T. Marzetti Company Recalls Listeria Tainted Biscuits

In this image from the Pasteur Institute, Listeria monocytogenes (shown in red) is in the process of infecting tissue cells.

T. Marzetti Company is voluntarily recalling all “Best By” dates of the following product that was distributed in California, United States, because it may have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Consumers should not consume this product.  No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled item.

All “Best By” dates of the following products are included in this recall:

Item # Full UPC	Description	Count per pkg
7229200025	MARSHALLS OLD FASHIONED SOUTHERN STYLE BISCUITS	12 ct

Although this product is not ready-to-eat items and has baking instructions which, if followed, will reduce consumer risk, there remains some risk that the mishandling of this product prior to or without adequate baking may cause illness.

We are working in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and our supplier on this recall.

All affected distributors and retail customers are being notified and the affected products are being removed from store shelves.

Affected product should be destroyed.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which 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.

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Listeria Prompts Biscuit Warning

A voluntary recall has been issued for two kinds of SEG biscuits sold in Winn-Dixie grocery stores amid concerns of “possible” listeria, according to a Friday (Dec. 29) announcement by Southeastern Grocers (SEG), the Jacksonville, Fla.-based parent company of Winn-Dixie and other grocery chains.

The voluntary recall was issued due to the “possible presence of listeria monocytogenes,” the company said in the news release.

The recall includes the following products at all Winn-Dixie stores:

*SEG Buttermilk Biscuits – UPC code 3825911726 (25 oz. /12-pack case)

*SEG Southern Style Biscuits – UPC code 3825911892 (44 oz. /eight-pack case)

The recall also includes SEG and Southern Home-brand biscuits at all BI-LO and Harveys Supermarket stores, which are operated by Southeastern Grocers.

The products, regardless of the “best by” date, should be thrown away or returned to any Winn-Dixie store for a full refund, according to Southeastern Grocers.

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State with biggest apple crop girds against more Listeria

Shaken by apple recalls back East for Listeria contamination, Washington State’s large apple industry has pinned its hopes for staying pathogen free on research.

Ines Hanrahan, the post-harvest physiologist at the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, told the Capital Press that studies currently underway should help the state apple industry get the maximum bacterial reduction.

Her comments came after the Dec. 12, and Dec. 13 recalls by the Kroger and Aldi grocery store chains of apples grown in Michigan and the Southeast over concerns about possible Listeria contamination.

Hanrahan says that’s something the Washington State apple industry wants to avoid. “We are very concerned in Washington about Listeria and have been trying to do everything possible to set up processes to avoid problems,” she said.

Every state in the United States grows apples, and 29 states raise apples commercially, but Washington State produces about 70 percent of the apples in the United States. And, the Evergreen State manufacturers about 40 percent of all U.S. apple juice products.

Hanrahan says the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, Washington State University, and the Center for Produce Safety at the University of California Davis are all involved in apple studies. She says these efforts will help the industry determine the best operating procedures to “get the maximum bacterial reduction.”

A Washington State apple grower, Crunch Pak, recalled sliced apples in 2013 for Listeria contamination. Then in late 2014 and early 2015, caramel apples all sourced to fresh apples from Bidart Brothers in Bakersfield, CA caused a major Listeria outbreak.

A total of 35 individuals in 12 states were sickened. All but one case required hospital care and seven people died. Bidart recalled Granny Smith and Gala apples after environmental testing found Listeria contamination in the firm’s apple-packing facility.

Hanrahan says apple growers “have no way of controlling or knowing when a potentially deadly strain enters our post-harvest environment,” but adds that they can set up extensive systems to make sure they are alerted as soon as Listeria enters storage and packing. Then she says: “we can eradicate them by thorough cleaning and sanitation programs for equipment.”

The Washington State growers are looking into various interventions–continuous flow ozone generators to controlled atmosphere storage–to bring about the highest bacteria reductions.

The apple recalls by Aldi, and Kroger so far has not been associated with any illnesses. Aldi’s removals of Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, and Honeycrisp apples involved sales after Dec. 13 at stores in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, South Carolina, and North Carolina.

Kroger recalled Fuji and Gala apples sold between Dec. 12 and 19 at stores in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia. It’s recall included 5-pound bags of Michigan-grown apples.

Listeria is a deadly pathogen with a fatality rate as high as 40 percent with its most significant threat to young children, the elderly, people with compromised immune systems, and pregnant women. In the caramel apple outbreak 11 of the 35 victims where “pregnancy-related” involving either pregnant women or new-born baby, and one resulted in the loss of an unborn baby.

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JBS recalls beef stew products made in Cactus, TX

On Christmas Eve,  HEB grocery stores in San Antonio opened boxes of multi-vac packages of stew meat only to find them contaminated with pieces of plastic and metal.  HEB pulled all the stew meat from its shelves in all stores and to be sure locked any sales out of its registers.

On Tuesday, the day after Christmas,  about 4,702 pounds of stew meat was recalled from the Swift Beef-JBS USA plant in Cactus, TX because of the foreign matter contamination.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said the boneless stew items found with plastic and metal contamination by HEB on Dec. 24 were produced at Cactus on Dec. 13, 2017.  Subject to the recall, according to FSIS, are:

• Cases containing six 5-lb. bulk plastic bags containing fresh beef stew meat intended for HEB grocery store retailer re-package.  The affected case code is 69404.
• Re-packaged various weight beef stew meat trays that also contain separately wrapped vegetables. The meat trays are marked with establishment 7231 on the side of the tray.
• Re-packaged various weight beef stew labeled as HEB brand: Beef Stew Meat Tenderized RP, Beef Stew Meat RP, Beef Stew Meat VP, Beef Stew Meat-CR VP, Beef Stew Meat Tenderized VP, Beef Stew Meat CP, and Beef Stew Kit.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 3D” next to the USDA mark of inspection or Est. 7231 on the side of the tray. Only  HEB retail stores in Texas received shipments of the product.

