Category Archives: FDA

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

Posted on April 18, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Do not eat Infinite Herbs-brand organic basil sold at Trader Joe’s stores in 29 states and D.C. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.

Infinite Herbs Organic Basil Product

The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating illnesses in a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections linked to Infinite Herbs-brand organic basil packed in 2.5-oz clamshell packaging and sold at Trader Joe’s stores in AL, CT, D.C., 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.

Based on epidemiological information collected by CDC, a total of 12 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from seven states. Seven of eight cases with information available reported exposure to fresh organic basil purchased from Trader Joe’s before becoming ill. Additionally, traceback data collected by FDA determined that Infinite Herbs, LLC, in Miami, FL, was the supplier of the 2.5-oz packages of organic basil sold at Trader Joe’s stores.

In response to this investigation, Trader Joe’s has voluntarily removed all Infinite Herbs-brand organic basil packed in 2.5-oz clamshell packaging from their stores and this product should no longer be available for sale.

The investigation is ongoing to determine the source of contamination and whether additional products are linked to illnesses. FDA will update this advisory should additional consumer safety information become available.

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Posted in FDA, food bourne outbreak, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Salmonella

USA- FDA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

Posted on April 11, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

What’s New

  • A new outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium illnesses linked to a not yet identified product (ref #1218) has been added to the table. FDA has initiated traceback.

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Posted in CORE Investigation Table, FDA, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, Illness, outbreak, Salmonella

USA – Tropicale Foods Recalls Helados Mexico Mini Cream Variety Pack Because of Possible Health Risk – Salmonella

Posted on April 2, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Helados Mexico Mini Cream Variety Pack with best by date of “MO Best By 10/11/2025”

Tropicale Foods of Modesto, CA is voluntarily recalling 5,224 units of Helados Mexico Mini Cream Variety Pack with best by date of “MO Best By 10/11/2025”, because the mango bars in the variety pack have 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.

Product was distributed at retail locations in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virgina, Wisconsin, West Virgina, Washington, DC, and certain locations in Europe.

The product best by date can be found on the bottom of the retail box. A photograph of the package can be found below.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

Finished product testing on the mango bars revealed that the finished product may contain Salmonella. The company has ceased distribution of the affected product. The company is conducting an investigation as to what caused the problem and will take effective action to prevent any future issue.

Consumers who have the affected product should dispose of and not consume this product. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 909-563-3090 between 8 am and 5 pm pacific, Monday to Friday.

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Posted in FDA, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Salmonella

USA – FDA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

Posted on March 28, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

What’s New

  • For the outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 (ref # 1215) linked to raw cheddar cheese, the advisory was updated on March 26, 2024. The outbreak has ended, and FDA’s outbreak investigation is closed.
24/2024 1214 Listeria
monocytogenes		 Queso
Fresco
and
Cotija
Cheese		 See
Advisory		 Active

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Posted in CORE Investigation Table, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, FDA, Listeria, Listeria in Cheese, Listeria monocytogenes, STEC, STEC E.coli

USA – Outbreak Investigation of E. coli O157:H7: Raw Cheddar Cheese (February 2024) – Is Over.

Posted on March 27, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Raw Cheddar 8 oz block

FDA’s Outbreak Investigation is closed. CDC declares outbreak over.

Current Update

March 26, 2024

The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, investigated a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 linked to all sizes of RAW FARM-brand Raw Cheddar cheese blocks (with best by dates through 10/4/2024) and shredded cheese (with best by dates through 5/10/2024).

As part of this investigation, officials in CO, CA, and UT collected various RAW FARM-brand products for testing, and all samples were negative for E. coli. While E. coli has not been found in product samples, epidemiologic evidence shows that RAW FARM-brand Raw Cheddar cheese made by RAW FARM, LLC is the likely source of this outbreak.

As of March 26, 2024, CDC announced that the outbreak is over. CDC reports a total of 11 illnesses in five states. There has been a total of five hospitalizations; two developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure. No deaths were reported. The last illness onset date was February 5, 2024. FDA’s outbreak investigation is closed.

FDA and CDC will continue to monitor for additional illnesses, and this investigation may be reopened if additional cases are identified.

