More than 20 tons of veal recalled over rare Shiga toxin E coli

Ohio Farms Packing Co. Ltd., located in  Creston, OH  has recalled  40,680 pounds of boneless veal products that may be contaminated with the rare E. coli  O103, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

Also included in the recall is an undetermined amount of veal cutlets produced by Ohio Farms Packing Co. Ltd. All of the cutlets were sold to food services; none of this product was sold directly to consumers. Companies that purchase products from Ohio Farms Packing Co. Ltd. should contact the firm directly to determine whether or not the product they have purchased is subject to the recall.

The boneless veal products were produced Nov. 30, 2016 through Feb. 3, 2017. Subject to recall are:

• 60-lb boxes of “Atlantic Veal & Lamb Inc.: Boneless Veal SF” with product codes:
  • 511012
  • 511020
  • 511021
  • 511023
  • 511024
  • 511030
  • 511032
  • 511034
  • 511336
  • 511337
  • 511340
  • 511341
  • 511343
  • 511351
  • 511362
  • 511365

• 60-lb boxes of “Atlantic Veal & Lamb LLC: Boneless Veal” with product codes:
  • 507023
  • 507030
  • 507335
  • 507342
  • 507356
  • 507358

The  recalled products  bear establishment number “EST. 34569” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to distributors in Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Canada.

The rare contamination  was discovered when FSIS was notified by the Illinois State Department of Agriculture about a positive non-0157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli sample.   No illnesses have been connected to the recalled meat.

Many clinical laboratories do not test for non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), such as STEC O103 because it is harder to identify than STEC O157. People can become ill from STECs within 2–8 days (the average is for  3–4 days) after consuming the organism.

Most people infected with STEC O103 develop diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting. Some illnesses last longer and can be more severe. Infection is usually diagnosed by testing of a stool sample. Vigorous rehydration and other supportive care is the usual treatment; antibiotic treatment is generally not recommended.

Most people recover within a week, but, rarely, some develop a more severe infection. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is uncommon with STEC O103 infection. HUS can occur in people of any age but is most common in children under 5 years old, older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in customer’s freezers.

Customers who have purchased these products are urged not to use 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 at http://ift.tt/1gO8Ec3.

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground veal that has been cooked to a temperature of 160° F. The only way to confirm that veal is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature. Safe minimal cooking temperatures can be found at http://1.usa.gov/1cDxcDQ.

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Pet food recall expands; supplier’s certification had expired

The FDA today expanded a consumer advisory about Evanger’s and Against the Grain dog foods, some of which have been found to be contaminated with an animal euthanasia drug.

Apparently the agency has been waiting for a week for the company to make public an expansion of its existing recall, which came after illnesses in at least five dogs, including one death.

“On Feb. 20, 2017, Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food notified the FDA that it planned to recall all ‘chunk beef’ products under the Evanger’s and Against the Grain brands,” according to the expanded advisory from the Food and Drug Administration.

“On Feb. 27, 2017, the FDA became aware that Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food was notifying its distributors and retailers of a new recall for lots of Evanger’s Braised Beef Chunks with Gravy as well as expanding the previous recall for additional lots of Evanger’s canned Hunk of Beef and Against the Grain’s Grain Free Pulled Beef with Gravy.”

The 12-ounce cans of dog food being recalled have the following barcodes. The numbers listed below are the second half of the barcode, which can be found on the back of the product label:

• Evanger’s Hunk of Beef: 20109
• Evanger’s Braised Beef: 20107
• Against the Grain Pulled Beef: 80001

The products have expiration dates of December 2019-January 2021.

Ongoing investigation reveals supplier problem
The supplier of the beef that was used in Evanger’s Hunk of Beef and Against the Grain Pulled Beef canned dog foods displayed a “USDA-APHIS number” on its bills of lading, invoices and shipping pallets, according to the manufacturer of the dog food. A spokesperson for FDA has confirmed that the USDA-APHIS number was attached to a shipment from the supplier.

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

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) has no regulatory responsibility for pet food inspection. However, APHIS does provide a voluntary certification service to companies seeking to export animal or plant products.

FDA supplied an image of the supplier’s bill of lading to USDA-APHIS for verification. According to a spokesperson, the USDA-APHIS number displayed on the document was found to be an export certification number that had expired in the mid 2000s.

Investigation timeline
Dec. 31, 2016: A pet owner feeds her five pugs some Evanger’s Hunk of Beef canned dog food as a New Year’s Eve treat. All five dogs develop symptoms within 15 minutes of consuming the meat. Four of the dogs required veterinary ICU care; one of the dogs died.

Jan. 17, 2017: A toxicology report issued by the Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population & Animal Health revealed the presence of pentobarbital in the stomach contents of the dead dog and in the remnants of food from the opened can of Evanger’s Hunk of Beef.

Feb. 3, 2017: Following an investigation in which FDA confirmed the presence of pentobarbital in the implicated production lot of dog food, Evangers recalled all five lots of Hunk of Beef that were produced from the supplier’s lot of beef.

Feb. 9, 2017: Against the Grain recalled one production lot of its Pulled Beef after FDA detected pentobarbital in a sample of the product.

Feb. 17, 2017: FDA released redacted Inspectional Observation reports (Form 483), listing the findings of its investigation into the operations of Evanger’s production plant in Wheeling, Illinois and the Nutripack production plant in Markham, Illinois.

Feb. 20, 2017: Evanger’s notified FDA that the company would expand its recall to include all chunk beef products.

Feb. 21, 2017: 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.

Feb. 28, 2017: Evanger’s notified its distributors and retailers by letter that the company was recalling Evanger’s Hunk of Beef, Evanger’s Braised Beef Chunks with Gravy, and Against the Grain Pulled Beef manufactured between December 2015 and January 2017 with expiration dates of December 2019 through January 2021.

10 consumer complaints so far
FDA has received 10 consumer complaints naming Evanger’s products. Five of the complaints are suggestive of pentobarbital poisoning. The agency is following up on four complaints for which there are available product and veterinary medical records. All of the complaints relate to Evanger’s Hunk of Beef dog food; one complaint also mentions an additional product, Evanger’s Braised Beef Chunks in Gravy for Dogs.

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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Stir fry product recalled for possible Listeria contamination

Fresno-based Versa Marketing Inc. has recalled  4,089 cases of Fusia Szechuan Stir fry because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The product was distributed only to Aldi stores.

Florida state inspectors discovered the problem when they tested a sample of finished product collected at the retail level. The sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The company has ceased distribution of the product and the company and U.S. Food and Drug Administration continue their investigation as to what caused the problem.  The company says it  is fully cooperating with the FDA.

Consumers who purchased the product are urged not to consume this product, and throw it away.

Listeria is a microscopic organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The affected product was distributed in poly bags in a multi-pack under the following labels codes:

• Fusia Szechuan Stir fry, Net Weight 21 oz (595 grams) UPC code 041498-178864 Best by date 6-14-18

The company has not yet received any complaints in relation to this product and claims it is not aware of any illnesses associated with the product to date.

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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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