In the news

The FDA, CDC and state and local partners, are investigating reports of elevated blood lead levels in individuals with reported exposure to Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree pouches manufactured in Ecuador and sold under WanaBana, Weis, and Schnucks brands. As of November 16, 2023, there have been 34 reports of illness potentially linked to recalled product submitted to FDA. The  FDA detected elevated levels of lead in one finished product sample of WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Puree collected from Dollar Tree. The level detected in the FDA sample of WanaBana apple cinnamon puree is 2.18 parts per million (ppm), which, for context, is more than 200 times greater than the action level the FDA has proposed in draft guidance for fruit purees and similar products intended for babies and young children. To date, sample analysis of WanaBana, Weis, and Schnucks fruit puree pouches that do not contain cinnamon and are not part of the recall, have not shown elevated levels of lead. FDA’s leading hypothesis is that cinnamon used in these recalled pouches is the likely source of contamination for these products. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-elevated-lead-levels-cinnamon-applesauce-pouches-november-2023?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is advising consumers not to consume Wilcox Ice Cream (“best by” dates 9/13/24, 9/14/24, 9/15/24), produced by Wilcox Ice Cream in East Arlington, Vermont, potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recall was initiated after a sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes by the DPHS Public Health Laboratory. The recall includes a variety of package sizes across multiple flavors, including Wilcox’s Premium Sweet Cream, Sweet Cream Caramel Apple, Vanilla, Salted Caramel Turtle, Maple Cream, Mint Chocolate Chip, and Leonardo’s Gelato Mint Chocolate Chip, as well as Wilcox’s SUPER PREMIUM Mint Chocolate Chip and Caramel Brownie. No illnesses have been reported to date. Wilcox Ice Cream is sold at food establishments in New England, including the Hanover Co-Op Food Store, Lebanon Co-Op Food Store, and the Monadnock Food Co-Op in New Hampshire. Wilcox Ice Cream is cooperating with state officials to determine the root cause of the contamination. @ https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/news-and-media/nh-dhhs-advises-consumers-wilcox-ice-cream-recall-sold-hanover-co-op-lebanon-co-op

The FDA reported that Vinyard Fruit and Vegetable Company (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) voluntarily recalled Vinyard and Fresh branded Cut Cubed Cantaloupe and Fruit Mix products containing Cut Cubed Cantaloupe from the American marketplace due to suspected Salmonella. Due to the 11/8/2023 recall of fresh, whole cantaloupes by Sophia Foods, LLC (DBA Trufresh) of Nogales, AZ, in response to a notification by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency of potential contamination with Salmonella, Vinyard Fruit and Vegetable Company is issuing this recall. Cantaloupes recalled by Sophia Foods LLC were used as a raw material in Vinyard cantaloupe products listed below. There have been no reported illnesses associated with subject cantaloupes to date. This recall includes fresh-cut products containing cantaloupe purchased from Vinyard Fruit and Vegetable Company from October 30, 2023 to November 10, 2023 and distributed in Oklahoma through retail and wholesale outlets. Vinyard has contacted all retailers and wholesalers who purchased these products and notified them to remove recalled products from their inventory immediately and dispose of products or arrange for their pick-up by a Vinyard representative. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/vinyard-fruit-and-vegetable-company-recalls-cantaloupe-due-potential-salmonella-contamination

CORE update of November 15, 2023: the CORE list of outbreaks and adverse events includes five activity cases and two new outbreaks. A new outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (ref #989) linked to a not yet identified product has been added to the table. FDA has initiated sample collection and analysis. Another new investigation of E. coli O103 (ref #1192) linked to a not yet identified product has been added to the table. FDA has initiated a traceback investigation. For the investigation of illnesses (ref #1198) linked to apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches, the FDA has updated the advisory to include expanded recall information from the firm and additional reports of illness. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigations-foodborne-illness-outbreaks?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery