Amazon Acquires Whole Foods

Amazon.com announced that it was purchasing Whole Foods Markets today.   The food landscape continues to change in surprising ways.

Produce News
http://theproducenews.com/the-produce-news-today-s-headlines/21623-amazon-to-acquire-whole-foods-in-13-7-billion-deal
Amazon to acquire Whole Foods in $13.7 billion deal

June 16, 2017

This Week in Mislabeled Products for Week Ending July 31, 2020

Whole Foods issued two allergen-related recalls this week, both with print-on-demand labels going onto product in plastic clamshell packaging.

• Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling Kouign-amann pastries in 35 stores across Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas and Utah due to undeclared eggs. 
• Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling Chantilly Key Lime Tartlets from stores in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island due to an undeclared tree nut (almond) allergen.

While no reason was listed, one would guess that the ingredient statement had not been properly added into the database from which the label machine pulls the data.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/allergy-alert-undeclared-egg-kouign-amann-pastries-issued-select-whole-foods-market-stores-seven
Allergy Alert for Undeclared Egg In Kouign-Amann Pastries Issued By Select Whole Foods Market Stores In Seven States
Summary

Whole Foods Shuts Down Regional Kitchens

Whole Foods is closing its last three regional kitchens, choosing to move to a "supplier network to create some of the high-quality prepared foods sold in our stores".  As you may recall, the Whole Foods Evert, MA facility received a Warning Letter from the FDA this past summer for a number of minor violations.  Whole Foods has stated that the closures are due to new strategy to streamline operations and thus does not appear to be related to the FDA inspection issues.

The Statesman
http://www.mystatesman.com/business/whole-foods-closing-regional-kitchens-trimming-500-jobs/2cOj6rJ3la5LfwFvS9QcKO/
Whole Foods closing 3 regional kitchens, trimming 500 jobs
business
By Gary Dinges - American-Statesman Staff

Cranberry Biscotti Recalled After Complaint for Unlabeled Tree Nuts

Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling Cranberry Biscotti purchased from six stores in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The product is being recalled because it may contain undeclared Tree Nuts (Pistachio) that was not listed on the product label due to mislabeling.  The issue was identified as a result of a customer complaint and one illness has been reported to date.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/allergy-alert-issued-undeclared-tree-nuts-mislabeled-cranberry-biscotti-six-whole-foods-market
Allergy Alert Issued for Undeclared Tree Nuts in Mislabeled Cranberry Biscotti at Six Whole Foods Market Stores
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  March 11, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  March 12, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared tree nuts (pistachio)
Company Name:  Whole Foods Market
Brand Name:  Whole Foods Market
Product Description:  Cranberry Biscotti

California Recall of Asian Chopped Salad Due to Undeclared Allergens Packed With Wrong Condiment Pack

In California, Braga Fresh is recalling a single production run of 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Asian Inspired Chopped Salad Kit 12oz bag purchased from Whole Foods Markets stores.  The product is being recalled because it contains incorrect condiment ingredients resulting in undeclared milk and egg that was not listed on the product label.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/braga-fresh-issues-precautionary-recall-365-whole-foods-market-brand-organic-asian-inspired-chopped
Braga Fresh Issues Precautionary Recall of 365 By Whole Foods Market Brand Organic Asian Inspired Chopped Salad Kit 12oz Bag Due to Potential Presence of Undeclared Allergens
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  July 11, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  July 12, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Prepared Food  
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared milk and egg allergens
Company Name:  Braga Fresh
Brand Name:  365 By Whole Foods Market
Product Description:  Potential or Undeclared Allergen - milk and egg

Whole Foods Frozen Beer-Battered Fish Recalled for Undeclared Soy Allergen

Tampa Bay Fisheries, Dover, FL, is recalling one lot of frozen Whole Foods Beer Battered Pollock Fillets after it was discovered that the label failed to declare soy on the label, thus an undeclared allergen.  Product was distributed nationwide. There have been no reported cases of illness.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/tampa-bay-fisheries-inc-dover-florida-voluntarily-recalling-1-lot-365-whole-foods-market-beer
Tampa Bay Fisheries, Inc. Dover, Florida is Voluntarily Recalling 1 Lot of 365 Whole Foods Market Beer Battered Pollock Fillets and 2 Lots of 365 Beer Battered Cod Fillet Due to an Undeclared Soy Allergen
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  December 22, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  December 23, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Soy
Company Name:  Tampa Bay Fisheries, Inc.
Brand Name:  365 WHOLE FOODS MART
Product Description:  Beer Battered Pollock and Cod Fillets

This Week in Mislabeled Product for Week Ending June 8, 2019

Nuts in the Pesto Sauce - Whole Foods Market stores in the North Atlantic region are voluntarily recalling the retailer’s specialty made-in-house basil pesto and specialty made-in-house sundried tomato pesto because the products may contain undeclared milk and tree nuts.   The issue was discovered after a customer alerted the store.

