Category Archives: Food Safety Alert

Canada – Updated Food Recall Warning – Thomson International Inc. Imported Krown brand red and yellow onions from the United States recalled due to Salmonella

Posted on August 13, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Canada

Recall Details

Ottawa, August 12, 2020 – The food recall warning issued on August 7, 2020 has been updated to include additional product and distribution information. This additional information was obtained during the food safety investigation conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Krown Produce Inc. is recalling Krown brand red onions and yellow onions , produced in Bakersfield, California, United States by Thomson International Inc. , due to the possible presence of Salmonella bacteria . The affected products described below or foods containing these raw onions should not be consumed. Retailers, distributors, manufacturers and food service establishments such as hotels, restaurants, cafeterias, hospitals, and nursing homes should not serve, use or sell the affected products described below.

These products could also have been purchased online or at various restaurants. They may also have been sold in bulk or in small, labeled or unlabeled packages; the brand and name of the products may differ from those listed below. The CFIA will continue to investigate other possible importers, which may lead to further recalls.

The following products were sold according to the table below.

Ongoing investigation

See the complete list of products recalled as part of the ongoing investigation.

Products affected by the recall

Mark Product Format CUP Codes Additional Information
Krown ”  Red Onion  “ 4.54 kg / 10 lb No All units sold until August 5, 2020 inclusively
  • Frontier Foods, 311 Center St., Frontier, SK
  • Pip’s Country Store, 4806 Selkirk Ave., Edgewater, BC
  • Northern, 2 Inuit St. ( Box 281), Kugluktuk, NU
  • Northern, Mackenzie Dr. ( Box 143), Tulita, NT
  • Northern, 807 Tetlit Gwich’In Rd. ( Box 60), Fort McPherson, NT
  • Edgewood General Store, Box 16, Edgewood, BC
  • Northern, Box 158, Ulukhaktok, NT
  • Northern, 991 Mistassiniy Rd. ( Box 90), Wabasca, AB
  • Northern, 41 Breynat St. ( Box 47), Fort Smith, NT
  • Whitemud Grocer, 220 Center St., Val Marie, SK
  • Rock Creek General Store, 4105 Hwy. 3, Rock Creek, BC
  • Hidden Valley Foods, 108 Maple Ave. S, Eastend, SK
  • Slocan Village Market, 519 Harold St., Slocan, BC
  • Balfour Superette, 7824 Hwy. 3A, Balfour, BC
  • The Sea Store, 9226 Kokanee Rd., Vernon, BC
  • Cut Knife Family Foods, 112 Broad St. S ( Box 487), Cut Knife, SK
  • J & D Meat & Groceries, 435 Elliot St., Quesnel, BC
  • PGI Market On 5 th , 2900 5 th Ave., Prince George, BC
  • Clarke’s General Store, 5750 Horsefly Rd., Horsefly, BC
  • J & S Confectionery, 4714 Herald St., Macklin, SK
  • Kinuso AG Foods, 225 Center St. ( PO Box 390), Kinuso, AB
  • Northern, 2 Town Sq. (Box 9000), Norman Wells, NT
  • Northern, Box 260, Tuktoyaktuk, NT
  • Little Kingdom, 11284 Westside Rd., Vernon, BC
  • Blind Bay Country Market, Golf Course Dr., Blind Bay, BC
  • EM Grocers, PO Box 130, Denzil, SK
  • Lakeview Store, 14729 Hwy 3A, Gray Creek, BC
  • 70 Mile General Store, 1556 Cariboo Hwy. (PO Box 129), 70 Mile House, BC
Krown ”  Yellow Onion  “ 4.54 kg / 10 lb No All units sold until August 5, 2020 inclusively
  • Loon Lake Fine Foods, PO Box 189, Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation, Loon Lake, SK
  • Lac La Hache Food Mart, Box 100, Lac La Hache, BC
  • Clinton Budget Foods, 1429 Cariboo Hwy. , Clinton, BC
  • The Store, 5 Main St. ( Box 68), Acadia Valley, AB
  • Balfour Superette, 7824 Hwy. 3A, Balfour, BC
  • J & D Meat & Groceries, 435 Elliot St., Quesnel, BC
  • Clarke’s General Store, 5750 Horsefly Rd., Horsefly, BC
  • Buffalo River Mini Mart, Chief Pierre Nezaroche St., Dillon, SK

What has to be done

If you think you have become ill after consuming a recalled product, contact your doctor.

