Month: June 2011

Recalls and Alerts: June 18, 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: Ken’s Foods, Inc. recalls Publix Caesar Salad Dressing, 16-oz bottles (Expiration date 31MAR12), because the product may contain undeclared fish, gluten and soy. The recalled product was distributed to Publix stores in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina.
  • Food Safety Recall: Earth Fare (Fletcher, NC) recalls frozen Earth Fare Spice Bean Burger (Lot Codes #05311 and 06711), because of a potential Salmonella contamination. The recalled product was distributed and sold only in the Earth Fare located in Akron, OH.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Titusville, NJ) recalls Risperdal® (risperidone) Tablets (60 x 3mg tablets; Lot #0GG094; Expiry May 2012) and Risperidone Tablets (60 x 2mg tablets; Lot OIG175; Expiry August 2012), because of reports of an uncharacteristic odor thought to be caused by trace amounts of 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (TBA). The products were distributed in the USA and Puerto Rico.
  • Boil Water Order (California): San Diego County has issued a Boil Water Order for Mountain Empire High School in Pine Valley, CA because the drinking water system has tested positive for total coliform bacteria (no E. coli found).
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Cruise): CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program has determined that the outbreak of gastroenteritis that sickened 144 passengers and 8 crew members of the Sea Princess (Princess Cruises) during its May 30th-June 9th Alaska Cruise was due to Norovirus.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Shah Brothers Imports recalls Chandan Mouth Fresheners 5-in-1 Mix (230g) and Chandan Mouth Freshener Silver Tin 4-in-1 (150), due to the presence of non-permitted food ingredients. The recalled products were sold in Manitoba and Ontario.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Allergy Alert (Saudi Arabia): Universal Protein Supplements Corporation recalls several chocolate, biscuits and cake products (Expiry date 30/6/2012; 10 products sold under the CarbRite Diet Doctor’s brand and 2 products sold under the Universal Hi Protein brand), because the products may contain undeclared peanuts. The Saudi Food & Drug Authority has been informed that these products were exported from the USA to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Please navigate to the Saudi FDA notice for a detailed list of recalled products.
  • Food Safety Alert/Recall (Hong Kong): The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) has instructed the trade to stop selling four food products that may be contaminated with DEHP, and also has requested the recall of Extra Yoghurt, manufactured by Possmei Corporation, because DEHP was detected in a sample of the yoghurt. Please navigate to the CFS notice for details on the affected products.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Titusville, NJ) recalls Risperdal® (risperidone) Tablets (60 x 3mg tablets; Lot #0GG094; Expiry May 2012) and Risperidone Tablets (60 x 2mg tablets; Lot OIG175; Expiry August 2012), because of reports of an uncharacteristic odor thought to be caused by trace amounts of 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (TBA). The products were distributed in the USA and Puerto Rico.

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.

Raw Milk Does It Again

This just in, courtesy of Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services.

“Bacteria That Caused Illnesses Among School Event Attendees Matches Strain Found In Unpasteurized Milk From Local Farm”

“MADISON – Laboratory test results show that the Campylobactor jejuni bacteria that caused diarrheal illness among 16 individuals who drank unpasteurized (raw) milk at a school event early this month in Raymond was the same bacteria strain found in unpasteurized milk produced at a local farm, according to officials from the Department of Health Services (DHS) and Western Racine County Health Department (WRCHD). A parent had supplied unpasteurized milk from the farm for the school event.

Stool samples submitted to the WRCHD by ill students and adults were sent to the State Laboratory of Hygiene where they tested positive for the bacteria. Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) food inspectors collected milk samples from the bulk tank at the farm, which tested positive for Campylobacter jejuni. Further testing by the State Hygiene lab showed the bacteria strain from the stool samples and the milk samples matched. Additionally, interviews with event attendees revealed that consuming the unpasteurized milk was statistically associated with illness. Health officials said that this combination of laboratory and epidemiologic evidence indicates that the illnesses were caused by the unpasteurized milk consumed at the school event.

Campylobacter jejuni bacteria can cause diarrhea, which can be bloody, abdominal cramping, fever, nausea and vomiting. Rarely, an infection may lead to paralysis after initial symptoms have disappeared. Campylobacter can be transmitted by consuming food contaminated directly or indirectly by animal feces or handled by someone with the infection who has not adequately washed hands after using the bathroom.

The farm did not sell the unpasteurized milk and there was no legal violation associated with the milk being brought to the school event. The farm is licensed and in good standing with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.”

Note the last paragraph. Since the farm did not SELL the unpasteurized milk, there was no legal violation. But that doesn’t make the farm’s actions either sensible or safe – as 16 people have just learned the hard way.

Also, raw milk advocates who deny that unpasteurized milk can be the source of food-borne disease, please note. The identical strain – the outbreak strain – of Campylobacter jejuni was recovered from stool samples of the outbreak victims AND was found in milk samples taken from the bulk milk tank at the farm. This is not “just” epidemiological evidence. The trigger was pulled and the gun was still smoking.

Raw milk is a high risk food and should never be offered – not even for free – to a susceptible population. That includes school children.

