Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA) will replace Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) as the top Democrat on the House subcommittee that oversees both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture budgets.

DeLauro, a longtime advocate for a stronger FDA and federal food safety system, chaired the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies since the Democrats took control of Congress in 2006, but announced late last week that she will instead serve as Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.

Farr has strong ties to agriculture, especially the produce industry, which is a major economic force in his district. Farr is also knowledgeable about food safety issues. He has served on the Appropriations Committee since 1999.  

“The Central Coast is home to one of the most rich and diverse agriculture regions in the nation,” said Rep. Farr in a recent statement. “This unique opportunity allows me to help steer the course of Agriculture policy in our country, and gives me the right tools to support our local farms and famers.”

Leading produce groups are pleased that Farr will set the Democratic agenda for Ag Appropriations.

“This is great news,” said Grower-Shippper Association of Central California President and General Counsel Jim Bogart. “Sam Farr has been a strong support of agriculture in general, and a champion of Central Coast agriculture in particular. We look forward to continuing our collaborative and effective working relationship with Congressman Farr in 2011 and the years to come. I couldn’t be happier.”

California is the nation’s largest agriculture production state. According to Farr’s office, the Central Coast counties of Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz produce approximately $4.5 billion in agricultural goods each year and Monterey County alone produces more than 85 crops with a value of $3.8 billion.

“As a veteran lawmaker from a California County that is the third largest agricultural producer in the state, Congressman Farr has in-depth knowledge of the diverse needs of agriculture,” said Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Eric Lauritzen. “Having Congressman Farr in this vitally important position in the U.S. Congress places him at the epicenter of critical deliberations on funding issues that will directly impact the next farm bill, food safety implementation and nutrition programs.”

DeLauro issued a statement saying she was proud of her record leading the Ag Appropriations Subcommittee, but is looking forward to leading the Minority agenda on a committee that deals with the “highest moral obligation” of government.

“I have been proud to serve on the Agriculture and FDA Appropriations Subcommittee, and am very proud of what we were able to accomplish,” said DeLauro. “We provided the necessary resources to better protect our food supply, as well as improve the safety of drugs and devices. We improved access to fundamental nutrition programs that combat hunger. And, we provided critical investments to help facilitate growth in rural America.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is collaborating with public health officials in many states, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella serotype Montevideo infections.

Daniele, Inc. announced today that the company is initiating a voluntary recall of its Pepper-Coated Salame products because of possible concerns about Salmonella contamination.  Preliminary results indicate that eleven ill individuals consumed salame products from “Daniele Italian Brand Gourmet Pack” before becoming ill with Salmonella. 

State and federal health officials have been unable to confirm a direct link between the illnesses and any Daniele product, but the investigation is ongoing.  Investigators are using DNA analysis of Salmonella bacteria obtained through diagnostic testing to identify cases of illness that may be part of this outbreak.

salmonella outbreak feature.jpgAs of 12:00 pm EST on January 22, 2010, a total of 184 individuals infected with a matching strain of Salmonella Montevideo were reported from 38 states to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between July 1, 2009 and Jan. 10, 2010. 

The number of ill persons identified in each state with this strain is as follows:  AL (2), AZ (5), CA (30), CO (2), CT (4), DE (2), FL (2), GA (3), IA (1),  IL (11), IN (3), KS (3), LA (1), MA (12), MD (1), ME (1), MI (1), MN (4), NC (9), ND (1), NE (1), NH (1), NJ (7), NY (15), OH (9), OK (1), OR (8), PA (3),  RI (2), SC (1), SD (3), TN (3), TX (7), UT (7), VA (1), WA (14), WV (1), and WY (2).

Because this is a commonly occurring strain, public health investigators may determine that some of the illnesses are not part of this outbreak.

Among the persons with reported dates available, illnesses began between July 2, 2009 and January 1, 2010.  Infected individuals range in age from less than one year old to 88 years old; the median age is 37 years. 

Fifty-two percent of patients are male.  Among the 125 patients with available information, 35 (28%) were hospitalized.

No deaths have been reported, according to the CDC.

Please see the CDC’s Salmonella Outbreak Investigations: Timeline for Reporting Cases for more details.

Anyone having any of the following products should return the product for a full refund at the point of purchase.
 

  • Daniele All Natural Salame (Coated with Coarse Black Pepper) (10 oz)
  • Daniele Brand Gourmet Pack (Emballage Assorti Gourmet Italian)  (500g)
  • Daniele Deli Selection (20 oz)
  • Daniele Deli Selection (32 oz)
  • Daniele Gourmet Combo Pack (16 oz)
  • Daniele Gourmet Deli Selection (Assortment De Fines Charcuterie Italienne)  (400g)
  • Daniele Gourmet Italian Deli Selection (600g)
  • Daniele Italian Brand Gourmet Pack (16 oz)
  • Daniele Italian Brand Gourmet Pack (8 oz)
  • Daniele Natural Salame Coated with Coarse Black Pepper (catch weight)
  • Daniele Pepper Salame  (catch weight)
  • Daniele Salame Bites Pepper Salame (7 oz)
  • Daniele Surtido Fino Italiano (340g)
  • Daniele Surtido Fino Italiano (454g)
  • Dietz & Watson Artisan Collection Baby Genoa Pepper Salame (catch weight)
  • Dietz and Watson Artisan Collection Party Platter Pack (8 oz)
  • Boar’s Head All Natural Salame (Coated with Coarse Black Pepper) (8 oz)
  • Black Bear Baby Genoa Pepper Salame (9 oz)

These products are carried at a wide variety of delicatessens and grocers. Consumers or food distributors with any questions are asked to call (888-345-4160).

Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12-72 hours after infection. Infection is usually diagnosed by culture of a stool sample. The illness usually lasts from 4 to 7 days. Although most people recover without treatment, severe infections may occur. Infants, elderly persons, and those with weakened immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness.

When severe infection occurs, Salmonella may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.

The number of patients in a Salmonella outbreak traced to cantaloupe has doubled since Nov. 30, and one more person has died.

As of today, Dec. 7, 230 people across 38 states have been infected. Of the people with information available, 96 have required hospitalization. Three people have died, two from Minnesota and one from Oregon. The outbreak strains of Salmonella are particularly virulent because Salmonella infections usually don’t require hospitalization.

Illnesses started on dates ranging from Oct. 16 to Nov. 20. The sick people range from less than 1 to 100 years old.

“The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak,” according to today’s update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For every confirmed patient in a Salmonella outbreak, there are generally 28 unconfirmed cases. That means almost 6,500 people could be sick in this outbreak.

Public health officials at the state and local levels are interviewing patients. Of the 105 people interviewed, 78 reported eating cantaloupe before becoming ill. Of the 78 people who reported eating cantaloupe, 42 specifically reported eating pre-cut, and 18 reported eating whole cantaloupe.

There have been numerous recalls of whole and pre-cut cantaloupe. The FDA has a running list of those recalls on this page. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises consumers not to eat pre-cut cantaloupe.

Of those patients with information available, 24 reside at long-term facilities. Nine of the 12 interviewed reported eating cantaloupe. Another 23 patients in the outbreak were children who attended childcare centers. Of 20 with information available, 13 ate cantaloupe.

Information on this outbreak was first released on Nov. 17. 

There is a corresponding outbreak in Canada that stretches across seven provinces.

In Canada, as of Dec. 7, there have been 129 laboratory-confirmed cases of Salmonella Soahanina, Sundsvall, and Oranienburg illness linked to this outbreak in the following provinces: British Columbia (15), Ontario (17), Quebec (91), Prince Edward Island (2), New Brunswick (2), and Newfoundland and Labrador (2). 

Individuals became sick between mid-October and mid-November. Forty-four individuals have been hospitalized. Five deaths have been reported. Individuals who became ill are between less than 1 to 100 years of age.

The same brand of whole cantaloupe — Malichita — has been recalled in Canada and the United States. The cantaloupe was imported from Mexico.

Marler Clark has been in the lead for all the Cantaloupe Outbreaks Lawsuits over the last decades. Here is a sampling:

About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.

Anyone who has eaten any cantaloupe and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.

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C & S Wholesale Grocers Inc., of Keene, NH, is recalling over two hundred types of perishable items sold at Stop & Shop stores located in the New York Metro Region because they were not held at an appropriate temperature.

According to the details posted online by the FDA, the recall was initiated on July 19, 2023 and is ongoing.

The recalled products were distributed in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. 

Recalled products:

29,469 cases of various products, styles of pack, case sizes and counts:

