Recalls and Alerts: July 12, 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.

United States

• Food Safety Recall: Whole Foods Market and the Allegheny County Health Department recall Jean Perrin Edel de Cleron cheese (Cut and packaged in clear plastic wrap with Whole Foods Market scale label; Code beginning with 293351), because some samples tested positive for Listeria. The recalled cheese was sold in the East Liberty, Pennsylvania Whole Foods Market store between May 20th and July 3, 2012. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a 68-year-old may was diagnosed with listeriosis in late May or early June and has since recovered. Jean Perrin cheese is a product of France.
• Food Safety Recall Update: USDA releases retail distribution list for frozen, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products recalled by Buona Vita, Inc. due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
• Pet Food Recall: Nature’s Variety recalls Prairie Beef Meal & Barley Medley Kibble for Dogs (5-lb, 15-lb and 30-lb bags and 3-oz samples; all production dates), due to an off-odor that may develop over time.
• Food Recall: SCT Group recalls Heritage Select Chicken & Herb Rice Mix (6.5 oz; UPC 83892750002; All lot codes), because of possible ingredient mislabeling. The recalled product was sold at Buehler’s Fresh Foods locations.
• Food Recall: Ingles Markets Inc. recalls Laura Lynn Olives with Blue Cheese and Laura Lynn Olives with Garlic due to a quality issue.
• Outbreak Alert Update: The outbreak of Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Newport and Salmonella Lille illnesses associated with baby poultry from the Mt. Healthy Hatchery in Ohio has grown by 21 to a total of 144 persons from 26 states; 32 people have been hospitalized due to their illnesses.
• Outbreak Alert Update: The outbreak of shigellosis in Onondaga County, NY has expanded to 45 confirmed, probable and suspect cases. The source of the outbreak has not yet been found.
• Outbreak Alert: Food Safety News reports that two newborn girls have contracted Salmonella infections at  the Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, California. The source of the infections is under investigation.
• Outbreak Alert Update: At least 61 persons have become ill and 11 of them were hospitalized after eating food at a July 3rd picnic at Neff’s Lawn Care in Germantown, OH, according to the Dayton & Montgomery County Public Health Department. Eleven of the outbreak victims have been confirmed to be infected with E. coli O157:H7. Health officials continue their investigation to determine which foods may have been behind the outbreak.

Europe

• Allergy Alert (UK): Moet Hennessy UK Ltd (Maison Krug) withdraws Krug Grande Cuvee Champagne (All sizes), Krug Rosé Champagne (75cl), Krug Vintage 2000 Champagne (75cl), Krug Clos du Mesnil 2000 Champagne (75cl) and Krug Clos d’Ambonnay 1998 Champagne (75cl), due to the presence of undeclared sulphites.
• Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Inco CC Copenhagen A/S recalls Sashimi Quality Fresh Tuna Loins (Product of Spain; Production date 5/7-2012; Best before date 17/7-2012; Lot #187), following reported cases of histamine poisoning in two people who consumed the fish.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0974): Mercury in chilled tuna from Malta; distributed to Malta.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0975): Unsuitable organoleptic characteristics of frozen meat from the Netherlands; distributed to Cyprus.
• Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2012.0976): Arsenic and lead in food supplement from the Netherlands; distributed to Belgium.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0977): Salmonella typhimurium in frozen turkey meat from Italy; distributed to Greece and Italy.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0978): Unsuitable organoleptic characteristics of groundnut kernels from Argentina, via the Netherlands; distributed to Slovakia.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0979): Salmonella typhimurium in frozen chicken thighs from the Netherlands; distributed to France.
• Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.0980): Undeclared milk ingredient in chocolate muesli from Slovenia; distributed to Serbia and Slovenia.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0981): Didecyldimethylammonium chloride in organic bananas from Ghana, via France; distributed to the United Kingdom.
• Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.0983): Undeclared peanut in chocolate cookies from Poland; distributed to the Czech Republic.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• Pharmaceutical Product Safety Alert (Singapore): The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) alerts members of the public to illegal capsules that are being sold as herbal or traditional medicines to treat arthritic and joint pain, and promote blood circulation. To-date, two patients have suffered serious adverse reactions, one of whom was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after taking these capsules. Samples of these capsules were tested and found to contain an undeclared potent western medicine, dexamethasone. These capsules are also not adequately labelled and are not approved by HSA.

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.