Cookie Dough Product Recalled After Complaints of Foreign Material - Rubber Pieces

Nestlé USA is initiating a voluntary recall of ready-to-bake refrigerated Nestlé Toll House Cookie Dough products due to the potential presence of food-grade rubber pieces. Nestlé USA is taking this action out of an abundance of caution after receiving reports of food-grade pieces of rubber in some of these products. We have identified the source of the rubber and have already fixed the issue

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/nestle-usa-announces-voluntary-recall-ready-bake-refrigerated-cookie-dough-products-due-potential
Nestlé USA Announces Voluntary Recall of Ready-to-Bake Refrigerated Cookie Dough Products Due to Potential Presence of Foreign Material
Summary
Company Announcement Date: October 31, 2019
FDA Publish Date:  October 31, 2019
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Due to the potential presence of food-grade rubber pieces
Company Name:  Nestle USA, Inc.
Brand Name:  Nestle
Product Description:  Ready-to-bake refrigerated cookie dough products

Additional Companies Recall Ice Cream Due to Cookie Dough Pieces with Potential Listeria Contamination

A number of companies are recalling ice cream products after the supplier of cookie dough pieces, Aspen Hills, has had a Listeria contamination issue.  The Listeria issue in the cookie dough pieces supplied by Aspen Hills was first discovered by Blue Bell Ice Cream as part of their intensified Listeria control program back in September.  In this round of recalls, recalled brands include Weight Watchers, Ashby's Sterling, Cedar Crest Specialties and Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company
 
It is hard to determine why there is such a time lapse from the intial Blue Bell Ice Cream recall related to the Aspen Hill cookie dough pieces that occurred in September and these recalls.

FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm529155.htm
Voluntary Recall of Weight Watchers Smart Ones Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sundae Due to Possible Health Risks from Cookie Dough Pieces Purchased from a Third Party Supplier
For Immediate Release
November 14, 2016

Blue Bell Expands Recall After Supplier Expands Recall of Cookie Dough, Blue Bunny and Others Also Issues Recalls

Blue Bell is expanding its recall of cookie dough ice cream after its ingredient supplier of cookie dough expanded its recall for Listeria.   Just over two weeks ago, Blue Bell issued a recall for 5 lot codes of two flavors that contained the cookie dough ingredient.  That recall now includes all product made from February 2, 2016 through September 7, 2016.
Along with this, Blue Bunny is recalling its Hoppin' Hollidoodle ice cream because it also contains the suspect cookie dough.

 We have come to expect expansions of recalls when there is Listeria contamination issues.  These recalls get expanded because the facility finds that there are underlying issues which indicate that Listeria could have been around for some time in the facility.

Other recalls affected by this supplier of cookie dough.

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company Recalls Select Products Containing Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Pieces Purchased From Outside Supplier Aspen Hills Due To Possible Health Risk

Publix Recalls Publix Premium Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Due To Possible Listeria monocytogenes Contamination From Aspen Hills, Inc. Cookie Dough Pieces

Nutrisystem Retail Division Voluntarily Recalls One Product Containing Chocolate Cookie Dough Pieces Purchased From Third Party Supplier Due To A Possible Health Risk
FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm524749.htm
Outside Supplier Aspen Hills Expands Cookie Dough Recall; Blue Bell Recalls All Products Made With Aspen Hills Cookie Dough Due To Potential Health Risk
For Immediate Release
October 10, 2016

CDC Investigating Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Cookie Dough

FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to Chocolate Chip Cookie and S’mores Bars dough sold at Papa Murphy’s franchises. To date, there have been 18 cases with 2 hospitalizations.

Papa Murphy's is a Washington based take-and-bake food company that operates over 1,300 outlets, primarily in the US. The company's primary focus is pizza, where you have the raw pizza prepared, and then you take it home to bake it. They also sell raw cookie dough, and provide cooking instructions.

This is just another reminder for the significant risk of Salmonella in raw cookie dough.

