Yesterday, we saw another Listeria recall from a Colorado firm that sells products in 7-Eleven stores. This brings up a thought to me as I read the recall. What happens if you cannot read English? Did the 7-Eleven stores post this in all their stores effected by the recall?
Colorado Firm Recalls Burrito Products For Possible Listeria Contamination
Recall Release
CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-053-2008
HEALTH RISK: HIGHCongressional and Public Affairs(202) 720-9113Roger Sockman WASHINGTON, Dec. 30, 2008 - Home Fresh Sandwich Distributors, Inc., a Denver, Colo., firm, is recalling approximately 172 pounds of burrito products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.
The following product is subject to recall:
5.3-ounce packages of "7- ELEVEN Fresh to Go BURRITO WITH POTATOES, BACON, EGGS, & MONTEREY JACK CHEESE" with a "Best By" date of "Thursday 1225." The products bear the establishment number "EST. 19496" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The burrito products were produced on Dec. 23, 2008, and sold at retail convenience stores in Colorado. Consumers may have purchased these burrito products on Dec. 24 and 25, 2008.
In Chicago, the Chicago Tribune investigated labelling of retail food products for allergens and compared this with product testing.
They discovered 117 products that contained allergens that were not identified on the label as required by food labeling laws.
When they approached the manufacturer, most said that they would investigate and make the necessary changes. Some indicated they would not recall the product. One said that a recall would put them out of business.
Where do consumer expectations and manufacturer and retail requirements come into alignment?
As a consumer, what do you expect? Do you care? Do you read the label? Do you trust what you read?
As a manufacturer, how much liability can you stand? Why wouldn't you label your products as required by regulations?
As a retailer, what do you have in place to remove recalled items from sale and notify your customers?
Be safe,
Rudy
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Holiday Recalls
On Christmas eve and Christmas day, two recalls were issued.
One was an allergen issue where eggs were not listed as ingredients and the second a listeria contamination.
Missouri Firm Recalls Sausage Products For Possible Listeria Contamination
Recall Release
CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-052-2008
HEALTH RISK: HIGHCongressional and Public Affairs(202) 720-9113Peggy Riek WASHINGTON, Dec. 25, 2008 - T. Piekutowski European Style Sausage, a St. Louis, Mo., firm, is recalling approximately 750 pounds of sausage products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.
KRC Food Trading Inc. Recall of Fish Cake Sushi (December 23) Wed, 24 Dec 2008 21:46:00 -0600
KRC Food Trading Inc is recalling its Fish Cake sushi with production date of December 19 and December 22 due to the label not declaring eggs. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to eggs run the risk of serious or life-threateningallergic reaction if they consume these products. The Fish cake Sushi was distributed in California in coffee shops, bakeries, and Korean markets in Los Angeles, CA including two retail stores owned by the firm.
If proper environmental testing and controls are carried out in the manufacturing plant, then listeria issues should be eliminated. Much work is needed on education, testing and action to ensure that this type of problem is eliminated.
On the allergen front, it is disappointing that we continue to see recalls for improper labelling. Why can't the operators check the ingredients and formulation and ensure that it matches the wording on the finished product label?
Let us not let up on quality and food safety initiatives today or any day.
Be safe,
Rudy
One was an allergen issue where eggs were not listed as ingredients and the second a listeria contamination.
Missouri Firm Recalls Sausage Products For Possible Listeria Contamination
Recall Release
CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-052-2008
HEALTH RISK: HIGHCongressional and Public Affairs(202) 720-9113Peggy Riek WASHINGTON, Dec. 25, 2008 - T. Piekutowski European Style Sausage, a St. Louis, Mo., firm, is recalling approximately 750 pounds of sausage products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.
KRC Food Trading Inc. Recall of Fish Cake Sushi (December 23) Wed, 24 Dec 2008 21:46:00 -0600
KRC Food Trading Inc is recalling its Fish Cake sushi with production date of December 19 and December 22 due to the label not declaring eggs. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to eggs run the risk of serious or life-threateningallergic reaction if they consume these products. The Fish cake Sushi was distributed in California in coffee shops, bakeries, and Korean markets in Los Angeles, CA including two retail stores owned by the firm.
If proper environmental testing and controls are carried out in the manufacturing plant, then listeria issues should be eliminated. Much work is needed on education, testing and action to ensure that this type of problem is eliminated.
On the allergen front, it is disappointing that we continue to see recalls for improper labelling. Why can't the operators check the ingredients and formulation and ensure that it matches the wording on the finished product label?
