Recent Recalls on Ready-to-Eat Products, Turmeric Spice Powder, Organic Cheese, and Ground Beef

Oct. 26: Secondary Recall on Reser's Fine Foods

Reser's Fine Foods, Inc. initiated a recall of select products on October 22, 2013 due to the potential of selected products being contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. On October 26, 2013, Reser's expanded its initial recall to cover a broader group of products.  n response to the expanded recall, Taylor Farms Florida, Inc. ("TFFL"); Taylor Farms Illinois, Inc. ("TFIL"); Taylor Farms Maryland, Inc. ("TFMD"); Taylor Farms Texas, Inc. ("TFTX"); and Taylor Farms Tennessee, Inc. ("TFTN") are voluntarily issuing a secondary recall on a limited number of deli products that contain components implicated in Reser's expanded recall.  To see the new list, click here.

Update on Reser's Fine Foods recall (Oct. 26, 2013):

For the latest list of products involved in this recall, click here. 

Recalls are actions taken to remove products from the market because they are a health risk. Recalls may be issued on a firm's own initiative, by government request, or by a government order under statutory authority.  Among the batch of recent recalls, one is a whopper--involving more than 100,000 pounds of product.  Another recall was due to the discovery of high levels of lead in a spice.  If any of the following recalled products are currently in your kitchen, discard the item or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.

Recalls on Ready-to-Eat Products

Reser's Fine Foods:

Right now, these products may not be so fine.  Reser’s Fine Foods of Beaverton, Oregon has recalled approximately 109,000 cases of refrigerated ready-to-eat products because they may be contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes.  The list of specific recalled products is very long, including many different types of prepared salads (potato, slaw, seafood, pasta, etc.).  To see the list, go to the posted recall.

The Reser's recall involves 22,800 pounds of chicken, ham, and beef products, so foods regulated by both the FDA and the USDA are involved in this recall.

These recalled products were manufactured at the Topeka, KS salad manufacturing facility.

Recalled products were shipped to retailers and distributors in 27 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

The contamination was discovered through microbiological testing by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. A traceback investigation and follow-up testing by the FDA determined there was potential cross contamination of products with Listeria monocytogenes from product contact surfaces.  No illnesses have been reported as a result of this recall.

Boston Salads and Provisions Company:

This recall--of almost 223,000 lbs. of various types of chicken salad--was due to possible listeria contamination.   The products were produced between Aug. 23, 2013, and Oct. 14, 2013, and shipped to wholesalers for distribution to retail locations in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. To see a list of the recalled products, go to the Boston Salads recall announcement. 

Garden Fresh Foods:

Garden Fresh Foods, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin establishment, is recalling approximately 103,080 additional pounds of ready-to-eat chicken and ham products due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The company is recalling these products in addition to the 25,748 pounds of similar products that were recalled on Sept. 25 and Oct. 17, 2013.

For more information on listeria, go to "How dangerous is listeria?" on this site.

For government recommendations for people at risk of listeria, click here.

Recall on Turmeric Spice Powder

Fahman Enterprises, Inc. of Dallas, Texas has recalled Pran turmeric powder because  the FDA found  that it contained high levels of lead that could, if consumed, cause health problems.

Pran turmeric powder (400g) is packaged in a transparent plastic flexible bag labeled "best before 25 Jan 15." The barcode reads 8 3173000502 3.  The product was imported from Bangladesh. 

Did you know that 90% of all spices consumed in the U.S. are imported?  Furthermore, they enter this country with "little oversight or labeling regulations," says ABC News.   There is no requirement that the country of origin be printed on the label of imported spices.  To protect yourself from illness due to bacterial contamination, if you use spices in your recipes, the government recommends that you add them to your foods before or while they're cooking.  Do not put spices on the table for diners to add while eating. Note: even if you never cook with spices, you may be consuming them in chips and other prepackaged foods. 