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Posted in CDC, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, FDA, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, outbreak, Raw Milk, raw milk cheese, STEC, STEC E.coli

USA – Botulism and baby food. The Oceanitan affair

Posted on March 22, 2024 by | Leave a comment

EFood Alert

On January 24, 2023, the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services alerted the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to a possible case of Clostridium botulinum in an infant.

Although primarily breastfed, the infant had also been fed some packaged refrigerated baby food on or around January 7th (pumpkin) and January 11th (broccoli). On January 18th, the infant began to show symptoms of botulism.

By January 22nd, the infant had been hospitalized, and treatment with an anti-toxin was initiated.

The treatment was successful and the infant survived.

The baby food was manufactured by Oceanitan, LLC, a contract manufacturer of baby food products located in Los Angeles, California.

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Posted in Clostridium, Clostridium botulinum, FDA, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, Illness

USA- Over 10,000 cases of shredded cheese products recalled over Listeria contamination

Posted on March 8, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Sargento Foods, Inc. of Plymouth, WI, has recalled certain shredded cheese products over potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

According to the details posted online by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), the recall was initiated on Feb. 5, 2024, and is ongoing.

The recalled products were distributed in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.

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Posted in FDA, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria in Cheese, Listeria monocytogenes, product recall, Recall

USA – FDA – Warning Letter – Agila Corporation dba Woody’s Pet Food Deli

Posted on March 7, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted an inspection of your pet food manufacturing facility located at 1245 Trapp Road, Suite 160, Eagan, Minnesota, on August 29 through September 12, 2023, in follow-up to an Untitled Letter issued to you on September 2, 2022.

During the inspection FDA collected a sample (FDA sample #1214888) of your in-process Woody’s Pet Food Deli Raw Free Range Turkey with Supplements pet food for dogs and cats, lot code 08/31/24, from your facility. FDA laboratory analysis revealed this product was contaminated with Salmonella Reading and Listeria monocytogenes. Based on the analytical results, FDA considers the sampled product lot to be adulterated in that it bears or contains a poisonous or deleterious substance which may render it injurious to health.1 On September 19, 2023, you voluntarily disposed of Woody’s Pet Food Deli Raw Free Range Turkey with Supplements pet food for dogs and cats, lot code 08/31/24.

Also, during the inspection FDA’s investigators found evidence of a significant violation of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals requirements, Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR), Part 507, which causes your raw pet food products to be adulterated.2

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Posted in FDA, FDA Warning Letter, Pet Food, Pet Food Listeria monocytogenes, Pet Food Salmonella, Pet Food Testing

USA – FDA Warning Letter – Barsotti Juice Company, Inc.

Posted on March 7, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

We inspected your juice processing facility, located at 2239 Hidden Valley Lane, Camino, CA on November 20, November 21 and December 1, 2023. We found that you have serious violations of the juice Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation, Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 120 (21 CFR part 120), and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food regulation (CGMP & PC rule) in Title 21, Code of Regulations, Part 117 (21 CFR part 117). In accordance with 21 CFR 120.9, failure of a processor of juice products to have and implement a HACCP plan that complies with this section or otherwise operate in accordance with the requirements of Part 120, renders the juice products adulterated within the meaning of Section 402(a)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), 21 U.S.C. § 342(a)(4). Accordingly, your organic carrot juice is adulterated, in that it has been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have been rendered injurious to health. You may find the Act, the juice HACCP regulation and the Juice HACCP Hazards and Controls Guidance through links in FDA’s home page at http://www.fda.gov.

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Posted in FDA, FDA Warning Letter

USA- FDA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

Posted on March 7, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Date
Posted		 Ref Pathogen
or
Cause of
Illness		 Product(s)
Linked to
Illnesses
(if any)		 Total
Case
Count
Status
2/20/

2024

 1215 E. coli
O157:H7		 Raw cheddar
cheese		 See
Advisory		 Active
1/24/

2024

 1214 Listeria
monocytogenes		 Queso Fresco
and
Cotija Cheese		 See
Advisory		 Active
11/8/

2023

 1198 Elevated
Lead &
Chromium
Levels		 Apple
Cinnamon
Puree		 See
Advisory		 Active

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Posted in CORE Investigation Table, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, FDA, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Listeria, Listeria in Cheese, Listeria monocytogenes, outbreak, Pet Food Illness, STEC, STEC E.coli