Yoke’s, Lipari, Copperwood cheeses recalled for Listeria risk

Three more brands of cheeses — all produced by Deutsch Kase Haus LLC — are being recalled because of possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.

To view photos of both Yoke’s recalled cheeses, please click on the image.

Yoke’s Fresh Market and Lipari Foods LLC posted the recalls Tuesday with the Food and Drug Administration, both naming the Middlebury, IN, cheese maker.

The Yoke’s branded recalled cheeses were sold in Yoke’s stores in Idaho and Washington.

Lipari recalled its Old Tyme and Copperwood branded cheeses from foodservice operations and retailers in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

To view photos of all of the recalled Lipari and Copperwood cheeses, please click on the image.

Although no illnesses have been reported in relation to the Yoke’s or Lipari cheeses, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture did find Listeria monocytogenes in finished cheese produced by Deutsch Kase Haus in early February.

Officials are concerned that people may still have the recalled cheese in their homes. There is also concern that people who have already consumed the recalled cheese could develop Listeria infections because it can take up to 70 days after exposure for symptoms to appear.

Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctors about the possible exposure to the pathogen. Those who have eaten the recalled products should monitor themselves for symptoms for the next two months.

Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. Invasive cases see the infection spread 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 occur in older adults, children and people with weakened immune systems.

The Yoke’s recall includes two flavors of cheese available for sale from Sept. 1, 2016, through Jan. 27 this year. Consumers can identify the recalled Yoke’s brand cheese by checking for the following label information:

• Colby Jk Longhorn Cheese – Yoke’s Fresh Market 16 oz.
• Colby Longhorn Cheese – Yoke’s Fresh Market 16 oz.

The Lipari recall includes the following products:

Brand	Product	Lipari Product Number	Weight	Sell-By Date	UPC Number
Copperwood	Colby Jack Mini Horn	359886	4/6#	8/7/17 8/15/17	Sliced at deli counter no UPC; and chunked with no bar code
Copperwood	Pepper Jack Mini Horn	359880	4/6#	5/28/17 thru 10/24/17	Sliced at deli counter no UPC; and chunked with no bar code
Lipari Old Tyme	Colby Mini Horn	119536	2/6#	5/28/17 thru 10/24/17	Sliced at deli counter no UPC; and chunked with no bar code
Lipari Old Tyme	Colby Jack Longhorn	119636	2/14.5#	5/28/17 thru 10/24/17	Sliced at deli counter no UPC; and chunked with no bar code
Lipari Old Tyme	Colby Longhorn	119736	2/15.0#	5/28/17 thru 10/24/17	Sliced at deli counter no UPC; and chunked with no bar code
Lipari Old Tyme	Pepper Jack Mini Horn	119836	2/6#	5/28/17 thru 10/24/17	Sliced at deli counter no UPC; and chunked with no bar code
Lipari Old Tyme	Firecracker Jack Mini Horn	249203	2/6#	5/28/17 thru 10/24/17	Sliced at deli counter no UPC; and chunked with no bar code
Lipari Old Tyme	Swiss Cheese	126000	2/8# AVG	7/4/17 7/10/17	Sliced at deli counter no UPC; and chunked with no bar code
Lipari Old Tyme	Colby Jack Mini Horn	119436	2/6#	8/7/17 8/15/17	Sliced at deli counter no UPC; and chunked with no bar code
Lipari Old Tyme	Colby Jack Cheese	185581	12/8 OZ	2/28/17 thru 8/14/17	094776102211
Lipari Old Tyme	Colby Cheese	185547	12/8 OZ	2/28/17 thru 8/14/17	094776102273
Lipari Old Tyme	Pepper Jack Cheese	185428	12/8 OZ	2/28/17 thru 8/14/17	094776102303
Lipari Old Tyme	Hot Pepper Cheese	185615	12/8 OZ	6/10/17	094776102280
Lipari Old Tyme	Muenster Cheese	185496	12/8 OZ	6/4/17	094776102242

Related recalls
Hundreds of cheeses and other products containing cheese made by Deutsch Kase Haus LLC have been recalled in recent weeks.

Cheese brands involved include Sargento, Sara Lee, Saputo, Dutch Valley and Guggisberg, as well as a variety of store-branded products sold by Meijer, Albertsons, H-E-B and other retailers.

The recalls, which began Feb. 10, stem from a random test conducted by Tennessee inspectors on samples of Amish Classics cheese collected from a retailer and produced by Deutsch Kase Haus LLC of Middleburg, IN. The cheese tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes and Tennessee officials posted a consumer alert.

The Food and Drug Administration is investigating the situation along with officials in several states. However, a clause in the federal code prevents FDA from releasing information about what companies bought cheese from Deutsch Kase Haus because such details are considered “confidential corporate information.”

Editor’s note: For additional information on the related recalls, please see:

• “Another 130 cheese products recalled for Listeria; FDA gagged”
• “Saputa pulls gouda from stores in latest Listeria recall”
• “String of cheese recalls continues, as does Listeria probe”
• “Guggisberg Cheese recalls a dozen products because of Listeria”
• “Sara Lee recalls cheese; 3rd-party plant has history of Listeria”
• “Taylor Farms recalls Signature, HEB salads; Listeria in cheese”
• “UPDATED: Listeria in cheese; recalls by Sargento, Meijer, others”

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Salads, wraps, breakfast bowls recalled for Listeria in facility

More than 3,200 pounds of Gourmet Classic Salads products, ranging from turkey wraps to breakfast bowls, are being recalled from as yet unknown retail locations because the FDA found Listeria monocytogenes on food contact surfaces at the production facility.

“The ready-to-eat salad, wrap and snack items were produced and packaged from Jan. 30, 2017, through Feb. 24, 2017,” according to the recall notice posted on the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) website Tuesday.

“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.”

Gourmet Classic Salads Inc. of Lake Wall, FL, sent the recalled products “to a distributor in Florida for further distribution,” but additional distribution information was not available when the recall was posted. When retail locations are known, the FSIS will post them online.

Consumers and retailers can identify the recalled products from Gourmet Classic Salads Inc. by checking label information, including either of two establishment numbers — “EST. 19276” or “P-19276” — inside the USDA mark of inspection.

All of the recalled ready-to-eat products are in clear plastic containers or round black plastic bowls with clear lids, with one item each. Specific products recalled are:

• “Turkey Pesto on Tomato Basil Wrap”
• “Steak Fajita on White Wrap”
• “Chicken Pepper Jack Wrap”
• “Chicken Caesar Salad”
• “Chef Salad”
• “Cobb Salad”
• “Chicken Caesar on Spinach Wrap”
• “Chicken Salad Snacker”
• “Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad Snacker”
• “Chicken Salad Cup”
• “Pepperoni & Cheese” snack box
• “Turkey & Havarti Lettuce Wrap”
• “Breakfast Bowl: Italian Sausage, Egg, Cheese & Potato”
• “Southwest Breakfast Bowl”
• “Chicken Tender Bowl”
• “Ziti with Sausage & Cheese”

The problem was discovered when the Food and Drug Administration notified USDA that the company may have produced USDA-regulated products on dates that FDA food contact surface samples had tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions or illnesses due to consumption of these products.

However, it can take up to 70 days after exposure for symptoms of Listeria infection to develop. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. Invasive cases see the infection spread 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 occur in older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Listeria. People who have eaten the recalled products should monitor themselves for symptoms for the next two months.

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Six tons of ready-to-eat ‘waffle’ chicken nuggets under recall

Consumer concerns have prompted Wayne Farms LLC to recall more than 6 tons of ready-to-eat “Waffle Breaded Bites” chicken nuggets from Food Lion stores in 10 states.

