Category Archives: FDA

USA – FDA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

FDA

Date
Posted
Ref Pathogen
or
Cause of
Illness
Product(s)
Linked to
Illnesses

(if any)
Total
Case
Count

Status
Outbreak/
Event
Status
4/17/

2024

1221 E. coli
O157:H7
Organic
Walnuts
See
Advisory
Active Ongoing
See
Advisory
4/10/

2024

1218 Salmonella
Typhimurium
Organic Fresh
Basil
See
Advisory
Active Ongoing
See
Advisory

USA – Riced cauliflower recalled in Texas after testing finds Listeria monocytogenes

Food Safety News

CN Frozen Foods, Inc. of Coral Gables, FL is recalling Sysco Classic Riced Cauliflower after the product tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

According to the details posted online by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), the recall was initiated on April 27, 2024 and is ongoing.

The recalled product was sold in Texas.

USA – Western Mixers Produce & Nuts, Inc. Recalls Yogurt Covered Pretzels Because of Possible Health Risk – Salmonella

FDA

Image of top of Gelson’s yogurt pretzels, 6 oz

Western Mixers Produce & Nuts, Inc. of Ontario, CA is recalling Yogurt Covered Pretzels, because the yogurt coating has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Yogurt Covered Pretzels was distributed in the State of California, through Thorp Fruit, Down Home Goods, Smart & Final, Gelson’s retail stores.

Product Descriptions:

Product: Yogurt Covered Pretzels

Smart & Final, First Street Brand; plastic containers, 6 oz& 15 oz.
Product Lot #: 241091, 241161, 241241
(sample photos, packaging and lot number location pg.2)
Gelson’s, Gelson’s Brand; plastic containers, 15 oz.
Product Lot #: 241062
(sample photos, packaging and lot number location pg.2)
Down Home Goods; Sold as bulk, 14 lb.
Product Lot #: 241010 Thorp Fruit, Sold as bulk, 14 lb. Product Lot #: 241010

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recall was as the result of a routine sampling program by the source supplier of the yogurt coating, which revealed that the finished products contained the bacteria. The company has ceased the production and distribution of the product as FDA and the company continue their investigation as to what caused the problem.

If you should have any of this product, kindly discard it.

Western Mixers Produce & Nuts, Inc.
Monday to Friday; 8 am – 4 pm.
323.443.2554


Company Contact Information

Consumers:
 323.443.2554

USA – Voluntary Recall of Select Great Value Organic Black Chia Seeds Due to The Possible Presence of Salmonella

FDA

Image 2: “Product label Great Value Organic Chia Seeds, 32 oz.”

May 10, 2024 Natural Sourcing International is initiating a voluntary recall of one lot of Great Value Organic Black Chia Seeds 32 oz. due to the potential presence of Salmonella that may be in some of the finished products. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. While no adverse events associated with the products have been reported to date, products are being recalled out of an abundance of caution and because consumer safety is the company’s highest priority.

Specific information regarding the recalled products is as follows:

Name

Size

Lot Code

Expiration Date

UPC

Great Value Organic Black Chia Seeds 32 oz 24095 C018 October 30, 2026 078742300665

These products can be identified by the main label on the pouch and the lot number that is printed on the bottom of the back panel of the packaging – see the example below:

Product was sent to Walmart for distribution nationwide via retail sales.

Consumers are directed to throw away products subject to the recall. Natural Sourcing International will provide replacement product upon proof of purchase. Consumers seeking replacement product or with questions regarding this recall can contact Natural Sourcing International, by calling Customer Service at 1-818-405-9705 Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST or emailing the company at customerservice@organically-simple.com.

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of and in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Research – FDA Publishes Landmark Final Rule to Enhance the Safety of Agricultural Water

FDA

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a final rule on agricultural water that represents an important step toward enhancing the safety of produce. The revised requirements are intended to enhance public health by improving the safety of water used in produce cultivation. The revisions are also designed to be practical across various agricultural water systems, uses, and practices, while remaining adaptable to future advancements in agricultural water quality science.

