Month: October 2012

More Than 1,000 Ill in Dutch Salmonella Outbreak

The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM) reported today that 1,026 people are now confirmed to have been infected with Salmonella Thompson, in an outbreak of salmonellosis that has been linked to contaminated smoked salmon. This represents an increase of 76 cases in the past week.

RIVM notes that the number of new patients is significantly lower than the week before, suggesting that this major outbreak is finally waning.

According to a report in today’s issue of Eurosurveillance, Dutch authorities first became aware of the outbreak on August 2nd, when RIVM staff noticed an increase in the number of Salmonella Thompson cases. This particular Salmonella normally causes only four illnesses annually in the Netherlands.

The index patient developed symptoms of salmonellosis on June 20th. A few more scattered illnesses occurred over the next several weeks; however, the number of illnesses spiked noticeably only in early August. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of the confirmed outbreak victims were female, and 36% were hospitalized. The median age of case-patients was 44 years (range of 0 – 95 years).

While the official case total stands at 1,076, the true number of cases is undoubtedly far higher. RIVM advises that Salmonella is NOT a notifiable disease in the Netherlands. There is no requirement that doctors, hospitals or laboratories report Salmonella infections to  the authorities.

The outbreak was first linked to consumption of smoked salmon as a result of questionnaires administered to patients and to a cohort of healthy individuals (matched to the victims by age, gender and municipality), either by telephone or in person. The results of the questionnaires pointed to consumption of smoked fish – especially smoked salmon. Victims also were more likely to have consumed raw salads and also identified several supermarkets more often than did the healthy control individuals.

Traceback investigations carried out by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (nVWA), which focussed on smoked salmon and on the highlighted supermarkets, determined that all of the identified supermarkets purchased at least some of their smoked salmon from the same producer –Foppen Paling en Zalm. Lab tests confirmed the presence of the outbreak strain in four of nine batches of smoked salmon from this producer.

A recall of smoked salmon was announced on the nVWA website on September 28th, and expanded a few days later to include a number of additional items – such as salads – that contained the recalled smoked salmon.

The implicated salmon originated in Norway, according to the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), and was shipped to a Foppen production plant in Greece for processing before traveling in a northwesterly direction to the Netherlands. The smoked salmon was distributed in Belgium, Canada, Curacao, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the USA. Nevertheless, the Netherlands remains the only EU country to have noted an increased incidence of Salmonella Thompson infections.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been investigating a spike in salmonellosis due to this outbreak strain but, as of a few days ago, has not been able to establish a link between the illnesses and the consumption of smoked salmon – or of any other specific food item. This particular strain of Salmonella Thompson is not uncommon in the United States, making determination of a single outbreak source problematic.

For a complete list of recalled smoked salmon products, please consult my earlier post, “Smoked Salmon and Salmonella Thompson – Update #3.“

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.

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For current information on retail distribution of peanut butter products recalled due to Salmonella Bredeney, please consult the Trader Joe’s/Sunland Peanut Butter Recalls tab.

For current information on retail distribution of beef products containing Canadian beef recalled due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination please consult the Canada/USA Beef Recall tab.

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.

*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.

Excedrin Is Back; No Sign of Interceptor

Novartis announced today that it has relaunched three of the over-the-counter medications that disappeared from circulation when the company was forced to suspend operations at its Lincoln, Nebraska manufacturing facility.

Excedrin Migraine, Triaminic and Lamisil were relaunched in mid-October, according to the company’s quarterly report presentation. Excedrin Extra Strength is expected to follow in January. Due to continued delays in bringing the Lincoln facility fully on-line, the manufacture of these products has been contracted out to a third party.

The Lincoln plant was idled last January after FDA observed numerous violations – many of them repeat violations – during a reinspection of the manufacturing facility. The company has been working with FDA to correct the violations and, gradually, resume full production. But progress, according to company management, has been slower than expected.

Pet owners will be disappointed to learn that Interceptor – a popular heartworm prophylactic for dogs and cats that also was manufactured in Lincoln – did not even rate a mention during the company’s quarterly conference call with investors and analysts. There is no indication of when, or whether, this product will return to the market.