The 12,610 pounds of the ready-to-eat chicken product may have been subject to a processing problem that can allow the survival of bacterial pathogens, according to the recall notice posted Tuesday night on the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service website.

“The problem was discovered when the firm received a customer complaint that the product looked undercooked,” according to the recall notice. “There have been no confirmed reports of illness or injury 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.”

Wayne Farms LLC of Decatur, AL, shipped the recalled chicken product to Food Lion stores in Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

Consumers and retailers can identify the recalled chicken by checking the product labels for the establishment number “P-20214” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The ready-to-eat breaded “Waffle Breaded Bites: Fully Cooked Breaded White Meat Chicken Bites” were packaged on Dec. 1, 13 and 30, 2016, into cases with two clear plastic 5-pound bags each.

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Trader Joe’s recalls applesauce because it may contain glass

Trader Joe’s is recalling three varieties of its applesauce because of the potential presence of glass pieces.

Two of the products were sold at Trader Joe’s stores nationwide, according to the recall notice on the grocer’s website. The Trader Joe’s notice, posted Sunday, did not indicate how the problem was discovered or whether there have been any customer complaints or injuries.

However, later Sunday the California company that produced the applesauce, Manzana Products Co. Inc., posted a recall notice with the Food and Drug Administration that reported customers had complained about finding glass in the recalled products.

“All potentially affected products have been removed from store shelves and destroyed,” according to the Trader Joe’s recall notice.

“If you purchased any of these Unsweetened Apple Sauce products with the affected codes, please do not eat it. We urge you to discard the product or return it to any Trader Joe’s for a full refund.”

Consumers should check their homes for the recalled products, which they can identify by looking for the following label information:

• Trader Joe’s First Crush Unsweetened Gravenstein Apple Sauce with barcode number 00015905 and all best-before dates through Aug. 8, 2018;
• Trader Joe’s Organic Unsweetened Apple Sauce with barcode number 00194877 and all best-before dates through Oct. 6, 2018; and
• Trader Joe’s All Natural Unsweetened Apple Sauce with barcode number 00014359 and all best-before dates through Dec. 16, 2018.

The “First Crush” and “Organic” varieties were sold by all Trader Joe’s stores. The “All Natural” variety was sold at Trader Joe’s stores in: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington.

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Food City, Bashas’ brand cheeses recalled for Listeria risk

Lakeview Cheese and Bashas’ Family of Stores are recalling various cheeses sold in Arizona from September 2016 through this week because they could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The Friday recall is the latest in a string of regional and nationwide cheese recalls posted on the Food and Drug Administration’s website since Tennessee inspectors found Listeria in cheese made by Deutsch Kase Haus LLC of Middlebury, IN. Because of potential cross contamination, cheeses packaged on the same production lines in several companies’ facilities that also handled cheese from Deutsch Kase Haus have been recalled in recent days.

To view photos of the recalled cheese labels provided by Bashas’ Family of Stores, please click on the image.

“The affected products were manufactured by Guggisberg Cheese Inc. and by Deutsch Kase Haus LLC of Middlebury, IN,” according to the Friday recall notice.

“The affected products were distributed by Las Vegas-based Lakeview Cheese to Bashas’ Family of Stores, and sold in Bashas’ and Food City supermarkets’ Arizona meat departments under the grocery brands’ private label.”

No illnesses have been confirmed in connection with any of the recalled cheese or products containing recalled cheese. However, it can take 70 days for symptoms of Listeria infection to develop.

Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products should monitor themselves for symptoms of infection. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.

Consumers are urged to check their homes for unused portions of the recalled cheeses. No one should eat any of the recalled cheese.

“Bashas’ and Food City customers who have purchased these products between Sept. 1, 2016, and Feb. 21, 2017, can return them for a full refund,” according to the recall notice posted Friday. “Customers with questions can call Bashas’ Family of Stores’ Customer Service Department at 480-883-6131.”

Nine colby cheese products are included in the Bashas and Food City brands recall, including fixed-weight and bulk-cut, random-weight items. The products being voluntarily recalled are:

• Food City Colby Longhorn Cheese, 12 oz.
• Food City Colby Jack Cheese, 12 oz.
• Food City Colby Monterey Cheese, 12 oz.
• Random Weight Longhorn Colby Cheese
• Random Weight Cut Co-Jack Cheese
• Random Weight Cut Monterey Jack Cheese
• Random Weight Cut Pepper Jack Cheese
• Random Weight Colby Quarter Longhorn
• Random Weight Colby Horn

Related recalls
Hundreds of cheeses and other products containing cheese made by Deutsch Kase Haus LLC have been recalled this month.

Cheese brands involved include Sargento, Sara Lee, Saputo, Dutch Valley and Guggisberg, as well as a variety of store-branded products sold by Meijer, Albertsons, H-E-B and other retailers.

The recalls, which began Feb. 10, stem from a random test conducted by Tennessee inspectors on samples of Amish Classics cheese collected from a retailer and produced by Deutsch Kase Haus LLC of Middleburg, IN. The cheese tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes and Tennessee officials posted a consumer alert.

The Food and Drug Administration is investigating the situation along with officials in several states. However, a clause in the federal code prevents FDA from releasing information about what companies bought cheese from Deutsch Kase Haus because such details are considered “confidential corporate information.”

Editor’s note: For additional information on the related recalls, please see:

• “Another 130 cheese products recalled for Listeria; FDA gagged”
• “Saputa pulls gouda from stores in latest Listeria recall”
• “String of cheese recalls continues, as does Listeria probe”
• “Guggisberg Cheese recalls a dozen products because of Listeria”
• “Sara Lee recalls cheese; 3rd-party plant has history of Listeria”
• “Taylor Farms recalls Signature, HEB salads; Listeria in cheese”
• “UPDATED: Listeria in cheese; recalls by Sargento, Meijer, others”

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Publisher’s Platform: How long do they get to stay at bat?

I guess there’s no “two strikes, you’re out?”

The Cozy Vale (Valley) Creamery has announced another recall of its raw milk. The Washington State Department of Agriculture inspectors discovered E. coli contamination in a sample of the dairy’s raw milk, according to the recall notice.

Although the implicated raw milk is being removed from retail stores, there is concern consumers may have the milk in their homes because it it not yet out of date.

The recall covers all Cozy Vale (Valley) Creamery raw milk in quart, half-gallon and gallon plastic jugs with best-by dates of Feb. 27 through March 4. It was sold at the on-farm store, one drop off location and several retail stores throughout Western Washington.

“Shiga toxin-producint E. coli infections may cause severe diarrhea, stomach cramps and bloody stool, according to the recall notice.

“Symptoms generally appear three to four days after exposure, but can take as long as nine days to appear.

“The infection sometimes causes hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious disease in which red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys fail. Infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems are especially at risk.”

During Thanksgiving week 2011, Cozy Vale Creamery’s raw milk products were recalled because they were linked to three E. coli O157:H7 illnesses after environmental swabbing at the facility discovered that locations in the milking parlor and processing areas were contaminated with the E. coli O157:h7 bacteria.

At least two of those cases were children who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Cozy Vale Creamery’s whole and skim milk and cream were distributed through seven retail outlets in Pierce, Thurston and King counties. The products were sold retail at the farm store and at Marlene’s Market in Tacoma, two Olympia Food Co-op locations in Olympia, Olympia Local Foods in Tumwater, Yelm Co-op in Yelm, Mt. Community Co-op in Eatonville and Marlene’s Market in Federal Way.

