Author: Tony Coveny, Ph.D

Ready-to-eat pork head cheese items recalled in Milwaukee Head cheese produced by Malone’s Fine Sausage, Inc., based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, may be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes and is being recalled. Malone’s is recalling 26,323 pounds of ready-to-eat pork head cheese products that were produced from August 27, 2018, through October 5, 2018. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) discovered the contamination on October 9, 2018, when FSIS inspection program personnel tested samples that returned positive results for listeria monocytogenes. Recalled items were shipped to retail locations in Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin and were also sold…

Pistachios potentially contaminated with salmonella Bazzini LLC, is recalling 4,000 pounds of pistachios, after routine sampling revealed that the nuts may be contaminated with salmonella. Bazzini, based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, had shipped the pistachios to retail stores and to customers via direct delivery and mail order in New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, Washington DC, and Virginia. Nut production and shipments have been suspended as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigates the salmonella contamination. Recalled nuts include: Bazzini’s Roasted & Salted In-Shell Pistachios Super Colossal Natural 5 Lbs Bag with UPC #0 75062 30701 5 Bazzini’s Roasted & Salted In-Shell…

Country ham rolls recalled as part of Johnston County Hams contamination Ladyfingers Caterers, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, has issued a recall of its Signature Shaved Country Ham Rolls after one person reported becoming ill from the ham roll. The potential listeria contamination and recall of the ham rolls is a direct result of the neighboring Smithfield, North Carolina, Johnston County Hams recall. Ladyfingers rolls were made with the ham produced by Johnston County Hams, which was found to be potentially contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has been notifying food manufacturers…

Ready-to-eat meat and poultry products recalled for listeria Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods has announced it is also recalling meat and poultry products that contain Johnston County Hams that are potentially contaminated with listeria. The ready-to-eat meat and poultry deli-sliced products had been shipped to retail locations in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Ukrop’s, based in Richmond, Virginia, is recalling 18,296 pounds of its products, after receiving notification from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) that the products were implicated in the Johnston County Hams recall. The ready-to-eat meat and poultry deli-sliced products items that…

Another ice cream maker issues recall Ice cream manufactured in St Petersburg, Florida, is being recalled for potential listeria contamination. Working Cow Homemade Ice Cream, Inc., announced that it is recalling No Sugar Added Vanilla and No Sugar Added Chocolate ice cream that was manufactured during May 2018. The recalled ice cream was distributed in plastic yellow three-gallon tubs marked with a “born-on” date that refers to the manufacturing date. Working Cow customers include ice cream parlors, independent living facilities, and restaurants throughout the state of Florida. The company is working with 152 retail customers on the recall. The Food…

Country ham biscuits recalled in response to ham contamination One of the ripple effects of the Johnston County Hams recall is an additional recall of ham biscuits products by Callie’s Charleston Biscuits, LLC. Callie’s is recalling two products that may contain Johnston County Hams that are potentially contaminated with listeria. Callie’s is recalling two of its biscuit products and advising consumers not to eat them if they have the biscuits in their homes: Country Ham Biscuits UPC: 897856002001 Cocktail Ham Biscuits UPC: 897856002049 These biscuits were produced and shipped between April 3, 2017, and October 3, 2018, and distributed to…

Over 6.5 million pounds of raw beef products potentially contaminated At least 57 people in 16 states have become ill after eating potentially contaminated beef products. JBS Tolleson, Inc., has recalled approximately 6,500,966 pounds of the raw, non-intact beef products because they may be contaminated with salmonella. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) was notified of the first illness on September 5, 2018. Traceback procedures enabled FSIS to identify the source of multiple illnesses as JBS, based in Tolleson, Arizona. FSIS has now identified 57 sick consumers from 16 states with illness onset dates ranging…

Over 89,000 pounds of ham products recalled for listeria Approximately 89,096 pounds of ready-to-eat deli-loaf ham products have been recalled after a link was found between recent illnesses and the consumption of those products. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has determined that the ham items, produced by Johnston County Hams in Smithfield, North Carolina, may be contaminated with listeria. In fact, the contamination may date back to 2016. Investigators testing deli ham products in 2016 and again in early 2018 found listeria that is closely related genetically to the listeria found in those consumers…

38 sick after eating contaminated eggs An additional 24 people have been added to the list of those who became ill after eating shell eggs from Gravel Ridge Farms, based in Alabama. A total of 38 people experienced the symptoms of salmonella, with 10 of those being hospitalized for their illness. All cage-free, large shell eggs from Gravel Ridge Farms have been recalled and removed from stores. However, since the best by date on the cartons ranged from July 25, 2018, through October 3, 2018, there may still be potentially contaminated eggs in homes or restaurants. Tennessee had the most…

Detroit ice cream recall expands to all flavors A recall that was originally announced on September 4, that included two flavors of ice cream produced by Reilly Craft Creamery of Detroit, Michigan, has now been expanded to include all lots of all flavors produced by the company since February 20, 2018. The first recall came as a result of two samples testing positive for listeria monocytogenes during routine testing by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). MDARD has subsequently conducted environmental sampling at the production facility and has found that listeria monocytogenes is actually present in multiple…