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-raw-cookie-dough-may-2023
Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Raw Cookie Dough (May 2023)
Do not eat, sell, or serve Papa Murphy’s Chocolate Chip Cookie and S’mores Bars dough. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.
Current Update
May 23, 2023
Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 18
Hospitalizations: 2
Deaths: 0
Last Illness Onset: May 2, 2023
States with Cases: CA, ID, MO, OR, WA, UT
Product Distribution: Nationwide

The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to Chocolate Chip Cookie and S’mores Bars dough sold at Papa Murphy’s franchises.

Warning Letter to Cookie Dough Processor Highlights FDA's Attention to Allergens and Supplier Controls

In this Warning Letter issued to a cookie dough manufacturing company, it is important to see the approach FDA is taking with regard to allergens and supplier-controlled hazards.

 Cookies-n-Milk, LLC, a processor of ready-to-eat (RTE) cookie dough located in McKinney, TX received an inspection.  The inspection was in response to using incorrect packaging, which resulted in undeclared peanut allergen in the product, as containers of Chocolate Chip Edible Cookie Dough which do not declare the allergen peanuts were filled with Peanut Butter Edible Cookie Dough which contain peanuts.  Basically, the company put peanut butter dough into chocolate chip dough containers.

First on the lack of allergen preventive controls at the labeling step.  As part of the hazard analysis, the company did not identify and determine that undeclared allergens due to incorrect labeling as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard that requires a preventive control at the packaging/labeling step.  With that, the company did not monitor or verify that these preprinted labels are applied to the correct product during production (such as at the packaging/labeling step). The firm’s own investigation indicated that a lack of packaging controls resulted in containers of “Chocolate Chip Edible Cookie Dough,” which do not declare the allergen peanuts on the product label, being filled with Peanut Butter Edible Cookie Dough which contain peanuts

The next issue noted, and an item seen in recent Warning Letters, was the company did not identify and evaluate mycotoxins  in the incoming peanut butter as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard to determine whether they require a preventive control. The "facility manufactures RTE edible cookie dough products containing peanut butter, which has been associated with mycotoxins such as aflatoxin. A knowledgeable person manufacturing/ processing food in your circumstances would identify mycotoxins as a hazard requiring a preventive control in peanut butter and peanut butter-containing ingredients.  With not identifying mycotoxins as a hazard requiring a preventive control, the company did not conduct supplier verification activities for mycotoxins in peanut butter and peanut butter-containing ingredients.

FDA then cited the lack of supporting documentation for corrective action as written in the company's  response to the inspection  In a response letter, the company indicated that the "dough hazard analysis will be revised to identify undeclared allergens due to mislabeling/packaging as a potential hazard with controls at packaging implemented with monitoring and verification procedures defined” and “The Edible Cookie Dough hazard analysis will be revised to identify Mycotoxins as a potential hazard for Wheat Flour and Peanut Butter with controls at the supplier level implemented with monitoring and verification procedures defined.” FDA responded, "However, the response did not contain sufficient supporting documentation for FDA to adequately evaluate your corrective actions. In addition, the response did not include a complete updated hazard analysis (to identify mycotoxins as a hazard requiring a preventive control for peanut butter and peanut butter-containing ingredients, and to identify undeclared allergens as a hazard requiring a preventive control at the packaging/labeling step) or revised food safety procedures."

WARNING LETTER
https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/cookies-n-milk-llc-672621-04222024
Cookies-n-Milk, LLC
MARCS-CMS 672621 — APRIL 22, 2024

Blue Bell Recalls Two Ice Cream Products due to Potential Listeria Contamination

Blue Bell Ice Cream is recalling two flavors of product for potential Listeria contamination.  There have been no illnesses reported.  According to the company's press release, product was shipped to 10 states, primarily in the Southeast US.

Last year, Blue Bell shut down its 3 plants after their ice cream product was linked to a Listeria outbreak where 10 people were infected.  The company reopened the plants with increased controls and under increased government scrutiny.  In January of 2016, the company issued a release that their controls were effective, although they were still finding Listeria in the environment.

