K A S H R U T . C O M_©

Frozen food company recalls green beans after pet food recall

January 23, 2017 from the Food Safety News and commissaries.com:

National Frozen Foods Corp. issued a Class I recall of individual quick frozen green beans because of potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination, according to notices posted by US Foods Inc. and the U.S. Department of Defense Commissary Agency.

The frozen food manufacturer issued its recall following the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in a third-party test by a downstream customer, a pet food company.

A notice from the U.S. Department of Defense Commissary Agency reported the following products sold in its commissary stores were included in the recall:

• SYS IMP Bean Green Whole IQF NWP, 12/2 pounds: Lot number 17102703A03, MPC V5404
• NW TRES Bean Green Cut, 1/30 pounds: Lot number 17102603A02, MPC 62406-9007
• SYS CLS Bean Green Cut GR A P, 12/2 pounds: Lot number 17102703A03, MPC 1435197

Additional products, supplied to other customers, may also have been recalled. However, no other related product recalls have yet been posted by the Food and Drug Administration.

Ed. note: I expect this recall to expand. Cook the vegetables to 165 degrees F. and be careful about cross contamination.

Update: Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections

January 10, 2017 from the CDC:

"On January 10, 2018, the Public Health Agency of Canada reported that an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 infections (STEC O157:H7) they had identified was linked to romaine lettuce appears to be over."

"In the United States, CDC, several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration continue to investigate a multistate outbreak of 24 STEC O157:H7 infections in 15 states. Since CDC’s initial media statement on December 28, seven more illnesses have been added to this investigation. The last reported illness started on December 12, 2017."

"The likely source of the outbreak in the United States appears to be leafy greens, but officials have not specifically identified a type of leafy greens eaten by people who became ill. Leafy greens typically have a short shelf life, and since the last illness started a month ago, it is likely that contaminated leafy greens linked to this outbreak are no longer available for sale. Canada identified romaine lettuce as the source of illnesses there, but the source of the romaine lettuce or where it became contaminated is unknown."

"Advice to Consumers: CDC is not recommending that U.S. residents avoid any particular food given the short shelf life of leafy greens and because a specific type of leafy greens has not been identified."

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Romaine Lettuce Suspected in US an Canadian E Coli Disease Outbreak

December 28, 2017 from the Food Safety News:

The CDC, FDA, CFIA and are investigating an outbreak of Shigella toxin producing E-coli 057:H7 in romaine lettuce. They have not yet pinpointed a soource. Outbreaks have happened in numerous states and Canadian provinces.

January 2, 2018 from the FoodSafetyNews:

Officials in the US and Canada have not yet pinpointed the exact cause of this outbreak. "Canadian officials are suggesting in some provinces that consumers avoid all romaine lettuce."  

Kashrus advisory on Kroger Breads

The recalled products have a production date of January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017 and a “best by” date of January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. The Hood and Kemps products may show a “best by” date of July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019. Fieldbrook Foods is working with each of these retailers to recall the affected products.

The potential for contamination was noted after routine industry testing revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in only a few ice cream bar samples of many tested. The expansion of the recall is out of precaution for consumer health and food safety after a few additional samples tested positive for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. There is no evidence of any contamination prior to October 31, 2017, but the company has issued the recall back to January 1, 2017 through an abundance of caution and in full cooperation with the FDA. The company has suspended production and distribution of all products produced on this production line while it cooperates with the FDA to fully investigate the source of the problem.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-333-0805 x2270.