Tag: E. coli O157:H7

USDA’s ‘Hold and Test’ Policy: Limitations and Loopholes

This morning, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) released the details of its new ‘hold and test’ policy for meat and poultry products. While the policy marks a step forward for food safety, the details reveal several limitations and loopholes that will limit its effectiveness at reducing the number and magnitude of recalls.

1. The policy will apply to “non-intact raw beef product or intact raw beef product intended for non-intact use” that is tested by FSIS for E. coli O157:H7 and six other shigatoxin-producing E. coli (STECs) that FSIS has designated as adulterants in these products. It does not apply to “…raw meat or poultry products tested for Salmonella or other pathogens that FSIS has not determined to be adulterants in those products.”

2. The policy will apply to any ready-to-eat products tested by FSIS for pathogens, and to ready-to-eat products that passed over food-contact surfaces that have been tested by FSIS for the presence of a pathogen.

3. The policy will apply to livestock carcasses tested by FSIS for the presence of veterinary drugs. It will not apply to poultry carcasses tested for those drugs.

For those who may have missed it, THIS POLICY ONLY APPLIES TO TESTS CARRIED OUT BY FSIS. FSIS tests only a small fraction of the meat and poultry products that are released into commerce every day. Most production line and finished product testing is carried out by food establishments; some using their own in-house labs, and others by sending samples to free-standing independent testing labs. FSIS encourages, but does not mandate, ‘hold and test’ under these circumstances.

In spite of these limitations, FSIS calculates that its new policy will yield an economic benefit of between $12.8 million and $37.8 million annually, comprising:

  • Reduced cost of recalls: $12 million to $37 million
  • Actual averted illnesses: $650,000
  • Estimated averted illnesses from E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella: $106,724

This benefit will more than offset the estimated costs to industry of $923,000 to $1.4 million annually, according to FSIS calculations.

It is said that every journey begins with a single step. FSIS, to its credit, has made some strides in the right direction over the last few years – releasing retail distribution lists for recalled products, expanding the list of pathogens that it considers to be adulterants, and now mandating a limited ‘hold and test’ initiative.

What do you think should be FSIS’s next step? Please take this eFoodAlert survey.

Recalls and Alerts: November 19, 2012

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.

For current information on retail distribution of peanut butter products recalled due to Salmonella Bredeney, please consult the Trader Joe’s/Sunland Peanut Butter Recalls tab.

For current information on retail distribution of beef products containing Canadian beef recalled due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination please consult the Canada/USA Beef Recall tab.

United States

  • Outbreak Alert: CDC reports 28 persons infected with the outbreak of strain of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli o157:H7 from five states, including New York (22), Connecticut (2), Massachusetts (2), Pennsylvania (1) and Virginia (1). Most of those ill in New York state had consumed Wegmans brand Organic Spinach and Spring Mix blend, produced by State Garden (Chelsea, MA). Lab tests conducted on four leftover packages of this product from four outbreak victims’ homes, yielded the outbreak strain. Outbreak victims from states other than New York reported having eaten other brands of pre-packaged leafy greens.
  • Outbreak Alert: The Oregonian reports that a petting zoo and pumpkin patch in Longview, WA has been linked to an outbreak of at least 10 cases of E. coli illnesses. The Willow Grove Gardens Pumpkin Patch has shut down and is not planning to reopen.
  • Food Recall: Bi-Lo and Food City advise their customers that Bailey’s Hazelnut Creamer (16 oz; UPC 0-44100-10753; Item code 581465; Expiry February 26, 2013) has been recalled due to a quality issue.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Pak National Foods Ltd. recalls National Apple Spread (440g; Batch 20 19 2011 (Best before Dec 2012) and Batch 12 18 2011 (Best before 11 12 13); UPC 6 20514 00192 0), due to the presence of undeclared sulphites.
  • Food Safety Recall: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency advises the public not to consume, sell or serve Sunland Inc. Organic Dark Chocolate Creamy Peanut Butter (375g; UPC 0 48687 89829 9; Lot code 100326), because the product has been recalled by the manufacturer due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recalled product was distributed in Quebec, and may have been sold across Canada.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Belgium): Albert Heijn recalls Euro Shopper brand Dark Chocolate Sprinkles (500g; Lot codes L12275 and L12276), due to the presence of undeclared milk powder.
  • Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Disschof (Diksmuide, Belgium) recalls the following cheeses, sold in the Netherlands, due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes: Keiems Bloempje with and without herbs, Keiem Lean To Nature, KeimerBloemetje with Herbs, Keiemnaer, Keiemse White, KeiemseBloemGroot, and Keiem Skinny with herbs.
  • Outbreak Alert (Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom): The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports an increase in cryptosporidiosis notifications in the UK (England and Wales), Netherlands and Germany in late summer-autumn 2012. No other countries have reported an unusual increase, and there is no evidence pointing to a single, common source. Lab and epidemiological investigations are in progress to explore the source of this increased incidence of infections.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Organic Echo Limited recalls Organic Echo brand Les Viva Infant Milk Powder, for 0 – 12 months (800g; Batch CPF0212064; Best before September 6, 2013; Packaged in Malaysia), because the potassium and protein content exceed the standards of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex).

