In the news

The FDA is advising consumers not to eat, and restaurants and food retailers not to sell, and to dispose of cultured mussels from East River Shellfish, Inc. from harvest location PE 4-C, harvested on 8/14/2023, and shipped on 8/15/2023 to retailers in IL, MA, and NY due to the possible presence of Salmonella and E. coli. On 8/21/2023, the CFIA tested mussel meats and discovered the presence of Salmonella and high levels of generic E. coli. On 8/23/2023, the CFIA informed the FDA of the testing results from the contaminated product. The CFIA food safety investigation into the cause of the problem is ongoing. Restaurants and food retailers in Illinois (IL), Massachusetts (MA), and New York (NY) have recently purchased cultured mussels from East River Shellfish, Inc., based in Glenfinnan, Prince Edward Island, Canada. The FDA is issuing this alert advising consumers not to eat and restaurants and food retailers not to sell cultured mussels from East River Shellfish, Inc. harvested on 8/14/2023 due to contamination from Salmonella and high levels of generic E. coli. The FDA is awaiting further information on the distribution of the mussels and will continue to monitor the investigation and provide assistance to state authorities as needed. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-restaurantsretailers-not-servesell-and-consumers-not-eat-certain-cultured-mussels-east?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The CFIA reported that additional products were recalled due to unsafe caffeine content. Canada sets a legal limit on caffeine in energy drinks of 180 milligrams in a single-serving can. The affected products are recalled from the marketplace due to various non-compliances related to caffeine content and labeling requirements. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products. Various companies are part of the recall (5002589 Ontario Inc., Echo Sales Canada, Total Merchandise Ltd, TREATS R US, T & E Imports, GPAE Trading Corp., Les produits Raredrank Inc., Osiris Inc., Rare Candy Canada, North Point Trading Inc., Exoticaccess s.e.n.c, Yummiz Inc. ). @ https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/various-brands-caffeinated-energy-drinks-may-be-unsafe-due-caffeine-content-and?utm_source=gc-notify&utm_medium=email&utm_content=en&utm_campaign=hc-sc-rsa-22-23

The USDA/FSIS and inspection services announced that Dean & Peeler Meatworks, LLC (Poth, Texas)  recalled approximately 1,835 pounds of fresh ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The fresh ground beef products were produced on August 22, 2023. The recalled products include (i) 1-lb., 5-lb., and 10-lb. vacuum-sealed plastic bags containing “Peeler Farms WAGYU BEEF GROUND BEEF”; (ii) 5-lb. vacuum-sealed plastic bags containing “R-C RANCH TEXAS CRAFT MEATS WAGYU RC13610 STEAKHOUSE BLEND – GROUND BEEF 5 lb”, and (iii) 8-oz. vacuum-sealed plastic bags containing “R-C RANCH TEXAS CRAFT MEATS WAGYU RC13603 – GROUND BEEF PATTIES 8 oz”. The items were shipped to restaurant locations in the greater San Antonio, Texas, area. The issue was reported to FSIS after the ground beef product was submitted to a third-party laboratory for microbiological analysis, and the sample tested presumptive positive for E. coli O157:H7. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. @ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/dean-peeler-meatworks-llc-recalls-fresh-ground-beef-products-due-possible-e–coli

The FDA signed a Regulatory Partnership Arrangement (RPA) with Ecuador’s seafood regulatory authority to strengthen food safety in shrimp intended for the US market. Shrimp is the most consumed seafood in the US, the vast majority of which is imported. Ecuador is one of the leading exporters of shrimp to the US.  The first of its kind, this regulatory partnership serves as an arrangement between the FDA and the Vice Ministry of Aquaculture and Fisheries (VMAF) to work more closely to reinforce food safety practices along the entire supply chain. Such arrangements aim to leverage commodity-specific oversight systems — in this case, involving imported aquacultured shrimp — along with data and information, to strengthen food safety before and at the port of entry. The FDA did a rigorous assessment of the strength of Ecuador’s aquacultured seafood safety system and examined important parts of VMAF’s programs and capabilities. Through this assessment, the FDA is confident that Ecuador has key components of a food safety oversight system for shrimp and shrimp products intended for export to the US.  @ https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-signs-partnership-ecuador-enhance-safety-shrimp-imports?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery