FDA Releases Pesticide Residue Monitoring Report 2021

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released the report for its fiscal year (FY) 2021 pesticide residue monitoring program, summarizing findings from FDA testing of human and animal foods for approximately 750 different pesticides and selected industrial compounds between October 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021.

• Overall, 1,367 total human food samples were collected, including 300 domestic food samples from 26 states and 1,067 imported food samples from 66 countries/economies. Of the samples collected, 96.7 percent of domestic samples and 89.3 percent of imported samples were compliant with federal regulations (below EPA tolerances).No pesticide chemical residues were detected in 35 percent of domestic samples and 44.5 percent of imported samples.
• A total of 80 animal food samples were also collected, including 16 domestic food samples from five states and 64 imported samples from seven countries. All of the domestic samples and 98.4 percent of imported samples were below EPA tolerances. No pesticide chemical residues were detected in 37.5 percent of domestic samples and 40.6 percent of imported samples.

From the report:

Imported Products That May Warrant Special Attention

The design of the FDA pesticide program focuses on products that have a history of  violations or are suspected of violations, based on information such as reports from other agencies and pesticide usage data. Historically, the violation rate for import foods is higher than for domestic foods; results from FY 2021 continue that trend.

The violation rate for  import foods (10.7%) was over 3 times higher than the rate for domestic foods (3.3%). The majority of the violations for import commodities are no-tolerance violations, with 

approximately 82% of the violative residues < 0.1 ppm.

Imported Hams from Canada Recalled Due to USDA Inspection Issues

Olymel, the importer of record located in Boucherville, Quebec, Canada, is recalling approximately 11,016 pounds of ready-to eat ham products that were not presented for import reinspection into the United States.  The problem was discovered during routine FSIS surveillance activities of imported products, and it was determined that the products were not presented for reinspection.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/olymel-recalls-ready-eat-ham-products-imported-without-benefit-import-reinspection
Olymel Recalls Ready-To-Eat Ham Products Imported Without the Benefit of Import Reinspection

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2023 – Olymel, the importer of record located in Boucherville, Quebec, Canada, is recalling approximately 11,016 pounds of ready-to eat ham products that were not presented for import reinspection into the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

TX Firm Recalls Dog Food After Testing Finds Salmonella

Mid America Pet Food, Mount Pleasant, Texas, is voluntarily recalling three lots of Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Select Beef Meal & Brown Rice Formula produced at its Mount Pleasant, Texas production facility because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. This voluntary recall was initiated after a third-party conducted random sampling and product associated with three lots tested positive for Salmonella.

Contamination of dry extruded pet food by Salmonella most often occurs as post-process contamination.  This contamination can come through contaminated ingredients added to the product after extrusion, or through environmental contamination occurring after extrusion, somewhere from drying through bagging.  Contamination events, in these cases, often affect a wider range of production lots.  So depending upon the investigational findings, it may be expected to see an expansion of this recall.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/mid-america-pet-food-issues-voluntary-recall-victor-beef-meal-rice-dog-food-due-possible-salmonella
Mid America Pet Food Issues Voluntary Recall of Victor Beef Meal & Rice Dog Food Due to Possible Salmonella Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 30, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  October 30, 2023
Product Type:  Animal & Veterinary  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Salmonella contamination
Company Name:  Mid America Pet Food
Brand Name:  Victor Super Premium
Product Description:  Dog Food, Select Beef Meal & Brown Rice Formula

Raw Pet Food Recalled After Salmonella Detected in Product

Blue Ridge Beef of Statesville, NC, is recalling their Breeders Choice 2# log dog food Lot# 8/2/24 UPC 8 54298 00193 1 due to Salmonella contamination. On October 27, 2023, the firm was notified by the Food & Drug Administration that the dog food test positive for Salmonella.  The website mentions HPP, so it may be assumed that HPP (high pressure processing) is used a pathogen reduction step.

