Month: October 2012

Recalls and Alerts: October 14, 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

  • Food Safety Recall: Sunland, Inc. recalls raw and roasted shelled and in-shell peanuts processed in its Peanut Processing Plant after FDA finds Salmonella in raw peanuts and environmental samples from the Plant. Please consult the recall notice or the eFoodAlert Trader Joe’s/Sunland Peanut Butter Recall page for a complete list of recalled products.
  • Food Safety Recall: PureFit Inc. (Irvine, CA) recalls PureFit Peanut Butter Crunch Nutrition Bar (2 oz; UPC 812787001008; Best by 1 March 2013 and 12 July 2013) and PureFit Peanut Butter Crunch Nutrition Bar (Box of 15; UPC 812787002005; Best by 1 March 2013 and 12 July 2013), because the product contains peanut butter manufactured by Sunland, and may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled products were distributed throughout the United States between March and August of 2012, primarily through health food stores, grocery stores, and online retailers.

Europe

  • Outbreak Alert (Northern Ireland): BBC reports that eleven confirmed or suspected cases of E. coli O157 have been linked to Flicks restaurant at Cityside Mall on York Street, Belfast. The first case was discovered October 9th; the restaurant closed voluntarily on October 11th and is cooperating in the investigation. Four of the 11 victims were hospitalized, but all have been discharged.

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.

FDA Confirms Salmonella Outbreak Strain At Sunland Facility

FDA announced today (October 13th) that it has confirmed a genetic match between the strain of Salmonella Bredeney that has sickened 35 persons and the strain that the agency recovered from Sunland Inc.‘s nut butter production environment in Portales, New Mexico.

In addition, FDA recovered Salmonella from the environment of a separate building where peanuts are processed, and from raw peanuts sampled in that building. Yesterday, Sunland expanded its previous recalls yet again to include raw and roasted shelled and in-shell peanuts. The company has ceased production and distribution of all products from both its nut butter facility and its peanut processing facility.

CDC first reported the outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney illnesses on September 22nd. At that time, epidemiological evidence pointed to Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt as the likely source of the outbreak. Subsequent tests carried out by the Washington State Department of Agriculture recovered the outbreak strain from an opened jar of Trader Joe’s Valencia Cream Peanut Butter collected from the home of an outbreak victim.Trader Joe’s peanut and other nut butter products are manufactured by Sunland, Inc.

As of October 5th, 35 outbreak illnesses were confirmed in 19 states; eight people hospitalized; no deaths. Illness onset dates range from June 14, 2012 to September 18, 2012. Illnesses were reported by Arizona (1), California (5), Connecticut (3), Illinois (1), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (3), Maryland (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (2), Nevada (1), New Jersey (2), New York (1), North Carolina (1), Pennsylvania (2), Rhode Island (1), Texas (5), Virginia (1), and Washington (2).

Here’s what FDA had to say today:

The FDA announced that on October 12, Sunland Inc. expanded its ongoing recall to include raw and roasted shelled and in-shell peanuts sold in quantities from 2 ounces to 50 pounds which are within their current shelf life or have no stated expiration date.

Since late September, the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local public health officials have been investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney infections linked to a peanut butter made by Sunland Inc. As part of the continuing investigation, the FDA has been inspecting the Sunland Inc. production facilities, including a building in which peanuts are processed and a separate building in which nut butters are made. FDA testing has found the presence of Salmonella in raw peanuts from the peanut processing facility. Environmental samples taken from this building also show the presence of Salmonella. Environmental samples are samples taken from various surfaces in the production or manufacturing facility that would likely harbor bacteria.

Additionally, FDA analysis has confirmed that environmental samples showing the presence of Salmonella in Sunland’s nut butter facility have a DNA fingerprint that is the same as the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bredeney.

Sunland Inc. reports that it has ceased the production and distribution of all products from both its nut butter facility and its peanut processing facility.

Sunland raw and roasted peanuts available to retail customers are distributed primarily under the company’s own label and were distributed primarily to produce houses and nationally to numerous large supermarket, grocery and retail chains. The products also were available for purchase on the internet.

A list of all products being recalled by Sunland Inc. can be found in the company’s recall announcement.

Consumers should not eat the recalled products. This is especially important for children under the age of 5 years, elderly adults, and people with weak immune systems.

The latest recall expansion already is triggering an additional series of secondary and tertiary recalls as Sunland’s customers scramble to pull foods containing the recalled peanuts and nut butters off the market. eFoodAlert’s Trader Joe’s/Sunland Peanut Butter Recall page will be updated to reflect the additional recalls.

Recalls and Alerts: October 13, 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

  • Food Safety Recall: Creative Energy Foods, Inc. recalls Crunch® thinkThin brand nutrition bars, including Mixed Nuts (40g; Best by 101812, 110912, 120112, 022813, 040413, 041913, 050913, 051513, 052313, 060113, 060813, 061313. 062713, 070913 AND expired lots prior to Best By 101012), White Chocolate Dipped Mixed Nuts (40g; Best by 030113 ,032513, 042013, 052213, 060113, 061513, 062213 AND expired lots prior to Best By 101012), Chocolate Dipped Mixed Nuts (40g; Best by 101812, 102612, 110812, 110912, 120312, 030713, 030813, 031613, 032513, 041213, 041313, 042113, 042513, 042813, 051213, 052313, 052413, 060713, 061413, 062613, 062813, 071813 AND expired lots prior to Best By 101012), Caramel Chocolate Dipped Mixed Nuts (40g; Best by 112812, 030813, 040513, 042113, 051013, 060113, 061513, 071313 AND expired lots prior to Best By 101012), Cherry & Mixed Nuts (40g; Best by 022313, 032513, 041913, 042513, 061113 AND expired lots prior to Best By 101012), Blueberry & Mixed Nuts (40g; Best by 111812, 022313, 022413, 032813, 040413, 042113, 051813, 051913, 060813, 062713, 062813, 071913 AND expired lots prior to Best By 101012) and Cranberry Apple & Mixed Nuts (40g; Best by 030813, 041113, 052913, 062213 AND expired lots prior to Best By 101012), because the products may contain roasted peanuts supplied by Sunland and may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled products were distributed at retail chain stores nation wide from March 2010 to October 12, 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall: Creative Energy Foods, Inc. recalls RidgeBar Peanut Butter Crunch Nutrition Bars (50g; UPC 855468003052; Best by 022413 & 042813), because the product contains blanched peanuts supplied by Sunland, Inc. and may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled products were sold only on the internet at http://www.Ridgebar.com.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Nature’s Recipe recalls Nature’s Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken (19 oz; UPC 30521 51549; Lot codes 2199TP & 2200TP; Best by 10 11 13 & 10 12 13, respectively), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product was distributed nationally, primarily through pet specialty retailers. Nature’s Recipe® is a brand of Del Monte Foods.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: Food Safety News reports that the outbreak of Salmonella  infections linked to On The Border Restaurant in Vancouver, WA has grown to 21 confirmed and 55 suspect cases as of October 12th. The outbreak strain has been identified as a strain of Salmonella Virchow.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to consume several Xan Confections brand Peanut Butter Chocolate products, because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled items were imported from the USA and distributed across Canada through retail stores and Internet sales. Please consult the recall notice for a detailed list of affected products.
  • Food Safety Recall: Herboristerie La Clef Des Champs Inc. (Val-David, QC) recalls Organic Ground Ginger (35g & 500g; Code #BFO11441B06 and BFO11441B07, respectively), because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled Ground Ginger was distributed nationally.
  • Food Safety Recall: Western Quality Meats recalls various beef products due to potential contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled products were distributed to Hotel/Restaurant/Institutional customers in Alberta, Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan. Please refer to the recall notice for details.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Recall (India): Parle Biscuits Pvt Ltd. recalls Mango Bite candy (entire stock) after the FDA finds that the product was manufactured using buffered lactic acid, which is considered to be an adulterant. FDA has seized Sugar Boiled Confectionery (Parle Kachha Mango Bite) and 8158 kgs of Buffered Lactic Acid. The recall and enforcement actions were reported by the Times of India.

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.