What Is New In Food and Housing

fhd_food_germ06
Raw Farm, LLC EXPANDED RECALL of All Raw Whole Milk and Cream Products Following Bird Flu Detection

Dear Food Safety Professionals,

California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has secured a newly expanded, broad, voluntary recall of all Raw Farm, LLC, raw milk and cream products due to possible bird flu contamination.

Today’s expanded recall:

  • Includes all sizes of Raw Farm milk and cream.
  • Production Dates: between November 9 and November 27
  • Affected lot numbers: 20241109 through 20241127, which includes the two lots recalled last week (November 27 and November 24).

Additional information about this recall:

  • Public health officials identified the bird flu virus in retail products from Raw Farm, LLC last week. Additional testing by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) of bulk milk storage and bottled products at Raw Farm’s bottling facility showed the presence of the bird flu virus. Raw Farm milk products have tested positive for bird flu at both retail and dairy storage and bottling sites in recent days.
  • In addition to the statewide voluntary recall, CDFA has placed the farm under quarantine, suspending any new distribution of its raw milk, cream, kefir, butter and cheese products produced on or after November 27.

PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS MESSAGE IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THIS RECALLED PRODUCT AND LET US KNOW THE STATUS OF THE PRODUCT AT THIS TIME.

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely, 

Department of Environmental Health and Quality

 

Do Not Serve or Sell Certain Shellfish from Oregon and Washington   Potentially Contaminated with Paralytic Shellfish Toxins

Dear Food Safety Professionals,

FDA advises restaurants and retailers not to serve or sell and consumers not to eat certain shellfish from Oregon and Washington because they might potentially be contaminated with paralytic shellfish toxins.

  • About Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning.
  • More Information about this Recall.
  • Distribution: Restaurants and food retailers in California as well as several other states.
  • Product Descriptions:
    • Certain oysters and bay clams harvested from OR growing areas in Netarts Bay and Tillamook Bay, harvested on or after 5/28/24.
    • Shellfish species from growing areas:
      • Willapa Bay, WA: Stony Point, harvested between 5/26/24 and 5/30/24.
      • Bay Center, harvested between 5/29/24 and 5/30/24.
      • Bruceport, harvested between 5/29/24 and 5/30/24.

If you have this recalled product:

  • Dispose of any products by throwing them in the garbage or contacting your distributor for return and destruction. If you choose to return, please obtain a receipt.
  • Control the potential for cross-contamination of food processing equipment and the food processing environment. They should follow the steps below:
    • Wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.
    • Retailers, restaurants, and other food service operators who have processed and packaged any potentially contaminated products need to be concerned about cross-contamination of cutting surfaces and utensils through contact with the potentially contaminated products.
    • Retailers that have sold bulk product should clean and sanitize the containers used to hold the product.
    • Regular frequent cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces and utensils used in food preparation may help to minimize the likelihood of cross-contamination.
  • Lastly, please email fhdepi@sdcounty.ca.gov and report the status of said product. If you do not have or carry this product a response not required.

Thank you for your help. 

Sincerely, 

Department of Environmental Health and Quality

 FDA Outbreak Investigation of E. Coli O157:H7 Linked to Bulk Organic   Walnuts from Gibson Farms, Inc.

Dear Food Safety Professionals,

The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) wants to inform you of an FDA outbreak investigation of E. Coli 0157:H7 linked to bulk organic walnuts from Gibson Farms, Inc. that were distributed to natural food and co-op stores locally.

Some E. Coli infections can cause severe bloody diarrhea and lead to life-threatening conditions, such as a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), or the development of high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and neurologic problems.

The recalled walnuts were sold halved or in pieces, in bulk bins as early as October 1, 2023. Stores may have also repackaged and sold the walnuts into individual bags or clam shell containers for customer convenience. If you purchased walnuts from any of the retail locations listed below from October 1, 2023, to April 24, 2024 please discard them immediately and properly wash and sanitize all scoops, containers or other surfaces that the walnuts may have come in contact with.

  • Jimbos Naturally in San Diego (4S Ranch and Carmel Valley), Carlsbad and Escondido
  • Lazy Acres Market in San Diego and Carlsbad
  • Ocean Beach Co-Op
  • Frazier Farms Market in La Mesa and Vista
  • Sun Organic Farm in San Marcos

If you have this product or have any questions related to this recall, please email fhdepi@sdcounty.ca.gov and report the amount of product and whether it was already sold or is being removed from sale. If you do not have or carry this product, a response is not required.

