What’s in Your Kitchen? A Week in Recalls: Another Ground Beef Recall

Posted in Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls on December 16, 2018

MakeFoodSafe.com would like to help you keep your family safe from unsafe foods.  Each week we bring together a list of the current recalls.  Some recalls are issued due to undeclared allergens, which could cause serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if someone sensitive to the product consumes it.  Other recalls are issued due to contamination with harmful material or other health risk.  Check back often and evaluate your fridge, pantry, and shopping list to make sure you can identify which foods to avoid, including another Ground Beef Recall.

JBS Tolleson, Inc Expands Ground Beef Recall Due to Health Risk

JBS Tolleson, Inc of Tolleson, Arizona reissued a recall on December 4, 2018 just 2 months after the initial recall of nearly 6 million pounds of non-intact, raw beef products.  The recall calls for an additional 5,156,076 pounds of raw beef products which brings the recalled product to approximately 12,093,271 pounds of raw beef products due the health risk, Salmonella Newport and linked to an outbreak.

Salmonella may cause serious or even fatal illness. While most healthy individuals often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, the very young, the very old, and those with a compromised immune system may suffer more serious illness. Complications may occur if the infection moves from the gastrointestinal tract and into the bloodstream and other parts of the body resulting in arterial infections, endocarditis, and reactive arthritis

The outbreak linked to the recall confirmed 246 case-patients across 25 states.  Original recall consistent of illness onset dates ranging from August 5, 2018 to October 16, 2018.  This additional recall was necessary after an additional 16 case-patients have been linked to the outbreak.  Epidemiological evidence traced back beef products in three case patients from JBS Tolleson, Inc., ground beef products marked with USDA EST. 267 that were not part of the original recall from October 4, 2018.

The recall includes non-intact raw beef products produced at the facility and packed from July 26, 2018 to September 7, 2018.  Product can be identified as bearing the establishment number EST. 267 inside the USDA mark of inspection.   Affected product was shipped to retail locations and institutions nationwide.  The affected products list is posted at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/e055456e-449a-4995-8414-13fd080e5009/JBS%2BTolleson%2BEST%2B267%2BExpanded%2BRecall.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

Columbia River Natural Pet Foods Recalls Frozen Meats for Dogs and Cats due to Health Risk

Columbia River Natural Pet Foods of Vancouver, Washington issued a recall on December 5, 2018 for 933 packages of their Cow Pie fresh frozen meats for dogs and cats due to potential contamination with the health risk, Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytogenes is a harmful bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal illness in the very young, the very old, and those with a compromised immune system. Pregnant women are at risk for miscarriages and still birth. Normally healthy individuals often experience short- term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.  Although uncommon, some pets infected with Listeria monocytogenes exhibit symptoms such as anorexia, abortion, depression, diarrhea, fever, muscular and respiratory signs, nervous, shock, or death.  Pets may shed the bacteria through there feces onto their coats and into the home environment, potentially infecting other animals or humans in the household.  If your pet has consumed the recalled product, contact your veterinarian.

The recall was initiated after routine testing done by the Washington State Department of Agriculture sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.  Affected product was produced in August 2017 and distributed to Alaska, Oregon, and Washington through retail stores and direct delivery.  See table below for specific product information.

No illness has been reported so far in connection with this recall.  Recalled product use should be discontinued and consumers may return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund.  Questions may be directed to 1-360-834-6854 on Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM PST.

Danone North America Recalls Greek Yogurt Due to Undeclared Allergen

Danone North America issued a recall on December 5, 2018 for 3,521 cases of their of Light & Fit® Greek Crunch Nonfat Yogurt & Toppings S’Mores Flavor yogurt due to the undeclared allergen, peanuts.  Those with an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanuts risk serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if the product is consumed.

The recall was initiated after it was discovered that some of the product included the wrong topper.  The recalled product, Light & Fit® Greek Crunch Nonfat Yogurt & Toppings S’Mores Flavor yogurt does not contain peanuts.  The topper that was used instead does contain peanuts.  This unexpected ingredient is not included on the label.

Affected product is sold in single, 5-ounce cups with a clear plastic topper with mix-in ingredients.  Recalled product is marked with an expiration date of December 30, 2018 on the top of the topper as well as on the side of the yogurt cup.  The December 30, 2018 date code is the only product affected.  Recalled product was shipped to the 13 states, including: Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Consumers with a nut allergy that has purchased the recalled product are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.  Consumers who are not allergic to peanuts may consume the product, as no other health risk is present.  Consumer questions may be directed to Danone North America at 1-877-326-6668.

Check back often to MakeFoodSafe.com for other recall news.  MakeFoodSafe wants to help keep your family safe from harmful food products.

This Week’s Affected Products

By: Heather Van Tassell, Contributing Writer (Non-Lawyer)