NY Wholesaler Recalls Herb Powder Due to Elevated Lead Levels

New York Wholesale Group of Hicksville, NY is recalling Zaarah Herbals Shatavari Powder, to the consumer/user level because it has the potential to be contaminated with elevated levels of lead. The recall is the result of an analysis conducted by Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection; Food & Standards Division that revealed the product contained elevated levels of lead.

How did the lead get into the product?  To make an educated guess, the powder is derived from the plant root, so the lead would probably have been taken up from the soil / growth medium.

What is Shatavari powder?  I asked AI and this is what I got.

Shatavari is a herb that is a member of the asparagus family. It is also known as Asparagus racemosus and is a natural adaptogen, which means it helps the body cope with physical and emotional stress. Shatavari is considered a general health tonic to improve vitality and is a staple in ayurvedic medicine. Shatavari powder is a fine powder made from the dried roots of the shatavari plant and is commonly used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine to support the female reproductive system and promote overall health and wellness

So an important question is, will shatavari powder make one's urine smell similar to when one eats asparagus.  Well, according to a journal article, Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) does contain Asparagusic acid, the compound responsible for the asparagus-related pee odor, but this does not seem to be thing (of note).

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/new-york-wholesale-group-recalls-zaarah-herbals-shatavari-powder-because-possible-health-risk
New York Wholesale Group Recalls Zaarah Herbals Shatavari Powder Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  January 27, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  January 27, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Contaminants
Reason for Announcement:  Product may be contaminated with elevated levels of lead.
Company Name:  New York Wholesale Group
Brand Name:   Zaarah Herbals
Product Description:  Shatavari Powder

WI Firm Recalls Bacon Seasoning Due to Undeclared Soy, A Result of a Supplier Substitution

TS Food Packaging, a Wisconsin firm, is recalling its “Rural King” and “Wabash Valley Farms” Bacon Seasoning due to the presence of an undeclared soy ingredient.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered via a manufacturing quality verification that the soy containing ingredient was a substitute provided by a supplier without notification of the presence of Soy. Subsequent investigation indicated the problem was caused by a substitution review process gap between the supplier and their customer base, corrective actions are in place to prevent recurrence.

There are two issues here.  One, the supplier made a substitution without notifying the customer, the receiving company, that a substituted product contained soy.   However, while this is a supplier oversight, the receiving company must have processes to prevent such issues.  For one, the purchasing department should have been on top of this.  I find it difficult to think that the supplier did not notify them of the need for a substitution.  With that, the purchasing department would then notify quality department of the need for a review. Second, the receiving company, (AKA, the customer), was not reviewing incoming ingredients close enough to detect the issue.  A simple product and label check of the incoming item would have caught this.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/ts-food-packaging-recalling-its-rural-king-and-wabash-valley-farms-bacon-seasoning-due-presence
TS Food Packaging is Recalling its “Rural King” and “Wabash Valley Farms” Bacon Seasoning Due to the Presence of an Undeclared Soy Ingredient
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  January 24, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  January 24, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential or Undeclared Allergen – soy
Company Name:  TS FOOD PACKAGING
Brand Name:  Wabash Valley Farms, Rural King
Product Description:  Bacon flavor popcorn seasoning

KY Establishment Recalls Chicken Product for Undeclared Allergens

Custom Food Solutions, a Louisville, Kentucky establishment, is recalling approximately 105,164 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) frozen drunken chicken product due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the product may contain egg and sesame, known allergens, which are not declared on the product label.  FSIS discovered the problem during routine labeling review activities, when it found that the egg and sesame ingredients were not listed on the final product label.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/custom-food-solutions-recalls-ready-eat-frozen-drunken-chicken-product-due
Custom Food Solutions Recalls Ready-To-Eat Frozen Drunken Chicken Product Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2025 – Custom Food Solutions, a Louisville, Kentucky establishment, is recalling approximately 105,164 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) frozen drunken chicken product due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product may contain egg and sesame, known allergens, which are not declared on the product label.

NY Firm Recalls Raisons with High Level of Undeclared Sulfites

Apna Wholesale Inc of Hicksville, NY, is recalling its 7oz and 14oz “Paras Premium Golden Raisins” because they contain undeclared Sulphur Dioxide (sulfites).   The recall was initiated after routine sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspectors and subsequent analysis by Food Laboratory personnel revealed the presence of sulfites in “Paras Premium Golden Raisins” which were not declared on the label. The consumption of 10 milligrams of sulfites per serving has been reported to elicit severe reactions in some asthmatics. Anaphylactic shock could occur in certain sulfite sensitive individuals upon ingesting 10 milligrams or more of sulfites. Analysis of the “Paras Premium Golden Raisins” revealed they contained 56.8 milligrams per serving.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/apna-wholesale-issues-alert-undeclared-sulfites-paras-premium-golden-raisins
Apna Wholesale Issues Alert on Undeclared Sulfites in “Paras Premium Golden Raisins
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  January 07, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  January 22, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Sulfites
Company Name:  Apna Wholesale Inc
Brand Name:  Paras
Product Description:  Premium Golden Raisins

NY Firm Recalls Imported Chocolate Chip Cookies for Undeclared Almonds

D. COLUCCIO & SONS, of  Brooklyn, NY, is recalling its 300 gram packages of “Colussi Cantuccini Chocolate Drops” chocolate chip cookies because they may contain undeclared almonds.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the almond containing product was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of almonds through a recall foreign recall notice from product manufacturer in Italy. Subsequent investigation indicated the problem was caused by temporary breakdown in the company’s production and packaging processes.