  1. Cleveland Kraut Classic
  2. Cleveland Kraut Beets 
  3. Kimchi Vegan Mild Cabbage
  4. Galaxy Parmeson Topping
  5. Vitro Vegan Cheddar Shreds 
  6. Vitro Cheddar Block 
  7. Vitros Cheddar Slices 
  8. Vitros Mozz Shreds 
  9. Vitros vegan Feta 
  10. Galaxy Cheddar Veggie Sliced Mozzarella 
  11. Field Roast Chao Sliced Tomato
  12. Field Roast Chao Creamy Original 
  13. Arivia Plant Based Cream Cheese 
  14. Galaxy Cheddar Veggie Sliced Pepper Jack 
  15. Galaxy Cheddar Veggie Sliced American
  16. Gourmet Garden Jalapeno 
  17. Groumet Garden Roasted Garlic 
  18. Gourmet Garden Italian Herb 
  19. Gourmet Garden Parsley Blend 
  20. Gourmet Garden Cilantro 
  21. Gourmet Garden Ginger 
  22. Gourmet Garden Chunky Garlic 
  23. Gourmet Garden Parsley 
  24. Gourmet Garden Lightly Dried Basil 
  25. Gourmet Garden Gilantro Lightly Dried Bowl 
  26. Gourmet Garden Lightly Dried Chives
  27. JSL Fortune Yakisoba 
  28. JSL Dragon Wonton Wrap Nasoya Shiratake Fettucine 
  29. JSL Original Stirfry Noodle 
  30. Nasoya Large Tofu Vegetable Dumpling Twin Dragon Egg Roll Wrapper 
  31. JSL Stir Fry Noodles
  32. Tofurky Holiday Ham Roast 
  33. Nasoya Tofu X-Firm Twin Pack 
  34. Field Roast Apple Vegan Sausage 
  35. Field Roast Veggie Burger 
  36. Lightlife Jackfruit 
  37. Nasoya Thai Basil Dumpling 
  38. Field Roast Italian Sausage 
  39. Field Roast Apple Sausage 
  40. BBQ Jackfruit 
  41. Tex Mex Jackfruit 
  42. Lightlife Sausage Chorizo 
  43. Nasoya Organic Tofu Firm 
  44. Nasoya Zesty Mex Skillet 
  45. Field Roast Chipotle Sausage 
  46. Nasoya Super Firm Sprouted Tofu 
  47. Lightlife Smart Sausage Italian
  48. Lightlife Smart Slice Turkey 
  49. Nasoya Extra Firm Tofu
  50. Lightlife Smart Bacon 
  51. Upton’s Naturals Jackfruit Thai Curry 
  52. Smart Dogs Plant Based Hot Dogs 
  53. Nasoya Organic Super Firm Tofu Tofurky Italian Sausage 
  54. Lightlife Smart Ground Crumbles 
  55. Lightlife Smart Ground Mexican Crumbles 
  56. Tofurky Oven Roasted Deli Slices, 
  57. Del Monte Red Grapefruit 
  58. Del Monte Citrus Salad 
  59. Del Monte Grapefruit No sugar added 
  60. Del Monte Pears 
  61. Del Monte Blueberry Parfait 
  62. Del Monte Mandarine Orange 
  63. Del Monte Peaches No Sugar Added 
  64. Del Monte Red Grapefruit 
  65. Del Monte Pineapple 
  66. Del Monte Natural Peaches 
  67. Del Monte Citrus Salad 
  68. Del Monte Natural Red Grapefruit No Sugar Added 
  69. Del Monte Natural Cherry Mixed Fruit 100% Juice 
  70. Bolthouse Avocado Goddess Dressing 
  71. Bolthouse Blue Cheese Dressing Bolthouse Caesar Dressing 
  72. Bolthouse Cucumber Ranch Dressing 
  73. Marzetti Light Ranch Veg Dip 
  74. Marzetti French Onion Veg Dip 
  75. Marzetti Spinach Veg Dip 
  76. Marzetti Simply Dressed Lemon Vinagrete 
  77. Marzetti Simply Dressed Ranch Dressing 
  78. Marzetti Simply Dressed Caesar 
  79. Makoto Ginger Dressing 
  80. Bolthouse Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing 
  81. Maries Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing 
  82. Maries Creamy Ranch Dressing 
  83. Maries White Balsamic Vinagret 
  84. Maries Garlic Parm Italian Vinagret 
  85. Maries Coleslaw Dressing 
  86. Maries Super Blue Cheese Dressing 
  87. Maries Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing 
  88. Panera Caesar Dressing Bolthouse Ranch Dressing 
  89. Marzetti Supreme Caesar Dressing 
  90. Marzett 100 cal fruit dip 
  91. Wholly Guacamole Chunky 
  92. Wholly Gucamole Classic 
  93. Wholly Guacamole Organic Minis 
  94. Wholly Guacamole Salsa Verde 
  95. Mitchell’s Chipotle Salsa 
  96. Mitchell’s Medium Salsa 
  97. Mitchell’s Mild Salsa 
  98. Calavo Authentic Gucamole 
  99. La Mexicana Medium Salsa 
  100. La Mexicana Mild Salsa 
  101. Panera Poppyseed Dressing 
  102. Panera Balsamic Dressing 
  103. Bolthouse Cilantro Avocado Dressing 
  104. Bolthouse Ranch Dressing 
  105. La Mexicana Hot Salsa 
  106. Italian Rose Bruschetta 
  107. Light Dill Vegetable Dip 
  108. Ranch Vegetable Dip 
  109. Simply Avocado Dressing 
  110. Wholly Guacamole Chunky 
  111. Maries Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing 
  112. Maries Caesar Dressing 
  113. Maries Blue Cheese Dressing 
  114. Maries Italian Vinaigrette Dressing 
  115. Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing 
  116. Classic Ranch Dressing 
  117. Pom Wonderful Blueberry Juice 
  118. Calavo Fresh Pico Guacamole
  119. Garden Fresh Jack’s Special Medium Salsa, 
  120. Natures Promise Lemonade 
  121. Natures Promise Orange 
  122. Natures Promise Tangerine 
  123. Harmless Harvest Coconut Water Organic 
  124. Natalies Guava Lemonade 
  125. Natalies Lemonade 
  126. Natalies Guava Lemonade 
  127. Natalies Strawberry Lemonade 
  128. So Good Grapefruit 
  129. So Good Detox Pineapple Orange 
  130. So Good Immunity Watermelon 
  131. So Good Cantaloupe 
  132. Pom Wonderful Peach 
  133. Pom Wonderful Honey Green Tea 
  134. Evolution Fresh Organic Super Fruit Greens 
  135. Kevita Lemon Cayanne 
  136. Harmless Harvest Coconut water 
  137. Organic Healthade Blood Orange Carrot Ginnger Kombucha 
  138. Healthade Cayenne Kombucha 
  139. Healthade Ginger Lemon Kombucha 
  140. Healthade Bubly Rose Kombucha 
  141. GTS Trilogy Kombucha 
  142. GTS Gingerberry Kombucha 
  143. GTS Gingerade Kombucha 
  144. Naked Juice Protein Zone 
  145. Remedy Organic Cacao Essentials 
  146. Suja mighty Dozen 
  147. Remedy Organic Matcha Fuel 
  148. Remedy Organic Super Chai Fueld 
  149. Remedy Organic Berry Immunity 
  150. Suja Organ Uber Green Vive Immunity Mix 
  151. GTS Pineapple Kombucha 
  152. Suja Celery Juice Evolution 
  153. Fresh Organic Green Devotion 
  154. Evolution Fresh Organic Defense Up 
  155. GTS Raspberry Chia Kombucha 
  156. GTS Watermelon Kombucha 
  157. GTS Multi Green Kombucha 
  158. GTS Mango Kombucha 
  159. Suja Organic Immunity Defense
  160. Rebbl Organic Reshi Chocolate Milk 
  161. Vive Organic Immunity Blast 
  162. Vive Organic Wellness 
  163. DoctorD’s Cherry Probiotic 
  164. DoctorD’s Pinaple Probiotic 
  165. DoctorD’s Apple Probiotic 
  166. DoctorD’s Grape Probiotic 
  167. Vive Sparkling Lemon 
  168. Vive Sparkling Orange 
  169. Healthade Kombucha 
  170. Healthade Strawberry Kombucha 
  171. Bolthouse Chocolate Peanut Butter Probiotic 
  172. Kevita Peach Lemon Kombucha 
  173. Suja Organic Digestion Shot 
  174. Suja Organic Immunity 
  175. Gutzy Organic Banana Berry Pomegranate Watermelon Water Brew 
  176. DR Clear Mind Kombucha 
  177. Samba Organic Acai Berry Juice 
  178. Samba Energy Juice 
  179. Pom Wonderful Juice 
  180. Stop and Shop Apple Cider Stop and Shop Apple Cider 
  181. Pom Wonderful Juice 
  182. Pom Wonderful Juice 
  183. Naked Juice Mango 
  184. Pom Wonderful Pomegranate Cherry Juice 
  185. Pom Wonderful Orange Blossom White Tea 
  186. Health-Ade Kombucha Tea Pink Lady Drink 
  187. Health-Ade Kombucha Tea Pomegranate Drink 
  188. Health-Ade Kombucha Tea Tropical Punch Drink 
  189. GT’s Kombucha
  190. Sacred Life 5% 
  191. GT’s Kombucha Gingerade 
  192. GT’s Kombucha, Trilogy 
  193. GT’s Kombucha, Guava 
  194. GT’s Kombucha, Cosmic Cranberry 
  195. Dark Chocolate Plant Protein Immunity Drink 
  196. Turmeric Golden-Milk Immunity Drink 
  197. Health-Ade Kombucha 
  198. Tea Passion Fruit Drink Brew 
  199. Dr Kombucha Strawberry Brew 
  200. Dr Kombucha Love 
  201. Suja Uber Greens Organic Drink 
  202. Suja Organic Vegan Mighty Dozen Drink

