Eating hot peppers may decrease mortality

A study published in PLoS ONE shows that consumption of hot red chili peppers may be associated with a reduction in total mortality—primarily in deaths due to heart disease or stroke.

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FSA finds British may consume too much acrylamide

The U.K.’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has released results from its Total Diet Study (TDS) that shows that people in the United Kingdom may currently consume higher levels of the chemical than is desirable.

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Growing higher yield, tastier strawberries

Research from Kansas State University Olathe may help Kansas growers increase strawberry production in the state, extend the growing season, and grow berries that are more nutritious and flavorful.

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McCormick named No. 1 most sustainable in food products industry

McCormick garnered the rank of No. 14 in the 2017 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations Index at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and took the No. 1 ranking in the food products industry.

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Regional, world flavors to take center stage in 2017

Bell Flavors & Fragrances has revealed its 2017 Spark trends for flavors in the U.S. market. This year’s flavor discoveries are all about going deeper into regional and localized food, coupled with upcoming and interesting world flavors to appease curious palates.

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USDA announces stricter animal welfare rules for organic eggs, meat`

According to the Associated Press, organic meat and egg producers will have to abide by stricter animal welfare standards under a new rule announced by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) before President Trump took office.

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Cookie dough producer on notice from FDA for Listeria issues

Thomas and Nancy Lundeen may never look at Groundhog’s Day the same again. They’ve got until then to respond to an FDA warning letter about Listeria in their cookie dough and production plant — give or take a day depending on how long it took an overnight service to deliver the letter.

The Lundeens are co-owners of Aspen Hills Inc., a company in Garner, IA, that produces a variety of food products, including cookie dough for other food producers’ products and for fund-raising projects by groups such as schools and churches.

Federal officials have been working with the company since this past fall to resolve food safety problems at the Iowa plant, but as of the Jan. 10 warning letter, “serious violations” remain. The Lundeens have 15 working days to respond to the warning letter.

A spokesman for Aspen Hills said earlier this week that the company is “working on its response” to the Food and Drug Administration. He did not provide information about the operational status of the cookie dough production lines or other activities at the Iowa facility.

The background
In September 2016 tests by one of Aspen Hills’ customers — Blue Bell Creameries — showed Listeria monocytogenes and spurred a ripple of recalls of several brands of ice cream and other products containing Aspen Hills cookie dough. The finding by Blue Bell also sparked an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration, which revealed a number of problems at the Iowa cream production facility.

Federal officials informed Aspen Hills’ owners about the problems during the inspection, which lasted from Sept. 27 to Oct. 6, 2016. The FDA also issued the company a “Form-483, Inspectional Observations” report that included suggestions of how to resolve the food safety problems at the facility.

The Lundeens responded, but failed to meet requirements of federal law, according to the FDA’s Jan. 10 warning letter.

“We acknowledge your firm’s responses dated Nov. 1, 2016, and Dec. 19, 2016, to the FDA-483, which include a description of corrective actions taken by your firm. We address the adequacy of specific corrective actions below,” the warning letter states.

The problems
At least four pieces of equipment in the production facility tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, all of them in the production room and either in direct contact with dough or adjacent to it. The FDA has redacted specific names of equipment and processes from the public version of the warning letter to protect “confidential company information.”

In addition to the positive results from equipment swabs collected Sept. 28 by FDA, the agency’s warning letter also references 10 Listeria monocytogenes positive results the company itself got from equipment swabs it collected from Sept. 16-28. There was also a positive Listeria monocytogenes result from one sample of finished product.

“The frequency of these environmental findings in conjunction with your finished product finding indicates that your firm is not taking aggressive action to identify harborage sites for L. monocytogenes, to deep clean your facility effectively, and to prevent finished product contamination,” the warning letter states.

“The (whole genome sequencing) WGS phylogenetic analysis of these 15 isolates finds that they comprise a single strain of L. monocytogenes. Comparing this strain to the larger WGS database shows that it matches three other isolates: two isolates from finished ice cream products tested by a commercial laboratory, and one isolate from a cookie dough ingredient sample collected by the state of Texas in 2016.”

The response
The FDA did acknowledge that Aspen Hills “took extensive corrective actions” after receiving the agency’s inspection report. The hiring of a third-party consultant and revisions of procedures for pathogen monitoring and testing, as well as cleaning and sanitizing were noted in the warning letter. However, the FDA left little wiggle room for the company.

“We will ascertain the adequacy of your corrective action during our next inspection,” was repeated throughout the warning letter, which also cited problems with the Aspen Hills response regarding employee training.

The Aspen Hills owners submitted revised procedures, but they did not include information on implementation dates, making it impossible for FDA officials to know if the procedures were in place before or after the Listeria problems were discovered.

The company owners also attempted to rely on retraining of employees as part of its response, but the dates didn’t add up.

“… the training records supplied with your response show employees were trained on topics such as “Sanitation” (on) 9/13/16 and “Highlighted Proper Sanitation, High APC counts and Importance of properly cleaned facility” on 9/15/16,” according to the warning letter.

“These trainings were just prior to the start of our inspection on Sept. 27, 2016, and therefore cannot be considered to constitute corrective actions to issues identified during the inspection.”

