In the news

April 29, 2022 – The USDA/FSIS reported that Wayne Farms, LLC. (Decatur, Alabama) recalled approximately 30,285 pounds of a ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken breast fillet product that may be undercooked. The RTE chicken breast fillet products were produced on March 1 and 21, 2022. Included a 9-lb. case containing 8 packages of 6-oz “ALL NATURAL FIRE GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST” , and a 9-lb. cases containing 12 packages of 4-oz “ALL NATURAL FIRE GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST.” The products were shipped to a distributor in Illinois and further distributed to restaurants. The problem was discovered when the firm received a customer complaint that the RTE chicken product appeared to be undercooked. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to the consumption of these products. FSIS is concerned that some products may be in distributors’ or restaurant freezers or refrigerators. @ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/wayne-farms-llc-recalls-ready-eat-chicken-breast-fillet-products-may-be-undercooked#:~:text=FSIS%20Announcement,Service%20(FSIS)%20announced%20today

The Large Salmonella in chocolate outbreak in Israel hit the US. The FDA announced that Strauss Israel voluntarily recalls Elite branded products (Elite Chocolate, Cakes, Wafers, Energy Grain Snacks, Energy Chocolate Rice Cakes, Chewing Gum, and Toffee Candies), including all product codes currently on the US market. The Elite products have been distributed in the kosher market nationally, primarily in the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, and Florida. Additionally, products have been sold directly to customers via Amazon.com, Fresh Direct, Passover.com, and Retailer Online Sites. The products are being recalled as they were manufactured in a facility in which Salmonella was detected in the production line and in the liquid chocolate used to produce the finished products. No illnesses have been reported to date. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/strauss-israel-announces-voluntary-recall-certain-confectionery-products-because-possible-health

The FDA, CDC, and state and local partners investigate consumer complaints and reports of infant illness received from 9/20/2021 to 1/11/2022 related to products from Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis, MI, facility. The four ill patients reported consuming powdered infant formula produced from Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis, MI, facility. Following the recall of powdered infant formula products produced at the Abbott Nutrition facility in Sturgis, MI, Abbott has committed to completing enhanced testing of stored product batches before making release determinations. Until final testing is completed, the FDA has informed Abbott Nutrition that the agency has no objection to the company immediately releasing products to individuals needing urgent, life-sustaining supplies of the specialty and metabolic formulas on a case-by-case basis. Allowing parents to access these products may outweigh the potential risk of bacterial infection. The FDA continues to work to ensure the safe resumption of infant formula production at Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis, Michigan facility. The FDA advises consumers not to use recalled Similac, Alimentum, or EleCare powdered infant formulas.  https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/fda-investigation-cronobacter-infections-powdered-infant-formula-february-2022?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

On April 27, 2022, the USDA/FSIS issued a public health alert due to concerns that specific ground beef products may be adulterated with E. coli O26. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available. The ground beef items for this public health alert were produced on December 16 and 17, 2021. The products include 1-lb. foam trays containing “ALL NATURAL LAURA’S LEAN BEEF 92% LEAN 8% FAT GROUND BEEF.”, 1-lb. foam trays containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF CARNE MOLIDA 96% LEAN 4% FAT.”, 1-lb. foam trays containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF CARNE MOLIDA 85% LEAN 15% FAT.”, 1.3-lb. foam trays containing “PRIVATE SELECTION ANGUS BEEF 90% LEAN 10% FAT GROUND SIRLOIN.” 1-lb. foam trays containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF CARNE MOLIDA 93% LEAN 7% FAT.”, and 1-lb. foam trays containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF CARNE MOLIDA 80% LEAN 20% FAT.” The ground beef products were distributed to warehouses in Oregon and Washington and sold at retail locations. The problem was discovered after a consumer submitted a retail package of ground beef produced by Empire Packing bearing a use or freeze by “December 24, 2021” to a third-party laboratory for microbiological analysis. The consumer reported previously becoming ill but did not get tested for E coli.  The third-party laboratory confirmed the ground beef sample was positive for E. coli O26.  @https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-ground-beef-products-due-possible-e-coli-o26