Tainted imported spices have been an oft-repeated health problem in the U.S.  According to Komonews.com, in September, 2013, the FDA found and rejected 19 contaminated shipments, one-third of which were contaminated with salmonella.  On October 23, the FDA began considering ways to update regulations on imported spices and herbs. 

Lead can accumulate in the body over time. Too much can cause delayed mental and physical development and learning deficiencies. Pregnant women, infants, and young children especially should avoid exposure to lead. People concerned about blood lead levels should contact their physician or health clinic to ask about testing.

To learn more about consumption of lead, click here: "What health problems can result from too much lead in my drinking water?"

Recalls on Chevre Cheese

Sunny Pine Farm of Twisp, Washington has voluntarily recalled Organic Chevre, Organic Parsley Chive Chevre, and Organic Honey Lavender Chevre due to possible improper pasteurization. The Washington State Department of Agriculture discovered inadequate pasteurization records during a routine inspection. A review of the pasteurization recorder charts did not prove adequate time for pasteurization. The recorder chart may have not been operating correctly, so it’s possible that the products were adequately pasteurized; however, Sunny Pine Farm has made the decision to recall any products which could affect consumer safety.

The recalled Chevre cheeses were sold in plastic 6 oz. tubs in the Twisp-Winthrop area in Washington state. Recalled Chevre cheese sold through community-supported agriculture (CSA) and retail outlets have an expiration date of 10/16/2013 on a sticker located on the bottom of the container. 

Recalls on Ground Beef

Costco, in Coon Rapids, Minn., is recalling an undetermined amount of lean fresh ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the government's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. 

The product subject to recall is 383 units of 88% lean fresh ground beef. It bears the Costco item number 33724 under the Costco label. This product was sold directly to 342 consumers in a Costco located at 12547 Riverdale Blvd., Coon Rapids, Minn., between Sept. 4 and Sept. 7.

FSIS was notified of an E. coli O157:H7 illness on Oct. 17, 2013. Working in conjunction with Minnesota’s Department of Agriculture and Department of Health, FSIS determined that there is a link between the ground beef product from Costco and this illness. 

For Government Information on Food

To be updated on the latest food recalls, go to http://www.recalls.gov/.

The FDA has also introduced a new Twitter feed to aid in disseminating the agency’s updates on food, nutrition, food additives, dietary supplements, and the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Anyone with an active Twitter account can follow the feed. To do so, search on "@FDAFood” using your Twitter account, then click “follow.”

Source(s): 

google.com "FDA Introduces New Twitter Feed on Foods"

http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm372012.htm

fda.gov "Reser's Fine Foods Recalls Refrigerated Ready-to-Eat Products Due to Potential Health Risk"

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm371955.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

fsis.usda.gov "Wisconsin Firm Recalls Ready-To-Eat Chicken And Ham Products Due to Potential Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination"

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2013/recall-055-2013-expansion

cbcslocal.com "Reser's Fine Foods Recalls 23,000 pounds of Meat"

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/10/23/resers-fine-foods-recalls-23000-pounds-of-meat/

fis.usda.gov "Wisconsin Firm Recalls Ready-to Eat Chicken and Ham Products Due to Potential Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination"

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2013/recall-055-2013-expansion

usda.gov "Minnesota Firm Recalls Ground  Beef Product Due to Possible E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination"

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2013/rc-060-2013-release

fda.gov "Sunny Pines Farms Recalls Chevre Cheese Because of Possible Health Risk"

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm371865.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

fda.gov "Fahman Enterprises Inc. Recalls Pran Brand Turmeric Powder Due to Elevated Levels of Lead"

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm371206.htm

komonews.com "Turmeric recall is latest spice contamination scare"

http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/Warning--Turmeric-Spice-Recalled-228944581.html

abcnews.com "FDA Cracks Down on Imported Spices After Turmeric Tests Positive for Lead"

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2013/10/23/fda-cracks-down-on-imported-spices-after-turmeric-tests-positive-for-lead/