."

GMP issues were also noted in this report.


FDA Warning Letter
https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/lystn-llc-dba-answers-pet-food-694680-06182025
Lystn LLC dba Answers Pet Food

Illinois Bakery Recalls Bread with Undeclared Hazelnut

Updated for addition of lots included in the recall  with FDA rerelease on 7/14/25

Hartford Bakery, Inc, Evansville, IL,  is recalling six lots of its “Lewis Bake Shop Artisan Style 1/2 Loaf” as this product may contain undeclared hazelnuts. The recall was initiated after discovering that approximately 883 loaves of bread from six production lots contained visible hazelnuts and were distributed in “Lewis Bake Shop Artisan Style 1/2 Loaf” packaging. While the packaging states “May Contain Tree Nuts,” it does not state that it “Contains Hazelnuts.” An investigation revealed an error in change of packaging for a hazelnut-containing bread to the implicated white bread product.

The interesting issue was that it was not caught during the production of 6 different lots of product, although appears to have been produced on the same day (same expiration date).

The recalled “Lewis Bake Shop Artisan Style 1/2 Loaf” products were distributed in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas, Missouri, Alabama, and Mississippi retailers, including Kroger and Walmart. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/hartford-bakery-inc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-hazelnuts-lewis-bake-shop-artisan-style-12-loaf
Hartford Bakery, Inc. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Hazelnuts in “Lewis Bake Shop Artisan Style ½ Loaf”
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  July 10, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  July 10, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Bakery Product/Mix
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared hazelnuts
Company Name:  Hartford Bakery, Inc.
Brand Name:  Lewis Bake Shop
Product Description:  Artisan Style 1/2 Loaf

California Distributor Recalls Dried Black Fungus Slice Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

Natureen International Inc. of Walnut, CA is recalling 244 bags of Wei-Chuan Dried Black Fungus Slice (2.5oz / bag), because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.  The California Department of Public Health notified FDA that the product was contaminated with pathogen of Salmonella.

The recalled Wei-Chuan Dried Black Fungus Slice (2.5oz / bag) were distributed in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin through direct delivery to retail stores and supermarkets from Wei-Chuan Chicago Branch.

Chinese black fungus - according to this source, "Chinese black fungus, also known as “wood ear” or “cloud ear,” has been a staple in Chinese cuisine for centuries. This unique ingredient not only adds texture and flavor to dishes but also offers numerous health benefits."
_______________________________________________________________
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/natureen-international-inc-recalls-wei-chuan-dried-black-fungus-slice-25oz-because-possible-health
Natureen International Inc. Recalls Wei-Chuan Dried Black Fungus Slice (2.5oz) Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: July 08, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  July 09, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Salmonella
Company Name:  Natureen International Inc.
Brand Name:  Wei-Chuan
Product Description:  Dried Black Fungus Slice

News Outlets Continue to Post Confusing Information on Food Recalls

Have you ever noticed recent news articles that discuss a recall or a series of old recalls.  Well, you don't know its an old recall until you read through the entire article to find that FDA had issued the notice a month or more ago.  So many times I catch a headline, like the one recently released by Newsweek,  Aldi Food Recall Update: Customers in 37 States Told to 'Discard' Products.  Initially I think, 'wow, something new', only to find out that the article discusses a series of recalls occurring over the first half of the year, with many of the items discussed, already having been removed from commerce.

Why do news outlets, and these are primarily secondary news outlets, write these articles that are not upfront and factual on the recall issues being presented?  This can only create confusion for the customer.  A person may have bought an item recently and then reads this and questions whether it is part of this recall, or forgoes buying that item because they saw a picture of that item in a story about it being recalled.  As we know, most people do not read the entire article, or basically scan it where they are not picking up the fine details.

Further, posting the same recalls over and over for months gives people a sense that our food supply is less safe.  Along with this, other news outlets will then publish the same story days or weeks later.  This echo effect than adds to consumers feeling of concern.

So why do news outlets do this?  Lazy reporting?  Clickbait?  Or is it more sinister in trying to damage a company's brand?  Whatever the reason, this type of reporting is becoming more common.  Very unfortunate for consumers and businesses alike.

Newsweek
https://www.newsweek.com/aldi-food-recalls-list-2025-2096171
Aldi Food Recall Update: Customers in 37 States Told to 'Discard' Products
Published Jul 08, 2025 at 12:43 PM EDT
Updated Jul 09, 2025 at 1:09 AM EDT
By Daniel Orton
Editor, Live News
Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member

Major food recalls recently announced by Aldi have impacted shoppers across 37 states, following safety alerts for undeclared allergens and contamination risks.

Popular Cracker Product Recalled When Peanut Butter Filled Labeled as Cheese Crackers

Mondelēz Global LLC announced today a voluntary recall of four carton sizes of RITZ Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches (8-pack, 20-pack, and 40pack cartons of RITZ Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches, as well as the 20-pack RITZ Filled Cracker Sandwich Variety Pack carton) manufactured in the United States and sold nationwide. The affected cartons include individually wrapped packs that may be incorrectly labeled as Cheese variety even though the product may be a Peanut Butter variety.

The recall was initiated after Mondelēz Global LLC discovered that film packaging rolls used to package individually wrapped products containing peanut butter may contain defects due to a supplier error. Corrective actions are being taken to help ensure this issue does not recur.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/mondelez-global-llc-conducts-us-voluntary-recall-four-carton-sizes-ritz-peanut-butter-cracker

Mondelēz Global LLC Conducts U.S. Voluntary Recall of Four Carton Sizes of RITZ Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches Due to Labeling Error
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  July 08, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  July 08, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Allergen – Peanut
Company Name:  Mondelez Global LLC
Brand Name:  Ritz
Product Description:  Peanut butter cracker sandwiches