Jurisdictions that require restaurants to post their inspection scores experience fewer foodborne disease outbreaks than those that do not.
This conclusion is the result of a pair of recent studies funded by the US Centers Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA).
Point-of-service vs. online disclosure
A survey of 790 government-run state and local food establishment inspection programs conducted in January-April 2000 found that mandatory display of inspection grades by restaurants and other food establishments was more effective than simple online disclosure.
15% fewer re-inspections
38% fewer illness complaints
55% fewer outbreaks
12% fewer Salmonella cases
Grading systems improved food safety
The survey also compared agencies that used a grading method versus those that did not. Grading the results of inspections, whether by a letter or numerical system, made a significant difference to performance.
37% fewer re-inspections
22% fewer complaints
61% fewer outbreaks
23% fewer cases of Salmonella
Knowledge is power
If you were offered the choice between two restaurants, one with a prominently posted “A” inspection grade and the other with an equally visible “B” or “C” grade, which would you choose?
If those grades were available only online at a local or state/provincial government website, would you bother to check?
Would you even know to look for the information?
Making the results of food safety inspections available AND VISIBLE puts power into the hands of consumers.
This, in turn, gives greater incentive to food establishments to maintain a top food safety rating.
The numbers don’t lie.
Applying the lessons
The US Food and Drug Administration conducts hundreds of inspections each year and has made a searchable inspection database available to the public on its website.
The CDC inspects all cruise ships that call at US ports and posts the results of those inspections on its website.
How many consumers even know that this information is available, much less know how to access it?
If cruise lines were required to post the results of their latest inspections on their websites, consumers could easily choose to avoid ships and/or cruise lines with a poor sanitation history.
Similarly, if food manufacturers were required to disclose the grade received on their most recent inspection, consumers could use that information when deciding which brand of product to buy.
Putting this information into the hands of consumers would put pressure on cruise lines and food manufacturers to strive for and maintain a high standard of cleanliness and food safety.
The bottom line
I have encountered complaints from individuals in the food industry who claimed that a recall notice posted on the FDA web site affected their company’s reputation and sales.
Some companies (I can think of two pet food companies in particular) even sued the FDA to prevent the release of a recall notice or a public alert about a contaminated food, claiming that such publicity had a negative affect on their sales in the past.
People care about the safety of the food they eat and the food they feed their families. But consumers must have easy access to current and accurate information in order to make informed decisions.
I look forward to the day when all government agencies responsible for overseeing food safety mandate point-of-service and point-of-sale disclosure of inspection results.
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“Reads like a true crime novel” – Food Safety News
Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.
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Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations? Click on the TAINTED menu at the top of the page to read or listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.
Listen to an excerpt of the audiobook edition right here
OUTBREAK ALERT & RECALL (Horses – botulism): Manzanola Feeds recalls Top of the Rockies Alfalfa Cubes (~1-inch cubes) (50 lb bags; Lot codes 111222, 111322, 111422, 111522 and 111622) due to potential Clostridium botulinumcontamination. There have been 45 horse deaths associated with this issue to date. The recalled product was distributed in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin, and may also have been distributed in other states.
Public Health Alert: FDA advises restaurants and retailers not to serve or sell and consumers not to eat product labeled as Sun Hong Foods, Inc. Enoki Mushrooms Sourced from China due to possible Listeria contamination.
Canada
Allergy Alert: Miso Brothers, Inc. dba Alpha Foods recalls alpha brand Plant-Based Breakfast Sandwich – Meatless Sausage (156g; Lot 020722MSS; Expiry date 02/07/2024; UPC 8 10070 35037 6) due to undeclared milk. The recalled product was sold nationwide.
Allergy Alert: Power Life Nutrition recalls Power Life by Tony Horton brand High Impact Plant Protein Chocolate Flavor (445g (15.7 oz); Lot #0914922; UPC 8 50010 86301 6) due to undeclared milk. The recalled product was sold online.
Allergy Alert: Gaspor (Saint-Jérôme, QC) recalls FEUILLETÉ D’EFFILOCHÉ DE PORCELET / Pulled piglet puff pastry (820g; Lots 4458.00, 4478.00, 4492.00 & 4510.00; Sold up to 16 December 2022) due to undeclared milk.
