Month: June 2012

Recalls and Alerts: June 19, 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

  • Medical Device Safety Recall: Nidek Medical Products, Inc. recalls several models of Nidek Medical Mark5 Nuvo oxygen concentrators, due to a capacitor component inside the concentrators found in some instances to fail, which has resulted in residential and nursing home fires, and loss of supplemental oxygen supply. Please refer to the recall notice for details of the recall.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns International Specialty Supply Holding, Inc. (Cookeville, TN) that a February 2012 inspection of the company’s sprout growing facility revealed insanitary conditions and practices which cause the company’s fresh cut products to be adulterated within the meaning of Section 402(a)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, because they were prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have become contaminated with filth or rendered injurious to health.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Oza Compound Products, LLC (Fort Wayne, IN) that a January 2012 inspection of the company’s dietary supplement manufacturing facility revealed significant violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for dietary supplements.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Hijos De Carlos Albo S.L. (Vigo, Spain) that a December 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood manufacturing facility found serious deviations from the Seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Neukom Groves, Inc. (Zephyrhills, FL) that a February 2012 inspection of the company’s juice processing facility found serious deviations from the FDA’s juice processing regulation.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Greece): Olympia A. Nikolaidou & Co. recalls Dried Tomatoes (Product of Belmar AS, Turkey; Lot 03/2012; Expiration date 12/2014) because of excessive levels of sulfur dioxide.
  • Food Safety Recall (UK): Sainsbury’s recalls Sainsbury’s So Organic Fruit and Nut Mix (300g; All date codes), after Salmonella was detected in one package.
  • Food Withdrawal (Denmark): Haugen Group Denmark A/S withdraws Swipper Freeze-Yourself-Er Tutti Frutti (Cola, Tutti Frutti and Strawberry; 12 x 40 mL; Best before 11th October 2012; Lot #1081011; Product of Sweden), because there is evidence of acetic acid bacteria in green Tutti-Frutti ice cream. The Cola and Strawberry flavors are unaffected.
  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): BVL, the German food safety authority, announces the recall of table eggs (Manufacturer DE-0-0356091; Best before 06/14/2012 and later), due to excessive levels of dioxin and dioxin-like PCBs.
  • Outbreak Alert (Spain): Approximately 30 patrons of the Minero de La Unión bar  developed gastroenteritis as a result of Salmonella infection. Four people were hospitalized.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0839): Cadmium in snails from Italy; distributed to France and Italy.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Outbreak Alert Update (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigation three additional cases of bacillary dystentery caused by Shigella sonnei, bringing the outbreak total to nine, since the beginning of June. The three new patients all lived in Tuen Mun.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Allergy Alert (Australia): Valcorp Fine Foods Pty Ltd. recalls LaBella Cioccolata 1963 Drinking Chocolate (10 x 20g sachets in 200g cardboard box; Date marking 21/02/2013, 22/02/2013 and 23/02/2013) due to the presence of undeclared milk. The product was sold at Myer, Harvey Norman and The Good Guys nationally, and has been displayed and used in demonstrations at store level where coffee-making machines are located.

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: June 18, 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: Hannaford Supermarkets withdraws Hannaford brand Mini Frosted Cookies (10-oz pkgs; UPC 4126872374) from supermarket shelves, due to the presence of undeclared egg.
  • Animal Disease Outbreak Alert (Idaho): The Idaho Department of Agriculture is investigating a confirmed detection of Q Fever in an Idaho goat herd. The herd has been quarantined. Q Fever can be contagious to humans and most often is passed through contact with fetal membranes or birthing fluids of affected animals or may be inhaled if the bacterial particle becomes aerosolized. Human symptoms typically include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (Taiwan): E. coli bacteria and excessive amounts of additives were found in a number of beverages and frozen food items during testing carried out by the Taipei City Department of Health, according to a report in The China Post.
  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating a confirmed case of Shiga toxin-producting Escherichia coli infection in a 75-year old woman with a history of chronic illness. The patient reported no recent travel history, and her home contacts were asymptomatic.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Australia): Food Standards Australia New Zealand is working with state and territory government agencies and departments to investigate a range of products following complaints from consumers and some adverse health reports linked to products containing DMAA or 1,3-dimethylamylamine.

