Recalls and Alerts: February 14, 2013

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: Associated Milk Producers Inc. (New Ulm, MN), in cooperation with Gordon Food Service, recalls GFS Lemon Pudding (113 oz cans; UPC 9390110676; Lot #3T12354C), due to undeclared milk. The recalled pudding was distributed in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
• Food Safety Recall Update: The Kroger Company reports that Taylor Farms’ Simple Truth brand Organic Baby Spinach (5 oz tray; UPC 0-11110-91128-5; Best by 2/24/2013), recalled due to Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) contamination, was distributed to Kroger stores in Texas and Louisiana, as well as to King Soopers, City Market, Fry’s, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, Food4Less, FoodsCo, QFC and Smith’s stores. Wegmans reports that none of the recalled Taylor Farms spinach was sold in Wegmans stores.
• Food Recall: Bi-Lo advises its customers that Manischewitz Coconut Macaroons (10 oz; UPC 7270000090; Item code 500728; Best by 8/12/13, 8/13/13 and 8/14/13) were recalled by the manufacturer.
• FDA Enforcement Action: US Marshals, acting on behalf of FDA have seized tainted dietary supplements from Globe All Wellness, LLC (Hollywood, FL), because the seized products may contain sibutramine hydrochloride, the active ingredient in the obesity drug Meridia, which was withdrawn from the US market after clinical data demonstrated that the drug increased the risk of heart attach and stroke.
• Outbreak Alert: CDC reports that 124 persons have been infected with a single strain of Salmonella Heidelberg (the outbreak strain) since June 4, 2012. Illnesses have been reported from 12 states, including Washington (56 cases) and Oregon (38 cases). The other 10 states have not been identified, as CDC has not yet determined how the illnesses are linked to the outbreak. Cases in Oregon and Washington appear to be linked to the consumption of chicken; these states have identified Foster Farms brand chicken as the most likely source, based on patient reports and the detection of the outbreak strain from samples of Foster Farms raw chicken.

Canada

• Allergy Alert: Delft Blue, division of Grober Inc. (Cambridge, ON) recalls Compliments brand Breaded Veal Cutlettes (680g pkgs; UPC 0 55742 33693 1; All best before codes) due to undeclared mustard. The recalled product was distributed in Ontario.

Europe

• Food Safety Withdrawal (Ireland and UK): Rangeland Foods withdraws Rangeland Foods Frozen Burgers (Product of Ireland; Various Product Names), because the products contain beef (supplied by Poland) that was found to contain between 5% and 30% horse meat, based on DNA tests. These burgers were distributed to the catering and wholesale sectors in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom, and were not supplied for retail sale.
• Food Safety/Fraud Notification Update (EU #2013.0166): Suspicion of fraud in relation to frozen beef lasagne from France, processed in Luxembourg, with raw material from Romania, via the Netherlands; distributed to Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2013.0184): Ochratoxin A in dried figs from Turkey; distributed to Germany.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2013.0185 & 2013.0186): Norovirus in chilled clams from Tunisia; distributed to Italy.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• Food Safety/Fraud Notification Update (EU #2013.0166): Suspicion of fraud in relation to frozen beef lasagne from France, processed in Luxembourg, with raw material from Romania, via the Netherlands; distributed to Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
• Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis involving 20 female residents (aged between 77 and 96) and three female staff members at a seniors’ home in North District. Three of the patients have tested positive for norovirus.

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 website.