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.
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United States
OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: Joint investigation by CDC and FDA links Gold Medal flour to 12-state Salmonella Infantis outbreak. To date, the CDC is aware of 13 confirmed cases, including three victims who have been hospitalized. General Mills has initiated a recall of the implicated flour.
OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION:Raw milk was the likely source of two cases of shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections in Tennessee infants in July/August 2022. One of the two infants developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. Both households received raw milk from from participants in the same cow-share.
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Europe
Allergy Alert (Spain): AESANalerts the public to the presence of undeclared mustard in ECOSAN and TOO BIO brands of organic brown flax seeds (250g and 3kg packs; Multiple lot codes and expiration dates).
Food Safety Recall (France): GAEC FERME DU CABRI recalls fromages de vache frais, demi- sec et sec / raw cow’s milk cheese, fresh, semi-dry and dry (All lots) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (UK): Müller recalls some batches of various Cadbury branded dessert products due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
Allergy Alert (Israel): Ashbul Factory Ltd. recalls several products due to undeclared gluten. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
“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.
Marler proposed that Congress split the Food and Drug Administration into two separate agencies—one with responsibility for food safety and human nutrition, and the other for drugs, cosmetics and medical devices.
While I agree with the need for a separate agency to oversee food safety and human nutrition, I believe Marler’s proposal does not go far enough.
It is time to consolidate all food safety activities at the federal level under a single umbrella.
Here’s why.
Split jurisdiction
At present, responsibility for overseeing food safety is split between two main federal agencies: the FDA and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The USDA is responsible for the safety of meat and poultry, catfish, and egg products.
The FDA is responsible for the safety of all food products that do not contain meat or poultry, for intact eggs, and for all fish other than catfish.
This division of responsibility by commodity has led to some strange and confusing situations.
canned foods containing meat or poultry come under FSIS jurisdiction, while all other canned foods are FDA-regulated.
pizzas containing more than 2% meat are the responsibility of FSIS; less than 2% meat, and the FDA takes over.
open-faced sandwiches containing meat are overseed by FSIS; closed sandwiches are the responsibility of the FDA, whether or not meat is present.
These arbitrary distinctions mean that many food processing plants must answer to two separate federal agencies.
Conflict of interest
The USDA operates under a double mandate.
On the one hand, it is responsible for certifying that the food products under its jurisdiction are safe for human consumption.
On the other hand, the USDA also is charged with promoting US agricultural products both domestically and to overseas markets.
This is akin to having the quality assurance department of a food company report to the head of the marketing department.
We have seen the consequences of this conflict most recently in the FSIS draft proposal to allow as much as one Salmonella per gram of chicken in raw, breaded stuffed chicken products.
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An immodest proposal
It is time to demolish the current ineffective, wasteful, and conflicted system and build a new one, centered on a new Food Safety and Nutrition Agency (FSNA) with a seat at the Cabinet table.
The FSNA would take over all of the food safety and nutrition program activities currently performed by the FDA. In addition, all responsibility for meat, poultry, egg products and catfish would fall under the FSNA umbrella.
The USDA would retain responsiblity for certifying the fitness of livestock for slaughter and certifying the fitness of their meat for human consumption.
At the moment meat or poultry leaves the slaughterhouse, jurisdiction would shift to the FSNA.
This approach would have the benefit of eliminating the conflict of interest inherent in the USDA’s double mandate. It would also unscramble the arbitrary and confusing overlap of jurisdictions between the FDA and the FSIS.
The consolidation of all food safety responsibilities within a single, independent agency is not a new idea.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) was created in 1997 by consolidating into a single agency the food safety components of the Health Protection Branch (then the Canadian equivalent to the FDA), the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Other countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand have followed a similar path.
The bottom line
Congress created the current dysfunctional structure over a span of many decades.
Therefore, it is up to Congress to deconstruct this broken system and build a new one that will work to the benefit of the public it has been elected to represent.
“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.
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.
United States
Allergy Alert: GHSW, LLC recalls Turkey and Havarti Sandwiches (8.55 oz; All sell-by dates up to and including 4/29/23; UPC 8 2676615584 2) due to undeclared sesame in the bread.
Allergy Alert: GH Foods CA, LLC recalls Turkey and Havarti Sandwiches (8.55 oz; All sell-by dates up to and including 4/29/23; UPC 8 2676615584 2) due to undeclared sesame in the bread.
Allergy Alert: GHGA, LLC recalls Turkey and Havarti Sandwiches (8.55 oz; All sell-by dates up to and including 4/29/23; UPC 8 2676615584 2) due to undeclared sesame in the bread.
Food Safety Recall: General Mills recalls Four Gold Medal Unbleached and Bleached All Purpose Flour Varieties (multiple pack sizes; Better if used by March 27, 2024, and March 28, 2024) due to possible Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
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Canada
Food Safety Recall: Super C(Saint-Charles-Borromée, QC)recalls Bœuf haché mi-maigre / Medium lean ground beef (Sold 24 April 2023), because the product might not be safe to consume.
