Virginia Peanut Company Issued Warning Letter - A Cat for Pest Control? The Risks of Ordering Food Online

FDA issued a warning letter to a Virginia peanut products company.    A summary of the key findings:

• A cat as pest control.  And cat feces in the facility.
• Sliding doors not sealed providing an opening to the outside
• Employees not properly washing hands
• Employees using tobacco in food contact areas
• Food residues left on equipment
• Old, unused equipment stored throughout facility
• Air flow blowing peanut dust around.
• Employees not wearing hair restraints.
• Labeling issues involving nutrient claims, ingredient statements, and company listing.

It seems that they sell products online, and looking at their website (http://www.epeanuts.com/), it seems like a legitimate company.   However, entering the address into google street view, this is the picture that comes up..

While I am not sure if this is the processing facility or facilities, it does seem to match the description painted by the warning letter.

Really makes you think twice about ordering food online, doesn't it?


FDA Warning Letters
https://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/2017/ucm569815.htm
Coleman Peanut Company 8/2/17
August 2, 2017

Peas at Farmers' Market Responsible for Salmonella Infections - Wisconsin

Loose, shelled peas sold at a Wisconsin farmers' market are responsible for causing 7 cases of Salmonella infection, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health.

As a raw agricultural commodity, the peas fall outside of regulatory oversight.  

The name of the vendor has not been released, so this impacts all vendors selling peas at the Green Bay Farmers' Market, as well peas sold by vendors at another nearby farmers' market.

Peas are often cooked before heating, and this would have most likely eliminated the pathogen, but we know that many people use them raw without cooking. Certainly they should have been first washed, but this may not have removed the pathogen especially if present in high numbers. but it would have helped.

ABC News 2 - Wisconsin
Salmonella outbreak linked to peas sold at Farmers Markets
By Brittany Schmidt |
Posted: Fri 1:44 PM, Aug 11, 2017 |
Updated: Fri 10:43 PM, Aug 11, 2017

Doughnuts Gone Bad - Norovirus Outbreak Linked to Ohio Doughnut Shop

In Ohio, over 250 have become infected with norovirus linked to a doughnut shop - Mama C's Donuts.  Symptoms of norovirus, which include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, fever, and body aches can last as long as 24 hours.  The highly contagious virus spreads easily, so the health department is concerned about secondary infections.

So instead of a cruller, you get a crueler.   Hey, a new way to make coconut glaze.


The Blade
http://www.toledoblade.com/Medical/2017/08/10/Number-of-norovirus-cases-linked-to-Mama-C-s-Donuts-rises-to-nearly-240.html
266 norovirus cases linked to Maumee doughnut shop 
By Lauren Lindstrom  | BLADE STAFF WRITER

Europe - Eggs Contaminated with Pesticide Removed from Shelves

In Europe, eggs (and products made from eggs) from farms in the Netherlands and Belgium are being pulled from store shelves after it was found that those farms used a banned pesticide, Fiponil, a substance used to kill lice and ticks in chickens.  Product was shipped to  countries that have received the eggs are the UK, Sweden, Austria, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Denmark and Switzerland.

Brittan’s Food Standards Agency says it is "very unlikely" there is any health risk.  However it is caused quite a stir throughout the EU.

BBC News
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-40896899
Eggs containing fipronil found in 15 EU countries and Hong Kong
8/11/17

Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Papayas Increase to 141 Cases

The case count for those impacted by the Salmonella outbreak associated with Maradol papayas continues to increase.  As of 8/11/17, infections have been reported in 19 states with a total of 141 cases with 45 hospitalizations and 1 death.

The Maradol papayas originated from the Carica de Campeche farm in Mexico.  FDA has issued warning for 3 brands - Caribeña, Cavi and Valery brands of Maradol papayas.  Recalls were issued for each of the brands ( Caribeña, Cavi, and Valery ).

FDA has issued an import alert.  (Import Alert 99-35)

Several types of Salmonella bacteria have been isolated, including Salmonella Agona, Salmonella Kiambu, Salmonella Gaminara, Salmonella Thompson, and Salmonella Senftenberg.

Posted 8/11/17

CDC Outbreak Notice
https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/kiambu-07-17/index.html
Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Kiambu and Salmonella Thompson Infections Linked to Imported Maradol Papayas

This Week in Mislabeled Product

Each week, we normally see numerous recalls issued that involve mislabeling of product.    In most cases, theses calls involve allergen risks.  This past week was no exception.  The scope of these recalls vary as well as the way in which the mislabeling issue was identified. 

A Wisconsin firm is recalling hamburger patties after receiving complaints that hamburger patties with cheese, a dairy allergen, and bacon were mislabeled as plain patties.

A St. Louis, Mo. establishment, is issuing an allergy alert on 13 German Chocolate Cakes labeled as regular chocolate cake because the product contains pecans that are not listed on the ingredient label.  The issue was discovered by an employee

A Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 2,133 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) beef products due to misbranding. The products contain monosodium glutamate (MSG) that was not declared on the product labels.  The issue was discovered during a USDA / FSIS inspection.

Taylor Farms Retail, Inc. in Salinas is conducting a limited recall of 293 cases of Taylor Farms Creamy Homestyle Coleslaw Kits due to an undeclared milk allergen.  Milk is an ingredient in the dressing packet included in the salad kit. The undeclared allergen was discovered through a quality check.

USDA / FSIS Recall Notice
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/FSIS-Content/internet/main/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2017/recall-091-2017-release
Kenosha Beef International, LTD. Recalls Beef Products Due To Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens
Class I Recall091-2017
Health Risk: HighAug 9, 2017

Black Forest Ham Recalled for Not Declaring Malted Barley on Label

A Maryland Company is recalling close to 120,000 lbs of RTE Black Forest Ham because the product label did not have an ingredient - Malted Barley.  The recall came after a complaint was made.

The recall notice states that the absence of malted barley as an undeclared allergen.  And while barley is allergenic, it is not included within FALCPA.   It does contain gluten however.

USDA / FSIS Recall Notice
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/FSIS-Content/internet/main/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2017/recall-088-2017-release
Hahn Brothers, Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Ham Products Due To Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens
Class II Recall 088-2017
Health Risk: Low 

Aug 5, 2017

Why Is the UK Afraid of Importing US Chicken Meat?

There has been much scuttlebutt regarding the UK not wanting to allow importation of US chickens. While EU has banned US chickens since 1997, the issue has been raised as the UK plans to exit the EU.  Will the UK now allow the importation of US chickens?  Well, it seems that they have issue with the fact that the US uses a chlorine disinfection step to get rid of the pathogenic microbes.  But it is not the fact of chlorine that bothers our friends across the ocean, but it is the fact that we have to use chlorine in order to compensate for what they consider our less than clean birds.

According to UK food safety expert, Simon Dawson - there is no issue with chlorine, and that chlorine can be a useful tool in reducing harmful pathogens, such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, that are naturally associated with the birds.  And there is no real evidence that our birds are not as clean, but rather is more precautionary...based on "no poultry welfare standards" in the US and "also been reports, including undercover video evidence by the Humane Society of the United States, of both inhumane and unsanitary practices being carried out".

So it has nothing to do with the fact we have awesome, inexpensive chicken that UK consumers would definitely prefer.  Hmm....I am going to Chick-fil-A for lunch.

The Conversation
http://theconversation.com/chlorine-washed-chicken-qanda-food-safety-expert-explains-why-us-poultry-is-banned-in-the-eu-81921

Chlorine-washed chicken Q&A: food safety expert explains why US poultry is banned in the EU
August 2, 2017 7.03am EDT

NC Establishment Recalls Ground Beef Due to Foreign Material Complaints of Styrofoam Pieces

JBS of North Carolina is recalling 5,000 lbs of ground beef after receiving complaints of foreign material in the form of styrofoam pieces.

USDA Recall Notice
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2017/rc-086-2017
JBS USA Inc. Recalls Beef Products Due To Possible Foreign Matter Contamination 
Class III Recall  086-2017
 Aug 1, 2017