The final rule replaces certain pre-harvest agricultural water requirements for covered produce (other than sprouts) in the 2015 produce safety rule with requirements for systems-based agricultural water assessments to determine and guide appropriate measures to minimize potential risks associated with pre-harvest agricultural water. Specifically, this rule:

  • Establishes requirements for agricultural water assessments that evaluate a variety of factors that are key determinants of contamination risks associated with pre-harvest agricultural water. This includes an evaluation of the water system, water use practices, crop characteristics, environmental conditions, potential impacts on water from adjacent and nearby land, and other relevant factors.
  • Includes testing pre-harvest agricultural water as part of an assessment in certain circumstances.
  • Requires farms to implement effective mitigation measures within specific timeframes based on findings from their assessments. Hazards related to certain activities associated with adjacent and nearby land uses are subject to expedited mitigation.
  • Adds new options for mitigation measures, providing farms with additional flexibility in responding to findings from their pre-harvest agricultural water assessments.

Farms are required to conduct assessments of their pre-harvest agricultural water annually, and whenever a significant change occurs, to identify any conditions likely to introduce known or reasonably foreseeable hazards into or onto covered produce or food contact surfaces.

These revised requirements reflect recent science, findings from investigations of several produce-related outbreaks, and feedback from a variety of stakeholders on the agricultural water requirements in the Produce Safety Rule, which were previously published in 2015. These revisions will more comprehensively address a known route of microbial contamination that can lead to preventable foodborne illness.

USA- FDA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

FDA

What’s New

  • An outbreak advisory was issued for the outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 (ref #1221) linked to recalled organic bulk walnuts. Additional information is available in the outbreak advisory. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.

USA – Gibson Farms Voluntarily Recalls Organic Light Halves and Pieces Shelled Walnuts Because of Possible Health Risk – E.coli O157

FDA

Gibson Farms Organic Light Halves and Pieces shelled walnuts, Bulk Boxes, Net Wt. 25 lbs

Company Announcement

On 04/26/2024, Gibson Farms recalled Organic Light Halves and Pieces shelled walnuts because Gibson Farms received information that they may have the potential to be contaminated with E. Coli 0157:H7. E. coli O157:H7 causes a diarrheal illness often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly. The condition can lead to serious kidney damage and even death.

The Organic Light Halves and Pieces shelled walnuts were sold to distributors located in CA and WA. Gibsons Farms Organic Light Halves and Pieces shelled walnuts were sold in bulk boxes in Net Wt. 25 lbs quantities and can be identified by lot 3325-043 & 3341-501 with expiration dates 5/21/25 & 6/7/25.

Gibson Farms, Inc. has voluntarily recalled the product(s) after being notified by the CDC of 12 recorded illnesses allegedly linked to the consumption of organic halves and pieces shelled walnuts. A full investigation is currently under way to determine the potential source of the contamination.

Gibson Farms requests consignees to hold and discontinue selling their existing stock of lot 3325-043 and lot 3341-501 and return any remaining inventory of the recalled products to our local warehouse Gibson Farms 1190 Buena Vista Rd Hollister Ca 95023. If you have distributed or sold this product to other retailers, please notify your clients as to the status of this product. Any retailers that have received the recalled walnuts are recommended to do the following:

  • Retailers that received recalled products and do not clean and sanitize bulk bins between refilling them, should discard the contents of the bin and clean and sanitize it before refilling.
  • Retailers that received recalled product from a distributor but do not know the brand or lot code information, you should hold product, sanitize your bins, and contact your supplier.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at Veronica Cheatham 831-637-3512 or email foodsafety@gibsonfarmsinc.com 8:30 am-4:40pm PST Monday through Friday

FDA has reason to believe that the following retail locations received the walnuts, included in the recall by Gibson Farms. These products may have been repacked from their original packaging or sold in bulk. This list may not include all retail establishments that have received the recalled product or may include retail establishments that did not actually receive the recalled product. Therefore, it is important that you use the product-specific identification information, available here, in addition to this list of retail stores, when you check the food you have to see if it has been recalled.