In this particular case, it looks as though the supplier of the cookie dough, Aspen Hills, may be at fault.  Blue Bell discovered the issue through testing of incoming products and notified Aspen Hills who then issued a recall.  This recall notice is posted on the Blue Bell website.  Unfortunately, product was released before these test results came to light.  Although Blue Bell states they do test and hold (product is not released before results come back), that test and hold looks to have been focused on finished product testing (and perhaps not ingredient testing?).

Of course this cookie dough is not technically raw.  It is product that is made to resemble raw cookie dough, but is a ready-to-eat product.  Being that it is ready-to-eat, it should be free of pathogens such as Listeria.

KHOU News Release
http://www.khou.com/news/health/blue-bell-issues-recall-for-ice-cream-with-cookie-dough/323180943
Blue Bell recalls ice cream over listeria concerns
KHOU.com Staff , KHOU 11:59 PM. EST September 21, 2016

Gift Baskets Recalled for Undeclared Nut Allergens After Discovery of Incorrect Labeling of Hazelnut Cookies

Wine Country Gift Baskets is taking precautionary measures of voluntarily recalling all gift baskets produced with Acorn Baking Company raspberry crème filled cookies. During production, it was discovered that some packages of the raspberry crème filled cookies contained hazelnut crème filled cookies. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/urgent-food-recall-raspberry-creme-filled-cookie
Urgent Food Recall— Raspberry Crème Filled Cookie
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 24, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  November 24, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Hazelnuts
Company Name:  Wine Country Gift Baskets
Brand Name:  Acorn Baking Company
Product Description:  Raspberry crème filled cookies

Edible Cookie Dough Recalled for Foreign Material - Soft Plastic Film

Nestlé USA is initiating a voluntary recall of a limited quantity of Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough tubs from NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® due to the potential presence of soft plastic film.  This voluntary recall is isolated to three batches of Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough tubs from NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® that were produced August 1-3, 2022. These products were distributed to retailers nationwide.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/nestle-usa-announces-voluntary-recall-limited-quantity-edible-chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-tubs
Nestlé USA Announces Voluntary Recall of Limited Quantity of Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Tubs from NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Due to Potential Presence of Foreign Material
Summary

Company Announcement Date: November 03, 2022
FDA Publish Date: November 03, 2022
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement: Potential for Soft Plastic Film
Company Name: Nestle USA
Brand Name: NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE®
Product Description: Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

FDA Warning Letter Issued to MA Bakery for Being Nasty

FDA issued a Warning Letter to a Massachusetts bakery, a manufacture of Peggy Lawton Ready-to-Eat (RTE) bakery products, including cookies and brownies.  It seems like this operation checked all the boxes on inspection sheet.  This operation has been operating for over 60 years doing it they way they have always done it.  A write-up in the Boston Globe discusses the company and their success and challenges.  It can be guessed that because they do not sell into larger chains, there was probably never a third party audit conducted.  Keeping low key has allowed them to stay under the radar...unfortunately for their customers.

"FDA determined that "the RTE food products manufactured in your facility are adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) [21 U.S.C. § 342(a)(4)] in that they were prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have been rendered injurious to health. In addition, failure of the owner, operator, or agent in charge of a covered facility to comply with the preventive controls provisions of the CGMP & PC rule (located in subparts A, C, D, E, F, and G of part 117) is prohibited by Section 301(uu) of the Act [21 USC 331(uu)]."

