Month: February 2012

Recalls and Alerts: February 28, 2012

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: London Meat Company (New York, NY) recalls Milano’s Country Breakfast Sausage (80 sausage links/5-lb box; EST 8777; Made to order through Feb 21, 2012), due to the presence of undeclared monosodium glutamate. The recalled products were made-to-order for restaurants and caterers in the New York City area.
  • Allergy Alert: Price Chopper recalls Price Chopper Streusel Pies (5-inch and 8-inch sizes; Apple, Cherry, Blueberry and Peach (8-inch only) pies), because the products contain undeclared eggs.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: USDA releases retail distribution list for various meat and poultry products recalled by AA Meat Products Corporation because they may have been produced without the benefit of federal inspection.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Donut Factory, LLC (Seattle, WA) that a November 2011 inspection of the company’s bakery revealed serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods, including evidence of rodent excreta pellets, rodent hairs and live flies.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Mirrotek International, LLC (Passaic, NJ) that a September 2011 inspection of the company’s acidified food processing facility revealed significant violations of federal regulations relating to the processing of acidified food products.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Wa Hen Dou Fu Soy Sauce Corporation (Sacramento, CA) that environmental sampling carried out during a September 2011 inspection of the company’s soy manufacturing facility revealed the presence of Salmonella species Poly B in the facility, including on a direct food-contact surface. Inspectors also documented serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Food (CGMP) regulation for foods.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Corneau et Cantin Ltée (Saguenay, QC) recalls several ready-to-eat products, including various pâtés and tourtières, due to the presence of undeclared egg and milk. Please refer to the recall notice for more details.
  • Food Safety Recall: Super C (14000, boulevard Henri-Bourassa, Québec, QC) recalls semi-lean and lean ground beef (packaged 25 Februar 2012), because the products may contain particles of metal.
  • Food Safety Recall: Charcuterie La Tour Eiffel Inc. recalls Chef Georges Maître Charcutier Homestyle Cooked Ham (approx. 2.7 kg; Codes 0281, 0282, 0283 and 0284), due to the presence of unspecific microbiological contamination. The recalled cooked ham was distributed in Quebec.

Europe

  • Pet Food Safety Withdrawal (Spain): Mercadona supermarket chain has removed boxed Compy wet dog food from its stores in Almeria, Alicante and Murcia provinces, for fear that the dog food was causing kidney problems in dogs. The supermarket has taken this precautionary measure pending the outcome of lab tests on the food and the packaging material.
  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU #2012.0221): Norovirus in oysters from Ireland, via France; distributed to Belgium, Hong Kong, Italy, Norway, Spain and Thailand.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU #2012.0221): Norovirus in oysters from Ireland, via France; distributed to Belgium, Hong Kong, Italy, Norway, Spain and Thailand.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Tegel Foods Ltd. (Auckland) recalls several Tegel Foods frozen pre-cooked chicken products (All recalled products bear a 5-digit lot identifier number starting with the number 2; sold on or after 1 January 2012), because the products are undercooked. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of recalled items.

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.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.

Recalls and Alerts: February 27, 2012

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.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Veggie Favour Food Store recalls Veggie Favour Super Mushroom Ball – Vegan style soy product (300g; undeclared milk), Veggie Favour Veggie Half of Kidney style soy product (300g; undeclared milk), Veggie Favour Vegan Black Pepper Mini Burger style – soy product (280g; undeclared milk and wheat), Veggie Favour Vegan Half Chicken Style – soy product (180g; undeclared milk), and Veggie Favour Vegan Black Pepper Chicken – soy product (290g; undeclared egg and wheat), due to presence of undeclared allergens. The recalled products were distributed in British Columbia.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (UK): Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc recalls Morrisons Whole Nut Milk Chocolate (200g; Best before 16 June 2012), because the product may be contaminated with small pieces of metal.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Kewa fisk Danmark ApS recalls #2 size Oysters (Product of Ireland; Lot No. A5805, A5793, and A5796; Expiry dates 20/2-2012, 24/2-2012 and 25/2-2012, respectively), after norovirus was detected in all three batches.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): COOP Danmark A/S recalls COOP brand Broken Rye Kernels (1kg; Expiry 12/7-2012), after ergot – a fungus that can produce alkaloid toxins – was found in the product.
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (Russia): Russia extends its ban on cheese supplies from the Ukrainian firms Bashtansky, Lozovsky and Khmelnytskyi cheese-making plants and Bel Shostka Ukrainy firm, due to their failure to meet Russian food standards.
  • Outbreak Alert (Italy): Three children who attend the nursery of the parish Centro per la famiglia di Cassinone a Seriate were diagnosed with Salmonella infections after developing symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. The three victims were treated in hospital with antibiotic and rehydration therapy, and are expected to be discharged in a few days.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Denmark): The Food & Drug Administration warns consumers against using the dietary supplement Ginseng Kianpi Arrow, as the product contains the root of the potentially toxic plant Polygomum multiflorum Thunb. Roden. The product is marketed from foreign websites, and via the Danish website http://www.bodymuscle.dk – a website that is registered in India and hosted in Ukraine.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall (Italy): Ditta Bennet (Tortona, AL) withdraws Splat-Shot Ben 10 Ultimate Alien, Splat Shot Bakugan Battle Brawlers and Splat Shot Spider Sense Spiderman (Product of China; Imported by  Startrade s.r.l.), because the liquid present in the toys contains a total microbial population in excess of numbers permitted by the Draft Microbiological Safety of Toys.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0287): Aflatoxins in ground nutmeg from Germany with raw material from the Netherlands; distributed to Austria, Germany and Norway.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0288): Shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli in Ermitage Morbier cheese from France; distributed to Germany.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2012.0289): Unauthorized sibutramine in green coffee food supplement from the USA, via Hong Kong; distributed to Slovenia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0290): Unauthorized propyl p-hydroxybenzoate in liquid sweetener from Spain; distributed to Spain and Portugal.
  • Pet Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0291): Excessive Enterobacteriaceae count in dog chews from Colombia; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0292): Aflatoxins in rice snack from India; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0293 & 2012.0294): Mold-infested barley groats from Slovakia; distributed to Poland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0295): Salmonella in tumeric from unknown origin; distributed to Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Romania.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0296): Parasitic infestation with Anisakis of chilled swordfish from Spain; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0297): Histamine in frozen skinless tuna steaks from Vietnam, via the Netherlands; distributed to Norway.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0300): Mold-infested chicken meat from France; distributed to Ireland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0301): Escherichia coli in mussels from Italy; distributed to Austria and Italy.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Australia and New Zealand

