Month: September 2012

Chamberlain Farm Produce Inc. Recalls Watermelons – Update

Chamberlain Farm Produce, the Owensville, Indiana farm whose cantaloupes were blamed for 204 cases of Salmonella Typhimurium infections earlier this summer, has recalled all watermelons produced during the past growing season.

According to a Press Release posted last Friday on the website of Schnucks Markets, Inc., the recalled watermelons may have been contaminated with Salmonella newport. Notice of this recall has not yet appeared on the FDA website.

FDA inspected Chamberlain Farm Produce from August 14th to 16th, after traceback investigations identified the southwest Indiana melon grower as the likely source of the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak. As part of the investigation, FDA collected environmental samples and cantaloupe samples from the farm. Some of those cantaloupe samples showed the presence of the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium.

On August 23rd, Chamberlain recalled all of its cantaloupes from the 2012 growing season. None of the retailers that carried the Chamberlain cantaloupes were identified in the recall notice. And, with the exception of Schnucks Markets, not a single retail grocery chain that carried the melons posted a recall notice on its website.

There is no indication whether any illnesses have been associated with the recalled watermelons. Nor do we know whether the contamination was discovered by FDA, the Indiana State Department of Health, Chamberlain itself, or some other party.

On August 16th, eFoodAlert learned from the Kentucky Department for Public Health that, in addition to cantaloupe samples, one watermelon sample had tested positive for Salmonella. At that time, detailed serotyping and genetic profiling of the Salmonella strain was still in progress. No further mention has been made of watermelon either in the CDC or the FDA investigation updates.

UPDATE (Sept 10, 2012): The Kentucky Department for Public Health has told eFoodAlert that there is “No connection that we know of” between the watermelon recall and the outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium that was linked to cantaloupes from the same grower.

Let’s hope that FDA and Chamberlain are more forthcoming with retail distribution information on the watermelons that they have been on the cantaloupes.

Chamberlain Farm Produce Inc. Recalls Watermelons

Chamberlain Farm Produce, the Owensville, Indiana farm whose cantaloupes were blamed for 204 cases of Salmonella Typhimurium infections earlier this summer, has recalled all watermelons produced during the past growing season.

According to a Press Release posted last Friday on the website of Schnucks Markets, Inc., the recalled watermelons may have been contaminated with Salmonella newport. Notice of this recall has not yet appeared on the FDA website.

FDA inspected Chamberlain Farm Produce from August 14th to 16th, after traceback investigations identified the southwest Indiana melon grower as the likely source of the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak. As part of the investigation, FDA collected environmental samples and cantaloupe samples from the farm. Some of those cantaloupe samples showed the presence of the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium.

On August 23rd, Chamberlain recalled all of its cantaloupes from the 2012 growing season. None of the retailers that carried the Chamberlain cantaloupes were identified in the recall notice. And, with the exception of Schnucks Markets, not a single retail grocery chain that carried the melons posted a recall notice on its website.

There is no indication whether any illnesses have been associated with the recalled watermelons. Nor do we know whether the contamination was discovered by FDA, the Indiana State Department of Health, Chamberlain itself, or some other party.

On August 16th, eFoodAlert learned from the Kentucky Department for Public Health that, in addition to cantaloupe samples, one watermelon sample had tested positive for Salmonella. At that time, detailed serotyping and genetic profiling of the Salmonella strain was still in progress. No further mention has been made of watermelon either in the CDC or the FDA investigation updates.

Let’s hope that FDA and Chamberlain are more forthcoming with retail distribution information on the watermelons that they have been on the cantaloupes.

Recalls and Alerts: September 9, 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.

