Category Archives: FDA

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Queso Fresco and Cotija Cheese (February 2024)

Posted on February 6, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Image 2 – Labeling, Rizo Bros Cojita, front of label

Products:

Recalled products include all “Sell By” dates of cheese, yogurt, and sour cream (crema) sold under the brand names:

  • Tio Francisco
  • Don Francisco
  • Rizo Bros
  • Rio Grande
  • Food City
  • El Huache
  • La Ordena
  • San Carlos
  • Campesino
  • Santa Maria
  • Dos Ranchitos
  • Casa Cardenas
  • 365 Whole Foods Market

Product description, size, and UPCs are listed below. Additional information is also available in the firm’s recall notice.

Symptoms of Listeriosis (Listeria Infection)

Symptoms usually start within two weeks after eating food contaminated with Listeria but may start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after. Mild symptoms may include a fever, muscle aches, nausea, tiredness, vomiting, and diarrhea. If the more severe form of listeriosis develops, symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.

Stores Affected

  • Sold Nationwide

Status

Ongoing; updates will be provided as they become available.

Recommendations:

  • Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled brands of cheeses, sour creams (cremas), or yogurts manufactured by Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc.
  • Check your refrigerators and freezers for any recalled products and throw them away. If you froze a product without the original packaging and can’t tell if it is part of the recall, throw it away.
  • Consumers, restaurants, and retailers who purchased or received recalled products, including wholesale products, should carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that it touched. Follow FDA’s safe handling and cleaning advice to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Listeria can survive in refrigerated temperatures and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.
  • If you have symptoms of listeriosis you should contact your health care provider to report your symptoms and receive care.

Recommendations for At-Risk Groups

  • Listeria is most likely to sicken pregnant people and newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems. Other people can be infected with Listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill.
  • Pregnant people typically experience only fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, Listeria infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
  • Call your healthcare provider right away if you have symptoms of a Listeria infection.

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Posted in FDA, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Listeria, Listeria in Cheese, Listeria monocytogenes, outbreak

USA – Nam & Son of MD Recalls Soybean Sprouts Because of Possible Health Risk – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on February 2, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Sam Sung Soy Bean Sprouts in package

Company Announcement

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.

Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail, or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infections can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The product has been distributed to retail stores in MD ranging from December 14, 2023.

The affected product is packaged in a 1lb plastic bag (retail), labeled under the Nam & Son of MD DBA Sam Sung S & M Food and have a “Sell By” date of December 21, 2023.

NO illness has been reported to date.

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. Consumers should not consume the products and should discard this product or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers should contact their health provider with any illness concerns. Consumers with questions about the warning may contact Nam & Son at 443-896-6738 which will be monitored 24 hours EST from Monday – Sunday.

Link to First Recall

Company Contact Information

Consumers:
Nam & Son
 443-896-6738

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

USA – FDA – Core Outbreak Investigation Table – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

Posted on February 1, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

What’s New

  • For the outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (ref #1214) in a not yet identified food, FDA has initiated traceback, an onsite inspection, and sample collection and analysis.
  • For the outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (ref #1205) in an unidentified food, the outbreak has ended, and FDA’s investigation has closed.
  • For the investigation of elevated lead levels in cinnamon applesauce pouches (ref # 1198) the complaints/adverse event reports in the advisory were updated. Refer to the advisory for additional information. The advisory is also available en español (Spanish).
  • For the outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (ref #989) in peaches, plums and nectarines, the advisory was updated on 1/30/2024. The outbreak has ended, and FDA’s investigation has closed.

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Posted in CORE Investigation Table, FDA, food bourne outbreak, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak

USA – FDA – Core Outbreak Table – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

Posted on January 25, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

What’s New

  • An outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (ref #1214) in a not yet identified food has been added to the table. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.
  • For the outbreak of Salmonella Newport (ref #1201) in an unidentified food, the outbreak has ended and FDA’s investigation has closed.
  • For the outbreak of Salmonella Sundsvall and Oranienburg (ref #1203) linked to cantaloupe, the advisory was updated on January 19, 2024. The outbreak has ended, and FDA’s investigation is closed.
  • For the investigation of elevated lead levels in Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches (ref # 1198) the complaints/adverse event reports in the advisory were updated. Refer to the advisory for additional information.
Date
Posted		 Ref Pathogen
or
Cause of
Illness		 Product(s)
Linked to
Illnesses
(if any)		 Total
Case
Count
Status
1/24/

2024

 1214 Listeria
monocytogenes		 Not
Yet
Identified		 26 Active
12/6/

2023

 1205 Listeria
monocytogenes		 Not
Yet
Identified		 3 Active
11/15/

2023

 989 Listeria
monocytogenes		 Peaches,
Plums,
and
Nectarines		 See
Advisory		 Active
11/8/

2023

 1198 Elevated
Lead
Levels		 Apple
Cinnamon
Puree		 See
Advisory		 Active

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

USA – Haleon Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Robitussin Honey CF Max Day Adult and Robitussin Honey CF Max Night time Adult Products Due to Microbial Contamination

Posted on January 25, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 24, 2024 – Warren, NJ, Haleon is voluntarily recalling eight lots of Robitussin Honey CF Max Day Adult and Robitussin Honey CF Max Night time Adult to the consumer level. The product is being recalled due to microbial contamination.

In immunocompromised individuals, the use of the affected product could potentially result in severe or life-threatening adverse events such as fungemia or disseminated fungal infection. In non-immunocompromised consumers, the population most likely to use the product, life-threatening infections are not likely to occur. However, the occurrence of an infection that may necessitate medical intervention cannot be completely ruled out.

To date, Haleon has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall.

Robitussin Honey CF Max Day and Nighttime are cough syrups indicated for the temporary relief of symptoms occurring with cold or flu, hay fever, or other respiratory allergies. This recall covers only the following lots:

Product Lot Number Expiry Date
ROBITUSSIN HONEY CF MAX
DAY ADULT 4OZ		 T10810 31OCT2025
ROBITUSSIN HONEY CF MAX
DAY ADULT 8OZ		 T08730
T08731
T08732
T08733
T10808		 31MAY2025
31MAY2025
31MAY2025
31MAY2025
30SEP2025
ROBITUSSIN HONEY CF MAX
NT ADULT 8OZ		 T08740 T08742 30JUN2026
30JUN2026

Haleon is notifying its distributors and customers directly and has provided them with instructions for the return of all recalled products. Consumers that have purchased the product listed should stop consumption immediately. Please call our Consumer Relations team at +1-800-245-1040 (Monday through Friday 8 AM to 6 PM Eastern Time) or reach out via email to mystory.us@haleon.com.

Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this product.

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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 Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, fungi, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbial Spoilage, Mold/ MouldAscospores, Mould Toxin, Mould/Mold, Moulds, product recall, Recall

USA – FDA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

Posted on January 19, 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
12/6/

2023

 1205 Listeria
monocytogenes		 Not Yet
Identified		 3 Active
11/22/

2023

 1201 Salmonella
Newport		 Not Yet
Identified		 45 Active
11/22/

2023

 1203 Salmonella
Sundsvall and
Oranienburg		 Cantaloupe See Advisory Active
11/15/

2023

 989 Listeria
monocytogenes		 Peaches, Plums,
and Nectarines		 See Advisory Active
11/8/

2023

 1198 Elevated Lead
Levels		 Apple
Cinnamon
Puree		 See Advisory Active

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

USA – Brightfarms Recalls Spinach and Salad Kits Because of Possible Health Risk as a Result of Supplier Element Farms Recall – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on January 18, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

“BrightFarms Baby Spinach”

Company Announcement Date:
FDA Publish Date:
Product Type:
Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:
Potential Foodborne Illness-Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:
BrightFarms
Brand Name:
BrightFarms
Product Description:
Spinach and Salad Kits

Company Announcement

Selinsgrove, PA (January 17, 2024) –– BrightFarms has issued a voluntary recall of spinach grown by its supplier Element Farms in their Pompton Plains, New Jersey farm and distributed under the BrightFarms brand because the spinach has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Due to potential cross-contamination, BrightFarms is also issuing a voluntary recall of a limited quantity of four salad kit products (shown below) from its Selinsgrove, PA facility.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriage and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The recalled products were distributed to retailers in seven states including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The products come in 4-oz, clear, plastic containers. Information about the “best by” date, UPC, and facility code can be found at the bottom of the package. Pictures to assist customers in identifying the recalled products are found at the end of this announcement.

Product Ounce UPC
Codes		 Facility
Code		 Best-By Date
BrightFarms Baby Spinach 3.5oz 8-57062-00492-3 PEN8 1/11/2024,
1/13/2024,
1/18/2024,
1/20/2024
BrightFarms Mediterranean
Crunch Kit		 6.35oz 8-50051-82501-1 PEN4 1/15/2024,
1/20/2024
BrightFarms Chickpea Caesar
Crunch Kit		 6.50oz 8-57062-00415-2 PEN4 1/15/2024,
1/20/2024
BrightFarms Bacon Ranch
Crunch Kit		 6.70oz 8-57062-00416-9 PEN4 1/15/2024
BrightFarms Southwest
Chipotle		 5.85oz 8-50051-82500-4 PEN4 1/15/2024

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recall of spinach was initiated after routine sampling conducted by Element Farms yielded a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes. Due to potential cross-contamination at BrightFarms’s Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania facility, BrightFarms is also recalling a limited quantity of four select salad kit products. No positive test results or reported illness have been received on those products, to date.

As a result of today’s recall, the company has temporarily suspended distribution of Element Farms grown spinach.