Sulfite Testing Discovers They're Missing on the Label - Deep Foods Inc. of Union, NJ is recalling Deep Golden Raisin 7oz., 14oz. and 28oz. Because they contained undeclared sulfites.  The recall was initiated after routing sampling by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer services and subsequent analysis by Food Laboratory personnel revealed the presence of sulfites in the 7 oz. Package of Deep "Golden Raisin" which were not declared on label. The same raisins were packed in 14 oz. And 28 oz. And are included in this recall.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/allergy-alert-issued-undeclared-milk-pine-nuts-and-walnuts-two-specialty-pesto-products-sold-north
Allergy Alert Issued for Undeclared Milk, Pine Nuts and Walnuts in Two Specialty Pesto Products Sold in North Atlantic Whole Foods Market Stores
Summary
Company Announcement Date: June 05, 2019
FDA Publish Date:June 06, 2019

This Week in Allergen Related Recalls for Week Ending October 12, 2019

Mislabeled Shrimp Product - Fisherman’s Pride Processors Inc. of Vernon, CA is recalling 100 bags of Schwan’s Brand “Garlic Herb Shrimp” with date code 4A924608xx-B1 due to undeclared milk and soy.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that Schwan’s Garlic Herb Shrimp #567 was found in cases labeled Schwan’s Shrimp Scampi #530. Subsequent investigation found packaging of Schwan’s Garlic Herb Shrimp #567 was used to package Schwan’s Shrimp Scampi #530.

Labeling Misses Nuts - California New Foods has expanded its voluntary recall of frozen cookie dough products due to a lack of labeling that addresses the potential for the products to contain peanut and walnut allergens.

Missing Milk and Egg on Label - Four Whole Foods Market stores in the Midwest region are voluntarily recalling White Parkerhouse Rolls because they may contain undeclared milk and egg

Fruit Pies Recalled Due to Undeclared Allergens on Print-and-Apply Label

Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling select whole and sliced Apple and Cherry Pies from five stores in the Mid-Atlantic Region because they contain undeclared milk and egg.  All affected product has been removed from store shelves and no allergic reactions have been reported to date. The mislabeling issue was discovered by a Whole Foods Market team member after inspecting the ingredients on the scale label.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/allergy-alert-issued-undeclared-milk-and-egg-apple-and-cherry-pies-sold-five-whole-foods-market
Allergy Alert Issued for Undeclared Milk and Egg in Apple and Cherry Pies Sold at Five Whole Foods Market Stores in Mid-Atlantic Region
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 24, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  September 24, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared milk and eggs

Company Name: Whole Foods Market
Brand Name:  Whole Foods Market
Product Description:  Apple Pie and Cherry Pie

This Week in Mislabeled Food Products for Week Ending July 4, 2020

Carrot Cake Labeled as Red Velvet Cheesecake - Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling Red Velvet Cheesecake Slices from 36 stores in California, Boise, Idaho, and Reno, Nevada, due to an undeclared tree nut (walnut) allergen. The recall was initiated when a store began individually packaging the product and discovered the manufacturer had mislabeled the product as Red Velvet Layered Cheesecake when it contained Carrot Cake Layered Cheesecake instead. The product was sold by the slice in plastic clamshell containers with Whole Foods Market scale labels,

Dairy Free Ice Cream Contains Real Ice Cream - Beyond Better Foods, LLC, is recalling select pints from a single production run of Enlightened brand Chocolate Peanut Butter ice cream pints because they may have been packaged in Dairy-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter containers and thus contain undeclared milk ingredients. This recall is the result of mislabeled product. Specifically, one lot of Chocolate Peanut Butter ice cream was mistakenly filled in pint sized Enlightened brand Dairy-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter pint containers. These packages have a base container labeled “Dairy-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter” and a lid labeled “Chocolate Peanut Butter” without a “Dairy-Free” callout.

Supplier Mixes Peanuts into Pretzels - Mount Franklin Foods, LLC dba Azar Nut Company of El Paso, TX is voluntarily recalling its 5-ounce packages of "7-Select Yogurt Pretzels" because they may contain undeclared peanuts. The recall was initiated after discovering a peanut-containing product mixed with pretzels from a third-party supplier during the repackaging process of the "7-Select Yogurt Pretzels" which does not include peanuts in the declared allergens. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by an isolated incident whereby inclusion occurred during the sample inspection process. Production of the "7-Select Yogurt Pretzels” has been suspended until FDA and the company are certain that the problem has been corrected.

Label Missing Egg - Trident Seafoods is recalling Gordon Choice® Imitation Crab Supreme Style, because it may contain undeclared egg white. The recall was initiated after it was discovered through internal product and label review that product containing egg white was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of eggs.

Keeping Up with the Changing World of Online Food Sales

With the purchase of Whole Foods by Amazon, the world of online food sales has been changing rapidly.  There have been a number of entities trying to determine what will work best to meet consumer needs, including grocery stores, restaurants, delivery companies, and meal kit companies.  Food manufacturers must understand the needs of these channels be able to adapt to the channel requirements.

Online food sales have come in a number of different forms including restaurants and delivery services (ie Grubhub) delivering restaurant foods, new food companies making and shipping meal kits, and  traditional supermarkets providing online ordering with either delivery or quick pickup.

This week, Amazon announced that they were introducing food delivery into 10 new cities to have a total of 38 cities where delivery is being offered.

But Amazon is a small player in overall grocery market, with its Whole Foods accounting for only about 2.5% of the sales.  Despite all the news involving Amazon, Walmart has the largest market share in the grocery arena, increasing it's total of the US market to a massive 25% share.  And Walmart has been pushing its on-line ordering with store pickup.  Currently, Walmart is testing kiosks that are essentially vending machines for customer pickup that allows the customer to pickup food ordered online without having to interact with any store employee.  Other chains selling grocery such as Target and Kroger are also moving further into developing systems for online ordering / delivery systems.

While full-time meal delivery companies, such as Blue Apron and Plated, have had a tough go at it on their own, some have come to find that being married to a grocery store may provide salvation.  Even Walmart has partnered with the meal kit company Gobble to sell meal kits online.  Peapod, an online grocery delivery service and subsidiary of Ahold Delhaize is slated to roll out 40 new meal kits over the coming months.

Fully prepared meals have been more of a challenge for grocery store online sales, and while that segment has done well for in-store sales, delivering prepared meals is a bit more of a challenge with regards to packaging and temperature control.

For those selling food within this online environment, it is hard to know what is going to stick with the consumer and what isn't, so there will continue to be a lot of experimentation. But is important for companies who do not want to get lost in the shuffle, so they must continually evolve through testing concepts and adapting to customer needs.

And customer needs will continue to change as well in term of how they want to purchase food.  Certainly, guessing what the Millennials will do as they reach the point where they become primary purchasers has been difficult.  For this segment, growing up in the digital age means that they are more reliant on technology for doing what they want to do.  And while many older consumers will still want to pick out their own broccoli or cut of meat, others may begin to opt for convenience that comes with online ordering.

For the food manufacturer, ongoing change requires that they are willing to adapt to fit what delivery channel stores choose to use.  This may be in terms of packaging that will fit into a store delivery system or meal kit.   Product quality may become a bigger factor in that the consumer will not be choosing the product at the store, but rather, will be paying a premium for delivered items.  Because of this, they may have higher expectations for what shows up at their door.

Customer-direct food sales from processors or online distributors is another online component that has found its mark in certain areas.    "Direct product sales by the manufacturer in the online marketplace has become an important channel for some companies. Those companies selling products like wine, balsamic vinegar or high-end olive oil can take advantage of additional volume sold through making their products available to a much broader audience. These types of products, especially ones with brand recognition, are likely to provide the larger price markup needed to support the costs associated with protective packaging and ground shipment. Since these products are shelf-stable, there is normally minimal risk with the exception of product damage or breakage."

"Direct sales are not limited to shelf-stable products as there are a number of companies who have
carved out a niche in the sale of perishable goods, including those selling high-end cuts of meat or specialty meat products."

Online direct sales is not without its challenges.  Package integrity, temperature control, and product recovery due to lost product or complaints can be a challenge.

Online food sales and delivery will continue to evolve.  It is not a matter of whether it will gain in terms of sales, but how much.  And who will be best positioned to take advantage.

CNN tech
https://money.cnn.com/2018/08/28/technology/business/amazon-whole-foods-365-walmart-kroger-costco-grocery/index.html
Amazon-Whole Foods one year later: The grocery business will never be the same
by Nathaniel Meyersohn @CNNMoney
August 28, 2018: 3:33 PM ET

This Week In Mislabeled Products for Week Ending October 30, 2020

Improperly Designed Label Issue - Russ Davis Wholesale of Wadena, Minnesota is recalling individual serving cups of Mixed Veggie Cup with Dip because it may contain undeclared Egg.  The issue was discovered by Quality Control team during a routine label audit, where egg was noted on the dressing ingredient and was not reflected on the finished product label.

More Print and Apply Label Issues - Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling select prepared Macaroni & Cheese products from stores across five states because they contain undeclared egg. 

Regular Breaded Halibut Put in Gluten-Free Box - Orca Bay Foods of Seattle, WA is recalling 4,450 lb. (356 cases) of 10 oz. retail box Trader Joe's brand Gluten Free Battered Halibut SKU 00503822, because it contains undeclared wheat and milk allergens.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product containing Wheat and Milk was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of the allergens.

Whole Foods Red Lentil Dal Recalled After Supplier Issues Recall for Listeria

Bakkavor USA of Charlotte, North Carolina announced a voluntary recall of Whole Foods Market Red Lentil Dal, which includes Pickled Curry Cauliflower, an ingredient produced by Doux South Specialties, LLC because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes  On April 19th, 2022, Bakkavor USA was informed by Doux South Specialties, LLC of their Pickled Curry Cauliflower recall. Bakkavor USA immediately ceased the production and distribution of the Whole Foods Market Red Lentil Dal containing the Pickled Curry Cauliflower. The FDA and Doux South Specialties, LLC are continuing their investigation as to what caused the problem.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/bakkavor-usa-issues-voluntary-recall-whole-foods-market-red-lentil-dal-because-possible-health-risk
Bakkavor USA Issues Voluntary Recall of Whole Foods Market Red Lentil Dal Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  April 21, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  April 21, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Listeria monocytogenes contamination
Company Name:  Bakkavor USA
Brand Name:  Whole Foods Market
Product Description:  Red Lentil Dal, which includes Pickled Curry Cauliflower

Chicken Salad Recalled for Being Tuna Salad - Allergen Mislabeling

Whole Foods is recalling chicken salad product that contains...tuna salad.  While this mislabeling issue may seem small and easy to make, it is reason for a Class I recall due to undeclared allergens, in this case, fish in the product but not on the label.  The issue was discovered at store level as store employees were unpacking the product.

According to the report, this company had a similar issue in the past.  In January of 2017, they shipped egg salad labeled as chicken salad.  Again, this is a allergen mislabeling issue.  This would be where one would want to have an Allergen Preventive Control or a Critical Control Point to ensure the labels match the product produced.

It seems that Jessica Simpson made the same mistake...thinking Chicken of the Sea was chicken.  Don't be like Jessica Simpson, control your labels!

USDA Recall Notice
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2017/recall-080-2017-release
Willow Tree Poultry Farm Recalls Chicken Salad Products Due To Misbranding And Undeclared Allergens
Class I Recall 080-2017
Health Risk: High
Jul 1, 2017

Whole Foods Recalls Dipping Caramel for Undeclared Wheat

Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling Dipping Caramel from five stores in Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska because the product may contain wheat, which is not declared on the product label.  The mislabeling issue was discovered by a store employee. No illnesses have been reported to date.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/whole-foods-market-issues-allergy-alert-dipping-caramel-sold-five-stores-colorado-kansas-and
Whole Foods Market Issues Allergy Alert for Dipping Caramel Sold in Five Stores in Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 27, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  October 27, 2022
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared wheat
Company Name:  Whole Foods Market
Brand Name:  Whole Foods Market
Product Description:  Dipping caramel

French Creme Cheese Recalled Due to Listeria Positive Sample

Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling Explorateur French Triple Crème cheese from nine stores located in six different states after the grocery store chain was notified by a distributor of a positive test result for Listeria monocytogenes.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm604172.htm

Nine Whole Foods Market Stores Issue Voluntary Recall for Explorateur French Triple Creme Cheese Due to Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
April 9, 2018

This Week in Mislabeled Food Products for November 24, 2020

Shrimp Labeled as Chicken...Those Darn In-Store Print-and-Apply Labels - Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling packaged popcorn chicken with sweet chili sauce across 26 stores in Northern California and Reno, Nevada. The product is being recalled because it may contain undeclared shellfish (shrimp) that was not listed on the product label due to mislabeling. The product was sold in plastic containers in the prepared foods department and was labeled as “Popcorn Chicken Shaker with Sweet Chili” with sell by dates through Nov. 27, 2020. 



How many issues have we had now related to store level errors on these labels?

FDA Issues Warning Letter to Whole Foods for Ongoing Series of Allergen Recalls

FDA issued a Warning Letter to Whole Foods after a long series of recalls. FDA cited 32 recalls over the past year. (Certainly, it is about time.)

"These recalls demonstrate that your corporation engaged in a pattern of receiving and offering for sale misbranded food products. For the time period of October 2019 to November 2020, your firm recalled 32 food products due to undeclared allergen(s). We noticed similar patterns of numerous recalls for undeclared allergens in previous years as well."

Here is a sampling of the reasons why allergen labeling errors occurred.

• F‐0925‐2020 - mislabeling occurred because your internal labeling system for the repackaging of food products was not updated to reflect the current ingredient listing for the product.
• F‐0408‐2020 - contract manufacturer packaged a Butter Cookies & Sweet Cream Italian Gelato product with the incorrect Raspberry Cheesecake Italian Gelato label thereby causing the product to have the incorrect ingredient declaration and undeclared egg.
• F‐0131‐2020 - mislabeling occurred because your retail employees applied a label which did not reflect the ingredient listing on the manufacturer’s label. This caused the product to have undeclared milk and eggs.
• F‐1048‐202 -  mislabeling occurred because the ingredient statement, which included almond flour, on the master carton was not fully transferred to the scale label used for the individual containers.
• F‐1354‐2020 to F‐1362‐2020 -  mislabeling occurred because not all of your regions had updated their scale ingredient statement to include the egg allergen. This caused the product to have undeclared eggs.

It comes down to this.....the mass retailer buys and sells a lot of specialty products.  Information must be passed from the manufacturer down through to the distribution centers and stores (wherever the items are labeled,  often use print-on-demand label printers).  If communication and technology input procedures are not tight, there is a lot of room for error.  But not impossible, as many other retailers do the same thing with far fewer issues.

FDA Warning Letter
https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/whole-foods-market-610862-12162020?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Whole Foods Market
MARCS-CMS 610862 — December 16, 2020 

This Week in Mislabeled Products for Week Ending February 8, 2020

Two print-and-apply labels developed incorrectly in that they missed allergens.

New Seasons Market has issued a recall for a total of 30 Grab N' Go Vegetarian Lasagna w/ Gluten-Free Pasta units (UPC 52390), with packed on dates 2/1-2/3, and sell by dates 2/6-2/9.  This product is being voluntarily recalled due to the presence of an undeclared allergen (soy).

Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling select bundt cakes and chocolate dipped cookies from stores in Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia and Washington D.C. because they contain undeclared milk.  I guess they just missed the milk as an ingredient when designing the labels.  (But notice the precautionary label - made in a facility that processes 'everything'...so like it's a cake facility....chocolate cakes...fish cakes, crab cakes,.....)

Whole Foods Market Recalls Zerto Fontal Cheese for Undeclared Egg

Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling Zerto Fontal cheese from fifty-four stores in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York because the product contains egg lysozyme, an egg white protein, which is not declared on the product label. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/whole-foods-market-issues-allergy-alert-zerto-fontal-cheese-sold-connecticut-new-jersey-and-new-york
Whole Foods Market Issues Allergy Alert for Zerto Fontal Cheese Sold in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York
Company Announcement Date:September 30, 2022
FDA Publish Date:September 30, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Product labeling fails to declare eggs
Company Name:  Whole Foods
Brand Name:  Zerto Fontal
Product Description:  “Zerto Fontal”, Cheese