Food Safety: Page 52

Feds Shutter Maine Seafood Company Over Safety Violations

The action followed more than a decade of warnings to the company by the Food and Drug Administration, which found the company’s smoked fish products were being prepared, packed and held under unsanitary conditions.

On February 15, 2016, Sullivan Harbor Farm released this statement on Facebook: Sullivan Harbor Farm (aka Mill Stream Corporation) is currently experiencing negative publicity in the media. The FDA complaints against the company are based on legal matters that the smokehouse has been dealing with since October, 2015. Due to the sequence of timing, the legal documents filings occurred in court on February 12, 2016. The company was sold in late January, 2016 to a new party. The new owner is working through a food safety expert with the FDA to improve safety, sanitation and training practices in anticipation of reopening soon, bringing their award-winning products back into the marketplace. This has been a very unfortunate experience for everyone involved, but the new owner of the business is expecting getting beyond it, moving forward with new concepts, while continuing the 25 year tradition of producing safe, tasty artisanal smoked seafood. Thank you for your support.

FDA Seeks $5.1 billion For 2017, Including Funds To Implement Food Safety Law

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

The overall request includes a net increase of $14.6 million in budget authority and $268.7 million in user fees for initiatives tied to several key areas, including the implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FMSA).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USDA) is requesting a total budget of $5.1 billion to protect and promote the public health as part of the President’s fiscal year (FY) 2017 budget – an eight percent increase over the enacted budget for FY 2016.

BJ’s Wholesale Club Recalls Deli Meat Over Pistachio Allergy Risk

BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc.

The recalled deli meats were sold at BJ’s locations in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc., is voluntarily issuing a recall of Cittero Mortadella and deli meats sold from Jan. 20 through Feb. 3 because of a possible pistachio allergen risk.

China Sentences 10 U.S. Poultry Supplier Workers In Safety Scandal; OSI Group To Appeal

The Shanghai Jiading People’s Court said in a statement Monday that it fined two of OSI’s units—one in Shanghai and another in Hebei province—2.4 million yuan ($365,000) and sentenced 10 people to prison.

Shortly after the ruling, the Aurora, Ill.-based OSI Group said it planned to appeal. It said the Chinese authorities unjustly held OSI employees for 17 months and barred OSI’s senior leaders and reporters from attending the trial.

Cheese Maker Roos Foods Inc. Pleads Guilty To Shipping Adulterated Food

The FDA suspended Roos Foods, Inc.’s facility registration on March 11, 2014, which barred the company from introducing food into interstate commerce, for sanitation problems and L. mono contamination in multiple places in the facility.

Cheese produced by Roos Foods, Inc. was linked to an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono) that sickened eight people in 2013. Seven people were hospitalized.

Grower Recalls Macadamia Nuts Over Salmonella

Mahina Mele distributed the products to retail stores in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Maryland and Virginia from Oct. 21 to Nov. 25, 2015.

Mahina Mele Farms LLC, is recalling seven products after FDA testing found Salmonella in macadamia nuts.

Heritage International Recalls Trader Joe’s Raw Cashew Pieces Over Salmonella

The voluntary recall was initiated by Heritage International (USA) Inc., after routine testing by an FDA contract laboratory revealed the presence of Salmonella in one lot of Raw Cashew Pieces.

The recalled cashew pieces are packaged in 16-ounce, clear, non-resealable plastic bags with a barcode number of 00505154 and with the following lot code, “BEST BEFORE 07.17.2016TF4.” The “BEST BEFORE” information can be found on the back of the package above the barcode.

Campbell Soup Co. Reverses Stance: Will Support Mandatory GMO Labels

Campbell Soup Co.

With 92 percent of Americans supporting the labeling of GMO foods, Campbell believes now is the time for the federal government to act quickly to implement a federal solution.

Campbell is optimistic a federal solution can be established in a reasonable amount of time if all the interested stakeholders cooperate. However, if that is not the case, Campbell is prepared to label all of its U.S. products for the presence of ingredients that were derived from GMOs, not just those required by pending legislation in Vermont.

Huisken Meat Co. Recalls Beef Over Wood Contamination

The foreign material originated with an incoming ingredient and was discovered during production of 2-lb. boxes containing 6 pieces of “Sam’s Choice Black Angus Beef Patties with 19% Vidalia ® Onion.”

Huisken Meat Co. recalled approximately 89,568 pounds of beef products that may be contaminated with extraneous wood materials.

Genetic Food Makes Big Progress Despite Controversy

Genetic engineering is winning the day and gradually overcoming its “Frankenfood” fear-mongering, according to a Wall Street Journal article .

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Bellisio Foods Inc. Recalls Boston Market Frozen Dinners

Bellisio Foods, Inc., a Jackson, Ohio establishment, is recalling approximately 285,264 pounds of boneless pork rib shaped patty frozen entree products that may be adulterated with extraneous materials.

Nestle Commits To Cage-Free Eggs In Next Five Years

Nestlé, the world’s largest food company, announced that it will transition to using only cage-free eggs in all of its U.S. food products within the next five years.

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