No other products manufactured or distributed by Marjon Specialty Foods, Inc. are involved in this recall.

These apples were produced by Marjon Specialty Foods, Inc. and packaged in 2 oz. single serve packages which were labeled as follows:

This recall only extends to the products as shown above. They were sold to three foodservice distributors in Florida. This product was further distributed to institutional and food service establishments, where it may have been removed from its original packaging. These products have been successfully accounted for and destroyed by our customers.

No foodborne illnesses related to these products have been reported.

Marjon Specialty Foods, Inc. has worked closely with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). Production was ceased immediately until FDACS was able to conduct and complete their inspection of the facility on July 6, 2010.  Marjon has completed all of the requirements per FDACS guidelines. FDACS gave Marjon Specialty Foods, Inc. the release to resume production on Tuesday, July 6, 2010.

The products subject to recall include:

• 17.5-pound package of “K. Heeps Inc. Fully Cooked, Sliced Turkey, Boneless with Broth.” The label bears the establishment number “EST. 09379A” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The sliced turkey breast products were produced on June 28, 2010, and distributed to a restaurant in Reading, Pa.

The problem was discovered through FSIS microbiological sampling program. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers (including restaurants) of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.

QUESO FRESCO (FRESH WHITE CHEESE) and QUESO HEBRA (FRESH WHITE STRING CHEESE) were distributed within New York State (Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Bronx, Newburgh) and to Bayonne, New Jersey through retail stores between the dates of June 7, 2010 and June 9, 2010. 

QUESO FRESCO (FRESH WHITE CHEESE) is packed in a hard plastic container or wrapped in aluminum foil labeled with the brand name Queso El Azteca , UPC 0 23986 92692 8, and expiration date July 7, 2010. QUESO HEBRA (FRESH WHITE STRING CHEESE) is packaged in a vacuum sealed plastic bag, Net Weight 14 oz. and Net Weight 5 lbs., and labeled with the brand Queso El Azteca (Queso Oaxaca) with the expiration date of July 7, 2010. 

No foodborne illnesses have been reported to date. 

The recall was the result of environmental sampling and inspection by the FDA which revealed that certain areas within the facility contained the bacteria. We are recalling QUESO FRESCO (FRESH WHITE CHEESE) and QUESO HEBRA (FRESH WHITE STRING CHEESE) with expiration date July 7, 2010 as a precaution to keep the public safe.  

The inspections uncovered numerous dangerous practices such as foods being stored and served at improper temperatures, vermin infestations, poor hygiene amongst food handlers, traces of foodborne pathogens and unclean equipment and kitchens. These were just some of the more noteworthy violations. While much of America seemed a little surprised by the findings, this pattern of behavior is nothing shocking to those who follow the news and trends in the world of foodborne illness.

In January of this year, the FDA sent another warning letter to a major airline caterer about the unsanitary conditions at a kitchen facility in Denver. The inspections had turned up cockroach infestation and traces of the very dangerous Listeria bacteria. The name of the operator of the facility, LSG Sky Chefs, one of the three companies listed in the article as being cited for unsanitary conditions.

A spokesperson for LSG Sky Chefs was quoted in the USA Today piece as saying the catering company is committed to the food safety and quality with “comprehensive and multilayered quality-control standards in place to ensure our customers receive safe, healthy and high-quality food.” This quote seemed familiar to me as it was the same thing they said about the FDA warning half a year ago when they faced the same hygiene and safety issues. Obviously there are some critical flaws in the quality control if these violations are a recurring problem.

The violations noted in the warning letters are perfect settings to create enormous foodborne illness outbreaks. Food stored at improper temperatures can allow pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli O157 to multiply quickly as well as allow other pathogens such as Clostridium perfringens and Staphylococcus aureus to produce powerful toxins.

Vermin infestations can introduce any number of potential foodborne pathogens into a kitchen. Flies have been found to carry E. coli on their legs, cockroaches are known carriers of Salmonella and rodents have been found to be carriers of common foodborne illnesses as well as rare illnesses such as Yersinia and Brucella.

Poor hygiene is an inexcusable practice that is all too common. The article explained how the FDA observed employees at these facilities preparing meals with bare hands and unclean gloves.  Almost all of the diarrheal foodborne bacteria can be passed through unclean hands. Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli and Campylobacter can pass from person to food to person in minute amounts of feces that reside on an unwashed hand. And the list doesn’t end with bacteria. The hepatitis A virus and norovirus can also pass from person to food to person under unhygienic food handling practices.

Unfortunately, commitment to food safety is something that cannot be taken for granted. Air travel is essential to the function of our world economy as well as a necessary conduit for businesses, families and friends that may be separated by great distances. Food service is an essential part of the air travel experience. When an individual is traveling for 12 hours or more, eating is not an option, it is a necessity. And until airlines can provide individuals with personal refrigerators and areas where they can prepare their own food, we will continue to rely of food caterers to supply the foods needed to keep passengers fed.

 Food safety in the air, contrary to what some might think, is not a difficult endeavor and cannot be considered an option. Food safety is absolutely necessary to the health and well being of millions of innocent Americans who rely on air travel every year.

The recall notification is being issued out of an abundance of caution based on a random sample test conducted by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture Food & Drug Protection Division (NCAGR) on fresh Spinach with the Best Enjoyed By dates of 23 JUN 10 sold under the brand name Krisp-Pak that was confirmed positive for Listeria monocytogenes in NCAGR labs. No illnesses have been associated with this possible contamination.

Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail, or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. It can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. Consumers with any of these symptoms should consult their health care provider.

Because it is still possible that the spinach with the Best Enjoyed By dates of 19 JUN 10 through 27 JUN 10 sold under the brand names Krisp-Pak, Lancaster Fresh, Giant or America’s Coice could be on store shelves, this recall extends to retailers as well as consumers. Lancaster Foods, LLC believes that it is important to alert consumers who might still possess one of the potentially affected expired packages of spinach to immediately dispose of it.

Spinach included in the recall notification includes the items listed in the table below with Best Enjoyed By dates of 19 JUN 10 through 27 JUN 10.

Instructions for Consumers:
Check your refrigerator for packaged fresh Spinach with the Best Enjoyed By dates of 19 JUN 10 through 27 JUN 10 sold under the brand name Krisp-Pak, Lancaster Fresh, Giant, or America’s Choice. The Use-by Date is found on the front of the package in the upper right hand corner.

Consumers who may have potentially affected product are asked to empty the contents of the package into your garbage, save the package, and contact a Lancaster Foods, LLC consumer representative toll-free at (800) 247-8125 between the hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

As of now, no illnesses have been linked to the Campbell’s recalled Spaghetti O’s. Campbell’s initiated their recall after a warehouse inspection. It appears that a faulty cooker may not have allowed the meat to reach the proper internal cooking temperature. According to CampbellSoup.com:

There is no information indicating that any under-processed product has reached consumers. In an abundance of caution, the three varieties of “SpaghettiOs” with Meatballs products that may have been under-processed are being retrieved from the marketplace.

The products subject to the recall were produced in Paris, Texas, and shipped to retail customers nationwide. The recall is limited to the U.S. The problem was discovered through a routine warehouse inspection and subsequent investigation.

The “SpaghettiOs” recall highlights why proactive protocols need to be in place to monitor the quality of a product through the entire processing, from the initial arrival of the ingredients to the final place in the consumers cupboard. Campbell Soup did not wait until foodborne illnesses began to spring up throughout the country. They did not spend weeks waiting for someone to connect their product to a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses to attempt to recall tons of retail distributed product. Steps were in place to get back a potential problem product without trying to deal with tens of thousands of customers and dozens of severe illnesses. No recall is a good recall, but a recall initiated before anyone gets ill is a positive recall.

Marie Callender meals are being investigated as a source of a recent outbreak of Salmonella serotype Chester.  So far, 30 people have been sickened with salmonellosis in 15 states. The Marie Callender recall was initiated when the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) informed ConAgra of an investigation involving a possible connection between the frozen meals and the recent salmonellosis outbreak. The Salmonella outbreak has spread across 15 states.

The ConAgra recall is a perfect example of reactive food safety monitoring. The connection to the Marie Callender’s frozen meals was made after the product had been on store shelves for weeks and illnesses around the country were in a large enough number to make a connection. Essentially, the CDC needed people to get sick enough to seek treatment so they could investigate the recent diets of the Salmonella victims.

Recalls implemented quickly and efficiently can prevent foodborne illnesses. If contaminated food products are never allowed to reach store shelves, cases of food poisoning including those related to Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Camplyobacter, Clostridium botulinum, Listeria and other foodborne illnesses can be prevented.

Food poisoning from bacteria including Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, and Listeria can cause nausea and diarrhea. In addition, in certain cases, food poisoning from these and other related bacteria can cause additional health complications and can be potentially fatal. E. coli O157:H7, a Shiga toxin producing strain of E. coli, has been linked to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a potentially fatal kidney disorder which often affects young children. Campylobacter, on the other hand, has, in rare instances, led to cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), a disorder affecting the nervous system causing paralysis.

United efforts between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food Safety Inspection Service, and the Food and Drug Administration have helped implement recall systems that attempt to keep dangerous foods off store shelves and out of America’s kitchens. These recalls are intended to try to prevent the spread of E. coli, Salmonella, and other food poisoning agents. Unfortunately, the current systems often rely on the pattern of foodborne illnesses caused by these dangerous foods before a recall is suggested. The safety system shouldn’t need the system to fail to make it work.

Manufacturers and processors must use the most current technologies and hold themselves to higher standards to ensure the safety and quality of their products. The only way to guarantee foodborne pathogens don’t make it to the homes of innocent people is to never sell contaminated foods in the first place. Proactive approaches to safety and recalls are important links in the food safety net.  

The premise is simple, the quicker consumers are notified, the more effectively illnesses can be prevented. As of now, the Salmonella Chester outbreak has sickened thirty individuals in fifteen states, for these innocent victims the recall is a little late. Estimates of the numbers of sickened individuals could actually be in the hundreds. Hopefully, the actions taken by the CDC’s investigative teams will prevent further illnesses and help to control this current outbreak. Only time will tell.

The recalled product was distributed in the New York City metropolitan area. 

Recalled product and Lot number:

75 CASES LOBSTER CLAW & KNUCKLE MEAT, Packed 6 x 2 LB bags, FROZEN, packed under Meat Without Feet LABEL, production lot number 13310, shipped on  05/13/2010. 

Consumers who have purchased this product are urged not to consume it and to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

The patients who contracted Listeria monocytogenes were between 66 and 93. The source of the Listeria outbreak has not been pinpointed and this Listeria outbreak appears to be a complex one. With only seven cases and a geographic dispersion of 300 miles, it will be difficult to determine where the Listeria originated.

On the heels of this outbreak is an announcement by the Food Safety Inspection Service regarding Canadian ready-to-eat deli meats which have been recalled due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. According to the recall:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for various ready-to-eat deli meat products because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

FSIS was notified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that various ready-to-eat deli meat products subject to recall in Canada may have been exported to the United States. Recently, a problem was discovered through FSIS microbiological testing of imported product from Canadian Establishment 665, which resulted in a positive sample for Listeria monocytogenes and two FSIS recalls dated May 4 and 5, 2010. FSIS and Canada have received no reports of illnesses as result of consumption of products subject to this alert. Anyone with signs or symptoms of foodborne illness should contact a physician. FSIS will continue to provide information as it becomes available, including information about any related recall activity.

Products exported to the United States include, but are not limited to, the following:

“Casa Italia Gastronomia Prosciutto”

“Casa Italia Gastronomia Prosciutto Boneless”

“Casa Italia Gastronomia Prosciutto Mattonella”

“Casa Italia Prosciutto Boneless”

“Casa Italia Prosciutto Boneless Sliced”

“Casa Italia Prosciutto Ham Sliced”

“Emma Dry Prosciutto”

Implicated products were produced by Zadi Foods Ltd., CFIA Establishment 665, located in Brampton, Ontario, and may have been distributed to retail locations nationwide. All lots and production dates for the above-listed products are subject to this public health alert.

FSIS is working with the CFIA to verify that the recalling firm notifies its customers of the recall and is conducting effectiveness checks to verify that the product is no longer available to consumers. The products would have been sold to consumers at deli counters, and the original brand may not have been transferred at the deli counters to consumer packages. Consumers who may have purchased any of these products and do not know original brand are advised to check with their retailer or supplier to determine if they have the affected products. If consumers have any of the implicated products, they should discard them or return them to the point of purchase.

Listeria is particularly dangerous for pregnant women as it can cause stillbirths. The elderly and young children are also strongly susceptible to Listeria food poisoning. Diarrhea, nausea, fever, and muscle aches are common Listeria symptoms. According to MedlinePlus.com, Listeria foodborne illness symptoms in infants can include decreased appetite, jaundice, vomiting and skin rash. Infants and adults battling Listeria can develop meningitis. In adults, Listeria can also cause the development of septicemia, lesions, and abscesses, and conjunctivitis.

Queso Fresco Fresh Cheese was distributed to retail markets in Washington and one in Hermiston, Oregon.

The cheese is packaged in round clear plastic packages, and is marked on the back with a code date; all codes up to and including May 30th, 2010 are being recalled.

Washington State Department of Agriculture has linked one illness to the cheese.

The recall is the result of a routine sampling program by Washington State Department of Agriculture which revealed that the cheese is contaminated with Listeria. The company has notified their customers and has pulled the product from retail stores. Del Bueno is working with FDA to conduct the recall.

This recall highlights the need for cooperation between international governmental agencies in protecting the world’s population from foodborne illnesses such as Listeria, E. coli, and Salmonella. Development of enhanced food safety protocols and tracking systems will aid in the effort. Quick identification of contaminated foods and issuance of recalls is only one step in guaranteeing the safety of both domestically produced and imported goods. As food product imports swell in our increasingly global society, governments have a heighted responsibility.  

In the battle to protect our domestic food supply, the U.S. Food Safety Inspection Service has developed guidelines for importing certain food products from foreign nations. The FSIS website provides a list of countries meeting import eligibility prerequisites as well as both certified and non-certified foreign meat exporting businesses. The FSIS requirements govern imports of meat, poultry, and eggs. In addition, safety regulations have been established to ensure that imported foods meet the “equivalent” standards established for domestically produced food products.

Food safety has become a global issue. International cooperation is key in the fight against foodborne illnesses. In addition, nations should work on improving food safety standards, improving detection of food poisoning pathogens, and tracking contaminated goods. Such improvements will aid in ensuring that safe food products make their way to our shelves.