Savannah Food Company, Inc., in a huge abundance of caution, is recalling certain formulations of Cornbread Dressing and Bread Stuffing that included frozen diced eggs supplied to our company by Almark Foods, which were recalled due to Listeria.
With fully cook instructions on the cornbread dressing boxes, risk would be minimal.
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/savannah-food-company-inc-voluntarily-recalls-cornbread-dressing-and-bread-stuffing-products-due
Savannah Food Company, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Cornbread Dressing and Bread Stuffing Products Due to Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: January 21, 2020
FDA Publish Date: January 23, 2020
Product Type: Food & Beverages Prepared Food
Reason for Announcement: Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name: Savannah Food Company, Inc.
Brand Name: Morrison’s, Savannah Classics, Piccadilly
Product Description: Cornbread Dressing and Bread Stuffing
Friday, January 24, 2020
Sandwich Company Expands Recall Again
Lipari Foods is yet again expanding its recall of Premo and Fresh Grab sandwiches due to potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes. The issue started when their supplier notified them. The initial recall was on January 6, 2020 and second on January 13, 2020 .
This is a typical type of a scenario where a company finds that they never had Listeria under control. They may have not had a sufficiently robust program to find it....doing testing, but not really looking for it. Hard to say for sure what occurred, but further expansion of a recall is never what you want to see.
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lipari-foods-issues-voluntary-recall-expansion-additional-sandwiches-due-potential-contamination-0
Lipari Foods Issues Voluntary Recall Expansion on Additional Sandwiches Due to Potential Contamination of Listeria Monocytogenes
Summary
Company Announcement Date: January 22, 2020
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lipari-foods-issues-voluntary-recall-expansion-additional-sandwiches-due-potential-contamination-0
Lipari Foods Issues Voluntary Recall Expansion on Additional Sandwiches Due to Potential Contamination of Listeria Monocytogenes
Summary
Company Announcement Date: January 22, 2020
FDA Publish Date: January 22, 2020
Product Type:Food & Beverages Prepared Food Foodborne Illness
Reason for Announcement: Due to potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:Lipari Foods
Brand Name: Premo, Fresh Grab
Product Description: Sandwiches
Thursday, January 23, 2020
More Tahina Recalled After Michigan Ag Finds Salmonella in Product
A Michigan company is recalling tahina (tahini) after the Michigan Dept of Ag tested and found product positive for Salmonella. No illnesses have been reported.
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/five-star-food-recalls-sham-gardens-excellent-tahina-because-possible-health-risk
Five Star Food Recalls Sham Gardens Excellent Tahina Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: January 15, 2020
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/five-star-food-recalls-sham-gardens-excellent-tahina-because-possible-health-risk
Five Star Food Recalls Sham Gardens Excellent Tahina Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: January 15, 2020
FDA Publish Date: January 21, 2020
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:Foodborne Illness Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella
Company Name: Five Star Food Inc.
Reason for Announcement:Foodborne Illness Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella
Company Name: Five Star Food Inc.
Brand Name: Sham Gardens
Product Description: Tahina
Product Description: Tahina
Friday, January 17, 2020
Michigan Processor Agrees to Stop Production After Unable to Control Listeria
A Michigan food processor agreed to suspend operations after years of not being able to get compliant with regulation. Home Style Foods of Hamtramck, MI, a manufacturer of ready-to-eat seafood and deli salads, failed to get take sufficient corrective actions to get their Listeria monocytognes issues under control. From the notice:
FDA News Release
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/michigan-based-food-manufacturer-agrees-stop-production-after-repeated-food-safety-violations
Michigan-based food manufacturer agrees to stop production after repeated food safety violations
For Immediate Release:January 13, 2020
"According to the complaint filed with the consent decree, the FDA inspected the facility seven times between May 2009 and June 2018. During each inspection, the FDA investigators observed significant objectionable conditions. The FDA also found L. mono in the facility in two of the inspections, including the most recent inspection. The company was issued an FDA Form 483 after each of the seven inspections, was issued a warning letter in April 2016 and the company attended a regulatory meeting with the FDA in January 2017. The defendants repeatedly promised to take corrective actions to address the objectionable conditions. However, the FDA’s June 2018 inspection showed that the defendants have failed to take effective measures to bring Home Style Foods’ ready-to-eat food processing operations into compliance with the law."