Check to see if you have the recalled products at home or in your establishment. Recalled products should be discarded or returned to the establishment where they were purchased. If you are in doubt about the variety of onions you have in your possession, check with the establishment where you purchased them.

Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not necessarily look or smell spoiled, but can still make you sick. Young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems can get serious and sometimes fatal infections. In healthy people, salmonellosis can present with short-lived symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Salmonellosis can cause long-term complications, including a severe form of arthritis.

Context

This recall is the result of the CFIA’s investigation of a foodborne illness outbreak, which was followed by a recall in the United States by Thomson International Inc. , based in Bakersfield. , in California. The CFIA is currently conducting a food safety investigation which may result in the recall of other products. Any further high-risk product recalls will be reported to the public through an updated food recall warning.

The CFIA is ensuring that industry withdraws the recalled products from the market.

Illness

The Public Health Agency of Canada is currently investigating an outbreak of the disease in humans. Please see the Public Health Notice for more information on the ongoing outbreak investigation.

Related reminder

2020-08-07 – Various products made from onions grown by Thomson International Inc. recalled due to Salmonella bacteria

2020-08-07 – Red onions, yellow onions, white onions and sweet yellow onions imported from the United States by Thomson International Inc. recalled due to Salmonella bacteria

2020-08-07_r13941 – Sobeys brand Herbal Marinade recalled due to Salmonella

2020-08-07_r13942 – Jim M. Koo Produce brand white and red onions recalled due to Salmonella

2020-08-06 – Freshpoint Foodservice  brand red onions and “ Jumbo ” onions  imported from the United States by Thompson International Inc. recalled due to Salmonella

2020-08-05_r13938 – Imperial Fresh brand Diced White Onion 3/8 “recalled due to Salmonella bacteria

2020-08-01 – Red onions, yellow onions, white onions and sweet yellow onions imported from the United States by Thomson International Inc. recalled due to Salmonella bacteria

2020-07-30 – Red onions imported from the United States to Western Canada by Sysco recalled due to Salmonella bacteria

Product Pictures

Printable version of photos

  • Krown - "Red Onion" - 4.54 kg / 10 lb (box)
  • Krown - "Red Onion" - 4.54 kg / 10 lb (label)

Public and media inquiries

Public inquiries
Toll Free: 1-800-442-2342 (Canada and United States)
Phone: 1-613-773-2342 (local or international)
Email: cfia.enquiries-demandederalités.acia@canada.ca
General media inquiries
Telephone: 613-773-6600
Email: cfia.media.acia@canada.ca

Leave a comment

Posted in CFIA, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Salmonella, Salmonella in Onions, Uncategorized

UK – Three of four UK Listeria outbreaks unsolved in 2018

Posted on August 12, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

The source of infection was not found for three of four Listeria outbreaks in England in 2018.

The one which was solved was an international outbreak that involved 12 cases in England from 2015 to 2018 and was traced to frozen sweetcorn and vegetables produced by Greenyard in Hungary.

The company found the cause of contamination, a persistent presence of Listeria monocytogenes in one of the freezing tunnels, and closed down this tunnel at the plant. In June 2019, the factory was sold to Roger & Roger, a producer of potato and corn snacks.

This multi-country incident included 54 clinical cases of listeriosis in Australia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, and the UK with 10 deaths. The outbreak was detected in Finland using whole-genome sequencing (WGS).

Traceability information indicated that frozen corn was produced in Hungary and packed in Poland. It was found that people had eaten the frozen sweetcorn uncooked, although instructions on the packaging told consumers to cook it. Implicated frozen products were distributed to 116 countries.

The second incident involved four people with illness onset in 2017 and 2018. The third outbreak sickened three people and the final one had five reported cases all in 2018.

Leave a comment

Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Research, Uncategorized

Ireland – Iceland Recalls Chip Shop Curry 4 Chicken Breast Toppers and Southern Fried Chicken Popsters Due to Presence of Salmonella

Posted on August 12, 2020 by | Leave a comment

FSAI

Summary
Category 2: For Information
Alert Notification: 2020.46
Product: Iceland Chip Shop Curry 4 Chicken Breast Toppers; pack size: 400g; best before dates: 27/02/2021, 17/03/2021 and 08/04/2021.

