Monday, June 17, 2019

Breakfast Wraps Recalled After Complaints of Rocks....ROCKS?

Ruiz Foods Products Inc., a Denison, Texas, establishment, is recalling approximately 246,514 pounds of frozen, not ready-to-eat (NRTE) breakfast wrap products  (frozen egg, potato, bacon and cheese wraps) because the bacon may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically small rocks....ROCKS????   The problem was discovered on June 14, 2019, when Ruiz Foods advised FSIS of three consumer complaints regarding foreign material in the wrap products.   The company received a report of a potential injury associated with the consumption of this product.

The firm continues to investigate the source of the foreign material.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-069-2019-release
Ruiz Foods Products Inc. Recalls Bacon Breakfast Wrap Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
Class I Recall 069-2019
Health Risk: High
Jun 14, 2019

More Flour Recalled Due to Potential E. coli Contamination

Two specific lot codes of its Pillsbury® Best 5 lb. Bread Flour  were recalled due to a potential presence of pathogenic E. coli. The product was manufactured by ADM Milling Co., at the company’s mill in Buffalo, NY.  :Approximately 4,620 cases of impacted Pillsbury® Best 5 lb. Bread Flour were distributed to a limited number of retailers and distributors across the following 10 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia."

ADM flour with potential E.coli contamination was also involved in recent recalls under brands foe Aldi and King Author Flour.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/cooperation-adm-milling-co-hometown-food-company-issues-voluntary-recall-specific-lot-codes
In Cooperation with ADM Milling Co., Hometown Food Company Issues Voluntary Recall of Specific Lot Codes Pillsbury® Best Bread Flour Due to Possible Health Risk

Summary
Company Announcement Date: June 14, 2019
FDA Publish Date: June 14, 2019
Product Type: Food & Beverages 
Bakery Product/Mix
Reason for Announcement: E.coli
Company Name: Hometown Food Company
Brand Name: Pillsbury BEST
Product Description: Flour

Frozen Red Raspberries Recalled for Potential Norovirus Contamination

An Idaho company, WinCo Foods, LLC. is recalling 12 oz bags of Frozen Red Raspberries because it has the potential to be contaminated with Norovirus.   The produce was manufactured in Washington state.

While this recall is not connected to the frozen black raspberry recall from last week - that one was for Hepatitis A and this one is for Norovirus.   This appears to be part of the FDA sampling protocol for viruses in frozen RTE produce.   For both to have become contaminated, someone handling the product during production or processing had the virus.  And since there is a high likely the berries will be eaten with minimal processing, the virus if present can be passed onto the consumer.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/winco-foods-llc-recalls-frozen-red-raspberries-because-possible-health-risk
Winco Foods, LLC. Recalls Frozen Red Raspberries Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: June 14, 2019
FDA Publish Date: June 14, 2019
Product Type: Food & Beverages  Fruit/Fruit Product
Reason for Announcement: Norovirus
Company Name: WinCo Foods, LLC
Brand Name: WinCo Foods
Product Description: Frozen Red Raspberries

Friday, June 14, 2019

This Week in Mislabeled Product for Week Ending June 15, 2019

Labels Misses Eggs in Quiche..Can You Have a Quiche Without Eggs? - Taylor Farms Illinois, Inc., a Chicago, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 51 pounds of cheese and bacon quiche products due to the product containing eggs, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.   The problem was discovered on June 8, 2019 when Taylor Farms Illinois, Inc. notified FSIS that the incorrect bottom package label had been applied to the product.


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-067-2019-release
Taylor Farms Illinois, Inc. Recalls Bacon Quiche Products due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens
Class I Recall
067-2019
Health Risk: High
Jun 9, 2019

It Is Important to Get the Food Safety Communication Right

Update - the incorrect temperature posted has been corrected.

