The U.S. Food & Drug Administration reports that several grocery stores that issued secondary recalls of produce products last week have either updated or revised their lists of the items subject to recall. These recalls were prompted by the large-scale recall by Salinas, CA-based Mann’s Packing of thousands of pounds of minimally processed vegetables they distributed across the United States and Canada. This original recall was announced after the Canadian Inspection Service revealed it had found a single positive result of Listeria monocytogenes contamination during a random sampling of Mann Packing’s Produce. Listeria is a very serious variety of food poisoning that is particularly dangerous to pregnant women and their unborn children – it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or … [Read more...]
Undeclared Nuts Prompt Recalls of Aunt Beth’s Cookies and Wegmans’ Bulk Nut Crunch
In two separate recalls, the possible presence of undeclared nuts in food products have prompted their removal from store shelves. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) reports that both Aunt Beth’s Cookies (located in Mishawaka, Indiana) and First Source (headquartered in Tonawanda, New York) have issued these voluntary recalls. Aunt Beth’s Cookies recalled nine (9) varieties of cookies after it was ascertained the cookies might have been contaminated by peanuts or tree nuts during the manufacturing process; the potential presence of the nut allergens was not listed on the product labeling. These cookies were distributed through wholesalers in the states of Indiana and Illinois. Sold between January 1, 2017 and September 28, 2017, the varieties of cookies affected by the recall … [Read more...]
Reser’s Macaroni Salad Recalled for Undeclared Allergens
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has alerted consumers that Reser’s Fine Foods, Inc., headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, has issued a voluntary recall for 529 cases of its 16-ounce “Reser’s Macaroni Salad.” These products contain two allergens, milk and soy, which are not listed on the packages’ labelling. For those who are allergic to these allergens, consuming this macaroni salad may result in serious illness or a potentially fatal allergic reaction. The 16-ounce plastic containers of the affected product are stamped with a “Use By” Date of April 24, 2017 on the edge of the lid. The UPC number, located on the side panel of the package, is: 71117.19007. The cases of macaroni salad were sent to grocery retailers and distributors in the states of Alabama, Colorado, … [Read more...]
Senator Schumer: FDA Needs to Fix Recall Process
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is calling on the federal government to improve the FDA's ability to recall contaminated foods. He uses the recall of millions of pounds of General Mills flour for potential E. coli contamination as an example. The E. coli O121 and O26 outbreak linked to that flour began in December 2015, but the flour itself was not recalled until May 2016. Meanwhile, more American consumers got sick. The Senator called for major changes, to make sure the FDA is doing everything it can to prevent future foodborne illness. The Senator is responding to a recently released report by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which suggested that the FDA is taking far too long to initiate food recalls, putting consumers at … [Read more...]