  • Allergy Alert (Australia): Wing Chun Company recalls Wing Chun Chinese Style Pork Sausage (375g vacuum package; Use by 23 JAN 2013 or earlier), due to the presence of undeclared soy. The recalled product was distributed in NSW, ACT, VIC, QLD and WA.
  • Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Delmaine Fine Foods Ltd. (Auckland) recalls Delmaine Pitted Cherries (680g jars; Batch VERE11-00028; Best before BBE: 15.07.2014; Jar numbers 1728 to 2592; and 9504 to 12096), because the product may contain glass fragments.

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.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.

Recalls and Alerts: February 26, 2012

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.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency announces the recall of Salmon Lox Trim Classic (random weights; sold at Whole Foods Market, 925 Main Street, West Vancouver, BC and at Whole Foods Market, 510 W. 8th Ave., Vancouver, BC on February 16-24, inclusive; Sell by dates 2012.02.27, 2012.02.28, 2012.02.29, 2012.03.01 and 2013.03.02; Packed on dates 2012.02.17, 2012.02.18 and 2012.02.19), Lox Trim (random weights; sold at The Salmon Shop, #112-1689 Johnston Street, Vancouver, BC on February 16-24, inclusive; Packed on dates FE 17, FE 18, FE 19, FE 20, FE 21, and FE 22) and Unlabelled lox (random weights; sold at The Daily Catch Seafood Company, 1418 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC on February 16-24, inclusive; No date codes), because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The affected products may also have been sold unlabelled over the counter at the indicated retailers.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert: New Food Classics (Burlington, ON) recalls Country Morning brand Beef Burgers, frozen (2.27 kg pkg; UPC 057316 086624; Lot codes 12861 EST 761, 22861 EST 761, 32861 EST 761 and 42861 EST 761), because the product may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled product was distributed to Co-op and TGP grocery stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut. One reported illness has been associated with the consumption of this product. This is an expansion of an earlier recall. For a consolidated list of products recalled by New Food Classics, please click on the E. coli O157:H7 Beef Recall – Canada tab at the top of the page.
  • Outbreak Alert: A Prince Albert, Saskatchewan toddler has tested positive for Giardia, a parasite that was found in the city’s water supply earlier this month. Prince Albert has been under a “boil water” order since February 7th, after tests confirmed the presence of both Giardia and Cryptosporidium in the water.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The Hamilton, Ontario public health department has confirmed 4 cases of Salmonella and is still investigating an additional 36 cases that it believes are associated with the Eat a Pita restaurant on Main Street East.

Europe

  • Outbreak Alert (Georgia): Eleven residents of Tbilisi have developed symptoms of food poisoning. All eleven report having consumed shawarma from a single (unnamed) outlet in the center of Tbilisi.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Outbreak Alert (Australia): The Immigration Department has confirmed two cases of typhoid (Salmonella typhi) among crew members of two different asylum boats. Asylum seekers are being held on Christmas Island until authorities have completed their investigation and are certain that the outbreak is contained.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert (Guatemala): Six children have died after falling ill with diarrhea, fever, respiratory problems, nausea, vomiting and convulsions. The cause of the illnesses is unidentified. Authorities have ruled out several viral causes, and are seeking to determine whether the illnesses may have been due to pesticide exposure.

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.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.