A food safety news release by a news channel in Virginia quotes a nutritionist at medical hospital.  While the RD gets most things right, the news article does state an incorrect internal temperature for cooking pork...she states 140F and this should be 145F.  Perhaps instead, they should have spoken with our friends at Virginia Extension.  (Someone may have already contacted the author regarding the correction and provided a link to Virginia Extension).

https://www.whsv.com/content/news/Dietitian-reminds-of-food-safety-amid-cookout-season-511241412.html
Dietitian says to keep food safety in mind during cookout season

Difficulties in Developing a Vaccine Against Norovirus

Norovirus is considered the leading cause of foodborne illness in the US.  The main reasons for this is how easily it spreads (acute onset vomiting), low infectious dose, and ability to remain active in the environment.  Another key is that the body does not easily become immune to the virus, and with that, there are no available vaccines.

The reason for this is the changing complexity of the outer capsid structure.  This shell changes structure significantly from strain to strain.  And of course this structure is what antibodies find and lock onto in order to eliminate from the body.

Technology Networks
https://www.technologynetworks.com/biopharma/news/steps-towards-a-food-poisoning-vaccine-320589
Norovirus Structure Far More Complex Than First Thought 
News   Jun 13, 2019 |

Are Nitrates in Water A Cancer Risk?

A peer reviewed study published by the Environmental Working Group proposes that nitrate pollution of U.S. drinking water may cause from 2300 to 12,594 cases of cancer per year.  Most of these cases are in the rural farmland area where agronomic inputs, septic systems and home lawns becomes the source of this contamination.  Currently, the EPA acceptable level is 10ppm, but the EWG wants to see a lower level, about 0.14 ppm.

These statistical studies make a lot of inferences based on diverse data, so it is important to recognize the limit of this.

Jeff Stoltzfus, Penn State's Farm Food Safety Educator, was kind enough to provide some facts.  First, the baseline level, or background level, found in undisturbed aquifers is 1ppm and as high as 3ppm.  Vegetables and meat also contribute significant amounts of nitrates to our diet.  Finally, there are many, many activities we engage in each day that represent a higher risk than this.

Environmental Research, online 11 June 2019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2019.04.009
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001393511930218X?via%3Dihub
Exposure-based assessment and economic valuation of adverse birth outcomes and cancer risk due to nitrate in United States drinking water.
 Alexis Temkin a, Sydney Evans a, Tatiana Manidis b, Chris Campbell a, Olga V. Naidenko a
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2019.04.009

Highlights
  • First of its kind national analysis assessing nitrate exposure from drinking water for the entire U.S. population.
  • 2,300 to 12,594 nitrate-attributable cancer cases annually in the U.S., of which 54-82% are colorectal cancer (CRC) cases.
  • Up to $1.5 and $6.5 billion in medical and indirect costs may be associated with annual nitrate-attributable cancer cases.
  • Meta-analysis of eight studies assessing nitrate in drinking water and CRC supports a health benchmark of 0.14 mg/L

Thursday, June 13, 2019

Chicken Fritters Recalled After 3 Complaints of Foreign Material Contamination in the Form of Hard Plastic

Tyson Foods, Inc., a New Holland, Pa. establishment, recalled approximately 190,757 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken fritter products due to potential contamination with hard plastic foreign objects. "FSIS was notified of the problem on June 5, 2019, when Tyson Foods, Inc. advised FSIS of three consumer complaints from schools of foreign material in the breaded chicken fritter product. Tyson Foods, Inc. distributed the product to institutions, including schools. While the product was distributed to schools, it resulted from a commercial sale and was not part of food provided by the USDA for the National School Lunch Program."

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2019/recall-066-2019-release
Tyson Foods, Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Chicken Fritter Products due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
Class I Recall
066-2019
Health Risk: High
Jun 7, 2019

More Flour Recalled After Notified Product May Be Linked to Ongoing E.coli Outbreak

King Arthur Flour, Inc. of Norwich, VT is voluntarily recalling 14,218 cases of 5 lb. Unbleached All-Purpose Flour after being informed by ADM Milling Co. that certain wheat used to make these lots of King Arthur flour has been linked to an ongoing outbreak of E. coli infections that was issued on May 24th.  No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with King Arthur flour.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/association-adm-milling-co-king-arthur-flour-inc-voluntarily-recalls-limited-quantity-unbleached-all
In Association with ADM Milling Co, King Arthur Flour, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Limited Quantity of Unbleached All-Purpose Flour (5 Lb.) Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 13, 2019
FDA Publish Date:  June 13, 2019