Category Archives: Uncategorized

FSIS

La Autentica Foods, LLC., a Hialeah, Fla. establishment, is recalling approximately 117,350 pounds of meat tamale products that may be adulterated with Listeria Monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The heat-treated, not fully cooked, not shelf stable tamale in corn husk items were produced from Sept. 4, 2015 to April 26, 2016. The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels (PDF Only)]

• 20-oz. PLASTIC BAG packages containing four pieces of “TAMAL EN HOJA TAMAL IN CORN HUSK.”
• 30-oz. PLASTIC BAG packages containing six pieces of “TAMAL CUBANO EN SU HOJA CUBAN TAMALE WRAPPED IN CORN HUSK WITH DICED PORK.”
• 20-oz. PLASTIC BAG packages containing four pieces of “TAMALES CUBANOS ESTILO CASERO CUBAN STYLE TAMELES WITH PORK.”
• 15.5-lb. BOX packages containing fifty pieces of “TAMALES WRAPPED IN CORN HUSK.”
• 15.5-lb. BOX packages containing forty pieces of “TAMALES ESPECIAL WRAPPED IN CORN HUSK.”

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 11154” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to a retail and restaurant locations in Florida.

The problem was discovered during an FDA recall of frozen corn contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria 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 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 and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and 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 routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

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

Media and consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Mr. Fabrice Riviere, President, at (786)-409-3779.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.

USDA 

Ghiringhelli Specialty Foods, a Vallejo, Calif., establishment, is recalling approximately 33,610 pounds of Broccoli Slaw & Kale Salad with White Chicken Meat product that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The Trader Joe’s Broccoli Slaw & Kale Salad with White Chicken Meat product that is affected by this recall was produced April 26 through May 1, 2016, and has “USE BY” labels on the plastic packaging containing dates 05/02 through 05/07. The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels (PDF Only)]

• 9.3-OZ. clear plastic container packages with the label “Trader Joe’s Broccoli Slaw & Kale Salad with White Chicken Meat; Sunflower Seeds, Cranberries and a sweet & Spicy Vinaigrette.”

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-17156” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to Trader Joe’s distributors in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah.

The problem was discovered on May 3, 2016, when the company’s vendor of sunflower seeds notified the company that the product might have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. According to the recalling firm, all affected product has been removed from the market channels. FSIS will verify removal through recall effectiveness checks.

FDA

What is the Problem and What is Being Done About It?

The FDA, CDC and state and local officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak of listeriosis identified in March 2016.

The CDC reports that eight people infected with the outbreak strains of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from three states (California, Maryland and Washington) from September 2013 – March 2016. Ill people ranged in age from 56 to 86, with a median age of 76. Epidemiology and laboratory evidence available at this time indicates that frozen vegetables produced by CRF Frozen Foods of Pasco, Washington, and sold under various brand names are one likely source of illnesses in this outbreak. As discussed further below, CRF Frozen Foods has initiated a recall of certain products.

As part of a routine product sampling program the Ohio Department of Agriculture collected packages of frozen vegetable products from a retail location and isolated Listeria monocytogenes from True Goodness by Meijer brand frozen organic white sweet cut corn and frozen organic petite green peas. Both products were produced by CRF Frozen Foods.

Whole genome sequencing showed that the Listeria monocytogenes isolate from the frozen corn was closely related genetically to seven bacterial isolates from ill people, and the Listeria monocytogenes isolate from the frozen peas was closely related genetically to one isolate from an ill person. This close genetic relationship provides additional evidence that the people in this outbreak became ill from eating frozen vegetables produced by CRF Frozen Foods.

Based on the positive findings by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, on April 22, 2016, CRF recalled 11 frozen vegetable products because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. On May 2, 2016, following a conversation between FDA, CDC and the firm, CRF Frozen Foods expanded its recall to include all of its frozen organic and traditional fruit and vegetable products manufactured or processed in CRF Frozen Foods’ Pasco facility since May 1, 2014. Approximately 358 consumer products sold under 42 separate brands were recalled.

Additionally, March 2016 environmental samples collected by FDA from Oregon Potato Company, located in Pasco, WA, were found to be closely related genetically to seven of the isolates of ill people associated with this outbreak. Based on this information, Oregon Potato Company voluntarily recalled wholesale onion products, which led to subsequent downstream customer recalls, one  of which publicly disclosed Oregon Potato Company as its product source. FDA is working to identify other parts of the relevant supply chain that may have product relating to this outbreak. However, FDA is prohibited by law from releasing publicly certain information about supply chains, which may constitute confidential commercial information.

FDA will continue to investigate to determine what, if any, connection exists between the product sample isolates and the environmental samples. This is a complex and ongoing investigation, and updates will be communicated as they become available.

FDA

ConAgra Foods is voluntarily recalling Watts Brothers Farms Organic Mixed Vegetables, Organic Super Sweet Corn (Yellow/Gold), and Organic Peas and Trader Joe’s Organic Super Sweet Corn due to the potential for these products to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. This voluntary action is being undertaken because the Watts Brothers and Trader Joe’s recalled products contain vegetables that are part of the recent CRF Frozen Foods recall.

