Thursday, April 22, 2021

The Mr. Goodtime Chocolate Bunny May Be Harboring an Undeclared Almond

Lake Champlain Chocolates (LCC) is issuing a public alert and a voluntary recall on a mis-labeled Mr. Goodtime Bunny with a Best By date of 11/20/21 that may have been purchased between 2/22/21-3/25/21. LCC is issuing this recall after a consumer reported that the product contained almonds, which were not declared on the label.  The Country Bunny Basket may contain the affected bunny.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lake-champlain-chocolates-voluntarily-recalls-mr-goodtime-bunny-best-date-11202021-undeclared
Lake Champlain Chocolates Voluntarily Recalls Mr. Goodtime Bunny With Best By Date 11/20/2021 for Undeclared Almonds
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  April 15, 2021
 FDA Publish Date:  April 15, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared almonds
Company Name:  Lake Champlain Chocolates
Brand Name:  Mr. Goodtime Bunny
Product Description:  Chocolate candy

Sunday, April 18, 2021

Ohio Company Recalls Salsa After State Determines Undeclared Anchovy Allergen

Jose Madrid Salsa in Zanesville, Ohio is voluntarily recalling its Strawberry Mild salsa, packaged in 13oz glass jars, due to an undeclared anchovy allergen. The issue was discovered during a routine inspection conducted by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. There have been no reports of illness involving the product addressed in this recall, however, people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to anchovy run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product. Individuals exhibiting signs or symptoms of foodborne illness or allergies should contact a physician immediately.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/jose-madrid-salsa-issues-voluntary-recall-due-undeclared-anchovy-allergen
Jose Madrid Salsa Issues a Voluntary Recall Due to an Undeclared Anchovy Allergen

Summary
Company Announcement Date: April 14, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  April 15, 2021
Product Type:Food & Beverages Gravy/Sauces
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared anchovy
Company Name:  Jose Madrid Salsa
Brand Name:  Jose Madrid Salsa
Product Description:  Strawberry Mild Salsa

Trader Joe's Supplier Issues Recall for Undeclared Milk Allergens in Tortilla Chips

Snak King Corporation of City of Industry, CA is voluntarily recalling 9 ounce packages of “Trader Joe’s Restaurant Style White Corn Tortilla Chips” with a sell by date of 08/09/21 and 08/10/21 due to a potential of an undeclared milk allergen.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/snak-king-corporation-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-allergen-trader-joes-restaurant-style
Snak King Corporation Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk Allergen in Trader Joe’s Restaurant Style White Corn Tortilla Chips - Expanded to Include 8/11/21 Code Date
Summary
Company Announcement Date: April 13, 2021
FDA Publish Date: April 14, 2021
Product Type: Food & Beverages   Sanck Food Item
Reason for Announcement:  Product may contain undeclared milk
Company Name:  Snak King Corporation
Brand Name:  Trader Joe’s
Product Description:  Restaurant Style White Corn Tortilla Chips

Recall of Dark Chocolate Walnuts Labeled as Dark Chocolate Espresso Beans

Torn & Glasser of Los Angeles, CA is recalling 7464 units of dark chocolate espresso beans due to an undeclared walnut allergen. The dark chocolate walnuts were mislabeled as “dark chocolate espresso beans”.   The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product containing walnuts was packaged in a container that the top label listed Dark Chocolate Espresso Beans and the bottom label listed Dark Chocolate Walnuts. Subsequent investigation indicates that the wrong label was used by Production personnel.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/urgent-torn-glasser-recalls-dark-chocolate-espresso-beans-because-undeclared-walnut-allergen
Urgent: Torn & Glasser Recalls Dark Chocolate Espresso Beans Because of Undeclared Walnut Allergen
Summary
Company Announcement Date: April 13, 2021
FDA Publish Date: April 13, 2021
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared walnuts
Company Name:  Torn & Glasser
Brand Name:  Torn & Glasser
Product Description:  Dark chocolate espresso beans

Friday, April 16, 2021

Canadian Establishment Recalls RTE Ham Products After FSIS Sampling Finds Salmonella

Olymel S.E.C./L.P., a Quebec, Canada establishment, is recalling approximately 6,804 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) ham products that may be contaminated with Salmonella enteritidis. The problem was discovered when FSIS collected a routine product import sample that confirmed positive for the presence of Salmonella enteritidis­­­. The product subject to recall was determined by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to be associated with the FSIS positive sample result.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/olymel-s.e.c.l.p.-recalls-ready-eat-ham-products-due-possible-salmonella-enteritidis
Olymel S.E.C./L.P. Recalls Ready-to-Eat Ham Products Due to Possible Salmonella Enteritidis Contamination

WASHINGTON, APRIL 15, 2021 – Olymel S.E.C./L.P., a Quebec, Canada establishment, is recalling approximately 6,804 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) ham products that may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Monday, April 12, 2021

Dry Cat Food Recall Due to Potential Presence of Salmonella

The J. M. Smucker Co. today announced a limited, voluntary recall of two lots of Meow Mix® Original Choice Dry Cat Food (30LB bag) due to potential salmonella contamination. The Company has received no reports of pet illness or adverse reaction and has issued this recall out of an abundance of caution. The impacted products were sold at select Walmart stores in IL, MO, NE, NM, OK, UT, WI and WY.

