In the news

The FDA reported that D&D Commodities Ltd (Greeley, CO) is voluntarily recalling one lot of 3-D® Pet Products Premium Parrot Food, 4 lb. jar, UPC 719195135045, Lot Number 102525G, due to potential Salmonella contamination. The recall notification is being issued based on a single manufacturing batch wherein a sample had a positive result for Salmonella in a random sample test collected by the FDA on November 30, 2023. The 3-D® Pet Product Premium Parrot Food was originally manufactured on October 25, 2023. D&D Commodities Ltd. is taking immediate action to remove the product from retail distribution centers and fully investigate the cause. The affected parrot food product is packaged in clear plastic jars and was distributed to retailers and distributors in the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/urgent-voluntary-recall-dd-commodities-ltd-3-d-pet-products-premium-parrot-food-due-potential

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PA) has searched the Amos Miller farm in Upper Leacock Township after illnesses were reported when people allegedly consumed raw dairy products from that facility on Thursday, January 4, 2024. Mr. Miller has been in litigation with the federal government for years because of alleged violations of food safety guidelines and food and meat inspection. The PA told Lancaster Online that it was notified by health officials in New York and Michigan about illnesses in underage people who allegedly drank raw eggnog and ate other raw dairy products from the Miller Organic Farm. Tests were positive for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), according to PA officials. The search warrant was for illegal raw milk and raw milk products, including eggnog. @ https://foodpoisoningbulletin.com/2024/pa-ag-department-searches-amos-miller-farm-after-illnesses/

The FDA testing of the recalled products and the cinnamon collected from the Austrofoods facility found chromium. Therefore, people who eat the product, especially those with high lead levels, may have been exposed to chromium. Due to limitations in available testing methods, the FDA was not able to definitively determine the form of chromium in the cinnamon apple puree sample (i.e., whether the chromium present is chromium (III) or chromium (VI)). The lead-to-chromium ratio in the cinnamon apple puree sample is consistent with that of lead chromate (PbCrO4) (which contains chromium (VI)), but this is not a definitive indicator that lead chromate or chromium (VI) (the more toxic form of chromium) was present. After additional analysis of both recalled cinnamon apple products and the cinnamon collected from the manufacturer in Ecuador, the FDA has determined that, in addition to lead, the cinnamon and recalled products also contained a high level of chromium. The level of chromium detected in the two samples of cinnamon yielded 1201 and 531 parts per million (ppm). Because of the limited amount of cinnamon used in the finished product, the level of chromium detected in the reanalysis of FDA samples of the recalled WanaBana Cinnamon Apple Puree product yielded 0.590 and 0.566 ppm. FDA also tested arsenic and cadmium, but those elements were not detected above trace levels. FDA’s investigation is ongoing to determine the point of contamination and whether additional products are linked to illnesses. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-elevated-lead-levels-cinnamon-applesauce-pouches-november-2023?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

CORE update of January 04, 2024: the CORE list of outbreaks and adverse events includes five activity cases. This week, for the outbreak of Salmonella Newport (ref# 1201) in a not yet identified food, the case count has increased from 44 to 45 cases. In the investigation of elevated lead levels in Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches (ref # 1198), the advisory was updated to include additional adverse event reports and investigation updates. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigations-foodborne-illness-outbreaks?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery