In February and March 2023, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found Clostridium botulinum (a non-toxic strain) and Clostridium beijerinckii in previously unopened plastic jars of ready-to-eat baby food products manufactured by Oceanitan, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA) after a consumer reported a case of infant botulism.
Oceanitan manufactured the baby foods under contract for a third party. There was no product recall, and the name of the third party was not released.
The FDA responded to the consumer complaint by initiating an inspection of Oceanitan’s manufacturing facility, located at 2937 E Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA.
During the course of a seven-week investigation, FDA inspectors identified multiple serious violations of federal regulations, including failure to identify known or reasonably foreseeable hazards, inadequate temperature control, insanitary conditions, and misbranding (ie., labeling violations).
According to information contained in a Warning Letter issued on September 7, 2023, and posted on the FDA website on September 29th, the baby food products “…do not receive a treatment lethal to nonproteolytic or proteolytic C. botulinum before or after packaging, and their formulation does not control for the growth and/or toxin formation of C. botulinum.”
Furthermore, management’s reliance on uncalibrated and inaccurate dial thermometers to monitor air temperature in the company’s coolers resulted in conditions that would have been able to support growth and toxin formation by Clostridium botulinum in the baby food products prior to shipment.
Inspectors also observed water dripping from the condenser unit in one of the coolers in close proximity to where jars of baby food were filled, and standing water on the floor where uncovered jars of food were stored.
On April 6, 2023, FDA inspectors issued a FDA Form 483, Inspectional Observations, listing all of the violations documented during the seven-week investigation.
The company responded in writing to the list of observations on April 27, 2023, describing the measures it had taken or planned to take to address the various deficiencies.
According to the FDA, the company’s planned actions were inadequate to address all of the indicated violations.
Oceanitan has been given fifteen working days from receipt of the Warning Letter to respond in writing to the FDA with details of the steps taken to address all outstanding issues or, if necessary, to provide a timeline for completion of its corrective measures.
“Reads like a true crime novel” – Food Safety News
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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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TOXIC
From Factory To Food Bowl PET FOOD IS A RISKY BUSINESS
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Enjoy the slideshow as you listen to a sample of TOXIC, narrated by the author.
“A complete and compelling account of the hidden and not-so-hidden ways the food we give our beloved pets can be contaminated.” – JoNel Aleccia, Health Reporter, Food & Nutrition, The Associated Press.
United States
OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: CDC continues to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella Stanley, Salmonella Pomona, and Salmonella Poona infections linked to contact with small turtles. Fifty-nine (59) confirmed cases have been reported in 18 states, with 23 hospitalizations.
OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: FDA has opened a traceback investigation into an outbreak of 64 confirmed Salmonella Thompson illnesses. No food has yet been linked to the outbreak.
Allergy Alert: Penzeys Spices recalls Brady Street Cheese Sprinkle (2.2 oz; Lot 37652-1 or 37652-2; JUL 2024) due to undeclared sesame.
Allergy Alert: Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate recalls Ginger Snap Milk Chocolate (2 oz; Lot #23194; Expiration date 13/JAN/2025) due to undeclared peanuts.
Food Safety Recall: Eagle Produce LLC recalls Kandy brand Whole Cantaloupe (Lots 797901, 797900, & 804918) due to possible Salmonella contamination.
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Europe
Allergy Alert (Belgium): AFSCA recalls Golden Turtle brand Wasabi peas (140g; Best before 24/10/2024) due to undeclared peanut.
Allergy Alert (Denmark): Industry recalls Golden Turtle brand Wasabi peas (140g; Best before 24.10.2024) due to undeclared peanut.
Allergy Alert (Iceland): Fiska.is recalls Golden Turtle brand Wasabi peas (140g; Best before 24.10.2024) due to undeclared peanut.
Allergy Alert (Ireland): Some packs of Flora Buttery may contain milk that has not be correctly declared on certain retailer websites (Tesco and Supervalu).
