Recalls and Alerts: October 25, 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

• Outbreak Alert Update (North Carolina): The Division of Public Health reports that, as of today, state and local health agencies have confirmed 104 cases of E. coli infections in attendees at the Cleveland County Fair. The victims include 63 children and 41 adults; one child has died and thirteen victims have been or are currently hospitalized. Animal exposure is thought to be the source of the infections.

Canada

• Food Safety Recall: Salamina Inc. recalls Sadis brand Pepperoni – 2″ Sliced (20kg; Code #275283), due to Listeria contamination. The recalled product was distributed to hotel, restaurant and institutional customers in Quebec.
• Food Safety Recall: BV Fisheries recalls BV Fisheries brand Hot Smoked Salmon (Variable size; no codes), due to potential contamination with Clostridium botulinum. The recalled product was sold in retail stores in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Food Safety Recall: Outlandish Shellfish recalls Aquacultured Gallomussel Outlandish (10 lb; Lot S245; Harvest date 2012OC15; Subarea 13-12), due to the presence of marine biotoxin. The recalled product was distributed to hotel, restaurant and institutional customers in British Columbia and Ontario.
• Food Safety Recall: Mills Sea Food Ltd. recalls Mills Sea Food Ltd. Soft Shell Clams (4 lb; Code Oct. 17, 2012), due to the presence of marine biotoxin. The recalled product was sold to retail customers in New Brunswick.
• Food Safety Recall: Listiguj Commercial Fisheries recalls Live Blue Mussels (25 lb; No codes) due to the presence of marine biotoxin. The recalled product was sold to retail customers in Quebec.
• Natural Health Product Safety Recall: Wing Quon Enterprises Ltd. recalls Pollen Allergy, now sold as Tongqiao Biyan Pian after testing by Health Canada identifies the presence of arsenic in excess of allowable limits, in addition to low levels of undeclared chlorpheniramine (an antihistamine) and acetaminophen. The recalled product was distributed to retailers in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and the Yukon.

Europe

• Food Safety Recall (Finland): Oy Hartwall Ab recalls FENIX Weight Control Beverage – Pineapple (0.5L bottles; best before 301112, item L2215 X9086, best before 160113, X9908 and L2262 installment of the best-before 160113, item L2262 X9916), because the product contains chromium, a supplement that is banned in the EU.
• Food Safety Recall (Greece): Uncle John Ltd. recalls Choco The Monster Croissant with hazelnut praline filling (Expiry 11/16/12), due to mold growth.
• Vaccine Safety Recall/Alert (Several EU countries): Germany’s Paul Ehrlich institute has cancelled the approval of some batches of Novartis flu vaccine after the company reported the appearance of small particles in the manufacturing process, according to Associated Press. Italy banned the sale of four Novartis flu drugs – Fluad, Begripal (sold as Aggripal in Italy), Influpozzi Adiuvato and Influpozzi Subunita. Switzerland has suspended deliveries of flu vaccines from Novartis. No adverse reactions have been reported.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1488): Listeria monocytogenes in chilled smoked salmon from Lithuania; distributed to Italy.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1489): Mercury in crayfish from Tunisia; distributed to France.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1490, 2012.1491, 2012.1493, 2012.1494): Defective packaging of canned milk powder from the Netherlands; distributed to China, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Turkey and Vietnam.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1492): High aluminum content in vermicelli from South Korea, via the Netherlands; distributed to Germany.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1497): Imizol in chilled offals from Sweden; distributed to Denmark and Sweden.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• Food Safety Recall (South Korea/Taiwan): The Taiwan Department of Health orders the recall of Neoguri Seafood & Mild Noodles and Neoguri Seafood & Spicy Noodles after the Korea Food and Drug Administration orders the recall of six instant noodle products made by Nongshim Co., due to the presence in these products of the carcinogen benzopyrene.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1490, 2012.1491, 2012.1493, 2012.1494): Defective packaging of canned milk powder from the Netherlands; distributed to China, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Turkey and Vietnam.

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.