Food recalls
Food recalls in January 2020
The FDA listed 43 food recalls in its January 2020 Enforcement Reports, 9 fewer than in December 2019 (52) and 35 more than in January 2019 (8). 12 were Class I, the most serious kind. The most common reason was Listeria (13).
Food recalls
43
Reports through January 29, 2020
Class I, the most serious
12
Could cause serious harm or death
December 2019
52
8 in January 2019
Every food recall in January 2020
Newest first, by the date of the weekly FDA Enforcement Report that first listed it. FDA's own words are in quotes.
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Class II
AQUABEST SEAFOOD LLC (Miami, FL): Sea Mart Frozen Yellowfin Tuna Loin, CO treated, skinless, boneless, bloodline removed, center cut 5-8 lbs (3 products)
Lead or other chemicals. “Product recalled due to potentially elevated levels of Histamines. Product supplier, TPX, is recalling product which is related to a recent scombrotoxin poisoning outbreak in US.”
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Class II
ASK Foods Inc (Palmyra, PA): Jonah Crab Meat Stuffing 5 lb (2 products)
Listeria. “The cheese ingredient used in the product tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.”
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Class II
Northwest Gourmet Food Products Inc (Renton, WA): Smoked Salmon Chowder, Pike Place Chowder brand (2 products)
Allergen not on the label. “The outer retail packaging claims "Gluten Free" but the inner individual pouch declares wheat.”
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Class II
Savannah Food Company, Inc. (Savannah, TN): Savannah Classics Classic Bread Stuffing packaged in 4.5lb trays (6 products)
Listeria. “Eggs used in the manufacture of the products may be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes”
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Class I (most serious)
Cheesewich Factory (Hodgkins, IL): RTE bacon and eggs 3.6 oz package
Listeria. “Eggs in RTE bacon and egg packet may contain Listeria Monocytogenes.”
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Class I (most serious)
Dierbergs Markets, Inc Corporate Office (Chesterfield, MO): Dierbergs Kitchen Remoulade packaged in 12 OZ containers (6 products)
Listeria. “The firm received a recall notice for hardboiled eggs that were potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The eggs were subsequently used to manufacture various salad and deli products.”
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Class I (most serious)
EMESA FOODS CO (Taylor, MI): Emesa Foods Premium Sesame Tahini
Salmonella. “product tested positive for salmonella”
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Class I (most serious)
Fresh Unlimited Inc (Sidney, OH): Chef Salad Kit (3 products)
Listeria. “Eggs used in the manufacture of the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes”
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Class I (most serious)
Gourmet International Ltd. (Grand Rapids, MI): Butler's Dark Chocolate with Irish Whisky
Allergen not on the label. “undeclared milk”
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Class I (most serious)
Middlefield Original Cheese Coop (Middlefield, OH): Shredded Parmesan Cheese Packaged in plastic 5lb bags (4 products)
Listeria. “Potential Listeria monocytogenes in the cheese.”
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Class I (most serious)
Veggie Noodle Co (Austin, TX): Cece's Veggie Co
Listeria. “Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes”
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Class II
Bakkavor Foods USA Inc. (Charlotte, NC): HOME CHEF HEAT & EAT Baked Macaroni & Cheese NET WT
Metal, plastic, glass or other objects. “The firm received a complaint from one of their customers that the product contained pieces of black plastic in the product.”
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Class II
Buddy Brew Coffee (Tampa, FL): Organic Cold brew BUDDY BREW COFFEE BOLT Original 10.5 oz (2 products)
Other germs or toxins (botulism, hepatitis A, mold...). “Product has potential to be contaminated with bacteria.”
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Class II
Endorphin Farms, Inc. (Saint Augustine, FL): Tobago Keys brand Coral Ridge Seafood Dipping Sauce 12 FL.OZ
Allergen not on the label. “Product labels were applied to wrong product resulting in an undeclared fish allergen.”
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Class II
SANITY CHOCOLATE (Cottage Grove, OR): Dark with Browned Ghee is wrapped in a foil and jacketed with black paper
Allergen not on the label. “Label declares ghee, but it does not declare milk.”
