15-State E. coli Outbreak Triggers Recall

Rich Products Corporation (Buffalo, NY) has recalled more than 196,000 pounds of frozen chicken quesadilla and various other heat-treated, not fully cooked frozen mini meals and snack items in the wake of an outbreak of 24 confirmed cases of E. coli O121 illnesses in 15 US states.

Eight of the outbreak victims – residents of Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia – reported consuming Farm Rich brand products. The New York Department of Health found the outbreak strain of E. coli O121 in a sample of Farm Rich frozen chicken mini quesadilla product obtained from a victim in that state. USDA is working with state and federal public health agencies – including FDA and CDC – on this outbreak investigation. CDC has not yet released a complete list of the 15 states.

E. coli O121 is one of six non-O157 Shiga toxin producing E. coli serogroups that is recognized by the USDA as an adulterant in certain raw beef products.

The manufacturer has recalled the following products in cooperation with USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (items 1-4) and FDA (items 5-7):

Farm Rich mini pizza slices with cheese pepperoni and sauce in pizza dough (7.2-oz cartons; UPC 041322376909; Best by date May 15 or May 16, 2014)
Farm Rich mini pizza slices with cheese pepperoni and sauce in pizza dough (22-oz cartons; UPC 041322356437 Best by date May 15 or May 16, 2014)
Farm Rich mini quesadillas with cheese, grilled white meat chicken in a crispy crust (18-oz bags; UPC 041322356352; Best by date of May 14, 2014)
Farm Rich philly cheese steaks with cheese, beef & onions in a crispy crust (21-oz bags; UPC 041322356345; Best by date May 13, 2014)
Farm Rich mozzarella bites in a pizzeria style crust (22-oz cartons; UPC 041322374431; Best by date of May 19, 2014)
Farm Rich mozzarella bites in a pizzeria style crust (7-oz cartons; UPC 041322376916; Best by date of May 19, 2014)
Market Day Mozzarella Bites (22-oz bags; UPC 041322804358; Best by date of May 12, 2014)

The recalled products were manufactured between November 12, 2012 and November 19, 2012 and supplied to Walmart for nationwide distribution. Consumers who may have purchased any of the recalled products should check their freezers and discard these items, or return them to Walmart.

According to USDA, infection with E. coli O121 can result in dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2-8 days (3-4 days, on average) after exposure to the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called HUS, Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. Symptoms of HUS may include fever, abdominal pain, pale skin tone, fatigue, small, unexplained bruises or bleeding from the nose and mouth, decreased urination, and swelling. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

Cheese Blamed For Australia Listeria Outbreak

Authorities in several Australian states are investigating an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes that has sickened eight people in New South Wales (3), Victoria (2), Queensland (1), Tasmania (1) and Western Australia (1). Three more cases are under investigation and may also be part of the outbreak. No other details have been released.

According to health warnings posted by the New South Wales and Victoria departments of health, the outbreak is linked to a number of Jindi and Wattle Valley brand soft cheeses sold at delicatessens and supermarkets throughout Australia. On December 19th, a recall notice for the following cheeses was posted on the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website:

Jindi Brie – 1 kg
Jindi Camembert – 1 kg
Jindi Food Service Brie – 1 kg
Wattle Valley Brie – 1 kg
Wattle Valley Camembert – 1 kg

All of the recalled cheeses carry a Best Before date of 21 December 2012. As these cheeses are commonly cut into smaller portions for sale to the public, the original identifying packaging may no longer be available.

Advice to Consumers

Consumers are advised to check the best before date of any Jindi or Wattle Valley soft cheeses and, if from the identified batch, they should discard it or return to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Consumers who have purchased a cut portion of camembert or brie from a supermarket or delicatessen who are unsure of the brand should discard it. If in doubt, THROW IT OUT.
Healthy people usually show only mild symptoms. However, in people at risk, early symptoms of listeriosis include fever, headache, tiredness and aches and pains. Listeria monocytogenes can cause miscarriages in pregnant women, stillbirths, and death in people with compromised immune systems. Anyone who experiences symptoms consistent with listeriosis and who consumed brie or camembert within 70 days prior to becoming ill should seek immediate medical attention.

Pet Treat Company Refuses FDA Recall Request

FDA is warning pet owners and caretakers that Nature’s Deli Chicken Jerky Dog Treats (3-lb pkgs; Lot code BESTBY061913DEN; Product of USA) should not be fed to pets, because the treats may be contaminated with Salmonella. The contaminated product was sold at Costco stores in the Denver, Colorado area. Costco is cooperating with FDA, and has removed all of the implicated product from store shelves. The retailer also will contact customers who may have purchased the product.

The FDA warning follows three prior recalls of pet treats initiated by Kasel Associates Inc. (Denver, CO), issued in September and October 2012. Kasel has refused to recall the batch that is the subject of FDA’s most recent warning, even though the Colorado Department of Agriculture found Salmonella in a sample of the product.

Kasel appears to have an ongoing Salmonella contamination problem.

In September 2012, the company recalled Boots & Barkley American Beef 5-inch Bully Sticks after Colorado found Salmonella in four production lots;
In October 2012, Kasel recalled Nature’s Deli Chicken Jerky Dog Treats (one lot code) after FDA detected Salmonella during what the recall notice described as a routine testing program; and
In October 2012, the company recalled one production lot each of Boots & Barkley Roasted American Pig Ears and Boots & Barkley American Variety Pack Dog Treats after Colorado again found Salmonella in a sample of the treats.

When FDA carried out its follow-up inspection of Kasel’s manufacturing facility after the first (September 2012) recall, the agency found “certain finished dog treat products and 34 out of 72 environmental samples positive for Salmonella.”

If Kasel was manufacturing “human” food instead of pet treats, I suspect that a far more extensive product recall would have followed the FDA inspection findings. It was only last spring that Diamond Pet Foods’ dry dog food products were implicated in an outbreak of human salmonellosis. People – including children – handle these products and do not always wash their hands after doing so. Will it take another pet-related disease outbreak for pet food companies and FDA to recognize that Salmonella–contaminated pet food and pet treats present a health risk to pet owners and pet caretakers, and not just to pets?