Let us not let up on quality and food safety initiatives today or any day.
Be safe,
Rudy
Monday, December 22, 2008
Holiday Gift Giving and Food Safety
This time of year we look for neatly wrapped and decorative gifts and gift baskets for giving to friends and family.
Many of these contain a variety of packaged products that are being combined into a basket, covered in plastic wrap and tied with a pretty bow at the top. They certainly attract attention.
Some of these are produced by regular food manufacturers and distributers who work with food products all year long and therefore are likely to have been handled properly.
However, there are a significant number that only operate during the holiday season. Some make the baskets long in advance of the holiday to meet the expected demand.
When chosing the gift basket try to look for recognized brands or manufacturers. If you can observe the country of origin then you should look for the product mix.
On the receiving end, you should inspect the packaging before using any of the products. Check for expiration dates. Check to ensure that items marked for "refrigeration" have been refrigerated. For items that need refrigeration after opening, then be sure that you follow the directions. If there are processed items, like jars of salsa and other items that should be properly sealed, then inspect the can or jar before opening for any swelling or appearance that you might question.
Remember, if in doubt, then do not use the item. Certainly you do not want to offend the person who gave you the gift, so you might do your inspection after the person leaves.
The following product recall is an instance where an item for gift giving is being recalled because of a potential melamine contamination:
Dorsey Marketing Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Three G and J Gourmet Market Cocoa Products: 120126, 120129, 120144 (December 19) Sat, 20 Dec 2008 08:52:00 -0600
Dorsey Marketing Inc. (DMI) of Ville St. Laurent, Quebec, Canada, is voluntarily recalling the following three G and J Gourmet Market cocoa products because these products may contain melamine.
Remember, be safe and have a healthy holiday season.
Rudy
Many of these contain a variety of packaged products that are being combined into a basket, covered in plastic wrap and tied with a pretty bow at the top. They certainly attract attention.
Some of these are produced by regular food manufacturers and distributers who work with food products all year long and therefore are likely to have been handled properly.
However, there are a significant number that only operate during the holiday season. Some make the baskets long in advance of the holiday to meet the expected demand.
When chosing the gift basket try to look for recognized brands or manufacturers. If you can observe the country of origin then you should look for the product mix.
On the receiving end, you should inspect the packaging before using any of the products. Check for expiration dates. Check to ensure that items marked for "refrigeration" have been refrigerated. For items that need refrigeration after opening, then be sure that you follow the directions. If there are processed items, like jars of salsa and other items that should be properly sealed, then inspect the can or jar before opening for any swelling or appearance that you might question.
Remember, if in doubt, then do not use the item. Certainly you do not want to offend the person who gave you the gift, so you might do your inspection after the person leaves.
The following product recall is an instance where an item for gift giving is being recalled because of a potential melamine contamination:
Dorsey Marketing Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Three G and J Gourmet Market Cocoa Products: 120126, 120129, 120144 (December 19) Sat, 20 Dec 2008 08:52:00 -0600
Dorsey Marketing Inc. (DMI) of Ville St. Laurent, Quebec, Canada, is voluntarily recalling the following three G and J Gourmet Market cocoa products because these products may contain melamine.
Remember, be safe and have a healthy holiday season.
Rudy
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Chinese Food No Longer to Contain Lye
In news from China, new regulations were announced to add to list of ingredients NOT to be added to foods includes lye and boric acid.
As this unfolds, we will see many other chemicals or ingredients that will be banned from use in food products. There are several coloring agents and pigments that have been banned. We should remember that in our lifetimes, many chemicals that we used regularly in the United States have been banned from use in food related products. Chemicals that were used to kill insects or eliminate weeds around crops. Chemicals that ended up in our food products or our animals feed and then were contained in the meat from these animals or in their organs, such as the liver.
An article over the weekend brought attention to the decline in food science students in college. The need for chemists and food scientists and microbiologists has never been greater. We need to understand how to rapidly test for contaminants, bacteria, viruses. How will we stop the growth of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria? How will develop new foods and new products and new packaging that helps our "green" footprint?
Check out this avenue for career growth in the future.
Listed below are three food recalls over the past couple of days. Two are bacterial in nature and one is an unlisted allergen. Check out the codes and pass on to your friends.
