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Wegmans of Rochester, NY issued a voluntary recall of three gluten-free baking mixes Tuesday after internal allergen testing by the revealed the presence of soy, which can cause adverse health effects in people with allergies to the ingredient. Products subject to this recall include: - Wegmans Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix, sold in 15.3 oz. boxes marked with UPC 77890-2833 and best-by code dates from 30Oct2013 to 11Apr2014 - Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Gluten Free Honey Cornbread Mix, sold in 16 oz. boxes marked with UPC 77890-30343 and best-by dode dates from 28Mar2014 to 16Apr2014, and - Wegmans Food You Feel Good About All Purpose Baking Mix, sold in 16 oz. boxes marked with UPC 77890-30341and best-by code dates from 27Mar2014 to 18Dec2014 Wegmans started selling the chocolate cake affected by this recall in May of 2012 and its all purpose baking mix and cornbread mix in September. Products were sold at the company's 80 retail stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and Massachusetts. Customers who have purchased the affected mixes should return them to their point of purchase for a full refund. © Food Safety NewsMore Headlines from Food Recalls  |
10.31.2012
Gluten-Free Baking Products Recalled for Undeclared Soy
Sunland to Resume Production After Salmonella Outbreak
Violations found at company plant in '08 and '09
Sunland halted all production in September after health investigators connected peanut butter and eventually whole peanuts produced by the company to a multistate Salmonella outbreak. Environmental testing found Salmonella Bredeney at both Sunland's peanut butter and peanut production plants, and the company issued a number of voluntary recalls now totaling hundreds of products that span back in production dates to 2010. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has completed its investigation into the companies facilities, and peanut farmers in the area are ready to start working with Sunland again, according to KRQE. Sunland had some undefined problems at its peanut butter facility during FDA inspections it received in 2009 and 2010, when officials noted 'objectionable conditions' both times. In an interview with Food Safety News, Sunland Vice President Katalin Coburn said she could not specify what those conditions were, but knew that the company immediately resolved any and all problems following those inspections. Since word of those past inspections first resurfaced in early October, Food Safety News has been trying to retrieve copies of those inspection reports from the FDA. On October 16, the FDA acknowledged its receipt of a Freedom of Information request from FSN, but the reports have not yet been released. Sunland has been storing this year's peanut crop since its closure. Coburn told KRQE that the company was still assessing data from its tests and from the FDA's outbreak inspection. © Food Safety NewsMore Headlines from Foodborne Illness Investigations |
Is Pasteurization the Answer to Killer Cantaloupes?
| Killer cantaloupes could kill the cantaloupe business, and thus something must be done to ensure the safety of these fruits. After Colorado cantaloupes were found to be at the center of the nation's most deadly foodborne illness outbreak in a century last year, California growers led an intense nationwide campaign to improve practices, especially those involving harvest and post-harvest methods. After the deadly 2011 Listeria outbreak, which sickened at least 147 and killed 33, most cantaloupe growers around the nation were paying attention to see what improvements needed to be made to keep the fruit free of pathogens. However, it soon came to light that some still had food safety issues.
North Carolina's Burch Farms, which supplied Hannaford Supermarkets, discovered on July 28 that cantaloupe it shipped July 15 were contaminated with Listeria. The original recall included 580 crates of whole Athena cantaloupes, but it was expanded to include the company's entire growing season for both cantaloupes and honeydew melons. Credit for taking almost 200,000 Listeria-contaminated cantaloupes off the shelves went to the New York unit of USDA's Microbiological Data Program, a produce testing program that the Obama Administration and Congress have since killed at the behest of the fresh produce industry. No illnesses followed Burch's timely recall. The other problem, however, was a deadly two-strain Salmonella outbreak that was ultimately linked to Chamberlain Farms in Indiana. At least 261 people were sickened in the 24-state outbreak that saw 228 infected with Salmonella Typhimurium and 33 with Salmonella Newport. The outbreak linked to Chamberlain Farms killed three people and put 94 into hospitals. As of a month ago, however, grower Tim Chamberlain was not taking responsibility for any of it. Through his lawyer, he said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's inspection of his facilities had not turned out anything linking his cantaloupes to the Salmonella outbreak. FDA said its environmental samples found the two outbreak strains of Salmonella – both of which were indistinguishable from the strains that sickened victims – on the farm. And the Kentucky Department of Health, investigating the deaths, found one of the strains on a Chamberlain cantaloupe collected from a retail store. In addition, the FDA inspector found "poor sanitary conditions," including standing water, debris and a buildup of rust and other material on packing equipment. And, it is not just a matter of a couple of bad years. According to the Center for Produce Safety at the University of California Davis, cantaloupes have been associated with 36 outbreaks and pathogen-based recalls since 1990. Before the deadly 2011 Listeria outbreak, Salmonella contamination was often associated with imported melons, was the main concern of cantaloupe growers. Listeria, with a mortality rate reaching as high as 40 percent among the elderly and pregnant women, is a game changer for cantaloupe growers. It has the industry looking for a silver bullet. On Jan. 1 at UC Davis, Professor Trevor Suslow will begin a two-year research project into the "practical validation of surface pasteurization of netted melons." In other words, just as there are pasteurized eggs today, there might be pasteurized cantaloupes tomorrow. Suslow, a longtime expert on cantaloupe growing, says preventative controls are the best way to combat the burden the melons put on consumers and public health. His study, based on previous laboratory findings, will test the effectiveness of hot water pasteurization of cantaloupes and other netted rind melons. The California Cantaloupe Advisory Board's Steve Patricio says it's important to remember that any "kill step" is a "point in time." "However, good bacteria and bad bacteria are both killed," Patricio says. "I have been following this line of research for nearly 10 years. Growing crops in season where they are meant to be grown (not where genetics can be adjusted to allow them to grow) will also allow safer food." The Center for Produce Safety has awarded $245,000 to the cantaloupe pasteurization study. © Food Safety NewsMore Headlines from Foodborne Illness Outbreaks |
