Salmonella Outbreak Due to Whole Cucumbers; Product Recalled

CDC, FDA, and state partners are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections that has linked to cucumbers. Epidemiologic and traceback data show that cucumbers grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico, including recalled cucumbers from SunFed Produce, LLC. may be contaminated with Salmonella and may be making people sick.

As of November 26, 2024, a total of 68 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from 19 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from October 12, 2024, to November 16, 2024. Of the 50 people for whom information is available, 18 have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

Fast Facts

Cases: 68

Hospitalizations: 18

Deaths: 0

States: 19

SunFed Produce, LLC (SunFed) is recalling all sizes of whole fresh American cucumbers packaged in bulk cardboard containers labeled with the “SunFed” label or in a generic white box or black plastic crate with a sticker that provides the implicated grower’s name, “Agrotato, S.A. de C.V.,” (photos below). The recalled cucumbers were sold between October 12, 2024, thru November 26, 2024, and are being recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. SunFed initiated this recall after the US Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) notified SunFed that the cucumbers described above were associated with reported salmonellosis illnesses between October 12 – November 15, 2024.

The whole fresh American cucumbers were sold by SunFed and other importers and shipped to customers located in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington & Wisconsin and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Calgary, Saskatchewan, & Ontario. The cucumbers would have reached consumers through foodservice and retail outlets that may be located in states other than those listed above.

CDC Food safety alert
https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/outbreaks/cucumbers-11-24/index.html
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Cucumbers

Organic Eggs Recalled Due to Potential Salmonella After Inadvertent Distribution

Handsome Brook Farms is voluntarily recalling 10,800 retail units of the Organic Pasture Raised 24-Count Eggs sold under the Kirkland Signature brand name (Costco) because these eggs have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.  The recall was initiated after the company determined that eggs not intended for retail distribution were instead packaged and distributed in retail packaging. Additional supply chain controls and retraining are being put in place to prevent recurrence.

Eggs were distributed into 25 Costco stores in the States of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee beginning November 22, 2024.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/handsome-brook-farms-issues-recall-kirkland-signature-organic-pasture-raised-24-count-eggs-because
Handsome Brook Farms Issues Recall of Kirkland Signature Organic Pasture Raised 24-Count Eggs Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 27, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  November 27, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Egg/Egg Product
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Foodborne Illness/Salmonella
Company Name:  Handsome Brook Farms
Brand Name:  Kirkland Signature
Product Description:  Organic eggs

CFIA Lab Determines Incorrect Testing Result On Green Onions - Recall Rescinded

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency, CFIA, determined that a testing result that resulted in a recall was green onions was wrong.  The Salmonella found was due to cross contamination in the laboratory and not the green onions.  From the notice:

• "On October 18, 2024 Church Brothers Farms voluntarily recalled 1271 cases of Green Onions due to the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. This action was based on information received from the CFIA that a single product sample had tested positive for its presence."
• "Following the positive Salmonella result, the CFIA completed the whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis of the Salmonella isolate, the results of which indicated that the sample could have been cross-contaminated with the laboratory’s positive control strain."
• "After further internal review, the CFIA conclusively determined that cross-contamination had indeed occurred. The CFIA also confirmed that the cross-contamination was an isolated event, and no other samples were affected."

It would be interesting to get more insight on this, especially that this comes more than a month after the initial recall.  Laboratories are not without risk of internal cross-contamination, and safeguards must be in place to ensure the accuracy of results.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/correction-notice-canadian-food-inspection-agency-laboratory-error-incorrectly-resulted-recall
Correction Notice: Canadian Food Inspection Agency Laboratory Error Incorrectly Resulted in Recall of Church Brothers Farms Green Onions – Recall Rescinded-..
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 25, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  November 25, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Recall Cancellation Due to False Positive
Company Name:  Church Brothers
Brand Name:  Multiple Brand Names
Product Description:  Green Onions

Four Produce Importers Issued Warning Letters for FSVP Failures

Four produce importers were issued Warning Letters from FDA for issues with the FSVP.

Future Best Trading Inc. of Temple City, CA
Did not develop an FSVP for any of the foods you import, including each of the following foods:
Enoki Mushroom imported from (b)(4);
King Oyster Mushroom imported from (b)(4);
Enoki Mushroom imported from (b)(4).

