Month: May 2011

Recalls and Alerts: May 7, 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: Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products, Inc. (Downers Grove, IL) recalls Target Market Pantry Snickerdoodles Cookies, 15-oz. clear clamshell pkg. (Lot #110592W03, 110933W03, 110941W03, 111152W03 and 111232W03), because the product contains undeclared whey. The recalled product was distributed nationwide to Target retail stores beginning in March 2011.
  • Food Recall: Food City recalls Food Club French Roast Coffee, 11.05-oz can and Food Club Classic Decaf Can Coffee, 13-oz can.
  • Outbreak Alert: CDC is investigating an outbreak of diarrhea that has affected 66 passengers and three crew members on the Coral Princess (Princess Cruises). Cruise ships are obliged to report to CDC illness outbreaks affecting 3% or more of the passenger roster on any cruise. The affected voyage was completed on May 4th. Onboard tests for Norovirus were negative; CDC is analyzing stool samples from passengers and crew to try to determine the cause of the outbreak.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The South Dakota Department of Health has determined that Norovirus was the cause of an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis that sickened about 130 children at Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary School in Mitchell.

Europe

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): La Marche Francais recalls Fromi Ossau Iraty raw milk sheep’s cheese, imported from France and sold at its Thorndon Quay deli and at the City Market between April 15 and April 26, because the cheese was found by the manufacturer to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled cheese was exported to New Zealand and to several European countries.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert Update (Domincan Republic): A Haitian man died of cholera, bringing the total number of cholera-related deaths to 13 since the outbreak spread into the Dominican Republic from Haiti last year; 34 new cases of cholera were confirmed during the last week.