Code Information:

  • Unit UPCs: 6998200000, 6998200001,  2548400739, 7717264005, 1093403021, 1093403067, 1093403010, 1093403020, 1093403023, 7717266720, 6380335631, 6380335628, 1093403019, 7717166718, 7717266722, 7520800165, 7520800154, 7520800157, 7520800003, 7520800065, 7520800068, 7520800070, 8752080017, 7520800155, 7520800123, 7520800134, 7049203883, 7469901023, 2548400000, 7049203860, 2548400815, 7469901025, 7049200000, 2558311087, 2548400701, 3803161180, 3803140650, 5980600329, 2548400703, 3803141215, 3803141217, 5980600302, 5980600325, 4345410065, 2548400010, 2548400735, 3803161216, 2548400657, 4345410062, 4345410020, 8826744936, 4345410104, 5107000610, 4345410012, 2548400012, 2558300602, 4345410015, 4345410018, 2558366873, 0240000008, 0240000009, 0240005091, 2400055117, 0000131599, 2400050791, 2400050792, 2400050785, 2400050788, 2400050787, 5400050799, 2400050793, 2400050786, 0714640227, 0714640228, 0714640227, 0714640228, 7020052208, 7020052203, 7020052205, 0702005342, 0702005342, 7020055457, 5576300025, 714640218, 7184005080, 7184004281, 7184020212, 7184020217, 7184004330, 7184009012, 7184009203, 0189591400, 0714640218, 7020050439, 0702005406, 1611286876, 1611286875, 1611269823, 1611280257, 5672400504, 9450400504, 8907607250, 7074061610, 0201130015, 0201130015, 0189591400, 0189591400, 0714640227, 0714640228, 0201130014, 0777189980, 7020052206, 7020052200, 0702005342, 1611202855, 7184009112, 7184004934, 7184005081, 7184004253, 7020050421, 7020050425, 2415040448, 7074061612, 4767100014, 8826767147, 8826752718, 8826752719, 5907800215, 7253417171, 7253415555, 7253417171, 7253418888, 8601600025, 8500056224, 8500056222, 8514810063, 8241502231, 8241502261, 7623570421, 5331100373, 5907800262, 5186100616, 5186100610, 5186100609, 5186100606, 2243011049, 2243060049, 2243020049, 8259263135, 8595390070, 1861702007, 8595390070 8595390070, 8595390070, 1861702006, 8565020064, 2243042006, 1861702261, 6235704411, 6235701757, 2243022006 2243034006, 2243014006, 2243050006, 8186170208, 5814800309, 5650200608, 5650200603, 8531250051, 8531250053 8531250051, 8531250051, 8565020067, 8565020067, 1184061006, 1118484030, 7146402317, 8360939112, 8186170208 8186170225, 1944201013, 5292100512, 8511070030, 1841100122, 1841100121, 2415040116, 2112042394, 2219800238 2415040148, 2415060124, 8259266064, 2415060516, 8241509101, 5186100612, 5186100611, 5186100671, 2243092006 2243020006, 2243011006, 2243090006, 2243030006, 0000258211, 5814800311, 5186100686, 8511070030, 8511070030 5921300501, 5420800513.