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Class II
Sauer Brands, Inc. - New Century (New Century, KS): Royal Farms Barbecue Dipping Sauce
Allergen not on the label. “Product containing a wing dipping sauce was incorrectly labeled as a barbeque dipping sauce. The product contained soy lecithin but the incorrect label does not declare the presence of soy.”
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Class II
Taylor Farms New England, Inc. (North Kingstown, RI): Hannaford brand Grilled Salmon meal with cooked brown rice, quinoa blend, broccoli florets, cooked white rice, fire... (2 products)
Allergen not on the label. “Salmon meals may contain undeclared wheat”
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Class II
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. (Rochester, NY): Signature Crab Cake, Signature Crab Cake (2 pk), and Signature Crab Cake (4pk) (22 products)
Allergen not on the label. “Products contain undeclared soy.”
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Class III (least serious)
Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods, Inc. (Milwaukie, OR): Garbanzo Beans or Chickpeas (2 products)
“Product is recalled due to the potential presence of glyphosate.”
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Class III (least serious)
Columbia Bean & Produce, Inc. (Moses Lake, WA): Dry Garbanzo Beans are sold under different brands and described as follows (2 products)
“11.8 ppm of glyphosate was detected in dry garbanzo beans.”
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Class I (most serious)
Five Star Gourmet Foods of Florida (Naples, FL): Simply Fresh brand MiniMeals2Go Avocado Toast (6.75 OZ) ready-to-eat snack packs (2 products)
Listeria. “Products have potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.”
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Class I (most serious)
Reichel Foods Inc. (Rochester, MN): Pro2Snax To The Max snack tray containing Sweet Gala Apples, Hard Boiled Egg, White Cheddar Cheese, and Dried... (2 products)
Listeria. “Products are being recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.”
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Class II
Bay State Milling Co. (Quincy, MA): SimplySafe Sesame Seed Hulled
Salmonella. “Product may be contaminated with Salmonella.”
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Class II
Gerber Products Company dba Nestle Infant Nutrition (Arlington, VA): Nestle Toll House Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Bar (16.5oz) (26 products)
Metal, plastic, glass or other objects. “Potential presence of food-grade rubber pieces.”
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Class II
Limena, LLC (Palm Springs, FL): Quesillo Salvadoreno Para Pupusa Salvadorean String Cheese
Listeria. “Product has potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.”
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Class II
Nassau Candy Distributors, Inc. (Hicksville, NY): NANCY ADAMS DARK CHOCOLATE Graham Crackers
Allergen not on the label. “Product contains undeclared milk.”
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Class II
purely elizabeth. (Boulder, CO): purely elizabeth Chocolate Sea Salt probiotic granola
Allergen not on the label. “Undeclared Walnut Allergen. Maple Walnut Probiotic granola was packaged in Chocolate Sea Salt probiotic granola bags.”
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Class II
R. Walters Limited dba Meninno Brothers Foods (Danvers, MA): Hannaford brand Macaroni and Cheese
Listeria. “Product potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.”
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Class II
Sym-Pac International Inc (Corona, CA): Tidal Seafood Yellowfin Tuna Round Steaks
“Notified by customer of reports of illness after consuming tuna steaks, found high levels of histamines.”
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Class II
TFI Holding dba Grey Ghost Bakery (Charleston, SC): GREY GHOST BAKERY scratch-made cookies LEMON SUGAR NET WT 1.4 OZ (40 G)
Other ingredient not on the label (sulfites, dyes...). “The product contains undeclared sulfites.”
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Class II
Wayfare Health Foods LLC (Bozeman, MT): Plant Based WayFare Butterscotch Pudding Organic Dairy Free (3 products)
Labeling, packaging or manufacturing problems. “Product is recalled due to consumer complaints for bloating of package, off flavors (sourness, tart), and textural issues (grittiness, lumpiness).”