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 6, 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: Tri-State Bakery, LLC (Amarillo, TX) recalls 24-ounce white and wheat breads purchased prior to May 2, 2011 (see recall notice for detailed list of products), because the bread may contain undeclared soy flour, soy lecithin, and milk. The recalled breads were distributed through retail stores in Texas (except for El Paso Area), New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas and Arizona.
  • Allergy Alert: Nut Bar Company Inc. (Wyoming, MI) recalls GFS Pecan Pieces (40-oz. packages; Lot #095 1094), because they may contain undeclared walnuts instead of pecans. The recalled product was distributed through Gordon Food Service’s Shepherdsvilly, KY distribution center to restaurants and GFS Marketplace Stores in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
  • Allergy Alert: Stir the Pot, LLC (Louisville, KY) recalls J. Gumbo’s Drunken Chicken-Dark Chicken With Stewed Tomatoes (9-lb bags; Batch #2401), J. Gumbo’s Chicken Zydeco-Dark Chicken Meat in a Sweet Chili Sauce (9-lb. bags; Batch #Z020), J. Gumbo’s Voodoo Chicken-Dark Meat Chicken With Tomato Sauce and Spices (9-lb bags; Batch #VD 3242) and J. Gumbo’s Red Hot Chicken-Dark Chicken in Hot Sauce (9-lb. bags; Batch #RH-Y042), because the products contain undeclared fish protein in the form of anchovy puree. The recalled products were manufactured between March 28, 2011 and April 28, 2011 and were shipped to distributors for foodservice use in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee.
  • Allergy Alert: Butterfield Foods (Noblesville, IN) recalls barbecue beef, pork and chicken products, because they contain undeclared soy. The recalled products were manufactured between April 2, 2010 and May 5, 2011 and were distributed to retail establishments and restaurants in Indiana under the Butterfield Foods and Amish Classic brands.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: Taylor Farms Pacific, Inc. (Tracy, CA) has corrected its earlier recall notice for products containing grape tomatoes to include updated product and distribution information. Please see the recall notice for a detailed list of recalled items and distribution details. USDA  has released an updated retail distribution list for the recalled products that fall under its jurisdiction. Separately, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has confirmed that the recalled salad products were distributed to companies in the Pacific Northwest that supply products to Alaska. Please see the Alaska Press Release for details. Colorado has posted a list of recalled grape tomato products that were sold in Safeway, King Soopers and City Market stores in that state.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: American Regent recalls Caffeine & Sodium Benzoate Injection, USP, 250mg/mL, 2 mL Single Dose Vial (NDC # 0517-2502-10, Lot #0084, Exp Date February, 2012; Lot #0084 only), because some of the vials may contain visible particulates. The recalled product was distributed to wholesalers and distributors nationwide.
  • Shellfishing Areas Closed (New York): The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has temporarily closed particular areas in the Town of Huntington to shellfish harvesting, after shellfish samples collected from western Shinnecock Bay tested positive for saxitoxin, a marine biotoxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert Update: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued an expanded Alert to include additional product codes of Doctor’s CarbRite Diet Chocolate Brownie Bars (56.7g/2-oz. pkgs; Lot #EXP101211, EXP040211, EXP080811, EXP080911, and EXP041012), which have been recalled because they may contain undeclared peanuts. The product may have been distributed nationally.
  • Allergy Alert: Quality Natural Foods Ltd. (Scarborough, ON) recalls Quality brand Super Tasty Rasmalai (1Kg & 4Kg), because the product contains undeclared sulphites. The recalled products were distributed nationally.
  • Outbreak Alert: An acute gastrointestinal illness – suspected to be Norovirus – has struck 20 travelers and 16 staff members at the Chateau Lake Louise resort hotel in Alberta. The afflicted hotel guests were quarantined in their rooms for 48 hours after their symptoms subsided, while sick staff members were told to remain at home. Kitchen staff were instructed to stay home for 48 hours after their symptoms subsided.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Finland): Inex Partners Oy withdraws Rainbow Grilled Vegetables, 450g pkg (Product of Belgium; Batch code L1048-2; Best Before 17.08.2012), because the product contains undeclared milk protein and wheat gluten.
  • Food Safety Alert (Netherlands): Inproba asks consumers to discard Inproba Creamy Coconut Milk (250 ml; Expiration date 3/9/2012), because the product might spoil before the indicated expiration date. No other production lots are affected by this warning.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Moughal Imports Ltd. recalls TRS Whole Brown Lentil (Lot No. P100218; Best before 28/12-2012) and Natco Green Lentil (Lot #090211 14547; Best before 28/2-2013), after glyphosate was detected at levels above the permitted amount.
  • Food Withdrawal (Denmark): Ello-Food ApS withdraws Life brand Chestnut Flour (Product of Italy; Best Before 30/6-2011; Lot #266.10 and 245.10) after mold was found in the product by the Italian supplier.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Poisoning Illness/Death (India): An eighteen-year old girl died in hospital due to food poisoning after sharing a meal with her family. The girl’s two teenaged sisters and their father also suffered from diarrhea, but are out of danger.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (El Salvador): Bonamesa Packing has been ordered to halt production of sausages after Clostridium perfringens was found in samples of the company’s sausages. The action comes after the company failed to implement recommended improvements to its hygienic practices and operations. Clostridium perfringens is the third leading cause of food poisoning in El Salvador, according to the Deputy Minister of Health.
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: May 5, 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: Smithfield Packing Company (Clinton, NC and Tar Heel, NC) recalls Smithfield Portobello Mushroom Pork Loin Filet (Est. 413 with use by date ranging from 12/26/10 to 6/03/11; Est 18079 with use by date ranging from 1/16/11 to 4/24/11), because the product may contain undeclared whey (a milk protein). The recalled products were distributed to retail outlets in Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
  • Food Safety Recall: Taylor Farms Pacific (Tracy, CA) recalls certain ready-to-eat fresh salad products containing grape tomatoes supplied by Six L’s that may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled products include: Marketside Chef Salad (6.5-oz plastic trays; Use by 5/2/11), Marketside Cobb Salad (5.25-0z plastic trays; Use by 5/6/11), Signature Cafe BLT Salad with Chicken (12-oz. plastic trays; Use by 4/27/11), Signature Cafe Cobb Salad (12-oz. plastic trays; Use by 4/27/11 or 4/28/11) and Signature Cafe Chef Salad (11-oz. plastic trays; Use by 4/27/11). The recalled items were shipped to distribution centers in Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and Washington State for further distribution to retail stores.
  • Food Safety Recall: Mastronardi Produce (Kingston, ON) recalls grape tomatoes that are associated with a recall by Six L’s Packing Company (Immokalee, FL) and may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled products include: Aldi “From the Vine” Grape Tomatoes (1 pt clamshell; Lot #41141, 41144, 41149; shipped to IL, MI, WI), Sunset Grape Tomatoes (1 pt. clamshell; Lot #40665, 40667, 40673, 40883, 40955, 40986, 40989, 40990, 40991, 41148, 41154, 41155 41160; shipped to FL, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, TX, WI), Sunset Grape Tomatoes (2 lb. clamshell; Lot #40680; shipped to NJ) and Trader Joe’s Splendido Little Tomatoes (12 oz. clamshell; Lot #40675, 40676, 41142; Eastern Seaboard & Midwest locations only).
  • Outbreak Alert: The New York State Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of 19 cases of Clostridium difficile infections – including 3 deaths – among patients at United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia, NY. The outbreak began on February 28th.
  • Outbreak Alert: The Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary School (Mitchell, SD) cancelled classes for the remainder of the week in an effort to control an outbreak of “stomach flu” that has sickened 130 students (out of a student body of 400) and seven staff members.
  • Red Tide Alert (Massachusetts): The Massachusetts Department of Public Health urges consumers to discard shellfish harvested and sold after April 29th from the southern sections of the Nauset Marsh estuary, including waters on the border of Eastham and Orleans due to a local outbreak of red tide.
  • Outbreak Alert: Five cases of E. coli illness have been confirmed in Bell County, TX. No other details are available.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: G.A. Gertmenian and Sons, LLC (Los Angeles, CA) recalls Toy Story 3 Bowling Game (Made in China; Batch #JA 148: sold in Walmart Stores in the USA between September 1, 2010 and September 25, 2010), because the red paint used on some of the pins contains lead in excess of the maximum allowable level.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: McCall’s Bakers Warehouse (Mississauga, ON) recalls #1 Gluten Free brand Chocolate Cake Mix and #1 Gluten Free brand White Cake Mix (5-lb; Lot #33310-4), because the products contain undeclared milk. The cake mixes were recalled in the USA by the manufacturer, Raymond-Hadley Corporation, and distributed nationally by McCall’s.
  • Allergy Alert: Quality Natural Foods Ltd. ( Scarborough, ON) recalls Quality brand Punjabi Wadi Spicy Lentil Chunks (200g and 400g sizes), because the product contains undeclared wheat.  The recalled product was distributed nationally.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Recall (Philippines): Nestlé Philippines, Inc. recalls MAGGI Rich Mami Noodles Beef & Chicken Flavors (Lot codes #11020598A2 and 11030598A1) after routine testing uncovers Salmonella in the Beef Flavor. Nestlé has suspended production of all MAGGI Rich Mami Noodles pending completion of their investigation into the source of the contamination.
  • Outbreak Alert (Japan): A fourth death – a 70-year-old woman – has been confirmed in an enterohemorrhagic E. coli outbreak that has been linked to eating yakiniku, a raw meat dish, at outlets of the Foods Forus Co. restaurant chain based in Kanazawa. More than 30 people have been hospitalized in this outbreak; 20 are reported to be in serious condition. According to Japan Times, both E. coli O111 and E. coli O157 strains have been detected in many of the cases.
  • Food Safety Alert (Taiwan): The Consumers Foundation warns consumers that more than 90% of randomly tested cakes sold online lacked clear expiration date and nutritional information labels. None of the cakes offered information on food additives that might be present.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Accord United Pty Ltd. recalls Yummy Brand Lychee Flavoured Fruit Jelly and Mango Flavoured Fruit Jelly (Manufactured by Han Shuo Food Co. Ltd, Taiwan; Expiry 10/2011), due to a choking hazard. The mini jelly cups contain conjac, which is banned in Australia.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Cholera Outbreak Report (Haiti): The United Nations has released the Final Report from an Independent Panel of Experts who investigated the cholera outbreak in Haiti. The experts concluded that “. . .the 2010 Haiti cholera outbreak was caused by bacteria introduced into Haiti as a result of human activity; more specifically by the contamination of the Meye Tributary System of the Artibonite River with a pathogenic strain of the current South Asian type Vibrio cholerae.”

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.