Editor’s note: For additional background on Aspen Hills recalled cookie dough and related recalls, please see:

• “Cookie dough recall for Listeria ripples through food chain”
• “Nutrisystem recalls cookie dough bars for Listeria concerns”
• “UPDATED: Cookie dough recall hits Weight Watchers frozen desserts”

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Ground pork sausage recalled by Northern Colorado company

Colorado’s Atlas Meat Co. in Fort Collins Wednesday recalled just more than a ton of pork sausage because of misbranding, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The pork products may contain monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is not declared on the product label, according to the recall notice.

The ground pork sausage items were produced on various dates from Oct. 12, 2016, through Jan. 23 this year. Consumers can identify the recalled products by looking for the following label information:

• 0.80 to 1.5-lb. vacuum-sealed or butcher paper wrapped packages containing “Atlas Meat Pork Breakfast Ssg.”
• 0.80 to 1.5-lb. vacuum-sealed or butcher paper wrapped packages containing “Atlas Meat Pork Italian Ssg.”

The recalled pork sausage has the establishment number “EST. 40306” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were sold directly to consumers at the firm’s Northern Colorado location and shipped to retail locations in the state and Wyoming.

The misbranding  was discovered on Jan. 23, 2017, by FSIS inspection personnel during routine verification activities. Confirmed adverse reaction reports have not yet to be associated with the recalled pork.  Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

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.

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Feds find potential process defect; chicken bowls recalled

Chicken and rice bowls packaged under the R Kitchen brand for the Roche Bros. grocery chain are under recall by manufacturer Hans Kissel Co. LLC for possible bacterial contamination because of a problem in a processing plant.

More than three tons — 6,348 pounds — of two flavors of the R Kitchen branded microwavable, ready-to-eat chicken bowl entrées are included in the recall, posted by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

“A potential process defect” resulted in the potential survival of bacterial pathogens in the products, according to the recall notice. “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.”

Federal inspectors discovered the potential process defect during their routine in-plant verification activities.

The recalled products were produced for Roche Bros. by Hans Kissel Co. on various dates from Dec. 1, 2016, through Jan. 16 this year. Consumers can identify the recalled products by looking for the following label information:

• R Kitchen Sweet & Sour Chicken 16-ounce lidded bowls; and
• R Kitchen General Tso’s Chicken 16-ounce lidded bowls.

Labels on both flavors of chicken bowls have the establishment number “P-7573” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These recalled chicken bowls were shipped only to the Roche Bros. chain, which has about 20 stores in the Boston area. No illnesses had been reported in connection with the recalled products as of Jan. 20.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Bob Lijana, director of quality assurance and food safety, Hans Kissle Co. LLC. at 978-556-4500.

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Frozen ‘@ease’ chicken meal starters recalled in seven states

More than half a ton of “@ease” brand frozen chicken meal starter products are under recall because they contain undeclared allergens that could cause serious or life-threatening reactions in people with sensitivities to eggs, milk or wheat.

Mountain View Packaging LLC or Boise, ID, packed the 18-ounce packages of “@ease Sweet Chili Chicken Meal Starter” on Dec. 23 and 30, 2016, according to the recall notice on the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service website. A distributor in Utah bought the products and sent them to Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming.

There is concern that consumers may still have the recalled product in their homes because of its long shelf life. The recalled, frozen “@ease Sweet Chili Chicken Meal Starter” can be identified by the “Best By” date of 5/17/2018 and UPC number of 36800-38348. The recalled products also have the establishment number “EST. P-39904” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

“The problem was discovered on Jan. 13 by a customer who was attempting to scan the items to place them into inventory at their store. Specifically, the UPC numbers did not match the UPC codes. The firm notified FSIS of the problem on Jan. 17,” according to the recall notice.

“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. Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Gary Shaw, chief administrative officer, at 208-344-1183 Ext. 106.”

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Fresh, cored pineapple recalled for possible Listeria risk

A grocery chain in the Twin Cities area is recalling fresh-cut, cored pineapple that an unnamed supplier has recalled because of potential contamination with Listeria.

Photo illustration

It is not known what other retailers, restaurants or institutions may have received the pineapple recalled by the unnamed supplier. Lunds & Byerlys officials did not respond to requests for comment.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we have removed Lunds & Byerlys ‘Our Produce Fresh-Cut Cored Pineapple’ from our shelves following a voluntary recall from our supplier because of a potential Listeria risk, according to a Jan. 20 notice on the Minnesota retailer’s website.

“Customers are urged to return these products to our stores for a full refund — receipt not required — or destroy them immediately.”

All Lunds & Byerlys “Our Produce” freshcut, cored pineapple with expiration dates on or before Jan. 20 are included in the recall. No illnesses had been reported to the retailer in connection with the recalled pineapple as of the posting of the notice.

Anyone who has consumed any of the recalled pineapple should monitor themselves for symptoms. It can take 70 days for symptoms of Listeria infection to develop after exposure. People who ate the recalled pineapple and develop symptoms should seek medical attention and tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Listeria.

Symptoms of Listeria infection include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. It is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, the elderly, children and people with compromised immune systems.

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Misbranding brings recall of Harry & David fully cooked turkey

Burger’s Ozark Country Cured in California, MO, is recalling 1,905 pounds of fully cooked turkey products because of misbranding, according to  the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The fully cooked turkeys were produced on Nov. 22, 2016, and packaged on Nov. 23, 2016, according to the Jan. 18 recall notice. Consumers can identify the recalled by looking for the following label information on the vacuum-sealed packaging:

• “Harry & David Ready to Heat Fully Cooked Turkey without Giblets” with a case code of V20HD2MV and lot number 3276 or 3286.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. P-1161” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These products were sent to a distribution center in Ohio for further distribution. No other distribution details were included in the recall notice.

