Super Bowl and Chicken Wings

According to the National Chicken Council, Americans will consume 1.5 billion chicken wings during the day of the Super Bowl.

"This year’s projection is flat compared to 2023, with USDA reporting chicken production levels are slightly down from last year and wing stocks in cold storage down 13% in November compared to the year prior. This could explain the higher demand and thus the higher wholesale prices we are seeing on wings. At the retail level, fresh chicken wing prices are down approximately 5%, and frozen wing prices are down 11% compared to January of 2023, according to Circana data."

At Wings Over here in State College, 50 wings will cost you $68. At Buffalo Wild Wings in King of Prussia, a similar price of $67.  Remember to pre-order your wings as many establishments will run out of supply.

If one wishes to cook their own wings, food safety is a must ensuring that the internal meat has reached a temperature of 165F.  Nothing worse than a raw, rubbery chicken wing.  USDA provides some alternate cooking methods (below).

Will you be eating wings?  If so, what is your favorite sauce?


National Chicken Council
https://www.nationalchickencouncil.org/americans-to-eat-1-45-billion-chicken-wings-for-the-big-game/
Americans to Eat 1.45 Billion Chicken Wings for the Big Game

January 31, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the second biggest eating day of the year after Thanksgiving upon us, there’s no hotter time for chicken wings. According to the National Chicken Council’s 2024 Wing Report, Americans will devour 1.45 billion wings while watching Kansas City and San Francisco battle for the championship trophy.

Raw Milk from Central PA Dairy Linked to Over 10 Cases of Campylobacter Infection

There have been more than 10 reported cases of Campylobacter infection linked to the consumption of raw milk from a Pennsylvania dairy, Conoco View Dairy in Blain, PA.  The dairy distributes milk to about 5 counties in central PA.  From this report, "Although the source of the bacteria has been determined, the Department of Agriculture said specific production dates could not be identified, meaning consumers should throw away all Conoco View Dairy products regardless of how recent the purchase was."

"Individuals infected with Campylobacter typically experience loose, watery stools accompanied by a fever, nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps — usually within two to five days after consuming the tainted products — the release said."

Pennlive.com
https://www.pennlive.com/health/2024/01/contaminated-raw-milk-sold-in-several-central-pa-counties-prompting-warning.html
Contaminated raw milk sold in several central Pa. counties, prompting warning
Updated: Jan. 31, 2024, 5:21 p.m.|Published: Jan. 30, 2024, 7:16 p.m.

By Madison Montag | mmontag@pennlive.com

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture issued a release Tuesday evening advising consumers in multiple counties to discard any raw milk sold by Conoco View Dairy.

In Memoriam - Dr. Nelson Cox

I have been fortunate over the years to have known many great food microbiologists. One of them, Dr. Nelson Cox, recently passed. A top-notch researcher with USDA ARS in Athens GA, he was a bigger-than-life personality that captured the attention of the room as soon as he entered.  He has published a extensively (close to 400 papers are on Reseachgate), primarily focused on pathogens that are associated with poultry.

https://www.onlineathens.com/obituaries/pgsc0704484
Dr. Nelson Anthony Cox, Jr.

Dr. Nelson Anthony Cox Jr., an award-winning research microbiologist who spent his career helping to protect the safety of the nation’s food supply, died on Thursday, January 25, 2024. He was 81 years old. Dr. Cox spent over 50 years as a research microbiologist working with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service, where he was one of the first young scientists hired to the staff of the Russell Research Center in Athens, Ga. Since retiring in 2022, he has split his time between Athens and Cary, North Carolina.

Illinois Establishment Recalls Chicken Flavored Base Containing Beef Base with Soy Allergen

Vanee Foods, a Broadview, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 9,564 pounds of chicken flavored base product due to misbranding and undeclared allergens.  The problem was discovered when the recalling firm notified FSIS that they shipped beef base product that may be incorrectly labeled as chicken flavored base.  The product labeled as chicken flavored base may actually contain beef base, which contains soy and wheat, known allergens, that are not declared on the product label.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/vanee-foods-recalls-chicken-flavored-base-products-due-misbranding-and-undeclared
Vanee Foods Recalls Chicken Flavored Base Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens

FSIS Announcement
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2024 - Vanee Foods, a Broadview, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 9,564 pounds of chicken flavored base product due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product labeled as chicken flavored base may actually contain beef base, which contains soy and wheat, known allergens, that are not declared on the product label.