• No Preventive Control Plan 
• Potentially contaminating product with raw flour (which we know can contain Salmonella) -  empty bags of raw flour were observed placed over racks of ready-to-eat brownies and in direct contact with the pans of cooling brownies
• Improper maintenance - tape is not acceptable for fixes - multiple layers of electrical tape were observed wrapped around a cookie die. The cookie dough is pressed out of the die to make dough in the shape of cookies.
• Improper surfaces for holding RTE product - ready-to-eat brownies were observed placed onto mats prior to being sliced. Areas of the mats appeared to be porous, and the ends of the mats were frayed.
• Unsanitary cleaning equipment - a wire brush duct taped to a wooden pole was observed being used to remove cookie crumbs from the chain conveyor located before the first cooling tunnel. The duct tape was frayed, and there was as an accumulation of apparent food residue on the handle of the wire brush and duct tape and on the bristles of the wire brush.
• Inadequately cleaned transfer containers -  the gray totes used for holding brownie scraps were observed to have an accumulation of apparent food residue on the inside of the tote that comes into direct contact with the brownie scraps that are used to manufacture brownies.
• Non-approved sanitation chemicals and poor cleaning practices- the agent used for cleaning and sanitizing food contact surfaces consists (b)(4), Production employees were observed using this mixture of (b)(4) to wipe down food contact equipment including brownie mats, round blades for slicing brownies, brownie packing line conveyor belts, and the conveyor belts on the cookie line.
• Backflow devices needed on hoses - a hose at a two-bay sink was connected to a drum containing floor cleaner. The hose was equipped with a shut off valve where the hose connects to the drum. The hose lacked an appropriate backflow prevention device.
• Inadequate hand washing stations -  the hand washing sinks located in the cookie packing room were observed to not be operating from May 28, 2019 – May 30, 2019. Additionally, the sink located in the ingredient prep area and the sink located between the dishwasher and floor cleaner dispenser were not equipped with hand sanitizer.
• Unsanitary employee clothing - an employee working in the brownie mixing area was observed to have heavily soiled pants at the beginning of the production day (approximately 5:35 AM) and the employee’s clothing became increasingly more soiled throughout the work day. The employee's soiled pants were observed coming into direct contact with the edge of the depositor hopper each time they leaned over the brownie depositor hopper as they scraped the contents of the brownie batter mixing bowl into the depositor hopper.
• Improper sanitation procedures - the equipment used to manufacture brownie batter was cleaned with water only; the cleaning did not include the use of detergent, physical scrubbing, and a sanitizer.
• Potential cross contamination issues - an employee was observed removing sheet pans of cooked brownies and placing them on a rack immediately beneath sheets pans of uncooked brownies. Additionally, your firm uses the same oven racks for holding sheet pans of uncooked brownies prior to placing the sheet pans in the oven and for holding pans of cooked brownies after they are baked. The brownie racks, which are not placed in the oven, are cleaned every (b)(4) to (b)(4) and were observed to be soiled with apparent uncooked brownie batter and cooked brownie particles.
• Improper dishwasher usage - the dishwasher is loaded along with water and detergent at the beginning of the day. This water/detergent mixture is recycled all day and is not discharged until the end of the day. Additionally, the dishwasher does not utilize a chemical sanitizing agent. The highest temperature achieved during a complete wash cycle according to the temperature monitoring probe on the dishwasher was observed to be 142 °F.
• Inadequate hand washing by employees - numerous occasions identified where employees did not wash their hands as they should have. (see item #9)
• Probable allergen cross contact - the last batch of cookies manufactured on May 28, 2019, consisted of Chocolate Chip Cookies (which contain walnuts), and the first batch of cookies manufactured on the same equipment on May 30, 2019 (the next day of manufacturing), were Oatmeal Cookies (which do not contain walnuts). The equipment was inspected at the end of the day on May 28, 2019, but on May 30, 2019, prior to manufacturing the Oatmeal Cookies, cookie and cookie residue were observed on the chain conveyors, turn tables, cookie magazines, and cookie chutes. You stated the last time the conveyors were cleaned was January 2019.
• Improper bulk storage with the potential for contamination -  an exposed bulk size (b)(4) was observed stored on top of unopened cardboard boxes (b)(4).
• Floors inadequately cleaned and maintained - The flooring near the brownie mixing station and brownie oven was observed to have an accumulation of apparent food residue and grime after cleaning was conducted on May 29, 2019. Additionally, floor tiles were observed in disrepair with an accumulation of apparent food residue and grime in the production area.
• Standing water, a big no-no in dry operations due to microbial proliferation - Water was observed pooling over the floor drain where brownie packing operations are conducted and where employees stand and walk when packaging brownies. Additionally, pooling water was observed in an area along the wall near the shortening dispenser in the brownie batter prep area. 
• Rust and flaking paint - Paint was observed to be peeling and chipping along the wall behind the flour sifter where opened buckets of flour were held.  And the door frames to the humidifier tunnel contained apparent rust and flaking paint.
• No training records - did not have records documenting training in the principles of food hygiene and food safety for employees who manufacture, process, pack, or hold brownies