The problem was discovered  Jan. 16 when a customer observed the wrong label was applied to the product. The mislabeled turkey product contains sodium nitrite, which is not declared on the label. On Jan. 17, 2017, the establishment notified FSIS that the firm wanted to recall the mislabeled product.

There haven’t been any confirmed reports of adverse reactions connected to consumption of these turkeys. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

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Frozen turkey dog food recalled for Listeria; people also at risk

Blue Ridge Beef is recalling its frozen, raw turkey pet food from retailers in four states because it a poses a danger to people and their animals because of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

“This recall was initiated with FDA inspection and sampling of the product,” according to the company’s recall notice posted on the Food and Drug ADministration’s website.

“Listeria can affect animals eating the product and there is a risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surface exposed to these products.”

The only Blue Ridge Beef product implicated in the recall is the company’s 2-pound chub of “turkey with bone.” Consumers can identify the recalled chubs by looking for the following manufacturing codes on the label:

• Lot #103;
• M.F.D. 12/7/16; and
• UPC number 854298001887.

The Eatonton, GA, Blue Ridge Beef production plant distributed the recalled frozen turkey dog food to retailers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

“Consumers who have purchased the above lot of turkey for dogs are urged to stop feeding them and return products to the place of purchase for a full refund. Or dispose of them immediately. Those with questions can email the company at blueridgebeefga@yahoo.com,” according to the recall notice.

Anyone who has handled the Blue Ridge Beef frozen “turkey with bone” dog food and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctors about the possible exposure to the pathogen.

It can take up to 70 days for symptoms of Listeria infection to develop after exposure. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. It is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, the elderly, children and people with compromised immune systems.

Anyone who has had the recalled product in their homes is urged to clean and sanitize any containers or utensils that may have come into contact with the Blue Ridge Beef “turkey with bone” dog food. Listeria monocytogenes can live on surfaces and survive freezing temperatures.

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Recall of ribs for no inspection; sent to Michigan restaurants

Boucherville, Quebec-based Olymel S.E.C./ L.P. Saturday recalled  approximately 1,124 pounds of pork ribs products for being repacked and distributed without the benefit of federal inspection, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The pork ribs items were repacked and produced from Jan. 10 to Jan. 13, 2017. The following products are subject to recall:

• 10-lb. cardboard box of pork rib tips with a packaging date of Jan. 10-13, 2017.
• 30-lb. cardboard box of pork rib tips with a packaging date of Jan. 10-13, 2017.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “Est. 8951” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to restaurants in Michigan.

The problem was discovered on Jan. 13, 2017 by FSIS while conducting routine failure to present monitoring activities. FSIS discovered that a shipment of pork spare ribs entered the United States from Canada on or about 1/08/2017, crossing the border in Michigan. The products were then processed and repacked at a federal establishment and further distributed.

There has not yet been any  confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.

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.

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Six grocery chains across 12 states recall snacks for Salmonella

Chocolate covered pretzels and other snacks with long shelf lives are being recalled from hundreds of stores by at least six grocery chains across a dozen states because of possible Salmonella contamination,

The snacks — some in party trays themed for the football playoff season — were produced by Palmer Candy Co. using an ingredient that included powdered milk from Valley Milk Products LLC. Dozens of food companies have recalled products made with the powdered milk, which was recalled after federal officials found Salmonella problems at the milk plant in Strasburg, VA.

Grocery chains recalling the chocolate covered shacks, some packaged under the Palmer brand and some packaged in unbranded containers, include HyVee, Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions, Tom Thumb and Lucky.

All of the recalls by the retailers this week referenced Valley Milk Products LLC. The products have best-by dates ranging from this month to July. Consequently, consumers are being urged to check their homes for the recalled products.

“Customers who purchased this product should dispose of it or return it to their local Hy-Vee store for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Hy-Vee Customer Care representatives 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 800-772-4098,” according to the Hy-Vee recall notice, which is posted on the Food and Drug Administration’s website.

Hy-Vee operates more than 240 stores in eight states and is recalling the snacks from all its stores in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

To see the list of products recalled by Hy-Vee, click here.

“The product comes in a plastic container with a clear lid. The sell-by date range for all items is between Jan. 26 and Feb. 23, 2017. The sell-by date can be found at the top of the product label,” according to the Hy-Vee recall notice.

Albertsons and Tom Thumb stores in three states, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, are recalling the snacks according to a news release. “The products are sold in the bakery area and packaged in clear, clamshell containers affixed with a scale label,” according to the news release about the Albertsons and Tom Thumb recalls in the three states.

To see the list of products recalled in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, click here.

“The recalled products have been removed from sale. Customers are asked to check their cupboards and refrigerators for these products. The products should be discarded or returned for a refund. Customers who have questions about the recall can contact Albertsons and Tom Thumb anytime at 877-723-3929.”

In a separate news release, Albertsons recalled assorted candy platters that contained the snack products and were distributed to stores in Southern California. The four retail banners involved in the Southern California recall are: Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions and Lucky.