Recalls and Alerts: June 17, 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 (Woodmere, NY) recalls Shabtai Gourmet Brand Cindy’s Scrumptious Chocolate Chip Pound Cake, 16 oz (All lots; Kosher for Passover), because the product ingredient list indicates egg in the contents, while the package is labeled “Egg Free.”
  • Allergy Alert: Bariatric Advantage, a division of Catalina Lifesciences (Irvine, CA) recalls Chewable Multi Formula High in Vitamins A, D, E & K (Chocolate Mint Truffle flavor; single tablet, 60-tablet, and 180 tablet sizes; Lot #411499, 411499B and 411499D; Expiration date 5/24/2012) because the tablets contain undeclared milk protein.
  • Food Safety Recall: TGF Production LLC (Brooklyn, NY) recalls Herring Fish in Salt Water (1,300g/2.86-lb round plastic container; Code #20.02.11 PVI44AMIC2; Product of Russia), because the herring was not properly eviscerated prior to processing, and may be contaminated with spores of Clostridium botulinum. The recalled product was sold nationally.
  • Food Recall: Bacardi USA recalls Martini and Rossi Asti Spumante, 1.5-liter bottles (Lot codes: L10236, L10237, L10238, L10239, L10242, L10243, L10244, L10278, L10279, L10281, L10284, L10285, and L10321), after the company received reports of bursting bottles.
  • FDA Enforcement Action: FDA and Ocean Harvest Inc. (San Diego, CA) have entered into a consent decree of permanent injunction. The consent decree restrains Ocean Harvest from preparing, packing, or distributing seafood until the company complies with the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulations. The company also cannot prepare, pack or distribute seafood until it complies with the FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations.
  • Outbreak Alert: Residents and employees at Lemoore Naval Air Station (California) are being told not to drink the base’s water after 29 people became ill with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. at the base.
  • Outbreak Alert: Four people have contracted E. coli after visiting the Everett’s Animal Farm at Forest Park in Snohomish County, Washington.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Au Délices de la Plaine (Terrebonne, QC) recalls – and warns the public not to consume – refrigerated spaghetti sauce sold by the company in 500-mL glass jars (all product dated up to and including 9 juin 2011), because the product may not be safe for consumption.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: MGA Entertainment of Van Nuys, California recalls Bratz Makeup Design Sketch Book (Batch codes BV6997 and BV7040; Expiration 9/2012), because the eye shadow makeup in the Sketch Book may be contaminated with Staphylococcus warneri and Staphylococcus intermedius. The recalled product was sold from February 2011 to May 2011 at Toys R Us stores across Canada.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (UK): Iceland Foods Ltd. recalls Iceland Beef in Oyster Sauce Noodle Bowl (550g; Best before 11.09.2012), due to the presence of undeclared peanut, fish and shellfish, as the result of a packaging error.
  • Allergy Alert (Ireland): Iceland Foods Ltd. recalls Iceland’s Beef Oyster Sauce Noodle Bowl (550g; Best before 11.09.2012), because the product contains undeclared peanut, fish and shellfish allergens.
  • Food Safety Recall (UK): The Co-operative recalls The Co-operative brand of Healthier Choice French Dressing (250mL; all codes), Thousand Island Dressing (250mL; all codes) and Fresh Caesar Dressing (150mL; all codes), after detecting Salmonella in one of the ‘minor ingredients’ used in the products. Salmonella has not been recovered from any of the finished product samples.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Skiftekær Økologi ApS recalls organic fruits and vegetables, after rats were found in the potato storage area. Please navigate to the recall notice for a list of the affected products and the retailers that carried them.
  • Food Safety Recall Update (Netherlands): The EHEC bacteria found last week in red (pink) beet sprouts is of a strain that has not been reported previously in the Netherlands. The source of the contamination is still under investigation.
  • Food Safety Alert (Italy): On orders from the Ministry of Health, the Carabiniere has seized 5 tons of Steaks Country frozen hamburger patties and meatballs from the Lidl distribution center in Verona province. The seized products, which are currently being analyzed, have been linked to seven reported cases of E. coli O157 illness in children in the Lille area of France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0782): Listeria monocytogenes in cheese from France; distributed to Australia, Belgium, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0785): Unauthorized octopamine hydrochloride in food supplement from the USA; distributed to the Czech Republic, Estonia, Slovakia and Slovenia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0786): Aflatoxins in pine nuts (unshelled) from China, via Germany; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0787): Unauthorized gold and silver in food supplements from Italy; distributed to Andorra and Spain.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0788): High aerobic plate count (bacteria) in mineral water from Italy; distributed to Malta.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0789): Salmonella in onion powder from Egypt; distributed to Ireland and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0790): Salmonella in frozen salted chicken cuts from Brazil; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Pet Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0791): Salmonella in lamb meal from the Netherlands; distributed to Belgium.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2011.0794): Undeclared nuts in muesli from the United Kingdom; distributed to Gibraltar and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0795): Imazalil in mango from Guatemala, via the Netherlands and via Hungary; distributed to Romania.
  • Outbreak Alert (Sweden): Some 50 dog owners – and possibly several dogs – are believed to have been infected with enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) after attending a dog show in eastern Sweden. The 120 participants at the show came from all over Sweden, as well as from Denmark, Norway and Finland. EHEC has been confirmed in two cases; fortunately, a milder strain than is responsible for the German outbreak.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (German sprouts): According to the World Health Organization, there are now a total of 3,517 HUS and non-HUS EHEC cases, including 39 deaths. Germany has reported 798 cases of HUS (25 deaths) and 2,610 cases of non-HUS EHEC (13 deaths).

Australia and New Zealand

  • Medical Device Safety Recall/Alert (Australia): Johnson & Johnson Medical Pty Ltd recalls Life Scan One Touch Verio Blood Glucose Monitoring System, manufactured by Lifescan Inc, USA during August 2010 to December 2010, because users are experiencing repeated ‘Error 2’ warning messages when used in conditions of high temperature and/or humidity due to contamination on one of the meter’s components, which occurred during the manufacturing process. Please navigate to the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s recall notice for a list of the affected serial numbers.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0782): Listeria monocytogenes in cheese from France; distributed to Australia, Belgium, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom.

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.