Retail Locations that Received Gibson Farms Walnuts

Outbreak Investigation of E. coli O157:H7: Bulk Organic Walnuts (April 2024) | FDA

USA – Tama Corporation Recalls Product Because of Possible Health Risk – Listeria monocytogenes

FDA

Tama Corporation of Doral FL is recalling 24-ounce containers of “Queso de Mano PAISA” have contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Listeria infection may cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Because of our commitment to the safety of our consumers, at Tama Corporation, we demand rigorous quality controls from our products suppliers. In this regard, we were informed by the co-packer of our QUESO DE MANO PAISA, that a batch of 18 cases distributed in Salt Lake City, Utah, was suspicious of Listeria monocytogenes contamination, and we immediately contacted the involved supermarket chain to halt its sale and account for all the product belonging to that vat.

Today, it has been confirmed that a sample from this batch is contaminated.

  • The recalled “Queso de Mano Paisa” was only sold in Utah, at Rancho Markets stores.
  • The product is packaged in a 24-ounce plastic container. Recalled lot number is: 2420104. BEST BY MAY 16, 2024
  • Lot code can be found on the clear plastic lid of the container. Product UPC: 838795000338.

The recall was initiated after one laboratory analysis came out suspicious of that lot sample being contaminated. After a second analysis, this was confirmed. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

We assure all our consumers, clients and distributors that we have taken all necessary actions, hand in hand with the product manufacturer, the FDA, and the USDA, to prevent the situation from happening again.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at 305-592-1717 Monday to Friday, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST or via email: info@elpaisa.net.

USA – FDA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

FDA

  • For the outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium (ref #1218), Infinite Herbs, LLC, voluntarily recalled 2.5-oz packages of Infinite Herbs-brand fresh organic basil and on April 19, 2024, Infinite Herbs, LLC, expanded the recall to include 2.0- and 4.0-oz packages of Melissa’s-brand organic basil. The outbreak advisory has been updated to include additional information about recalled products. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.
  • For the outbreak of E. coli in a not yet identified product (ref #1221) the case count increased from nine to 12. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Organic Basil (April 2024)

FDA

Infinite Herbs Organic Basil Product

Organic Basil Infinite Herbs Brand Label

Melissa's Organic Basil

Product

Two brands of organic basil have been recalled:

  • Infinite Herbs-brand organic basil packed in 2.5-oz clamshell packaging (UPC 8 18042 02147 7) and sold at Trader Joe’s and Fruit Center Marketplace stores from February 1 through April 6, 2024.
  • Melissa’s brand fresh organic basil in 2.0-oz (UPC 0 45255 14142 9) and 4.0-oz clamshell packages (UPC 0 45255 14439 0) available for sale at Dierberg’s stores in Illinois and Missouri from February 10 through February 20, 2024.

Both recalled brands of basil are labeled as a product of Colombia on the back of the package. Recalled basil is past expiration and should no longer be available for sale.

Symptoms of Salmonella Infection:

Illness usually occurs within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food and usually lasts four to seven days. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Children younger than five, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections.

Stores Affected

Infinite Herbs-brand was sold at:

  • Trader Joe’s stores in D.C. and AL, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, and WI
  • Fruit Center Marketplace stores in MA

Melissa’s-brand was sold at:

  • Dierberg’s stores in IL and MO

Status

Ongoing

Recommendation

  • Consumers who purchased recalled organic basil from the stores listed above should check their refrigerators and freezers and should not eat it.
  • This product should no longer be for sale at retail stores and is likely past shelf-life. If you bought recalled organic basil and removed it from the packaging or froze it and cannot tell if it is part of the recall, do not eat or use it and throw it away.
  • Follow FDA’s safe handling and cleaning advice and use extra care in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with this product to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
  • Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have symptoms of a Salmonella infection after eating basil.