Kashi Company Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Kashi GOLEAN® Powder Chocolate Energy Shake Mix (December 13) Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:35:00 -0600
The product is packaged in a 14.8 oz canister with a bar code of 18627 71000. Canisters with a Better if Used by Date stamped on the bottom of the canister between the dates of JAN 17 2009 and NOV 15 2009 are included in this alert.
Urgent: Food Product Recall Re: Imitation Cream Cheese and Low Protein Peanot Butter(December 11) Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:47:00 -0600
Cambrooke Foods is announcing a voluntary recall of all batches of the following products: Cheddar Wizard Low Protein Imitation Cream Cheese (SKU 10310; 8 oz. jar); Herb & Garlic Low Protein Imitation Cream Cheese (SKU 10308; 8 oz. jar); and Plain Low Protein Imitation Cream Cheese (SKU 10306; 8 oz. jar). Cambrooke Foods is undertaking this voluntary recall as a precaution because some of these products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
FDA Warns Consumers and Retailers of Botulism Risk from Ungutted, Salt-Cured Alewives (Gaspereaux) Fish (December 12) Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:39:00 -0600
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning retailers and food service operators not to offer for sale ungutted, salt-cured alewives (also called gaspereaux fish) from Michel and Charles LeBlanc Fisheries Ltd., CAP-PELE, New Brunswick, Canada, because the fish may contain the Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum) toxin. Consumers should not consume the product.
As always be safe,
Rudy
As this unfolds, we will see many other chemicals or ingredients that will be banned from use in food products. There are several coloring agents and pigments that have been banned. We should remember that in our lifetimes, many chemicals that we used regularly in the United States have been banned from use in food related products. Chemicals that were used to kill insects or eliminate weeds around crops. Chemicals that ended up in our food products or our animals feed and then were contained in the meat from these animals or in their organs, such as the liver.
An article over the weekend brought attention to the decline in food science students in college. The need for chemists and food scientists and microbiologists has never been greater. We need to understand how to rapidly test for contaminants, bacteria, viruses. How will we stop the growth of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria? How will develop new foods and new products and new packaging that helps our "green" footprint?
Check out this avenue for career growth in the future.
Listed below are three food recalls over the past couple of days. Two are bacterial in nature and one is an unlisted allergen. Check out the codes and pass on to your friends.
Kashi Company Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Kashi GOLEAN® Powder Chocolate Energy Shake Mix (December 13) Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:35:00 -0600
The product is packaged in a 14.8 oz canister with a bar code of 18627 71000. Canisters with a Better if Used by Date stamped on the bottom of the canister between the dates of JAN 17 2009 and NOV 15 2009 are included in this alert.
Urgent: Food Product Recall Re: Imitation Cream Cheese and Low Protein Peanot Butter(December 11) Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:47:00 -0600
Cambrooke Foods is announcing a voluntary recall of all batches of the following products: Cheddar Wizard Low Protein Imitation Cream Cheese (SKU 10310; 8 oz. jar); Herb & Garlic Low Protein Imitation Cream Cheese (SKU 10308; 8 oz. jar); and Plain Low Protein Imitation Cream Cheese (SKU 10306; 8 oz. jar). Cambrooke Foods is undertaking this voluntary recall as a precaution because some of these products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
FDA Warns Consumers and Retailers of Botulism Risk from Ungutted, Salt-Cured Alewives (Gaspereaux) Fish (December 12) Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:39:00 -0600
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning retailers and food service operators not to offer for sale ungutted, salt-cured alewives (also called gaspereaux fish) from Michel and Charles LeBlanc Fisheries Ltd., CAP-PELE, New Brunswick, Canada, because the fish may contain the Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum) toxin. Consumers should not consume the product.
As always be safe,
Rudy
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Possible Dioxin Containing Pork in U.S.
Just out today is a recall of products in Massachusetts, New York and Florida from pork products imported from Ireland. This recall is for possible dioxin contamination.
Check labels on pork products in your refrigerator.
Food Manufacturers please inspect gear boxes for seals that are leaking. If they are need product contact areas then correct this immediately.
We need to learn from problems that are occurring outside the U.S. and ensure that they cannot happen here.
The USDA is collecting and testing products manufactured in the U.S. that use ingredients such as non-fat dried milk, casein, whey, evaporated milk and milk powder. The types of products will be some baby foods, sausages, meatballs, breaded chicken and chicken or meat wrapped in dough or pizza and this would include calzones.
The testing will be looking for melamine and its derivatives.
wrapped in dough and pizza (including calzones).
The sample size for the test is 540 packages. Only 45 samples over 12 weeks are being tested.