The company, affiliated with Lea-Way Farms, was issued a Warning Letter in June of 2020 by FDA.
An article in Pet Food Processing (2020) summarizes this report,  "The FDA reported violations to Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) requirements, including failure to properly inspect and handle raw materials, as well as unsanitary conditions in several areas of the plant.

Specifically, the FDA cited the use of raw animal ingredients “…that have died otherwise than by slaughter… without first determining whether the animals suffered any type of illness, injury, and/or whether any medications may have been administered to the animals prior to your pick up from the supplier…” The agency also observed the potential for contamination on the facility’s kill floor, grinder/mixing room, in the cooler, and in its overhead conveying rails between the kill floor, cooler room and processing area."

Within the 2020 FDA investigation report, it states: "During our inspection, FDA collected final product and raw ingredient samples for microbiological samples. Sample #1098421 consisted of an in-process sample of raw ground beef intended to be used as an ingredient in your firm’s finished product. This sample was found to be positive for Salmonella London Group B1 and generic E. coli. Sample #1098422 of a finished product sample of Blue Ridge Beef Raw Kitten Grind was found positive for Salmonella Agona Group B and Listeria"

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/blue-ridge-beef-issues-voluntary-recall-breeders-choice-2-dog-food-due-salmonella-health-risk
Blue Ridge Beef Issues Voluntary Recall of Breeders Choice 2# Dog Food Due to Salmonella Health Risk
Summary

Company Announcement Date:

October 27, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  October 27, 2023
Product Type:  Animal & Veterinary  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Salmonella contamination
Company Name:  Blue Ridge Beef
Brand Name:  Blue Ridge Beef
Product Description:  Breeders Choice Raw Pet Food 2 lb

FDA Issues Warning Letter to Feed Company Responsible for Cattle Death Due to Super Potent Concentration of Monensin

FDA issued a Warning Letter after an investigation "conducted as a follow-up to a Reportable Food Registry (RFR) report regarding suspected monensin poisoning from a medicated feed that resulted in numerous cattle deaths". Analysis of a sample of the feed found that it contained a super potent concentration of monensin.

• Failed to properly identify, handle, and control drugs in the mixing areas to maintain their integrity and identity, as required by 21 CFR 225.42(b)(4).
• Did not perform a daily comparison of the actual amount of drug used with the theoretical drug usage, as required by 21 CFR 225.42(b)(7).
• Did not prepare, or have prepared, and did not implement a written food safety plan, as required by 21 CFR 507.31(a).
• Failed to evaluate and use raw materials and other ingredients susceptible to contamination with mycotoxins or other natural toxins in a manner that does not result in animal food that can cause injury or illness to animals or humans, as required by 21 CFR 507.25(b)(2).  Specifically, [the company] receives, stores, and uses grain and grain co-products susceptible to mycotoxin contamination, including corn, dried distillers grain, and wheat midds, in animal food at the facility. However, [the company] did not have procedures or conduct testing to determine whether mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin, fumonisin, or deoxynivalenol (DON), are present in these ingredients or in your finished product. During the inspection, the staff confirmed that the company does not have procedures for mycotoxins, including that you do not test for them.

Suther Feeds, Inc.
MARCS-CMS 653966 — AUGUST 21, 2023.

Another Recall of Pork Chicarrones Imported from USDA-ineligible Country

Capitology, LLC, the importer of record located in Charlotte, N.C., is recalling approximately 4,679 pounds of pork chicharrones products. The products were imported from Honduras, a country ineligible to export pork products to the United States.  The problem was discovered during routine FSIS surveillance activities. 