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Public health alert warns of Listeria risk in Premo wraps

A public health alert issued Friday warns people who recently bought Premo brand meat or chicken wraps in 10 states to monitor themselves for symptoms of Listeria infection.

The ham, chicken and Italian wraps had best-by dates of Feb. 12 and Feb. 14 and were made with cheese that has been recalled because of possible Listeria contamination.

“A recall was not requested because it is believed that all products have been consumed and are past their ‘Best by’ dates,” according to the alert posted Friday by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

“The products bear establishment number ‘EST. 45360’ or ‘P-45360’ inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin and West Virginia.”

JLM Manufacturing of Shelby Township, MI, produced the meat and chicken wraps on Jan. 23 and 25. The wraps were sold in 5-ounce plastic packages, each containing one wrap. Implicated flavors are:

• Premo Ham & Cheddar Wrap;
• Premo Italian Wrap; and
• Premo Tuscan Chicken Wrap.

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

It can take up to 70 days after exposure for symptoms to develop, so consumers who have eaten the recalled wraps are urged to monitor themselves for symptoms in the coming months. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.

Although the public health alert about the Premo brand wraps did not name the cheese supplier, hundreds of cheeses and other products containing cheese made by Deutsch Kase Haus LLC have been recalled this month.

Cheese brands involved include Sargento, Sara Lee, Saputo, Dutch Valley and Guggisberg, as well as a variety of store-branded products sold by Meijer, Albertsons, H-E-B and other retailers.

The recalls, which began Feb. 10, stem from a random test conducted by Tennessee inspectors on samples of Amish Classics cheese collected from a retailer and produced by Deutsch Kase Haus LLC of Middleburg, IN. The cheese tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes and Tennessee officials posted a consumer alert.

The Food and Drug Administration is investigating the situation along with officials in several states. However, a clause in the federal code prevents FDA from releasing information about what companies bought cheese from Deutsch Kase Haus because such details are considered “confidential corporate information.”

Editor’s note: For additional information on the related recalls, please see:

•  “Another 130 cheese products recalled for Listeria; FDA gagged”
• “Saputa pulls gouda from stores in latest Listeria recall”
• “String of cheese recalls continues, as does Listeria probe”
• “Guggisberg Cheese recalls a dozen products because of Listeria”
• “Sara Lee recalls cheese; 3rd-party plant has history of Listeria”
• “Taylor Farms recalls Signature, HEB salads; Listeria in cheese”
• “UPDATED: Listeria in cheese; recalls by Sargento, Meijer, others”

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)

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Dog food meat supplier aces inspection; investigation ongoing

The Food and Drug Administration has completed its investigation into the supplier that furnished meat used in recalled canned dog food that was found to contain the animal euthanasia drug pentobarbital.

As yet unidentified, the supplier provides meat used in Evanger’s brand Hunk of Beef and Nutripack’s Against the Grain Pulled Beef brand dog foods, both of which are under recall. At least five dogs have required medical treatment and one died.

The FDA determined that the supplier appears to “… have systems in place to ensure that euthanized animals are segregated from animal protein going for animal food use,” an agency spokesperson said Thursday.

An FDA Form 483 Inspectional Observations report, however, will not be issued because such reports are only filed when investigators note deficiencies, which they did not do regarding the supplier for Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Co.

Such animal protein meat suppliers are regulated by FDA and may also be subject to state jurisdiction, depending on the state in which they are located. No sub-agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture has jurisdiction over this industry sector.

USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) oversees slaughterhouses and meat processors that produce meat for human consumption. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has no involvement in meat inspection at all, except for assisting suppliers with export certifications if they are exporting to other countries, according to a spokesperson for APHIS.

Joel Sher, vice president and co-owner of Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Co. Inc., describes the company’s products during a trade show.

In a Feb. 19 letter addressed to “Dear Pet Parents” and posted on the Evanger’s web site, the company described its supplier as “USDA-APHIS inspected.” Staff from APHIS are now working with Evanger’s to clarify its authority, according to the APHIS spokesperson.

On Feb. 21, Evanger’s notified its customers that an independent test of the contents of a can of Hunk of Beef revealed the presence of horse and cow DNA in the product. The Sher family, which owns Evanger’s and Nutripack, cast blame on the meat supplier for the pentobarbital adulteration.

This is in contrast to FDA’s report that cans of Hunk of Beef obtained from the owner of the sickened dogs and from the retail location where the pet food was purchased contained beef. No Against the Grain samples were tested for species identification.

The cans of Hunk of Beef pet food were examined by a USDA-FSIS lab at FDA’s request. According to the test protocol, available on the FSIS website, the contents of a can of food would have been minced or diced and thoroughly mixed before analysis to ensure that the portion used for testing was representative of the entire can.

When asked to comment on the apparent discrepancy between Evanger’s independent DNA test result and the results reported by FSIS, a spokesperson for USDA-FSIS said the government did find trace amounts of pig and horse in the dog food.

“Although this was not an FSIS regulated-product, FDA requested that FSIS conduct speciation testing for Evanger’s Hunk of Beef dog food product,” the spokesperson said. “FSIS was contacted by FDA after they had determined that the Pentobarbital dog food product was adulterated with Pentobarbital. Agency speciation testing confirmed that the adulterated product was bovine (beef). Trace amounts of pork and equine were also found, but both were less than 2 percent and therefore not reportable.”

These trace amounts are consistent with incidental cross-contamination that can occur when meat from different species are processed on the same production line. The trace amounts of pig and horse do not explain the source of the pentobarbital-adulterated meat in the Hunk of Beef and Against the Grain dog foods.

The investigation so far
In a Feb. 17 consumer advisory, the FDA cautioned the public not to feed the recalled Evanger’s and Against the Grain canned dog food products to their pets. The products in question were recalled on Feb. 3 and Feb. 9 by Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Company Inc. and Against the Grain, respectively, after pentobarbital was confirmed in samples of both products.

In conjunction with the advisory, FDA released two Form 483 Inspectional Observation reports. The reports detailed the conditions found by inspectors during visits to Evanger’s production facility in Wheeling, IL, and to the facility belonging to Nutripack LLC in Markham, IL.

On Feb. 21, Evanger’s notified its customers that the company was planning to expand the recall of Evanger’s and Against the Grain pet foods to include all outstanding production of Hunk of Beef, Braised Beef Chunks with Gravy, and Against the Grain Pulled Beef. Company officials told FDA they expect to release the official announcement of the expanded recall by the end of this week.

Kosher for animal use
In addition to marketing its pet foods as “human grade” and made with “USDA-inspected meats,” Evanger’s, citing an endorsement from the Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc), promotes many of its products as “Kosher for Animal Use.”

A spokesperson for the cRc said the endorsement doesn’t mean the pet food is kosher in the traditional sense, but does mean certain expectations are met.

“When we provide a kosher endorsement we expect not only that all kosher laws are observed, but that the company acts in an ethical manner. While we cannot comment directly on this incident, we call upon all companies to maintain the highest standards of business,” the cRc spokesperson explained.

“Also, please be aware that Evanger’s’ products are NOT kosher in the regular sense. It is not kosher to consume, for anyone that observes kosher. It is endorsed by the cRc to feed it to one’s pet. Now animals of kosher observant individuals are not required to observe kosher — or any other commandment.