Investigation: USDA Quietly Eliminated 60 Percent of Foreign Meat Inspections
Agency also lacks foreign audit transparency
The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service has also become less transparent. The agency has failed to make audit reports public in a timely fashion and only revealed which countries have been audited in the past two years this week following multiple inquiries by Food Safety News and a blog post by former Under Secretary for Food Safety Richard Raymond questioning the lack of online records. With an increasingly global food system – around 17 percent of the U.S. food supply is now imported – U.S. consumers are directly impacted by food safety practices and regulatory systems abroad. Just last month, a massive E. coli O157:H7 beef recall from XL Foods in Alberta, Canada, affected 2.5 million pounds of beef that had been shipped to U.S. meat processors and grocery chains. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are no known illnesses linked to XL Foods in the United States, but at least 16 Canadians have fallen ill. The XL Foods recall, the largest in Canadian history, might never have happened if FSIS border inspectors in Sweetgrass, Montana hadn't found E. coli O157:H7 in multiple samples of the imported beef and raised the issue with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Food safety advocates say the incident highlights the importance of a strong border inspection system, but also raises critical questions about whether FSIS has taken a more hands-off approach in regulating foreign countries sending meat and poultry products to the U.S. Canadian media reported this month that FSIS was preparing to audit the Canadian meat safety system. The audit had been planned and was not prompted by the XL Foods recall, according to both CFIA and FSIS officials, but the reports noted that FSIS had not audited Canada, a major meat trading partner, since 2009. Food safety experts and consumer advocates have started wondering: Why aren't these food safety check-ups happening annually like they used to? Some worry that budgetary pressures are forcing a reduction in the number of audits, or worse, that the reductions are part of an effort to liberalize trade at the expense of public health. In-country audits are part of what the agency often calls a "triad of protection" for imported meat and poultry. First, USDA must establish "equivalency," determining that the importing country has a food safety system in place that's on par with the U.S. system. Once a country is given the go-ahead (only 34 countries are currently approved), the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service continually monitors the safety of imported products through strict re-inspection at the port of entry, by testing for dangerous pathogens, and by conducting "ongoing audits" to ensure the countries are living up to their equivalency designation. Dr. Richard Raymond, the former Under Secretary for Food Safety, who led FSIS under the Bush administration, went public with his concerns about reducing the frequency of foreign audits this week. In a Meatingplace op-ed published Monday, Raymond questioned whether regular foreign audits were a casualty of tough budgetary times. "I've always considered our foreign inspection program one of the crown jewels of our food safety system," Raymond told Food Safety News. "Frequent audits are important. Without them, people cut corners – it's human nature." Data show steep drop in foreign inspections During the Bush administration, in-country audits generally happened annually, but, according to data provided to Food Safety News by FSIS earlier this month (which were posted online Wednesday), the number of in-country audits has dropped dramatically under the Obama administration. Online documents show that from 2001 to 2008 FSIS inspectors were routinely evaluating, in-person, the foreign plants processing meat for American consumers. The number of countries audited annually, with only one exception (in 2006 there was a large drop in audits), was between 25 and 32, so FSIS was auditing an average of 26.4 countries per year. From 2009 to 2012, however, the number of countries audited annually dropped to between 3 and 20, so FSIS was auditing an average of 9.8 countries per year. The number of foreign countries audited started to decline significantly in 2009, to only 21 audits, but the in-country inspections that year still covered many of the major meat importers, including Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico. In 2010, FSIS only audited 6 countries – Brazil, China, Honduras, Korea, Spain, and Uruguay – a third of what the agency had done the year before. By 2011, the number of countries audited by FSIS was down to just 3: Australia, New Zealand and Poland. So far in 2012, the agency has completed 10 audits, but the agency began auditing Canada on Oct. 22, so presumably that brings the total to 11. FSIS officials would not say how many more audits, if any, were scheduled through the end of the calendar year. As of Monday, FSIS had not posted audit reports for all of the countries it audited in 2010, nor had it posted any information about which countries were audited in 2011 and 2012, telling Food Safety News that the reports were still under review. Sometime in 2009 the agency also stopped including plant audits in the reports posted online. On Wednesday, the agency updated its foreign audit page to include a handful of draft country audit reports as well as notes about which audit reports are still pending. One former FSIS employee from the International Affairs Office told Food Safety News they could not imagine why the agency had stopped posting audit reports online in a timely manner. "In past years, those audit reports would get posted within 60 days," they said. "I'm surprised that FSIS isn't being as transparent as we want them to be." A new approach to foreign inspection According to interviews with former and current FSIS officials, the agency has, since 2008, been quietly changing its approach to foreign audits, making in-country visits far less frequent. Though FSIS officials object to the calling the new approach "risk-based" – they refer to the new approach as "systems-based" – internal agency documents obtained by Food Safety News clearly show that FSIS has shifted to a "risk-based" system that relies more heavily on paperwork than annual in-country inspections. What's particularly curious about this apparent policy shift, according to several stakeholders and consumer advocates, is that it was never made public. Laurie Bryant, the executive director of the Meat Import Council of America, for example, told Food Safety News he was not aware that the agency had been reducing the frequency of in-country audits or that there had been a significant change in policy. "If they're going to make major changes to our foreign inspection program, the criteria for doing so should be made public," said Tony Corbo, a lobbyist for Food & Water Watch. "They've never announced or explained this new