My question to everyone. Who is this test designed to satisfy?
Manufacturers be on alert. Please look to evaluate your products in advance of this. Evaluate your ingredients.
If you have not inventoried your raw ingredients and their source country, now is the time.
You cannot afford to find out later. Do not accept a lack of knowledge. This is dangerous and a huge potential liability for the U.S. food industry.
Be safe out there, now more than ever be vigilant.
Rudy
Check labels on pork products in your refrigerator.
Food Manufacturers please inspect gear boxes for seals that are leaking. If they are need product contact areas then correct this immediately.
We need to learn from problems that are occurring outside the U.S. and ensure that they cannot happen here.
The USDA is collecting and testing products manufactured in the U.S. that use ingredients such as non-fat dried milk, casein, whey, evaporated milk and milk powder. The types of products will be some baby foods, sausages, meatballs, breaded chicken and chicken or meat wrapped in dough or pizza and this would include calzones.
The testing will be looking for melamine and its derivatives.
wrapped in dough and pizza (including calzones).
The sample size for the test is 540 packages. Only 45 samples over 12 weeks are being tested.
My question to everyone. Who is this test designed to satisfy?
Manufacturers be on alert. Please look to evaluate your products in advance of this. Evaluate your ingredients.
If you have not inventoried your raw ingredients and their source country, now is the time.
You cannot afford to find out later. Do not accept a lack of knowledge. This is dangerous and a huge potential liability for the U.S. food industry.
Be safe out there, now more than ever be vigilant.
Rudy
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Dioxin in Beef
What is next in the "You are what you eat" series?
Today's news reports discovered that beef from Ireland were also fed Dioxin containing feed. What will be next? Let's check the poultry industry, the fishery industry.
The Irish are not planning a recall of the beef, even though they discovered use of contaminated feed on at least 3 farms. They said that animals had amounts higher than the legal limit, but not as high as observed in the swine operations.
What exactly does that mean? Dioxin laced oil was used years ago in the United States to spray on roads and other areas where dust was a problem. In Love Canal in New York State, an entire town was abandoned when they discovered that residents were exposed to high levels of dioxin from dumping that had occurred many years prior.
Residents had to leave with just the clothes on their backs, because of the level of contamination in their homes.
Let's ask ourselves as food manufacturers to step back and ensure that our practices are protecting the public. We are responsible for protecting the public and we must not take this responsibility lightly. The lives it affects could be our own children's and grandchildren's and our own.
Be careful out there,
Rudy
Today's news reports discovered that beef from Ireland were also fed Dioxin containing feed. What will be next? Let's check the poultry industry, the fishery industry.
The Irish are not planning a recall of the beef, even though they discovered use of contaminated feed on at least 3 farms. They said that animals had amounts higher than the legal limit, but not as high as observed in the swine operations.
What exactly does that mean? Dioxin laced oil was used years ago in the United States to spray on roads and other areas where dust was a problem. In Love Canal in New York State, an entire town was abandoned when they discovered that residents were exposed to high levels of dioxin from dumping that had occurred many years prior.
Residents had to leave with just the clothes on their backs, because of the level of contamination in their homes.
Let's ask ourselves as food manufacturers to step back and ensure that our practices are protecting the public. We are responsible for protecting the public and we must not take this responsibility lightly. The lives it affects could be our own children's and grandchildren's and our own.
Be careful out there,
Rudy
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Weekend food recalls
One recall this weekend is an allergen recall related to milk products not in ingredient label and the other two were contaminants.
When will the melamine situation come to an end?
Unfortunately, it may be for some time yet, because of milk powder being used in so many other products.
Louisiana Fish Fry Products Issues Nationwide Allergy Alert on Undeclared Buttermilk in Chicken and Fish Bake Seasoned Coating Mix (December 5) Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:58:00 -0600
The recalled Chicken and Fish Bake was distributed nationwide in retail stores and through mail orders. The product comes in a 6 ounce bag marked with a "Best By" date from Jan 1, 2008 thru Sept. 25, 2011.
Walgreens Recalls 173 Teddy Bears With Chocolate Bars Sold Since Late September 2008 (December 5) Sat, 06 Dec 2008 09:12:00 -0600
Walgreens already has instructed stores to stop selling the product, which is specifically described as an approximately 9-inch high Dressy Teddy Bear with 4-oz. Chocolate Bar. The product's UPC number is 047475864485, and the product tag also includes the item number 291332. Walgreens has not received any reports of illness or injury related to this product.
