E. coli Outbreak Investigation Leads to Precautionary Action by Wendy's Restaurants

CDC is investigating an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in four states, with 37 people infected and 10 hospitalized.  Wendy's restaurants have been associated with this outbreak and the company has taken actions to remove the romaine lettuce being used in sandwiches from restaurants in this region.  Cases include Ohio (19 cases), Michigan (15) Pennsylvania (2) and Indiana (1).

https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/20/health/wendys-e-coli-outbreak/index.html
Wendy's restaurants associated with E. coli outbreak that sickened 37 people in four states, CDC says
By John Bonifield, CNN
Updated 9:23 AM ET, Sat August 20, 2022

(CNN)Wendy's restaurants have been associated with an E. coli outbreak reported in four states, with 37 people infected and 10 hospitalized, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

No deaths have been reported.

Retailer Recalls Finishing Butter After Supplier's Supplier Has Positive Listeria Finding

Epicurean Butter LLC of Thornton, CO, is recalling its 3.5-ounce tubs of " Wegmans Lemon Dill Finishing Butter" food due to a recall from our frozen dill supplier, SupHerb Farms, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  Epicurean Butter LLC received notice from its herb supplier that certain lots of frozen dill could potentially be contaminated with listeria based upon a test from one of the supplier’s food manufacturing customers in Canada that used the ingredient in one of their finished products.

Here is another instance when a supplier's supplier has an issue that leads to a recall.  In evaluating a supplier's food safety program, it is important to assess how good their supplier control program is.  As part of Preventive Controls regulation, the supplier should have identifies hazards of incoming materials.  In this case, where a dill product is added to the butter as a post-process addition (in essence, a RTE ingredient), that dill supplier must have adequate controls in place.  The finishing butter processor establishing the verifications activities that they will perform to assure the safety of that dill.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/epicurean-butter-recalls-wegmans-lemon-dill-finishing-butter-because-possible-health-risk
Epicurean Butter Recalls “Wegmans Lemon Dill Finishing Butter” Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 19, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  August 19, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Epicurean Butter LLC
Brand Name:  Wegmans
Product Description:  Lemon Dill Finishing Butter

Capri Sun Recalled After Complaints of Cleaning Solution Remaining in Processing System

Kraft Heinz is announcing a voluntary recall of approximately 5,760 cases of Capri Sun Wild Cherry Flavored Juice Drink Blend beverages.  The voluntary recall comes after diluted cleaning solution, which is used on food processing equipment, was inadvertently introduced into a production line at one of our factories.  The issue was discovered after we received several consumer complaints about the taste of the affected product. The Company is actively working with retail partners and distributors to remove potentially impacted product from circulation.

Residual sanitizer / cleaner is often a point of discussion when conducting the hazard analysis.  Here is an example of where it became an issue.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/kraft-heinz-announcing-voluntary-recall-capri-sun-wild-cherry-flavored-juice-drink-blend-beverages
Kraft Heinz is announcing a voluntary recall of Capri Sun Wild Cherry Flavored Juice Drink Blend Beverages Due to Potential for Chemical Contaminants
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 12, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  August 16, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential for Clean-In-Place (CIP) solution to have entered the product stream
Company Name:  Kraft Heinz
Brand Name:  Kraft Heinz
Product Description:  Capri Sun Wild Cherry Flavored Juice Drink Blend beverages

Allergenic Reaction to Cashew in Mislabeled Coconut Bites Leads to Recall

The Gluten Free Bar of Grand Rapids, MI is issuing a voluntary recall on The GFB 1.2 oz Dark Chocolate Coconut Bites because it may contain a potential undeclared allergen, cashew.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the product potentially contained cashews from an isolated incident and was distributed in packaging that did not declare cashews. To date, one allergic reaction has been reported.   