approach. We've been kept in the dark on this." Gary Weber, who used to serve as the director of regulatory affairs at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and now runs his own food safety consulting company, expressed concern about scaling back in-country audits. "Audits are critical to protecting both consumer confidence and public health," said Weber. "It's a privilege to be able to export meat to our country." There is no official explanation for the significant policy change, but one official did acknowledge they "dropped the ball" by not announcing it. Agency officials told Food Safety News they "intended to announce it in a Federal Register notice," but haven't because they've been busy issuing other policy changes. The agency said it's "preparing the documentation around this" and intends to explain the new approach. FSIS officials argue that the new system is more sophisticated and replaces the old "cookie cutter" audits. The agency now uses a self reporting tool, known as SRT, that allows countries to self-report information to FSIS. Foreign inspectors provide information to the agency on things like preventive controls, microbiological and chemical testing, sanitation and government oversight. The self reporting tool has been supplementing in-country audits since 2010, according to the agency. "We get more information from countries on an ongoing basis," said an FSIS official. "We're going to do less in-country audits." "This is more of a document approach," said one former FSIS official, adding that SRT is more cost effective than extensive onsite audits. "It doesn't make sense to keep going back to the countries that don't have problems." The agency is already using a tiered approach to rank countries based on risk – they look at SRT submissions, past problems and the results of FSIS' re-inspection testing at the ports of entry. The criteria have not been made public. Budget and transparency concerns There is some disagreement about what motivated FSIS to adopt a new approach to foreign inspection. Agency officials insist that budget constraints were not the reason for scaling back in-country visits. House Appropriations Committee staff confirmed that FSIS has received appropriations on par with what they've requested. But a former FSIS official from the Office of International Affairs told Food Safety News that budgetary pressures were a major factor in the change. "The budget restrictions had pretty much forced the agency to re-evaluate the most cost effective way to do audits," they said, noting that the agency is trying to transition to a more risk-based approach across the board. FSIS said the new approach was suggested by the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) in August 2008, but consumer advocates dispute the claim. One of the recommendation documents from the meeting states that the "length of time between audits can be based more on risk and compliance history in the foreign country," and that "a three-tiered system may be appropriate," but the documents don't get much more specific. "I don't see anything in the document that says, 'It's fine for you to go three years without auditing a country's system,'" said longtime consumer advocate Carol Tucker-Foreman, who served as Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Food and Consumer Services under the Carter administration. "I've never seen anything that outlines the grounds for such an approach." "FSIS hasn't provided any data showing that imported meat and poultry products are safer than those made in the U.S," said Tucker-Foreman. "Perhaps [the White House Office of Management and Budget] wants even more cuts in the FSIS budget; perhaps pleasing our trading partners now trumps public health; perhaps it is a little of both. Whatever the cause, we think it is bad public policy." Pat Buck, the director of outreach and education at the Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention echoed similar concerns. "It is concerning that Canada, which is America's largest supplier of imported beef, is not audited every year. It would seem prudent for USDA to conduct an annual audit for those countries — Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Uruguay — that account for the bulk of America's imported beef products," said Buck. "It is not clear what caused this policy change." The agency insists it has not backed off foreign inspection; it's just being smarter about targeting audits to where the potential problems are. Plus, FSIS points out, in-country inspections are just one part of the "triad of protection" for imports. Nevertheless, the agency responded to follow up questions Wednesday by saying it would take a second look at its protocols regarding foreign audits: "FSIS is evaluating our process of updating audits to be more transparent and responsive to requests from our stakeholders." © Food Safety NewsMore Headlines from Food Politics |
His Bakery wins Pillsbury ‘Make a Cake Face’ sweeps
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For the sweepstakes, consumers were asked to share a photo from a special "cake face" moment and name their favorite neighborhood bakery through the Make a Cake FaceFacebook page. Both the consumer and bakery named were eligible to win the grand prize, while this year participants also had the chance to win one of 11 monthly prizes of $250 for bakeries and $100 for customers. Robeson encouraged Aldinger's family to submit a photo, as they are regulars at his bakery for special occasion cakes. "We're committed to giving our customers the best and nothing else compares to the moisture content, flavor and consistent results that Pillsbury delivers," owner Jack Robeson said in a press release. "Since we were already supporters of Pillsbury, when we learned about the Make a Cake Face sweepstakes, we decided to give it a try. We're thrilled to be selected as this year's winner along with one of our regular customers." |
His Bakery in Portland, Ore., and customer Dean Aldinger were named the grand prize winner sin the annual "Make a Cake Face sweepstakes from Pillsbury Bakers' Plus. The bakery Aldinger each received a $2,500 cash prize for their winning photo, which shows Aldinger blowing out the candles with the help of his family, on a mousse-filled, chocolate birthday cake from His Bakery. (Pictured, from left to right: Angel Carroll, General Mills Bakeries & Foodservice territory manager, presents the grand prize check to Jack Robeson and customer Dean Aldinger.)Flowers Foods completes Sara Lee, Earthgrains licensing deals