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/peggy-lawton-kitchens-inc-586321-08292019

WARNING LETTER

Peggy Lawton Kitchens, Inc.
MARCS-CMS 586321 — 

August 29, 2019

FDA Provides Update on E. coli Outbreak Linked to Flour, More Product Added to Recall

FDA released an update on the outbreak investigation into the illnesses cased by E. coli linked to flour.  There have been 17 cases so far, with the last one occurring mid-April.

Another company was added to those issued a flour related recall due to this.  Brand Castle is recalling cookie and brownie mixes.

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-o26-linked-adm-milling-co-flour-may-2019
Outbreak Investigation of E. Coli O26 Linked to ADM Milling Co. Flour, May 2019

Additional recall linked to ADM Milling Co. flour; Brand Castle, LLC announces recall of several cookie and brownie mixes due to potentially contaminated flour

Case Counts

• Total Illnesses: 17
•  Hospitalizations: 3
•  Deaths: 0
•  Last illness onset: April 18, 2019

Chocolate Cookie Dough Recalled for Foreign Material - Wood Fragments

Nestlé USA is initiating a voluntary recall of a limited quantity of NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough “break and bake” Bar (16.5 oz) products due to the potential presence of wood fragments.  Nestle stated that they "are confident that this is an isolated issue and we have taken action to address."  

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/nestle-usa-announces-voluntary-recall-limited-quantity-nestler-toll-houser-chocolate-chip-cookie
Nestlé USA Announces Voluntary Recall of Limited Quantity of NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bar (16.5 Oz) Due to Potential Presence of Foreign Material
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 10, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  August 11, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential presence of wood fragments
Company Name:  Nestle USA
Brand Name:  NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE®
Product Description:  Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Company Announcement

ARLINGTON, VA., August 10, 2023 — Nestlé USA is initiating a voluntary recall of a limited quantity of NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough “break and bake” Bar (16.5 oz) products due to the potential presence of wood fragments.

Nestle Recalls Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough After Complaints Involving Small White Plastic

Nestlé USA is initiating a voluntary recall of ready-to-bake refrigerated NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® STUFFED Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough with Fudge Filling products due to the potential presence of white plastic pieces.  The company took the recall action out of an abundance of caution after a small number of consumers contacted Nestlé USA about this issue.  This voluntary recall is isolated to NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® STUFFED Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough with Fudge Filling products that were produced between June and September 2022. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/nestle-usa-announces-voluntary-recall-nestler-toll-houser-stuffed-chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-fudge
Nestlé USA Announces Voluntary Recall of NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® STUFFED Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough with Fudge Filling Products Due to Potential Presence of Foreign Material
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 13, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  October 17, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Foreign Object
Company Name:  Nestle USA
Brand Name:  NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE®
Product Description:  STUFFED Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough with Fudge Filling

This Week in Mislabeled Product for Week Ending February 29, 2020

Wrong Formulation Adds Milk Chocolate Chips - Choice Products USA, LLC of Eau Claire, WI, is recalling 275 - 3lb tubs of Peanut Butter Cookie Dough, because it may contain undeclared milk from milk chocolate chips. Some containers of the 3lb. Peanut Butter Cookie Dough have been found to contain milk chocolate chips which were mistakenly included in the mixing process of the Peanut Butter Cookie Dough. The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product containing milk chocolate chips was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of milk. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by an inadvertent adherence to the company's “production and packaging procedures."

Pasta Contains Gluten and Cannot Be Called Gluten Free- Sierra Soups of Fresno, Ca is recalling its 13 ounce packages of "Pasta e Fagioli" because the soup mix contains an individually wrapped package of pasta, which contains gluten. However outer packaging states the product is Gluten Free.   The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the gluten-containing product was distributed in packaging that did not clearly reveal the presence of gluten. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a breakdown in the company's packaging processes.