Anyone who purchased the recalled products should immediately dispose of it and not consume it.

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– analysis –

From peanut butter cups to chicken salad, recalls caused by J.M. Smucker Co.’s peanut butter recall keep coming.

Peanut butter is a product uniquely positioned to cause a cascade of secondary recalls. Businesses use the recalled peanut butter to make chocolate products, sandwiches, snack packs, fudge, dog treats and more.

Small businesses have also been impacted. My wife used to work at a small “ma and pa” chocolate and fudge shop. She made runs to her grocery store regularly to restock the peanut butter supply. Without a step in the fudge or chocolate-making process to kill pathogens, businesses like these and their customers must rely on the safety of the peanut butter on the grocery store shelves.

When it comes to the J.M. Smucker Co.’s peanut butter recall, many businesses already had secondary products out on shelves, purchased, or worse, consumed.

Since the initial J.M. Smucker Co. peanut butter recall on May 20, the FDA has posted 16 recalls from various companies because of the contaminated peanut butter. Officials anticipate more.

In 2009, Peanut Corp of America (PCA) initiated a recall of their peanut butter products after a link was discovered between their products and an outbreak caused by Salmonella Typhimurium. This recall became the most expensive food recall in U.S. history and resulted in nearly 4,000 downstream products being recalled by 361 companies. 

Illnesseses related to the PCA outbreak were first discovered in late 2008, and they continued to appear through April 2009, when the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s last report on the outbreak was published. A total of 714 people were sickened, with 171 hospitalized. Nine people died.

History tells us that these outbreaks take time to fully reveal themselves. 

The current CDC investigation of the Salmonella outbreak connected to J.M. Smucker Co.’s Jif peanut butter has revealed 16 illnesses in 12 states. So far 2 people have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported.

It remains to be seen if this salmonella outbreak reaches anywhere near the same numbers as the 2008-2009 Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak. 

Consumers can do their part in staying safe by watching for recalls. Here at Food Safety News, we try to keep consumers up to date, but the number of recalls can make that difficult.

Below you can find a partial list of recalls of food products associated with peanut butter from J.M. Smucker Co.

Recalls:

About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.

Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here)

– OPINION –

  1. Will J.M. Smucker Company and/or the FDA release immediately all inspection reports on this Jif plant from 2010 (see below) to the present?
  2. Will J.M. Smucker Company and/or the FDA answer if other WGS Salmonella Senftenberg samples found on the public database NCBI from 2010 to the present (notably 2014) are or are not linked to the J.M. Smucker Company Jif Peanut Butter plant?

A little transparency would be nice.

Since the last update on May 21, 2022, two more illnesses have been reported. As of May 25, 2022, a total of 16 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Senftenberg have been reported from 12 states:  Arkansas (1), Georgia (2), Illinois (1), Massachusetts (1), Missouri (2), Ohio (1), North Carolina (2), New York (1), South Carolina (1), Texas (2), Virginia (1), and Washington (1).

Interesting fact, according to the CDC, for every one person who is a stool-culture confirmed positive victim of Salmonella in the United States, there is a multiple of 38.5 who are also sick but remain uncounted. (See, AC Voetsch, “FoodNet estimate of the burden of illness caused by nontyphoidal Salmonella infections in the United States,” Clinical Infectious Diseases 2004; 38 (Suppl 3): S127-34).

Illnesses started on dates ranging from February 19, 2022, through May 2, 2022. Sick people range in age from less than one to 85 years, with a median age of 51, and 73 percent are female. Of nine people with information available, two have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

The true number of sick people in an outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 2 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.

State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 10 people interviewed, 10 reported eating peanut butter. Of the nine sick people with brand information, all nine  reported eating Jif brand peanut butter.

Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis shows that samples from sick people in this investigation are closely related genetically to a sample collected in 2010 from the environment at J.M. Smucker Company’s facility in Lexington, KY, where some Jif brand peanut butter is produced.  We have sent a Freedom of Information Act request to the FDA for the release of all inspection reports of this plant from 2010 to the present.

On May 20, 2022, J.M. Smucker Company recalled multiple Jif brand peanut butter types. Additional companies have recalled food items made with Jif brand peanut butter. Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled foods.

Here is the recall list so far, thanks to eFoodAlert:

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  1. Will J.M. Smucker Company and/or the FDA release immediately all inspection reports on this Jif plant from 2010 (see below) to the present?
  2. Will J.M. Smucker Company and/or the FDA answer if other WGS Salmonella Senftenberg samples found on the public database NCBI from 2010 to the present (notably 2014) are or are not linked to the J.M. Smucker Company Jif Peanut Butter plant?

A little transparency would be nice.

Since the last update on May 21, 2022, two more illnesses have been reported. As of May 25, 2022, a total of 16 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Senftenberg have been reported from 12 states:  Arkansas (1), Georgia (2), Illinois (1), Massachusetts (1), Missouri (2), Ohio (1), North Carolina (2), New York (1), South Carolina (1), Texas (2), Virginia (1), and Washington (1).