No reason was stated for the recall, so it could be through product testing either by the company or by another entity.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/j-m-smucker-co-issues-limited-voluntary-recall-two-lots-meow-mixr-original-choice-dry-cat-food
The J. M. Smucker Co. Issues Limited, Voluntary Recall of Two Lots of Meow Mix® Original Choice Dry Cat Food for Potential Salmonella Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  April 09, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  April 12, 2021
Product Type:  Animal & Veterinary  Pet Food  
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Salmonella Contamination
Company Name:  J. M. Smucker Co.
Brand Name:  Meow Mix®
Product Description:  Meow Mix® Original Choice Dry Cat Food

SnoBalls In Wrong Packaging Leads to Recall for Coconut

OH NO....SnoBalls in Chocolate CupCake packaging means that there is undeclared coconut.    
"Hostess Brands, LLC (”Hostess Brands“) has become aware that certain Hostess® SnoBalls® were inadvertently manufactured in the packaging for Hostess® Chocolate CupCakes and the packaging does not list ”coconut“, an ingredient in SnoBalls®, as an allergen. Hostess Brands is voluntarily recalling the following SnoBalls® manufactured on March 13, 2021."
Hopefully one would recognize the coconut through the clear packaging, but of course we can't count on that.




https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/voluntary-recall-hostessr-snoballsr-due-undeclared-allergen
Voluntary Recall of Hostess® SnoBalls® Due to Undeclared Allergen
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  April 10, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  April 10, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared coconut
Company Name:  Hostess Brands LLC
Brand Name:  Hostess
Product Description:  SnoBalls

FDA Releases Investigation Report of 2020 E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Linked to California Leafy Greens

Here are the bullet points from that report.  In a nutshell, cattle in close proximity are the issue and it will take more than the FDA to fix the issue.
  • FDA has found that in this and past foodborne illness outbreak investigations "suggest that a likely contributing factor for contamination of leafy greens has been the proximity of cattle." 
  • FDA "recommends that all growers be aware of and consider adjacent land use practices, especially as it relates to the presence of livestock, and the interface between farmland, rangeland and other agricultural areas, and conduct appropriate risk assessments and implement risk mitigation strategies, where appropriate."
  • "The 2020 E. coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with leafy greens represents the latest in a repeated series of outbreaks associated with leafy greens that originated in the Central Coast of California (encompassing Salinas Valley and Santa Maria) growing region."
  • FDA "recommends that growers of leafy greens in the California Central Coast Growing Region consider this reoccurring E. coli strain a reasonably foreseeable hazard, and specifically of concern in the South Monterey County area of the Salinas Valley."
  • FDA "also recommends that the agricultural community in the California Central Coast growing region work to identify where this reoccurring strain of pathogenic E. coli is persisting and the likely routes of leafy green contamination with STEC."
  • FDA "alone cannot fix this issue. Industry leadership and collaboration among growers, processors, retailers, state partners and the broader agricultural community is critical to reducing foodborne illnesses. "
Associated Documents
FDA Investigation Report: Factors Factors Potentially Contributing to the Contamination of Leafy Greens Implicated in the Fall 2020 Outbreak of E. coli  O157:H7
FDA Leafy Greens STEC Action Plan

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-releases-investigation-report-following-fall-2020-outbreak-e-coli-o157h7-illnesses-linked-leafy
FDA Releases Investigation Report Following Fall 2020 Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Illnesses Linked to Leafy Greens
Agency affirms need for new collaborative actions to build on accomplishments in its Leafy Greens Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli (STEC) Action Plan

FDA Proposes an Action Plan to Determine Action Levels for Toxic Elements in Baby Food

FDA issued a Statement regarding toxic elements, (primarily lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury) in baby foods  FDA's goal is "reducing exposure to toxic elements in foods commonly eaten by babies and young children to the lowest possible levels."  This comes after a Congressional Subcommittee issued a report on toxic levels of chemicals in baby food (link).
  •  Although the FDA’s testing shows that children are not at an immediate health risk from exposure to toxic elements at the levels found in foods, we are starting the plan’s work immediately, with both short- and long-term goals for achieving continued improvements in reducing levels of toxic elements in these foods over time.
  • FDA is "sensitive to the fact that requiring levels that are not currently feasible could result in significant reductions in the availability of nutritious, affordable foods that many families rely on for their children. "
  • FDA will 1) Evaluate the scientific basis for action levels, 2) Propose Action Levels, 3) Consult with Stakeholder about these propsed action levels, and 4) Finalize the Action Levels.
  • It’s important to note that the FDA’s testing shows that children are not at an immediate health risk from exposure to toxic elements at the levels found in foods.

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-releases-action-plan-reducing-exposure-toxic-elements-foods-babies-young-children
FDA Releases Action Plan for Reducing Exposure to Toxic Elements from Foods for Babies, Young Children
For Immediate Release:
April 08, 2021