“The Assorted Candy Platter is 32 ounces and has a UPC Code Number of 0041144 078586, which can be found on the scale label,” according to the news release from Albertsons. “The product is sold in the bakery area and is packaged in a clear, clamshell container affixed with a scale label. The recall includes packages marked with Sell Thru dates up to and including 7.10.17 (July 10, 2017). The Sell Thru date is printed on the scale label.”

Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctors about the possible exposure to the pathogen.

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems may contract serious and sometimes deadly infections.

Healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

Related recalls
At the request of the FDA, armed U.S. Marshals raided the Valley Milk plant in Strasburg, VA, on Nov. 30 and seized 4 million pounds of powdered milk and powdered buttermilk valued at almost $4 million.

On Dec. 9 Valley Milk Products recalled a separate 3.1 million pounds of powdered milk products produced and sold in the period from Dec. 5, 2015, through July 10, 2016.

While the FDA has access to company records showing who bought the recalled powdered milk, and when, it cannot publish those details because of a federal law protecting “confidential corporate information.”

In a document filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia the FDA reported environmental swabs collected at the production facility returned positive results for Salmonella.

Inspectors also found internal records at Valley Milk that showed the company itself had found Salmonella in the facility and in finished products.

Close to 20 other companies’ have similarly named potentially contaminated powdered milk from Valley Milk Products LLC of Strasburg, VA, as the reason for their recalls of products as varied as pudding mix, potato chips, frozen cream puffs and macaroni and cheese.

For additional details on other recalls related to the Valley Milk Products problems with Salmonella, please see:

• Armed federal agents seize milk products from major cooperative
• Publix recalls mixes; cites powdered milk Salmonella problem
• Stonewall Kitchen recalls mixes for tainted powdered milk
• Great Value, other mac & cheese brands recalled for Salmonella
• Monkey bread mix recalled for Salmonella in powdered milk
• Chips recalled for Salmonella in powdered milk seasoning
• Mac & cheese sold at Aldi, Dollar Tree recalled for Salmonella
• New Hope Mills recalls crepe mix because of powdered milk
• Frozen desserts recalled for Salmonella risk in powdered milk
• Powdered milk Salmonella risk hits Roundy’s, Old Dutch chips
• Powdered milk forces Albertsons, HEB, Safeway bakery recalls
• Williams-Sonoma recalls mix for problem with powdered milk
• Houdini recalls gift baskets from Costco, Sam’s Club, others
• Snyder chips recalled for powdered milk Salmonella risk
• Dieffenbach’s recalls chips for Salmonella threat in seasoning
• Biscuit, cornbread mix recalled; powdered milk pathogen risk
• Route 11 recalls chips for powdered milk Salmonella risk
• Mikesell’s chips recalled for Salmonella risk in seasoning
• Publix, Wal-Mart, Palmer brand snacks recalled for Salmonella
• Twinkies recalled because of powdered milk Salmonella issue
• Tupperware recalls seasoning; Salmonella risk from milk plant

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Soup recalled from Whole Foods; wrong product in packages

Kettle Cuisine LLC in Lynn, MA, has recalled 3,096 pounds of soup because of misbranding and undeclared allergens, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The label declares the product to be chicken soup, when it is actually Italian wedding soup with meatballs. The product also contains eggs, milk and wheat, known allergens which are not declared on the product label.

The chicken soup was produced and packaged on Jan. 3, 2017. Only one flavor and size of soup is implicated in the recall. Consumers can identify it by the following label information:

• 24-ounce cups of “MOM’S CHICKEN SOUP” with a “USE BY” date of 02/17/17

The products subject to recall have the establishment number “P-18468” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The soup was shipped to Whole Foods Market locations in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island.

The problem was discovered by staff at a retail store, according to the recall notice

No confirmed reports of adverse reactions have been reported in relation to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

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.

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Dutch Valley recalls snack mix because of Salmonella fears

Dutch Valley Food Distributors Inc. is recalling 5-pound bags of cappuccino snack mix because of possible contamination with Salmonella in one of its ingredients.

The Myerstown, PA, company sold the candy mix to consumers nationwide via the Internet and distributed the recalled product to 22 states, according to a recall notice on the Food and Drug Administration’s website. The recall is dated Jan. 4 but it was not posted until Thursday.

“Consumers who have purchased these products are asked to destroy them or to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions regarding the product listed may call Dutch Valley Foods at 800-733 4191,” according to the recall notice.

Retailers and consumers can identify the recalled Dutch Valley cappuccino snack mix by looking for the following codes on the packaging. It was distributed with two 5-pound bags packed per bulk carton:

• Item number 552372;
  Lot code 20161027; and
  Best By date of May 25.

States where the snack mix was distributed are: Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Mississippi, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

“Retailers are advised to remove this product from store shelves based on the Best By Date, according to the recall notice.

Anyone who has consumed any of the snack mix and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention and inform their doctors of the possible exposure to the pathogen.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with Salmonella usually experience fever, diarrhea that is often bloody, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

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Tupperware recalls seasoning; Salmonella risk from milk plant

People who bought Tupperware brand chipotle seasoning mix after Aug. 2, 2016, are urged not to use it because of potential Salmonella contamination from a powdered milk ingredient.

Consumers can identify the recalled Tupperware Southwest Chipotle Seasoning mix by looking for the lot number (circled in red) on the back of the packet.

