Category: recalls

Cargill Recalls 36 Million Pounds of Ground Turkey

Cargill has announced an immediate recall of fresh and frozen ground turkey meat produced at its Springdale, Arkansas production facility from February 20, 2011 through August 2nd.

The turkey meat, which may be contaminated with Salmonella Heidelberg, is being recalled as a result of Cargill’s “...internal investigation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) information that became available on Aug. 1, 2011, as well as an ongoing USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) investigation into multiple illnesses from Salmonella Heidelberg.”

Cargill’s recall announcement continues as follows:

Additionally, Cargill has suspended production of ground turkey products at its Springdale, Ark., turkey processing facility until it is able to determine the source of the Salmonella Heidelberg and take corrective actions. Other turkey products produced at Springdale are not part of the recall. Cargill owns four turkey processing facilities in the U.S. and no products from the other three are involved in the recall.

“While facts continue to be gathered, and currently there is no conclusive answer regarding the source of Salmonella Heidelberg contamination, given our concern for what has happened, and our desire to do what is right for our consumers and customers, we are voluntarily removing our ground turkey products from the marketplace,” said Steve Willardsen, president of Cargill’s turkey processing business. “Additionally, we have suspended ground turkey production at our Arkansas facility until the source can be pinpointed and actions to address it are taken. Public health and the safety of consumers cannot be compromised. It is regrettable that people may have become ill from eating one of our ground turkey products and, for anyone who did, we are truly sorry. We go to great lengths to ensure the food we produce is safe and we fully understand that people expect to be able to consume safe food, each serving, every time.”

“Suspending production until we can determine the source of the Salmonella Heidelberg at our Arkansas facility, and take corrective action, is the right thing to do,” stated Willardsen. “We are closely examining every aspect of our production process and have identified enhancements to our procedures in our efforts to ensure safe food. Eliminating food borne illness is always our goal.”

 Here is a complete list of the recalled products, as provided by Cargill:

The products involved are Ground Turkey. All packages include Est. P-963 on the label. Products are listed below:

Ground Turkey Chubs – Use or Freeze by Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11

  • 10 lbs. Chubs of Honeysuckle White Fresh Natural Lean Ground Turkey with Natural Flavorings
  • 10 lbs. Chubs of Unbranded Ground Turkey w/ Natural Flavoring 2 Pack
  • 80 oz. (5 lbs.) chubs of Riverside Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring
  • 10 lb. Chub of Natural Lean Ground Turkey with Natural Flavorings
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Fresh Lean HEB Ground Turkey 93/7
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Fresh HEB Ground Turkey 85/15
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White 93/7 Fresh Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring
  • 4-1 Pound Packages of Honeysuckle White Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring Value Pack
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Fresh Ground Turkey
  • 48 oz. (3 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Fresh Ground Turkey

85% Ground Turkey – Use or Freeze by Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11

  • 19.2 oz. (1.2 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey
  • 19.2 oz. (1.2 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White Taco Seasoned Ground Turkey Colored with Paprika
  • 20 oz. (1 lb. 4 oz.) trays of Safeway Fresh Ground Turkey with Natural Flavorings * 15% Fat
  • 19.2 oz. (1 lb. 3.2 oz.) trays of Kroger Ground Turkey Fresh 85/15
  • 48.0 oz. (3 lb.) trays of Kroger Ground Turkey Fresh 85/15
  • 48.0 oz. (3 lbs.) trays of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey Family Pack
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey
  • 19.2 oz. (1.2 lbs.) trays of Honeysuckle White Seasoned Italian Style Ground Turkey with Natural Flavorings
  • 20 oz. (1.25 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey (NOTE: Sold in Texas only at Randall’s and Tom Thumb, Use or Freeze by 03/12/11 through 05/05/11)

93% Ground Turkey – Use or Freeze by Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11

  • 19.2 oz. (1.20 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 93/7 Lean Ground Turkey
  • 48 oz. (3.0 lbs.) trays of Honeysuckle White 93/7 Lean Ground Turkey Family Pack
  • 19.2 oz. (1.2 lb.) trays of Fit & Active Lean Ground Turkey 93/07
  • 19.2 oz. (1.2 lbs.) trays of Giant Eagle Ground Turkey Fresh & Premium Lean
  • 19.2 oz. (1 lb 3.2 oz.) trays of Kroger Ground Turkey Fresh Lean 93/7
  • 20 oz. (1.25 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 93/7 Lean Ground Turkey

Ground Patties

  • 16.0 oz. (1 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White Ground Turkey Patties
  • Use or Freeze by Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) trays of Kroger Ground Seasoned Turkey Patties Fresh 85/15
  • Use or Freeze by Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11
  • 16.0 oz. (1 lb.) trays of Shady Brook Farms Ground Turkey Burgers with Natural Flavoring
  • NOTE: ONLY THE FOLLOWING USE OR FREEZE BY DATES ARE AFFECTED: 07/09/11, 07/10/11, 07/11/11, 07/15/11, 07/16/11, 07/21/11, 07/22/11, 07/24/11, 08/01/11 AND 08/04/11

Frozen Ground Turkey – Production Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/2/11

  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Spartan Ground Turkey
  • 48 oz. (3 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey
  • 40 lb. Bulk Packed Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring For Food Service Use Only
I expect the supermarket recall notices to begin appearing tomorrow.

Cargill To Recall Ground Turkey

Associated Press and Bill Marler are reporting that Cargill Value Added Meats – Retail (Springdale, AR) will announce a recall of 35,709,675 pounds – that is, 17,855 tons – of fresh, ground turkey meat before the day is out.

The recalled turkey meat may be linked to an outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg that has sickened 77 people across the US since the beginning of March. One person – a resident of Sacramento County, California – has died and 38% of the outbreak victims for whom the information is available were hospitalized. Cases have been reported from 26 states so far; the outbreak is on-going and nation-wide.

I have just instructed my 80-something-year-old Aunt Anne to toss out her ground turkey meatloaf. She’s also tossing the recipe.

Salmonella Agona Outbreak – More Than Just Papayas

On Saturday, July 23rd, Agromod Produce, Inc. (McAllen, TX) recalled all Blondie, Yaya, Mañanita and Tastylicious brand Fresh, Whole Papayas sold prior to July 23, 2011, after FDA found Salmonella Agona in two papaya samples – one collected at Agromod’s McAllen facility and the other at the US border destined for Agromod. The recalled papayas were distributed nationally in the US and in Canada.

In a Press Release issued this morning, FDA reports that both samples tested positive for the strain of Salmonella Agona that has been recovered from 97 reported cases of salmonellosis in 23 states across the USA. In addition, ten other papaya samples from Mexico tested positive with other strains of Salmonella; those shipments were prevented from entering the US.

Since January 1, 2011, illnesses associated with this outbreak have been reported by Arkansas (1), Arizona (3), California (7), Colorado (1), Georgia (8), Illinois (17), Louisiana (2), Massachusetts (1), Minnesota (3), Missouri (3), Nebraska (2), Nevada (1), New Jersey (1), New Mexico (3), New York (6), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (1), Pennsylvania (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (25), Virginia (2), Washington (5), and Wisconsin (2). Ten of the 97 outbreak victims were hospitalized. Forty-one of patients are younger than 5 years old. Fifty-seven percent (57%) of those interviewed reported having eaten papaya.

Finally, FDA concludes its information report with the following statement:

“Epidemiologic, laboratory and traceback information identifies papayas from Mexico imported through Agromod Produce, Inc. as a likely source of infection.”

I contacted Agromod yesterday by email and learned from Mr. Raul Magaña Compean that the company was notified of FDA’s findings late on July 22nd. The company announced its blanket recall the following day. “Agromod,” Mr. Magaña told me, “has been collaborating with FDA at all extent in order to prevent any risk to consumers.”

Agromod is a papaya grower, with its largest production area located in the Mexican South West. As far as Mr. Magaña is aware, there have been no Salmonella outbreaks in that region. He went on to say that their packing process at the point of origin is carried out under strict control. “We believe,” he added, “product could [have] been contaminated by the freight carriers.”

I have also been in touch with the heath authorities in some states and have gleaned a few additional details on the outbreak and its association with papayas.

  1. Three of the six New York cases are from outside of New York City and are being handled by the New York State Department of Health (DOH). The DOH reports that it has not “…confirmed that any of these cases consumed papaya being recalled.“
  2. Oklahoma’s lone outbreak-associated cases is a three-year old child. The parents report that the child did not consume papayas.
  3. Virginia has two outbreak-associated cases, one of whom was hospitalized. Neither of the two victims recalled eating papayas.
  4. Of the five victims in Washington State – four adults and one child – two were exposed during travel to Mexico. The Washington cases appear to be connected to papaya consumption although, according to the Washington State Department of Health, one of the five people was not available for an interview.
  5. Kentucky has reported one case of Salmonella Agona, although the state has not yet received confirmation linking the case to the multi-state outbreak. The patient gave no indication of having eaten papaya.
  6. Two of Arizona’s three cases reported papaya consumption. One of the three Arizona victims was hospitalized, but has been released.
  7. Seventeen (17) cases of outbreak-related Salmonella Agona illnesses were reported from several parts of Illinois, including Chicago (5), Cook-suburban (4), DuPage (4), Kane (1), Lake (1), Will (1) and Winnebago (1). Eight of the 17 Illinois victims were hospitalized.
  8. Nebraska’s two cases include one adult (who was hospitalized and later released) and one child. One of the two victims recalled having eaten papaya.

Why are nearly half of the outbreak victims not reporting having eaten papaya? Does this mean that papaya is NOT the source of the nearly seven-month long outbreak. Or is there another explanation?

Agromod ships its papayas – directly or via distributors and wholesalers – to retail supermarket chains, restaurants and hotel chains across the US and Canada. I wonder how many of the outbreak victims consumed a fresh fruit salad, either at a restaurant or purchased ready-made from a supermarket or snack bar. It’s probable that many of these victims consumed papaya in the fruit salad without realizing it. I fully expect this papaya recall to expand during the next several days.

As for the source of the contamination, Agromod’s packing process includes a washing step. I would urge the company to examine very carefully its washing practices, including:

  • Is fresh potable water used to wash the papayas?
  • Is the correct level of active chlorine or other disinfectant being maintained in the wash water?
  • How often is the water changed?
  • How is the water circulated? Proper practice is to circulate the water in the opposite direction to the flow of the produce. That way, the cleanest water contacts the cleanest fruit and doesn’t recontaminate the surface of the washed fruit.

This outbreak has been active for several months. It is not due to a single contaminated shipment of produce. Agromod will need to review all of its production and packing procedures – including, but not limited to the washing issues I’ve raised – to locate the source of this persistent contamination problem.

To read all of my posts on the Salmonella Agona outbreak, just click the Salmonella Agona Outbreak tag at the bottom of this article or in the right-hand column.