Food Safety Recall: Jan K. Overweel Limited recalls Igor brand Gorgonzola Dolce cheese (Lots 2774015 & 2775033; Best before 23/FE/01) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled product was sold British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories.
Europe
Allergy Alert (France): LES BIOLONISTES recalls ibo! brand Sève de fleur de cocotier cristallisée non raffinée dit “Sucre de coco” biologique / Unrefined crystallized coconut blossom sap called organic “coconut sugar” (250g; Lots 040-22-1 & 138-22-10) due to undeclared sulphites.
Allergy Alert (France): ARCHI’V recalls archiv brand Vinaigre de cidre avec sa mère / Apple cider vinegar with its mother (200 ml and 500 ml; Lot #31) due to undeclared sulphites.
Allergy Alert (France):NOVANDIE recalls Bonne Maman brand Riz au lait Vanille / Vanilla rice pudding (8 x 100g; Lot 08/01; Use by 08/01/2023) due to undeclared eggs and gluten.
Food Safety Recall (Belgium): FIERS J&B NV recalls Fiers brand Filet américain de bœuf / Ground beef (variable weights; Lots 62171, 62187, 62076, 62303, 62279, 62372, 62431 & 62383; Use by 19/12/22, 20/12/22 & 21/12/22) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Albert Heijn recalls AH Speciaal Bakkersbrood Stevig Spelt / Spelt bread (whole and half loaves; Best before 16/12/2022) due to foreign matter contamination (small pieces of metal).
Food Safety Recall (France):CARREFOURFRANCE recalls EXTRA CARREFOUR brand JAMBON CUIT SUPERIEUR AVEC COUENNE / Superior cooked ham with rind (2 slices – 80g; Lot 1127870; Use by 02/01/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France):LES FERMIERS DE L’ARDECHE recalls Le Gaulois Professionnel brand CHAPON S/OS A/P S/ V / Sliced boneless capon (2.5 kg; Lot 0362011368; Use by 14/12/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France):LES FERMIERS DE L’ARDECHE recalls Le Gaulois Professionnel brand CHAPON S/OS A/P 50-70 S/V / Sliced boneless capon (2.5 kg; Lot 0362011538; Use by 14/12/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France):LES FERMIERS DE L’ARDECHE recalls Le Gaulois Professionnel brand SAUTE CHAPON 40-60 S/ V NC (2.5 kg; Lots 0362011291 & 0362011368; Use by 10/12/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France):LES FERMIERS DE L’ARDECHE recalls Découpe de chapon brand CUISSES CHAPON 450-550 / Capon legs (4-pack; Lots 0362011290 & 0362011369; Use by 13/12/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France):LES FERMIERS DE L’ARDECHE recalls Découpe de chapon brand Cuisses de chapon S/V x2 Halal / Halal Capon legs (2-pack; Lot 0362011290; Use by 13/12/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France):LES FERMIERS DE L’ARDECHE recalls Cuisses de chapon nu / Unpackaged (bulk) capon legs (Lot 0362011292; Use by 08/12/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): AUCHAN RETAIL SERVICES AUCHANrecalls AUCHAN brand JAMBON SUPERIEUR DECOUENNE DEGRAISSE / Superior ham, rindless and defatted (4 slices; Lot 1129104; Use by 31/12/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Germany): Anklamer Fleisch- und Wurstwaren GmbH recalls Anklamer Meisterqualität Filetwurst / Filet sausage (100g; Lot #330825112201716; Best before 20.12.2022 to 27.12.2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Germany): dennree recalls dennree Pfeffer, schwarz, ganz / Whole black peppercorns (65g; Best before 25.10.2025 and 08.11.2025) due to Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Norway): EDELGARD AS recalls RIBBERULL SKIVET / Rib roll disc (80g; Batch #22481; Use by 07.01.2023) due to Listeria contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Norway): EDELGARD AS recalls SYLTE HÅNDLAGT SKIVET / Pickled hand-cut slice (100g; Batch #22434; Use by 15.01.2023) due to Listeria contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Sweden): Almondy recalls Almondy Mandeltårta / Almond cake (400g; Lot L2140; Best before 18.11.2023; Sold at IKEA stores) due to possible foreign matter contamination (piece of metal).