FDA News Release
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/michigan-based-food-manufacturer-agrees-stop-production-after-repeated-food-safety-violations
Michigan-based food manufacturer agrees to stop production after repeated food safety violations
For Immediate Release:January 13, 2020
Sandwich Recall for Listeria Expanded
Lipari Foods expanded their recall of Premo and Fresh Grab sandwiches due to the potential for Listeria monocytogenes. The recall comes after the supplier of those sandwiches, JLM Manufacturing expanded their recall. The recall was initially made after environmental sampling returned a positive test result for Listeria monocytogenes.
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lipari-foods-issues-voluntary-recall-expansion-additional-sandwiches-due-potential-contamination
Lipari Foods Issues Voluntary Recall Expansion on Additional Sandwiches Due to Potential Contamination of Listeria Monocytogenes
Summary
Company Announcement Date: January 13, 2020
FDA Publish Date: January 13, 2020
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement: Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name: Lipari Foods, LLC
Brand Name: Premo,& Fresh Grab
Product Description: Sandwiches
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lipari-foods-issues-voluntary-recall-expansion-additional-sandwiches-due-potential-contamination
Lipari Foods Issues Voluntary Recall Expansion on Additional Sandwiches Due to Potential Contamination of Listeria Monocytogenes
Summary
Company Announcement Date: January 13, 2020
FDA Publish Date: January 13, 2020
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement: Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name: Lipari Foods, LLC
Brand Name: Premo,& Fresh Grab
Product Description: Sandwiches
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
FDA Warning Letter to RTE Salad Processor
FDA issued a Warning Letter to a RTE Salad company after FDA's inspection found Listeria in the processing environment. Accordingly, FDA's Warning Letter states that the facility's Preventive Control plan is not adequate. They did "not identify and implement a preventive control adequate to significantly minimize or prevent the hazard of the environmental pathogen L. monocytogenes from contaminating RTE produce in your facility". Further, "did not implement your preventive control to prevent cross-contamination during washing. "
The validation of their process was also off the mark. The facility "did not properly validate your preventive control for the use of (b)(4) to prevent cross-contamination. The study presented by your firm is titled “EPA Food Contact Sanitizer Test for Previously Cleaned Food Contact Surfaces (AOAC Germicidal and Detergent Sanitizing Action of Disinfectant) against Salmonella choleraesuis and Listeria monocytogenes.” That study pertains to food contact surfaces and was not designed to validate, nor is it adequate to validate, the antimicrobial efficacy of peracetic acid against pathogen cross-contamination during the produce washing process."
https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/country-fresh-inc-591206-12122019
FDA WARNING LETTER
Country Fresh Inc.
MARCS-CMS 591206 — December 12, 2019
The validation of their process was also off the mark. The facility "did not properly validate your preventive control for the use of (b)(4) to prevent cross-contamination. The study presented by your firm is titled “EPA Food Contact Sanitizer Test for Previously Cleaned Food Contact Surfaces (AOAC Germicidal and Detergent Sanitizing Action of Disinfectant) against Salmonella choleraesuis and Listeria monocytogenes.” That study pertains to food contact surfaces and was not designed to validate, nor is it adequate to validate, the antimicrobial efficacy of peracetic acid against pathogen cross-contamination during the produce washing process."
https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/country-fresh-inc-591206-12122019
FDA WARNING LETTER
Country Fresh Inc.
MARCS-CMS 591206 — December 12, 2019
E.coli Outbreaks Linked to Salinas Romaine Declared Over, Investigation Continues
The FDA is lifting the consumer advisory to avoid romaine lettuce from Salinas growing region. This is both E.coli outbreaks, one for the Romaine lettuce outbreak as well as the chopped Salad Kits.