Paso Real Produce LLC of Pharr, TX

Did not develop an FSVP for any of the foods you import, including each of the following:

Avocados imported from (b)(4) located in (b)(4)

Limes imported from (b)(4) located in (b)(4)

Limes imported from (b)(4) located in (b)(4)

Limes imported from (b)(4) located in (b)(4)

JC Finest Produce Inc of Mesquite, TX

did not develop an FSVP for any of the foods that you import, including each of the following foods:

Persian limes imported from (b)(4), located in (b)(4)

Rambutan imported from (b)(4), located in (b)(4)

Thai banana imported from (b)(4), located in (b)(4)

Green Day Produce, Inc. of Vernon, CA 

did not evaluate your foreign suppliers of covered produce for compliance with the Produce Safety Rule (PSR), 21 CFR part 112. During our inspection, you provided FSVPs for your seafood mushrooms and oyster mushrooms imported from (b)(4) and for your (b)(4) mangos imported from (b)(4). Seafood mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, and mangos are “covered produce” as defined in 21 CFR 112.3, and therefore must comply with FDA’s Standards for Growing, Harvesting, Packing and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule) regulation. 

Items noted

Seafood Mushrooms imported from (b)(4)

Oyster Mushrooms imported from (b)(4)

Taiwanese Mangos imported from (b)(4)

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/future-best-trading-inc-689940-10102024
Future Best Trading Inc.
MARCS-CMS 689940 — October 10, 2024

Public Health Alert for Beef Tallow illegally Imported into the USA

USDA FSIS is issuing a public health alert for beef tallow products that were illegally imported from Mexico and are ineligible for entry into the United States. The products were not certified for export to the U.S. by the government of Mexico as being produced under equivalent inspection, they do not identify a certified establishment number on their packaging, and they were not presented to FSIS for import reinspection as required. These factors make the products ineligible to import into the U.S. and unfit for human consumption. FSIS is continuing to investigate how these products entered the country.


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-ineligible-beef-tallow-products-imported-mexico
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ineligible Beef Tallow Products Imported From Mexico

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for beef tallow products that were illegally imported from Mexico and are ineligible for entry into the United States. The products were not certified for export to the U.S. by the government of Mexico as being produced under equivalent inspection, they do not identify a certified establishment number on their packaging, and they were not presented to FSIS for import reinspection as required. These factors make the products ineligible to import into the U.S. and unfit for human consumption. FSIS is continuing to investigate how these products entered the country.

Tortilla Strips Recalled After Mispackaging Results in Undeclared Wheat Allergen

Sugar Foods, a company headquartered in California, is recalling 3.5 ounce pouches of Fresh Gourmet Tortilla Strips Santa Fe Style with UPC Code 7 87359 17504 6 and Best By Date June 20, 2025 due to a contamination of undeclared wheat allergen.  On November 19, 2024, the firm was contacted by a consumer stating the pouches contained Crispy Onions instead of the Tortilla Strips. The Crispy Onion Strips contains wheat which is not listed on the label for the Tortilla Strips. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sugar-foods-recalls-fresh-gourmet-tortilla-strips-santa-fe-style-35-ounce-pouch-due-undeclared-wheat
Sugar Foods Recalls Fresh Gourmet Tortilla Strips Santa Fe Style 3.5 Ounce Pouch Due to Undeclared Wheat
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 22, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  November 22, 2024
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Wheat
Company Name:  Sugar Foods
Brand Name:  Fresh Gourmet
Product Description:  Fresh Gourmet Tortilla Strips Santa Fe Style

Two Pet Food Distributors Recall Chicken Chip Dog Treats Due to Potential Salmonella

Two pet food distributors are recalling chicken chip treats due to potential Salmonella contamination. Gaines Pet Treats LLC, of Birmingham, AL is voluntarily recalling 204, 5-ounce bags of "Gaines Family Farmstead Chicken Chips" treats for dogs and Carolina Prime Pet, Inc. of Lenoir, NC, is recalling 400 16-ounce bags of "Hollywood Feed Carolina Made Chicken Chips" treats for dogs.  The potential for contamination was noted after testing performed by a third-party laboratory identified contamination in a related yet commercially unreleased lot of the same product.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/gaines-pet-treats-llc-voluntarily-recalls-gaines-family-farmstead-chicken-chips-dogs-due-possible
Gaines Pet Treats LLC Voluntarily Recalls “Gaines Family Farmstead Chicken Chips for Dogs” Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 22, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  November 22, 2024
Product Type:  Animal & Veterinary  Pet Food
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Salmonella Contamination
Company Name:  Gaines Pet Treats LLC
Brand Name:  Gaines Family Farmstead
Product Description:  Chicken Chips Dog Treats

Michigan Company Recalls Ground Beef Linked to E. coli Outbreak in Minnesota

Wolverine Packing Co., a Detroit, Mich. establishment, is recalling approximately 167,277 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.  The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture of a group of ill persons who had reported that they consumed ground beef prior to their illness.  

This is a food service product, so not an issue for consumers purchasing from the grocery store, although it is a reminder that it is always important to cook ground meat burgers to the proper temperature....and the way to verify that is using a thermometer.

"FSIS was notified of illnesses on November 13, 2024, and working in conjunction with Minnesota Departments of Agriculture and Health, FSIS determined that there was a link between the ground beef products from Wolverine Packing Co. and this illness cluster. On November 20, 2024, a ground beef sample collected by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture as part of an outbreak investigation tested positive for E. coli O157. To date, 15 case-patients have been identified in one state with illness onset dates ranging from November 2, 2024, to November 10, 2024"

"The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has identified 10 cases of E. coli O157 infection in people who had eaten burgers at multiple locations of Red Cow, a table-service restaurant chain with locations in Hennepin, Ramsey and Olmsted counties. One additional case reported dining at Hen House Eatery in Minneapolis, which received the same ground beef product suspected in this investigation."

https://www.health.state.mn.us/news/pressrel/2024/ecoli111524.html

Minnesota Department of Health News Release

Nov. 15, 2024

E. coli O157 infections linked to consumption of burgers from Twin Cities restaurants

Health officials urge people with gastrointestinal illness, especially bloody diarrhea, to contact their health care provider

Health officials are urging people to contact their health care provider if they ate a hamburger, especially if undercooked, at a table-service restaurant since Oct. 31 and then developed diarrhea, particularly bloody diarrhea, in the following week.  

Listeria Outbreak Linked by FSIS Testing to RTE Pork Product Produced by SC Company

A Listeria outbreak has 11 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria from four states, reported as of Nov 22, 2024.  "Sick people's samples were collected from October 24, 2021, to July 31, 2024. Of 11 people with information available, nine have been hospitalized. In California, one pregnant person and their twins were sick and both infants died. Listeria was found in a sample from the mother and from one of the twin infants, but it could not be found in a sample from the other infant. "

"On October 21, 2024, FSIS conducted routine testing and follow-up activities of finished product by Yu Shang Food, Inc. Testing confirmed that the product was contaminated with Listeria. WGS showed that the Listeria in the pork snout product is closely related to bacteria from sick people. This means that people likely got sick from eating foods produced by Yu Shang Food, Inc."

Yushang Food Inc., of Spartanburg, SC issued an initial recall on Nov 9, 2024, and then expanded on Nov 21, 2024 to include approximately 72,240 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products within their shelf life that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes. The

The problem was discovered after FSIS performed routine testing and follow-up activities of finished product produced by Yu Shang Food, Inc. on October 21, 2024, that confirmed the product was positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Additional testing has confirmed that Listeria monocytogenes was detected in product and in environmental samples collected by FSIS. Whole genome sequencing was conducted determine if these samples match the outbreak strain.  Working in conjunction with public health partners, FSIS determined that there is a link between the RTE meat and poultry products from Yu Shang Food, Inc. and an illness cluster.

https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/investigation-update-meat-and-poultry-11-24.html

Investigation Update: Listeria Outbreak, Meat and Poultry Products, 2024

November 22, 2024

CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections.

Wisconsin University Expands Recall of Mislabeled Ice Cream After Determining Issue Occurred on Other Lot

Babcock Dairy of Madison, Wisconsin, is expanding its November 7, 2024 recall for Orange Custard Chocolate Chip ice cream that may be labeled as Chocolate Peanut Butter.  The products were produced on Sept. 17 and 30, 2024. The issue with the first lot  (Lot for Sept 17) was discovered on the evening of Nov. 4, 2024, when a customer reported the mislabeling. The second lot (Lot for Sept 30) was added to the recall notice after discovery on Nov. 18, 2024. There have been no reports of illness associated with consumption of these products.

This reminds one to check other lots of the same product when first discovering there was an issue on the first lot. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/babcock-dairy-expands-recall-orange-custard-chocolate-chip-and-chocolate-peanut-butter-due
Babcock Dairy Expands Recall on Orange Custard Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Peanut Butter Due to Undeclared Egg
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 19, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  November 19, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Egg
Company Name:  Babcock Dairy
Brand Name:  Babcock Dairy
Product Description:  Orange Custard Chocolate Chip ice cream