Reopening a Facility After an Outbreak - Boar's Head Faces Criticism

An article posted on FoodManufacturing.com provides insight into the battle of reopening the Boar's Head Jarratt, Virginia, plant after last year's Listeria outbreak linked to liverwurst product produced at that facility.

In the article, a number of people have weighed in on the reopening the facility, most of that negative. They base their dissention on the fact that the company's other facilities have had similar findings, and thus the company has not rectified their ways.

 "...documents obtained by The Associated Press through a freedom of information request show that Boar’s Head plants in Arkansas, Indiana and elsewhere in Virginia were flagged for the same kinds of sanitation problems that led to the outbreak, with the most recent report in June. In the past seven months, government inspectors reported problems that include instances of meat and fat residue left on equipment and walls, drains blocked with meat products, beaded condensation on ceilings and floors, overflowing trash cans, and staff who didn’t wear protective hairnets and plastic aprons — or wash their hands."

As an outside observer, I find it impossible to say whether the company would have issues if restarted this facility.  I would think that if USDA approved it to reopen, then a high level of inspection must have been completed.  There is no way the company, or USDA wants to reopen a plant that will cause another outbreak.

What we can say however, is that it is difficult to reopen a facility that was involved in a major outbreak where there were fatalities.  I think the company not being totally transparent about the cause has hurt their cause.  Along with that, not providing detailed information on how they transformed their operations (culture) to prevent future issues.  Just hiring a few show ponies is not enough.

In the end, reopening a plant that invites such strong criticism will only hurt the brand.

Food Manufactuing.com
https://www.foodmanufacturing.com/safety/news/22947501/boars-head-plans-to-reopen-troubled-deli-meat-plant-but-reports-of-sanitation-problems-persist
Boar's Head Plans to Reopen Troubled Deli Meat Plant, but Reports of Sanitation Problems Persist
The facility was at the heart of a deadly food poisoning outbreak last year.
Jonel Aleccia
Aug 8, 2025

The Boar's Head deli meat plant at the heart of last year's deadly food poisoning outbreak is set to reopen in the coming months, company officials said.

Ice Cream Recalled for Undeclared Wheat and Soy - Cookies & Cream with Correct Lid But Wrong Carton

Friendly’s Ice Cream is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity (324 cartons) of 48 fl. oz. Cookies & Cream ice cream because of undeclared soy and wheat. The recalled product was mistakenly packaged in Friendly’s Vanilla Bean ice cream cartons with a Cookies & Cream lid.  The voluntary recall was initiated after it was discovered that a limited quantity of Cookies & Cream ice cream was mistakenly packaged in a Friendly’s Vanilla Bean ice cream cartons that did not identify the soy and wheat ingredients. No illnesses or adverse reactions have been reported.

The recalled product was distributed through a single distribution center, UNFI, to retail stores in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/friendlys-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-soywheat-friendlys-cookies-cream-ice-cream
Friendly’s Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Soy/Wheat in Friendly’s Cookies & Cream Ice Cream
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 05, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  August 06, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared wheat and soy allergens
Company Name:  DFA Dairy Brands, LLC
Brand Name:  Friendly’s
Product Description:  Cookies and Cream Ice Cream

Canada - Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Pistachios

In Canada, there have been 52 potential cases of Salmonella infection after consuming various brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products.  Nine people have been hospitalized.  The products in question were distributed in Ontario and Quebec under the brand names Habibi, Al Mokhtar Food Centre and Dubai.  These products have been recalled.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/9-in-hospital-with-salmonella-after-consuming-pistachios-and-pistachio-containing-products-public-health-agency-of-canada/
9 in hospital with salmonella after consuming pistachios and pistachio-containing products
By Joanna Lavoie
Updated: August 05, 2025 at 11:06PM EDT
Published: August 05, 2025 at 10:07PM EDT

Nine people are in hospital with salmonella, says Canada’s public health agency, after consuming various brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products.

Massachusetts Firm Recalls 66 Units of Potato Salad For Undeclared Wheat Due to Mismatched Top and Front Label

Update Notice - Recall updated on August 29, 2025 to "include the quantity of product affected, as well as a second use by date of the same product."

 https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/hans-kissle-llc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-wheat-allergen-hans-kissle-red-potato-bliss-salad-0

Hans Kissle is voluntarily recalling 66 units of Hans Kissle Red Potato Bliss Salad due to undeclared allergen (wheat).  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that 66 containers of Tricolor Twist Pasta Salad were mislabeled with the incorrect top label. While the front label correctly identifies the product, the top label misrepresents it as Red Bliss Potato Salad. The actual product contains wheat, which is not declared on the top label.

The mislabeled product was distributed to Stop and Shop retail locations in the following states: MA, RI, CT, NJ, and NY and has the potential to still be in consumers’ refrigerators.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/hans-kissle-llc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-wheat-allergen-hans-kissle-red-potato-bliss-salad
Hans Kissle LLC Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Wheat (Allergen) in Hans Kissle Red Potato Bliss Salad
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 05, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  August 05, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared wheat
Company Name:  Hans Kissle
Brand Name:  Hans Kissle
Product Description:  Red Bliss Potato Salad

Italy - Guacamole Sauce Linked to Botulism Outbreak

A news article out of Italy where guacamole sauce was linked to a botulism outbreak that may have impacted 8 or more people.  It was a packaged guacamole that may have been held at improper temperatures.