FDA

As part of the ongoing recall of CRF Frozen Foods vegetables, Twin City Foods, Inc. of Stanwood, Washington is voluntarily recalling items containing organic peas it received from CRF Frozen Foods.  These products include Central Market Organic Peas and Mixed Vegetables, HEB Organic Mixed Vegetables, Sweetfrost Mixed Vegetables, and Woodstock Organic Mixed Vegetables due to the potential for these products to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

FDA

Stahlbush Island Farms, Inc. (SIFI) of Corvallis, Ore., is voluntarily recalling 10 oz. Stahlbush® IQF Green Bean retail packages because it has 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, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

CFIA

Ottawa, May 6, 2016 – The food recall warning issued on April 21, 2016 has been updated to include additional product information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Webbersfood Ltd. is recalling Webbersfood brand salamis from the marketplace because they may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described in the link above

The following products have been sold in Nova Scotia from retail as described and have also been sold unlabelled by Webbersfood Ltd. at the Historic Farmers’ Market, located at Brewery Square in Halifax, Nova Scotia, up to and including April 9, 2016

CFIA

Ottawa, May 6, 2016 – Horizon Distributors is recalling Stahlbush Island Farms brand Cut Green Beans from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described in the link above

CFIA

Ottawa, May 7, 2016 – BC 126833300 is recalling Harmonie brand, IGA brand, Co-op brand, Western Family brand and unbranded frozen vegetable products from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Pita Pal salads are being recalled for possible Listeria contamination. The recalled salads contain corn produced by CRF Foods which has been linked to an outbreak.

Consumers who have purchased these products should not eat them as Listeria can cause listeriosis and infection that causes serious illness or death. At the time of the recall no illnesses had been linked to Pita Pal salads, the company said.

However, symptoms of a Listeria infection can take as long as 70 days to develop. They include: nausea and diarrhea followed by fever, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and muscle aches. Young children, seniors, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk for Listeria infections. Among pregnant women, Listeria can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery and illness in newborns.

Pita Pal Foods of Houston is recalling Corn Relish Salad, Texas Caviar Salad, Mediterranean 3 Bean Salad and Chipotle Quinoa Salad because they contain the recalled corn. The products were distributed to retail stores and food service distributors in California, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin.

FDA

Creative Snacks Co. of Greensboro, North Carolina is recalling specific lot codes of bulk and packaged sunflower seed products due to the potential presence of Listeria monocytogenes. We have been notified by SunOpta, our sunflower seed supplier, that the company has issued a voluntary recall for sunflower seeds that were processed in their Crookston, Minnesota facility between February 1, 2016 and February 19, 2016. Listeria monocytogenes is 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, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. It is worth noting that no illnesses have been reported to date and that the recall is a precautionary measure.

Creative Snacks is recalling all products that contain the SunOpta sunflower seeds in question. The product being recalled has been distributed to retailers nationwide and is being sold in a variety of formats including plastic rigid containers, small re-sealable bags and in bulk.

These products include:

There have been no illnesses reported to date in connection with this recall. Consumers who have purchased affected Creative Snacks Co. products with the Best Before dates listed above should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Best before dates can be found on bottom lower right corner of rigid containers and the back lower right corner of resealable snack bags. Consumers with questions may contact the company Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST at 336.668.4151, Lindsay Hancock, Creative Snacks Co.

FDA

Schulze and Burch Biscuit Co., of Chicago, ILL  is voluntarily recalling a variety of Millville Protein Chewy Bars products 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. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The Millville Protein Chewy Bars products were nationally distributed through Aldi stores and the company is recalling the following products. Consumers can find UPC codes and Best By/Date Codes on each package.

Schulze and Burch Biscuit Co. became aware of the potential contamination when informed by our supplier that the sunflower seeds may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes . We are working closely with FDA to continue to investigate the problem further.

Consumers who have purchased any of the above products are urged to dispose of or return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with any questions may call the Consumer Contact: (888) 886-3879.

Consumer Care Team is available Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.– 4:30p.m. (PST).

FDA

ConAgra Foods is voluntarily recalling Watts Brothers Farms Organic Mixed Vegetables, Organic Super Sweet Corn (Yellow/Gold), and Organic Peas and Trader Joe’s Organic Super Sweet Corn due to the potential for these products to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. This voluntary action is being undertaken because the Watts Brothers and Trader Joe’s recalled products contain vegetables that are part of the recent CRF Frozen Foods recall.

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 9.5 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnuts kernels from Georgia in Italy

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 61.7; Tot. = 69.5 µg/kg – ppb) in roasted watermelon kernels from Turkey in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 9.9; Tot. = 21.7 / B1 = 18.6; Tot. = 23.9 µg/kg – ppb) in chopped roasted hazelnuts and roasted hazelnut flour from Georgia in Italy

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 3.4; Tot. = 10 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts in shell from Israel in Portugal

RASFF-shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (stx2+ eae- Ont:H14, O186:H49, O86:H51) in chilled beef steaks from Argentina in Germany

RASFF-shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (stx1+ /25g) in Roquefort cheese from France in Germany