Month: April 2011

Recalls and Alerts: April 27, 2011

Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

United States

  • Allergy Alert: Elsie Grace’s Dry Food Company (Frankfort, KS) recalls some dip mix and soup mix products due to the presence of undeclared milk, soy or wheat. The recalled products were distributed to gift shops and food retailers in KS, NE, MO, NC, OH, IN, AR, KY, PA, OK, IL, SD, IA, WV and MI. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of recalled products.
  • Allergy Alert: The Raymond-Hadley Corporation recalls Better Batter Pancake & Biscuit Mix (20 oz.; Best Before July 2012 – March 2013), Better Batter Gluten Free Pancake/Biscuit Mix (2.5lbs.; Best Before December 2011, February – August 2012 & March 2013), Better Batter Yellow Cake Mix (18.25oz.; Best Before January – March 2013), and Better Batter Chocolate Cake Mix (18.25oz.; Best Before January – March 2013), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled mixes were distributed in the USA and Canada through retail stores, mail order and direct delivery.
  • Allergy Alert: Tri City Cheese and Meats, Inc. (Kawkawlin, MI) recalls Troll Smokehouse Kippered Turkey, Teriyaki Flavor (5 oz & 1 lb packages; Sell by date of May 21, 2011 through Sept. 9, 2011) and Troll Smokehouse Kippered Beef, Teriyaki Flavor (5 oz and 1 lb packages; Sell by date of July 9, 2011 through Sept 2, 2011), due to the presence of undeclared wheat and soy. The recalled products were distributed to retail establishments in Michigan.
  • Food Safety Recall: Woodsmoke Provisions, LLC recalls The Fresh Market Signature Collection Atlantic Smoked Salmon, 4oz. pkg (Lot code 1459/2), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled smoked salmon was sold in The Fresh Market, Inc. stores in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee.
  • FDA Enforcement Action: The Justice Department, at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has filed a complaint for permanent injunction against Daniel L. Allgyer, owner of the Rainbow Acres Farm, in Kinzers, PA, for distributing unpasteurized (or “raw”) milk for human consumption in interstate commerce.
  • Federal Indictment (USDA/FSIS): On April 6, a grand jury convened by the United States Attorney´s Office for the District of Puerto Rico handed down an indictment against Filiberto Berrios, 52, of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, on four counts of adulteration, transport, distribution and sale of adulterated meat and poultry products and issued a warrant for his arrest. The federal charges state that on or about June 25, 2009, Berrios purchased and transported approximately 45,582 pounds of spoiled and misbranded meat and poultry food products. Berrios reportedly purchased the meat and poultry products for approximately 10 cents per pound. Berrios was arrested on April 12th.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: American Regent recalls Ammonium Molybdate Injection, USP (Molybdenum 250 mcg/10 mL) 10 mL Single Dose Vial (Lot #9409; Exp. Date June 2011), due to the presence of particulate matter. Ammonium Molybdate Injection, USP is indicated for use as a supplement to Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) solutions. The product was distributed to wholesalers and distributors nationwide.