Interesting fact, according to the CDC, for every one person who is a stool-culture confirmed positive victim of Salmonella in the United States, there is a multiple of 38.5 who are also sick but remain uncounted. (See, AC Voetsch, “FoodNet estimate of the burden of illness caused by nontyphoidal Salmonella infections in the United States,” Clinical Infectious Diseases 2004; 38 (Suppl 3): S127-34).

Illnesses started on dates ranging from February 19, 2022, through May 2, 2022. Sick people range in age from less than one to 85 years, with a median age of 51, and 73% are female. Of nine people with information available, two have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

The true number of sick people in an outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 2 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.

State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 10 people interviewed, 10 (100%) reported eating peanut butter. Of the nine sick people with brand information, all nine (100%) reported eating Jif brand peanut butter.

Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis shows that samples from sick people in this investigation are closely related genetically to a sample collected in 2010 from the environment at J.M. Smucker Company’s facility in Lexington, KY, where some Jif brand peanut butter is produced.  We have sent a Freedom of Information Act request to the FDA for the release of all inspection reports of this plant from 2010 to the present.

On May 20, 2022, J.M. Smucker Company recalled multiple Jif brand peanut butter types. Additional companies have recalled food items made with Jif brand peanut butter. Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled foods.

Here is the most current recall list thanks to eFoodAlert:

– oPiNION –

By Adriene Cooper, Senior Events Manager, Food Safety Summit

After a two-year hiatus from our live event, the Food Safety Summit will gather more than 1,500 food safety professionals who will have access to five certificate courses, three full days of education sessions, more than vendors showcasing the newest and most innovative food safety solutions and several networking opportunities. The live event will take place May 10 through May 12, with pre-event certificate courses taking place on May 9, all at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, which is a suburb of Chicago.  

The event will kick off with a Mock Civil Trial 2.0 with Shawn Stevens and Joel Chappelle from the Food Industry Counsel arguing a large-scale foodborne illness outbreak with the audience deliberating the case and issuing a final verdict. 

General sessions include the keynote presentation focusing on The Future of Food Safety Culture: Commitment and Collaboration with speakers from the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Justice and Publix Super Markets; the Summit’s Annual Town Hall with leaders from FDA, USDA, Centers for Disease control and Prevention and the Association of Food and Drug Officials; and an interactive closing session “In the Trenches with Sanitation: Challenges and Key Learning from Solving Problems in the Field.”

On May 9, the Summit will kick off with five certificate courses focused on Intentional Adulteration, Environmental Sampling, HACCP, Food Fraud Prevention, and Certified Professional-Food Safety.

On behalf of BNP Media, the Food Safety Summit and Food Safety Magazine, we are looking forward to welcoming the food safety community back to Rosemont for the first in-person event since 2019.

For 24 years, the Food Safety Summit has gathered leading subject matter experts from various backgrounds to learn the most effective solutions, evaluate the latest technology, and network with like-minded peers. This year, we are returning to an in-person meeting after two successful (but distanced) years in a virtual environment and we are confident, our attendees and exhibitors will find the chance to reconnect with one another face-to-face worthwhile. Our Educational Advisory Board — comprising subject matter experts from diverse backgrounds including manufacturing, consulting, retail/foodservice, regulatory/legal, academic, and others — has prepared an outstanding education program providing solutions for today’s most pressing food safety challenges.

In addition to the general sessions, the Summit will offer dozens of education sessions featuring insight from subject matter experts from government, academia and industry on such hot topics as leadership, food safety culture, the costs of foodborne illness, communicating with regulators, supply chain, tech-enabled traceability, virtual auditing tools, cybersecurity, food safety management systems, and a number of others. Visit https://www.food-safety.com/food-safety-summit/agenda for the sessions and speakers.

We have developed a stellar education program which will offer many new speakers from EG America, Feeding America, Consumer Brands Association, Institute of Food Technologists, McDonald’s, Butterball, Del Monte Fresh Produce, BrightFarms, Stop Foodborne Illness, Frick Quality Meats, and many returning speaker.s  We invite our attendees to take advantage of the numerous networking opportunities we’ve built into the program to reconnect with peers, and also to make new connections with top solutions providers in the Exhibit Hall.

The Exhibit Hall will be open on Wednesday and Thursday From 10:30 – 2:30pm and will feature Gold Sponsor Purell; Silver Sponsors Intertek Alchemy and InstantRecall; and Bronze Sponsors Infor, Redzone and Zenput. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from technology companies in the Tech Tent and attend live sponsored education sessions on the Solutions Stage with informative presentations from  Spartan, Millipore Sigma, FoodChain ID, Enviro Tech, SafetyChain Software, ThinkIQ, CMX, and FoodLogiIQ, as well as Solutions Stage presentations by bioMerieux, Controland, Eagle Protect PBC, LUBRIPLATE Lubricants Company, NSF International, GOJO Industries, Valor Manufacturing Training, Xcluder, Bruker, Contec, Professional, Kestrel Tellevate LLC, Registrar Corp., and others.  

There are several networking events including the welcome reception on Tuesday evening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. On Wednesday evening from 5:30 p.m. to7 p.m., the Food Safety Summit will be hosting an evening reception to support Feeding America, where the Summit will match every dollar donated to support hunger relief in America.   

