Welcome to the latest installment of the Recall Roundup, where we take a quick look at some food-related recalls that have been in the news in recent days. First off, here is a quick look back at a pair of recalls covered last week on Food Manufacturing:
Reports of Plastic Prompt Recall of Tyson Chicken Nuggets
According to a report from The Associated Press, Tyson Foods is recalling 132,000 pounds of chicken nuggets after receiving reports that "hard, white plastic" was found in some nuggets.
In Response to Asher Chocolate Co. Recall, Cargill Recalls 3 Varieties of Wilbur Chocolate Clusters
In a news release, Cargill announced it was recalling boxed chocolate nut clusters supplied by Asher Chocolate Company and sold under the Wilbur Chocolate brand.
In other food-related recall news:
Potential E. coli contamination led to Pennsylvania-based Silver Springs Farms, Inc., recalling 740 pounds of ground beef products, according to a news release published to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service website on September 30. According to the news release:
The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 4771” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to a distributor in Virginia.
The problem was discovered during a routine verification sampling performed by Silver Springs Farms, Inc. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.
Texas-based Caviness Beef Packers also recently recalled beef — 2,100 pounds of beef trim products — due to potential E. coli contamination, according to a news release published September 27 on the USDA FSIS website. The USDA FSIS news release states:
The products subject to this recall were further processed by a firm other than Caviness Beef Packers, “EST. 675” and may not bear the establishment number "EST. 675", on products available for direct consumer purchase. These products were shipped to retail locations in Texas.
The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified of a USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) sample that tested positive for E. coli 0103.
A potential allergen risk, in the form of shellfish, led to California-based Sager Creek Foods. Inc., announcing a recall of 15,00 cases of canned vegetables, according to a news release published to the FDA website September 26. According to the news release:
Of the 15,000 cases being recalled, 14,761 (98.5 percent) were distributed to foodservice customers. The product was shipped to 22 states: (AL, AR, CO, IL, MD, MO, MS, FL, GA, KS, KY, LA, OK, PA, NC, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WV).
No illnesses have been reported in connection with this issue to date. There is no risk for people who do not have a shellfish allergy.
A news release published to the FDA website September 26 announced that New York-based Mt Kisco Smokehouse was recalling smoked salmon products due to potential listeria contamination. The news release states:
Product was distributed in New York and Connecticut through retail stores and restaurants between 9/6/2016 to 9/16/2016.
On September 23, McCain Foods USA, Inc., announced it was recalling four varieties of private label retail branded frozen onion ring products due to product packaging that does not declare milk as an ingredient, according to a news release published to the FDA website. On September 28, the recall was updated to include two additional brands of frozen onion rings. The updated FDA news release states:
McCain Foods USA, Inc. is recalling the following products. Kroger Brand, 20 oz. Bag of Frozen Breaded Minced Onion Rings with any production date after March 9, 2015 and prior to July 24, 2015, and Fareway Brand, 20 oz. Bag of Frozen Breaded Onion Rings with any production date after March 9, 2015 and prior to June 5, 2015.
On September 23, 2016 McCain Foods USA, Inc. initially recalled frozen onion ring products sold under the following brands: Premium Pick 5 Mix and Match Brand/Save-A-Lot, 40 oz. Bag of Frozen Breaded Diced Onion Rings; Krasdale Brand, 16 oz. Bag of Frozen Onion Rings; Spartan Brand, 20 oz. Bag of Frozen Onion Rings; and Shur Fine Brand, 16 oz. Bag of Frozen Onion Rings. The products for this initial September 23, 2016 recall were manufactured after October 20, 2015 and prior to September 23, 2016. McCain has updated the Premium Pick 5 Mix and Match Brand recall period to be after October 20, 2015 and prior to March 16, 2016.
The potential presence of undeclared walnuts led Indiana-based Café Valley to recall 543 cases of banana nut mini muffins that were incorrectly labeled as lemon poppy seed mini muffins, according to a news release published to the FDA website September 26. According to the news release:
Product was distributed to wholesale distributors in Kansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, Ohio, Massachusetts, Vermont, Alabama, and Illinois.
The product is Café Valley Brand 12ct Banana Nut mini muffins, with a Lemon Poppy Seed mini muffin label. Date code 160803 ink jet printed on top near the label.
The potential for exposure to allergens has led Florida-based Fresh Express to recall 480 cases of 11-ounce sizes of Fresh Express American Salad, according to a news release published to the FDA website September 29. The news release states:
Fresh Express representatives are coordinating with retail stores to ensure removal of the recalled product from store shelves where distributed in primarily southern states.
No illnesses are reported. No other Fresh Express products are included in this recall.
The recall is necessitated by the possible mistaken inclusion of a small number of Caesar Salad condiment packets with undeclared allergens in a limited quantity of American Salads. Although the condiments are in a separate clear packet and labeled “Caesar,” the ingredient list for the condiments is not included on the package label and consumers will not be aware that allergens are present.