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Europe
OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION (Denmark): The Statens Serum Institut is investigating an outbreak of 16 confirmed cases of Salmonella Muenchen illness reported in March and April 2023. The 16 cases are spread over five regions of the country, with half of them being concentrated in the capital region. No specific food source has yet been identified for this outbreak.
Allergy Alert (Germany): Nordlicht Naturkost GmbH recalls Biogreno Bio Leinsamen geschrotet / Organic ground linseed (500g; Lot 914005; Best before 15.12.2023) due to undeclared mustard.
Allergy Alert (Hungary): Bergland Hungaria Kft. recalls Bergland Gluténmentes tallér köménymaggal / Gluten-free biscuit with cumin seeds (100 g; Best before 23.11.2023) and Gluténmentes tallér medvehagymával / Gluten-free biscuit with shallots (100 g; Best before 20.01.2024) due to undeclared gluten.
Allergy Alert (Ireland): FSAI warns of possible undeclared mustard in True Natural Goodness Organic Brown Linseed (Flaxseed) (5 kg; Best before 20/12/2023 to 07/01/2024 inclusive) and Green Age Salad Mix Seeds & Kernels (250g; Batch code 2233; Best before 24/08/2023).
Allergy Alert (Italy): Euroverde Soc. Agr. S.r.l. recalls Il Viaggiator Goloso brand Passato di verdure con zucchine e patate / Potato purée with zucchini and potatoes (620g; Lot 220103COD; Use by 19-05-2023) due to undeclared gluten.
Allergy Alert (Italy): Food For All snc recalls PUREZZA BIO brand SEMI DI LINO SCURI BIOLOGICI / Organic dark linseed (200g; Use by 03/09/2024) due to undeclared mustard.
Allergy Alert (Italy): Food For All snc recalls PENSA BIO brand SEMI DI LINO SCURI BIOLOGICI / Organic dark linseed (500g; Use by 03/09/2024 and 13/10/2024) due to undeclared mustard.
Allergy Alert (Italy): Food For All snc recalls PUREZZA BIO brand MIX SEMI TOSTATI BIOLOGICI / Organic roasted seeds mix (200g; Use by 29/05/2024) due to undeclared mustard.
Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Albert Heijn recalls AH Saladbowl green bowl (Best before 30-04-2023) due to undeclared sesame.
Allergy Alert (Norway): Rema 1000 recalls Kolonihagen brand Linfrø økologisk / Organic linseed (350g; Batch P-007819; Best before 11/10/2023, 12/10/2023, 13/10/2023, 15/10/2023, 17/10/2023) due to undeclared mustard.
Food Safety Recall (Belgium): AFSCA recalls Taifun brand Tofu-Terrine Graffiti (200g; Lot L220; Best before 02/05/2023) due to possible foreign matter contamination (pieces of plastic).
Food Safety Recall (France): EARL LA BREBIDORE recalls Fromages de brebis / Sheep milk cheeses (Lot 97; Sold from 12/04/2023 to 17/04/2023) due to Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): COOP ELEVAGE AVICOLE ET CUNICOLE GUYANE CACG recalls CACG brand Oeuf coquille / Shell eggs (Cartons of 12 and flats of 30; Lot 2FRIHT01; Use by dates between 01/05/2023 and 04/05/2023) because the flock of laying hens was infected with Salmonella Typhimurium.
Food Safety Recall (France): MARIE MORIN-FRANCE recalls Marie Morin brand MOUSSE CHOCOLAT A L’ANCIENNE / Old-fashioned chocolate mousse (100g and 2 x 100g; Lot 431100002; Use by 11/05/2023) due to foreign matter contamination (glass splinters).
Food Safety Recall (France): CYDEL CARREFOUR-MARKET recalls JAMBON CUIT SUPERIEUR AVEC COUENNE VENDU AU RAYON CHARCUTERIE COUPE DU MAGASIN MARKET RIOM ES MONTAGNES ENTRE LE 12 AVRIL ET LE 19 AVRIL 2023 / Superior cooked ham with rind (Sold by the slice between 12 April and 19 April) due to possible Listeria monocytogenescontamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): FROMAGERIE DE LA CHAPELLE SAINT JEAN recalls fromagerie de la chapelle saint jean brand Rollot brayon raw milk cheese (200g heart-shaped; Lot 132; Best before 29/05/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenescontamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): BELMARO INTERMARCHE recalls steak haché à la demande / ground beef (Carcass lot B914000021821) due to Listeria monocytogenescontamination.
Food Safety Recall (Germany): dm-drogerie markt recalls dmBio Erdmandelmehl / Tigernut flour (300g; Best before 30.04.2024) due to possible Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (UK): Lactalis McLelland Ltd recalls three varieties of goat milk cheese due to possible Listeria monocytogenescontamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
Australia and New Zealand
Allergy Alert (Australia): Usha Food Imports Pty Ltd recalls Jabsons Tandoori Roasted Peanuts (140g; Best before 29 February 2024; Product of India) due to undeclared milk.
Allergy Alert (New Zealand): A B Food Industries Ltdrecalls Wild Snack NZ brand Chicken Cassava Vege Chips (100g; Best before 06 AUG 23 and 10 SEP 23) due to undeclared milk.
“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.
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