"The FDA and CDC have been tracking two multi-state romaine lettuce outbreaks. Today, federal health officials are declaring both multi-state romaine lettuce outbreaks over. One of the outbreaks sickened 167 people in 27 states. The other outbreak, linked to Fresh Express salad kits, sickened 10 people in five states."
However, little has been determined on how the contamination events occurred. The investigation continues.
https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-romaine-salinas-california-november-2019
Outbreak Investigation of E. coli: Romaine from Salinas, California (November 2019)
Outbreak appears over; FDA investigation efforts continue
https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-salad-mix-december-2019
Outbreak Investigation of E. coli: Salad Mix (December 2019)
Outbreak linked to Fresh Express brand Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kits appears over
January 15, 2020
Recommendation
As of January 15, 2020, the CDC reports that the outbreak appears to be over.
Contaminated Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped salad kits that made people sick in this outbreak are likely no longer available on the market.
"The FDA and CDC have been tracking two multi-state romaine lettuce outbreaks. Today, federal health officials are declaring both multi-state romaine lettuce outbreaks over. One of the outbreaks sickened 167 people in 27 states. The other outbreak, linked to Fresh Express salad kits, sickened 10 people in five states."
However, little has been determined on how the contamination events occurred. The investigation continues.
https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-romaine-salinas-california-november-2019
Outbreak Investigation of E. coli: Romaine from Salinas, California (November 2019)
Outbreak appears over; FDA investigation efforts continue
January 15, 2020
Recommendation
As of January 15, 2020, the CDC reports that the outbreak appears to be over. Contaminated romaine from the Salinas, CA growing region that made people sick in this outbreak is likely no longer available. Consumers need not avoid romaine lettuce, or any other produce, from the Salinas, CA growing area.
Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 167
Hospitalizations: 85
Deaths: 0
Last illness onset: December 21, 2019
States with Cases: AZ (4), CA (8), CO (6), DE (1), FL (4), IA (1), ID (4), IL (15), MD (5), MI (2), MN (7), MT (1), NE (2), NJ (9), NC (3), NM (2), NY (3), OH (12), OR (1), PA (21), SC (1), SD (1), TN (1), TX (6), VA (6), WA (6), WI (35)
https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-salad-mix-december-2019
Outbreak Investigation of E. coli: Salad Mix (December 2019)
Outbreak linked to Fresh Express brand Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kits appears over
January 15, 2020
Recommendation
As of January 15, 2020, the CDC reports that the outbreak appears to be over.
Contaminated Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped salad kits that made people sick in this outbreak are likely no longer available on the market.
BPA Substitute in BPA-free Containers May Have Similar Concerns
A study out of the University of Guelph shows that a BPA-replacement chemical used in food packaging, named BPS or Bisphenol S may have similar effects to BPA.
BPA is a chemical used in plastic package manufacturing and there has been scrutiny of this chemical and its impact on health. BPA has been eliminated from plastic used for baby bottle manufacturing.
"Because of the concern about its potential toxicity in humans, BPA is increasingly replaced by structurally similar chemicals, in particular bisphenol F (BPF) (4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl-methane) and bisphenol S (BPS) (4,4′-sulfonylbisphenol), in the manufacturing of polycarbonates and epoxy resins." However, surveys of urinary levels show that BPS is almost ubiquitous. {Lehmler, etal 2018]
BPA is a chemical used in plastic package manufacturing and there has been scrutiny of this chemical and its impact on health. BPA has been eliminated from plastic used for baby bottle manufacturing.
"Because of the concern about its potential toxicity in humans, BPA is increasingly replaced by structurally similar chemicals, in particular bisphenol F (BPF) (4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl-methane) and bisphenol S (BPS) (4,4′-sulfonylbisphenol), in the manufacturing of polycarbonates and epoxy resins." However, surveys of urinary levels show that BPS is almost ubiquitous. {Lehmler, etal 2018]
So BPA-free may not be much different than containers with BPA for those looking to avoid the packaging additive.
https://news.uoguelph.ca/2020/01/bpa-replacement-hinders-heart-function-u-of-g-study-reveals/
BPA Replacement Hinders Heart Function, U of G Study Reveals
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
BPA’s counterpart replacement BPS can hinder heart function within minutes of a single exposure, according to a new University of Guelph study.
https://news.uoguelph.ca/2020/01/bpa-replacement-hinders-heart-function-u-of-g-study-reveals/
BPA Replacement Hinders Heart Function, U of G Study Reveals
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
BPA’s counterpart replacement BPS can hinder heart function within minutes of a single exposure, according to a new University of Guelph study.
