Recalls and Alerts: August 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.

United States

• Allergy Alert: The Christie Cookie Company recalls The Cookie by DoubleTree Cookie Gift Tins (13.5, 27, 33.75, and 54-oz) and DoubleTree Anniversary Special containing two 6-Cookie Gift Tins (27-oz), because the products contain undeclared eggs, soy lecithin, wheat and milk. The recalled products were distributed throughout the USA via direct mail and sold directly to consumers at DoubleTree hotels.
• Food Safety Recall: JB Meats (Cincinnati, OH) recalls 72,800 pounds of ground beef (Ohio Department of Agriculture Est. 1188; Production dates August 18, 2010 through August 18, 2011), because the meat may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Consumption of the ground beef on July 16 and 17, 2011 may be the cause of two cases of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses reported by the Cincinnati Health Department.
• Food Safety Recall: Atlanta Oriental Food Wholesale Company (Atlanta, GA) recalls Cut Napa Kimchi (1 gal plastic containers and 5-gal buckets; Lot #56090959), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Production has been suspended while the source of the contamination is under investigation.
• Food Safety Recall: Vantage Foods (Lenoir, NC) recalls Lowe’s Foods fresh ground beef 93/7 (2-lb trays; USDA Est. 34176; Sell-by 8/29/11), after a consumer reports pieces of blue plastic in the product. The recalled ground beef was distributed to retail outlets in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
• Consumer Product Safety Recall: Macy’s Merchandising Group (New York, NY) recalls Martha Stewart Collection™ Enamel Cast Iron Casseroles (7-qt, 5.5-qt and 2.75-qt; manufactured in China), because the enamel coating on the cast iron casseroles can crack or break during use, posing a risk of laceration or burns. The recalled casseroles were sold at Macy’s stores and AAFES, MCX and NEX locations nationwide, and on macys.com between June 2007 and June 2011.

Canada

• Allergy Alert: Marie et ses plats inc. (Saint-Eustache, QC) recalls several entrées (see recall notice for details), because the products may contain undeclared milk, soy, anchovies, wheat or sulphites.

Europe

• Cosmetic Product Safety Recall (France): French health authorities mandate the recall of Fair & White Gel Crème Eclaircissant Intense (Exp. 05/08; Lot #3425123645322 3B02), because the product contains 9.6% hydroquinone, a chemical that is banned in cosmetics.
• Outbreak Alert Update (UK): An eighth case of E. coli O157 illness has been confirmed in the outbreak linked to the Adonis Kebab House in Cardiff. Four additional cases remain under investigation.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1117): Listeria monocytogenes in chilled smoked salmon from Estonia; distributed to Italy.
• Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2011.1118): Undeclared milk ingredient in dark chocolate chip cookies from the United Kingdom; distributed to Denmark, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1119): Listeria monocytogenes in frozen red and green peppers from Belgium; distributed to France.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1120): Insect larvae in milk chocolates with puffed rice from France, via Greece; distributed to Cyprus.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1121): Insect larvae in dark chocolates from France, via Greece; distributed to Cyprus.
• Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2011.1122): Dioxins in hardened fat for use in feed for ruminants from Denmark, with raw material from the Netherlands; distributed to Denmark, Germany and Sweden.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1123): Aflatoxins in groundnuts from South Africa, via the Netherlands; distributed to Germany.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1124): Lead in bango beans from China; distributed to Hungary, Italy and Slovakia.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1125): Insect larvae in chilled dates from Tunisia; distributed to Italy.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1126): Listeria monocytogenes in vacuum packed sliced ham from Italy; distributed to Switzerland.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1127): Insect larvae in milk chocolates from Poland, via Greece; distributed to Cyprus.
• Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2011.1128): Mercury in vitamin B2 premix from China, via Germany; distributed to Germany and the United Kingdom.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1129): Unauthorized import of roasted boneless whole duck from China; distributed to Denmark and Italy.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1130): Listeria monocytogenes in chilled roasted chicken breast fillets from Poland; distributed to Poland and the United Kingdom.
• Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2011.1132): Undeclared egg in chilled vacuum packed sausage from Germany; distributed to Italy.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Department of Health advises the public not to buy or consume unknown or doubtful slimming products from the Internet as they may contain undeclared drug ingredients that are dangerous to health. Laboratory tests conducted on the slimming products Tianran Zuanshi Xianweisu and Paidusu revealed the presence of the banned ingredients sibutramine and phenolphthalein, as well as thyroxine.
• Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2011.1118): Undeclared milk ingredient in dark chocolate chip cookies from the United Kingdom; distributed to Denmark, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

Australia and New Zealand

• Food Safety Recall (Australia): Rafferty’s Garden Pty Ltd. recalls Rafferty’s Garden Italian Lasagne Premium Baby Food 10 months+ (170g tear-top packet; Best before 26/MAY/12 and 03/JUN/12), because the product may contain plastic pieces. The recalled baby food was sold in Coles and Woolworths supermarkets across Australia.

Latin America and the Caribbean
Food Safety Recall

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.