For more information and updates for the 2022 event, visit www.foodsafetysummit.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. For access to the full program and for attendee registration, visit  https://www.food-safety.com/food-safety-summit. 

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Genji Pacific LLC. of Allentown, PA, is recalling 1,490 packs of sushi containing cocktail shrimp over potential salmonella contamination. The sushi was sold at Whole Foods Market stores in California.

The recall was initiated after Avanti Frozen Foods Pvt. Ltd expanded their recall to include a particular lot of frozen shrimp received by Mai Sushi at some California locations. Although these products have shelf life of 1 day, the firm is initiating this recall to ensure customer safety. No illnesses have been confirmed in relation to the sushi shrimp. The recalled sushi products were sold from Genji Sushi counters inside Whole Foods Markets stores.

The overall Avanti recall is linked to a Salmonella outbreak.

“There have been nine reports of Salmonella-related illness to date associated with these cooked shrimp distributions,” the Avanti Frozen Foods Pvt. Ltd. expanded recall notice said. At least two people have been hospitalized.

Recalled sushi products
The Genji Pacific LLC. are products were packed in clear lid containers, with labels indicating the product name, ingredients and best-by date. The products can be identified with the Hand-Crafted date of 8/12/2021 and 8/13/2021 and Best By Date of 08/13/2021 and 08/14/2021 and the following UPC numbers:

Product List:

Item Name UPC
12 PC Shrimp Tempura Kabuki Roll [BR] 81244803670
12 PC Shrimp Tempura Kabuki Roll [WR] 81244803410
12 PC Spicy Shrimp Tempura Roll [WR] 81244803385
August Box of the Month NCA 84003140261
Double Shrimp BBQ Roll WR 81244803204
ONO SHRIMP POKE BOWL 84003140699
Rainbow Sushi Set [WR] 81244803418
Sept Box of The Month (NCA) WR 84003140397
Shrimp California Roll [BR] 81244803702
Shrimp California Roll [WR] 81244803442
Shrimp Summer Roll 81282401393
Spicy Shrimp California Roll [WR] 81244803444
Spicy Shrimp Inari 4 PC [WR] 81244803399
Spicy Shrimp Inari 4pc Kabuki [WR] 81244803408
Spicy Shrimp Tempura Roll [WR] 81244803443
WOK ST SHRIMP VEGGIE LO MEIN P 84003140247
Wok st. Shrimp Lo Mein 84003140405

Products were sold at Whole Foods Market stores at the following locations:

  • 3000 Telegraph Ave Berkeley CA 94705
  • 390 Coddingtown Mall Santa Rosa CA 95401
  • 3502 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Lafayette CA 94549
  • 414 Miller Ave Mill Valley CA 94941
  • 790 De Long Avenue Novato CA 94945-7005
  • 621 E. Washington St Petaluma CA 94952
  • 340 Third St San Rafael CA 94901
  • 1181 Yulupa Ave Santa Rosa CA 95405
  • 6910 McKinley St Sebastopol CA 95472
  • 3111 Mowry Avenue Fremont CA 94538
  • 1025 Gilman Street Berkeley CA 94710
  • 230 Bay Place Oakland CA 94612
  • 774 Emerson St Palo Alto CA 94301
  • 5200 Dublin Blvd. Dublin CA 94568
  • 1010 Park Place San Mateo CA 94403
  • 100 Sunset Drive San Ramon CA 94583
  • 1333 Newell Ave Walnut Creek CA 94596
  • 2941 Ygnacio Valley Rd Walnut Creek CA 94598
  • 731 East Blithedale Mill Valley CA 94941
  • 2001 Market Street San Francisco CA 94114
  • 1765 California St San Francisco CA 94109
  • 690 Stanyan Street San Francisco CA 94117-3305
  • 3950 24th Street San Francisco CA 94114
  • 1150 Ocean Ave San Francisco CA 94112
  • 450 Rhode Island St San Francisco CA 94107
  • 399 4th Street San Francisco CA 94107
  • 1146 Blossom Hill Rd San Jose CA 95118
  • 1690 South Bascom Ave Campbell CA 95008
  • 4800 El Camino Real Los Altos CA 94022
  • 15980 Los Gatos Blvd Los Gatos CA 95032
  • 1250 Jefferson Ave Redwood City CA 94062
  • 2732 Augustine Drive Suite 1600 Santa Clara CA 95054
  • 20955 Stevens Creek Blvd Cupertino CA 95014
  • 777 The Alameda San Jose CA 95126
  • 1710 41st Avenue Capitola CA 95010
  • 650 W. Shaw Ave. Fresno CA 93704
  • 800 Del Monte Center Monterey CA 93940
  • 911 Soquel Ave Santa Cruz CA 95062
  • 270 Palladio Parkway Folsom CA 95630
  • 3682 Bel Aire Plaza Napa CA 94558
  • 6139 S. Virginia Street Reno CA 89502
  • 1001 Galleria Blvd. Roseville CA 95678
  • 4315 Arden Way Sacramento CA 95864
  • 201 W. Napa St Sonoma CA 95476
  • 3600 Lake Tahoe Blvd. South Lake Tahoe CA 96150

All affected Genji Pacific LLC. products are intended for customers to consume immediately upon purchase and have a shelf life of 1 day. 

Consumers who have purchased these items from Genji Sushi Counters in the above-mentioned stores are urged to dispose of the product.

About Salmonella
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.

Anyone who has eaten any recalled products and developed symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions. Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.

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PHOENIX — Maybe you remember something about the New Era of Smarter Food Safety. You might think it was longer ago than it was, but it was only a year ago that FDA’s Frank Yiannas of shared his brainchild for future food safety.

The trouble is that what you’ve heard since has not told you much if anything about this “New Era.”

Well, today at the meeting of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP), more details were filled in, leaving attendees with at least an understanding of what’s really going on.

The New Era is FDA’s “new approach to food safety, using technology and other tools to create a safer and more digital traceable food system.”

Okay, but what does that mean?

The IAFP offered up some experts to answer that question in a super-cooled ballroom at the Phoenix Convention Center.  They included Nathan Anderson and Andrew Kennedy from FDA’s campus in Silver Springs, MD, along with Aaron Asmus with Hormel Foods in Austin, MN, Derrick Bautista with Del Monte Foods in Walnut Creek, CA, and Pamela Wilger with Cargill Inc. from  Wayzata, MN.

As it turns out, FDA’s announcement a year ago was not like a corporate campaign roll-out that takes place in a fixed order. The panel of insiders from several of America’s largest food manufacturers admitted that during its first year the “New Era” was a “bootstrap” operation.  Part of that was due of course to FDA’s focus on the pandemic and the other was the project’s undefined purpose

And after that year, the New Era might be better positioned than it expected going in increased budget possibilities next year, according to FDA’s Anderson.

But as for what the New Era is all about, it was made clear. FDA wants the companies it regulates to go digital. And companies like Hormel, Del Monte, and Cargill were there to show how much they like to do that, but to spread a cautionary tale about how difficult and how long it is going to take.

Food manufacturers produce tons of paperwork. Until replaced with digital solutions, all that paper is going to slow down FDA’s move into the future with, for example, easy traceability.

As reported Tuesday, major food companies are working on the transition now, but the move from paper systems to digital could take five to ten years.   

When FDA announced it a year ago, it did predict New Era’s  “blueprint” would “take over the next decade to usher in the New Era of Smarter Food Safety.”  It did claim its goals were “achievable” to enhance traceability, improve predictive analytics, respond more rapidly to outbreaks, address new business models, reduce contamination of food, and foster the development of stronger food safety cultures.  

Early on,  FDA said the COVID-19 pandemic “accelerated the need for actions called for in the blueprint, especially in times of crisis.”

For the applicable part of FDA’s budget, first-year “bootstrapping” involving the New Era has resulted s a $52 million budget submission from the Commissioner, up by $44 million, according to Anderson. “This increase in the budget is a real sign of confidence,” he said.

But it was unclear whether FDA is going to be able to help private companies adapting their new systems to the New Era with their costs. And as food safety functions are going to require help from informational technology and even cybersecurity personnel, those costs are only going to increase. “We have to hire IT people to become part of the food safety team,” said Cargill’s Wilger.

New attention is going to so-called “cybercrime” where there’s been the potential for actually hurting people, such as poisoning water systems or adulterating food.  Food defense against so-called “intentional adulteration” is required by the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011. Added security, however, almost always means IT projects take more time, according to today’s panelists.

The blueprint for the New Era of Smarter Food Safety was announced in July 2020. In FDA Voices, Janet Woodcock, M.D., Acting Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and Yiannas, Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response provided details.

Here are its major elements for2021.

Core Element 1: Tech-Enabled Traceability

  • Continue to advance food traceability fundamentals as FDA transitions from a proposed to final Food Traceability Rule, as required by FSMA Section 204.
  • Work with international regulatory partners to create a common global, harmonized food traceability language based on harmonized data elements and standards.
  • Hold a “Low- or No-Cost Food Traceability Challenge” to incentivize the development of tech-enabled solutions for food producers of all sizes.
  • Develop and pilot prototype to allow FDA to receive traceability data in digital form that can be used to create outbreak investigation diagrams and improve outbreak response.

Core Element 2: Smarter Tools and Approaches for Prevention and Outbreak Response

  • The complete operational phase of a seafood artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) pilot to see if AI can improve our ability to quickly and efficiently identify products that may pose a threat to public health.
  • Enter into domestic mutual reliance agreements with at least three states to further strengthen the federal-state food safety net.
  • Initiate a feasibility study on the use of remote regulatory assessments as an adjunct to compliance oversight for human and animal food firms.
  • Complete the pilot of assessing third-party food safety standards to determine if they align with certain FDA food safety requirements.

Core Element 3: New Business Models and Retail Modernization

  • Continue collaboration with national retail regulatory associations and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support the FDA’s efforts to advance the safety of foods sold in traditional retail establishments.
  • Convene a public New Business Model Summit in 2021 with food e-commerce stakeholders to identify a future courses of action to address potential food safety vulnerabilities.

Core Element 4: Food Safety Culture

  • Develop and launch internal training for FDA inspectional staff to introduce them to behavioral and organizational principles that make up food safety culture. Evaluate the feasibility of offering this training to state regulatory inspectors.
  • Conduct a literature review on challenges, barriers, and opportunities to influence attitudes and behaviors related to desired food safety practices.
  • In collaboration with the Partnership for Food Safety Education, support the modernization of consumer education materials to include delivery via new tech-enabled mediums and messaging on the safe handling of foods delivered to their homes.

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