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
MSG Added to Popular Chicken Sandwiches
The fast food chains are battling it out on the chicken sandwich front, and with news that McDonald is testing a new chicken sandwich, it was revealed that the top chicken sandwiches (Chick-fil-a and Popeyes) are using MSG - monosodium glutamate - as a flavor enhancer. Over the past years, MSG has garnered a bad reputation for causing headaches in people who are sensitive. It is also said to trigger migraines, those intense throbbing headaches that can last a day or so.
Many companies have removed MSG from their product labels years ago (although replaced by natural substitutes actually containing MSG), so it is surprising to find MSG in these popular chicken sandwiches.
MSG is naturally present in many foods and as an ingredient, it adds savory flavor or 'umami'. "Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of the common amino acid glutamic acid. Glutamic acid is naturally present in our bodies, and in many foods and food additives"
FDA considers the addition of MSG to foods to be “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS). Although many people identify themselves as sensitive to MSG, in studies with such individuals given MSG or a placebo, scientists have not been able to consistently trigger reactions."
"FDA requires that foods containing added MSG list it in the ingredient panel on the packaging as monosodium glutamate. However, MSG occurs naturally in ingredients such as hydrolyzed vegetable protein, autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed yeast, yeast extract, soy extracts, and protein isolate, as well as in tomatoes and cheeses. While FDA requires that these products be listed on the ingredient panel, the agency does not require the label to also specify that they naturally contain MSG. However, foods with any ingredient that naturally contains MSG cannot claim “No MSG” or “No added MSG” on their packaging. MSG also cannot be listed as “spices and flavoring.”
Meatingplace
Many companies have removed MSG from their product labels years ago (although replaced by natural substitutes actually containing MSG), so it is surprising to find MSG in these popular chicken sandwiches.
MSG is naturally present in many foods and as an ingredient, it adds savory flavor or 'umami'. "Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of the common amino acid glutamic acid. Glutamic acid is naturally present in our bodies, and in many foods and food additives"
FDA considers the addition of MSG to foods to be “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS). Although many people identify themselves as sensitive to MSG, in studies with such individuals given MSG or a placebo, scientists have not been able to consistently trigger reactions."
"FDA requires that foods containing added MSG list it in the ingredient panel on the packaging as monosodium glutamate. However, MSG occurs naturally in ingredients such as hydrolyzed vegetable protein, autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed yeast, yeast extract, soy extracts, and protein isolate, as well as in tomatoes and cheeses. While FDA requires that these products be listed on the ingredient panel, the agency does not require the label to also specify that they naturally contain MSG. However, foods with any ingredient that naturally contains MSG cannot claim “No MSG” or “No added MSG” on their packaging. MSG also cannot be listed as “spices and flavoring.”
Meatingplace
https://www.meatingplace.com/Industry/News/Details/89734
Industry News - PM
Chicken sandwich wars may heat up as McDonald’s tests MSG
By Chris Scott on 1/14/2020
The ongoing tests of fried-chicken sandwiches by McDonald’s Corp. reportedly are being conducted with a flavor enhancer the fast-food giant does not use in its other food items: monosodium glutamate, more commonly known as MSG.
Industry News - PM
Chicken sandwich wars may heat up as McDonald’s tests MSG
By Chris Scott on 1/14/2020
The ongoing tests of fried-chicken sandwiches by McDonald’s Corp. reportedly are being conducted with a flavor enhancer the fast-food giant does not use in its other food items: monosodium glutamate, more commonly known as MSG.
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