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket’s recall web site.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.

Recalls and Alerts: November 16, 2012

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.

For current information on retail distribution of peanut butter products recalled due to Salmonella Bredeney, please consult the Trader Joe’s/Sunland Peanut Butter Recalls tab.

For current information on retail distribution of beef products containing Canadian beef recalled due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination please consult the Canada/USA Beef Recall tab.

United States

  • Allergy Alert: Berres Brothers, Inc. (Watertown, WI) recalls Berres Brothers Coffee Roasters brand Chocolate & Peanut Butter Coffee (12 oz, 2.5 oz, 1.5 oz & 5-lb bulk; Julian date code 12001-12318; whole bean and ground coffee; regular and decaffeinated coffee), Monkey Mocha Coffee (1.5 oz ground & 5-lb bulk regular whole bean; Julian date codes 12271-12318) and Lunch with Elvis Coffee ( 1.5 oz ground, 12 oz regular ground and whole bean, 12 oz decaffeinated ground and whole bean, 5-lb bulk; Julian date codes 12091-12319), due to the presence of undeclared nuts. The recalled coffees were distributed throughout the USA and Guam.
  • Food Safety Recall: Publix Super Markets recalls forty-five cake products, after being notified by their supplier, Maplehurst, that the cakes may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were sold between November 11th through November 15th, 2012 from the retail service bakery departments of Publix stores in the following Florida counties: Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Flagler, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of affected products.
  • Outbreak Alert: Columbus, Ohio Public Health reports an outbreak of Shigella illness in the city. Since the start of the outbreak, 771 cases of shigellosis have been diagnosed and are under investigation.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: Food Safety News reports that the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in New York State  that is linked to Wegmans spinach and spring mix has grown to 20 confirmed cases. Six outbreak victims were hospitalized, but all have recovered.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Danish Supermarket recalls Tasty Turkey brand Turkey Breast (900g packs; Best before 26/11/2012; Batch No. 886728), due to Salmonella contamination.
  • Food Safety Recall (Switzerland): Coop recalls Naturaplan tender shoulder ham (150g; All lots), after Listeria was detected in a sample from the lot bearing expiry date 19.11.2012.
  • Personal Care Product Safety Recall (France): Auchan recalls Auchan Lessive Liquide Gel Main “express”/ Express Liquid Gel Hand Cleanser (250ml tube; Lots #2222031, 2222131, 2222231, 2227531, 2227631, 2228331, 2228431, and 2228531) due to potential contamination with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Allergy Alert: Berres Brothers, Inc. (Watertown, WI) recalls Berres Brothers Coffee Roasters brand Chocolate & Peanut Butter Coffee (12 oz, 2.5 oz, 1.5 oz & 5-lb bulk; Julian date code 12001-12318; whole bean and ground coffee; regular and decaffeinated coffee), Monkey Mocha Coffee (1.5 oz ground & 5-lb bulk regular whole bean; Julian date codes 12271-12318) and Lunch with Elvis Coffee ( 1.5 oz ground, 12 oz regular ground and whole bean, 12 oz decaffeinated ground and whole bean, 5-lb bulk; Julian date codes 12091-12319), due to the presence of undeclared nuts. The recalled coffees were distributed throughout the USA and Guam.

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket’s recall web site.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.