MD Firm Issues Additional Recall for Soybean Sprout Product Potentially Contaminated with Listeria

Nam & Son of MD, Jessup, MD is recalling one-pound bags of soybean sprouts, with the sell-by date of December 21, 2023, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The company had posted a recall on December 28, 2023 for soybean sprout product with a different sell by date (12/14/2023)

"The recall was initiated after a random sample was collected and analyzed by the state of Maryland, which resulted in confirmation of presence Listeria Monocytogenes in the product. The company has actively started investigating the root cause of the problem. All retail stores who have this “Sell By” date on the packaging should remove this product from their shelves"

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/nam-son-md-recalls-soybean-sprouts-because-possible-health-risk-0
Nam & Son of MD Recalls Soybean Sprouts Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  February 01, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  February 01, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination
Company Name:  Nam & Son
Brand Name:  Sam Sung
Product Description:  Soy Bean Sprouts

NY Firm Recalls Rice Product After Incorrect Boxing Results in Undeclared Soy Allergen

Hearty Acquisitions Inc. of Brooklyn, NY, is recalling its pints of "Tomato Basil with Rice EXP 3/22/2024" 16 Oz containers because they contain Butternut Squash Bisque resulting in soy being undeclared on the label.   The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the soy containing product was distributed in packaging that was labeled as “Tomato Basil With Rice EXP 3/22/2024” and did not reveal the presence of soy. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by mislabeling of the product during the boxing process.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/hearty-acquisitions-llc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-soy-tomato-basil-rice-exp-3222024
Hearty Acquisitions Llc Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Soy in Tomato Basil with Rice Exp 3/22/2024
Summary
Company Announcement Date: February 01, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  February 01, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Soy
Company Name:   Hearty Acquisitions Inc.
Brand Name:  Hearty Acquisitions Inc.
Product Description:  Tomato Basil with Rice

Quaker Oats Adds Another Product with Potential for Salmonella Contamination to the Recall List

The Quaker Oats Company today announced an expansion of thier series of recalls to add an additional granola bar to the U.S. Recalled Products list because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.  The last recall was posted on January 12th, 2024.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/update-quaker-issues-revised-recall-notice-additional-product-due-possible-health-risk
Update: Quaker Issues Revised Recall Notice With Additional Product Due to Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  January 31, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  January 31, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential for Salmonella contamination
Company Name:  The Quaker Oats Company
Brand Name:  Quaker
Product Description:  Quaker Chewy Dipps Llama Rama bars and more

NY Firm Recalls Chocolate Ice Cream After Customer Discovers Peanut Butter in Product

Byrne Dairy, Inc. of Syracuse, New York is voluntarily recalling its Byrne Dairy Mighty Fine Chocolate Ice Cream in half gallon cartons with a Last Date of Sale of 10/4/2024 because it may contain undeclared peanuts.  The recall was initiated as a result of a consumer complaint that product containing peanut butter was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of peanuts due to mislabeling of the product. As a result of a manufacturing error, the Chocolate Ice Cream may also contain peanut butter.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/byrne-dairy-recalls-mighty-fine-chocolate-ice-cream-half-gallons-dated-1042024-due-undeclared
Byrne Dairy Recalls Mighty Fine Chocolate Ice Cream in Half Gallons Dated 10/4/2024 Due to Undeclared Peanuts
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  January 30, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  January 30, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Ice Cream/Frozen Dairy
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared peanuts
Company Name:  Byrne Dairy Inc.
Brand Name:  Byrne Dairy
Product Description:  Mighty Fine Chocolate Ice cream

FDA Issues Updated Appendix 1, Part of the Hazards Guidance Document

FDA issued the updated Appendix 1 of their Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food: Draft Guidance for Industry document.  Appendix 1 is the  Known or Reasonably Foreseeable Hazards (“Potential Hazards”), a tool to help assist companies conducting the hazard analysis as part of preparation of the hazard analysis.  Table 1 of this appendix lists biological hazards and Table 2 lists chemical hazards.  In the previous version there was a table 3 that looked at process related hazards, but this aspect is now just listed in text.

The document can be found here.
Draft Guidance for Industry Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food: Appendix 1 (January 2024) (fda.gov)

FSPCA will be adopting this into their new updated version 2.0 of the Preventive Controls for Human Foods Curriculum on track to come out this year.

We will have to do some work on it before providing additional comment.

https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-publishes-revised-draft-introduction-and-appendix-preventive-controls-human-food-guidance?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
FDA Publishes Revised Draft Introduction and Appendix to the Preventive Controls for Human Food Guidance
Constituent Update
January 30, 2024