“The issue, and reason for the cRc endorsement, is that there are a few foods that not only may not be eaten by someone that is kosher observant, but one may also not derive any tangible benefit from them. An example would be leavened bread — Chometz — on Passover. It is those foods that a kosher observant person may not serve to their pets. The cRc endorses certain Evanger’s’ products that they are free from this concern, i.e. they do not contain any foods that a kosher observant person may not derive benefit from. It is for this reason that we do not allow Evanger’s to use the cRc standard kosher logo, to differentiate it from a standard kosher product.”

The cRc spokesperson further clarified that the presence of non-kosher species such as horse meat or pork would not be a concern in pet food.

Unanswered question
The FDA investigation into the Evanger’s case is still open and active. FDA has reviewed the customer list for the meat supplier and is in the process of following up as appropriate, according to a spokesperson.

While it may be comforting to the meat supplier’s other customers to learn that FDA found no deficiencies during the course of the recent inspection, the results leave a major question unanswered: Where did the pentobarbital-contaminated meat come from?

FDA continues to encourage consumers to report problems with Evanger’s products through the Safety Reporting Portal or by contacting a Consumer Complaint Coordinator. Please retain empty cans or partially used cans of food to facilitate collection of specific lot number information. Additional information is available on the FDA web page, How to Report a Pet Food Complaint.

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Second dairy – Cozy Vale Creamery – pulls raw milk for E. coli

For the second time this month unpasteurized raw milk is being pulled from retail dairy cases in Washington because of E. coli contamination. This time it’s Cozy Vale Creamery of Tenino, WA.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture inspectors discovered the contamination in a sample of the dairy’s raw milk and is working with the dairy owners to determine the source of the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, according to the recall notice.

Although the implicated raw milk is being removed from retail stores, there is concern consumers may have the milk in their homes because it is not yet out of date.

The recall covers all Cozy Vale (Valley) Creamery raw milk in quart, half-gallon and gallon plastic jugs with best-by dates of Feb. 27 through March 4. It was sold at the on-farm store, one drop off location, and several retail stores throughout Western Washington.

Anyone who has consumed any of the recalled milk and developed symptoms of E. coli infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctors about the possible exposure to the bacteria. As of the posting of the recall notice on Tuesday, no confirmed illnesses had been linked to the Cozy Vale Creamery unpasteurized raw milk.

“Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections may cause severe diarrhea, stomach cramps and bloody stool,” according to the recall notice. “Symptoms generally appear three to four days after exposure, but can take as long as nine days to appear.

“The infection sometimes causes hemolytic uremic syndrome, (HUS) a serious disease in which red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys fail. Infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems are especially at risk.”

Consumers who have the recalled milk in their homes are urged not to drink it and to return it to the place of purchase for a refund.

“Retail raw milk is legal to sell and buy in Washington State, but the potential health risks are serious. Consumers should read the warning label on the retail raw milk container carefully and ask their retailer to verify the milk was produced and processed by a WSDA-licensed operation,” according to the recall notice.

This week’s recall is not the first for Cozy Vale Creamery. In 2011 the dairy recalled its unpasteurized raw milk after inspectors found E. coli contamination.

Earlier this month the Pride & Joy Dairy based in Granger, WA, recalled its raw milk, also because of E. coli contamination found by the state agriculture department. For details on the status of that ongoing recall and the operational status of Pride & Joy Dairy, please click here.

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Ready Pac recalls 30 tons of salad; Listeria risk in cheese

Ready Pac Foods Inc. is recalling almost 30 tons of single-serve salad bowls because they contain cheese that the lead company’s supplier has recalled because of Listeria monocytogenes.

The 59,225 pounds of Ready Pac’s “Puro Picante Blazin’ Hot” chicken salad bowls have “use-by” dates through March 4, causing concern that consumers may have the recalled product in their homes.

Three different Ready Pac facilities shipped the salads, which were produced between Jan. 17 and Feb. 17, to retail locations nationwide, according to the recall notice on the USDA’s website.

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

It can take up to 70 days after exposure for symptoms to develop, so consumers who have eaten the recalled salads are urged to monitor themselves for symptoms in the coming months. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.

Consumers can identify the recalled Ready Pac brand salad by looking for the following packaging information:

• Puro Picante Blazin’ Hot salad;
• Produced between Jan. 17 and Feb. 17;
• 7.5-ounce single serve salad bowls;
• Use By Dates of 01/31/17 through 03/04/2017; and
• Any of three establishment numbers — P-27497, P-32081 or P-18502B — inside the USDA mark of inspection.

“The problem was discovered on Feb. 21 when the firm received notification from the cheese supplier that the cheese ingredient utilized in the chicken salad products was included in an expanded cheese recall due to potential contamination with L. monocytogenes,” 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.”

When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service website at http://ift.tt/1gO8Ec3. Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Mary Toscano, corporate affairs supervisor, at 800-800-7822.

Although the Ready Pac recall did not name the cheese supplier, hundreds of cheeses and other products containing cheese made by by Deutsch Kase Haus LLC have been recalled this month.

Cheese brands involved include Sargento, Sara Lee, Saputo, Dutch Valley and Guggisberg, as well as a variety of store-branded products sold by Meijer, Albertsons, H-E-B and other retailers.

The recalls, which began Feb. 10, stem from a random test conducted by Tennessee inspectors on samples of Amish Classics cheese collected from a retailer and produced by Deutsch Kase Haus LLC of Middleburg, IN. The cheese tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes and Tennessee officials posted a consumer alert.

The Food and Drug Administration is investigating the situation along with officials in several states. However, a clause in the federal code prevents FDA from releasing information about what companies bought cheese from Deutsch Kase Haus because such details are considered “confidential corporate information.”

Editor’s note: For additional information on the related recalls, please see:

• “Another 130 cheese products recalled for Listeria; FDA gagged”
• “Saputa pulls gouda from stores in latest Listeria recall”
• “String of cheese recalls continues, as does Listeria probe”
• “Guggisberg Cheese recalls a dozen products because of Listeria”
• “Sara Lee recalls cheese; 3rd-party plant has history of Listeria”
• “Taylor Farms recalls Signature, HEB salads; Listeria in cheese”
• “UPDATED: Listeria in cheese; recalls by Sargento, Meijer, others”

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Deli Thin Dietz & Watson Mortadella Recalled

Mount Olive, NJ-based Fratelli Beretta USA Inc. Wednesday recalled approximately 468 pounds of mortadella product due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, according to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The product contains pistachio nuts, known allergens which are not declared on the product label. The product  being recalled was  produced on Nov. 30, 2016.  The recall involves:

• 3-ounce plastic packages containing slices of “Deli Thin Dietz & Watson Mortadella” with Lot# LO23633800 and Best By Date April 2, 2017.

The recalled packages also have the establishment number “EST. 7543B” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to a distributor in Pennsylvania and further distributed to retail and distribution centers in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas.

The problem was discovered Feb. 17 by the Dietz & Watson distributor who observed pistachio nuts through the clear product packaging in a case of products labeled as Deli Thin Dietz & Watson Mortadella products and notified the establishment. The Deli Thin Dietz & Watson Mortadella products are not formulated with pistachio nuts and do not declare the pistachio nut ingredient on the label.

No reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products have yet been confirmed. 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. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website.

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State confirms E. coli in more raw milk from Pride & Joy

It is unclear whether Pride & Joy Creamery will expand its current recall of unpasteurized raw milk now that state officials have revealed additional positive test results for E. coli in the dairy’s milk.

One gallon of Pride & Joy unpasteurized raw milk sells for $10 on the dairy’s website. It costs more than $13 per gallon in retail stores.

