Monday, November 20, 2023

USDA Issues Public Health Alert for TX Establishment's Jerky Products for Undeclared Soy

USDA-FSIS issued a public health alert for meat and poultry jerky products produced by PRUSKI'S MARKET, INC. of Adkins, TX due to misbranding and undeclared allergen, soy, which is not declared on the product label.  A recall was not requested because the product is no longer available for purchase.  The problem was discovered by FSIS inspection personnel during a verification task where they discovered that soy was not included on the label.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-meat-and-poultry-jerky-products-due-misbranding-and
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Meat and Poultry Jerky Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergen

Illinois Establishment Recalls Ground Beef Due to Complaint for Foreign Material

Skyline Provisions, Inc., a Harvey, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 5,620 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with a foreign object.  The problem was discovered after FSIS received a customer complaint reporting that a foreign object was found during food preparation.

No word on identity of the foreign object.  And it seems that it was one complaint that triggered the recall.


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/skyline-provisions-inc--recalls-raw-ground-beef-products-due-possible-foreign-matter
Skyline Provisions, Inc. Recalls Raw Ground Beef Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

SKYLINE PROVISIONS

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2023 – Skyline Provisions, Inc., a Harvey, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 5,620 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with a foreign object, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

FTC Cracks Down on Non-disclousre by Influencers on Social Media Discussing Nutrition Claims

Influencers, appearing on popular social media sites such as Instagram and TikTok. have become a important source of information for too many Americans (unfortunately).  FTC is beginning to crack down on paid endorsements where disclosures are not made, in this case, where industry associations paid for endorsements by influencers where disclosure of that payment was not made known by those influencers.

“It’s irresponsible for any trade group to hire influencers to tout its members’ products and fail to ensure that the influencers come clean about that relationship,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “That’s certainly true for health and safety claims about sugar and aspartame, especially when made by registered dieticians and others upon whom people rely for advice about what to eat and drink.”

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/11/ftc-warns-two-trade-associations-dozen-influencers-about-social-media-posts-promoting-consumption
FTC Warns Two Trade Associations and a Dozen Influencers About Social Media Posts Promoting Consumption of Aspartame or Sugar
Letters say influencers failed to adequately disclose that they were paid by industry
November 15, 2023

CDC Report on Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Cantaloupes

CDC is reporting on illness associated with contaminated cantaloupes that as of "November 17, 43 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from 15 states . Illnesses started on dates ranging from October 17, 2023, to November 6, 2023 (see timeline). Of 30 people with information available, 17 have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported."

Posted November 17, 2023
Fast Facts
Illnesses: 43
Hospitalizations: 17
Deaths: 0
States: 15
Recall: Yes
Investigation status: Active



Sunday, November 19, 2023

VT Ice Cream Company Recalls All Products After State Lab Finds Listeria Positive Sample

Wilcox Ice Cream of East Arlington, VT is recalling all flavors of Wilcox brand ice cream, yogurt, and ice cream bars, as well as Leonardo’s brand gelato after being notified by the Vermont Department of Agriculture on 11/14/23 that one lot of the Super Premium Mint Chip manufactured that day may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The company stated in the report, "We were notified by the Vermont Department of Agriculture, who was notified by the New Hampshire Department of Health on 11/14/23 that a routine sample collected by that agency of our Super Premium Mint Chocolate Chip manufactured on 9/15/23 tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. As part of our investigation, we determined that preliminary testing showed that the ice cream mix purchased to make our products may contain Listeria monocytogenes."

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/wilcox-ice-cream-recalls-multiple-ice-cream-products-because-possible-health-risk
Wilcox Ice Cream Recalls Multiple Ice Cream Products Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 18, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  November 18, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  Wilcox Ice Cream
Brand Name:  Multiple brands
Product Description:  Ice Cream, Yogurt, Ice Cream Bars and Gelato in a Variety of Flavors

Stone Fruit Recalled After Linked to Listeria Outbreak with 11 cases

The HMC Group Marketing, Inc., based in Kinsburg, CA, which does business as HMC Farms, is voluntarily recalling peaches, plums and nectarines sold in retail stores between May 1 and November 15, 2022 and between May 1 and November 15, 2023. The fruit is being recalled because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The recalled peaches have been linked to an outbreak of Listeriosis that has resulted in eleven illnesses.  There has been one reported death.
The age range  is from 30 to 80 years    Median age of 69    73% are 65 years or older

