The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) are alerting consumers to potential Salmonella contamination in certain batches of Kinder Surprise chocolates, according to a joint news release by the two agencies.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), in cooperation with partners in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, have documented an unspecified number of Salmonella cases across the UK that appear to be associated with the novelty item.
A number of the reported cases are in young children, according to the FSA.
Ferrero has recalled Kinder Surprise 20g and Kinder Surprise 20g x3 with best before dates between 11th July 2022 and 7th October 2022.
The recalled products were manufactured in a single factory in Belgium and were distributed in the UK and in the Republic of Ireland.
A Kinder Surprise consists of a hollow milk-chocolate egg surrounding a plastic capsule, which contains a small toy.
The FSA is advising consumers not to eat any of the products listed in the FSA alert, and urges parents and guardians of children to check if any products already in their home are affected by this recall.
The UKHSA offers the following advice to the public:
“Symptoms of salmonellosis typically resolve themselves within a few days. However, symptoms can be more severe, especially in young children and those with weakened immune systems. Anybody with concerns that they have symptoms of salmonellosis should contact their GP or call NHS 111. Salmonella can be spread from person to person, so anyone affected should adhere to good hygiene practice such as washing hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and avoiding handling food for others where possible, if you have symptoms.”
You can find additional background information on a prior Salmonella outbreak associated with chocolate novelty products in Chapter 15 of TAINTED. From Farm Gate to Dinner Plate, Fifty Years of Food Safety Failures. Order the digital or audiobook editions from your favorite on-line retailer, or purchase the paperback or hardcover edition from Amazon.
“Reads like a true crime novel” – Food Safety News
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified five different strains of Cronobacter sakazakiiin environmental samples collected during an inspection of Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis, Michigan production plant.
In a March 31, 2022, update to its outbreak investigation report, the FDA stated that four of the strains were recovered from samples taken by the agency’s team of inspectors. The fifth strain was from a sample collected by the firm.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has completed a whole genome sequencing (WGS) of the Cronobacter sakazakii cultures obtained from two of the four infected infants.
Neither of the clinical cultures matched any of the five strains found in Abbott’s production environment.
Outbreak and recall
The FDA’s investigation of Abbott’s manufacturing facility was triggered by four reports of infants who had become infected with Cronobacter sakazakii after having been fed a powdered infant formula manufactured by Abbott Nutrition.
The first report was received by the FDA on September 6, 2021. The most recent illness began on January 4, 2022.
Two of the four infected infants have died.
According to the FDA, Cronobacter sakazakii infection “may have contributed” to their deaths.
Cronobacter sakazakii is a cause of necrotizing enterocolitis and meningitis in newborns, and is often fatal. In older babies, children and adults, this opportunistic pathogen can cause respiratory infections and sepsis.
Symptoms in newborns include fever, rapid heart rate, seizures and other neurological abnormalities.
The investigation
The FDA’s in-depth inspection of the Abbott’s manufacturing plant began on January 31, 2022 and was completed on March 18th.
The Inspectional Observations report (FDA Form 483) issued at the end of the inspection listed eight pages of infractions and deficiencies.
One of the most serious observations related to the maintenance of the company’s spray-drying equipment.
On reviewing the company’s own documentation, the FDA inspection team noted “a history of internal deterioration [of the dryers] dating back to September 2018.“
According to the records of the most recent dryer inspections, carried out in August 2021, two different dryers showed six instances each of cracks, pits, and/or damage in the main chamber.
A further example of improper maintenance was documented by three separate work orders during the course of a year for repair of a “water event” at the same inlet to a spray-dryer. The work orders were issued on February 1, 2021, November 4, 2021, and January 21, 2022.
History repeats
A parallel can be drawn between the dryer maintenance issues at Abbott and a similar situation in Australia in the 1970s.
In 1977, powdered infant formula manufactured by three different companies was determined to be the source of a number of Salmonella Bredeney infections in the state of Victoria, Australia.
All three companies obtained their powdered milk from the same manufacturer.
When inspectors visited the powdered milk supplier’s manufacturing plant, they discovered that the interior of the cone-shaped base of the spray dryer had developed several cracks.
The company tried to repair the cracks by welding them shut. When the welds failed, the company continued to use the spray dryer, but simply discarded the powder that collected in the base of the drying chamber.
Environmental samples from the interior of the spray-dryer determined that its fiberglass insulation material had become saturated with Salmonella.
Abbott responds
In an update posted on the company’s website, Abbott responded to the FDA’s report by reassuring consumers of its cooperation with the FDA, while at the same time emphasizing that the strains of Cronobacter sakazakii found in the production environment did not match those recovered from the infected infants.
Abbott has “already begun implementing corrective actions and enhancements at the facility, leveraging new technology and strengthening our processes, to give parents and customers renewed confidence in the quality of manufacturing at our Sturgis plant when we restart operations there,”according to the company’s statement.
Who to contact for more information
If you want to check if your powdered formula is part of the recall, you can enter the product lot code on the bottom of your package on the company’s website.
If your infant is experiencing symptoms related to Cronobacter infection, such as poor feeding, irritability, temperature changes, jaundice, grunting breaths, or abnormal body movements, contact your health care provider to report their symptoms and receive immediate care.
Company and the US Food and Drug Administration enter into consent decree
A federal judge has entered a consent decree of permanent injuction against Bravo Packing, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of raw pet food based in Carney’s Point, New Jersey.
(Bravo Packing is not related in any way to Bravo LLC / Bravo Pet Foods, located in Manchester, Connecticut)
The consent decree requires that Bravo “stop selling, manufacturing and distributing raw pet food and come into compliance with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act).”
The backstory
On September 12, 2018, Bravo Packing announced a voluntary recall of Performance Dog frozen, raw pet food (manufacturing date code 071418) after the FDA found Salmonella in a sample of the product during an inspection of the manufacturing facility.
In addition to the Salmonella-positive sample, FDA Investigator Michael Rosner also documented several issues of concern, including:
Some condensate drip and ice buildup was observed on several boxes of finished dog food product in one of the firm’s freezers.
The air curtains entering the dog food processing room were observed to be soiled and in disrepair.
The firm was using a santiizer product at an incorrect dilution level, which reduced the sanitizer’s effectiveness.
Some of the claims on the firm’s website were potentially misleading.
By the time the FDA returned to Bravo’s manufacturing facility in July 2019, the situation had deteriorated. This time, the FDA labs found Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in samples collected during an investigation that lasted from July 22nd to August 6th.
According to the Inspection Observations report (FDA Form 483), issued by Investigators Teigan Mule and Kyle Coville,
after cleaning had been completed, the elbow portion of the feeder pipe from the mixer still had a buildup of dried, dark, crusty meat-like material
a film residue remaining on the sides of a mixer exit chute after cleaning
greasy buildup of animal fat remaining at the output of a grinder after cleaning
black residue on the inside surface of buckets used to hold cut meat
condensate drip and ice buildup on boxes of finished raw dog food products in a freezer
cardboard boxes used to pack finished product observed to have bird droppings on the tops and sides
apparent mammalian (rodent?) droppings adjacent to stored, palletized boxes
inadequate training of employees on how to clean and degrease processing equipment after processing.
Although Bravo agreed to recall the contaminated Performance Dog Food product, the company never provided the FDA with the usual draft customer notification letter, distribution list, or draft press release.
In the absence of documentation from the company, the FDA issued its own Consumer Advisory on September 26, 2019, cautioning pet owners “not to feed their pets any Performance Dog frozen raw pet food.”
The FDA followed up its actions with a formal Warning Letter, issued on March 16, 2020. The letter reiterated and expanded upon the observations contained in the inspection report and requested a written response from the company within fifteen working days of receipt.
The recall was expanded on March 16th to include all pet food and bones in all package sizes.
When the FDA returned to inspect Bravo’s production plant in May 2021, Investigators Kyle Covill and Sean Duke found a situation that had deteriorated further.
a shovel used to push meat into the grinder was covered with residual dried, black meat-like material from the handle down to the shaft and all the way to the end of the blade
a meat hook covered with cobwebs and other extraneous material was used to move deboned meat from raw ingredient barrels into the grinder during production
the grinder contained heavy rust on the inside walls, basins and screw augur
a piece of meat from a prior production run was left in the exit portion of the mixer, which also contained a pooled black liquid and white fat-like deposits, and the mixer was subsequently used during production without any further cleaning
one of the owners was seen spitting chewing tobacco on the floor of the deboning room
two cats were observed urinating on the outside of a raw ingredient barrel that was subsequently used (without undergoing cleaning and sanitizing) to produce Performance Dog ready-to-eat raw dog food
the floors in multiple rooms of the production plant, including the processing room, had large cracks, holes and depressions, which contained pooled blood and water
uncovered barrels of deboned meat were stored directly beneath a metal beam and brackets covered with flaking rust.
The bottom line
The consent decree prohibits the defendants (including the company’s owner and secretary, Joseph Merola, and its president, Amanda Lloyd) from receiving, preparing, processing, packing, holding, labeling, and/or distributing pet food unless and until the company undertakes and completes a comprehensive list of corrective actions.
The decree also allows the FDA to order a shutdown, recall, or other corrective action in the event of future violations and requires the defendants to pay the costs of inspections performed pursuant to the decree. Failure to abide by the agreement can also lead to civil or criminal penalties.
In commenting on the consent decree, Steven Solomon, DVM, MPH, director of FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, said,
The food we give our pets should be safe for them to eat and safe for people to handle. The FDA has taken this action to protect public health because, despite multiple inspections, notifications of violations, and recalls, this firm continued to operate under insanitary conditions and produce pet food contaminated with harmful bacteria. We will not tolerate firms that put people or animals at risk and will take enforcement actions when needed.”
eFoodAlert 