There have been several recalls of smoked salmon for Listeria monocytogenes contamination in the past several weeks. There is zero tolerance for only two bacteria in ready to eat foods such as smoked salmon: Listeria and Salmonella. These are foods that are processed in some way, but are eaten without reheating. So why is smoked salmon, more specifically cold smoked salmon, susceptible to bacterial contamination? The FDA has specified processing parameters that are necessary to control pathogenic bacteria presence in smoked fish. Listeria monocytogenes is widely distributed in the environment and occurs naturally in many raw foods. It is present in water bodies; prevalence in river, seawater, and spring water varies from 0 to 62%. Runoff from agricultural areas is associated with the … [Read more...]
Advent Calendar Chocolates May be Contaminated with Mineral Oil
When I watch television shows such as "Unwrapped", which detail how many popular foods are made, I always wonder exactly how facilities keep those huge machines clean enough to handle food. How are the machines oiled? What about the fuel used to power the machines? As it turns out, the German consumer group Stiftung Warentest analyzed the chocolates in some Advent calendars available for sale in Germany and found mineral oil residues. The oil most likely came from products used to lubricate machines or from recycled packaging. No illnesses have been reported associated with this issue, and the German Confectionary Association says there is no health concern. But aromatic mineral oil is contaminated with carcinogens. At the low level found in the candies, there would be no immediate … [Read more...]
Chicken Enchiladas Recalled for Foreign Materials
Food Source, L.P. of Texas is recalling 11,400 pounds of frozen chicken enchilada products that may contain foreign materials that are small fragments of plastic. Two consumer complaints were received about this issue. No reports of injury have been reported related to the consumption of this product. The product is 57-ounce boxes of "Bremer Party Size White Meat Chicken Enchiladas." The cartons have the establishment number "P-13130" inside the USDA mark of inspection, and UPC number 0-41498-16921-3. The products have a "best by" date of 9/30/13. They were packaged on August 31, 2012 and shipped to retail stores in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. If you have purchased this product, return it to the store for a refund. For questions and more information, call Richard … [Read more...]
Rudi’s Organic Bakery Breads Recalled for Foreign Objects
Rudi's Organic Bakery Inc. is recalling products because they may contain metallic foreign objects either in the products or in the packaging. You can see all of the product labels at the FDA site. The recalled products include 22 ounce Rudi's Organic Bakery Multigrain Oat Bread with UPC number 0-31493-82888-8 and Lot Code 1-173-R. Also recalled is 22 ounce Rudi's Organic Bakery Colorado Cracked Wheat Bread with UPC number 0-31493-54373-6 and Lot Code 2-193-R. Finally, 24 ounce Rudi's Organic Bakery Cinnamon Raisin Bread with UPC number 0-31493-92183-1 and Lot Code 1-273-R is recalled. There is no word whether any injuries have been reported in association with these products. For questions, call the company at 877-293-0876 Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm MT. … [Read more...]
Kroger Stops Selling Sprouts
In the past 10 months, there have been many recalls of raw sprouts for bacterial contamination and one large outbreak linked to sprouts in Jimmy John's sandwiches. The CDC advises many consumers to avoid raw sprouts altogether or to cook them thoroughly before consuming. Now a national grocery chain, Kroger, has decided to stop selling sprouts. Payton Pruett, Kroger's vice president of food safety, said in a statement, "after a thorough, science-based review, we have decided to voluntarily discontinue selling fresh sprouts. Testing and sanitizing by the growers and safe food handling by the consumer are the critical steps to protect against foodborne illness. Sprouts represent a unique challenge because pathogens may reside inside of seeds where they cannot be reached by the currently … [Read more...]
Kellogg’s Recalls Mini Wheats for Possible Metal Fragments
Kellogg's is recalling Frosted Mini-Wheats and Mini-Wheats Unfrosted Bite Size cereal because it may be contaminated with fragments of flexible metal mesh from a faulty manufacturing part. If you have purchased these products, return them to the store for a refund. These are the recalled products: Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats Bite Size Original cereal in the following sizes. First, 18 ounce cartons with UPC number 3800031829 and Better if Used Before Dates between APR 01 2013 KB - SEP 21 2013 KB. Also, 18 ounce cartons with UPC number 3800073444 and Better if Used Before Dates between APR 01 2013 KB - SEP 21 2013 KB. Twenty-four ounce cartons with UPC number 3800031834 and Better if Used Before Dates between APR 01 2013 KB - SEP 21 2013 KB. Then 30-ounce cartons with UPC number … [Read more...]
Milford Valley Farms Crunchy Chicken Strips Recalled for Contamination
Serenade Foods Inc. of Indiana is recalling about 2,250 pounds of crunchy chicken strips because they may contain fragments of plastic, according to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). the recalled product is Milford Valley Farms Crunchy Chicken Strips in 7.5 pound cases containing 30-ounce cartons. The cartons have the establishment number "P-2375" inside the USDA mark of inspection. They also have UPC number 0-73981-32286-7 and a use-by date of January 17, 2014. The products were packaged on January 17, 2012 and shipped to a distributor in Lakeland, Florida for further distribution. Two consumer complaints alerted the FSIS to the problem. There have been no reports of injury or illness associated with the consumption of this product. For questions, call Janelle … [Read more...]
Henry’s Farm FDA Warning Letter for Listeria Monocytogenes in Sprouts
The FDA has sent a warning letter to Henry's Farm, Inc. in Virginia for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination in soy bean sprouts. A sample of the sprouts tested by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services yielded a positive test result for the bacteria. Samples collected by the FDA at the onsite inspection in April and May, 2012 yielded Listeria monocytogenes. Inspectors found "numerous insanitary conditions and practices that may have contributed directly or indirectly to contamination of your sprouts with pathogens and filth." There were numerous rodent pellets in bags of mung beans, and gnaw marks on 25 kg paper bags of soybeans in the refrigerated seed storage area. Gaps under the doors could lead to contamination, and a "foul odor consistent with rodent … [Read more...]
Klement Bratwurst Patties Recalled for Foreign Materials
Klement Sausage Company of Wisconsin is recalling about 2,920 pounds of frozen bratwurst patties because they may contain pieces of ap lstic pen. The product is 10-pound cases containing 4-ounce patties of Klement Sausage Co. Bratwurst Patty. The products were produced on July 6, 2012. The packages have the establishment number "EST. 2426B" in the USDA mark of inspection. Each case label has the batch number "21097". The products were distributed for foodservice use in Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The problem was discovered when food preparation personnel discovered the foreign matter while cooking the product. There have been no reports of injury or illness associated with the consumption of this product. If you have questions, call Jeff Klement, the company's vice … [Read more...]
China Refuses FDA Jerky Pet Treat Testing
The Food and Drug Administration has released four Establishment Inspection Reports of facilities in China that make pet treats linked to dog illnesses and death. The facilities are Gambol Pet Products Co., Jinan Uniwell Pet Fodo Co., Ltd., Shandong Honva Food Co. Ltd, and Shandong Petswell Food Co. Ltd. You can see the heavily redacted reports by visiting the FDA site and scrolling down to "Compliance & Enforcement". The Chinese government has refused to let inspectors collect samples of the product for analysis. The inspections were conducted in April, 2012 at sites in Liaocheng and Jinan, China. The treats are sold by Nestle Purina PetCare Co. The Chinese government did say they would let the FDA test samples, but only if the U.S. agreed to have the products tested in … [Read more...]