Milk Missing from Label - Moonstruck Chocolate Co. of Portland, Oregon is recalling 1,500 / 3.1 oz. Praline Pecan & Ginger Element Bar in Dark Chocolate, because it may contain undeclared milk.   The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product containing milk was distributed in packaging that did not list the presence of milk.

Peanut and Almond Mix-up? Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Markets, Inc., a Lakewood, Colorado-based natural grocery chain, is recalling Natural Grocers brand 8 ounce Almond Clusters Dark Chocolate Non-GMO because the product contains undeclared peanut allergen and they are recalling Natural Grocers brand 8 ounce Peanut Clusters Dark Chocolate Non-GMO because the product contains undeclared almond allergen

This Week in Mislabeled Products for Week Ending August 3, 2019

Allergens in Sub-ingredients Missed on Label - Ruleau Brothers Inc. of Stephenson, MI, is recalling its 8 ounce containers of "Door County Whitefish Smoked Whitefish Pate" because they may contain undeclared allergens of Egg, Soy, and Anchovies.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered during an FDA inspection conducted under contract by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development that the product’s labeling did not fully list all ingredients and sub-ingredients contained in the product. Some of these missing ingredients and sub-ingredients contained the allergens of Anchovy, Egg, and Soy.

Peanuts in the Chocolate Chip Cookies - JuJu Bakes, LLC, DBA The Cookie Dough Cafe of Bloomington, IL is recalling 15 cases of 1.6 ounce Chocolate Chip Chilled Gourmet Edible Cookie Dough Bars, because they may contain peanuts.  Allergen issue was found after an employee tasted peanut butter in a bar labeled chocolate chip. The employee sampling the item did not have a peanut allergy and did not experience a reaction. Her observation led to the recall of Lot #19177. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the company's production and packaging processes.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/ruleau-brothers-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-eggs-soy-and-anchovies-door-county-whitefish-smoked
Ruleau Brothers Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Eggs, Soy, and Anchovies in "Door County Whitefish Smoked Whitefish Pate"

Pillsbury Releases Raw Cookie and Brownie Dough Products that Can Safely Be Eaten Raw

General Mills and their Pillsbury division announced they their refrigerated raw cookie dough and brownie dough are now safe to eat raw (on those packages marked as such). This comes due to the "move to use heat-treated flour and pasteurized eggs, creating a unique product that families can enjoy baked or straight from the package."

Cookie and brownie dough traditionally contain flour and eggs, two raw materials that can contain microbial pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli. These pathogens have led to cases of foodborne illness when that product was eaten raw. But by using pretreated eggs and flour, the product is designed to be safe when eaten raw, that is, before cooking by the consumer.

One of the difficulties has been creating a product where the pretreatment does not affect the functionality of the ingredients so that the product comes out the same as it did with the untreated ingredients.

General Mills
https://www.generalmills.com/en/News/NewsReleases/Library/2020/July/Pillsbury-brings-childhood-dreams-to-life
News Releases
Jul 27, 2020
Pillsbury brings childhood dreams to life: Cookie and brownie dough now ‘safe to eat raw’

This Week in Allergen Related Recalls for Week Ending September 28, 2019

Third Party Packers Have Packaging Error - Weaver Fundraising, LLC (Indianapolis, IN) is voluntarily recalling 15 oz. tins containing Trail’s End Chocolatey Caramel Crunch because they may inadvertently contain almonds, cashews and pecans. The recalled tins of Chocolatey Caramel Crunch were distributed to consumers through Boy Scout councils located in Houston, Texas and Corpus Christi, Texas and none were sold thru retail. The issue stemmed from an error made by one of its third party packagers in labeling the tins, and the situation has been remediated.

