Imported Pepperoni Pizza Recalled for Not Receiving UDSA Reinspection

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 (NRTE) uncured pepperoni pizza product imported from Italy that did not receive the benefit of import reinspection.  The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified by Trader Joe’s Company that the frozen NRTE uncured pepperoni pizza product was not presented for FSIS import reinspection.

A recall was not requested because the product is no longer available for purchase.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-a-frozen-pepperoni-pizza-product-imported-without
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for a Frozen Pepperoni Pizza Product Imported Without the Benefit of Import Reinspection

FSIS Announcement
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 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 (NRTE) uncured pepperoni pizza product imported from Italy that did not receive the benefit of import reinspection. A recall was not requested because the product is no longer available for purchase.

NY Firm Recalls Vanilla Ice Cream Due to Undeclared Almond

Ice Cream Factory of Mount Vernon, NY is recalling 40 Pints, 8 Quarts and 3 Half Gallons of Vanilla G.Nutt ice cream, because it may contain undeclared almond.   The recall was initiated after an undeclared allergen was discovered. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the company's production and packaging processes.

Vanilla G.Nutt ice cream was distributed in New York State – Golden Krust retail stores in Mount Vernon and White Plains NY, Farm Country Supermarket in Queens NY through direct delivery.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/ice-cream-factory-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-almond-vanilla-gnutt-ice-cream
Ice Cream Factory Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Almond in Vanilla G.Nutt Ice Cream
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 29, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  September 02, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared almond allergen
Company Name:  Ice Cream Factory
Brand Name:  G.Nutt
Product Description:  Vanilla G.Nutt Ice Cream

More Shrimp Recalled Linked to Warning on Indonesian Shrimp Due to Cesium Issue

AquaStar (USA) Corp of Seattle, WA is recalling approximately 18,000 bags (net wt. 2lbs) of Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp because they may have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have become contaminated with cesium-137 (Cs-137).  AquaStar (USA) Corp is also recalling approximately 26,460 packages of Cocktail Shrimp 6oz under the Aquastar label.

Southwinds Foods  LLC also updated their previously issued recall of frozen shrimp.  https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/updated-release-southwind-foods-llc-recalls-frozen-shrimp-because-possible-health-risk

This recall is linked to the Warning issued by FDA on August 19th for frozen shrimp from Indonesia that had been found to have cesium with the load. The FDA is actively investigating reports of Cesium-137 (Cs-137) contamination in shipping containers and frozen shrimp products processed by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (doing business as BMS Foods) of Indonesia. No illnesses have been reported to date.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/aquastar-usa-corp-recalls-kroger-mercado-frozen-cooked-shrimp-because-possible-health-risk
Aquastar (USA) Corp Recalls Kroger Mercado Frozen Cooked Shrimp Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 27, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  August 28, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Shellfish
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Contaminant – cesium-137 (Cs-137)
Company Name:  Aquastar Corp
Brand Name:  Kroger
Product Description:  Mercado Frozen Cooked Shrimp

Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Eggs from CA Producer

The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating illnesses in a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to large brown cage free "sunshine/omega-3 golden” yolk eggs sourced from Country Eggs, LLC, of Lucerne Valley, CA.

To this point, there have been total of 95 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from 14 states.

The company, Country Eggs, LLC issued a recall of large brown cage free "sunshine/omega-3 golden” yolk eggs under the brand names Nagatoshi Produce, Misuho, Nijiya Markets, and Country Eggs.


Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 95
Hospitalizations: 18
Deaths: 0
Last Illness Onset: July 26, 2025
States with Cases: AZ, CA, FL, GA, HI, IA, MN, NC, NE, NM, NV, NY, PA, WA
Product Distribution: CA, NV
*Distribution has been confirmed for states listed, but product could have been distributed further, reaching additional states


FDA Outbreak Investigation
https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-eggs-august-2025
Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Eggs (August 2025)
Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled chicken eggs distributed by Country Eggs, LLC. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.

Boar's Head Virginia Facility to Reopen Under Federal Inspection

As the Boar's Head facility looks to reopen, it will now be under inspection from Federal inspectors rather than the State of Virginia.  This is a good thing considering the controversy  (https://pennstatefoodsafety.blogspot.com/2025/08/reopening-facility-after-outbreak-boars.html).

AP
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/federal-officials-to-take-over-inspections-when-troubled-boars-head-plant-reopens/ar-AA1KYxWA
Federal officials to take over inspections when troubled Boar's Head plant reopens

Story by JONEL ALECCIA • 5d

Federal inspectors will assume direct oversight of a troubled Boar's Head deli meat plant when it reopens after last year's deadly listeria outbreak, U.S. Agriculture Department officials said.

CDC Cuts FoodNet Surveillance from 8 Pathogens to 2....Is This a Thing?

FoodNet is a collaboration between CDC, USDA, FDA, and 10 state health departments that tracks infections caused by eight pathogens in a surveillance area that includes 16% of the U.S. population.

Personnel at each FoodNet site routinely communicate with clinical laboratories and collect detailed information about infections.  

FoodNet conducts laboratory surveys, physician surveys, and population surveys to collect information about each of these steps. This information is used to calculate estimates of the actual number of people who become ill. Other information is used to estimate the proportion of these illnesses transmitted by food.