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

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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Smoked Salmon Recalled After Listeria Test

Nodine’s Smokehouse, Inc. of Torrington, Connecticut is recalling Smoked Salmon 1.5 lbs, 8 oz packages. Lot numbers 40173 and 33173 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, with high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, and nausea as its primary symptoms. In rare cases, listeriosis is fatal; it can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention. Pregnant women the very young, elderly, and persons with compromised immune systems are
the most susceptible.

The Smoked Salmon was distributed nationwide in retail stores and through mail orders. The product comes in 1.5 lb and 8 oz packages with lot numbers 40173 and 33173.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The recall was initiated as a result of environmental and product sampling by the Rachael’s Food Corporation. It revealed the presence of Listeria moncytogenes
in some Smoked Salmon 1.5 lob and 8 oz packages. Distribution has been suspended while Rachael’s Food Corporation continues their investigation into the source of the problem.

Consumers who have purchased Smoked Salmon in 1.5 lb and 8 oz packages are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Nodine’s Smokehouse, Inc. at 1-800-222-2059, Monday through Friday between 9 am and 4 pm.

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Listeria Recall for Fresh Pac Apple Slices

Fresh Pak Inc. of Detroit, MI is announcing a voluntary Lot specific recall of red/green apple slices. Jack Brown Produce, Inc. (supplier) requested Fresh Pak Inc. to perform a recall for the reason that they could have potentially been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an 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.

To date, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this problem.

The recalled apples slices were distributed in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin in retail stores and through distributors. A potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by the company Nyblad Orchards revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in a random single sample that was taken from related gala apple products.

We ask retailers to remove this product immediately from your shelves and/or inventory staging areas. After removal, we ask that you destroy this product immediately.

Consumers that are in possession of any of the recalled products are urged to discard or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. For any questions or concern contact Josue Cortez at (313) 841-7911 Mon-Fri 7am-2pm eastern time.

The products come in a 2.2, 2.5, 9, and 7 ounce bags and or plastic packages as well as 3 Lb. bags and are marked as follows:

Item Description	Brand Name	Lot Number	UPC	Use BY Range:
3lb Bag Dice Red Apples	None	312544,312807	None	Dec 29‐ Jan 2
3lb Bag Slice Red Apples	None	312542	None	Dec 28‐ Jan 1
(5/2.2oz) Slice Apple Bags in clamshells	Michigan Apples‐ Aunt Mid’s	312547, 312806	7122817430	Dec 28‐ Jan 1
(5/2.5oz) Slice Apples w/ grapes bags in clamshells	Aunt Mid’s	312546	7122817431	Dec 31
9oz Slice Apples Container	Fresh Pak Inc	312447, 312537, 312666, 312780, 312943	7122817686	Dec 17‐21
9oz Mix (red/green) Slice Apples Container	Fresh Pak Inc	312448, 312538, 312781, 312944,312667	7122817687	Dec 17‐21
7oz Fruit and cheese Snacks	None	312422, 312511, 312641,312755, 312918	7122817684	Dec 17‐21

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Listeria is the latest pathogen to rock Scotland’s Errington Cheese

Two days before Christmas, Scotland’s troubled Errington Cheese Ltd. recalled all batches, all sizes, and all date codes of its Dunsyre Blue cheese because the product contains Listeria monocytogenes.

The recall notice puts Errington’s Dunsyre Blue back in the news just two months after the Crown decided not to prosecute the company for the product. Health Protection Scotland found Dunsuyre Blue was the source for a 2016 E. coli O157 outbreak that killed a 3-year old girl and sickened 25 others.

The latest Dunsyre Blue problem surfaced on Dec. 12 when Errington recalled a single batch (J9) because “routine customer testing” found Listeria in a pasteurized sample. “We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused,” Errington said.

But on Dec. 23, the Food Standards Agency of the United Kingdom and Food Standards Scotland announced that because further testing by Errington found Listeria in other batches, it was all recalled.

Errington put up a point of sale notices in every location selling the award-winning cheese. It asked customers to dispose of any Dunsyre Blue cheese they’d purchased and offered refunds.

Listeria causes symptoms that are much like the flu, including high temperatures, muscle aches, chills, diarrhea, and feeling sick. Rare cases of the infection can cause more severe complications, including meningitis. The elderly, pregnant women and unborn babies, infants, and people with weakened immune systems are especially at risk.

Errington, based in Lanarkshire, has never accepted that it’s unpasteurized Dunsyre Blue was the cause of the deadly E. coli outbreak.

When it expanded the current recall to include all batches of the Dunsyre Blue product, it posted a statement on the company’s website saying it was “terribly sorry” to have made the decision “amid Listeria fears.”

Since the Health Protection Scotland report that linked them to the E. coli outbreak, Errington has produced Dunsyre Blue with pasteurized milk on new equipment.

The Dunsyre Blue cheeses involved in this recall have not yet caused any illnesses.

While it escaped criminal prosecution, Errington still has a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) and civil actions to deal with from the E. coli outbreak. The company reports spending more than $1 million to restore its name to where it was before the E. coli outbreak.

Food Standards Scotland’s management of that investigation has come in for its share of criticism. Professor Hugh Pennington, one of Britains best-known food safety experts, called that probe “a mess.” And a Committee for the Defense of Artisan Food was formed to defend Errington and prevent future injustices.

Errington was a pioneer in artisanal cheese-making in Scotland.

The incident management team investigating the outbreak found E. coli bacteria was about to contaminate Errington’s cheese production.

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