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: June 17, 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: Truitt Bros., Inc. (Salem, OR) recalls Truitt Brothers Pacific Northwest Premium Navy Beans (15-oz can; UPC 8222524145; Can code MDSB S1GTD Best By: 7/18/14), due to the presence of undeclared soy, after it was discovered that a chili like product containing soy was labeled and distributed as Premium Navy Beans. The recalled product was distributed in Oregon, Washington and Northern California through retail stores between December 1, 2011 and June 15, 2012.
  • Outbreak Alert: Contra Costa County Environmental Health officials have ordered the closing of California Pizza Kitchen at Broadway Plaza (Walnut Creek, CA) after test results confirmed a norovirus outbreak among customers and staff that is connected with salad served at the restaurant on Thursday, June 7th.
  • Outbreak Alert: Oneida County (New York) Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of six confirmed cases of cryptosporidium that may be related to a recent Farmfest event, according to barfblog.
  • Outbreak Alert: Two river-running companies operating in the Grand Canyon have reported incidents of gastrointestinal illnesses typical of norovirus. Coconino County health workers are sampling latrines and other waste for norovirus, according to the Arizona Daily Sun.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Dole Foods of Canada recalls Dole Fruit Cocktail (2.84L size; Lot code IOMSO41BQ, 2224A FRTC; Costco Item #275589), because the product may contain small glass particles. The recalled product may have been sold by Costco Wholesale in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba provinces between April 1st, 2011 and June 14th, 2012.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Sanofi Pasteur recalls all Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, because of problems in the manufacturing facility that Health Canada believes may have affected the vaccine quality.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Hilton Foods Denmark A/S recalls Minced Pork and Minced Pork/Veal (500g; Produced 29.05.2012; Best before 05.06.2012 and 06.06.2012), due to Salmonella contamination.
  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): Fa. Fromi GmbH recalls Chaource Tradition, Chaource Nu Tradition, Chaource Fromi, Chaource Fromi Nu, and Chaource AOC Lincet Metro cheeses (Product of France; 250g and 500g pkgs; Best before 07.07.2012, 08.07.2012, 09.07.2012 and 13.07.2012) due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): Reimann Wurstliebhaber GmbH recalls Teewurst, loser Verkauf sausages, due to Salmonella detection. The recalled product was distributed in Thuringia.
  • Cosmetic Product Safety Recall (France): French authorities order the recall of “TCQ Plus Phase 2 – Nano Hydra Keratin” hair treatment (500mL; Product of Mexico), because the product contains excessive (2.5%) formaldehyde.
  • Cosmetic Product Safety Alert (Switzerland): The Federal Office of Public Health warns consumers that Pullach Hof Kartoffel-Erdäpfel Creme cosmetic cream (Manufactured by Stolz GmbH, Germany; 250ml; Lot #0370; Best before 30.11.2014 ) preseents a health risk, as it has been found to be contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and should not be used.
  • Medical Device Safety Alert (UK): The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency warns the public of the sale of fake digital thermometers that can give inaccurate readings. The agency seized more than 400 of these thermometers after raids in Harrow and Oxford, according to BBC.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0821): Listeria monocytogenes in chilled meat product from the Czech Republic; distributed to the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0826): Mercury in chilled swordfish from Spain; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0827): Aflatoxins in roasted kernels from Turkey; distributed to Romania.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0829): Salmonella spp. in frozen pork meat from Germany; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0830): Histamine in canned tuna fish in sunflower oil from Thailand; distributed to Denmark.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (Taiwan): The Taiwan FDA is investigating whether shellfish imported from South Korea may be contaminated. At least four people have fallen ill in Taiwan since October 2011 after eating South Korean seafood, according to the China Post. Recently, the US FDA removed all South Korean shellfish from its list of approved countries and urged the removal of South Korean shellfish from the US market.
  • Food Safety Recall/Alert (Hong Kong): Great Pilot International Ltd. recalls ACE Family Grilled Grouper (original), imported from Thailand (95g pkg; Best before February 15, 2013), after the product is found to contain Tetrodotoxin, a powerful neurotoxin. The company has surrendered its remaining stock to the Centre for Food Safety, who urges members of the public not to consume the product.
  • Food Safety Recall (China): Yili Group recalls Quan You Baby Formula (Produced between November 2011 and May 2012), due to an unusual level of mercury contamination, according to BBC.

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.