The meat recall, issued on October 9, includes foods produced between May 31 and October 8. This is ridiculous foods should be tested before distributed. Government when involved needs to do their job. Two big recalls, Boars Head now the 12million pounds of meat. We need real oversight in these departments.
1 Like
I would agree that FSIS of the USDA and the FDA need to have more power to shut companies down when a food company is not following the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) from FSIS and Hazard Analysis Risk-Based Preventative Control (HARPC) for FDA. These programs require for each product to have a flow chart of the process, figuring out the common biological, chemical, and physical issues that could make the food unsafe for consumption. HARPC also includes allergens.
Listeria monocytogenes is a big issue for ready to eat meats that should have been included in the plan. L. monoctygenes is a bacteria species that can live in very cold temperatures (walk-in freezer temps), live in high salt concentrations (up to 10%, which would kill most other bacteria species) and can survive in dirt , which is tracked into a facility on people’s shoes. Bacterial swabs should have been done on the slicer that seems to have been the issue and the floor around it on a regular basis. One issue is the size of sample that an environmental swab can contain and if the swabber actually got the swab over the bacteria colonies. If the swab did not get into the right spot or captures very small numbers of the bacteria, the test will be negative even though there is an outbreak level of the bacteria.
These programs also include good manufacturing practices that includes making sure there are no pests in the plant. This seems to be a big issue from the article I read. The bugs in the plant can help to spread the bacterium throughout the plant.
If FSIs had the ability to shut the business down with these blantant issues, the recall time frame would have been limited. From what I read the plant was inspected the week before. The CDC should have had any product cut on the slicer recalled immediately not just the liverwurst. Instead the company recently voluntarily recalled all products from the first outbreak issue date forward, which is why the recall period is so long.
Government food inspection companies should make sure companies are following the HAACP and HARPC programs. If the plant has a large number of issues or pest issues, the government agencies need to be able to freeze product release until the issues are resolved and recall products as needed.
2 Likes
Thanks for the thoughtful response.