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Class III (least serious)
Horizon Vert Pure Llc (West Roxbury, MA): MADAME SARAH brand DJON DJON dried mushrooms
Other ingredient not on the label (sulfites, dyes...). “Product contains undeclared sulfites.”
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Class I (most serious)
Mrs. Condies Salad Company, Incorporated (Denver, CO): Mrs
Allergen not on the label. “Ranch Dressing dip contains undeclared milk as an ingredient.”
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Class II
Texas Star Nut and Food Co., Inc. (Boerne, TX): Great Value Macadamia Nuts 4 oz
Allergen not on the label. “One case (out of 4332 cases) of pine nuts was found to have been packed into macadamia nut pouches instead of pine nut pouches.”
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Class III (least serious)
CHICKEN OF THE SEA (El Segundo, CA): Chicken of the Sea Sardines in Water
Labeling, packaging or manufacturing problems. “It was discovered that one batch of sardines were incorrectly labeled - Sardines in Water instead of Sardines in Tomato sauce.”
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Class III (least serious)
Frito-Lay, Inc. (Plano, TX): Classic Lays potato chips 2 3/4 oz
Labeling, packaging or manufacturing problems. “Water from a roof leak may have dripped on chips prior to packaging”
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Class III (least serious)
SARA LEE FROZEN FOODS (Oakbrook Terrace, IL): Chef Pierre 37 Ounce Pumpkin Spice Latte Pie
Other ingredient not on the label (sulfites, dyes...). “undeclared FD & C Red 40”
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Class I (most serious)
Fuji Food Products, Inc. (Brockton, MA): Trader Joe's 8pc Tempura Shrimp Crunch Roll (23 products)
Listeria. “RTE products potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.”
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Class I (most serious)
Lin's Waha International Corp. (Syosset, NY): Suantianyangmei Waxberry (2 products)
Other ingredient not on the label (sulfites, dyes...). “Products contain undeclared sulfites and cyclamates.”
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Class II
Ardent Mills LLC (Commerce City, CO): Wild Harvest Organic Unbleached All Purpose Flour
E. coli. “Wild Harvest Organic Unbleached All Purpose Flour in 5 lb. bags has the potential to be contaminated with E. coli (STEC).”
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Class II
Ferris Coffee and Nut Company, Inc. (Grand Rapids, MI): R.H (2 products)
Labeling, packaging or manufacturing problems. “Incorrect product label on back panel”
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Class II
Northern Fisheries Ltd. (Little Compton, RI): Frozen Yellowfin Tuna Steak (3 products)
“Products have the potential to cause scombrotoxin fish poisoning because they may have increased levels of histamine.”
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Class II
White Castle Intl (Columbus, OH): White Castle Sliders - Jalapeno Cheese Sliders - Jalapeno Cheeseburgers (3 products)
Listeria. “Products recalled due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes”
Why food was recalled in January 2020
Chartly groups FDA's written reasons by their key words; each recall counts once, under its first matching reason.
| Reason | Recalls |
|---|---|
| Listeria | 13 |
| Allergen not on the label | 11 |
| Labeling, packaging or manufacturing problems | 4 |
| Other ingredient not on the label (sulfites, dyes...) | 4 |
| Metal, plastic, glass or other objects | 2 |
| Salmonella | 2 |
| E. coli | 1 |
| Lead or other chemicals | 1 |
| Other germs or toxins (botulism, hepatitis A, mold...) | 1 |
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Source and notes
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Enforcement Reports (openFDA food recall data) (Public domain (U.S. government work); source U.S. Food and Drug Administration, openFDA), data as of January 29, 2020.
Each week the FDA lists the recalls it has classified in its Enforcement Report, often weeks after the company announced the recall, so a month with five weekly reports tends to count more. Each recall counts once, however many products it covers, in the month FDA first listed it. Class I means the food could cause serious harm or death, Class II temporary or minor harm, and Class III is unlikely to harm anyone. Meat, poultry and most egg products are recalled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, not the FDA, and aren't included. For what to do with a recalled product, see the FDA's recalls page.