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Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Jumbo recalls Jumbo Pennywafels / Waffle biscuits (150g; Lots 3261, 3264 & 3268; Best before 01-06-2024) due to possible Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Cora recalls Cora brand Thon à l’huile / Tuna in oil (200g; Lot ECUADOR : 454 14 :38; Best before 25/04/2026) due to possible foreign matter contamination (piece of glass).
Food Safety Recall (Finland): Snafu Oy recalls Alfalfa Silmusalaatti, Parsakaali Silmusalaatti, and Tulinen Silmusalaatti / Alfalfa Green Lettuce, Broccoli Green Lettuce, and Fiery Green Lettuce (110g; Expiration dates 28.9.2023, 30.9.2023 & 3.10.2023) due to possible Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): TULLE DISTRIBUTION E.Leclerc recalls KUKULU brand ETXEAN PUR BREBIS FERM. ANTONIN / Sheep’s milk cheese (Lot BP61323; Best before 04/02/2024) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): TRELIDIS E.LECLERC recalls MDD brand Jambon supérieur fumé / Superior smoked ham (Lot 336-49213) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): TESTEDIS E.LECLERC recalls JAMBON SUPERIEUR AVEC COUENNE 3 NOIX / Superior ham with rind, 3 nuts (All Lots) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): LES FUMOIRS DE SAINTONGE recalls Maison Peneau brand Truite fumée de mer au sel de l’ile de Ré / Smoked salt-water trout (100g; Lot 230347; Use by 30/10/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): LES FUMOIRS DE SAINTONGE recalls Maison Peneau brand Truite fumée de mer au sel de l’ile de Ré / Smoked trout (100g; Lot 230351; Use by 31/10/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): LES FUMOIRS DE SAINTONGE recalls Maison Peneau brand Truite fumée de France / Smoked trout (100g; Lot 230354; Use by 31/10/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): LES FUMOIRS DE SAINTONGE recalls Maison Peneau brand Truite fumée des Pyrénées au sel de l’ile de Ré / Smoked trout (100g; Lot 230351; Use by 31/10/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): LES FUMOIRS DE SAINTONGE recalls Maison Peneau brand Truite fumée des Pyrénées au sel de l’ile de Ré / Smoked trout (210g; Lot 230341; Use by 26/10/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): SILVE INTERMARCHE recalls SAINT ELOI brand COEUR DE FRISEE / Hearts of curly lettuce (200g; Lot 01V2373; Use by 24/09/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): SILVE NETTO recalls NETTO brand COEUR DE FRISEE / Hearts of curly lettuce (200g; Lot 01V2373; Use by 24/09/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): SCAMARK E.LECLERC recalls NOTRE JARDIN brand COEUR DE FRISEE / Hearts of curly lettuce (250g; Lot 01V2373; Use by 24/09/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Germany): Straußenfarm Ostseeblick recalls Straußensalami (Neutral, Knoblauch u. Pfeffer) / Ostrich salami—plain and garlic & pepper varieties (Best before 10.12.2023) due to Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Italy): Marfisi Carni S.r.l recalls HAMBURGHER DI BOVINORAZZA CHIANINA / Beef hamburger (200g; Lot 549886; Best before 11/10/23, 12/10/23) due to shiga toxin-producing E. coli contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Auchan recalls Auchan brand 100% Coeur Frisée/ Curly lettuce heart (200g; Best before 24/09/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Jumbo recalls Jumbo Pennywafels / Waffle biscuits (150g; Best before 01-06-2024) due to possible Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Multiple retailers recall Helwa Pennywafels / Waffle biscuits (150g; Lots 3261, 3262 & 3263; Best before 01-06-2024) due to possible Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Sweden): Vidinge Grönt recalls Vidinge Grönt Spenat / Green spinach (250g & 500g; Batch #1128964 & 1129090, respectively; Packed on 29-09-2023) due to possible foreign matter contamination (glass).
“Reads like a true crime novel” – Food Safety News
Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations?
Click on the link to listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.
Enjoy the slideshow as you listen to a sample of TOXIC, narrated by the author.
“A complete and compelling account of the hidden and not-so-hidden ways the food we give our beloved pets can be contaminated.” – JoNel Aleccia, Health Reporter, Food & Nutrition, The Associated Press.
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