| Advertisement Flowers Foods is growing its bakery business with the acquisition of certain assets and trademark licenses from BBU Inc., a subsidiary of Grupo Bimbo SA. The financial terms of the transactions were not disclosed. Under the agreement, Flowers will receive exclusive licenses to the Sara Lee and Earthgrains brands for sliced breads, buns and rolls in California, which account for annual sales of $134 million. The manufacturer also will receive a license to the Earthgrains brand for a range of bakery products in the Oklahoma City, Okla., market area. The Oklahoma City license will be completed shortly, while the first phase of the California transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal 2013. Further details of the acquisition will be discussed during Flowers' quarterly conference call, which is scheduled for Nov. 8. "The acquisition strengthens our market presence in California, adding about 14.5 million people to the 70 percent of the U.S. population that currently has access to our fresh breads and rolls," George E. Deese, Flowers' chairman and CEO, said in a statement. "This moves us closer to our goal of reaching 75 percent of the U.S. population through our direct-store-delivery system by 2016." Since listing publicly in 1968, Flowers foods has completed more than 100 acquisitions, including 13 in the past decade. |
10.30.2012
A Call to Industry: Educate the Media to Educate the Consumer
| Opinion
Each has been the subject of media "attention." And as the inaccuracies in the statements reveal, articles on each have too often been published without true understanding, knowledge or representation of the complete facts. This may be due to media jumping on a story in order to break it first, as put forth by FoodQualityNews.com (Flawed GM cancer study highlights flawed media approach), or it may be that reporters simply did not have enough knowledge – or desire – to dig further into complete facts. Or it may simply be a matter of economics: Whether you are a newspaper publisher, a TV executive, a web news provider – or a town crier from days of old, your job is to get people to hear what you say; read what you write simply because that keeps the revenue stream flowing. If that means putting out a bit of hype now and again, well so be it. It's always been done that way, and I don't see any major change coming around the bend. So, what does this mean to you? Plenty. The Impact of the Media First is the impact of the media – with media having a much wider definition than it did even just a few years ago, as illustrated by the well-known story – and results – of the "pink slime" debacle. Although she was not the originator of the term, it was a mother's blog posting of a petition to stop the use of "pink slime" in schools (with an incorrect photo) that led to viral publication by both mainstream and social mediathat led to the eventual closing of the majority of BPI plants. A controversy that may be a bit less well-known, but is bound to resonate in the GMO industry for a long time, is the recent publication of the French study "Long term toxicity of a Roundup herbicide and a Roundup-tolerant genetically modified maize," published in Food and Chemical Toxicology – but now declaimed as flawed. According to the highlights listed in the article: "Female mortality was 2–3 times increased mostly due to large mammary tumors and disabled pituitary. Males had liver congestions, necrosis, severe kidney nephropathies and large palpable tumors." Although a Google search now brings up more articles refuting the study than accepting it, the initial headlines focused on the study's "findings" that the genetically modified corn caused tumors in rats—and there were plenty of photos to "prove" it. This case was somewhat extreme in that there was little opportunity for an opposing viewpoint in the initial publication, because a media outlet wanting to receive the pre-embargo copy of the study (enabling quick publication when the embargo was lifted), had to agree to not to speak with any independent experts during the embargo. To add to this, not only were the study's sample sizes exceptionally small and the rats used in the experiment predisposed to tumors, but the scientists would not release data on the methodologies used—a standard in scientific research. However, few of the initial articles focused on any of these shortcomings. Since that first publication, numerous articles disputing the study have come out, including Monsanto's response, stating in part: "This study does not meet minimum acceptable standards for this type of scientific research, the findings are not supported by the data presented, and the conclusions are not relevant for the purpose of safety assessment. … There is no plausible mechanism for the results reported with genetically modified maize, and the results are inconsistent with an extensive body of experience and scientific study." But … How many consumers saw the first front-page articles, then never read the less sensational questioning of the study? And … How many GMO opponents are using statements from the study in their promotion? Many did so immediately, and the study is likely to continue to be cited even once the furor over its authenticity or flaws dies down. These brief examples raise two important issues. The first is our need to educate the media and the second is to have a plan ready as part of crisis preparation to address inappropriate messages around your products or your brand. Our Need to Educate The food industry has a need and responsibility to take a hand in proactively educating the media in order to educate the consumer. As noted by the viral nature of the mother's "pink slime" blog (and resulting 258,874 petition signers), the challenge of our world today is the fact that it is a great deal more difficult to define media than it was in the past when one knew the town crier by name, had one local newspaper, or three TV stations. Today, we not only have innumerable cable and satellite TV stations, we have uncountable online websites, news pages and blogs that are written by degreed scientists to agenda-driven espousers – and everyone in between. And all are doing whatever they can to get the public's eye. Which means we have no control. Or do we? It is not an easy task to draw attention to reason in place of sensationalism, but we can fight back. In fact, BPI is doing just that with its lawsuit against ABC News. Irrespective of the outcome of this lawsuit it has brought public attention to the other side of the story, and shown that it is not going to accept the media's right to publish without potential consequence. And, at least in this case, its publication of reason has gotten attention: a Google search on BPI ABC brought up almost 6.5 million hits, with at least the first 20 pages being articles on the lawsuit. While some may argue that such a response simply brings the original negative back to consumers' minds, given the BPI plants that were closed and jobs that were lost; given the persistent anti-GMO marketing efforts; and given, even, the public's lack of understanding of the nutrition of organic vs. conventionally grown or the food safety of local vs. large-scale farming – Can industry afford to not fight back? Or, more pragmatically, can we afford to not take the proactive approach and supplant misinformation before it takes hold? My personal experience with the media is that many in the media strive for an accurate and appropriate story. This cadre of solid food reporters should be encouraged and helped to achieve their goal of appropriate reporting. To this end, the industry could more actively reach out to these key players and help them understand aspects of the food industry when things are going well and before we are all in crisis mode. When it comes to being prepared as an organization, this is part of good crisis management planning. Be ready with your talking points and experts for when the need arises. Track social media constantly and consider using a team of "Mommy Bloggers" who will be honest in their opinion but are familiar with your products, your philosophy and your goals of constantly producing safe foods. Today we have to be more vigilant and more aware of media than ever. The power of the media to destroy a brand should never be underestimated, and it is time to recognize this. So establish allegiances, ensure your programs are robust, and manage the media before they manage you. This post originally appeared October 18, 2012 on the Leavitt Partners' Food Safety blog. © Food Safety NewsMore Headlines from Opinion & Contributed Articles |