So how important is this if it only covers 16% of the population and it is used for determining estimates?  Is limited funding better spent on developing the entire reporting system?  I don't know, but it would be better if there was more information on how this is expected to impact food safety one way or the other.

https://www.food-safety.com/articles/10646-cdc-slashes-foodnet-surveillance-from-eight-foodborne-pathogens-to-two

CDC Slashes FoodNet Surveillance From Eight Foodborne Pathogens to Two

By Bailee Henderson

August 26, 2025

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has made major cuts to its Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) surveillance program, citing inadequate funding.

Salad Kits Recalled After Supplier of Topping Packets Included Incorrect Dressing

In response to a recall initiated by Latitude 36 Foods, LLC., Taylor Fresh Foods is voluntarily recalling the Taylor Farms Honey Balsamic Salad Kit 6/8.3oz. because it may contain undeclared sesame and soy allergens.  Master packs — individual packets of dressing and toppings supplied by Latitude 36 Foods and included in Taylor Farms salad kits — incorrectly included Asian Sesame Ginger dressing rather than the intended Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing, leading to the possibility of undeclared sesame and soy allergens in some Taylor Farms Honey Balsamic Salad Kits.

The Taylor Farms Honey Balsamic Salad Kit 6/8.3oz in scope of this recall was distributed in AL, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MO, MS, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA and WV and has code dates starting with “TFRS” and “Best If Used By” date up to and including September 4, 2025.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/company-voluntarily-recalls-honey-balsamic-salad-kit-due-potential-undeclared-sesame-and-soy
Company Voluntarily Recalls Honey Balsamic Salad Kit Due to Potential Undeclared Sesame and Soy
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 26, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  August 26, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Allergen – Sesame and Soy
Company Name:  Taylor Fresh Foods
Brand Name:  Taylor Farms
Product Description:  Honey Balsamic Salad Kit

The Screwworm...Just Another Type of Horrible Infection to Worry About

A person in Maryland has been confirmed to have an infection with the flesh-eating New World screwworm parasite — the first human case of the infection in the United States since the parasite was eradicated in the country over 60 years ago.  The person had recently traveled to El Salvador.

"C. hominivorax is a species of parasitic fly that lays eggs inside the open wounds, eyes, noses or mouths of warm-blooded animals. Female screwworm flies can lay up to 300 eggs at a time. When the eggs hatch, screwworm larvae use their sharp mouths to burrow into the host's flesh, which causes a painful infestation called myiasis."  Wounds as small as a tick bite may attract a female fly to feed and lay her eggs. One female can lay 200 – 300 eggs at a time and may lay up to 3,000 eggs during her 10- to 30-day lifespan.

This is primarily a concern for livestock, but as with this case, people can become infected.  The symptoms include: feeling larvae movement within a skin wound or sore, nose, mouth, or eyes: seeing maggots around or in open sores; a foul-smelling odor from the site of the infestation.

The New World screwworm is endemic to South America and the Caribbean, and it isn't typically found in the U.S.  However, there has been a northward movement with an infestation in Mexico in 2024.

Live Science
https://www.livescience.com/health/viruses-infections-disease/us-reports-its-first-new-world-parasitic-screwworm-infection-in-decades
US reports its first New World parasitic screwworm infection in decades

FDA Issues Warning to Importer for Failing to Actually Verify Supplier Performance

FDA issues a Warning Letter to a Florida importer, Eurobread Inc. dba First Harvest, after that product the firm imports was involved in a Salmonella outbreak.  The February 2025 Salmonella outbreak was linked to mini pastries imported from Italy.

So while the importer did have a FSVP in place and they did have paperwork from that supplier, they did not verify performance.

"The records for your (b)(4), included third party audit certificates dated (b)(4); customer letter dated 30/01/2025; egg pasteurization declaration dated 26/09/2024; manufacturer’s declaration dated 02/10/2024; heat treatment for egg products dated 6 Giugno 2024; and a (b)(3)(A). However, you did not document your review and assessment of these records, or an evaluation of your foreign suppliers’ performance and the risk posed by a food conducted under 21 CFR 1.505(a), as required by 21 CFR 1.505(b)."

"..before importing a food from a foreign supplier you did not document your determination of the appropriate supplier verification activity or activities, or the frequency with which the activity or activities must be conducted, as required by 21 CFR 1.506(d). With respect to the requirements of 21 CFR 1.506(e), regarding the performance of foreign supplier verification activities before importing a food from a foreign supplier, while you may rely on third-party food safety audits as part of your foreign supplier verification activities, you must ensure the audit is performed by a qualified auditor. Additionally, for food that is subject to one or more FDA food safety regulations, an onsite audit of the foreign supplier must consider applicable FDA food safety regulations (or, when applicable, an onsite audit may consider relevant laws and regulations of a country whose food safety system FDA has officially recognized as comparable or determined to be equivalent to that of the United States), in accordance with 21 CFR 1.506(e)(1)(i)(B). "

I think this is a common issue with regulations in general.  Companies feel compliance is just collecting the paperwork without understanding and then implementing meaningful verification.  The goal of the regulation is that companies do more than collect the paperwork, but ensure that the supplier is performing. 


FDA Warning Letter
https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/eurobread-inc-dba-first-harvest-705728-07312025
Eurobread Inc. dba First Harvest
MARCS-CMS 705728 — July 31, 2025