A recall has been issued by the Canadian CFIA for Sprouts Alive brand and Sunsprout brand Micro – Greens Alfalfa due to possible Salmonella contamination. The products were distributed across Ontario. This recall is an update of a previous recall to include additional product information. The products were distributed across Ontario. The items being recalled – Sprouts Alive Micro – Greens Alfalfa and Sunsprout Micro – Greens Alfalfa, both have best before dates of Oct. 13, 2020. The recall was triggered by findings by the CFIA during its investigation into a foodborne illness outbreak. @ https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/inspection/2020/73961r-eng.php
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The food safety warning issued on August 11, 2020 has been updated to include additional product information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.
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Blue Bell Creameries ordered to pay $17.25 Million in connection with the 2015 Listeria contamination
The Justice Department announced that the federal court in Texas sentenced ice cream manufacturer Blue Bell Creameries L.P. to pay $17.25 million in criminal penalties for shipments of contaminated products linked to a 2015 listeriosis outbreak. Blue Bell pleaded guilty in May 2020 to two misdemeanor counts of distributing adulterated ice cream products. The plea agreement and criminal information filed against Blue Bell allege that the company distributed ice cream products manufactured under insanitary conditions and contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman in Austin, Texas, was consistent with the terms of a plea agreement previously filed in the case. However, the fines constitute the largest-ever criminal penalty following a conviction in a food safety case. Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert said that “American consumers must be able to trust that the foods they purchase are safe to eat, and the sentence imposed today sends a clear message to food manufacturers that the Department of Justice will take appropriate actions when contaminated food products endanger consumers.” @ https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/blue-bell-creameries-ordered-pay-1725-million-criminal-penalties-connection-2015-listeria
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USDA releases a document entitled “Roadmap to Reducing Salmonella Driving Change through Science-Based Policy”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Food Safety (OFS) and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has released a plan to decrease Salmonella in meat, poultry, and egg products. The program has policies that are science-based, data-driven, and promote innovation to reduce Salmonella. The roadmap represents FSIS aggressive plan to target and reduce Salmonella and other foodborne pathogens. The plan goals include removing barriers to the implementation of new technologies to reduce Salmonella in plants. The FSIS encourages the implementation of low dose e-beam irradiation in meat and poultry processing environments coupled with consumer education of this technology. The plan is examining and considering semi-quantitative methods for Salmonella enumeration to inform future risk assessments. The roadmap supports the development of modernized beef inspection systems in slaughter facilities across the Nation. Finally, the plan suggests the development of a new consumer education program to identify consumer challenges and to intervene to impact behavior change. @ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/388d5b27-b821-42ba-a717-526f3bc68b4a/FSISRoadmaptoReducingSalmonella.pdf?MOD=AJPERES
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FDA Inspection report that Smuckers Pet Food repeatedly failed to ‘implement nutrient toxicity preventative controls’
Pet Food Safety Advocacy group Truth about pet food got from FDA, through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) documents that Smucker’s pet food repeatedly failed to ‘implement nutrient toxicity preventative controls.’ In the last two years, the J.M. Smucker issued three recalls of cat food, all for similar manufacturing errors. In December of 2018, Smucker recalled 9Lives cat food for low levels of thiamine. In December of 2019, Smucker recalled multiple varieties of Special Kitty cat food for excess choline chloride. In July of 2020, they recalled Natural Balance cat food for excess choline chloride. FDA inspected the Pennsylvania Smuckers pet food plant from 12/16/2019 to 1/9/2020. Their report stated in part: “You Did Not Identify And Implement Preventive Controls To Ensure That Any Hazards Requiring A Preventive Control Are Significantly Minimized Or Prevented. ” The pet food manufacturer failed to implement safety requirements for supplements added to their pet foods. The FOIA documents showed that all four sick cats were tested for “ethylene glycol toxicity” (antifreeze), and all cats tested positive. The supplement choline chloride is frequently combined with ethylene glycol to produce industrial-grade solvents. Pet food does not require to include human-grade supplements. Feed grade can consist of industrial-grade supplements. @ https://truthaboutpetfood.com/fda-inspection-report-smuckers-pet-food/amp/
