Federal Court Upholds Hefty Prison Sentences for PCA Executives in 2008 Salmonella Outbreak

A federal appeals court upheld the sentences handed down in the Peanut Corporation of America case where Salmonella-contaminated peanut butter was allowed to be sold by company executives. 
 - PCA president Stewart Parnell’s 28-year prison term
 - Operation manager - Michael Parnell’s 20-year prison sentence 

 - Quality assurance director - Mary Wilkerson- 5-year prison sentence 

In this 2008/2009 outbreak, over 700 people become infected with Salmonella after eating the contaminated PCA peanut products.  "The outbreak led to one of the largest food recalls in U.S. history, and Peanut Corp. permanently shuttered its operations.  Stewart Parnell had directed PCA to retest products that had tested positive for salmonella until a negative result was obtained, the appeals court said. The company also shipped peanut products before receiving test results and even shipped products after receiving confirmed, positive results."

Atlanta Journal-Constitution
http://www.myajc.com/news/court-upholds-lengthy-sentences-for-peanut-corp-executives/cDazByM3FkHtN1FMDeqA4N/
Court upholds stiff sentences for Peanut Corp. executives
President serving 28 years in deadly salmonella case
By Bill Rankin - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Posted: 3:23 p.m. Thursday, January 25, 2018

California - Health Officials Warn People to Be Aware of Poisonous Wild Mushrooms

California officials warn consumers about the risks of eating wild mushrooms that may be poisonous. In over 14 months, there have been 1,038 reported cases where poisonous mushrooms were ingested. Some of these cases resulted in severe health issues including liver failure.

Generally, wild mushrooms are not allowed to be offered for sales. This is because of the difficulty in determining how to approve a 'wild mushroom expert'.

 From the US Food Code - 3-201.16 Wild Mushrooms.

Frozen RTE Meatballs Recalled Due to Listeria Concerns

Rich Products Corporation, a Vineland, N.J. establishment, is recalling approximately 3,420 pounds of RTE beef meatball products produced on Dec 17, 2017 due to the potential for Listeria contamination.  "The problem was discovered on Jan. 24, 2018 when FSIS received notification from the firm that they shipped adulterated product into commerce."

A concern for FSIS is that because this is a frozen product, people may have put into freezers and not check to see if this is the recalled lot.  Another concern may be that if this one lot is positive for Listeria, what about other other production lots.

While it is not indicated how the company determined the product had a Listeria contamination issue, it is important to note that the product was produced over a month prior to issuing the recall.  So either internal testing was delayed or a customer company did the testing.  If the former, then one would expect a test-and-hold procedure for the frozen product.

The risk - although this product will likely be heated before being served, as a fully cooked product, the heating instructions will be for heat and serve rather than fully cooking the product.  The heat-and-serve heating conditions may not be sufficient to eliminate the organisms present.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-006-2018-release
Rich Products Corporation Recalls Beef Products due to Possible Listeria Contamination
Class I Recall 

006-2018
Health Risk: High 

Jan 24, 2018

This Week in Mislabeled Products - Week Ending 1/26/18

Eggs not on Label - Perdue Foods LLC, a Monterey, Tenn. establishment, is recalling approximately 530 pounds of chicken products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens -the product contains eggs which is not declared on the product label. The problem was discovered by the firm while performing routine label verification activities.

Supplier Mislabels Protein Source - Bulletproof 360, Inc. is voluntarily recalling one lot #1017088 of Bulletproof Collagen Protein dietary supplement due to undeclared milk.  This voluntary recall was initiated after we discovered that bulk whey (milk) protein was mis-labeled as collagen protein by our third-party manufacturer during the manufacturing process. 

Wrong Label Applied - Sun Noodle of Carlstadt, NJ is voluntarily recalling one lot of their retail Tonkotsu Ramen because it is mis-labeled. While it is labeled Tonkotsu, the actual flavor packet inside is Assari Shoyu, which contains an additional undeclared allergen of fish (sardines).  The decision to recall this product was initiated after it was discovered that the product had the wrong label applied to the product, and did not accurately represent what was packaged. Subsequent investigation indicated that the problem was caused by mis-labeling of the product at the New Jersey facility.

Allergens and Colors Missing from Label - A Puerto Rico company is collecting the following PACHECO brand products because they may contain undeclared allergens (Wheat, Soy, Egg, Milk) and artificial colors not listed in ingredients (Red # 40, Yellow # 5, Yellow # 6.)

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-005-2018-release
Perdue Foods LLC Recalls Chicken Products due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens
Class I Recall  005-2018 
Health Risk: High 
Jan 23, 2018 

Frozen Green Beans and Mixed Veggies Recalled After Pet Food Customer Test Indicates Listeria

National Frozen Foods Corporation (NFFC) is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of Not-Ready-To Eat IQF green beans and IQF mixed vegetables because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The recall was initiated based on a 3rd party test result of the IQF Green Beans only by a downstream customer that revealed that the finished products may potentially be contaminated with the bacteria.

This customer was a company who manufactured foods for pets using restaurant grade ingredients.  They also issued a recall for the pet foods.  "JustFoodForDogs (JFFD) of Los Alamitos, CA, is voluntarily recalling its Beef & Russet Potato, Fish & Sweet Potato and Turducken dog food meals in all sizes. JFFD uses 100% USDA and other restaurant grade ingredients in all of its pet food, and because the green beans used in these meals may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes".  "While testing demonstrates that only several dates of production were affected, out of an abundance of caution, JFFD is recalling all of the above mentioned products made from the dates of November 1, 2017 through January 14, 2018. These represent Best By lot code dates on all three of the JustFoodForDogs’ recalled products of 11/01/18 through 01/14/19."

This is another case of a not-ready-to-eat product being recalled for Listeria.  In this case, a the pet food customer who purchased this product to use  as an ingredient in making another product, tested and found Listeria.  Was this customer considering this a RTE product or did the see that there may be some issue where the product coudl be under-cooked?  Regardless, it then triggered the selling company to issue a recall, and thus affecting product sold to customers that would not have had any issue because they would have followed label instructions for cooking.

For the seller, this information needs to be part of the sales agreement with a realistic understanding of the capabilities of meeting that agreement- how the product is going to be used, what are the microbiological requirements that were stated on the specification,  will there be any testing of the ingredient was going - because as in this case, this can affect the sales of a lot of other product sold to other customers.  And if these customers made product, then we can expect cascading recalls to occur.

It is a dog-eat-dog...scratch that....a dog-eat-human food world...

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm593835.htm
National Frozen Foods Corporation Recalls Frozen Green Beans and Frozen Mixed Vegetables Because of Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
January 24, 2018

This Week in Mislabeled Product - Week Ending 1/20/17

Misprinting of Label Leaves Off Milk - Ottogi America, Inc. of Gardena, CA is recalling 6.40 ounce “Rice cake soup” food, because it may contain undeclared milk.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the milk-containing product was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of milk. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a misprinting in the company's packaging processes.

Chicken Salad with Wrong Lid - Duke Sandwich Productions, Inc., an Easley, S.C. establishment, is recalling approximately 743 pounds of chicken salad products due to misbranding - the products were packaged with two different product names. The chicken salad was packaged in the pimento cheese container, but it had “Chicken Salad” listed on the lid.  The problem was discovered on Jan. 16, 2018, after the firm received a complaint from a retail store manager.

Chicken Salad with Wrong Label  Café Spice GCT Inc., a New Windsor, N.Y. establishment, is recalling approximately 289 pounds of chicken salad products due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen, - the chicken salad was packaged with a chicken wrap label. The chicken salad contains milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the chicken wraps’ product labels.  The problem was discovered by a retail customer, who then notified the company. Following the company’s internal investigation, they contacted FSIS.

Almond Flour In Cheesecake Due to Supplier Error  - Nine Whole Foods Market stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island are voluntarily recalling cheesecake bars because the product potentially contained a tree nut allergen (almond flour) that was not listed on the product label. The issue was discovered by Whole Foods Market after the incorrect product was shipped by the supplier to the distributor.

Inadequate Line Cleaning - Palmer Candy Company (www.palmercandy.com), is recalling Sea Salt Caramel Hearts (that were only sold at one store in the Midwest States) due to possible peanut allergen contamination.  "The issue was discovered by Palmer Candy Team Members. During the packing process a peanut was observed stuck to the outside of the Sea Salt Caramel Heart."  This may indicate that the processing line was inadequately cleaned after a peanut production run.

Wrong Package Label - Bellisio Foods, Inc., a Jackson, Ohio, manufacturer, is voluntarily recalling certain Michelina’s Fettuccine Alfredo due to the possibility some packages may contain undeclared chicken with soy that is not listed on packaging.  This recall was issued on 12/22/17, but FDA issued this report this week.  While details are limited, one would guess this was a packaging error when the Alfredo was placed on a chicken and soy containing product.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm592996.htm

Ottogi America, Inc. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Rice Cake Soup

For Immediate Release

January 19, 2018

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Sprouts Sold at Sub Shop Chain

A Salmonella outbreak is being linked to raw sprouts sold at Jimmy John's in Illinois. The State Health Department has requested that the sub shop chain remove sprouts from the menu.  Sprouts have been implicated in a number of outbreaks, including sprouts sold at Jimmy John's (2012).

The Packer

https://www.thepacker.com/article/salmonella-infections-linked-sprouts-jimmy-johns

Salmonella infections linked to sprouts from Jimmy John’s 

Ashley Nickle

January 19, 2018 02:26 PM

New Development to Modify Stainless Steel to Prevent Bacterial Growth

A new process was developed in which stainless steel can be modified to prevent the growth of bacteria. This is an interesting new development for application to the medical field.  Is it something that can be applied to food operations?

Technology Networks.com
https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/stainless-steel-that-is-more-resistant-to-bacteria-296387
Stainless Steel That Is More Resistant to Bacteria
News Jan 17, 2018 | Original Story from the University of Montreal.

CDC MMWR Report - 2017 Legionella Outbreak Associated with Memphis Hotel Hot Tub

In the January 19th MMWR release, an investigative report into a 2017 Legionella outbreak associated with a hotel hot tub and pool.  While the outbreak came to light because of a few cases, many more were found through old-fashioned investigative work rather than sample analysis.

Initially 3 cases were identified, and this led them to the hot tub.  Through proceeding to survey past guest, 92 cases were identified, including nine laboratory-confirmed (urinary antigen positive) cases, 19 probable (self-reported pneumonia) cases, and 64 suspected (self-reported fever and ≥1 compatible symptom*) cases.  Of these, 70 had required medical care, and 16 people were hospitalized and there was one reported death.

Not the way to meet up with Elvis after going into a Memphis hotel hot tub, or any hotel water for that matter.  But how do you know?  In this case, "environmental health specialists conducted an assessment of the hotel aquatics facility and identified improper water treatment monitoring and low chlorine residuals (0 ppm; acceptable range = 1–3 ppm)."  "Laboratory testing of the aquatics facility water samples identified three Legionella polymerase chain reaction–positive samples from the pool, pool sand filter, and hot tub sand filter, and isolated Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 from the hot tub sand filter."   Something to be said about that smell of chlorine when poolside.

CDC MMWR
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6702a5.htm?s_cid=mm6702a5_e
Notes from the Field: Legionellosis Outbreak Associated with a Hotel Aquatics Facility — Tennessee, 2017