The Gluten Free Bar Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Cashew in The GFB 1.2oz Dark Chocolate Coconut Bites
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 16, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  August 16, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared cashews
Company Name:  The Gluten Free Bar
Brand Name:  The GFB
Product Description:  Dark Chocolate coconut bites

Illinois Establishment Recalls Pizza After Consumer Complaint of Metal Pieces

Home Run Inn Frozen Foods, a Woodridge, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 13,099 pounds of frozen meat pizza product that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically metal.  The frozen meat pizzas were produced on June 6, 2022.  There was no indication of the source of the metal.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/home-run-inn-frozen-foods-recalls-frozen-meat-pizza-due-possible-foreign-matter

Home Run Inn Frozen Foods Recalls Frozen Meat Pizza due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

HOME RUN INN FROZEN FOODS

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, August 14, 2022 – Home Run Inn Frozen Foods, a Woodridge, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 13,099 pounds of frozen meat pizza product that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically metal, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Salad Kits Recalled For Unlabeled Allergens After Wrong Dressing Packet Used

Fifth Season announced today that it is issuing a voluntary recall for a limited amount of its branded Crunchy Sesame Salad Kits due to the possible inclusion of an ingredient not listed on the product label. The Salad kit may contain a dressing packet that contains milk and egg, which is not declared on the label.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/fifth-season-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-dairy-and-eggs-crunchy-sesame-salad-kit
Fifth Season Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Dairy and Eggs in Crunchy Sesame Salad Kit
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 14, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  August 14, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared eggs and milk
Company Name:  Fifth Season

Brand Name:  Fifth Season
Product Description:  Crunchy sesame salad kit

Sushi Recalled Due to Unlabeled Allergens

Sushi sold at Geissler’s Supermarkets in Connecticut  is being recalled for not listing the appropriate allergens.   From the store's website, it  appears that these packages utilize print-and-apply labels, so this would mean that the label was improperly loaded into the label printing system.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/consumer-protection-issues-food-safety-warning-ez-noble-sushi-ez-noble-sushi-voluntarily-recalling
Consumer Protection Issues Food Safety Warning for EZ Noble Sushi EZ Noble Sushi is voluntarily recalling the products, which contained unlabeled allergens
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 11, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  August 12, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Unlabeled eggs, milk and wheat
Company Name:  EZ Noble Sushi
Brand Name:  EZ Noble Sushi
Product Description:  Sushi products

CA Firm Expands Recall of Nutritional and Beverage Products That May Contain Hazardous Microbes

Lyons Magnus LLC (“Lyons Magnus” or the “Company”)  is expanding its July 28, 2022 recall.  A potential for microbial contamination, including from the organisms Cronobacter sakazakii and Clostridium botulinum, after it was determined the product did not meet specification for commercial sterility.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lyons-magnus-expands-voluntary-recall-include-additional-nutritional-and-beverage-products-due
Lyons Magnus Expands Voluntary Recall to Include Additional Nutritional and Beverage Products Due to the Potential for Microbial Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  August 10, 2022
FDA Publish Date:  August 10, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Meal Replacements
Reason for Announcement:  Due to the potential for microbial contamination, including Cronobacter sakazakii and Clostridium botulinum
Company Name:  Lyons Magnus LLC
Brand Name:  Lyons, Barista, Ready Care, various
Product Description:  Nutritional and beverage products

Virtual Audits - Understanding the Issue of Video Capture

 At the IAFP Annual Meeting this past week, an interesting session was held on remote or virtual audits.  While there is agreement that virtual audits are here to stay, at least for certain aspects of an audit, the presenters discussed the limitations of such an audit.  One of the most important was that an auditor will not have true view of the situation within a facility.  But for the company being audited, one important issue is video capture, or taking a video of an operation and sending it to the auditor.  This is what they term video capture.

The issue with video capture is that once it is sent out, the processor loses control of that video and that it can exist forever on someone else's file.   One downside of this is that the audit may never end.  That is, some can review a video again and again, studying it to a much higher degree than possible during an in-person audit.

Before a virtual audit, it is important to review best practice for audits. (Food Safety Magazine, May 21)  One of these is to insist on only using live video with no recording.  Along with this, all shared documents should state 'confidential commercial information'.