Cookie Dough has Undeclared Nuts and Peanuts - California New Foods has issued a voluntary recall of frozen and refrigerated cookie dough products due to a lack of labeling that addresses the potential for the products to contain peanut and walnut allergens. The recalled products are not in production and are not currently sold in stores. Consumers, however, may have the products at home. The recall was necessitated by a consumer complaint.

This Week in Mislabeled Products for Week Ending July 17, 2020

Printing Error on Packaging Results in Missed Milk - Happy Colon Foods, LLC of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is recalling Happy Colon YUM Shortbread Cookie and Happy Colon Mmmm Chocolate Chip Cookie, because they may contain undeclared milk.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that Happy Colon YUM Shortbread Cookies and Happy Colon Mmmm Chocolate Chip Cookies containing milk were distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of milk. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a printing error on labeling.

Undeclared Nuts in Product - Operational or Supplier Issue?  Flagstone Foods LLC, of Robersonville, NC, is recalling its 16-ounce packages of Wegmans Pecan Blend Trail Mix because they may contain undeclared almonds and walnuts. The recall was initiated after a customer notified the firm that the product contained almonds and walnuts that are not listed in the ingredient statement on the packaging.

Michigan Firm Recalls No Bake Cookies After Computer Error Causes Formulation Mistake and Adds Undeclared Peanuts

Wesco, Inc. of Muskegon, MI is recalling 750 units of Wesco Mint No Bake Cookie Bites, because it may contain undeclared peanut.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that Wesco Mint No Bake Cookie Bites containing peanut butter were distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of peanuts. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by incorrect product formulation within the manufacturing facility’s new software system.

Validating software - when new software is installed, it must be thoroughly validated.  Validation should continue through the start of use in production.

Verifying formulations - the strength of a HACCP based system is having double checks in place to ensure product safety.  In this case, a manual check is there to ensure the proper formulation is in place, specifically addressing allergens.  The allergens within the formulation must match what is on the package.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/wesco-inc-issues-voluntary-recall-and-allergy-alert-undeclared-peanut-wesco-mint-no-bake-cookie
Wesco, Inc. Issues Voluntary Recall and Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanut in Wesco Mint No Bake Cookie Bites
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  March 08, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  March 11, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Peanut Allergen
Company Name:  Wesco, Inc.
Brand Name:  Wesco Fresh
Product Description:  Mint No Bake Cookies
Company Announcement
Wesco, Inc. of Muskegon, MI is recalling 750 units of Wesco Mint No Bake Cookie Bites, because it may contain undeclared peanut. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

Nutty Buddy Cookie Bites Sandwich Cookies Recalled for Undeclared Peanuts Due to Co-Packer Error

McKee Foods of Collegedale, Tenn., is recalling 25 cases of Little Debbie® Mini Nutty Buddy Cookie Bites Sandwich Cookies, because they may contain undeclared pecans.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product containing pecans was included in packaging that did not reveal the presence of tree nuts. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the production processes of the contract manufacturer that makes and packages the product for McKee Foods.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/mckee-foods-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-pecans-little-debbier-mini-nutty-buddy-cookie-bites
McKee Foods Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Pecans in Little Debbie® Mini Nutty Buddy Cookie Bites Sandwich Cookies
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 10, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  September 11, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Snack Food Item
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared pecans
Company Name:  McKee Foods
Brand Name:  Little Debbie®
Product Description:  Mini Nutty Buddy Cookie Bites Sandwich Cookies

TX Firm Recalls Edible Cookie Dough Product After Packaging Issue Results in Undeclared Peanut

Cookies-N-Milk, of McKinney, TX is recalling their 6oz cups of "Chocolate Chip Edible Cookie Dough" because it may contain undeclared peanuts.  After receiving a notification from a distributor, the investigation indicates the problem occurred at the packaging stage.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/cookies-n-milk-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-peanuts-chocolate-chip-edible-cookie-dough
Cookies-N-Milk Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanuts in Chocolate Chip Edible Cookie Dough
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 04, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  October 04, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Bakery Product/Mix  
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Peanuts
Company Name:  Cookies-N-Milk
Brand Name:  Cookies-N-Milk
Product Description:  Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough