Month: February 2012

Recalls and Alerts: February 2, 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: S&M USA Enterprise recalls ZHANG ZHOU BRAND TREMELLA (150g plastic bag; Product of China), due to the presence of undeclared sulfites. The recalled product was sold in New York and New Jersey.
  • Food Safety Recall: W & C International Import Inc. recalls Rely Sardine Anchovies (7-oz plastic packages; Product of China) and Rely Dried Yellow Croaker (bulk cartons; Product of China), because the products were not properly eviscerated prior to processing and represent a heightened risk of Clostridium botulinum contamination.
  • Food Safety Recall: Wegmans Foods Markets, Inc. recalls Hard-Cooked Eggs, and several prepared foods that contain hard-cooked eggs (sold at Wegmans’ Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, Canandaigua, Newark, Geneva, Corning, Elmira, Geneseo, and Hornell stores between January 23 and February 1, 2012), because the eggs may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and were recalled by Michael Foods, Inc. The following items are included in this recall notice: Hard-Cooked Eggs (sold by the pound in prepared foods or as a choice on the Fresh Foods Bar), Eggs (special-order deli tray or 6-pack, 12 pack), Cobb Salad (10 oz, 43 oz, and 6.5 lb), Garden Salad (10 oz, 20 oz, 2 lb, and 5 lb), Baby Spinach Salad (9 oz, 1.8 lb, and 3.9 lb), Chef Salad (9 oz. and 18 oz.), Egg Salad (sold by the pound in prepared foods), Egg Salad Sub (Sub Shop), Kosher Macaroni Salad (sold by the pound in kosher deli), and Kosher Pickled Eggs (sold by the pound in kosher deli).
  • Food Safety Recall Update: ShopRite reminds consumers that ShopRite of Stanton (1600 West Newport Pike, Wilmington, DE) recalled store-made ground beef (80/20 and 85/15; various packages sizes; Sell by January 22, 2012), because the product may pieces of blue glove. Customers are asked to check their freezers and return any of the recalled meat to the store.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall Update: Advanced Animal Nutrition updates its December 13, 2011 notice alerting consumers to the recall of Dog Power Dog Foods to correct the affected lot numbers. The affected products were manufactured between Jan 4, 2011 and Nov. 18, 2011 and can be identified by lot numbers 4K1004 through 4K1322. The recalled products were distributed in Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has confirmed the presence of Campylobacter jejuni in two unopened samples of raw milk purchased from The Family Cow farm. Maryland has reported 4 confirmed cases of Campylobacter illnesses linked to the consumption of raw milk from this Pennsylvania farm, and Pennsylvania has confirmed 19 cases.
  • Outbreak Alert: CDC and the Pennsylvania State Health Department are cooperating in an ongoing investigation of human Salmonella enterica serotype Paratyphi B var. L (+) tartrate + infections associated with pet turtle exposures.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: JB’s Sausage Making Supplies Ltd. recalls various flavors of marinades due to the presence of undeclared soy or wheat. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products. The recalled items were distributed in Saskatchewan.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: Phoenicia Group (St-Laurent, QC) updates its earlier recall notice to correct the lot codes. The company has recalled Alkanater brand Tahini (454g containers; UPC 6 92551 00002 0; Prod: 5/7/2011; Exp: 5/7/2013), due to possible contamination with Salmonella. The recalled product was distributed across Canada.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Fredsted The A/S recalls Xtra brand Chamomile Tea (Boxes of 20 bags; Lot #889 and 1327; Best before 31/12-2012 and 30/4-2013, respectively), due to pesticide residues in excess of the permitted limit.
  • Outbreak Alert (France): Consumption of dried pork sausage was linked to a nationwide outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype 4,[5],12:I:- in November and December 2011. In all, 337 outbreak cases were identified.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0163): Insect infestation in dried figs from Turkey; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0164): Dead insects in frozen spinach leaves from Belgium; distributed to Greece.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU# 2012.0165): Unauthorized tadalafil in food supplement from Norway; distributed to Andorra, France, Portugal and Spain.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0166): Ethephon in seedless grapes from South Africa, via Belgium; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0167): Metal fragments in chocolate pralines from Italy; distributed to Italy and Switzerland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0168): Listeria monocytogenes in crab bread from France; distributed to France and Spain.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Allways (Germany) Medicine Ltd. recalls the pharmaceutical products Centiplex-B Tab and Abacod Cod Liver Oil Cap, as the products bear unapproved labels.
  • Food Safety Alert (Philippines): The Department of Health has announced a shellfish ban in the waters of Wawa, Bani in Pangasinan, in addition to already announced bans in Dumanquillas Bay, Murcielagos Bay, Masinloc Bay, Matarino Bay, and in Bataan costal waters of Mariveles, Limay, Orlon, Pilar, Balanga, Orani, Abucay and Samal. The ban were triggered by the finding of paralytic shellfish poison in excess of the regulatory limit.

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.

International Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Watermelon

Outbreaks of Salmonella Newport infections have been reported in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Germany according to information released today by the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA).

HPA has confirmed 30 cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland reported five cases; Germany’s Robert Koch Institute and the Republic of Ireland have confirmed 15 cases and 4 cases, respectively. One UK outbreak victim – an individual with serious underlying health complications – has died.

The 30 outbreak victims in England, Wales and Northern Ireland range in age from six months to 85 years; 70% of the case-patients were women, and the outbreak is tilted geographically towards the East of England. Four of Scotland’s five victims were young children, according to the HPA. The outbreak first was detected in early December 2011, and the most recently reported illness was at the end of December.

An Outbreak Control Team is working in the UK to determine the source of the illnesses. A questionnaire has been administered to 15 of the English case-patients so far; 10 of them confirmed having eaten watermelon in the three days prior to becoming ill.

Last November, HPA conducted a local food survey in Preston (Lancashire, England), and recovered Salmonella Newport from a ready-to-eat sliced watermelon fan. Genetic fingerprinting (PFGE) determined at the time that this was a previously unreported strain. The genetic profile of that strain matches the outbreak strain recovered from the four Scottish children who were diagnosed in late December. The same strain also was confirmed in patients from Germany and the Republic of Ireland.

This would not be the first time that Salmonella-contaminated watermelon was the source of an outbreak. In 1954, 17 residents of Upton, Massachusetts (USA) developed salmonellosis after consuming watermelon that was grown in Florida and purchased from a single supermarket in Milford – a neighboring Massachusetts town. Salmonella Miami was found in stool samples from outbreak victims, and from watermelon samples from the homes of two victims. And in 1991, 39 people in the USA became infected with Salmonella Javiana after eating watermelon.

HPA is not yet prepared to state definitively that watermelons were behind this outbreak, and there is no indication so far where the suspect melons may have been grown. Chances are – based on the illness onset dates that have been reported so far – that the offending watermelons will be off the market before they have been identified. Nevertheless, consumers in the affected countries would be wise to avoid purchasing cut watermelon. It is safer to buy an intact melon and sanitize the outside surface before cutting the fruit.

Recalls and Alerts: February 1, 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: How Sweet It Is Fudge and Candy Company Inc. (East Lansing, MI) recalls Peanut Butter Buckeye and Peanut Butter Smoothie (7″x7″x2″ box; All date codes 01/23/2012 and earlier), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled products were distributed to wholesale distributors, service stations and convenience stores in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana, Virginia and New York from December 1, 2011 to January 23, 2012.
  • Allergy Alert: President Global Corp (Buena Park, CA) recalls Bin-Bin Snow Rice Crackers (5.3 oz/150g; All codes) and Bin-Bin Rice Crackers (15.8 oz/450g; All codes), due to the presence of undeclared egg. The recalled products were distributed to grocery stores nationwide between January 1, 2011 and January 31, 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall: Michael Foods, Inc. recalls Hard-Cooked Eggs Packed in Brine (10-lb and 25-lb pails for institutional use; Lot codes 1 LOT 1350W through 1 LOT 2025W (only codes immediately preceded by “1” and ending in “W” are affected); Expiration dates from 1/30/2012 to 3/10/2012), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled eggs were produced at Michael’s Wakefield, Nebraska facility and purchased by food distributors and manufacturers in 34 states – AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI, and WV – and are sold under the brand names Columbia Valley Farms, GFS, Glenview Farms, Papetti’s, Silverbrook, and Wholesome Farms. None of the eggs were sold directly to consumers or retailers; however, some of the eggs may have been used in products that were sold to retailers or used in food service settings.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Pfizer Inc. recalls 14 lots each of  Lo/Ovral®-28 (norgestrel and ethinyl estradiol) Tablets and Norgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets (generic) after the company determined that some packs may contain an inexact count of inert or active ingredient tablets and that the tablets may be out of sequence. Please refer to the recall notice and to Pfizer’s Statement for additional information, including a list of the affected production lots.
  • Food Recall/Withdrawal: Food City reports the recall/withdrawal of Borden Applewood Bacon Cheddar Singles Sensations Cheese Slices (8 oz). No additional details are given.
  • Food Withdrawal: Kraft Foods withdraws Tassimo Gevalia Cappuccino Espresso T Disc (14.72 oz; UPC 4300001322), due to “relatively rare” consumer reports of hot liquid or coffee grounds spraying from the brewers when these T Discs are used.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: CDC issues its Final Investigation Update into an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium linked to ground beef from Hannaford Supermarkets. In all, 20 illnesses were confirmed in seven states.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The Patriot-News reports that the Campylobacter outbreak believed to be linked to consumption of raw milk from The Family Cow dairy has grow to 20 people, including 16 from Pennsylvania and 4 from neighboring Maryland.
  • Outbreak Alert: The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention has received and investigated 16 reports of gastroenteritis outbreaks since the end of December 2011. One of those was confirmed to be due to Norovirus Genotype II.
  • Outbreak Alert: The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has received multiple reports of norovirus outbreaks from several local health departments across the state during January.
  • Outbreak Alert: The Lake County (Illinois) Health Department has logged nine outbreaks of norovirus illness since the beginning of 2012. Eight of the outbreaks were in long-term care facilities, and one was in a day-care facility, according to the Chicago Tribune.
  • Outbreak Alert: St. Ignatius College Preparatory School (San Francisco, CA) was closed for cleaning after 50 students called in sick with an outbreak of “stomach flu” last week.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Canada Six Fortune Enterprise Co. Ltd. recalls Bin Bin brand Snow Rice Crackers (150g; UPC 8 852098 700124), due to the presence of undeclared egg. The product was distributed in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba, and may have been distributed nationally.
  • Food Safety Recall: Phoenicia Group (St-Laurent, QC) recalls Alkanater brand Tahina (454g; UPC 6 92551 00002 0; Exp. 5/7/2013 (May 7, 2013)), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product was distributed nationally.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Tri-V Pet Foods Ltd. (Chilliwack, BC) recalls Lean Cuts Dog Food (24/400g; Production code T22L1; Costco Item #21246), because of swelling of the can lids and a concern in the production process. The affected cans of pet food were sold between December 30, 2011 and January 29, 2012 at British Columbia Costco locations in Richmond, Abbotsford, Nanaimo, Courtney, Kelowna, Prince George and Kamloops.
  • Outbreak Alert: A third patient at the Greater Niagara General Hospital has died after contracting Clostridium difficile while undergoing treatment in the hospital. The victim had multiple health issues, and also tested positive for hospital-associated C. difficile.

Europe

Australia and New Zealand

  • Outbreak Alert (Australia): The Flying Fox Park in Winnererremy Bay (NSW) has been closed for a third time in six months, because a child was diagnosed with a Salmonella Java infection after playing in the park. New South Wales Health has recovered Salmonella Java in two out of eight samples taken from the playground’s bark soft fall material in the climbing net area.

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.