Food Safety Recall (UK): Almondy AB recalls Almondy Almond cake with Daim (400g; Lot L2140; Best before 18 November 2023) due to possible foreign matter contamination (piece of metal). The recalled product was sold in IKEA stores.
Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
Allergy Alert (Hong Kong): Vendor recalls NATURE brand Square Bamboo Shoot (500g; Best before September 1, 2023; Sourced from China) due to undeclared sulphur dioxide.
Australia and New Zealand
Food Safety Recall (Australia): Coles Supermarkets recalls multiple Coles spinach products due to potential contamination with unsafe plant material. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
TAINTED is available in digital format from all major on-line retailers. Press the button to go directly to your preferred digital bookstore.
Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.
If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.
Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations? Click on the TAINTED menu at the top of the page to read or listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.
Listen to an excerpt of the audiobook edition right here
OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION:CDC is investigating more than 200 cases of Norovirus illnesses associated with eating raw oysters from Texas. Outbreak illnesses have been reported in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Raw oysters implicated in the outbreak were harvested in area TX 1, Galveston Bay, Texas, and distributed to restaurants and retailers in several states.
Allergy Alert: Power Life Nutrition recalls High Impact Plant Protein (50-oz jar; Lot #0914922) due to undeclared milk.
Allergy Alert: Mountain View Packaging, LLC recalls INNOVASIAN Crispy Chicken with Almonds ENTREE (18.5 oz; Lot #22321-1; Best by 05/24/2023; UPC 695119120499) due to undeclared shrimp.
Food Safety Recall:Something South African LLC recalls Peppercorn Collection Gift Set (Batch #494951-T; Best before end JUN/2024) due to mold and Ochratoxin A contamination in the Malaysian Long Pepper.
Pet Food Safety Recall: TFP Nutrition recalls HEB Texas Pets Indoor Complete Dry Cat Food (16-lb bag; MFG 13 NOV 22) due to potential Salmonella contamination. The recalled product was only distributed in the State of Texas and sold in HEB retail stores. No cat or human illness has been reported with respect to the recalled cat food to date.
Canada
Allergy Alert: Jiva Manufacturing & Distribution Inc. recalls Everland brand Organic Coconut Chocolate Bark (113g; All codes where milk is not declared on the label; UPC 0 59443 25382 5) due to undeclared milk.
Allergy Alert: Scotian Isle Baked Goods Inc. recalls Scotian Isle Baked Goods brand Chicken Pot Pie, 5in. (1 count; All codes where egg is not declared on the label; UPC 6 28504 06705 5) due to undeclared egg.
Allergy Alert: Miso Brothers, Inc. dba Alpha Foods recalls Alpha brand Plant-Based Breakfast Sandwich – Meatless Sausage (156g; Lot #020722MSS; Expiration date 02/07/2024; UPC 8 10070 35037 6) due to undeclared milk.
Food Safety Recall: Marché Yves Tondreau & Fils inc. (Montréal, QC) recalls SAUMON FUMÉ À FROID TONDREAU / Cold smoked salmon and SAUMON FUMÉ SUR PLACE / Salmon smoked on site (Sold up to 14 December 2022) due to lack of expiration date information on the packaging.
Food Safety Recall: Boucherie Marchigiani (Montréal, QC) recalls SAUCE TOMATE VIANDE / Tomato & meat sauce and SAUCE TOMATE / Tomato sauce (1 L; Sold up to 9 December 2022) due to lack of mandatory storage temperature labeling.
Europe
OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE (Denmark): The Statens Serum Instituthas confirmed 11 cases of Listeria monocytogenes illnesses since mid-August 2022 linked to consumption of fish cakes. The implicated fish cakes were recalled in November.
OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE (UK): The Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland have now identified 15 cases of Listeria monocytogenes illnesses in an outbreak that stretches back to 2020, with cases in England, Scotland and Wales. Eight of the outbreak cases have been identified since January 2022. The FSA is warning consumers to avoid warning consumers specific ready-to-eat smoked fish products from Lidl linked to the outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes. Please refer to Lidl GB recall notice, below.
