In the news

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert for approximately 130,860 pounds of frozen, fully cooked, diced chicken products because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The frozen, fully cooked, diced chicken items were packed on January 25, 2021, January 26, 2021, March 23, 2021, and March 24, 2021. The products subject to the alert are 4-lb. plastic bags containing “FULLY COOKED CHICKEN MEAT ¾ DICED WHITE” and 4-lb. plastic bags containing “FULLY COOKED CHICKEN MEAT DARK/WHITE ¾ DICED.” The products were distributed by Big Daddy Foods, Inc. (Houston, Texas). These items were further distributed to consumers at local food banks in Florida through the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program in individual food boxes. During routine FSIS inspection activities, the problem was discovered when inspection personnel observed products requiring recooking due to possible Lm contamination had been repackaged without being recooked. There have been no reports of illnesses. 

The FDA proclaimed that Randall Foods, Inc.(Cincinnati, Ohio) recalled all its Randall-brand beans because of manufacturing deviations that may pose Botulism risks. The product is sold in 48oz, 24oz, and 15.4oz glass jars with tan labels with “Randall” at the label top.    Approximately 1.6 million cases of affected products were distributed between March 1, 2019, and May 15, 2021, at retail locations in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. The manufacturing deviations included a nonfunctioning temperature indicating device raising the possibility that the product was not effectively processed. Processing at temperatures below a required temperature could create a condition that could lead to premature spoilage or foodborne illness.  There have been no illnesses reported. The company is issuing this voluntary recall as a precaution. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/randall-foods-inc-initiates-voluntary-recall-all-randall-beans

According to the CFIA, Johnsonville LLC(Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin) has recalled batch/lots of Johnsonville branded Smokies Doubles Smoked Sausages and Johnsonville branded Smokies Smoked Cheddar Sausages from the Canadian marketplace due to suspected spoilage by molds. These Smoked Sausage products were distributed and sold in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island. @ https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/inspection/2021/75653r-eng.php

The CDC and public health officials in several states investigate multistate outbreaks of Salmonella infections linked to contact with backyard poultry. By May 20, 2021, 163 people were infected with one of the outbreak strains reported from 43 states. 34 people were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. One-third of sick people are young children under 5 years. WGS showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples are closely related genetically. Backyard poultry is a known source of Salmonella, and therefore the actual number of infections is probably much higher. @ https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0520-salmonella-infections-backyard-poultry.html#:~:text=CDC%20and%20public%20health%20officials,No%20deaths%20have%20been%20reported.