Iceland Southern Fried Chicken Popsters; pack size: 220g; best before date: 04/04/2021.
Batch Code: Please refer to implicated best before dates listed above.
Country Of Origin: Poland

Message:

Iceland is recalling the above batches of its Chip Shop Curry 4 Chicken Breast Toppers and its Southern Fried Chicken Popsters, due to the presence of Salmonella.  Point-of-sale recall notices will be displayed in stores supplied with the implicated batches.

Iceland Chip Shop Curry 4 Chicken Breast Toppers
Iceland Southern Fried Chicken Popsters

Leave a comment

Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, FSAI, Salmonella, Salmonella in Chicken, Uncategorized

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Newport: Red Onions (July 2020)

Posted on August 12, 2020 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Recall Information (Updated August 11, 2020)

Recalled Onions

On August 1, 2020, Thomson International, Inc. recalled all varieties of onions that could have come in contact with potentially contaminated red onions, due to the risk of cross-contamination. Recalled products include red, yellow, white, and sweet yellow onions shipped from May 1, 2020 to August 1, 2020.

Onions were distributed to wholesalers, restaurants, and retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada.

The onions were distributed in 5 lbs. carton. 10 lbs. carton. 25 lbs. carton. 40 lbs. carton, 50 lbs. carton. bulk, 2 lb. mesh sacks, and 3 lb. mesh sacks, 5 lb. mesh sacks, 10 lb. mesh sacks 25 lbs. mesh sacks, 50 lbs. mesh sacks under the brand names:

  • Thomson Premium
  • TLC Thomson International
  • Tender Loving Care
  • El Competitor
  • Hartley’s Best
  • Onions 52
  • Majestic
  • Imperial Fresh
  • Kroger
  • Utah Onions
  • Food Lion

See photos of brand labels.

Additionally,  companies have initiated recalls for onions linked to the Thomson, International, Inc. recall, sold at the following retailers:

  • Publix Super MarketsExternal Link Disclaimer (red onions, packaged by Del Monte Fresh Produce, N.A., Inc. and sold in bulk merchandise displays in AL, GA, NC, SC, TN, and VA)
  • Giant Eagle (red, yellow and white onions sold in produce departments in PA, OH, WV, IN and MD)
  • Trader Joe’s – Recalled by Progressive Produce, LLC (conventional red onions sold only in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah stores, and sold loose in bulk bins with PLU sticker with the brand name Pacific Gold)
  • Ralph’s – Recalled by Progressive Produce, LLC (conventional yellow onions sold only in California stores and sold loose in bulk bins with PLU sticker with the brand name Pacific Gold)

Products Containing Recalled Onions

Ready-to-Eat Meat and Poultry Products Containing Recalled Onions

Leave a comment

Posted in FDA, food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Salmonella, Salmonella in Onions, Uncategorized

USA -Spokane Produce Inc. Issues Recall of Products Containing Onions Because of Possible Health Risk – Salmonella

Posted on August 12, 2020 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Spokane Produce, Inc. of Spokane, WA is voluntarily recalling salsa products containing onions as a result of the expanded onion recall initiated by Thomson International, Inc., which resulted in a recall by Spokane Produce’s onion supplier. These recalls are due to concerns of the potential for contamination by Salmonella spp.

Salmonella is 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 in ID, MT, OR, WA states and it reached consumers only through retail stores. The recalled products were distributed from 05/13/20 to 08/10/20. Retail products were packaged in 15oz. plastic tubs and institutional size one gallon plastic containers.

Spokane Produce’s products subject to the recall are listed in the table below.

ITEM NUMBER PRODUCT NAME SIZE BEST BY DATE
83260 Saddlin’ Up Salsa Hot 15 oz 8/16/2020
83259 Saddlin’ Up Salsa Medium 15 oz 9/30/2020
83259 Saddlin’ Up Salsa Medium 15 oz 8/5/2020
83258 Saddlin’ Up Salsa Mild 15 oz 8/11/2020
84032 Salsa Verde 15 oz 8/26/2020
84044 Salsa Verde Gallon 9/28/2020
84044 Salsa Verde Gallon 8/11/2020

No other Spokane Produce’s products are impacted by this recall.

No illnesses have been reported in association with these salsa products to date.

Out of an abundance of caution, as a service to the general consuming public at large, product is being recalled in consultation with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Consumers who purchased any of the products/best buy dates cited above are advised not to eat any product and should destroy or return the product to the place of purchase. Consumers with questions should call Spokane Produce, Inc., 10am-4pm (PST) at 509-710-8301.

Company Contact Information

Consumers:
Spokane Produce, Inc.
 509-710-8301

Product Photos

  • Label, Saddlin’ Up Salsa
  • Label, Saddlin’ Up Salsa Verde
  • Label, Spokane Produce Salsa Verde

 

Leave a comment

Posted in FDA, food bourne outbreak, food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Salmonella, Salmonella in Onions, Uncategorized

New Zealand – Shellfish biotoxin alert – west coast of the North Island, including Raglan

Posted on August 12, 2020 by | Leave a comment

MPI

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) today issued a public health warning advising the public not to collect or consume shellfish harvested from South Head to Tauratahi Point – West Coast North Island.

Routine tests on shellfish samples taken from this region have shown levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins above the safe limit of 0.8 mg/kg set by MPI. Anyone eating shellfish from this area is potentially at risk of illness.

See a map of the warning

Mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles, scallops, catseyes, kina (sea urchin) and all other bivalve shellfish should not be eaten.

Note, cooking shellfish does not remove the toxin.

Pāua, crab and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking, as toxins accumulate in the gut. If the gut is not removed its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process.

Symptoms typically appear between 10 minutes and 3 hours after ingestion and may include:

  • numbness and a tingling (prickly feeling) around the mouth, face, and extremities (hands and feet)
  • difficulty swallowing or breathing
  • dizziness
  • headache
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhoea
  • paralysis and respiratory failure and in severe cases, death.

If anyone becomes ill after eating shellfish from an area where a public health warning has been issued, phone Healthline for advice on 0800 61 11 16, or seek medical attention immediately. You are also advised to contact your nearest public health unit and keep any leftover shellfish in case it can be tested.

Monitoring of toxin levels will continue and any changes will be communicated accordingly. Commercially harvested shellfish – sold in shops and supermarkets, or exported – is subject to strict water and flesh monitoring programmes by MPI to ensure they are safe to eat.

Find out more

Leave a comment

Posted in Algal Toxin, Bacterial Toxin, Biotoxin, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, MPI, paralytic shellfish poisoning, PSP, Toxin, Uncategorized

USA – Progressive Produce Voluntarily Recalls Red and Yellow Onions Because of Possible Health Risk – Salmonella

Posted on August 11, 2020 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Progressive Produce LLC is voluntarily recalling a very limited quantity of red and yellow onions as a result of a recall initiated by Thomson International, Inc., which supplied affected onions to Progressive Produce. This recall is being made out of an abundance of caution due to the potential for contamination with Salmonella.

The recalled products were sold on the West Coast, at Trader Joe’s (conventional red onions sold only in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah stores) and Ralph’s (conventional yellow onions sold only in California stores). The onions are sold loose in bulk bins. The red onions have a PLU sticker with the brand name Pacific Gold. No other Progressive Produce onions or other products are impacted by this recall.

Salmonella is 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.

Retailers that received recalled product from Progressive Produce have been instructed to remove any recalled product from their shelves and to dispose of any product that is remaining in their inventory.

Consumers who have purchased recalled products are urged not to consume them and to dispose of them immediately or to return them to the store for a full refund. Consumers may email Progressive Produce for further information at foodsafety@progressiveproduce.com. Consumers with concerns about an illness from consumption of the recalled products should contact a health care provider.

Progressive Produce has not received any reports of illnesses to date associated with these recalled items, although a current illness outbreak appears to be associated with certain onions supplied to a number of companies by Thomson International.

Progressive Produce is cooperating fully with FDA to facilitate the efficient recall of these onions. A photo of the red onion label is attached.

Company Contact Information

Consumers:
Progressive Produce
 foodsafety@progressiveproduce.com

Product Photos

  • PLU Sticker - Pacific Gold Red Onion 4082 USA

Leave a comment

Posted in FDA, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Salmonella, Uncategorized

USA -Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. Announces Recall of Select Valencia Oranges, Lemons, and Various Products Containing Fresh Lemon Because of Possible Health Risk – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on August 11, 2020 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is recalling its four-pound bag of Valencia Oranges, two-pound bag of lemons, bulk lemons, and a variety of in-store produced seafood and restaurant foods items that contain fresh lemon because they have the potential to be contaminated with 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 headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeriaem> infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The affected products were sold in Wegmans stores in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, and Brooklyn and Harrison, NY.

Affected produce items, sold between July 31 and August 7, 2020, include:
Wegmans 4lb Bag Valencia Oranges – UPC: 7789052363
Wegmans 2lb Bag Lemons – UPC: 7789015917
Wegmans bulk lemons – UPC: 4033

The lemons and oranges were supplied to Wegmans by Freshouse Produce LLC of Salisbury, NC, which issued a voluntary recall after the company’s internal testing identified Listeria monocytogenes on a piece of equipment in one of its packing facilities. No illnesses associated with this recall have been reported to Wegmans or its supplier.

Wegmans has placed automated phone calls to alert customers who purchased these products using Shoppers Club.

Customers should return these products to the service desk for a full refund. Those with questions may contact Wegmans Food Markets 1-855-934-3663 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. or Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

###

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a 103-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts and North Carolina. The family company, recognized as an industry leader and innovator, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016. Wegmans has been named one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ by FORTUNE magazine for 23 consecutive years, ranking #3 in 2020. The company was also ranked #1 for corporate reputation among the 100 most visible companies, according to the 2019 Harris Poll Reputation Quotient® study.

Wegman’s Product Recall

Leave a comment

Posted in FDA, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized

UK – Iceland recalls Chip Shop Curry Chicken Breast Toppers and Southern Fried Chicken Popsters because of the presence of Salmonella

Posted on August 11, 2020 by | Leave a comment

FSA

Iceland has recalled their own brand Chip Shop Curry Chicken Breast Toppers and Southern Fried Chicken Popsters because salmonella has been found in the products

Product details

Iceland Chip Shop Curry Chicken Breast Toppers
Pack size 400g
Best before 27 February 2021, 17 March 2021 and 8 April 2021
Iceland Southern Fried Chicken Popsters
Pack size 220g
Best before 4 April 2021

Risk statement

The presence of salmonella in the product(s) listed above.

Symptoms caused by salmonella usually include fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.

Action taken by the company

Iceland is recalling the above products. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling these products. These notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. Please see the attached notice.
Customer notice: Iceland product recall because of salmonella(Opens in a new window)

Our advice to consumers

If you have bought any of the above products do not consume them. Instead, return them to the store from where they were bought for a full refund or contact Iceland Customer Care line on 0800 328 0800 and select option 2.

About product recalls and withdrawals

If there is a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold, then it might be ‘withdrawn’ (taken off the shelves) or ‘recalled’ (when customers are asked to return the product). The FSA issues Product Withdrawal Information Notices and Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food. In some cases, a ‘Food Alert for Action’ is issued. This provides local authorities with details of specific action to be taken on behalf of consumers.

Ref: FSA-PRIN-36-2020

 

Leave a comment

Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, fsa, Salmonella, Uncategorized

USA – FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ready to Eat Sausage Products due to Possible Listeria Contamination

Posted on August 10, 2020 by | Leave a comment

USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert because Bluegrass Provisions Co., a Crescent Springs, Ky. establishment, produced sausage products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. A recall was not requested because it is believed that all products are no longer in commerce and are past their use or freeze by dates.

The ready-to-eat smoked sausage items were produced on Apr. 22, 2020. The following products subject to the public health alert are: [View Label (PDF only)]

  • 14-oz. plastic packages containing 6 pieces of “BLUE GRASS METTWURST,” with a use or freeze by date of July 23, 2020.
  • 14-oz. plastic packages containing 6 pieces of “WALNUT CREEK FOODS Smoked Sausage,” with a use or freeze by date of July 23, 2020.
  • 14-oz. plastic packages containing 6 pieces of Lidl “SMOKED BRATWURST,” with a use or freeze by date of July 23, 2020.
  • 14-oz. plastic packages containing 6 pieces of Lidl “SMOKED BRATWURST WITH CHEESE,” with a use or freeze by date of July 23, 2020.

The products bear establishment number “EST. 7417” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to distributors and retail locations in Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, and Virginia.

The problem was discovered by routine testing and the results showed one of the products was contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The additional products may be affected by cross-contamination.

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections can occur in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS advises all consumers to reheat ready-to-eat product until steaming hot.

Members of the media with questions about the public health alert can contact Paul Rice, President of Blue Grass Quality Meats, at (859) 394-0689. Consumer inquiries can be directed to David Kegley, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Blue Grass Quality Meats, at (859) 331-7100.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at Ask USDA or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.

Leave a comment

Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, FSIS, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized, USDA