North Country Smokehouse of New Hampshire is recalling about 2,601 pounds of pork sausages because they contain undeclared wheat, one of the eight major food allergens. Anyone who has celiac disease, or who is allergic to wheat, could have an allergic reaction if they eat this product. No reactions have been reported to date. The ready to eat pork banger sausages items were produced on February 13, 2019. The recalled product is 12 ounce vacuum sealed packages containing 4 pieces of North Country Smokehouse Natural Irish Brand Banger Sausage. The package has a use by date of 04/15/19. The product has an establishment number "EST. 5390A" inside the USDA mark of inspection. They were shipped to retail stores nationwide. The problem was discovered on March 11, 2019 when the firm told … [Read more...]
USDA Guidance For Responding to Customer Complaints Issued
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a best practices guideline to help the meat and poultry industry respond to customer complaints about adulterated and misbranded products, in particular, reports of foreign materials in these products. This document is not regulatory. Since the beginning of 2019, there have been seven recalls of USDA-regulated food products for foreign material contamination. Those recalls have included ground beef chubs, breaded chicken products, chicken nuggets, frozen pork, and deli ham products. Corporations that have recalled these foods include Pilgrim's Pride, Johnsonville, Tyson Foods, and Bellisio. These recalls usually start because a consumer has found a material, such as glass, plastic, or … [Read more...]
Fusia Asian Inspirations Recalls Chicken Fried Rice for Milk
Choice Canning Company of Pittson, Pennsylvania, is recalling about 35,459 pounds of Fusia Asian chicken fried rice products because they contain milk, one of the major food allergens, that isn't printed on the label. Anyone who is allergic to milk or who is lactose intolerant could have a serious reaction if they eat this product. No confirmed reports of adverse reactions have been received to date. The chicken fried rice products were produced on February 13 and February 19, 2019. They include 22 ounce printed polybags of "FUSIA Asian Inspirations, Chicken Fried Rice, Complete Skillet Meal." The product has a packing date of 2/13/2019 and a best if used by date of 08/13/2020 on the label. Also recalled is 22 ounce printed polybags of "FUSIA Asian Inspirations, Chicken Fried Rice, … [Read more...]
GAO High Risk List Report Finds Food Plans Partially Met
The Government Accounting Office (GAO) has released its 2019 report on federal oversight of food safety, and the results are mixed. Food safety remains on the High Risk List, which is updated every two years. The safety of the U.S. food supply is covered by a system that includes 30 federal laws administered by 15 federal agencies. Federal oversight of food safety was added to the high risk list in 2007. The list is used to set agendas of agencies that are charged with oversight. The report states, "For more than four decades, we have reported on the fragmented federal food safety oversight system, which has caused inconsistent oversight, ineffective coordination, and inefficient use of resources. As of November 2018, two of the three recommendations to this high-risk area had … [Read more...]
Chef Boyardee Rice with Chicken Recalled For Allergens
Conagra Brands of Milton, Pennsylvania, is recalling about 2,871 pounds of chicken and rice products because they main contain undeclared milk and wheat. Those ingredients are two of the eight major food allergens designated by the government. Anyone who is allergic to milk or wheat, or who has lactose intolerance or celiac disease, could become ill if they eat this product. No confirmed reports of adverse reactions have been received to date with these recalled products. The recalled product was made and packaged on January 16, 2019. The product is labeled as chicken and rice, but actually contains beef ravioli. The recalled product is 7.5 ounce microwaveable bowls of Chef BOYARDEE rice with chicken & vegetables on the label. The package code is 210090151050045L, and the best by … [Read more...]
Publix, Winn-Dixie Recall Pillsbury Flour For Salmonella Risk
Two large chain stores, Public and Winn-Dixie, have recalled two lot codes of Pillsbury flour for possible Salmonella contamination. Pillsbury, Hometown Foods, and the FDA have not yet published anything about this recall on their sites. UPDATE: The FDA has released information about this issue. Ab out 12,245 cases have been recalled. The UPC number of the recalled flour is 0 5150022241 6. Just the lot numbers and the best if used by dates are different on the two lots. No reports of illness have been associated with this recall. Hometown Food Company is recalling two specific lots of Pillsbury Unbleached All Purpose Flour for possible Salmonella. The GTIN # is 0 5150022241 3, and the two lot codes are 8 292 APR 19 2020 and 8 293 APR 20 2020. On the Winn Dixie website, the notice … [Read more...]
Fullei Fresh Recalls Organic Bean Sprouts For Possible Listeria
Fullei Fresh of Miami, Florida is recalling Organic Bean Sprouts because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this issue. Organic Bean Sprouts were shipped to Whole Foods Markets in Florida and Freedom Fresh, which is a Miami distributor, on February 18, 2019. The product is packaged in 4 ounce plastic clamshells with lot code 041 and a sell by date of February 28, 2019. The UPC number on the product is 017442052108. All codes and number are printed in black ink on the package label. The Florida Department of Agriculture pulled a sample from a store shelf and then told the company about the need for a recall. If you purchased this product, don't eat it, even if you plan to cook it. Throw it away … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Frozen Chicken in Canada Grows Again
The Salmonella outbreak in Canada that is linked to frozen breaded raw chicken and other raw chicken products has now grown to include 555 sick as of March 1, 2019. So far, twelve products have been recalled in association with this outbreak. The outbreak by province is: British Columbia (42), Alberta (84), Saskatchewan (18), Manitoba (27), Ontario (201), Quebec (115), New Brunswick (28), Nova Scotia (18), Prince Edward Island (6), Newfoundland and Labrador (12), Northwest Territories (1), Yukon (1), and Nunavut (2). Ninety-two people have been hospitalized because they are so ill. There are two active investigations in this large outbreak. Nineteen people are sick in six provinces; they got sick between December 2018 and February 2019. One frozen raw breaded chicken product has … [Read more...]
New Study Shows Neighborhood Antibiotic Use Increases Resistance
A new study, published in Israel and published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, found that increased use of antibiotics in certain neighborhoods is associated with an increased risk of acquiring an antibiotic-resistant infection. The scientists looked at fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli bacteria found in urine cultures of Israelis in more than 1700 neighborhoods. The authors say that this may mean that individual personal consumption of antibiotics isn't the only way that antibiotic resistance is being spread. There may be a selective mechanism for resistance at the community level too. The researchers collected medical records and demographic date on 2.4 million patients, and analyzed almost 5 million urine-culture specimens sent to Clalit Health Services from 2010 … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Supermercado Rivera Kitchen in Chicago
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is investigating a Salmonella outbreak that is associated with the Supermercado Rivera kitchen counter. That facility is located at 4334 West 51st Street in Chicago, Illinois. At least six people have been sickened after they allegedly consumed carnitas or other foods that were purchased on February 23 or 24, 2019. The CDPH is warning consumers to discard any carnitas or other food that was purchased from the kitchen counter at this establishment on those dates. Wash your hands well with soap and water after handling these items. An environmental assessment was performed by public health officials, who also provided guidance on safe food handling practices. Unfortunately, the items that may have made people sick were no longer … [Read more...]