Tupperware U.S. Inc. of Orlando, FL, posted the recall with the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday, joining almost 20 other companies that have recalled foods because of the problem with powdered milk ingredients from Valley Milk Products LLC in Strasburg, VA.

Foods recalled since the first week of December 2016 include pudding mix, potato chips, snack cakes, frozen foods and a wide variety of other products.

Tupperware, best known for its containers, distributed its branded “Southwest Chipotle Seasoning” nationwide to consumers. Only packages marked with the lot number 16189305 on the back, above the best-by date, are subject to the recall.

“The product was manufactured for Tupperware by a third party blender of fine spices and seasonings. … FDA found traces of Salmonella at the facility where buttermilk powder, one ingredient in the seasoning mix, was manufactured,” according to the recall notice.

“To Tupperware’s knowledge, no Salmonella has been found in the buttermilk powder shipped to its seasoning manufacturer by the ingredient supplier, and Tupperware has not received any information from the manufacturer indicating that Salmonella has been found in the Southwest Chipotle Seasoning itself.”

Anyone in possession of any of the recalled seasoning with the lot number 16189305 should send it to Tupperware for a $15 eGift certificate per package to cover the cost of the seasoning and shipping costs. The returning party should include a name, address, phone number and email address.

The recalled packages should be sent to:

Tupperware U.S. Inc.
Attn: Julie Castro
14901 South Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando, FL 32837

Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctors about the possible exposure to the pathogen.

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems may contract serious and sometimes deadly infections.

Healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

Related recalls
At the request of the FDA, armed U.S. Marshals raided the Valley Milk plant in Strasburg, VA, on Nov. 30 and seized 4 million pounds of powdered milk and powdered buttermilk valued at almost $4 million.

On Dec. 9 Valley Milk Products recalled 3.1 million pounds of powdered milk products produced and sold in the period from Dec. 5, 2015, through July 10, 2016.

While the FDA has access to company records showing who bought the recalled powdered milk, and when, it cannot publish those details because of a federal law protecting “confidential corporate information.”

In a document filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia the FDA reported environmental swabs collected at the production facility returned positive results for Salmonella.

Inspectors also found internal records at Valley Milk that showed the company itself had found Salmonella in the facility and in finished products.

Close to 20 other companies’ have similarly named potentially contaminated powdered milk from Valley Milk Products LLC of Strasburg, VA, as the reason for their recalls of products as varied as pudding mix, potato chips, frozen cream puffs and macaroni and cheese.

For additional details on other recalls related to the Valley Milk Products problems with Salmonella, please see:

• Armed federal agents seize milk products from major cooperative
• Publix recalls mixes; cites powdered milk Salmonella problem
• Stonewall Kitchen recalls mixes for tainted powdered milk
• Great Value, other mac & cheese brands recalled for Salmonella
• Monkey bread mix recalled for Salmonella in powdered milk
• Chips recalled for Salmonella in powdered milk seasoning
• Mac & cheese sold at Aldi, Dollar Tree recalled for Salmonella
• New Hope Mills recalls crepe mix because of powdered milk
• Frozen desserts recalled for Salmonella risk in powdered milk
• Powdered milk Salmonella risk hits Roundy’s, Old Dutch chips
• Powdered milk forces Albertsons, HEB, Safeway bakery recalls
• Williams-Sonoma recalls mix for problem with powdered milk
• Houdini recalls gift baskets from Costco, Sam’s Club, others
• Snyder chips recalled for powdered milk Salmonella risk
• Dieffenbach’s recalls chips for Salmonella threat in seasoning
• Biscuit, cornbread mix recalled; powdered milk pathogen risk
• Route 11 recalls chips for powdered milk Salmonella risk
• Mikesell’s chips recalled for Salmonella risk in seasoning
• Publix, Wal-Mart, Palmer brand snacks recalled for Salmonella
• Twinkies recalled because of powdered milk Salmonella issue

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Ton of chicken tenders recalled after consumer complaint

After a consumer complaint, Schreiber Processing Corp. in Maspeth, NY, has recalled  2,330 pounds of chicken tender products that may be contaminated with plastic and misbranded, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The breaded chicken breast tenders were produced on Dec. 8, 2016, and packaged on Dec. 9, 2016. The following product is subject to recall:

• 10-pound boxes containing “Meal Mart BATTERED & BREADED CHICKEN BREAST TENDERS” with the item code 03-CTB and the production code 0246

The recalled products have the establishment number “P-787” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to institutional and retail locations in New Jersey, New York and Washington including these restaurants: Affordable Kosher, Seattle; Meal Mart, Flushing, NY; Mountain Fresh, Brooklyn; Riverdale Kosher, Riverdale, NY; and Kosher World, Far Rockway, NY.

There are not yet any  confirmed reports of injury or illness due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

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.

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Twinkies recalled because of powdered milk Salmonella issue

This week a seasonal version of the iconic American snack cake — Hostess Twinkies — joined dozens of other foods as a victim of a secondary recall because of Salmonella contamination at a powdered milk plant.

Hostess Brands LLC of Kansas City, MO, initiated a nationwide recall of its “Holiday White Peppermint Twinkies” late Monday because of a recall by Blommer Chocolate Co. of the confectionary coating used on the Twinkies, according to the recall notice on the Food and Drug Administration’s website.

“The confectionary coating contains milk powder ingredients recalled by Valley Milk Products LLC due to a concern of Salmonella contamination. No illnesses have been reported to date, and none of the confectionary coating sampled has tested positive for Salmonella. However, Hostess is initiating this voluntary recall out of an abundance of caution,” the company said in the recall notice.

Although the peppermint Twinkies are a seasonal holiday item, their long shelf life has raised concerns that consumers may have the recalled snack cakes in their homes.

Consumers can identify the recalled peppermint Twinkies sold in nine-packs with the UPC number 888109111571. Hostess distributed the recalled peppermint Twinkies to mass merchandisers, grocery stores, distributors, dollar and discount stores, and convenience stores throughout the United States.

“Consumers who have purchased the affected product are urged to discontinue consumption and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund,” according to the recall notice. “Consumers with questions may contact 800-483-7253 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central time.”

Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctors about the possible exposure to the pathogen.

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems may contract serious and sometimes deadly infections.

Healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

Related recalls
At the request of the FDA, armed U.S. Marshals raided the Valley Milk plant in Strasburg, VA, on Nov. 30 and seized 4 million pounds of powdered milk and powdered buttermilk valued at almost $4 million.

On Dec. 9 Valley Milk Products recalled 3.1 million pounds of powdered milk products produced and sold in the period from Dec. 5, 2015, through July 10, 2016.

While the FDA has access to company records showing who bought the recalled powdered milk, and when, it cannot publish those details because of a federal law protecting “confidential corporate information.”

In a document filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia the FDA reported environmental swabs collected at the production facility returned positive results for Salmonella.

Inspectors also found internal records at Valley Milk that showed the company itself had found Salmonella in the facility and in finished products.

Close to 20 other companies’ have similarly named potentially contaminated powdered milk from Valley Milk Products LLC of Strasburg, VA, as the reason for their recalls of products as varied as pudding mix, potato chips, frozen cream puffs and macaroni and cheese.

For additional details on other recalls related to the Valley Milk Products problems with Salmonella, please see:

• Armed federal agents seize milk products from major cooperative
• Publix recalls mixes; cites powdered milk Salmonella problem
• Stonewall Kitchen recalls mixes for tainted powdered milk
• Great Value, other mac & cheese brands recalled for Salmonella
• Monkey bread mix recalled for Salmonella in powdered milk
• Chips recalled for Salmonella in powdered milk seasoning
• Mac & cheese sold at Aldi, Dollar Tree recalled for Salmonella
• New Hope Mills recalls crepe mix because of powdered milk
• Frozen desserts recalled for Salmonella risk in powdered milk
• Powdered milk Salmonella risk hits Roundy’s, Old Dutch chips
• Powdered milk forces Albertsons, HEB, Safeway bakery recalls
• Williams-Sonoma recalls mix for problem with powdered milk
• Houdini recalls gift baskets from Costco, Sam’s Club, others
• Snyder chips recalled for powdered milk Salmonella risk
• Dieffenbach’s recalls chips for Salmonella threat in seasoning
• Biscuit, cornbread mix recalled; powdered milk pathogen risk
• Route 11 recalls chips for powdered milk Salmonella risk
• Mikesell’s chips recalled for Salmonella risk in seasoning
• Publix, Wal-Mart, Palmer brand snacks recalled for Salmonella

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Chicken breasts recalled for misbranding and allergens

Houston’s Perfect Fit Meals LLC Tuesday recalled 3,546 pounds of chicken breast products because of misbranding and undeclared allergens, according to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The product may contain milk and wheat, known allergens which are not declared on the product label.

The ready-to-eat chicken breast items were produced on Dec. 20 and 21, 2016. The following product is subject to recall:

• 10.5-ounce sealed tray package containing “From the Kitchen of Cooking Light Magazine: Lemon Pepper Chicken” with “Use or Freeze By” date of 01/21/17 and the lot code 2457744.2

The product subject to recall has establishment number “P-827” inside the USDA mark of inspection. This item was shipped to military commissaries and retail establishments nationwide.

The problem was discovered when a distributor notified Perfect Fit Meals LLC that the chicken breast product had been incorrectly labeled. Although the product is labeled “Lemon Pepper Chicken” it contains a different product, “Blackened Chicken Breast,” which contains milk and wheat allergens.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

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.

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Publix, Wal-Mart, Palmer brand snacks recalled for Salmonella

To see photos of all of the products included in this recall, click on the image.

Five weeks after the U.S. Marshals Service raided a powdered milk factory at the request of FDA, seizing more than 4 million pounds of product because of possible Salmonella contamination, down-stream food companies are still initiating recalls, the latest being the iconic Palmer Candy Co.

The 149-year-old, family-owned candy company based in Souix City, IA, posted the recall on its website Monday. The recall includes Palmer branded products as well as unbranded bulk products and specific products made under the Publix brand and Wal-Mart’s “The Bakery” brand.

Two Publix-branded products, almond bark (left) and peppermint bark (not shown) and Wal-Mart brand “The Bakery” variety bowl are among the products included in this recall. To view photos of all of the recalled products, click on the image.

“The voluntary recall, in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration includes selected products produced between Oct. 20, 2016, and Dec. 9, 2016, and shipped by Palmer Candy Co. to grocery, convenience store and wholesale customers nationwide,” according to the recall notice.