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,

Department of Environmental Health and Quality

 Update to HEALTH ADVISORY: Avoid Raw Oysters Harvested from   Republic of Korea

Dear Food Safety Professionals,

The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) is working closely with the CA Department of Public Health (CDPH) and federal authorities on a Norovirus outbreak associated with raw oyster consumption in product from the Republic of Korea. Oysters contaminated with norovirus can cause illness if eaten, and potentially severe illness in people with compromised immune systems. Food contaminated with norovirus may look, smell, and taste normal.

Due to local illnesses connected to these products, the Public Health Officer of the County of San Diego is directing that all oysters harvested in the Republic of Korea be pulled from sale and held until we have more specific details from CDPH and FDA on exactly which products should not be consumed. The products were distributed to restaurants and wholesalers in San Diego County.

If you carry frozen raw oysters, or have oysters on site that were previously frozen, please check the shellfish tag or information on the box to see if the product originated from the Republic of Korea. If it did, please follow the guidance below.

If you carry fresh oysters from the Republic of Korea, contact our offices for further direction at (858) 505-6814 or via email at fhdepi@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Guidance for Restaurants and Retailers: 

  • Do not sell or serve the potentially contaminated oysters, immediately discard them or return them to your distributor.
  • Follow the steps below to prevent cross-contamination:
    • Retailers, restaurants, and other food service operators who have processed and packaged any potentially contaminated products need to clean and sanitize all food contact surfaces and utensils.
    • Retailers that have solid bulk product should clean and sanitize the containers used to hold the product.
    • Regular and frequent cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces and utensils used in food preparation may help to minimize the likelihood of cross-contamination.
    • Wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.

If you have this product, please email fhdepi@sdcounty.ca.gov and report the amount of product and whether it was already sold or is being removed from sale. If you do not have or carry this product, a response is not required.

The following images are an example of what to look for, and do not include all potential processors or distributors that provide oysters from the Republic of Korea. Thank you very much for your help and in your desire to protect your customers health.

oyster recall image oyster recall image 2

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,
Department of Environmental Health and Quality

 HEALTH ADVISORY: Avoid Raw Oysters Harvested from Republic of   Korea

Dear Food Safety Professionals,

The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) is working closely with the CA Department of Public Health (CDPH) and federal authorities on a Norovirus outbreak associated with raw oyster consumption in product from the Republic of Korea.

The FDA is advising consumers not to eat, and restaurants and food retailers not to sell or serve frozen, raw, or half-shell oysters that were processed by JBR (KR 15 SP) in Tongyeongsi, Republic of Korea from lots B231126, B240103, and B240214 on 11/27/2023, 1/4/2024, and 2/15/2024.  

 

OYSTER RECALL OYSTER RECALL2

Oysters contaminated with norovirus can cause illness if eaten, and potentially severe illness in people with compromised immune systems. Food contaminated with norovirus may look, smell, and taste normal.

The products were distributed to restaurants and wholesalers in San Diego County. If you carry raw oysters, please look in your freezers and verify if the shellfish tag or information on the box matches any product you have onsite to determine if you have oysters from this location and follow the guidance below.

Guidance for Restaurants and Retailers:

  • Do not sell or serve the potentially contaminated oysters, immediately discard them or return them to your distributor.
  • Follow the steps below to prevent cross-contamination:
    • Retailers, restaurants, and other food service operators who have processed and packaged any potentially contaminated products need to clean and sanitize all food contact surfaces and utensils.
    • Retailers that have solid bulk product should clean and sanitize the containers used to hold the product.
    • Regular and frequent cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces and utensils used in food preparation may help to minimize the likelihood of cross-contamination.
    • Wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.

If you have this product, please email fhdepi@sdcounty.ca.gov and report the amount of product and whether it was already sold or is being removed from sale. If you do not have or carry this product, a response is not required.

 CURRENT NEWS

The Department of Public Works (DPW) is a great resource for learning more about Residential Food Waste Reduction. Read through their  Food Waste Newsletter and Guidance Document on  How to Reduce Organic Waste and Donate.*NEW* 

 The County's Public Health Services - Epidemiology and Immunization Services Branch provides current information on the Shigella Outbreak.

Shigella Infection Prevention & Control for Food Facilities (PDF)                                                   
         in Arabic | Chinese | Karen | Korean | Somali | Spanish | Tagalog | Vietnamese