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/capitology-llc-recalls-ineligible-pork-chicharrones-products-imported-honduras
Capitology, LLC Recalls Ineligible Pork Chicharrones Products Imported from Honduras

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2023 - Capitology, LLC, the importer of record located in Charlotte, N.C., is recalling approximately 4,679 pounds of pork chicharrones products. The products were imported from Honduras, a country ineligible to export pork products to the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Just Another Enoki Mushroom Recall Due to Listeria Positive Test

Utopia Foods Inc of Glendale, NY, is recalling all lots within expiry of Qilu Enterprise branded 200g packages of “Enoki Mushrooms” because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The potential contamination was noted by a routine sampling conducted by the State of West Virginia on products which were further distributed by Utopia’s customers bearing expiration date 10/26/2023. The products tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.  Utopia Foods had suspended the distribution of the products and initiated a full-range recall for all expiration dates.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/utopia-foods-recalls-enoki-mushrooms-because-possible-health-risk-0
Utopia Foods Recalls “Enoki Mushrooms” Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 23, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  October 23, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Utopia Foods Inc.
Brand Name:  Qilu Enterprise
Product Description:  Enoki Mushrooms

FDA Issues Warning on Chopped Fresh Onions from CA Processor After Linked to Salmonella Outbreak

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Thompson infections linked to fresh diced onions from Gills Onions of Oxnard, California.  Based on epidemiological data collected by CDC, 14 of 19 cases with information available reported exposure to fresh diced onions before becoming ill. Additionally, based on traceback data collected by FDA, FDA determined that onions processed at Gills Onions were available at points of service where people ate prior to becoming ill.

Gill Onions issued a recall of numerous lots of fresh diced onion product.

As you may recall, Gill Onion had a large recall of onions in 2012 after Listeria was detected in product.  The company had implemented an aggressive program to prevent Listeria.  
Check out the company's food safety page that has an accompanying video. 

https://gillsonions.com/food-safety/

https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-onions-october-2023
Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Onions (October 2023)
Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled diced onion products. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.

Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 73
Hospitalizations: 15
Deaths: 0
Last Illness Onset: September 25, 2023
States with Cases: AZ, CA, CO, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, MA, MI, MT, NY, ND, OH, OR, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WY
Foodservice Product Distribution*: Nationwide and Canada
Retail Product Distribution*: AZ, CA, ID, MT, OR, WA
*Distribution has been confirmed for locations listed, but product could have been distributed further.

Current Update
October 24, 2023

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Thompson infections linked to fresh diced onions from Gills Onions of Oxnard, California.

FDA Issues Warning for Oysters from Prince Edward Island, Canada Due to Salmonella and E. coli

FDA issued Health Warning about imported oysters from Canada due to potential Salmonella and E. coli.  According to the report, "On 10/10/2023, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) tested oysters and discovered the presence of Salmonella and unacceptable levels of generic E. coli. On 10/18/2023, the CFIA informed the FDA of the testing results from the contaminated product. Canada is investigating the cause of the food safety problem. Future Seafoods, Inc. has not yet initiated a recall."


https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-restaurants-and-retailers-not-serve-or-sell-and-consumers-not-eat-oysters-future
FDA Advises Restaurants and Retailers Not to Serve or Sell and Consumers Not to Eat Oysters from Future Seafoods, Inc., Potentially Contaminated with Salmonella and E. coli

10/20/2023

The FDA is advising restaurants and food retailers not to sell and to dispose of oysters and consumers not to eat oysters from Future Seafoods, Inc. (PE 4217 SP), Prince Edward Island, Canada, from harvest area PE9B on 10/10/2023, and shipped on 10/10/2023 to importers in FL, MA, MD, ME, PA, and VA, due to the possible presence of Salmonella and E. coli.

Audience
Restaurants and food retailers in Florida (FL), Massachusetts (MA), Maryland (MD), Maine (ME), Pennsylvania (PA), and Virginia (VA) that have recently purchased oysters harvested from Future Seafoods, Inc. (PE 4217 SP) based in Bedeque, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Consumers who have recently purchased oysters from Future Seafoods, Inc. (PE 4217 SP) in FL, MA, MD, ME, PA, or VA.