Article - There Are Positive Aspects of Processed Foods

A article in the NY Times discusses the current controversy involving processed foods. While there is agreement that people eat too much unhealthy foods, that does not mean that all processed foods are unhealthy, in fact, there are many advantages associated with processed foods.  Processing foods extends the shelf-life of foods allowing for broader distribution, affordability, and convenience. Foods can be made more nutritious through addition of needed factors such as vitamins or protein, or by making nutrients more bioavailable.


NY Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/opinion/food-industrial-local-organic.html
We Shouldn’t Want to Eat Like Our Great-Great-Grandparents
By Jan Dutkiewicz and Gabriel N. Rosenberg
Dr. Dutkiewicz and Dr. Rosenberg are the authors of the forthcoming book “Feed the People: Why Industrial Food Is Good and How to Make It Even Better.”

Feb. 8, 2026

Between the social media influencers extolling the benefits of local, organic and natural food, and the government’s new dietary guidelines commanding Americans to “eat real food,” ideally cooked from scratch, it’s easy to look at your beloved morning bagel with cream cheese and see only a minefield of ultraprocessing and refined carbs.

Puerto Rican Company Recalls Imported Meat Discovered to Lack Reinspection into the US

Mays Chemical Company of Puerto Rico, located in Cataño, Puerto Rico, is recalling approximately 46,315 pounds of frozen, raw pork boneless loins that were not presented for import reinspection into the United States.  The problem was discovered during routine FSIS inspection activities.   The products subject to recall bear Canada establishment “Canada 12” printed inside the Canadian mark of inspection on the label. The affected products were shipped to distributors, institutions, restaurants, and federal establishments for further processing in Puerto Rico.


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/mays-chemical-company-puerto-rico-recalls-frozen-raw-pork-boneless-loins-imported
Mays Chemical Company of Puerto Rico Recalls Frozen, Raw Pork Boneless Loins Imported Without Benefit of Import Reinspection

FSIS Announcement

Editor’s Note: Feb. 4, 2026 – This release was revised to include an additional label and update the label description to reflect this addition, incorporating the Canadian mark of inspection and export mark certification number for the affected product.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2026 – Mays Chemical Company of Puerto Rico, located in Cataño, Puerto Rico, is recalling approximately 46,315 pounds of frozen, raw pork boneless loins that were not presented for import reinspection into the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

NY Seafood Company Recalls Imported Crocker Fish Due to Improper Evisceration

Prime Food Processing LLC, Brooklyn, NY,  is voluntarily recalling Dried Croaker Fish because the product was not adequately eviscerated.  The issue was identified during routine testing conducted by the New York Department of Agriculture. The recall was initiated after the product was selected and sent for regulatory testing. A subsequent investigation determined that the problem originated from an imported product manufactured in Vietnam. At this time, no illnesses or adverse reactions associated with the affected product have been reported.


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/prime-food-processing-llc-issues-allergy-alert-and-safety-warning-regarding-uneviscerated-dried
Prime Food Processing LLC Issues Allergy Alert and Safety Warning Regarding Uneviscerated Dried Croaker Fish
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  February 03, 2026
FDA Publish Date:  February 05, 2026
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Product was not adequately eviscerated and may harbor harmful bacteria or toxins
Company Name: Prime Food Processing LLC
Brand Name:  No Brand
Product Description:  Dried Croaker Fish

Boar's Head Facility in Virginia Restarts Operation 17 Months Closed Due to Listeria Outbreak

The Boar’s Head deli meat plant, Jarratt, VA, linked to the 2024 Listeria outbreak has restarted operations.  The site resumed limited operations on Monday, February 2, 2026, nearly 17 months after it was shut down following the listeria outbreak that killed 10 people and sickened dozens.

https://www.morningagclips.com/boars-head-reopens-virginia-deli-meat-plant-tied-to-deadly-listeria-outbreak/
Boar’s Head Reopens Virginia Deli Meat Plant Tied to Deadly Listeria Outbreak
The reopening comes even as recent inspections of another Boar’s Head plant in Petersburg, Virginia, documented sanitation problems
PUBLISHED ON February 6, 2026

JARRATT, Va. — The Boar’s Head deli meat plant tied to a deadly food-poisoning outbreak in 2024 is back in business, company officials said.

California - Outbreak of Amatoxin Poisoning Due to Consumption of Wild Death Cap Mushrooms

California Dept of health is reporting that as "of January 6, 35 cases, including three adult fatalities and three liver transplants, have been linked to the ongoing outbreak of amatoxin poisoning linked to consumption of Death Cap mushrooms." Recent rain contributed to widespread growth of Death Cap mushrooms in California and are mistaking picked during wild mushroom foraging. Death Cap mushrooms are still poisonous even after cooking, boiling, freezing or drying.

Initial symptoms, such as watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and dehydration can occur within 6 to 24 hours following ingestion of these toxic mushrooms and usually go away within a day. However, this brief improvement can be deceptive, as patients may still develop serious to fatal liver damage within 48 to 96 hours after eating the mushroom

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR26-004.aspx
Death Cap Mushrooms Linked to Three Deaths, Three Liver Transplants and 35 Hospitalizations ​
January 14, 2026
NR26-004

​Wet Weather Spurs Mushroom Growth and Mushroom Foraging with Fatal Results

Canada - Pizza Product Recalled After Linked to E. coli O26 Outbreak

In Canada,  Pillsbury brand Pizza Pops are being recalled after being linked to an E. coli O26 outbreak.  As of January 26th, there have been 29 cases of illness.  Of the cases reported, seven people have been hospitalized and there have been no deaths. People who became sick are between 1 and 87 years of age. Just over half of the people who became ill are female (57%).

Interesting is that the product is not a ready-to-eat product in that the package says product must be thoroughly cooked.  But like chicken croquet product that are also not-ready-to-eat and have caused a large number of illnesses cases in Canada, these products have that look of a product that is fully cooked (or so it seems from the picture on the package).

https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/certain-pillsbury-brand-pizza-pops-recalled-due-e-coli-o26
Certain Pillsbury brand Pizza Pops recalled due to E. coli O26
Brand(s)
Last updated  2026-01-25
Summary
Product  Pizza Pops
Issue  Food - Microbial contamination - E. Coli - other pathogenic
What to do  Do not consume, use, sell, serve or distribute recalled products
Distribution  National
Affected products - See list
https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/certain-pillsbury-brand-pizza-pops-recalled-due-e-coli-o26

Issue
The affected products are being recalled from the marketplace due to possible E. coli O26 contamination.

Chocolate Chip Cookies Recalled for Potential Choking Issue

Mondelēz Global LLC announced today an expansion of its December 24, 2025 voluntary recall (which was not posted on the posted FDA Recalls page)  in the United States of CHIPS AHOY! Baked Bites Brookie. This expansion includes one additional code date (10MAY2026) and two additional UPCs of product pouches inside the recalled carton units of CHIPS AHOY! Baked Bites Brookie.

"This voluntary recall is being conducted because of an incorrect mixing process that resulted in the formation of small corn starch clumps in the product. Due to the characteristics and size of the small starch clumps, the clump could constitute a choking hazard, particularly in special risk groups, such as young children and the elderly."

In 2019, a similar recall was posted for similar product due to this clumping issue where there were complaints of choking. 

https://pennfsqa.blogspot.com/2019/04/chocolate-chip-cookies-recalled-after.html


https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/mondelez-global-llc-expands-voluntary-recall-2-skus-chips-ahoy-baked-bites-brookie-usa-previous
Mondelēz Global LLC Expands Voluntary Recall of 2 SKUs of CHIPS AHOY! Baked Bites Brookie in the USA Previous Release Was Issued on December 24, 2025
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  December 30, 2025
FDA Publish Date:  February 04, 2026
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Product Safety – choking threats
Company Name:  Mondelez Global
Brand Name:  CHIPS AHOY
Product Description:  Baked brownie bites

FDA Issues Warning Letters to Five Importers for Failure to Develop FSVP for Imported Food Products

FDA issued Warning Letters to the following companies for not having a FSVP in place for the food products they import. FSVP regulation in 21 CFR part 1, subpart L. requires that importers perform certain risk-based activities to verify that human and/or animal food they import into the United States has been produced in a manner that meets applicable U.S. food safety standards.  

Basically, these companies have to understand what the risks are for each item and then verify the supplier is adequately controlling these risks.  

The Great Smart African Food LLC, Cleveland, OH you did not develop an FSVP for the foods you import from the foreign supplier(s) indicated in the attached lists, including each of the following foods: Maize Flour, imported from (b)(4), located in (b)(4) Peanut Butter Biscuits, imported from (b)(4),  located in (b)(4) Dried Milk, imported from (b)(4), located in (b)(4)

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/great-smart-african-food-llc-721634-01152026

Asli Foods, Inc Jessup, MD - did not develop an FSVP for any of the foods you import including each of the following foods: Prince Chocolate from the foreign supplier (b)(4) located in (b)(4). (b)(4) Herbal Tea from the foreign supplier (b)(4) located in (b)(4) Malka Mix Afghani Seekh Kabab from the foreign supplier (b)(4) located in (b)(4)

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/asli-foods-inc-719578-11252025

Zip Foods Importers, Inc  Edison, NJ - did not develop an FSVP for each of the following foods: Millet Seed and Buckwheat, Whole Grain from the foreign supplier (b)(4) located in (b)(4). Oyster Mushrooms, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Mushrooms and other fungi products, from the foreign supplier (b)(4) located in (b)(4). Cherry Fruit, Mixed Fruit, Frozen Black Currants (Mixed Core), Currants – Red (Berry), and Lingonberry (Berry) - Frozen Cowberry from the foreign supplier (b)(4) located in (b)(4). Baked Snack Food, Granola Bars, Plain Cookies, and Biscuits from the foreign supplier (b)(4) located in (b)(4). Cheesecake, Cheese Sticks, and Smoked Cheese Sticks from the foreign supplier (b)(4) located in (b)(4). 

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/zip-foods-importers-inc-713379-01162026

American Food Distributor Inc. Romulus, MI  did not develop an FSVP for any of the foods you import, including each of the following foods: Tahina, imported from supplier (b)(4) Extra Virgin Olive Oil, imported from supplier (b)(4) Mallow leaves, imported from supplier (b)(4)

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/american-food-distributor-inc-715733-09082025

MG GROUP USA, Harrison, NY, did not develop an FSVP for any of the foods you import, including the following foods:  White Truffle Olive Oil from (b)(4) located in (b)(4)  Fresh Summer Truffles from foreign supplier (b)(4) located in (b)(4)  Fresh Black Truffles from foreign supplier (b)(4) located in (b)(4)

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/mg-group-usa-718152-10232025

Warning Letter Issued to South Carolina Seafood Processor for Inadequate HACCP Plan

FDA issued a Warning Letter to Carolina Seafood Inc., McClellanville, SC for an inadequate HACCP Plan.  

After the initial inspection where FDA issued the company a Warning Letter with items focusing on the HACCP plan, the company "provided responses to the FDA-483 on June 4 and June 9, 2025, including [the] revised undated HACCP Plan for “SHRIMP DIP,” and revised undated HACCP Plan for “CRAB DIP” and supporting HACCP documentation. After reviewing [the] responses, we continue to have concerns with [the] HACCP program for [the] ready-to-eat (RTE) crab dip and shrimp dip..."

These are the items listed for the Crab Dip.  Items listed for Shrimp Dip were similar.

• "The "firm’s revised HACCP plan for Crab Dip does not list the food safety hazards of metal inclusion and undeclared allergens.   The hazard of metal inclusion in your finished product can occur during metal-on-metal interaction during the opening of metal cans of pasteurized crab meat and the (b)(4) of the dip in an industrial mixer with a metal paddle and bowl. The hazard of undeclared allergens (e.g., shellfish (crab), soy, egg, and milk) should be controlled at your finished product (b)(4) step."
• "The firm’s revised HACCP plan for Crab Dip at your “(b)(4)” CCP lists critical limits of “(b)(4)” are not adequate to control Clostridium botulinum growth and toxin formation. FDA recommends your critical limits list that the product is completely surrounded by ice at the time of delivery or there is an adequate amount of frozen ice packs to have maintain the product at 40°F or below throughout transit and the internal temperature of the product at the time of delivery is 40°F or below."
• The "revised HACCP plan for Crab Dip lists monitoring procedures at the following CCPs that are not adequate to control pathogen growth and toxin formation."  The monitoring procedure does not identify monitoring of actual time and temperature during processing. FDA recommends your procedure list monitoring of the cumulative time for unrefrigerated processing during (b)(4) using a clock to ensure that maximum processing times at unrefrigerated temperatures are not exceeded.  And b. At the “(b)(4)” CCP, the monitoring procedure of “(b)(4)” is not adequate. FDA recommends your monitoring procedure list a visual examination of ice from a designated number of containers selected to be a representative number of containers throughout the cooler.
• "The corrective actions should include discontinue use of supplier until transportation practices have been improved. Additionally, FDA recommends the corrective actions include rejection of the lot because the product is received on ice or with ice packs and there is not a means to evaluate the cumulative time and temperature exposures to perform a proper food safety evaluation."

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/carolina-seafood-inc-710510-08212025
WARNING LETTER
Carolina Seafood Inc.
MARCS-CMS 710510 — August 21, 2025

FDA Issues Warning Letter to Arkansas Food Processor For Failure to File Acidified Process

FDA issue a Warning letter to Christopher Dale Butler, El Dorado, Arkansas, a processor of ready-to-eat foods, specifically the processing of acidified foods. The company failed to file a process for an acidified food and did not register with FDA as food facility.

"A scheduled process was not established by a qualified person who has expert knowledge acquired through appropriate training and expertise in acidification and processing of acidified foods, as required by 21 CFR 114.83. Specifically, you manufacture RTE products including, but not limited to, your Convenient Gourmet brand of Jalapeno Pickled Quail Eggs and Cajun Pickled Quail Eggs. FDA has determined that your pickled quail egg products appear to meet the definition of acidified foods under 21 CFR 114.3(b)"

FDA stated that this was a repeat observation from the FDA-483 issued on September 29, 2022
The company also "failed to renew your registration for the 2024 bi-annual renewal year."

FDA Warning Letter
https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/christopher-dale-butler-720334-01092026
Christopher Dale Butler
MARCS-CMS 720334 — January 09, 2026