Author: Tony Coveny, Ph.D

Mandatory kratom recall ordered by FDA While most recalls are voluntary, even when the contaminated product has made multiple people ill or has even resulted in death, the recent kratom-related outbreak of salmonella contaminated has caused the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue a mandatory recall of kratom produced by Triangle Pharmanaturals. The company, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, has refused to cooperate with the FDA, which did initially encourage a voluntary recall. This is the first time the agency has issued a mandatory recall order to protect Americans from contaminated food products. Products that are part of the…

Black mold, rust, and other unsafe conditions found at cheese-making facility Without admitting or denying allegations made by the US Department of Justice on behalf of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Johannes Vulto agreed to shut down his cheese-making operations. Vulto Creamery, LLC, was identified as the source of listeria-contaminated cheese products that caused illnesses in eight people and the death of two people. Food safety issues that contributed to the listeria contamination were not addressed by Vulto. The complaint filed by the Department of Justice states that Vulto Creamery and its owner, Johannes Vulto, violated the Federal Food,…

Vulto Creamery ordered to shut down after listeria outbreak The source of a 2017 listeria outbreak, Vulto Creamery’s Walton, New York, operations have been shut down by a federal court. The company has been ordered by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York not to manufacture its ready-to-eat aged soft, semi-soft, and hard cheeses until it complies with food safety regulations. Vulto Creamery cannot prepare, process, manufacture, pack and/or hold FDA-regulated food products until they can ensure that the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is not present in their facility and their food. The company was identified as the source…

Salmonella potential noted in NutriZone dietary supplements NutriZone, LLC, based in Houston, Texas, has recalled four different types of dietary supplements after they were found to be potentially contaminated with salmonella. The recalled supplements were sold in Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Washington, Missouri, Florida, Mississippi, California and Texas. The recalled dietary supplements are labeled and packaged as follows: Pain Out Maeng Da – 36 capsules per container; Packaging: Pouch; Lot number: 10957 Pain Out Thai – 108 capsules per container: Packaging: Bottle; Lot number: 10960-D Pain Out Malay – 324 capsules per container; Packaging: Bottle; Lot number: 10958-I Nirvanio Green Malay –…

Coconut recalls continue with Health Nut Factory announcement A multi-state outbreak of salmonella contamination has been traced to a number of dried coconut products. The latest to be recalled is a product that was distributed and sold at retail stores in New York City and Long Island. Health Nut Factory of Bayside, NY, has announced that it is recalling 7 oz. pouches of Organic Coconut Smiles because of potential salmonella contamination. The 7 oz Organic Coconut Smiles recalled by the Health Nut Factory are packaged in green rice paper pouches. They can be identified by the UPC code 8 13449…

Target recalls frozen products for potential contamination Frozen ready-to-eat and not-ready-to-eat meat and poultry products shipped by Target Corporation to a store in Honolulu, Hawaii, have been recalled because of shipping issues that may have exposed the products to bacteria contamination. A long list of products may have been contaminated with e. coli, listeria, or salmonella, because of a serious food safety issue. The recalled products were exposed to temperatures greater than 60 degrees for over five hours, which is considered temperature abuse for frozen food products. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced…

Mini eclairs recalled for potential health risk A North Carolina company has issued a voluntary recall of frozen, packaged mini eclairs due to a serious food safety issue. The products were run on the same production line on which another product had previously tested positive for listeria. Delizza brand mini eclairs are made by Poppies International, Inc., in Battleboro, NC, and are sold in popular grocery chains throughout the country. The recalled Belgian frozen custard mini eclairs had the potential to also be contaminated by the listeria bacteria found on the production line. Although no instances of illness have been…

More coconut products recalled for Salmonella Typhimurium contamination as more than a dozen victims identified by CDC Victims identified in Texas, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, California, Colorado, Missouri, and Connecticut. A new recall has been issued for a dried coconut product. King Arthur Flour Company has recalled 6,300 cases of Organic Coconut Flour after a sample pouch tested positive for the presence of salmonella. The recalled coconut flour is sold in 16 oz packages throughout the country. King Arthur Flour Company distributes coconut flour through retailers and distributors. The product affected by the recall is Organic Coconut Flour (16 oz.) with a printed…

Coconut count increases to 13 illnesses in 8 states A salmonella outbreak linked to at least two brands of dried coconut has been identified as the source of thirteen illnesses across eight states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced. Recalls by two separate companies have now been connected to serious symptoms of salmonella contamination among consumers. Of the thirteen people who have become ill in the most recent incidents of food poisoning, three have been hospitalized. Those who fell ill after consuming the contaminated coconut products are from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Missouri, Oregon, Texas, and…

Diced onion contamination spurs recall by Haggen stores Washington-based Haggen stores are recalling a number of deli products that contain diced yellow onions potentially contaminated by salmonella. The raw onions are from Taylor Farms of Salinas, California, a large producer and supplier of fresh produce. The products being recalled out of food safety concerns were sold at the full-service and the self-service delis of the Haggen stores. Recalled deli products at the twelve Haggen stores in the state of Washington include: Old Fashion Potato Salad with sell-by dates of 3/15/18 up to and including 3/19/18 Cashew Chicken Salad with sell-by…