Allergy Alert (Belgium): Delino recalls Delino brand sauce tzigane / Gypsy sauce (300g (330 ml); Lot #2206191; Best before 15/03/2023) due to undeclared celery and soy.
Allergy Alert (UK): Baked In recalls Baked In Chocolate Orange Cookie Mix (390g; Batch code 222992209; Best before 16 November 2023) due to undeclared soy.
Allergy Alert (UK): Ella’s Kitchen recalls Ella’s Kitchen Banana Multigrain Baby Rice (125g; Batch code 27922; Best before 06 October 2023) due to undeclared oats (gluten).
Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Mondelēz International recalls Milka Sensations, biscuit fourré au chocolat / Biscuits filled with chocolate (52g; Lots OPM0624673 & OPM0624711; Use by 22/08/2023) due to foreign matter contamination (small pieces of metal).
Food Safety Recall (France): Charcuterie anselme recalls Père Anselme brand Jambonneau cuit désossé à la Gouge / Deboned cooked ham (Lot 33648; Use by 06/01/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France):Charcuterie anselme recalls Père Anselme brand Jambon persillé de Bourgogne / Burgundy style ham with parsley (~2.2-2.5 kg; Lot #33348; Use by 13/01/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): BIOCOOP recalls BIOCOOP brand Emmental râpé 29% MG / Grated Emmental cheese, 29% fat (200g; Lot #GD003GD1 DLC 12/02/2023; Use by 16/12/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France):METRO FRANCErecalls METRO CHEF brand Jambon supérieur cuit découenné, dégraissé / Superior cooked ham, skinned and defatted (720g; Lots 1127955, 1128085 & 1128259; Use by 31/12/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France):La Charolaise recalls Rillettes de Saumon / Salmon rillettes (Use by 20/12/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France):Laiterie de la vallée de Munster – Fromagerierecalls LAITERIE DE LA VALLEE DE MUNSTER brand Petit Munster, Grand Munster, Petit Munster Cumin, and Grand Munster Cumin cheeses (Lot 307; Use by dates between 23/12/2022 and 07/01/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Germany): C. F. Rolle GmbH Mühle recalls Sachsenmehl Weizenauszugsmehl Type 550 / Wheat flour (1 kg; Lot #24276; Best before 07.08.2024) due to shigatoxin-producing E. coli contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Germany): dm-drogerie markt recalls dmBio Pfeffer schwarz, ganze Körner / Whole black peppercorns (70g; Best before 09/2025 and 11/2025) due to Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Albert Heijnrecalls AH Speciaal Bakkersbrood Stevig Spelt / Robust spelt bakery bread, whole and half (Sold December 13-16, 2022) due to foreign matter contamination (metal particles).
Food Safety Recall (UK): Lidl GB recalls Lidl Deluxe Oak Smoked Scottish Louch Trout (100g; All use-by dates between and including 20 December 2022 and 06 January 2023) and Lighthouse Bay Smoked Trout Trimmings (120g; All use-by dates between and including 20 December 2022 and 06 January 2023) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Australia and New Zealand
OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE (Australia): Australian food authorities confirm 37 cases of illness reported nationally among people who consumed large amounts of poppy seeds, after a batch of poppy seeds not intended for food use and containing high levels of thebaine entered the supply chain.
Food Safety Recall (Australia): Riviera Fresh Pty Ltd recalls Riviera Farms Baby Spinach (350g & 1kg; All Use By dates from 16 Dec 22 up to and including 28 Dec 22) due to potential contamination with unsafe plant material.
Food Safety Recall (Australia): ALDI recalls Fresh Salad Co Fresh and Fast Stir Fry (Use by 24 DEC) due to potential contamination with unsafe plant material.
Food Safety Recall (Australia): Woolworths Group recalls Woolworths Chicken Cobb Salad (270g; Use by 20/DEC) and Woolworths Chickpea Falafel Salad (290g; Use by 20/DEC and 22/DEC) due to potential contamination with unsafe plant material.
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