Major Meat Processors Survive Sandy Intact
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Overall, the five processors contacted by Meatingplace reported little more than temporary closures at plants over concern for employee safety. Some deliveries to northeast locations have been delayed, however. The facilities of Sanderson Farms (N.C.), Perdue (Md., Del. and Ga.), Cargill (Va., Pa. and N.J.), Tyson Foods (Va. and Pa.), and Smithfield Foods (Va. and Md.) all appear on-track to resume regular operations by Wednesday at the latest. Deliveries may take longer than Wednesday to fully return to schedule. © Food Safety NewsMore Headlines from Nutrition & Public Health |
After Salmonella Outbreaks, FDA Names Mango a “High Risk” Fruit
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FDA has not shared the new high-risk status of mangoes with American consumers, but the USDA-sanctioned National Mango Board is getting the word out to mango growers around the world. "As a result, look for longer hold time on fruit going through the process," William Watson, Executive Director for the National Mango Board, said in a letter to the industry. "Unfortunately, these additional inspections are most likely going to be the new norm." Watson encouraged mango growers to "double check your protocols and address any shortcomings immediately." In late August, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and then FDA discovered Daniella brand mangoes grown in Mexico were likely contaminated with Salmonella. When the problem was detected, Burlingame, CA – based Splendid Products recalled certain lots of the Daniella brand mangoes. FDA's investigation eventually led to recalls by three other mango importers, but those came later on. In the United States, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the implicated mangoes were responsible for two distinct outbreaks, one involving Salmonella Braenderup, and another involving Salmonella Worthington. The Salmonella Braenderup outbreak was the larger of the two, sickening 127 people in 15 states. There were no deaths reported, but 33 people involved in this outbreak required hospitalization. The second, smaller outbreak involving Salmonella Worthington consisted of 16 cases. One ill person had both strains of Salmonella and almost 90 percent said they'd consumed mangoes in the previous week. Victims of this outbreak were from similar states and were sickened during similar time periods as those involved in the larger outbreak, and were connected to the event through interviews. Hispanics who purchased mangoes at Hispanic markets accounted for many of the ill, especially in California. One other twist was the Mexican government's refusal to accept what was obvious to the U.S. and Canada. Mexico's National Service of Health, Food Safety, and Quality (SENASICA) insisted there was not enough evidence to conclude that mangoes were the source of the Salmonella. FDA, which was prevented from visiting Agricola Daniella in Sinaloa, Mexico immediately after the recall, did put the mango brand on an Import Alert. The Sept. 12 alert was for "Detention Without Physical Examination Of Raw Fresh Fruits And Vegetables Due To The Presence Of Pathogenic Contamination." U.S. mango imports from Mexico usually pick up product in March, so there is still time to resolve any strain that has developed between the neighboring countries and large trading partners. The Mango Board's Watson says food safety expert Sergio Nieto-Montenegro, a native of Mexico who earned a Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University in food science in 2006, will be doing risk assessments both in mango facilities in growing countries and receiving warehouses in the U.S. Watson said Nieto-Montenegro's report along with industry input would be used as a guide for determining the next steps for best food safety protocols for mangoes. Nieto-Montenegro's Texas-based company is called Hispanic Workforce Management, LLC. He has focused on food safety for companies with Hispanic workforces. Watson and Splendid General Manager Larry Nienkerk both spoke at the recent Fresh Summit 2012 event sponsored by the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas. According to The Packer, which covers the produce industry, Watson acknowledged that use of Price Look Up (PLU) codes to identify the recall mango lots turned into " a mess." Neinkerk's peers applauded him for the quick recall action taken by his company. CDC declared the outbreak over on Oct. 11. Six counties supply 99 percent of the mangoes consumed in the U.S. These include Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Guatemala and Haiti. Mexican mangoes dominate the market from March through August. Mangoes now available come from Brazil and Ecuador. © Food Safety NewsMore Headlines from Food Policy & Law |
Chicken Enchiladas Recalled for Possible Presence of Plastic
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The company is recalling 57-oz. boxes of "Bremer Party Size White Meat Chicken Enchiladas." The packages bear the establishment number "P-13130" inside the USDA mark of inspection, the UPC code 0-41498-16921-3 and the products have a best by date of "09/30/13," according to FSIS. The products were packaged on Aug. 31, 2012 and shipped to retail stores in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. According to the recall notice, the company alerted FSIS of the problem after receiving two consumer complaints. FSIS and the firm have received no reports of injury associated with consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an injury should contact a healthcare provider. © Food Safety NewsMore Headlines from Food Recalls |
WA Restaurant Salmonella Outbreak up to 120 Cases
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That case count includes 43 laboratory-confirmed patients and another 77 who exhibit symptoms and had a corresponding exposure history. The number ill rose by 3 since FSN reported on the outbreak last Wednesday. The health department may still see a few more cases trickle in, spokesman Don Strick said. Patients suffering from Salmonella infection ate at On the Border between September 20 and October 8. The restaurant voluntarily closed between October 9 and 15 as health officials investigated the cause of the outbreak, but ultimately concluded without a clear answer. © Food Safety NewsMore Headlines from Foodborne Illness Outbreaks |
10.29.2012
Two E. coli Outbreaks Linked to Animal Contact Expand
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A total of 64 children and 42 are now known to have contracted E. coli infections linked to the Cleveland County Fair, announced the The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' Division of Public Health in a press release Monday. One victim, a two-year-old boy from Gaston County, died due to complications of his infection. Preliminary findings from state and local health department investigations show that animal exposure was a likely source of the bacteria, says the agency. Cases by region are as follows: Cleveland County – 61 Gaston County – 18 Lincoln County – 14 Catawba County – 1 Mecklenburg – 1 Union County – 3 Rutherford – 4 York County, South Carolina – 2 Cherokee County, South Carolina – 2 Meanwhile, in Washington state, two more E. coli infections were linked to the Willow Grove pumpkin patch and petting zoo in Cowlitz County, adding to the pair of illnesses already tied to the venue. All four victims were children under age 10, Cowlitz County Health Department's clinical services manager Hilary Gillette-Walch reported to the Longview Daily News. One of the children is known to have been hospitalized for several days but has been released and is recovering, reported the health department. Willow Grove Gardens is an organic farm located in Longview, WA. The affected children visited the establishment between October 10 and 20 and fell ill between October 12 and 22, Gillette-Walch told Longview Daily News. The Cowlitz County Health Department warns anyone visiting a petting zoo to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after touching animals. Parents should make sure their children do not touch their eyes, nose or mouth while in an area where animals are housed. "If a hand-washing station is not available, do not have any contact," advises the department. © Food Safety NewsMore Headlines from Foodborne Illness Investigations |
Hurricane Food Safety 101
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More than two million people have already lost power due to lines downed by the storm, and millions more are expected to be without electricity as Sandy continues its course. During a power outage, perishable food that is not kept at the proper temperature can spoil. Other foods risk contamination from flood waters seeping into containers. Government food safety officials recommend a series of measures to prevent food spoilage or avoid eating spoiled food. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the federal Food and Drug Administration recommend taking the following precautions: - Make ice cubes or freeze gel packs or containers of water so that you can keep food cold in the case of a power outage - Group food together in the freezer to help it stay cooler longer - Freeze refrigerated items you don't need immediately, such as leftovers, fresh meat or milk - Store food on high shelves or upper floors so that it will be out of the way of contaminated water should the house flood. For those who have experienced a power outage, USDA and FDA recommend the following steps to keep food safe: - If you have an appliance thermometer, use it to measure the internal temperature of the fridge and freezer. Refrigerators should stay at 40 degrees Fahrenheit, while freezers should be at zero degrees F. - Put a block of ice or dry ice in the refrigerator or freezer to keep it cold. If you have access to dry ice, 50 pounds of it will keep an 18-cubic-foot refrigerator cold for 2 days, according to USDA. - Keep the doors of the fridge and freezer closed as much as possible to keep them cold. An unopened refrigerator will keep food safely for about 4 hours without power if the door is unopened. A full freezer will hold its temperature for around 48 hours if unopened, according to USDA, while a half-full freezer will stay adequately cool for 24 hours. In order to tell whether food is safe to eat after a power outage: - The first rule of post-emergency food safety is, "Never taste food to determine its safety!", cautions USDA. - If you have an appliance thermometer and determine that the interior temperature of the fridge dropped below 40 degrees F for more than 2 hours, discard any perishable items in it, including meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, eggs, leftovers and deli items. If food remained at the proper temperature, be sure to cook raw meats, poultry and eggs thoroughly to kill any foodborne pathogens that may be on it, advises FDA. - If you do not have an appliance thermometer and your refrigerator remained without power for more than 4 hours or was opened repeatedly before that time, throw out perishable items. Foods that are still safe after being in the refrigerator for more than 2 hours above 40 degrees include hard and processed cheeses, butter or margarine, fruits and fruit juices, raw vegetables, fresh mushrooms, herbs and spices, opened vinegar-based dressings, peanut butter, and condiments such as jelly, relish, taco sauce, Worcestershire, Hoisin, soy and barbecue sauces, mustard, ketchup, olives and pickles. Condiments containing mayonnaise or fish sauce should be thrown out, as should fresh fruits that have been previously cut. For a full list of foods that can be kept or should be discarded, see USDA's Consumer's Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes - When feeding infants, try to use prepared, canned baby formula that requires no added water. When using concentrated or powdered formulas, prepare with bottled water if the local water source is potentially contaminated, says FDA. - Frozen foods will be safe and can be refrozen if the freezer remained at 40 degrees F or below during the power outage. If you don't have a thermometer, but the food still contains ice crystals, it can be refrozen. - Wash fruits and vegetables with water from a safe source before eating. After Flooding - Drink bottled water that has not been exposed to floodwaters if it's available. If not, heat tap water to a boil before drinking. If the water is cloudy, filter it through clean cloths or allow it to settle, drawing off the clear water for boiling. - If you can't boil water, disinfect it with household bleach, advises FDA. Add 1/8 teaspoon, of regular, unscented liquid household bleach to each gallon of water, and let it stand for 30 minutes before drinking. - Discard any food that may have come into contact with floodwater if it is not in a sealed, waterproof container. Lids that are not waterproof include screw of snap-tops, pull tops and crimped caps. - Discard any damaged cans of food. For undamaged, watertight containers of food, remove labels since they may be harboring bacteria, and thoroughly wash packaging with soap and water, using hot water if it's available. Sanitize cans and sealed pouches by either boiling them in hot water for two minutes or placing them in bleached water (1 tablespoon of liquid bleach per gallon) for 15 minutes. - Use the same sanitizing process for dishes and pans exposed to floodwaters. - Thoroughly wash countertops with soap and water, then apply bleached water (1 tablespoon per gallon) to these surfaces. A video on food safety during a power outage is available on USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service's website. © Food Safety NewsMore Headlines from Nutrition & Public Health |