On Feb. 8, the Toppenish, WA, dairy recalled all of its raw milk with best-by dates from Feb. 10 through Feb. 24 because E. coli was found in plastic jugs of it collected from retail stores. Staff from the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) collected the samples as part of an investigation into Salmonella infections in two people who reported drinking unpasteurized milk from Pride & Joy before becoming ill.

Dairy owner Cheryl Voortman suggested the milk was contaminated by other entities in the supply chain or by the state inspectors.

“The facility was not contaminated with E. coli, the samples that were taken that supposedly tested positive, were purchased from stores in Vancouver and Battleground, WA, and were handled by many people before tested,” Voortman said in her Feb. 12 written comments.

“… They have confirmed absolutely no contamination in the samples we have given them straight from the facility.”

Documents from the state agriculture department show otherwise.

“Basically, the results showed that E. coli STEC was confirmed in one of the samples collected from the Pride and Joy operation,” department Communications Director Hector Castro told Food Safety News Wednesday afternoon.

Neither Cheryl nor Allen Voortman responded late Wednesday afternoon to requests for comment. Their raw milk is priced at $10 per gallon on their website and costs more than $13 per gallon in retail stores.

The milk sample that came directly from the dairy and tested positive for E. coli was in a plastic pint jug with a best-by date of March 3 — which is beyond the dates included in the dairy’s current recall.

“The recall remains in place and, as far as we know, Pride and Joy has not resumed production of retail raw milk,” Castro said.

Source: CDC

“Before WSDA will collect more retail raw milk samples for pathogen testing, the firm must conduct a root cause analysis to determine factors beyond the milk processing operation that could contribute to the presence of E. coli in the retail raw milk. At this time, we are waiting to hear back from the firm as to their plan and intended actions.”

The state agriculture department collected six samples at the dairy on Feb. 8 and tested them for E. coli, Campylobacter, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella, which are all frequently found in unpasteurized raw milk. All six samples were negative for the other three pathogens. One sample was positive for E. coli.

Anyone who has consumed raw milk and developed symptoms of E. coli infection should contact their health care providers and tell them of the possible exposure to the pathogen.

“Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections may cause severe diarrhea, stomach cramps and bloody stool,” according to the recall notice from the company owners.

“Symptoms generally appear three to four days after exposure, but can take as long as nine days to appear. The infection sometimes causes hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious disease in which red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys fail. Infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems are especially at risk.”

The Washington state Department of Health notified health care providers and institutions about the raw milk recall, urging that all medical staff be made aware of the recall and potential for E. coli infections.

No confirmed illnesses had been linked to the recalled milk as of the publication of the Feb. 8 recall notice.

Editor’s note: For details on another Washington dairy that is recalling its unpasteurized raw milk after state inspectors found it was contaminated with E. coli, click here.

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Evanger’s blames supplier, FDA, for Pentobarbital in dog food

Breaking news: Evanger’s reveals presence of horse DNA in its Hunk of Beef dog food in a Wednesday letter to its customers. The company will recall all of its Hunk of Beef, Braised Beef Chunks with Gravy and Against the Grain Pulled Beef. The formal recall announcement will be issued this week.

Consumer complaints continue as the FDA digs deeper into operations at Evanger’s pet food after discovering evidence that none of the company’s meat suppliers are registered with USDA. Evanger’s owners blamed their suppliers and the FDA in the wake of findings that their dog food contains a barbiturate used to euthanize animals.

At least one dog has died and at least four others required medical attention after eating Hunk of Beef canned dog food from Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Company Inc., which is owned by the Sher family. Evanger’s and Nutripack LLC, another pet food company owned by members of the same family, have recalled certain lots of certain flavors of their canned dog food.

“The guilty party has turned out to be one of our most trusted meat suppliers. A USDA-APHIS inspected supplier who we had done business with for over 40 years, and whose plant we had visited numerous times over the years,” said Evanger’s owners Holly and Joel Sher in an online statement posted Sunday.

“We have taken it upon ourselves to lead the campaign to force the FDA to put an end to allowing drugs like pentobarbital to enter the raw material stream and contaminate our pets’ food and endanger their lives.”

Officials with the Food and Drug Administration do not agree with the company’s contention that the agency is responsible for the pet food being contaminated.

“The detection of pentobarbital in pet food renders the product adulterated in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Therefore, it is not acceptable to use animals euthanized with a chemical substance in pet or animal foods,” an FDA spokesperson said Tuesday.

“It is the responsibility of the animal protein ingredient suppliers to implement practices at their facilities to ensure that euthanized animals are either not accepted at the facility, or to determine how they died and ensure euthanized animals are segregated from animal protein going for animal food use.

“Further, it is the responsibility of the pet food manufacturer to ensure that the food they produce is safe for consumption and properly labeled. One way that a manufacturer can do this is by taking steps to verify the identity and safety of the ingredients they receive from their suppliers.”

During the course of their investigation, FDA inspectors discovered a bill of lading from Evanger’s supplier, which listed “Inedible Hand Deboned Beef – For Pet Food Use Only. Not Fit For Human Consumption.”

While FDA cannot reveal the identity of the supplier, an agency spokesperson described it as one that, “…provides materials from animals that are not fit for the human food supply, for a variety of reasons.”

Evanger’s sources the meat for its pet food from more than one supplier. According to the FDA spokesperson, the agency’s “… preliminary assessment indicates that none of these suppliers are USDA-FSIS registered facilities.”

Those findings are in direct contrast to statements from Evanger’s and Nutripack LLC about their pet foods, which they say are made with human-grade food. FDA inspectors also found incomplete information on Evanger’s brand and Nutripack’s Against the Grain brand production records.

According to FDA, inspectors were unable to determine from company records whether any of the beef that was used in the recalled Evanger’s and Against the Grain production lots was also used in any other products. In a letter to its customers released Feb. 21, Evanger’s indicated the recall could be expanded to include all products containing chunk beef, “out of an abundance of caution.”

The investigation so far
In a Friday consumer advisory, the FDA cautioned the public not to feed the recalled Evanger’s and Against the Grain canned dog food products to their pets. The products in question were recalled on Feb. 3 and Feb. 9 by Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Company Inc. and Against the Grain, respectively, after pentobarbital was confirmed in samples of both products.

In conjunction with the advisory, FDA released two Inspectional Observation reports — Form 483 reports — which detailed the conditions found by the agency’s inspectors during visits to Evanger’s production facility in Wheeling, IL, and to the facility belonging to Nutripack LLC in Markham, IL.

The Wheeling operation had last been inspected by FDA in November 2012. According to a spokesperson with FDA, the Illinois Department of Agriculture performed an inspection in 2016 and classified the Wheeling facility as ‘No Action Indicated.’ However, the plant was not operating at the time, and the inspector was unable to observe the normal day-to-day activities. Nutripack had not been inspected either by the state or by the FDA prior to February 2017.

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the federal agency tasked with oversight and inspection of slaughterhouses and meat processing operations. To be deemed “Fit for Human Consumption,” any meat that enters interstate commerce must have been produced under USDA-FSIS supervision. Slaughterhouses and meat processing operations that do not engage in interstate commerce come under the supervision of the department of agriculture in their home state.

Evanger’s is a private company, incorporated in Illinois. Its President and Agent of Record is Holly Sher, who owns the business together with her husband, Joel Sher.

Nutripack is a Limited Liability Company registered in Illinois. Its Agent of Record is Brett Sher, son of Joel and Holly Sher. Nutripack is managed by Sher Services Company Inc. Joel A. Sher is both the agent of record and the president of Sher Services, while Holly Sher is the secretary. The Against the Grain trademark is registered to Chelsea Sher, daughter of Joel and Holly Sher. Chelsea Sher also is listed as Secretary of Evanger’s.

In their online letter Sunday, the Sher family’s reference to their supplier having been “USDA-APHIS inspected” suggests they may not understand what agencies have jurisdiction over their pet food operations.

According to the USDA website the primary role of APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) in the U.S. food safety network of agencies “is to protect against plant and animal pests and diseases. APHIS also administers the Animal Welfare Act and carries out wildlife damage management activities.”

On the other hand, according to USDA, the FSIS is “responsible for ensuring the safety and wholesomeness of meat, poultry, and processed egg products and ensures that it is accurately labeled.”

As its investigation continues, FDA reports it has received additional complaints from consumers who fed Evanger’s Hunk of Beef to their dogs, in some cases exclusively.

As consumers tend to throw out or recycle empty cans, obtaining specific lot number information has been difficult. The agency continues to encourage consumers to report problems with Evanger’s products through the Safety Reporting Portal or by contacting a Consumer Complaint Coordinator. Additional information is available on the FDA web page, How to Report a Pet Food Complaint.

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Another 130 cheese products recalled for Listeria; FDA gagged

More than 130 additional cheeses and products containing cheeses are under recall because of Listeria monocytogenes found in cheese produced by Deutsch Kase Haus LLC.

A variety of cheese brands are involved, including Sargento, Sara Lee, Saputo, Dutch Valley and Guggisberg, as well as a variety of store-branded products sold by Meijer, Albertsons, H-E-B and other retailers.

The recalls, which began Feb. 10, stem from a random test conducted by Tennessee inspectors on samples of Amish Classics cheese collected from a retailer and produced by Deutsch Kase Haus LLC of Middleburg, IN. The cheese tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes and Tennessee officials posted a consumer alert.

The Food and Drug Administration is investigating the situation along with officials in several states. However, a clause in the federal code prevents FDA from releasing information about what companies bought cheese from Deutsch Kase Haus because such details are considered “confidential corporate information.”

No illnesses have been confirmed in connection with the recalled products, but it can take up to 70 days for Listeria infection symptoms to develop. Consequently public health officials are urging anyone who has eaten any of the recalled cheese products to monitor themselves for the coming weeks.

Symptoms can include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeriosis can be very serious in children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems. It can result in stillbirths and deaths in severe cases.

For details on the most recent and expanded recalls related to the Deutsch Kase Haus problems with Listeria, please continue reading and use the links at the company names to view complete lists of the more than 130 newly recalled products.

To view photos of all of the recalled Sargento cheese products, click on the image.

Sargento
Sargento Foods Inc. of Plymouth, WI, expanded its Feb. 11 recall to include seven more products and announced it has stopped using Deutsch Kase Haus LLC as a cheese supplier.

“Out of concern for the health and well-being of Sargento consumers, the company has terminated its relationship with Deutsch Kase Haus, which supplied Sargento with the affected Longhorn Colby cheese,” according to a statement on Sargento’s website.

“Out of an abundance of caution, in addition to the products recalled on Feb. 10, with the new information we received from our supplier, we are also voluntarily recalling products which were packaged on the same lines.”

To view photos of all products recalled by Dutch Valley, please click on the image.

Dutch Valley
Dutch Valley Food Distributors, Schlabach branch, officials report Deutsch Kase Haus notified them on Feb. 15 — six days after the Tennessee officials confirmed Listeria in the Indiana company’s cheese — that various cheese products sent to Dutch Valley could be contaminated.

Dutch Valley is voluntarily recalling 22 products that were distributed to 21 states.

“Retailers are advised to remove (these) products from store shelves based on the listed codes,” according to the Dutch Valley recall notice.

“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.”

To read the Biery Cheese Co. recall notice and see photos of all of the company’s recalled products, please click on the image.

Biery Cheese Co.
Also not notified until Feb. 15 by Deutsch Kase Haus of the Listeria problem, Biery Cheese Co. is recalling longhorn colby cheese packaged under three different brands.

Brands involved in the Biery Cheese Co. recall are Delallo, Dietz & Watson and Private Selections.

“The products were distributed between Nov. 11, 2016, and Jan. 4,” according to the Biery recall notice. “These products were packaged at Biery Cheese Company in Louisville, OH, and distributed to distribution centers located in the states of: Georgia, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.”

Customers who have purchased any of the recalled cheese products are urged not to consume it and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Biery Cheese Co at 1-800-243-3731

To view photos of all of the products recalled by MDS Foods Inc., please click on the image.

MDS Foods
MDS Foods Inc. has added more than 100 products to its voluntary recall of cheese products produced by Deutsch Kase Haus LLC, according to its expanded recall notice.

“MDS Foods Inc. has also recalled potentially affected products that were packaged on the same production lines in our Tullahoma, TN, facility as the affected product,” the expanded recall notice states.

Customers who have purchased any of the recalled cheese products are urged not to consume them and to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact MDS Foods at 330-879-9780.

Albertsons/Randalls
Dietz & Watson brand cheese used on roast beef sandwiches sold by Albertsons and Randalls stores in Texas spurred the retailers to issue a recall Sunday.

“The sandwich is made with Colby Jack cheese, which was recalled by MDS Foods. The sandwich is packaged in a clear clam shell container and is sold from the deli department. The sandwich’s UPC code is 2-15469 00000 and has a Sell Thru Date of Feb. 19,” according to the recall notice on the Albertsons website.

“Customers are asked to discard the product or return it to their local store for a full refund. Customers who have questions about the recall can contact Albertsons and Randalls anytime at 877-723-3929.”

Editor’s note: For additional information on the related recalls, please see:

• “Saputa pulls gouda from stores in latest Listeria recall”
• “String of cheese recalls continues, as does Listeria probe”
• “Guggisberg Cheese recalls a dozen products because of Listeria”
• “Sara Lee recalls cheese; 3rd-party plant has history of Listeria”
• “Taylor Farms recalls Signature, HEB salads; Listeria in cheese”
• “UPDATED: Listeria in cheese; recalls by Sargento, Meijer, others”

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FDA Inspection Report Labels Evanger’s Products Adulterated

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  last Friday (Feb. 17) released the results of a month-long investigation of Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Company’s production facility in Wheeling, IL and the Nutripack LLC, facility in Markham, IL.

Nutripack is owned by Brett Sher, son of Joel and Holly Sher, who own Evanger’s. Joel Sher is listed as Manager of the Nutripack operation. The two facilities are located approximately 50 miles apart.

 

The investigation was initiated when five dogs in one household developed symptoms of barbiturate poisoning after eating a snack that included Evanger’s Hand Packed Hunk of Beef au Jus.

Four of the five dogs required veterinary ICU hospitalization, and one of those four dogs died. According to a spokesperson from FDA, the agency has received several additional complaints associated with feeding of Evanger’s dog food.

Some of those complaints are of a general nature; however, some complainants report symptoms possibly associated with phenobarbital toxicity. FDA has briefed its Consumer Complaint Coordinators on the Evanger’s situation and urges pet owners and veterinarians to report any concerns via the agency’s How To Report A Pet Food Complaint web page. The agency is especially interested in cases where the dog received a veterinary work-up and the owners still have cans of food available for testing by FDA.

The Inspectional Observations report (FDA Form 483) confirms that Evanger’s Hand Packed Hunk of Beef au Jus, Net Wt 12 oz and coded 1816E06HB13, and Against the Grain brand Grain Free Pulled Beef with Gravy Dinner for Dogs Net Wt 12 oz and coded 2415E01ATB12 BEST DEC 2019 both contained the barbiturate drug pentobarbital.

Tests carried out by USDA confirmed that the meat used in the canned pet foods was beef. According to FDA’s News Release, the agency “…was unable to determine from available records whether any other Evanger’s or Against the Grain products made with beef contain any of the beef that went into the recalled products.”

Pentobarbital, a controlled substance, is used as a chemical euthanasia agent by veterinarians and pet shelters.

According to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, a food “…shall be deemed to be adulterated if it bears or contains any added poisonous or added deleterious substance that is unsafe…” A food also is considered to be adulterated under the Act “…if it has been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with filth, or whereby it may have been rendered injurious to health.”  The list of violations and deficiencies found during the recent inspections visits fall under both of these definitions:

• Condensate dripping directly into open cans of in-process foods (Wheeling and Markham)
• Birds flying through the warehouse, resting in rafters, and feeding on spilled pet food on the concrete floor (Markham)
• Pitted, cracked and damaged floors causing pooled water in areas where food is exposed (Wheeling and Markham)
• Peeling paint and mold on walls, including areas where food is exposed (Wheeling)
• Open sanitary sewer within 25 feet of food storage trailers and one food processing trailer (Wheeling)
• Lack of operating refrigerated storage facilities or other means of controlling temperature exposure of raw meats during thawing, storage and processing (Wheeling)
• Lack of ambient temperature control during hand packing operations (Wheeling)
• Employees observed cutting raw chicken parts on untreated wooden building construction lumber (Markham)

Joel Sher, vice president and co-owner of Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Co. Inc., describes the company’s products during a trade show.

Pet owners may remember that this is not Evanger’s first brush with FDA, nor is this the first time that an inspection has turned up instances of insanitary conditions, poor temperature control, and deficiencies in plant construction and design.  A summary of results from an inspection completed on December 5, 2011 and retrieved from FDA’s on-line archive, included the following observations (among others):

• Construction of plant does not allow floors, walls, and ceilings to be adequately cleaned and kept clean and kept in good repair
• Inadequate screening or other protection against pests
• Failure to provide running water at a suitable temperature for employee sanitary facilities
• Failure to manufacture and store foods under conditions and controls necessary to minimize the potential for growth of microorganisms
• Failure to thaw frozen raw materials in a manner that prevents them and other ingredients from becoming adulterated
• Deficiencies in plant construction and design prevent the taking of precautions to protect food, food-contact surfaces, and food-packaging materials from contamination with filth
• Instruments used for measuring conditions that control or prevent the growth of undesirable microorganisms are not accurate
• Plumbing is source of contamination to water supply
• Inadequate lighting in food examination, storage and processing areas
• Food-contact surfaces not cleaned frequently enough to protect against contamination
• A subsequent inspection, completed in November 2012 (also retrieved from FDA’s on-line archive), revealed that some of these same issues still lingered, and were joined by a few new ones, such as:
• Failure to mark each hermetically sealed container of low-acid processed food with an identifying code that is permanently visible to the naked eye
• Failure to properly store equipment and remove litter and waste that may constitute an attractant, breeding place, or harborage area for pests, within the immediate vicinity of the plant buildings or structures
• Failure to install bleeders so that the operator can observe that they are functioning properly (bleeders are part of the retorts – equipment that cooks the food inside the sealed cans)

Evanger’s has long boasted that all of its suppliers of meat products are ‘USDA Approved.’ During the course of its just-completed inspection, FDA found evidence to the contrary. Specifically, the investigation team found a bill of lading from Evanger’s supplier of beef that listed ‘Inedible Hand Deboned Beef – For Pet Food Use Only. Not Fit For Human Consumption’.

FDA has established that the supplier in question does not have a ‘grant of inspection’ from USDA. The meat from this supplier DOES NOT bear the USDA inspection mark. This meat does not, under any circumstances, qualify as ‘human-grade’, a term that Evanger’s has used to describe its meat ingredients since at least June 2003.

Evanger’s practice could result in allegations of false or  deceptive advertising, and require the pet food makers to deal with another federal agency.

Actions Consumers Can Take On Their Own:

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with the enforcement of the nation’s truth-in-advertising laws. According to the Commission’s website, “The FTC looks especially closely at advertising claims that can affect consumers’ health or their pocketbooks – claims about food, over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements, alcohol, and tobacco and on conduct related to high-tech products and the Internet.” FTC has several remedies at its disposal, including filing actions in federal district court to stop perpetration of scams and to obtain compensation for victims.

FTC and FDA cooperation in bringing companies making false claims to heel is common, especially against those who market phony supplements and medical devices.   In addition to their work, and that of USDA, there are some actions consumers can take on their own, including:

1. Return any and all recalled product to the place of purchase, or directly to the manufacturer.

2. Consider switching to a different brand of pet food until Evanger’s is once more in compliance with the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act and all of its associated regulations.

3. If you believe that your pet has been made ill as a result of consuming Evanger’s or any other pet food, please visit the FDA webpage ‘How to Report a Pet Food Complaint’ at:

http://ift.tt/2liQNTI.

4. If your pet has been examined by a veterinarian who believes that an illness may be food related, urge your veterinarian to report the incident via the federal Safety Reporting Portal at:

http://ift.tt/PpHXCa.

5. If you purchased an Evanger’s meat-based food on the understanding that all of the meat in the Company’s products is sourced from ‘USDA Approved’ suppliers, consider filing a formal complaint of false advertising against Evanger’s on the Federal Trade Commission website at:

http://ift.tt/1aMuZSh.

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FDA confirms euthanasia agent Pentobarbital in dog food

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising pet owners and pet caretakers not to feed their pets with certain lots of Evanger’s and Against the Grain dog food after confirming the presence of the euthanasia agent pentobarbital in both products.

Following discussions with FDA, Evanger’s announced a voluntary recall on February 3, 2017 of five lots of its 12-ounce Hunk of Beef canned dog food, all with an expiration date of June 2020: 1816E03HB, 1816E04HB, 1816E06HB, 1816E07HB, and 1816E13HB.

On February 9th, Against the Grain voluntarily recalled lot #2415E01ATB12 BEST DEC 2019 of its Grain Free Pulled Beef with Gravy dog food after the agency detected pentobarbital that product. The Pulled Beef with Gravy was manufactured in the same facilities as Evanger’s products and using beef from the same supplier.

In addition to the presence of pentobarbital, FDA reports a bill of lading from Evanger’s supplier of ‘Inedible Hand Deboned Beef – For Pet Food Use Only. Not Fit for Human Consumption’. This is despite Evanger’s claim that the beef in its Hunk of Beef product came from a ‘USDA approved’ supplier. FDA also has determined that the supplier’s facility does NOT have a grant of inspection from USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. The meat from the supplier does not bear a USDA inspection mark and would not be considered human grade. Lab testing by USDA-FSIS of Evanger’s Hunk of Beef confirmed that the meat in the product was beef.

Other issues cited in a preliminary investigation report (FDA Form 483) released today by FDA include evidence of unsanitary conditions, inadequate refrigeration, improper storage, and inadequate control of ambient temperature during hand-packing operations at Evanger’s Wheeling, IL facility and unsanitary conditions and ‘avian activity’ at its Markham, IL manufacturing location.

FDA’s investigation is ongoing and will include examination of the suppliers of beef to Evanger’s and Against the Grain to determine the source of the pentobarbital. The agency is also coordinating with USDA to address possible areas of shared jurisdiction.

Consumers with cans of the recalled product should refer to the Evanger’s and Against the Grain recall notices for information on returning the product.

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Saputo pulls gouda from stores in latest Listeria recall

Multi-national dairy giant Saputo Inc. is the latest company to issue a nationwide recall of its cheese products because state inspectors found Listeria monocytogenes in another brand of cheese made by a Saputo supplier.

Montreal-based Saputo is recalling specialty gouda cheese packaged under two brands — Great Midwest and Dutchmark. The Great Midwest branded cheese was produced by Deutsch Käse Haus LLC.

Other brands recalled in recent days include Sargento, Sara Lee, Meijer and Amish Classics. Deutsch Käse Haus LLC manufacturer cheese for all of companies under a variety of brands.

The recalls began Feb. 9 when the Tennessee Department of Agriculture posted an consumer alert.

“On Jan. 30, TDA (Tennessee Department of Agriculture) took a sample of the Amish Classic Colby from a store in Trenton, TN,” according to the consumer alert.

“Tests conducted in the state lab confirmed the food was contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Food and Drug Administration is investigating the source and extent of the contamination and determining how many retailers received these batches of cheese.”

As of Thursday evening, the FDA had not released any information about the investigation.

“Saputo Inc. is voluntarily recalling certain gouda cheese products in the United States after having been notified by Deutsch Kase Haus LLC of Middlebury, IN, that some specialty gouda cheese products that it supplied to Saputo’s Green Bay, WI, facility may have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes,” according to the recall notice posted on the Food and Drug Administration’s website.

“As a precautionary measure, Saputo is also recalling the Dutchmark Smoked Gouda cheeses listed in the table below, which were packaged on the same line. Consumers should not consume the recalled products.”

Saputo sold the Great Midwest and Dutchmark branded cheeses to retailers nationwide. Retailers primarily sold the Great Midwest “Applewood Smoked Gouda” primarily at deli counters and deli cases. The three specific cheeses recalled by Saputo can be identified by the label information and codes in the table above.

“Saputo is working with impacted customers to ensure that the recalled products are removed from the marketplace,” according to the recall notice.

“Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled products identified in the table above with the specified sell by date are urged to dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. No other Saputo products are affected by this recall.”

Although no illnesses had been reported in connection with the recalled Great Midwest or Dutchman cheeses as of Thursday when the recall was posted, it can take up to 70 days for symptoms of Listeria infection to develop after exposure to the bacteria.

Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctors about the possible exposure so that the appropriate diagnostic tests can be conducted.

People who have eaten the recalled cheese should monitor themselves for symptoms of infection for 70 days. Symptoms can include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeriosis can be very serious in children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems. It can result in stillbirths and deaths in severe cases.

Editor’s note: For additional information on the related recalls, please see:

• “String of cheese recalls continues, as does Listeria probe”
• “Guggisberg Cheese recalls a dozen products because of Listeria”
• “Sara Lee recalls cheese; 3rd-party plant has history of Listeria”
• “Taylor Farms recalls Signature, HEB salads; Listeria in cheese”
• “UPDATED: Listeria in cheese; recalls by Sargento, Meijer, others”

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)

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Guggisberg Cheese recalls a dozen products because of Listeria

Another company is recalling cheeses — this time a dozen products under the Guggisberg Cheese Inc. — because of Listeria contamination discovered in cheese made by Deutsch Käse Haus LLC.

Guggisberg Cheese of Millersburg, OH, owned Deutsch Käse Haus LLC in Middlebury, IN, until November 2016 when it sold the company to the Michigan Milk Producers Association.

To see photos of all of the recalled Guggisberg cheeses, please click on the image.

Several brands of cheese, including Sargento, Sara Lee, Meijer, Amish Classics and a number of other brands distributed by MDF Foods Inc. have been recalled since Deutsch Käse Haus recalled cheese after the Tennessee Department of Agriculture found Listeria monocytogenes in random samples of Amish Classics cheese collected from a retail store.

Although the Guggisberg Cheese recall does not reference the Tennessee department’s findings, it does state that some of its branded cheeses under recall were manufactured by Deutsch Käse Haus. For a complete list of the recalled Guggisberg products, scroll down to the bottom of this news story,

“No illnesses have been reported to date,” according to the Guggisberg recall notice on the Food and Drug Administration website.

However, it can take up to 70 days for Listeria infection symptoms to develop after exposure to the pathogen. Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled cheese and developed symptoms of listeriosis should seek medical attention and tell their doctors about the possible exposure to the bacteria.

People who have eaten the recalled cheese should monitor themselves for symptoms of infection for 70 days. Symptoms can include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeriosis can be very serious in children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems. It can result in stillbirths and deaths in severe cases.

Guggisberg Cheese reported its recalled products were manufactured between Sept. 1, 2016, and January 27 this year. The products were packaged in clear plastic and sold primarily in retail stores at deli counters and deli cases located in the states of: Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Illinois and West Virginia.

“Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund or they may discard the product,” according to the Guggisberg recall notice. “Consumers with questions may contact Ursula Bennett (in) customer service at 330-893-2500.”

 

Product	Size (custom weights sold at deli counters)	UPC	Use By Dates
Guggisberg Cheddar Horns	20/1lb, 2/6lb & 2/15lb	Sliced at deli counter no UPC and chunked with no bar code	June 01,2017 – Oct. 27,2017
Guggisberg Colby Horns	20/1lb, 2/6lb & 2/15lb	Sliced at deli counter no UPC and chunked with no bar code	June 01,2017 – Oct. 27,2017
Guggisberg Farmer’s Cheese horns	20/1lb, 2/6lb & 2/15lb	Sliced at deli counter no UPC and chunked with no bar code	June 01,2017 – Oct. 27,2017
Guggisberg Garden Vegetable Horns	20/1lb, 2/6lb & 2/15lb	Sliced at deli counter no UPC and chunked with no bar code	June 01,2017 – Oct. 27,2017
Guggisberg Marble Horns	20/1lb, 2/6lb & 2/15lb	Sliced at deli counter no UPC and chunked with no bar code	June 01,2017 – Oct. 27,2017
Guggisberg Marble Longhorn	2/15lb	Sliced at deli counter no UPC	June 01,2017 – Oct. 27,2017
Guggisberg Pepper Jack Horns	20/1lb, 2/6lb & 2/15lb	Sliced at deli counter no UPC and chunked with no bar code	June 01,2017 – Oct. 27,2017
Guggisberg Thunder Jack Horns	20/1lb, 2/6lb & 2/15lb	Sliced at deli counter no UPC and chunked with no bar code	June 01,2017 – Oct. 27,2017
Guggisberg exact Marble Mini Rounds	12/12 oz.	UPC BAR CODE# 710917 361018	June 01,2017 – Oct. 27,2017
Guggisberg exact Colby Mini Rounds	12/12 oz.	UPC BAR CODE# 710917 361025	June 01,2017 – Oct. 27,2017
Guggisberg exact Pepper Jack Mini Rounds	12/12 oz	UPC BAR CODE# 710917 361032	June 01,2017 – Oct. 27,2017
Guggisberg Cheese with yogurt cultures deli horns	20/1lb, 2/6lb & 2/15lb	Sliced at deli counter no UPC and chunked with no bar code	June 01,2017 – Oct. 27,2017

 

Editor’s note: For additional information on the related recalls, please see:

• “String of cheese recalls continues, as does Listeria probe”
• “Sara Lee recalls cheese; 3rd-party plant has history of Listeria”
• “Taylor Farms recalls Signature, HEB salads; Listeria in cheese”
• “UPDATED: Listeria in cheese; recalls by Sargento, Meijer, others”

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)

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