Retailers have been instructed to remove all recalled products from store shelves. Consumers who have purchased the affected products should not consume the products and discard them or present a photo of the product or receipt to their place of purchase for a full refund and then discard.

Consumers with questions are encouraged to call 1-866-857-8745 between 8:00am-6:00pm EDT or email info@brightfarms.com with the subject line: Recall.

###

Company Contact Information

Consumers:
 1-866-857-8745
 info@brightfarms.com

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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 monocytogenes

USA – FDA Advises Restaurants and Retailers Not to Serve or Sell and Consumers Not to Eat Certain Oysters from Bahia Salina in Sonora, Mexico Potentially Contaminated with Norovirus

Posted on January 15, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Audience

  • Restaurants and food retailers in California that have recently purchased oysters from Sociedad Acuicola GolPac (MX 06 SP) harvested from Bahia Salina, Sonora, Mexico on 12/18/2023 or 12/27/2023.
  • Consumers in California who have recently consumed oysters in San Diego or Los Angeles County, CA restaurants sourced from Sociedad Acuicola GolPac (MX 06 SP) harvested from Bahia Salina, Sonora, Mexico on 12/18/2023 or 12/27/2023.

Product

  • Certain oysters from Sociedad Acuicola GolPac (MX 06 SP) harvested from Bahia Salina, Sonora, Mexico on 12/18/2023 or 12/27/2023. The oysters were distributed to restaurants and retailers in California and may have been distributed to other states as well.
Product Label of Bahia Salina Oysters (Safety Alert of Contaminated Oysters from Sonora, Mexico, January 2024)

Purpose

The FDA is advising restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell and to dispose of oysters and consumers not to eat oysters from Sociedad Acuicola GolPac (MX 06 SP) harvested from Bahia Salina, Sonora, Mexico on 12/18/2023 or 12/27/2023 because they may be contaminated with norovirus.

Oysters contaminated with norovirus can cause illness if eaten raw, and potentially severe illness in people with compromised immune systems. Food containing norovirus may look, smell, and taste normal. Consumers of these products who are experiencing symptoms of illness should contact their healthcare provider and report their symptoms to their local Health Department. Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever may be associated with gastroenteritis infections caused by this organism.

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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, Norovirus, Norovirus Oysters

USA – FDA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

Posted on January 11, 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
12/6/

2023

 1205 Listeria
monocytogenes		 Not Yet
Identified		 3 Active
11/22/

2023

 1201 Salmonella
Newport		 Not Yet
Identified		 45 Active
11/22/

2023

 1203 Salmonella
Sundsvall and
Oranienburg		 Cantaloupe See

Advisory

 Active
11/15/

2023

 989 Listeria
monocytogenes		 Peaches, Plums,
and Nectarines		 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, FDA, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, outbreak, Salmonella

FDA Advises Restaurants and Retailers Not to Serve or Sell and Consumers Not to Eat Certain Whole, Live Scallops Believed to Be Harvested from a Prohibited Area in Massachusetts and Distributed by Intershell International Corp (MA 7802 SP)

Posted on January 11, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Audience

  • Restaurants and food retailers in Illinois (IL), Massachusetts (MA), New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), and Pennsylvania (PA) that have recently purchased certain Intershell International Corp (MA 7802 SP) whole, live scallops that were received from an unlicensed harvester, believed to be harvested from prohibited waters in MA and incorrectly labeled as harvest location FED 514, with harvest dates 12/26/23, 12/27/23 and 01/01/24.
  • Consumers in IL, MA, NJ, NY, and PA who have recently purchased or consumed certain Intershell International Corp (MA 7802 SP) whole, live scallops, that were received from an unlicensed harvester, believed to be harvested from prohibited waters in MA and incorrectly labeled as harvest location FED 514, with harvest dates 12/26/23, 12/27/23 and 01/01/24.

Product

Certain whole, live scallops that were received from an unlicensed harvester, believed to be harvested from prohibited waters in MA and incorrectly labeled as harvest location FED 514, with harvest dates 12/26/23, 12/27/23 and 01/01/24 that were distributed to IL, MA, NJ, NY, and PA. It is possible that these scallops may have been distributed to other states as well.

Purpose

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising consumers not to eat, and restaurants and food retailers not to sell, and to dispose of certain Intershell International Corp (MA 7802 SP) whole, live scallops that were received from an unlicensed harvester, believed to be harvested from prohibited waters in MA and incorrectly labeled as harvest location FED 514, with harvest dates 12/26/23, 12/27/23 and 01/01/24 because they may be contaminated. The scallops were directly distributed to distributors and retailers in IL, MA, NJ, NY, and PA and may have been distributed further from these states.

Scallops harvested from prohibited waters may be contaminated with human pathogens, toxic elements or poisonous or deleterious substances and can cause illness if consumed.

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Posted in FDA, Food Pathogen, food recall, Pathogen, pathogenic, product recall, Recall, Shellfish, shellfish toxin