More Products With Peanut Butter Ingredients Recalled
| The Salmonella Bredeney outbreak in 20 states has not expanded beyond the report of the 38 infected with the rare strain, but so-called "secondary" recalls of products containing peanuts or peanut products made by Sunland Inc. in Portales, NM do continue. Among the latest to join the recall are BT McElrath Chocolatier, Inc., Bumble Bar, and Buck's Ice Cream of Milford, CT. As for the Salmonella Bredeney outbreak, two thirds of the cases continue to involve children, 29 percent requiring hospitalization, but luckily no deaths. BT McElrath Chocolatier, Inc. recalled its seasonal peanut butter product because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella associated with the Sunland Inc. recall. No illnesses have been linked directly to the BT McElrath Chocolatier, Inc. recalled products. Products included in the recall are: 2 and 5 Pieces Peanut Butter Pave
The "lot number" is located on the exterior backing of the product on a white sticker; the "Best by date" is also located on the same white sticker. The select products subject to this recall were manufactured between the dates of January 30th, 2012 through June 6th, 2012 and distributed nationwide through retail stores, mail order, and direct sales. Bumble Bar is recalled certain lots of Gluten Free Café™ Chocolate Sesame Bars and Gluten Free Café™ Cinnamon Sesame Bars associated with Sunland Inc. peanut products, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The 'Best Buy' date is located on the lower left panel of the 12-pack retail box and is also located on the back film of each individual bar. For product the various UPC codes and item description of all the recalled products, go here. The recalled products were distributed nationwide from June, 2011 to October, 2012, and exported primarily to retail stores, and through internet orders. Consumers who have purchased any products covered by this recall should destroy them or return them to the retail store where purchased for a full refund. None of the recalled Bumble Bee products have yet caused any illnesses. Buck's Ice Cream of Milford, CT, co-pack manufacturer for Iskream, Inc. recalled all lot codes of Iskream Brand Peanut Butter and Jelly No Sugar Added Ice Cream, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella due to a connection with Sunland Inc. The Iskream brand Peanut Butter and Jelly was distributed to retail customers through several wholesale distributors in the Northeast between March 1, 2012 and October 17, 2012. The ice cream is packaged in ice cream pint containers under the Iskream brand, and is labeled as "Reduced Fat No Sugar Added Peanut Butter and Jelly. The UPC code is 858452020554, and the Lot Code and Best by Date is printed or stamped in the bottom of the container. The Pints could also be packaged in white corrugated cases containing 8 pints per case. Each case has a label identifying the product as Iskream Peanut Butter and Jelly, and has the UPC, code, and best by dates on label wrapped around one corner of the box. No illnesses have been reported to date. The company urges consumers not to eat the recalled products. They may be returned for a refund. The New Mexico peanut processing plant's original recall list remains available here. © Food Safety NewsMore Headlines from Food Recalls |
Wisconsin-Made Ice Cream Recalled For Not Listing Pecans On Label
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Consumers, who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to pecans, run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the mislabeled ice cream. The following product is included in the recall: • Kays Classic Vanilla Bean Ice Cream 48 oz. Round – UPC #0-87848-13021 with a Best if Used By Date of 02/28/14 The product was shipped to Food City and Super Dollar stores located in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. This recall was initiated upon discovery that certain containers of Kays Vanilla Bean Ice Cream contained Kays Butter Pecan Ice Cream. Consumers who have purchased the affected product are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Anyone experiencing an adverse reaction to the ice cream should seek out medical help immediately. © Food Safety NewsMore Headlines from Food Recalls |
Tackling GMOs
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Modern Baking: What was your approach to switching to non-GMO sourced ingredients? MB: Tell us about the process of vetting your products for GMO ingredients. Some things we had to go organic on because there was no non-organic, non-GMO magic potion. Things like cornstarch and powdered sugar we had to go organic. There were a couple things we had to get more expensive ingredients. We had to move to all cane sugar, which is more expensive but worth it. The thing we really miss is the modified food starch, which is lovely in fruit fillings. MB: How did you overcome those roadblocks? GMO is tricky because we can't really say, we're 100 percent GMO-free, but we are trying. People in our community appreciate that. But there were lots of tricky, sneaky things, like sprinkles, which are made with hydrogenated soy oil. We go with colored cane sugar now. It was hard tracking down substitutes. Or the food colors we use for our cakes have soy oil in them. We've found powdered food colors, but no huge variety, so we will use GMOs if we're using food coloring or doing an edible image for the customer. MB: How long did the whole process take? MB: How does offering non-GMO sourced ingredients factor into your bakery's overall image and mission? And what have you learned about yourself? For myself, I learned patience and perseverance for sure—chipping away at it every day. I would have my list, what I could find and couldn't and what that meant. We had to discontinue some vegan desserts, which had artificial, GMOs, hydrogenated oils, etc. Customers were sad, but we put things in place that were better. More than I believe in non-GMO, I believe in small farming and not monoculture crops. I think our ultimate goal was to see how much more we can do locally and smaller and support small companies. You have to dig down deep and figure out what you believe in and what it's worth, if you have the time because it's a big commitment. You get to the end and go, "OK, we're not even really non-GMO." MB: If you had to give some advice to bakeries looking to get involved with this kind of project, where should they start? You also have to have a lot of time. I have great employees and I was able to sit here and hash it out. We have customers and employees who care about it. It will be interesting to see if the California law (Proposition 37) goes through, people will have to face up to it. It will bring the issue more and more to the forefront. MB: Now that this is done, you'll have to tackle a new project.
Raspberry compote INGREDIENTS INSTRUCTIONS Mix remaining cold water with the starches. Add to berries when boiling. Mix until clear and thick. |
Catherine Reinhart, co-owner of Sweet Life Patisserie in Eugene, Ore., recently spoke with Modern Baking about the process of transitioning to completely scratch-made desserts in an effort to use only recumbent growth hormone-free dairy, organically and locally grown produce and 100 percent non-genetically modified ingredients (in reality, that number is 99 percent, Reinhart confesses). Here are some highlights of the interview.
RBA Roadshow to kick off in Chicago
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The day will begin with bakery tours of Chicago bakeries Roeser's Bakery, Delightful Pastries and Dinkel's Bakery. Classes will be held on two different tracks from 1 to 5 p.m.: one track for cake decorating/baking and the other for business. A vendor showcase will run from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a boxed lunch of European-style sandwiches will be prepared by Coupe de Monde de Boulangerie winner Jory Downer of Bennison's Bakery. Following the educational sessions, RBA and Chicago Area RBA (CARBA) will host a networking even from 5 to 8 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres, charcuterie and crudités made by Kendall students. Ken Jarosch, president of CARBA, said in a statement that Chicago was chosen as the kickoff city for the RBA Roadshow because "Chicago is a great bakery town. We have numerous cupcake shops, boutique bakeries and traditional bakeries from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds. CARBA has hosted several conventions over the years and the member bakers gladly welcome any baker into their shops. We are thankful for the very generous use of the Kendall College facilities, providing an ideal setting for the educational seminars, demos and interactions with vendors." More information is available at retailbakersofamerica.org/rba-roadshow-chicago-2012. |
The Retail Bakers of America (RBA) on Dec. 2 will launch the RBA Roadshow at Kendall College in Chicago. Designed to bring bakers, cake decorators, vendors, students and educators together, this one-day event is the first of several regional educational programs to take place in the coming months. Dunkin’ Brands reports strong Q3
| Advertisement Dunkin' Brands posted significantly higher earnings and an increase in revenues for the third quarter, fueled by strong donut sales in the U.S., new store openings worldwide and its international ice cream business. Despite the continuing global economic challenges and fierce competitive environment, Dunkin' Brands also reported same-store sales gains across its domestic and international Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins systems. This included 2.8 percent same-store growth in Dunkin' Donuts U.S. alone, which was driven by increased average tickets and higher traffic. For the three months ended Sept. 29, the chain's net income jumped 34 percent to $29.5 million, up from $7.4 million in the three-month period a year ago. Per share earnings for the quarter were 26 cents compared with a loss of $1.01 last year, which was attributed to an accounting adjustment tied to its initial public offering last July. "We continue to leverage our asset-light, nearly 100-percent franchised model to drive strong shareholder returns," Nigel Travis, chief executive officer, Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc., and president, Dunkin' Donuts U.S., said in a statement. "With the exceptional growth of the Dunkin' Donuts brand over the past two years and our intense focus on franchisee profitability, our franchisees are seeing very strong unit economics and in turn are driving our robust restaurant expansion across the U.S." |
10.28.2012
CDC: Months-Long Live Poultry Salmonella Outbreak Over; 195 Ill, 2 Dead
| The long-running multistate Salmonella outbreak tied to live poultry now appears to be over, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In all, 195 persons infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Newport, and Salmonella Lille were reported from 27 states, including two deaths. The CDC issued a final outbreak update with the total count of cases reported from each state: Alabama (4), Arizona (1), Arkansas (1), Delaware (1), Georgia (5), Illinois (4), Indiana (6), Kansas (1), Kentucky (11), Louisiana (1), Maryland (5), Maine (4), Massachusetts (7), Michigan (2), North Carolina (15), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (5), New York (23), Ohio (42), Pennsylvania (16), Rhode Island (2), South Carolina (2), Tennessee (11), Texas (2), Virginia (9), Vermont (3), and West Virginia (11). The illnesses began surfacing last March. Of the known cases, 34 percent of those ill were hospitalized and 33 percent of those ill were children 10 years of age or younger. Two deaths were reported, but CDC did not note the ages of the victims. "Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback findings linked this outbreak of human Salmonella infections to contact with live poultry from Mt. Healthy Hatchery in Ohio," noted CDC in the final update. "Mail-order hatcheries, agricultural feed stores, and others that sell or display chicks, ducklings, and other live poultry should provide health-related information to owners and potential purchasers of these birds prior to the point of purchase. This should include information about the risk of acquiring a Salmonella infection from contact with live poultry." The outbreak update notes that while this particular outbreak appears to be over, Salmonella remains a significant cause of human illness in the United States. "Because contact with any live poultry can be a source of human Salmonella infections, you should know how to protect yourself and your family from illness," advised CDC. The agency recommends families be aware of the risk of Salmonella — this includes not cuddling or kissing the birds, to prevent cross contamination. Those handling live poultry should always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching live poultry or anything in the area where the birds live and roam. Adults should also ensure young children are adequately washing their hands after contact with live poultry. Symptoms of Salmonella infection can appear anywhere from 6 hours to several days after exposure, and include fever, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, headache and body aches. Anyone concerned they may have a Salmonella infection should contact their health care provider. CDC has a page with advice to consumers on handling live poultry here. © Food Safety NewsMore Headlines from Foodborne Illness Investigations |