K A S H R U T . C O M_©

December 3, 2019 from FDA:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of hepatitis A illnesses in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin potentially linked to fresh conventional (non-organic) blackberries from the grocery store, Fresh Thyme Farmers Market.

On December 3, 2019, CDC updated their case counts to 16 illnesses, with the most recent illness onset date on November 15, 2019.

Based on the epidemiological information collected in the investigation thus far, ill patients reported consuming fresh conventional blackberries from Fresh Thyme Farmers Market stores in six states: Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.

However, traceback information to date shows that these berries came from a distribution center that ships fresh berries to Fresh Thyme Farmers Market stores in 11 states: IA, IL, IN, KY, MI, MO, MN, NE, OH, PA, and WI. As this investigation continues, the FDA will work with our federal and state partners to obtain additional information during the traceback investigation and will update this advisory as more information becomes available.

Recommendation:
The FDA is urging consumers to not eat any fresh conventional blackberries if purchased between September 9 and September 30, 2019, from Fresh Thyme Farmers Market stores in the 11 states mentioned above. People who purchased the fresh blackberries and then froze those berries for later consumption should not eat these berries. They should be thrown away.

If consumers purchased fresh conventional blackberries from Fresh Thyme Farmers Market stores in the 11 states listed above between September 9-30, ate those berries in the last two weeks, and have not been vaccinated for the hepatitis A virus (HAV), they should consult with their healthcare professional to determine whether post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is indicated. PEP is recommended for unvaccinated people who have been exposed to HAV in the last two weeks. Those with evidence of previous hepatitis A vaccination or previous hepatitis A infection do not require PEP.

Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have become ill from eating these blackberries, or if you believe that you have eaten these berries in the last two weeks.

Kashrus Alert - Bobbysue’s Nuts! It’s Raining Chocolate

December 2, 2019 from the OK:

Please be advised that Bobbysue’s Nuts!(of Bobbysue’s Nuts! LLC Chappaqua, NY 10514) It’s Raining Chocolate was mistakenly printed with the OKDE symbol instead of the required OKD. This product is certified kosher dairy, and correctly lists dairy in the ingredients. Corrective actions are being taken.

Kashrus Alert - Nuts.com Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans (Sugar Free)

December 2, 2019 from the OK:

Nuts.com Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans (Sugar Free), Nuts.com, Cranford, NJ 07016 has a mistaken Use of OK Pareve Symbol:
A limited amount of Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans (Sugar Free) sold by Nuts.com were mistakenly printed with a plain OK symbol.
This product is certified kosher dairy, and correctly lists dairy in the ingredient list.
Corrective actions have been taken.

November 27, 2019 from FDA:

UNFI announced today a voluntary national recall of five-pound bags of its Wild Harvest® Organic All-Purpose Flour, Unbleached, with a Code of AA BEST IF USED BY 010820 CC 15:58 and UPC Code 711535509158. The recall is being issued for the potential presence of E. coli. During routine FDA sampling of the five-pound bag product, results were found to be positive for E.coli.

This recall only affects the following code date of Wild Harvest® Organic All-Purpose Flour, Unbleached five-pound bags currently in stores or consumers’ pantries. No other types of Wild Harvest® Flour are affected by this recall.

Wild Harvest® Organic All-Purpose Flour, Unbleached (sample label below) Package UPC: 711535509158 Best if Used by Date: 010820 CC 15:58 (can be found on top of the product, see sample below)

Consumers are asked to check their pantries and dispose of the product affected by this recall. Consumers with questions may contact UNFI at 855-423-2630 (customer support is available seven days-a-week between 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM CST). Any consumers concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

November 28, 2019 from the COR Detroit:

STORE BRANDS AND GENERIC BRANDS frequently change suppliers (i.e., the outside manufacturers that produce the product for the store), which often results in a change or loss of the product’s Kosher status. Stores may also have multiple suppliers for the same product, so that some packages on the shelf bear acceptable Kosher certification while others do not, or some are marked Pareve and others are marked Dairy. Consumers should be especially careful when buying such products to check each package every time for proper Kosher certification.
Following are two current local examples.

• MEMBER’S MARK WHOLE KERNEL SWEET CORN with sea salt, sold at Sam’s Club, in the past was labeled with an OU symbol. Now the 15.25 oz. cans bear a non-recommended symbol. The large 106 oz. “Food Service” size cans still bear an OU.
• TRADER JOE’S frozen VEGETABLE MASALA BURGER no longer bears Kashrus certification. [Trader Joe's Hi-Protein Veggie Burger, Thai Sweet Chili Veggie Burger and Quinoa Cowboy Veggie Burgers still bear OU Pareve.]