Basic Food Flavors Cries Foul!

Two weeks ago, we saw again a recall of an ingredient that affected many different products. One manufacturer of a commonly used ingredient can affect the finished products of many different companies.  Fortunately most companies processed their end product further with additional heating that could destroy salmonella.  Most companies took no chance of having a sick customer and having to deal with potential litigation.

They recalled their products. 

BFF is now saying they were only following FDA protocol. When they discovered salmonella in one lot of product, because of notification by their customer that  received the ingredient and notified BFF and notified the FDA as per the Reportable Food Registry. 

They tested additional product lots, which allegedly tested negative for salmonella. This occurred on September 17, 2009.  The company notified its customers on February 26.   The FDA announced the recall one week later.

The FDA noted that after notification of the presence of Salmonella in their plant on January 21, they continued to manufacture ingredients until February 15th, without changing their process to ensure that Salmonella was removed from the facility and subsequent product.

At the end of the day, manufacturers need to ensure that their facilities and products are adequately tested to ensure that they are not contaminated.  When you test and find positive results, you must change your procedures, get your source of contamination located and removed. You must ensure that you cannot contaminate product that will be leaving your facility.

More training needs to occur in food processing facilities, so that procedures are developed and followed to detect and eliminate any possible contamination.  The onus of this falls on the manufacturer.

Err on the side of caution and consumer protection. You will be doing the right thing and controlling your liability.

Be safe out there.
Rudy
rudy@powerinlearning.com