Month: May 2011

Recalls and Alerts: May 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 Alert: BCS Int’l Corp (Long Island, NY) recalls Dr. Snack brand Choco Raisin, 12 oz. (Sell by 03/05/2012), because they may contain undeclared peanuts. The recalled product was distributed to retail stores in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: Globe All Wellness, LLC (Hollywood, FL) recalls Slim Xtreme™ Herbal Slimming Capsule (30 capsules/bottle; all lots), because the product contains undeclared simbutramine.
  • Cosmetic Product Safety Alert: Minnesota Department of Health warns residents to stop using some types of skin lightening products, after testing revealed that they may contain dangerous levels of mercury.
  • Outbreak Alert: Three Ouachita Christian School students were admitted to local hospitals last week after contracting infections with E. coli O157:H7. The students had been playing in a mud pit on a farm where an end-of-the-year party was being held.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Les Aliments Edesia Foods Inc. (Saint-Hubert, QC) recalls Fumagalli La Salumeria brand Seasoned Dry Cured Pork Loin (Batch 119062; Best before 30.08.2011), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product was distributed in Quebec.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Ireland): Booja Booja recalls Hazelnut Crunch, Around Midnight Espresso, Cognac Banana, and Champagne chocolate truffles (all date codes and all pack sizes), because the products may contain undeclared milk.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Rieber & Son Denmark A/S recalls Salad Master Remoulade (400g; Best before 30/8/2011; Lot #L32), due to the development of gas in the packages, as a result of the growth of yeasts and lactic acid bacteria.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Nature Drogeriet A/S recalls Paradisfrø (Item #4501), because the seeds are rated as unacceptable for human consumption.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (France): The Health Directorate advises the public that Burnermax 3000, sold as a weight-loss dietary supplement, has not been authorized for use or sale in France. The product was linked to a report of a heart attack in a 27-year old man with no prior history of coronary problems or risk factors. The man had been consuming Burnermax 3000 on a regular basis for three weeks.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2011.0688): Unauthorized vinpocetine in food supplements from the United States, via Hungary; distributed to Cyprus.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0689): Prohibited metronidazole in honey from China; distributed in Belgium and Poland.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2011.0691): Vanadium in multi-vitamins and minerals food supplements from the United States, via Hungary; distributed to Cyprus.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0692): Salmonella in desiccated coconut from Vietnam, via the Netherlands; distributed to Estonia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0693): Omethoate in water mimosa from Thailand; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Pet Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0694): Salmonella anatum, Salmonella Schwarzengrund, Salmonella Galiema, Salmonella Haifa, and Salmonella Typhimurium in dog chews from Bahrain; distributed to Germany.
  • Outbreak Alert (UK): Health officials have confirmed an outbreak of seven cases of E. coli infections among students at Redfield Edge Primary School.
  • Outbreak Alert (France/Jersey): A group of 56 children from Granville developed vomiting while on a day trip to Jersey. The cause of the outbreak is under investigation.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Germany): Three people have died, 80 are confirmed with E. coli O104, and an additional 350 cases are under investigation in this multi-state outbreak.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Recall (Taiwan): The Department of Health and the Consumer Protection Commission has ordered several dozen beverages and foodstuffs be removed from store shelves, because they may contain the plasticizing agent, Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, or DEHP.
  • Outbreak Alert (Philippines): Zamboanga City Health Office officials report that 1,823 patients were sickened by diarrhea during the first four months of 2011, compared to 1,360 in the same period last year.

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.

Recalls and Alerts: May 24, 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

  • Outbreak Alert Update (Illinois): The number of Salmonella Typhimurium cases that appear to be linked to Portillo’s restaurant in St. Charles, IL stands at 14 confirmed cases from 4 Illinois counties – Kane (8), DuPage (4), Chicago (1), and DeKalb (1) – and one confirmed case from Minnesota. Epidemiological evidence suggests salad as the source.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection urges the public not to collect and eat wild mushrooms from parks or the countryside, after receiving reports of two individuals who became ill after eating wild mushrooms picked from Lung Tsui Park.
  • Disinfectant Solution Safety Recall (Hong Kong): B. Braun Medical AG recalls three batches of Braunoderm iodine solution after the manufacturer found that the level of available iodine in some batches fell slightly under expected concentration of active ingredient before the expiry date was reached. The only recalled batch that was imported into Hong Kong was: Braunoderm Ungef Spruehfl ‘DE’ 250ml (Article No.: 3881105, Batch No.: 0253M14)
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (Abu Dhabi): Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority has ordered punitive closure of the Madinat Zayed branch of Al Ibrahimi restaurant (license number 1040214) in the capital, after an inspection revealed several violations of the rules and regulations governing food safety.
  • Outbreak Alert (Indonesia): Around 300 employees of PT Shang J Fung (Cikupa, Tangerang) developed nausea and vomiting after eating food supplied by Asep Sawawi’s catering company. The affected employees were taken to hospital for treatment.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert (Mexico): An infectious diseases specialist in Mexico City reports having confirmed 14 cases of typhoid since March 2011 – 6 with blood cultures and 8 in stool samples.

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.

Recalls and Alerts: May 23, 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

  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0672): Sulfathiazole unauthorized in honey from Italy; distributed to the USA and other countries in Europe and Asia.

Europe

  • Food Safety Withdrawal (UK): Snax 4 U withdraws Chicken Tikka Drumsticks (all packs) and Chicken Biryani and Rice Ready Meal (all packs), because the products were manufactured on and supplied by unapproved premises.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Condi ApS recalls Paradise Pepper (Imported from West Africa), because the seeds of Aframomum melegueta are considered to be unacceptable for human consumption.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0664): Defective packaging of cooked poultry meat from Belgium, via the Netherlands; distributed to Denmark.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0665): Salmonella spp. in chilled minced turkey from France; distributed to Belgium and France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0666): Listeria monocytogenes in chilled smoked salmon from Lithuania, via Italy; distributed to Slovenia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0667): Histamine in canned sardines in olive oil from Morocco; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0668): Cadmium in sardines in oil from Morocco; distributed to  Greece.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0669): Cadmium in octopus in water from Greece; distributed to Greece.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0670): Dead insects in dried figs from Turkey; distributed to Poland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0672): Sulfathiazole unauthorized in honey from Italy; distributed to Belgium, Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the USA.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0673): Bone fragments in sausage from Hungary; distributed to the Czech Republic.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2011.0674): Unauthorized tadalafil in food supplement from China; distributed to Norway and Sweden.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0675): Carbon monoxide treatment of farmed yellowtail fillet from Japan; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2011.0676): Unauthorized sildenafil in food supplements from China, via the UK; distributed to Norway.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2011.0677): Unauthorized tadalafil in food supplements from China, via Sweden; distributed to Norway.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2011.0678): Unauthorized sildenafil and tadalafil in food supplement from unknown origin; distributed to Norway.
  • Outbreak Alert (Germany): Uncooked vegetables are suspected to be the source of a dangerous outbreak of Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli across Germany. Two victims of the outbreak have been placed on artificial respirators. Forty people are being treated in Hamburg; Frankfurt reports 10 people hospitalized – 4 of them in intensive care – and an additional 50 people reporting mild symptoms. Cases of the infection also have been reported in Rostock, Lower Saxony, Bremen and Schleswig Holstein.
  • Outbreak Alert (Germany): Fifty-seven patients and 30 employees of the 300-bed Robert Koch Hospital in Gehrden (Hanover) have been infected with norovirus. The source of the infection apparently was an employee in the hospital kitchen. An additional 11 patients and one staff member in the hospital’s sister clinic in Springe also are ill. The hospital kitchen supplies both facilities.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Outbreak Alert (Sudan): An outbreak of diarrhea at the Otash displaced people camp in South Darfur has claimed the lives of ten children daily in three out of 11 centers in the camp.
  • Outbreak Alert (India): Four family members are dead from suspected food poisoning and four other people have been admitted to hospital in critical condition after participating in a family function in Biranwadi village.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0672): Sulfathiazole unauthorized in honey from Italy; distributed to Japan, Thailand and countries in Europe as well as to the USA.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Greens General Foods Pty Ltd. recalls Black & Gold Fruity Rings Breakfast Cereal (300g cardboard box; Best before 23 Mar 2012 and 24 Mar 2012), because the cereal may contain fine wire thread. The recalled products were sold nationally in IGA, Foodworks, Friendly Grocers and other independent supermarkets, and may have been exported.
  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Coles Supermarkets Limited recalls Coles Frooty Rings Breakfast Cereal (300g cardboard box; Best before 22 Feb 2012, 23 Feb 2102, 24 Feb 2012 and 24 Mar 2012), because the cereal may contain wire contamination. The recalled product was distributed nationally to all Coles supermarkets, Bi-Lo and Pick N’ Pay stores.
  • Food Safety News (Australia): An analysis of two samples of human feces fertilizer (also known as ‘night soil’) has revealed traces of an infectious virus, Salmonella and Blastocystis. According to an article in The Sunday Telegraph, fertilizers made from human waste are being used on 20 farms in New South Wales, and may also be in use on vegetable and dairy farms in Queensland.
  • Outbreak Alert (New Zealand): Timaru Hospital (South Canterbury District) has been closed to non-essential visitors while it deals with a suspected outbreak of norovirus in three wards. Fifteen patients and six staff members on these wards have reported suffering from vomiting and/or diarrhea since Saturday.

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.