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United States

  • Allergy Alert: Dawn Food Products, Inc. recalls Sam’s Club Chunky Cinnamon Streusel (25-lb buckets; Lot codes 2-203-19-81, 2-203-19-82, 2-203-19-83, 2-223-19-01, 2-223-19-02, 2-223-19-03, 2-223-19-04, 2-236-19-83, 2-236-19-84, and 2-236-19-87; Expiration dates 1-17-2013, 2-06-2013 and 2-19-2013), because the product may contain undeclared milk and soy. The recalled product was distributed from July 23, 2012 to September 7, 2012 in Sam’s Club distribution centers in California, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.
  • Food Safety Recall: Harris Teeter recalls Crab Stuffed Flounder (#0020822400000), Crab Stuffed Salmon (#0020822500000), Crab Stuffed Tilapia (#0020822600000), Maryland Style Crab Cakes (4 oz; #0020967400000), Deviled Stuffed Crab (#0020966700000), and The Charleston Crab Cake (4 oz; #0020966900000), because the products contain onions that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products, which were manufactured for Harris Teeter by 3 Fish, Inc. using onions recalled by Gills Onions, were sold in the service seafood department of Harris Teeter supermarkets on or after September 3, 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall: Schnucks, Logli and Hilander Delis and Pizzerias recall several products containing Gills Onions, because the onions may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The following affected products were sold from the stores’ delis and pizzerias at Logli and Hilander stores in the Rockford, IL and Janesville, WI area, and at Schnucks stores in DeKalb, IL: Tomato Basil Salad (sold on or before Sept. 6), Spinach Dip (sold on or before Sept. 5), Crab Dip (sold on or before Sept. 5), Italian Pasta Salad (sold on or before Sept. 5), Tortellini Salad (sold on or before Sept. 5), Chicken Salad (sold on or before Sept. 5), Baked Beans (sold on or before Sept. 7), Broccoli Salad (sold on or before Sept. 5), Tuna Salad (sold on or before Sept. 5), Coleslaw (sold on or before Sept. 7), any store-made product with Spaghetti Sauce (sold on or before Sept. 7), and any store-made product with Pico de Gallo (sold on or before Sept. 6).
  • Food Safety Recall: Schnucks advises its customers that Chamberlain Farms (Owensville, IN) has expanded its recall of cantaloupes to include watermelons distributed over the past growing season, because the melons may have been contaminated with Salmonella newport. Please refer to the Schnucks Press Release for instructions on how to identify the recalled watermelons. All watermelons in Schnucks stores on or after Sept 7th originate from farms outside the recall zone.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: The California Department of Public Health has posted a retail distribution list for Grade A raw milk, raw skim milk and raw cream recalled by Organic Pastures after the California Department of  Food and Agriculture found Campylobacter in a sample of the company’s raw cream during a routine inspection and sample collection at the facility.
  • Outbreak Alert (San Diego, CA): Anyone who may have eaten at the McDonald’s restaurant located inside the Walmart store on 3412 College Ave., San Diego between 10 am and 11 pm on August 25, 26, 27 or 30th may have been exposed to hepatitis A virus.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (France): Gaec de Farges à Saint-Nectaire recalls Saint-Nectaire, Fabrication Fermiere and La Ferme Bellonte brand Saint-Nectaire Fermiers raw milk cheeses, due to Salmonella contamination. The recalled cheeses were sold directly at the Bellonte farm (Farges 63710 Saint-Nectaire) from August 22nd to 29th, and also at the Saint-Gilles Croix de Vie (Vendée) market on August 25th and 26th.
  • Food Safety Recall (UK): Brasserie de Saint-Omer recalls several brands of beer sold in Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s (All dates up to and including 30/09/13), because a limited number of bottles may contain small pieces of glass. Please refer to the Food Standards Agency recall notice for a detailed list of brands and the stores where each brand was sold.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Outbreak Alert (Sierra Leone): The outbreak of cholera that has spread through Sierra Leone is responsible for 232 deaths and close to 14,000 reported illnesses as of August 30th, according to a report from the Public Health Agency of Canada. Eleven of the 13 districts in the country have been engulfed by the outbreak.
  • Outbreak Alert (Philippines): An outbreak of hepatitis A is reported in the town of Kabugao in Apayao. Nineteen residents of the town have tested positive for the disease. The outbreak was traced to contaminated food being sold at the Lourdes High School canteen, which has since been ordered closed.

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.