TIP TOP RECALLS READY-TO-EAT POULTRY DUE TO LISTERIA CAUSING A CHAIN REACTION
The Tip Top recall
On September 28, 2019, The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that Tip Top Poultry, Inc (Rockmart, GA) recalled ready-to-eat (RTE) poultry products that are potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
The RTE frozen cooked, diced or shredded chicken products were produced between January 21, 2019, and September 24, 2019. These items were shipped to institutions nationwide in the United States and Canada.
Tip Top notified FSIS that multiple samples were positive for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes after being tested in Canada. The firm decided to recall all cooked, diced, or shredded, RTE chicken products produced from January 21, 2019, through September 24, 2019. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.
This recall caused a chain reaction in the US and Canada. Some of the impacted products are listed below
CFIA Recall of cooked diced chicken meat products
CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) reported the recall of various imported cooked diced chicken meat products due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. CFIA mentioned Reuven International Ltd., Tip Top Poultry, Sysco Co., Flamingo, Rosemont Sales & Marketing, Centennial FoodService, AlimPlus Inc. and Glacial Treasure as companies that sold across Canada.
As a result, CFIA announced the recall of Metro Ontario Inc. deli trays for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recall was related to an earlier recall of Brandt sausage for similar suspected contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
The CFIA also announced that Gordon Food Service recalled various Gordon Choice brand diced frozen chicken products from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. These products were also associated with the Tip Top recall. Also, in Canada, HQ Fine Foods and Les aliments Deli Chef are recalling sandwiches that were sold nationally, due to Listeria monocytogenes. The action was triggered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s surveillance activities after a foodborne outbreak.
Reser’s Fine Foods recall
PR News reported that Reser’s Fine Foods, Inc. recalled four chicken salad items that used chicken from their supplier, Tip Top Poultry Inc Ingredient, issuing a recall of its products, involving possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The products were distributed to retail locations across the United States.
There have been no reports of illnesses due to consumption of these products.
Lipari Foods Bulk Chicken Salads and Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Lipari Foods had issued a recall of Old Tyme Bulk Chicken Salad, Old Tyme Bulk Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad, Premo Chicken Salad Wedge Sandwiches, Fresh Grab Chicken Salad Wedge Sandwiches, and Premo Signature Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad on Croissant due to Tip Top recall, the supplier of the chicken that is potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
The recalled items were used by JLM Manufacturing to produce select dates of Wedge and Signature sandwiches. The products were distributed exclusively by Lipari Foods in Warren, Michigan, to food service and retail stores throughout Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. No illnesses have been reported to date due to these products.
Coborn’s, Inc. Chicken Salads
Coborn’s, Inc. recalled select chicken salad products. This is another recall due to Tip Top Poultry Inc. Rockmart, GA, recalling all their chicken produced between January 21, 2019, and September 24, 2019.
The recalled Coborn’s products were distributed and sold at Coborn’s and Cash Wise stores in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota; Marketplace Foods stores in Western Wisconsin. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.
E.A. Sween
E.A. Sween Company recalled multiple products due to the Tip Top Poultry, Inc., recall. Tip Top a provider to two of E.A. Sween’s suppliers, The Suter Company, Inc. that provides chicken salad products and Baja Foods LLC that provides burritos. No illnesses have been reported. The affected product could have been delivered in the Continental U.S., Hawaii, and Guam through convenience stores and grocery and mass retail outlets.
Mrs. Stratton’s Recall products in Response to Recall from Chicken Supplier
Mrs. Stratton’s is issuing a recall (https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/mrs-strattons-announces-voluntary-recall-response-follows-recall-notification-chicken-supplier) of various chicken and tuna salad products. The recall is in response to the recall initiated, by Tip Top Poultry, Inc., their chicken supplier, that has meat possibly contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Grand Strand Sandwich
Grand Strand Sandwich recalled Lunch Box Chicken Salad Fresh Wedges with sell-by 10/29/19 to 10/0
8/19, Lunch Box Chicken Salad Frozen Wedges, Fresh and Local Chicken Salad Croissants sell-by date of
10/10/19 and 9/26/19. On October 3, 2019 the Grand Strand Sandwich Company was notified by Star foods aka Mrs. Stratton’s that the chicken salad they make for Grand Strand Sandwich Company, has chicken in it that contain meat from the Tip Top Poultry recalled meat, an ingredient provider to Star Food who makes Grand Strand Sandwich Company’s Chicken Salad. No illnesses have been reported to date.
Since the Tip Top products were used by several suppliers to the food industry, it is expected that more recalls will emerge from the Tip Top Recall.