  • Iodine Prep Pad Safety Alert: Wisconsin Pharmacal Company, LLC alerts consumers that some Atware Carey First Aid Kits distributed by Wisconsin Pharmacal  contain Triad Povidone Iodine Prep Pads, which were recalled by the manufacturer due to potential bacterial contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of affected Kits.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: The Raymond-Hadley Corporation recalls Better Batter Pancake & Biscuit Mix (20 oz.; Best Before July 2012 – March 2013), Better Batter Gluten Free Pancake/Biscuit Mix (2.5lbs.; Best Before December 2011, February – August 2012 & March 2013), Better Batter Yellow Cake Mix (18.25oz.; Best Before January – March 2013), andBetter Batter Chocolate Cake Mix (18.25oz.; Best Before January – March 2013), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled mixes were distributed in the USA and Canada through retail stores, mail order and direct delivery.
  • Allergy Alert: Nishimoto Trading Co. Ltd. recalls Egg Custard (Chawanmushi), because the product contains undeclared shrimp. The imported Egg Custard was distributed in Vancouver, BC.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Finland): Valio Ltd. recalls recalls Valio Lactose-free butterscotch and blueberry-white chocolate lactose-free quarks (150g; best before 29/04/2011, 05/05/2011 and 05/11/2011), because the products may contain loose pieces of plastic.
  • Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Nestlé recalls certain Milkybar Discs and Milkybar Buttons due to the possible presence of small pieces of white rubber. The products were manufactured in the United Kingdom. Please see the recall notice for a list of affected codes and dates.
  • Food Safety Recall (United Kingdom): Nestlé UK recalls various date codes of Milkybar Buttons due to possible contamination with small pieces of rubber. Please see the recall notice for a list of affected codes and dates.
  • Food Safety Recall (United Kingdom): Victoria Foods Ltd. recalls Jane Asher Creations Milkybar: My First Baking Mix (195g cartons; Best before end October 2011, November 2011), because the Milkybar Buttons may contain small pieces of rubber.
  • Food Safety Recall (Italy): L.I.F.E. s.r.l. recalls Life brand Chestnut Flour(Best before 30/06/2011; Ean 8001735000; Lot #298.10) due to the presence of aflatoxins in excess of the legal limit.
  • Food Safety Alert (Cyprus): Eggs from the Andreas Vasiliou farm in Kato Drys (Larnaca) were withdrawn from sale after one batch of eggs (labelled 1 CY4433.39; Sell by 16 May 2011) were found to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0540): Cronobacter sakazakii in milk powder for follow-up milk from Belgium; distributed to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Syrian Arab Republic.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Nidoway Investment Ltd. recalls Supirocin Ointment 2%, 10g (imported by Nidoway from Macau and supplied to G & L Medical (USA) Co Ltd for sale to pharmacies in Hong Kong), because the product is unregistered in Hong Kong and also because there is a discrepancy between the labelled and actual active ingredient contents.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Federal Indictment (Puerto Rico): On April 6, a grand jury convened by the United States Attorney´s Office for the District of Puerto Rico handed down an indictment against Filiberto Berrios, 52, of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, on four counts of adulteration, transport, distribution and sale of adulterated meat and poultry products and issued a warrant for his arrest. The federal charges state that on or about June 25, 2009, Berrios purchased and transported approximately 45,582 pounds of spoiled and misbranded meat and poultry food products. Berrios reportedly purchased the meat and poultry products for approximately 10 cents per pound. Berrios was arrested on April 12th.

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket’s recall web site.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.

Recalls and Alerts: April 25, 2011

Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

United States

  • Allergy/Labeling Alert: Giant Eagle recalls Market District Couscous (Best By Nov. 10) due to the presence of undeclared wheat and incorrect cooking instructions.
  • Allergy Alert: Doctor’s CarbRite Diet (New Brunswick, NJ) recalls Chocolate Brownie Doctor’s CarbRite Diet Bar, 2 oz (UPC # 0 39442 08112 4; all lots), due to the possible presence of undeclared peanuts. The bars were distributed nationally through a variety of distribution channels including supermarkets, health food stores, gyms, and internet-based e-commerce sites.
  • Allergy Alert: S&M Enterprise Corp (Brooklyn, NY) recalls Grove Grow Notes Dried Taro (Product of China) due to the presence of undeclared sulfites. The product was distributed nationwide.
  • Allergy Alert: S&M Enterprise Corp (Brooklyn, NY) recalls Rain Swiss Roll Strawberry Flavor and Rain Swiss Roll Coconut Flavor (products of China), due to the presence of undeclared egg. The products were distributed nationwide.
  • Allergy Alert: Simple Foods (Tonawanda, NY) recalls Carob Brown Rice Crunch Squares, 1.6 oz., and Carob Mint Miniatures, 5.5 oz., because the products may contain undeclared milk. The recalled products were sold at various health food stores in New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
  • Allergy Alert: See’s Candies, Inc. recalls Mayfair Chocolate Eggs (4.25-ounce box labeled See’s Candies Mayfair with Cherries & Pecans; Code 138), due to the presence of undeclared walnuts. The recalled candies were sold in See’s retail shops in Northern California (San Jose and north), Northern Nevada (Reno), Oregon, Washington, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota and Illinois.
  • Food Safety Recall: Satur Farms (Cutchogue, NY) recalls Satur Farms Cilantro (1/2 lb and 1 lb bulk bags; lot #6347) after USDA detects Salmonella in a routine test sample. The recalled cilantro was distributed to six food service customers in New York City and Long Island.
  • Food Safety Recall: Jonathans Sprouts (Rochester, MA) recalls all conventional and organic alfalfa sprout products (all sell-by dates), because the sprout products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled alfalfa sprout products were sold in A&P, Grand Union, Stop & Shop, Shaws, Hannaford, Donnelans, Foodmaster, Truccis, and Roche Brothers stores, and also were distributed in bulk to food service establishments. The products were distributed in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
  • Food Safety Recall: L&M Companies, Inc. (Raleigh, NC) recalls Nature’s Delight Whole Cucumbers (Lot #PL-RID-002990), after FDA finds Salmonella in a randomly selected sample of cucumbers in a cooler at Four Seasons Produce of Central Florida, Inc. The recalled cucumbers were distributed to wholesalers in New York, Florida, Illinois, Indiana and Tennessee, and also were shipped to Walmart distribution centers in Mississippi, Nebraska, Texas and Wyoming.
  • Food Safety Recall: Woodsmoke Provisions recalls The Fresh Market Signature Collection Atlantic Smoked Salmon (4 oz. pkgs) due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Outbreak Alert: Since November 2010, four residents of Dallas County (Texas) have become infected with a single strain of Salmonella after drinking unpasteurized milk. Three of the cases have been linked to a single dairy farm, where raw milk sold at the farm tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert/Illness Report: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning people with allergies to peanuts not to consume Doctor’s CarbRite Diet Chocolate Brownie bars (56.7g/2.00 oz packages; UPC 0 39442 08112 4; Lot codes EXP101211, EXP040211, EXP080811, EXP080911, and EXP041012), due to the presence of undeclared peanuts. This is an expansion of an earlier recall. The recalled product was distributed across Canada. There has been one reported illness.
  • Allergy Alert: Sobeys Inc. recalls Compliments Balance Spinach Honey Dijon Salad Kit (220g; Best Before 11AL26) due to the presence of undeclared tree nuts and sulphites. The recalled product was distributed nationally.
  • Allergy Alert: Quality Natural Foods recalls Haldiram’s Nagpur brand Petha Cubes Indian Sweets (1Kg and 4Kg sizes; all codes and Best Before dates), due to the presence of undeclared sulphites. The recalled product was distributed nationally.
  • Food Safety Alert (Listowel, ON): The Food Basics store on Wallace Avenue North in Listowel was closed as a safety precaution after needles were found in fruit and meat.
  • Product Withdrawal: Molson Coors withdraws 1.18 Litre Molson Dry bottles with a black bottle twist cap (Production code that starts with D01), because a few of the bottles produced for the Quebec market on April 1st, 2011 may have been mislabeled and could bear a body label indicating 5.5% Alcohol instead of 10.1%. The withdrawn bottles were distributed only in Quebec.
  • Triad Group Product Recall Update: Triad Group-manufactured health products continue to be recalled from the Canadian market due to bacteria contamination. Affected products – some of which are co-packaged with drugs and included in medical kits – include: alcohol swabsticks, swabs, prep pads and lubricating jelly.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Finland): Kesko Food Ltd. recalls Pirkka fish fingers (250 g/10 pcs), Pirkka fish fingers (250 g/10kpl, MSC-certified) as well as Euro Shopper fish fingers (250 and 900 g/10kpl g/30kpl), due to the presence of undeclared egg protein.
  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Aldi recalls King’s Crown brand Red Cabbage (580mL jars; Codes 31100 LR 302 W 09:43 and 311 LR 287 W 04:58; Expiry date of 31/12/2012), because the product may contain pieces of glass.
  • Food Safety Warning/Withdrawal (Netherlands): Jumbo recalls Jumbo Kipfricassee Creamy and Spicy Lamb Ratatouille (2011 Easter label), because the packaging may catch fire when microwaved.
  • Food Safety Recall (Ireland): McCarren & Co. Ltd. recalls McCarren Cooked Ham (4171, Use by dates: 05/05/11; 4168, Use by dates: 28/04/11; 4163, Use by dates: 21/04/11; 4177, Use by dates: 12/05/11; 4181, Use by dates: 19/05/11; 4182, Use by dates: 21/05/11; 4159, Use by dates: 14/04/11; 4167, Use by dates: 28/04/11; 4162, Use by dates: 21/04/11; 4176, Use by dates: 12/05/11.), due to potential processing errors which may lead to microbial contamination.
  • Topical Product Safety Recall (France): Smith & Nephew recalls Remove solvent-impregnated skin wipes (Lots 0E219, 0E226, 0F242, 0G116, 0H256, 0J233, 0J262, 0J263, 0M178, 0M179, 1A106, 1A181, 1A182, 1A192) and Skin-Prep impregnated skin wipes (Lots 0G117, 0G225, 0J146, 0J147, 0K78, 0M198), due to the risk of bacterial contamination.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection urges the public not to consume puffer fish, following a report of suspected poisoning associated with puffer fish consumption.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Allergy Alert (Australia): Indya Foods Pty Ltd, Roshan Naidu Enterprises, and Prime Products Pty Ltd. recall Haldiram’s Nagpur Galub Jamun (1 Kg. cans; Product of India), due to the presence of undeclared wheat/gluten. The recalled product was distributed in Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, ACT and West Australia.
  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Woolworths Supermarkets Ltd. recalls Woolworths Almond Kernels (750g sealed plastic bag; Product of Australia; Best Before 10 11 11 and 11 11 11), due to the possible presence of Salmonella. The recalled products were distributed in all Woolworths, Safeway and Food For Less stores in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, West Australia, Queensland and NT.
  • Hospital Outbreak Alert (Australia): Launceston General Hospital has closed its orthopaedic ward and put extra infection control measures in place following an outbreak of viral gastroenteritis that has affected four nurses and up to six patients. Visitors are being urged to stay away until the outbreak is over.
  • Water Health Alert (West Australia): The Department of Health is warning people to avoid contact with a blue-green algal bloom that has formed in the Hunter River near Bremer Bay.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert (Guadalajara, Mexico): The public has been advised to avoid eating food sold by street vendors, after consumption of street food was linked to a number of cases of an aggressive form of diarrhea, according to the General Director of the Civil Hospital of Guadalajara.

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket’s recall web site.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.

Recalls and Alerts: April 19, 2011

Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

United States

  • Allergy Alert: Cinderella Sweets recalls Cindy’s Scrumptious Chocolate Chip Pound Cake, 16 oz., due to the presence of undeclared egg. Due to a labeling error, the product packaging indicates “Egg Free” but eggs are listed on the ingredient statement.
  • Allergy Alert: S&M (USA) Enterprise Corp recalls Rain Swiss Roll, Banana Flavor (160g uncoded cardboard box; Product of China), because the product contains undeclared eggs. The recalled product was distributed nationwide.
  • Food Safety Recall: Charcuterie La Tour Eiffel (Montreal, Canada) recalls all Summersweet seafood mousses and dips after samples from two lot codes of Salmon & Spinach Mouse were found to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled mousses and dips (see FDA recall notice for product list) were sold in retail outlets in New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida, California and Texas, including in Ralphs supermarkets. The manufacturer has suspended production pending the outcome of an investigation into the source of the contamination.
  • Food Safety Recall: Royal Sweet Bakery, Inc. (Brooklyn, NY) recalls Herring in Vegetable Oil Filling, after the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets determined that the fish was improperly eviscerated prior to processing and may, therefore, be contaminated with spores of Clostridium botulinum.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Investigation Update: As of April 18th, The Rhode Island Department of Health has identified 79 confirmed and suspect cases of salmonellosis linked to baked goods from De Fusco’s Bakery in Johnston, RI. Forty-eight cases were lab-confirmed; 30 people were hospitalized, and there have been two Salmonella-associated deaths.
  • Salmonella Outbreak Investigation Update: During the past two years (beginning April 9, 2009), 216 Salmonella illnesses have been confirmed in 41 states as a result of contact with water frogs, especially African dwarf frogs. The outbreak victims were infected with a strain of Salmonella Typhimurium that has been traced to a single African dwarf frog breeding facility in California. The outbreak strain also was recovered from a water sample collected in March 2011 from an aquarium containing African dwarf frogs in the household of a sick infant. Approximately 30% of the outbreak victims were hospitalized as a result of the infection.
  • Food Safety Alert: A retail-level survey of 100 samples of raw chicken (including whole fryers and packages of chicken parts) sold in Fred Meyer, Safeway, QFC, Whole Foods, Costco, Sam’s Club, Albertsons, Thriftway, PCC Natural Markets and Ken’s Market stores in the Seattle area from March 1st to April 4th revealed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus (42 samples), Campylobacter (65 samples), Salmonella (19 samples), Listeria (1 sample) and E. coli O126 (1 sample). Ten of the samples were contaminated with a methicillin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus.
  • Recreational Water Advisory Update (Oregon): A heath advisory for contact with marine water at Seaside Beach in Clatsop County, Oregon was lifted after further testing showed that fecal bacteria levels have subsided at the beach.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Brinkman Turkey Farms, Inc. (Findlay, OH) that a January/February 2011 inspection of the company’s low-acid canned food manufacturing facility revealed significant deviations from the Low-Acid Canned Food regulations.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Schindler’s Broad Run Cheese House, Inc. (Dover, OH) that a series of inspections carried out between September 2010 and December 2010 revealed serious deviations from Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Hocean Food Corporation (Los Angeles,  CA) that a November/December 2010 inspection of the company’s rice noodle processing establishment revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Delta Airlines, Inc. (Atlanta, GA) that an inspection of a Delta aircraft in Atlanta uncovered the presence of rodent excreta pellets and mammalian urine at various locations the aircraft.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Omega Nutriton U.S.A., Inc. (Bellingham, WA) that a December 2010 inspection of the company’s dietary supplement manufacturing facility revealed serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for Dietary Supplements.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Aliments Trigone Inc. recalls Les Moissonneries du Pays brand Green Buckwheat Flour Stone Ground Finely Milled (1 kg., Code 349642), due to the presence of undeclared gluten. The recalled product was distributed in the province of Québec.
  • Allergy Alert: Armstrong Food Service recalls Roast Beef (Product code 123790; Best Before dates up to and including 21/04/11), Shaved Roast Beef (Product code 124804; Best Before dates up to and including 21/04/11), and Thin Sliced Shaved Roast Beef (Product code 124802; Best Before dates up to and including 21/04/11) due to the presence of undeclared soy. The recalled products were distributed to hotels, restaurants and institutional customers in Nova Scotia., Shaved
  • Health Product Recall: Mary Ginseng House recalls Mary Ginseng House 100% Pure High Calibre Pow Sum Ontario Genseng after Health Canada’s testing revealed the presence of Klebsiella oxytoca, Pantoea sp. and Enterobacter cloacae in product samples. These bacteria can cause serious infection in an individual whose immune system has been weakened by another illness or chronic condition.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Galati Cheese Company Ltd. (Windsor, ON) that a January 2011 inspection of the company’s cheese manufacturing facility revealed a serious violation of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food, in that the company failed to store and transport finished food under conditions that will protect the food against physical, chemical, and microbial contamination.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (UK): Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC recalls Morrisons Fresh Ideas Mini Chicken Roast, 411g (Use by 22 April 2011), Morrisons 6 Carrot Cake Slices (Best before 11 May 2011), and Morrisons The Best Prawn & Smoked Salmon Cocktail, 140g (Use by 20 April 2011), due to the presence of undeclared allergens.
  • Petting Farm Outbreak Investigation (Wales, UK): Public Health Wales is investigating an outbreak of Cryptosporidium in an unspecified number of people who fell ill over the past twelve months following farm and “lamb petting” events at Erddig Hall.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (Abu Dhabi): Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority has ordered the closure of Al Tazaj Fakieh Grilled Chicken (License No. 1043939), a restaurant at the Hamdan Centre building on Hamdan Bin Mohamed Street, for repeated violation of food safety rules.
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (China): Food quality inspectors raided steamed bun producers in Zhejiang Province, and found tens of thousands of buns containing banned dyes and other chemicals sold to local schools.
  • Chinese Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Lai Sing Medicine Factory Limited recalls Prolonged Man Power Essence, as its lead level exceeds the permitted limit.
  • Chinese Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Lee Sze Trading Co. recalls Lee Sze Texiao Houtong Wan, as its arsenic level exceeds the permitted limit.

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket’s recall web site.