Irish pork shipped to over 20 countries is being recalled because it may contain dioxin.
This happened because the pig feed was contaminated with dioxin.
Watch what you eat.
Rudy
When will the melamine situation come to an end?
Unfortunately, it may be for some time yet, because of milk powder being used in so many other products.
Louisiana Fish Fry Products Issues Nationwide Allergy Alert on Undeclared Buttermilk in Chicken and Fish Bake Seasoned Coating Mix (December 5) Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:58:00 -0600
The recalled Chicken and Fish Bake was distributed nationwide in retail stores and through mail orders. The product comes in a 6 ounce bag marked with a "Best By" date from Jan 1, 2008 thru Sept. 25, 2011.
Walgreens Recalls 173 Teddy Bears With Chocolate Bars Sold Since Late September 2008 (December 5) Sat, 06 Dec 2008 09:12:00 -0600
Walgreens already has instructed stores to stop selling the product, which is specifically described as an approximately 9-inch high Dressy Teddy Bear with 4-oz. Chocolate Bar. The product's UPC number is 047475864485, and the product tag also includes the item number 291332. Walgreens has not received any reports of illness or injury related to this product.
Irish pork shipped to over 20 countries is being recalled because it may contain dioxin.
This happened because the pig feed was contaminated with dioxin.
Watch what you eat.
Rudy
Monday, December 1, 2008
Melamine and baby formula
The FDA originally offered no limit on the amount of melamine that would be safe in infant formula.
However the latest release from the FDA, suggested that infants should not be at risk if ingesting formula with levels of melamine below 1ppm.
The World Health Organization and Canada's Health Organization set similar limits.
Research is still being conducted in animal studies on the effect of melamine in the diet and its analogue cyanuric acid.
Cyanuric acid may be present as impurities in melamine. Research and early tests, including investigation on the pet food contamination with melamine that harmed many pets, suggest that the greatest concern should be the combination of melamine adn cyanuric acid.
Test results on formula produced in the U.S. showed only one or the other at very low levels in a couple of products tested. The level of melamine was .14 ppm in one and cyanuric acid at .247 ppm in another. Both are well below the acceptable level set by the FDA.
Should you be concerned? Yes, you should always be concerned with what you feed your family and ingest yourself.
Often we find that products contain ingredients that are not listed on the ingredient label. In particular, we need the same level of criticality that we impose on our own manufacturers, imposed on our imports. The imports should also be investigated for those that are used as ingredients for other products.
Normally, food manufacturers assume that these ingredients must be safe.
Also, be concerned for small companies that do not have a quality program or funding to have adequate testing done on their products.
More research and investigation need to be performed. Not only are you what you eat, the plants and animals that eventually end up in our food supply are what they eat. When the soil, water, fertilizers, nutrients are contaminated, the hay, corn, vegetables can be contaminated and the animals which consume them can be contaminated.
Be safe and ask questions. Your health depends on it.
Rudy
However the latest release from the FDA, suggested that infants should not be at risk if ingesting formula with levels of melamine below 1ppm.
The World Health Organization and Canada's Health Organization set similar limits.
Research is still being conducted in animal studies on the effect of melamine in the diet and its analogue cyanuric acid.
Cyanuric acid may be present as impurities in melamine. Research and early tests, including investigation on the pet food contamination with melamine that harmed many pets, suggest that the greatest concern should be the combination of melamine adn cyanuric acid.
Test results on formula produced in the U.S. showed only one or the other at very low levels in a couple of products tested. The level of melamine was .14 ppm in one and cyanuric acid at .247 ppm in another. Both are well below the acceptable level set by the FDA.
Should you be concerned? Yes, you should always be concerned with what you feed your family and ingest yourself.
Often we find that products contain ingredients that are not listed on the ingredient label. In particular, we need the same level of criticality that we impose on our own manufacturers, imposed on our imports. The imports should also be investigated for those that are used as ingredients for other products.
Normally, food manufacturers assume that these ingredients must be safe.
Also, be concerned for small companies that do not have a quality program or funding to have adequate testing done on their products.
More research and investigation need to be performed. Not only are you what you eat, the plants and animals that eventually end up in our food supply are what they eat. When the soil, water, fertilizers, nutrients are contaminated, the hay, corn, vegetables can be contaminated and the animals which consume them can be contaminated.
Be safe and ask questions. Your health depends on it.
Rudy
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