According to the company website, "D. Coluccio and Sons, Inc. is a family owned and operated Italian specialty food importer and retailer located in the heart of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn"  In this case, this importer would be under the FSVP which requires the importer to verify the supplier is operating under PCHF and with that, controlling hazards with preventive controls.  In this case, the foreign supplier would need to have allergen preventive controls because they are handling allergens other than what is going into this produce.  This is where the utilization of Appendix 1 for process / facility related hazards (as summarized in FSCPA's form 231) is a must.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/d-coluccio-sons-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-almonds-colussi-cantuccini-chocolate-drops-cookies
D. Coluccio & Sons, Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Almonds in “Colussi Cantuccini Chocolate Drops” Cookies
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  January 21, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  January 21, 2025
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared almond
Company Name:  D. Coluccio & Sons
Brand Name:  Colussi
Product Description:  “Colussi Cantuccini Chocolate Drops” chocolate chip cookies

California Company Recalls Corn Puff Snack for Undeclared Milk

Wismettac Asian Foods, Inc., Santa Fe Springs, CA is recalling 2.46 oz packages of Shirakiku brand Curvee Puffs Corn Puff Snack Curry Flavor. The product contains the undeclared milk.  The recall was initiated after discovering that the product contained an undeclared allergen (milk). The last distribution of the product in the marketplace was on January 10, 2025.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/wismettac-asian-foods-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-curvee-puffs-corn-puff-snack-curry-flavor
Wismettac Asian Foods Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Curvee Puffs Corn Puff Snack Curry Flavor
Summary
Company Announcement Date: January 17, 2025
FDA Publish Date: January 20, 2025
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement: Undeclared milk.
Company Name: Wismettac Asian Foods, Inc.
Brand Name: Shirakiku
Product Description: Snack foods-Corn Puffs

USDA FSIS Issues Report on Boar's Head Listeria Outbreak

USDA-FSIS issued a report on the Boar's Head Listeria Outbreak that was linked to liverwurst product. The report provides information on facility findings as well as issues that need to be corrected within the FSIS inspection process.

For the facility findings, there is no specific issue is presented on how the specific product became contaminated, but rather generalized issues and trends noted by inspectors. The report states:

A notable contributing factor was the facility’s inadequate sanitation practices. Observations by VDACS inspection personnel documented in noncompliance records (NR) demonstrated multiple instances of noncompliance with Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures and Sanitation Performance Standards. While sanitary conditions were required to be restored for each documented noncompliance, repeated instances of insanitary conditions can present opportunities for growth or sustained presence of Lm. Documented instances of noncompliance included:

• Product Residue: Inspectors identified the presence of meat and fat residue from the previous day’s production on equipment, including packaging equipment and in the RTE processing area during preoperational sanitation checks. Residue can provide a substrate for Lm to survive and grow in the food processing environment and form biofilms, which can become more resistant to cleaning regimens. Biofilms are thin layers of bacteria that can form on equipment and other surfaces (similar to plaque on teeth). Once biofilms form, they must be removed by scrubbing or other mechanical action.
• Condensation: Inspectors identified multiple instances of condensation in the RTE environment (e.g., dripping condensate on exposed product and a fan blowing condensate directly on products).
• Structural and Facility Problems: Inspectors observed facility and structural-related issues (e.g., cracks, holes and broken flooring) that could hold moisture and contribute to wet conditions. Additional conditions documented included rust, beaded condensation and peeling caulk.

Additional considerations assessed by FSIS included the establishment’s construction activities, sampling history, sampling programs and raw and RTE separation practices.

The report briefly discusses inspectional notes at other Boar's Head facilities.

A good majority of the report goes into FSIS procedures and how they can improve procedures including those involving sampling, communication, and response, not only for FSIS personnel, but also state employees working as part of USDA-State agreements.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/documents/Boars-Head-Public-Report-012025.pdf
Review of the Boar’s Head Listeria monocytogenes Outbreak

January 2025

FDA Requring Manufacturers of Raw Pet Food To Reanalyze Food Safety Plans for HPAI

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has determined that it is necessary for manufacturers of cat and dog foods who are covered by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act Preventive Controls for Animal Food (PCAF) rule and using uncooked or unpasteurized materials derived from poultry or cattle (e.g., uncooked meat, unpasteurized milk or unpasteurized eggs) to reanalyze their food safety plans to include Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus (specifically H5N1) as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard. Furthermore, the FDA is issuing this update to ensure that cat and dog food manufacturers are aware of information about the new H5N1 hazard associated with their pet food products, which is an additional reason that manufacturers must conduct a reanalysis of their food safety plans."

"The reanalysis is necessary to respond to the recent domestic cat illnesses and deaths described above and to scientific data indicating that cats and dogs have become ill from consuming H5N1 virus. Manufacturers that implement a preventive control for the H5N1 hazard as a result of their reanalysis will be taking an important step toward protecting cat and dog health and helping to prevent spread of H5N1. Addressing H5N1 will require a concerted effort across sectors, including by government, businesses, and consumers."


https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/cat-and-dog-food-manufacturers-required-consider-h5n1-food-safety-plans
Cat and Dog Food Manufacturers Required to Consider H5N1 in Food Safety Plans
January 17, 2025

Michigan Establishment Recalls Sausage Product for Undeclared Soy

UP Products, LLC, doing business as Meyer Wholesale, a Ewen, Mich. establishment, is recalling approximately 400 pounds of sausage products due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen, the  products contain soy, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product labels.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/products-llc-dba-meyer-wholesale-recalls-ready-eat-and-raw-sausage-products-due
UP Products, LLC, DBA Meyer Wholesale Recalls Ready-To-Eat and Raw Sausage Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergen