Sunday, September 13, 2015

Gourmet Spreads from Maryland Processor Found to be Positive for Listeria

 A boutique food manufacturer in Maryland has been notified by Maryland Department of Health that their gourmet spreads were found to be contaminated with Listeria.   This product, produced by Picnic Gourmet Foods, is sold through Whole Foods and other boutique food shops.

 These types of product must be produced under tight controls to prevent Listeria contamination.  According to the company website, "All of our spreads are all natural, hormone & preservative free"...too bad they were not Listeria free.


FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm463535.htm
Picnic Gourmet Spreads Issues Recall for Potential Health Risks

Contact:  Consumer: info@picnicspreads.com
Media:  Brady Marz, Picnic Gourmet Spreads  301-983-1241 brady@picnicspreads.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Sept. 21, 2015 - Potomac, MD - Out of an abundance of caution, Picnic Gourmet Spreads is issuing a recall on their yogurt cheese spreads. These spreads could potentially be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Spinach Recalled After Low Levels of Cadmium Detected

A California produce company is recalling spinach for Cadmium contamination after trace levels were found through testing. 

Cadmium is naturally found in soil, but in low levels.  Higher concentrations can be found when associated with different types of industrial practices.  No maximum tolerance levels have been set and minimal concentrations are not likely to have any immediate impact, and even these levels would be unlikely to have long term impacts.


FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm462289.htm
Limited Precautionary Recall of 5 oz organicgirl Baby Spinach Announced

Contact:  Consumer:  (866) 486-4939  (831) 758-7810

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 10, 2015 – Salinas, California - organicgirl Produce is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of 5 oz. organicgirl Baby Spinach with a Use-by Date of September 13 and Product Code B030298-001B08S due to test results indicating the presence of trace levels of the naturally-occurring element cadmium. The recall includes 1,290 cases distributed primarily to Western and Midwestern states. No other organicgirl Baby Spinach products or other organicgirl salads are included in the recall.

No illnesses are reported in association with this recall.

Sliced Apple Product Recalled for Potential Listeria

A Pennsylvania company is recalling sliced apple product for potential Listeria contamination after an environmental sample was found to be positive.  No illnesses have been reported.

 
FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm461959.htm
Appeeling Fruit Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Limited Production Of Sliced Apples Because Of Possible Health Risk
Contact:
Consumer:
1-866-873-0468

Media:
Stephanie Schreiber
610-926-6601 ext. 22
sschreiber@appeelingfruit.com


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 9, 2015 – Appeeling Fruit Inc. in Dauberville, Penn. is voluntarily recalling a limited number of consumer packages of fresh sliced apples with Best-if-Used-by dates of 09/14/15 and 09/21/15, due to the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Cucumbers Up to 341 Cases in 30 States

CDC reports that there are now 341 cases of salmonelloisis related to cucumbers.  The California company issued a recall last week, for cucumbers, but still has no idea of how the product became contaminated.  In a press release, they stated that they have ceased all operations.

CDC Website
http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/poona-09-15/index.html
Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Poona Infections Linked to Imported Cucumbers
Posted September 9, 2015 4:30 PM ET

Read the Recall & Advice to Consumers, Restaurants, and Retailers >>
  • CDC, multiple states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Poona infections.
  • 341 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Poona have been reported from 30 states, an increase of 56 cases since the last update on September 4. 

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Cucumbers from California Recalled for Potential Link to Salmonella Outbreak

A California company is recalling cucumbers because these cucumbers might be linked to a Salmonella outbreak.  It is reported that there are illnesses in 27 states.


FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm461382.htm
Andrew and Williamson Fresh Produce Recalls Limited Edition Brand® Cucumbers Because of Possible Health Risk
Contact: Consumer: 619-661-6004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — September 4, 2015— Andrew and Williamson Fresh Produce (“A&W”) of San Diego, California is voluntarily recalling all cucumbers sold under the Limited Edition® label during the period from August 1, 2015 through September 3, 2015 because it may be contaminated with Salmonella.

A&W is currently working with health authorities to determine if, in fact, this product is the source of an outbreak of Salmonella with illnesses being reporting in as many as 27 states.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Kraft Expands Sliced Cheese Product Recall Because of More Plastic Film Complaints

Kraft is expanding its recall to 335,000 cases of cheese product because they received more complaints of small pieces of plastic film remaining on the cheese product slices.

Kraft initially recalled 36,000 cases of sliced cheese product after receiving 10 complaints (3 reports of consumer choking) on the individually wrapped cheese product when the wrapping does not completely come off leaving a strip of plastic film.

Washington Post
To Your Health
Kraft cheese expands recall of American cheese singles by 10 times
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/09/04/kraft-cheese-expands-recall-of-american-cheese-singles-by-10-times/

By Elahe Izadi September 4 at 12:22 PM

Kraft has massively expanded its voluntary recall of some American cheese singles, due to new consumer complaints about the plastic film representing a potential choking hazard, the company announced Thursday.

Food Truck Provider Linked to E.coli Outbreak at Farmers' Market

Mexican food sold at a farmers' market in King County, WA (Seattle) is being linked to E. coli outbreak.  According to a recent report, there are now 10 illnesses.

The vendor, Los Chilangos, utilizes food trucks for providing food.   Food trucks are a growing trend, especially on the west coast.  While farmers' markets was the venue in this case, I think it is important to note that this is not what one would consider as the traditional farmers' market food vendor.  However, both farmers' markets and food trucks are gaining additional scrutiny from food safety professionals, because both are easier markets to enter for boding food entrepreneurs.
 
 
KIROTV.com
Health investigators: E. coli cases linked to food sold at farmers markets
Updated: 11:18 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015 | Posted: 3:54 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015
 By KIRO 7 STAFF
 
King County Public Health is investigating six E. coli cases that appear to be linked to a food sold at local farmers markets.
  • 6 sickened
  • 3 hospitalized
  • Los Chilangos food service shut down
  • Owners working with health department
“Through a few initial interviews with ill people, we determined that everyone who became sick had something in common – they ate food prepared by, a local food vendor called Los Chilangos,” Public Health staff said in a statement.
 
Los Chilangos serves food at seven farmers markets in King and Snohomish counties, operates two food trucks, and also caters events. The kitchen was told to stop producing food, as were the food trucks that used it. 

Bottled Water Recalled Due to Milk Allergen

A Texas company is recalling gallons of bottled water after a quality review found that the water may have milk allergen in it.

How can something like this arise?  Often times milk bottling operations will also bottle water using the same equipment (cold fill type of operation).  A good sanitation regime should get rid of any residual allergens, but if something is not completed properly, residual allergens may be left in pipes or the filler.

FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm461121.htm
H-E-B Issues A Voluntary Recall On Hill Country Fare One Gallon Spring Water Due To The Possible Presence Of Undeclared Allergen

Voluntary recall specific only to stores in the Houston, Central Texas and the Gulf Coast areas

Contact:  Consumer: Leslie Sweet, H-E-B (512) 293-1220

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 2, 2015 – Austin, TX – H-E-B has issued a voluntary recall specifically for the Hill Country Fare One Gallon Spring Water with the Best By date of December 19, 2015, due to the possible presence of a milk allergen. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product. There have been no consumer complaints or reports of illness.

H-E-B discovered the issue on September 1, 2015, during quality assurance product reviews. This recall is specific to one gallon containers of Hill Country Fare Spring Water with a Best By Date of December 19, 2015. No other H-E-B or Hill Country Fare products are impacted by this voluntary recall.

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Frozen Corn Recalled for Listeria After Positive Test Result

Another frozen vegetable product is being recalled for Listeria.  In this case, it is frozen corn.  Listeria was found through testing conducted by the State of Tennessee.

In making frozen cut corn, the corn is husked, cut, water blanched followed by immediate cooling, IQF freezing and then packaging.  The water blanch temperature will be greater than 180F, generally 190 to boiling.  Therefore, any Listeria contamination would need to come from the post-blanch environment - from cooling to packaging.

Frozen corn is generally cooked by the consumer before serving, although there may be some RTE applications (although can't think of any).  Therefore, frozen corn would not have been considered a high risk product, so unsure why the State of TN decided to test this item.

Just this week, frozen green beans were recalled due to Listeria.


FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm460634.htm
Bonduelle USA Recalls Frozen Corn Because Of Possible Health Risk

Contact:
Consumer:
1-877-990-2662

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 31, 2015 – Brockport, NY – Bonduelle USA Inc. of Brockport, NY is recalling 9,335 cases of frozen corn because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.