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On October 22, 2024, the FDA reported that TreeHouse Foods (Oak Brooks, IL), Inc. is expanding its voluntary recall to include all products manufactured at one facility and still within its shelf-life. The recall is expanded to include frozen toaster waffle, Belgian waffle, and pancake products due to the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were distributed throughout all states and provinces within the United States and Canada and packed in various formats. The following products, sold through most retail stores, including but not limited to Albertson’s, Aldi, Dollar General, Foodhold, HEB, Kroger, Publix, Target, and Walmart, are included in this recall. This recall was expanded based on additional testing at the manufacturing facility. No confirmed reports of illness have been linked to the recalled products to date. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/treehouse-foods-announces-expansion-voluntary-recall-include-all-waffle-and-pancake-products-due?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Taylor Farms (The McDonald’s Corp. Supplier of onions) recalled some yellow onion batches produced in a Colorado facility in response to a deadly E. coli outbreak at McDonald’s. Taylor Farms said it hasn’t found traces of E. coli yet but decided to pull the products “out of an abundance of caution.” Another of Taylor Farms’ big customers, US Foods Holding Corp., also told at least one restaurant it supplies to destroy the onions. McDonald’s hasn’t yet confirmed the source of an outbreak that has led to dozens of illnesses, one death, and ten hospitalizations across ten states. McDonald’s said that slivered raw onions that go into the Quarter Pounder burger are likely the cause of the contamination, though beef hasn’t been ruled out as a potential source. The burger chain pulled the Quarter Pounders from 20% of its 13,000 US restaurants to contain the outbreak. According to a copy of the communication seen by Bloomberg News, US Foods, a major restaurant distributor, they sent a recall notice regarding Taylor Farm’s onions. Four different products were included in the recall: 30 pound bags of peeled jumbo yellow onions, 4-5 pound bags of 3/8-inch diced fresh yellow onions, 5 pound bags of fresh diced yellow onions, and 6-5 pound bags of whole, peeled yellow onions. One of the customers who received the notice was Illegal Pete’s, a burrito chain with locations in Arizona and Colorado, the restaurant said in an email. US Foods didn’t immediately reply to requests for comment. According to Bloomberg, Taylor Farms has not found any traces of E. coli. @ https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/investing/commodities/2024/10/24/mcdonalds-supplier-recalls-onions-as-chain-fights-e-coli-cases/

CORE update of October 23, 2024: the CORE list of outbreaks and adverse events includes ten activities, with two new activities. A new outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 (ref #1270) has been added to the table, and FDA has issued an advisory. Most sick people report eating McDonald’s Quarter Pounder burgers. Investigators are working to determine if the slivered onions or beef patties on Quarter Pounder burgers are the likely source of contamination. A new outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes  (ref #1268) linked to a not yet identified product has been added to the table. FDA has initiated traceback and an onsite inspection. The outbreak of Salmonella Thompson (ref #1262) linked to a not yet identified product, the case count has increased from 23 to 25 cases. The outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1245) in a not yet identified product has ended without identifying the product. The outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1237) in a product that has not yet been identified has ended without identifying the product. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-o157h7-mcdonalds-quarter-pounders-october-2024

The CFIA reported that the food recall warning issued on 2024-10-21 has been updated to include additional product information. This additional information was identified during the CFIA investigation. The affected products are recalled from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The waffle products include Walmart’s Great Value brand, sold at Walmart stores in Canada; Metro’s Selection brand, sold at Food Basics and Metro grocery stores; Sobeys Inc.’s Compliments brand, sold at Foodland, Sobeys, and Fresh Co stores; and Loblaws’ No Name brand, sold at No Frills stores. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products. The waffle products include Walmart’s Great Value brand, sold at Walmart stores in Canada; Metro’s Selection brand, sold at Food Basics and Metro grocery stores; Sobeys Inc.’s Compliments brand, sold at Foodland, Sobeys, and Fresh Co stores; and Loblaws’ No Name brand, sold at No Frills stores.@ https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/various-brands-frozen-waffles-and-pancakes-recalled-due-listeria-monocytogenes?utm_source=gc-notify&utm_medium=email&utm_content=en&utm_campaign=hc-sc-rsa-22-23