“The recall is the result of a potentially contaminated milk powder ingredient recalled by Valley Milk Products LLC, a derivative of which was included as a small portion of the ingredients by another company in a confectionary coating supplied to Palmer Candy Co. Affected products include a variety of candy products sold to retailers under the Palmer Candy Co. brand, private label chocolates for retail distribution and bulk products provided to retailers for repackaging.”

Because of the long shelf life of some of the products, which extends to the end of August this year for some items, officials are concerned consumers may have the recalled products in their homes.

To view this chart in a larger format and to see photos of all of the products included in this recall, click on the image.

To determine if they have the recalled products in their homes, consumers should look for the UPC numbers for the products listed in the chart at right.

The numbers are usually on the back of bags or the bottom of rigid containers. Photos of all of the products recalled by Palmer are available with the recall notice. To view them, click here or on the chart.

“We are truly sorry for any distress this recall causes to our retail customers and to consumers. We remain committed to the highest standards in food quality and safety. We are taking this recall very seriously and truly appreciate the cooperation of our customers as we work to resolve this matter promptly,” Marty Palmer, president and chief executive officer of Palmer Candy Company said in the recall notice.

Consumers should throw out or return these products to the point of sale for a full refund, according to the recall notice. For more information, consumers may call 712-258-5543 to speak with a customer service representative at Palmer Candy Co.

No illnesses had been confirmed in connection with the recalled candy and snacks produced by Palmer as of Monday. However, anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctors about the possible exposure to the pathogen.

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems may contract serious and sometimes deadly infections.

Healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

Related recalls
At the request of the FDA, armed U.S. Marshals raided the Valley Milk plant on Nov. 30 and seized 4 million pounds of powdered milk and powdered buttermilk valued at almost $4 million.

On Dec. 9 Valley Milk Products recalled 3.1 million pounds of powdered milk products produced and sold in the period from Dec. 5, 2015, through July 10, 2016.

While the FDA has access to company records showing who bought the recalled powdered milk, and when, it cannot publish those details because of a federal law protecting “confidential corporate information.”

In a document filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia the FDA reported environmental swabs collected at the production facility returned positive results for Salmonella.

Inspectors also found internal records at Valley Milk that showed the company itself had found Salmonella in the facility and in finished products.

Close to 20 other companies’ have similarly named potentially contaminated powdered milk from Valley Milk Products LLC of Strasburg, VA, as the reason for their recalls of products as varied as pudding mix, potato chips, frozen cream puffs and macaroni and cheese.

For additional details on other recalls related to the Valley Milk Products problems with Salmonella, please see:

• Armed federal agents seize milk products from major cooperative
• Publix recalls mixes; cites powdered milk Salmonella problem
• Stonewall Kitchen recalls mixes for tainted powdered milk
• Great Value, other mac & cheese brands recalled for Salmonella
• Monkey bread mix recalled for Salmonella in powdered milk
• Chips recalled for Salmonella in powdered milk seasoning
• Mac & cheese sold at Aldi, Dollar Tree recalled for Salmonella
• New Hope Mills recalls crepe mix because of powdered milk
• Frozen desserts recalled for Salmonella risk in powdered milk
• Powdered milk Salmonella risk hits Roundy’s, Old Dutch chips
• Powdered milk forces Albertsons, HEB, Safeway bakery recalls
• Williams-Sonoma recalls mix for problem with powdered milk
• Houdini recalls gift baskets from Costco, Sam’s Club, others
• Snyder chips recalled for powdered milk Salmonella risk
• Dieffenbach’s recalls chips for Salmonella threat in seasoning
• Biscuit, cornbread mix recalled; powdered milk pathogen risk
• Route 11 recalls chips for powdered milk Salmonella risk
• Mikesell’s chips recalled for Salmonella risk in seasoning

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Contaminated food contaminates consumers’ trust

A breach in food safety is enough to knock restaurants, grocers, retailers and everyone in the supply chain to their knees when contaminated food contaminates the trust consumers have in their products. Take Chipotle Mexican Grill for example, the most recent poster child for damaged customer relationships.

In July 2015, the first of six foodborne illness outbreaks hit the fast-casual restaurant chain. The initial bump in the road was an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Seattle, with five people on record as being infected. Then, in August, thanks to a sick employee in California, at least 234 people became infected with norovirus.

For the rest of 2015 the downward spiral continued. Thirteen states, seven months and more than 500 sick customers later, the burrito giant’s nightmare was deemed over by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, from a business standpoint, it was just getting started.

A look through Chipotle’s stock prices tells the story. The publicly traded company hit its all-time closing high of $757.77 on Aug. 5, 2015. By Aug. 31, 2015, stocks were closing at $719.23, a downward trend which landed at a closing price of $479.85 on Dec. 28, 2015.

The Denver-based chain struggled to reverse the trend was not over in the New Year, and continued to trend down to a close just under $380 at the end of December 2016.

Even though Chipotle didn’t issues recalls in connection with any of the foodborne illness outbreaks linked to its restaurants in 2015, the cost to its reputation hit as hard as a recall, with many of the same expenses involved. Chipotle had to close several restaurants for deep cleaning and sanitizing, similar to measures necessary at businesses that produce, pack, re-pack, distribute foods and sell them at retail.

To read the white paper on technology solutions to meet the requirements of the sanitary transportation rule, click on the image.

Food recall surge
According to Stericycle Expert Solutions Recall Index, the Food and Drug Administration had a 34 percent uptick in recalls from the second quarter of 2016 to the third quarter, making Q3 the highest recall period since the first quarter of 2010.

Vegetables accounted for a whopping 86.5 percent of FDA’s recalls, with 89.1 percent of all recalled units having bacterial contamination.

United States Department of Agriculture recalls were also trending high, up 36 percent. Poultry was the highest contaminated animal product for USDA, at 50.9 percent of the total recalled pounds, while mixed protein products came in second at 39.2 percent.

This recall increase is a concern in the midst of this steadily growing trend of consumers demanding to know more about the food they purchase for their family’s table. They want to know where it comes from, how it got to their favorite local store and why they should believe it’s safe for their families.

In a white paper published in March 2016 by Kansas City-based ad agency Sullivan Higdon Sink, “Evolving Trust In The Food Industry,” 65 percent of consumers surveyed said they want to know how their food is produced. And, one out of three — 34 percent — somewhat disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement “As a whole, food companies are transparent about how food is produced.”

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is geared toward preventing and reducing foodborne illnesses, with rules addressing every aspect of production, from irrigation water standards to intermodal containers used to ship food. Such attention is not expected to result in fewer recalls.

Editor’s note: Watch for Part 2 of this series, which includes information about high-tech solutions to help food companies meet FSMA requirements, scheduled to publish Jan. 16.

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No recall: Chicken served last month could still cause illnesses

Anyone who ate fajita or gyro dishes made with chicken strips in restaurants in the Cleveland, OH, area in December should monitor themselves for symptoms of Listeria infection in the coming weeks.

Ready-to-eat, fully cooked chicken breast strips produced by House of Raeford in Mocksville, NC, and shipped to restaurants in the Cleveland area may have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, according to a Saturday warning from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

Photo illustration

The company, which produced the implicated chicken breast strips in September 2016, discovered the Listeria problem during routine testing, according to the FSIS notice. The notice did not indicate when the testing was conducted or when the results were reported.

“A recall was not requested because it is believed that all products have now been consumed,” according to the FSIS notice. “The ready to eat, fully cooked, chicken breast strips items were produced and packaged on Sept. 29, 2016, and served to consumers in December 2016.”

Although no illnesses had been reported in connection with the ready-to-eat chicken strips as of Jan. 7, it can take up to 70 days after exposure for symptoms of Listeria infection to develop.

“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,” according to the government warning.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns.

Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection sometimes 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 can occur in older adults, young children and people with weakened immune systems.

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Salmonella outbreak traced to hazelnuts from Oregon farm

Oregon officials are warning consumers to check their homes for hazelnuts from the Schmidt Farm and Nursery farm stand and to immediately discard them because they have been named the cause of a Salmonella outbreak.

The warning Friday from the Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division reported five people have been confirmed in the outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium. They were all infected with the same strain of the pathogen, which was also found in hazelnuts from the Schmidt Farm and Nursery farm stand on highway southwest of McMinnville, OR.

Although the majority of the Schmidt Farm hazelnut crop goes to wholesalers, a spokesman from the Oregon Department of Agriculture said Friday afternoon that the department estimates the farm stand sold 32,000 to 48,000 pounds of hazelnuts direct to consumers.

Attempts to reach Schmidt Farm and Nursery owners were unsuccessful Friday. Their website and Facebook pages indicate the operation is closed for the season, with plans to reopen in the spring. The farm has about 80 acres of hazelnuts, according to information the owners provided to state officials.

Officials have few concerns about the portion of the Schmidt hazelnut crop that went to wholesalers.

“Wholesalers have steps in place that kill any Salmonella on the hazelnuts they handle before the nuts reach consumers,” said Stephanie Page, the agriculture department’s director of food safety and animal services, in the public warning.

“To date, we have no indication there were any issues with this part of the process. The concern in this case is with hazelnuts bought at the farm stand.”

That concern is based on hard science, according to the state’s public health officials. Lab tests from the five sick people were virtually identical to the Salmonella strain found in samples of hazelnuts purchased at the farm stand. Interviews with the victims further confirmed the connection.

“When interviewed by public health officials, three of the individuals recalled buying hazelnuts from the Schmidt Farm and Nursery stand in McMinnville,” according to the state health department. “The fourth ate hazelnuts from an unlabeled bag of partially shelled nuts. A fifth case was linked to the other four cases after having tested positive for the same strain of Salmonella.”

All five of the victims confirmed so far became ill between Oct. 15 and Dec. 13, 2016. None of them were hospitalization and all have recovered from their illnesses, the health department reported.

Because of the long shelf life of nuts, Oregon officials are concerned additional people may become ill. Anyone who has eaten hazelnuts from the Schmidt Farm and Nursery farm stand and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctor about the possible exposure to the pathogen.

Most people who get salmonellosis — infection from Salmonella bacteria —  become sick in one to five days after exposure. Salmonellosis can cause diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps that can last up to seven days. Most people recover without treatment, but in some cases the diarrhea is so severe that hospital care is needed.

Though rare, the most severe cases of Salmonella can lead to death if not treated. Pregnant women, the elderly, children and people with weakened immune systems are much more likely to develop severe symptoms than healthy adults.

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