The source of Listeria in these cases is likely to be the facility in which the product is packed.  Product in these packages will often be washed and dried prior to filling in the bag.  These washing / drying systems are areas where investigators will likely focus sampling.



https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/hmc-farms-voluntarily-recalls-whole-peaches-plums-and-nectarines-sold-retail-stores-2022-and-2023
HMC Farms Voluntarily Recalls Whole Peaches, Plums and Nectarines Sold at Retail Stores in 2022 and 2023 Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 17, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  November 17, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Fruit/Fruit Product
Reason for Announcement:  Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:  The HMC Group Marketing, Inc.
Brand Name:  Multiple brands
Product Description:  Whole Peaches, Plums, and Nectarines

MA Seafood Company Recalls Salmon Burgers for Undeclared Sesame and Milk

Raw SeaFoods, Inc. of Fall River, MA is recalling Farm Raised Lightly Seasoned Atlantic Salmon Burgers due to undeclared sesame and milk allergens.   The recalled product was sold in the seafood department of Whole Foods Market stores nationwide from August 25, 2023 through November 15, 2023.  The problem was discovered after a vendor reported visible sesame seeds present on the product. An investigation is currently under way to discover the cause. No illnesses have been reported to date.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/raw-seafoods-inc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-sesame-and-milk-farm-raised-lightly-seasoned
Raw SeaFoods, Inc. Issues Allergy Alert for Undeclared Sesame and Milk in Farm Raised Lightly Seasoned Atlantic Salmon Burgers
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 16, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  November 16, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Sesame and Milk
Company Name:  Raw SeaFoods, Inc.
Brand Name:  Raw SeaFoods
Product Description:  Farm Raised Lightly Seasoned Atlantic Salmon Burgers

TX Pet Food Manufacturer Expands Recall to All Products Due to Salmonella

TFP Nutrition is expanding their voluntary recall that was initiated to include all dry dog, dry cat, and catfish formulas manufactured in their Nacogdoches, Texas, facility. The recall of these production codes is being conducted due to the potential for Salmonella contamination.  The recall, initially posted on October 30, 2023 and then expanded on November 13, 2023.

As indicated earlier, expansions of these recalls can occur when it is determined that the facility could not demonstrate that they had control of the pathogen over time.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/tfp-nutrition-expands-voluntary-recall-dry-dog-dry-cat-and-catfish-food-due-potential-salmonella
TFP Nutrition Expands Voluntary Recall of Dry Dog, Dry Cat, and Catfish Food Due to Potential Salmonella Health Risk. Recall Includes Dry Dog, Dry Cat, and Catfish Foods Manufactured in Nacogdoches, TX Facility
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 16, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  November 16, 2023
Product Type:  Animal & Veterinary  Food & Beverages  Pet Food
Reason for Announcement:   Potential Salmonella contamination
Company Name:  TFP Nutrition
Brand Name:  Multiple brands
Product Description:  Dry Dog, Dry Cat, and Catfish Food

Additional Recalls Issued After AZ Company's Recall for Cantaloupe Due to Salmonella

 SOFIA PRODUCE, LLC, of Nogales, Arizona which does business under the name “Trufresh” (“Trufresh”) has expanded its recall of all sizes of fresh cantaloupes packaged in cardboard containers labeled with the “Malichita” label, to include the following additional sales order numbers distributed between October 16, 2023 and October 23, 2023 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella

Vinyard Fruit and Vegetable Company, located in Oklahoma City, OK, has initiated a voluntary recall of all fresh-cut cantaloupe products due to the potential for contamination with Salmonella.  This comes in response to the 11/8/2023 recall of fresh, whole cantaloupes by Sophia Foods, LLC (DBA Trufresh) of Nogales, AZ, which was triggered by testing conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency which found the potential contamination with Salmonella, Vinyard Fruit and Vegetable Company is issuing this recall. Cantaloupes recalled by Sophia Foods LLC were used as a raw material in Vinyard cantaloupe products listed below.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sofia-produce-llc-dba-trufresh-expands-recall-include-additional-order-numbers-fresh-cantaloupe
Sofia Produce, LLC dba Trufresh Expands Recall to Include Additional Order Numbers of Fresh Cantaloupe Because of Possible Health Risk Due to Salmonella
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 15, 2023
FDA Publish Date:  November 16, 2023
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Salmonella contamination
Company Name:  Sofia Produce, LLC dba Trufresh
Brand Name: Malichita
Product Description: Fresh Cantaloupe