The FDA is proposing a new traceability rule for food manufacturers, as well as those who process, pack or hold foods on the Food Traceability List to help identify recipients of those foods quickly to help mitigate foodborne illness outbreaks. In the past few years, the government has blamed their inability to find the sources of foods that have caused outbreaks on traceability issues. This rule would be part of the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 (FSMA). The proposed rule is called Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods. It is a key component of the FDA's New Era of Smarter Food Safety Blueprint. The comments periods for the proposed rule and information collection provisions have been extended until February 22, 2021. The rule would be a … [Read more...]
FDA Issues the First Injunction Under the Produce Safety Rule
The FDA has issued its first injunction under the Produce Safety Rule against a company that makes sprouts and soy products. That Rule, which was part of the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 and was finalized on January 26, 2016, gives the FDA power to issue consent decrees of permanent injunction against corporations for violating safety standards. The Produce Safety Rules mandates that sprout operations take measures "to prevent the introduction of dangerous microbes into seeds or beans used for sprouting; test spent sprout irrigation water (or, in some cases, in-process sprouts) for the presence of certain pathogens; test the growing, harvesting, packing and holding environment for the presence of the Listeria species or Listeria monocytogenes; and take corrective actions … [Read more...]
Chicago Indoor Garden Red Clover Sprouts Recalled For E. coli O103
Chicago Indoor Garden red clover sprouts are being recalled for possible E. coli O103 contamination. The FDA found the pathogen in the sprouts during its investigation of an E. coli O103 outbreak linked to raw sprouts. The outbreak strain was found on the sprouts, but neither the FDA or Chicago Indoor Garden has said whether any illnesses have been linked to this product. All products that contain Red Clover sprouts are recalled. That includes Chicago Indoor Garden Red Clover sprouts in a 4 ounce clamshell, Red clover in 2 pound boxes, Sprouts salad in a 6 ounce clamshell container, Mixed Greens in a 4 ounce clamshell container, and Spring Salad in a 6 ounce clamshell container. These products containing these sprouts purchased with "Best By" dates from 12/1/19 through 3/12/20 … [Read more...]
FDA Warns Against Chicago Indoor Garden Sprouts in E. coli Update
The FDA has released an update on the E. coli O103 outbreak likely linked to clover sprouts, but this time is warning consumers not to eat Chicago Indoor Garden red clover sprouts and other products. FDA analysis found E. coli O103 in some of these products, which all contain sprouts. Whole genome sequencing tests found that the DNA in the bacteria on the sprouts matches the outbreak strain. The products are Chicago Indoor Garden red clover (with and without non-GMO labels), sprout salad, mixed greens, and spring salad with best by dates between December 1, 2019 and March 12, 2020. You can see more pictures of product photos at the FDA web site. The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating an outbreak of 14 illnesses caused by E. coli O103 in … [Read more...]
Safer Food Choices For People At Risk For Food Poisoning Complications
People who are at risk for serious compilations from food poisoning need to be careful about the food they buy and how it is prepared, as well as staying vigilant about food recalls and food outbreak notices. But there are other ways to protect yourself if you fall into a high risk category for food poisoning. There are safer food choices to make at the grocery store. For instance, at the deli, avoid purchasing cold smoked fish or products that contain cold smoked fish. In addition, do not choose sashimi, sushi, or ceviche, since those products use raw or undercooked fish or shellfish. Instead, choose canned fish or seafood, and seafood that has been cooked to a minimum final internal temperature of 145°F. Do not buy unpasteurized (raw) milk, unpasteurized fruit juices, or raw … [Read more...]
Lawyer Explains That a Salmonella Clover Sprouts Outbreak May Be Announced
There isn't much information available, but another Salmonella outbreak may be associated with recalled clover sprouts, according to one sentence in an FDA recall notice. NOW Real Food Zesty Sprouting Mix in 16 ounce packages is being recalled for possible Salmonella contamination. Lawyer and food safety expert Fred Pritzker explains that a Salmonella clover sprouts outbreak may be announced soon. The recall notice contains an interesting sentence. It reads, "Evidence of potential contamination was implicated in ongoing FDA and CDC investigations into multistate outbreaks of Salmonella infections, of which the clover seed supplier was notified." No information about this potential Salmonella clover sprouts outbreak or outbreaks has been posted on the FDA or CDC … [Read more...]
Multistate Salmonella Outbreak Associated With Jimmy John’s Sprouts
Another Salmonella outbreak at Jimmy John's restaurants associated with raw sprouts has just been announced. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has posted information about this outbreak; they say that the CDC and FDA are investigating, along with state and local health departments, but there is no information about this outbreak on those other sites. If you live in a state other than Illinois and you are part of this outbreak, please contact us to let us know. We will be following other government sites so when they post something about the outbreak we will let you know immediately. Two cases of Salmonella Montevideo have been reported in Illinois. Those people got sick December 20 and December 26, 2017. Officials say that the most likely source of the … [Read more...]
Shuttered Henry’s Farm Recalls Sprouts for Listeria Contamination
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has posted a recall for Henry's Farm's soybean sprouts for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. That facility was closed by the federal government on March 3, 2016 for unsanitary conditions. In fact, there have been recalls of Henry's Farm sprouts for Listeria contamination in 2012, 2014, and 2015 and a warning letter sent to the facility in 2012. The recall is for all packages of soybean sprouts "produced on or after March 1, 2016." No illnesses have been reported in connection with the consumption with these recalled products, but listeriosis, the illness caused by this pathogenic bacteria, can take up to 70 days to appear. The recalled items are 1 pound bags of soybean sprouts in clear plastic bags labeled … [Read more...]
E. coli Sproutbreak in MN and WI: What is It About Sprouts?
An E. coli O157:NM outbreak in Minnesota and Wisconsin had been linked to alfalfa sprouts made by Jack and the Green Sprouts in River Falls, Wisconsin. The outbreak has sickened at least nine people so far. Two of those sickened have been hospitalized. The sprouts have been recalled and hopefully there will be no new illnesses reported. But there will be more recalls and outbreaks involving sprouts in the future, because these products are inherently risky. Just browse through all of the stories of recalls and outbreaks we've written about in the past four years. What is it about sprouts that makes them so prone to contamination? The answer lies in how the seeds are sprouted and how they are grown in the first place. The seeds themselves can be contaminated, from feces from animals, … [Read more...]
Good Seed Soybean and Mung Bean Sprouts Recalled for Listeria
Good Seed Inc. of Springfield, Va. is recalling all packages of soybean sprouts and mung bean sprouts for potential Listeria contamination. The recalled products were distributed to retail stores in Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey. Consumers who have purchased these sprouts should not eat them as Listeria can cause serious, sometimes fatal illness. Pregnant women are at special risk as Listeria can cause miscarriages and stillbirths. Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. The following products are included in the recall: 1-lb bags of soybean sprouts produced on or after June 22, 2015 sold in clear plastic bags labeled "GOODSEED Soy Bean Sprouts" with UPC Code "21111 10035." 1-lb bags of mung bean sprouts produced on or after … [Read more...]