The one potential issue that will need to be looked at for this product is lack of pH control.  In fresh guacamole, the pH will tend to be above 4.6 unless it is properly acidified.  Fresh avocado will have a pH close to 6.5 and when normally formulated with addition of other ingredients will be around 5.0 (Misael, 2019), so proper acidification is needed.  Another consideration would be the increase of pH by spoilage organisms like mold, if it had been properly acidified.

https://www.unionesarda.it/en/sardinia/botulinum-poisoning-at-fiesta-latina-eight-people-now-hospitalized-qh89ryrs
Botulinum poisoning at Fiesta Latina: Eight people now hospitalized.
These are the numbers linked to the ingestion of guacamole sauce purchased at a Mexican stand
Eight patients hospitalized in intensive care and neurology, three suspected cases with a high probability of confirmation.

Upcoming Preventive Controls Version 2.0 Training from Penn State

 Penn State will be offering two courses for the Preventive Controls for Human Foods. 

Malvern, PA  September 9-11, 2025   https://agsci.psu.edu/pchf-20250909

Cranberry Township, PA  October 13-15, 2025  https://cvent.me/bzvYdk

This is the updated curriculum, Version 2.0.  If you have taken the course in previous years, you had the earlier version and it may be worth considering taking this new version.  Why?  The hazard analysis section has been updated to incorporate the use of the FDA Hazards Guide, specifically Appendix 1.  For your company's plan to be fully compliant, it is important that the hazard analysis reflect what is listed in Appendix 1.  There are other improvements including an updated Supplier Preventive Control chapter, better application examples, and enhanced focus on HACCP approach for CCPs / Process Preventive Controls.   Plus, you will get to hang out with us for 2.75 days. 

Georgia Firm Recalls Freeze Dried Fruit After Internal Testing Revealed Listeria

Doehler Dry Ingredient Solutions, LLC, Cartersville, GA,  is recalling Member’s Mark Freeze Dried Fruit Variety Pack 15 count boxes, UPC 1 93968 50900 2 due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.   The firm discovered the problem via internal testing of their products. The products were distributed between 7/1/2025-7/25/2025 and sold in Sam’s Club retail stores.

This is over 3 weeks of production.   This amount may be due to the fact that the company only tests occasionally, and when you find an issue, you have to go back to the last good check.

Product was shipped to distribution centers in the following states: AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, PR, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WV, WY.





https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/doehler-dry-ingredient-solutions-llc-recalls-members-mark-freeze-dried-fruit-variety-pack-listeria
Doehler Dry Ingredient Solutions, LLC Recalls Member’s Mark Freeze Dried Fruit Variety Pack for Listeria monocytogenes Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  July 30, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  July 31, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Foodborne Illness – Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Doehler Dry Ingredient Solutions, LLC
Brand Name:  Member’s Mark
Product Description:  Freeze dried fruit

Energy Drink Cans Accidently Filled with Booze Recalled

High Noon is recalling two production lots of High Noon Beach Variety packs (12-pack/12 fluid ounce cans). Some of these packs contain cans that are filled with High Noon vodka seltzer alcohol and are mislabeled as CELSIUS® ASTRO VIBE™ Energy Drink, Sparkling Blue Razz Edition with a silver top.  The recall was initiated after High Noon discovered that a shared packaging supplier mistakenly shipped empty CELSIUS cans to High Noon.

In this case, the can supplier shipped the empty CELSIUS energy drink cans to High Noon by accident, and High Noon filled those cans with alcoholic beverage.  Those cans were packed into a variety pack.  Hopefully folks are smart enough to know that when they open the multipack of High Noon product and find an energy drink can, they will realize something is wrong.

How does someone not see a different can during the filling step?


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/high-noon-announces-recall-its-vodka-seltzer-beach-pack-12-pack-due-inclusion-celsiusr-astro-vibe-tm
High Noon Announces Recall of its Vodka Seltzer Beach Pack (12 Pack) Due to Inclusion of CELSIUS® ASTRO VIBE ™ Energy Drink Cans that were Inadvertently Filled with Vodka Seltzer
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  July 29, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  July 30, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Cans contain alcohol
Company Name:  High Noon
Brand Name:  High Noon, Celsius
Product Description:  Energy Drink

USDA Issues Health Alert for Tortellini Product With Undeclared Soy and Sesame

USDA-FSIS issued a public health alert for frozen product labeled as pork and beef tortellini produced by P. E. & F, Inc. of St Louis, MO due to undeclared allergens. The frozen product labeled as pork and beef tortellini may actually contain pork and beef toasted ravioli product, which contains soy and sesame, known allergens, which are not declared on the product label.  The problem was discovered when the establishment notified FSIS that their sole consignee received a consumer complaint of ravioli product in a bag labeled as tortellini.

A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-frozen-pork-and-beef-tortellini-product-due
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Frozen Pork and Beef Tortellini Product Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens

WASHINGTON, July 30, 2025 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for frozen product labeled as pork and beef tortellini due to misbranding and undeclared allergens. The frozen product labeled as pork and beef tortellini may actually contain pork and beef toasted ravioli, which 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 products are no longer available for purchase.