Month: February 2013

Recalls and Alerts: February 26, 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.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

For up-to-date information on recalls and product withdrawals associated with the horse meat investigation, please consult the Horse Meat Synopsis and Recalls page.

For up-to-date information on recalls and product withdrawals associated with the Kasel pet treat recalls and investigation, please consult the Kasel Dog Treat Recalls: 2012-2013 page.

United States

  • Allergy Alert: Lion Pavilion Ltd. (Maspeth, NY) recalls Grassplot Ginger Slices (100g/3.5 oz clear plastic bottle; Uncoded; Product of China), due to undeclared sulfites. The recalled product was distributed nationwide.
  • Allergy Alert: Domega NY International Co. Ltd. (Brooklyn, NY) recalls Green Day Brand White Melon Seeds (9.8 oz/280g clear plastic bag on plastic tray insert; EXP 09/29/2014; UPC 6868978724120; Product of China), due to undeclared sulfites. The recalled product was sold in New York City.
  • Food Safety Alert: The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and Poland Spring recommend that people who have purchased 3-gallon or 5-gallon water bottles from Poland Spring since November 1, 2012 open them and check for possible gasoline odors before using the water. After Super Storm Sandy, some residents used empty containers such as large water bottles to transport gasoline, and a small number of contaminated bottles are believed to have made it through the detection process and back into consumer use.
  • Food Safety Alert: The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is warning consumers not to drink Dungeness Valley Creamery brand raw Jersey whole milk, raw Jersey skim milk, and raw Jersey cream because the products may be contaminated with toxin-producing Escherichia coli bacteria. The alert was initiated after routine sampling by WSDA found the pathogen in a sample of raw cream. Dungeness Valley Creamery products are sold at the following locations: Bainbridge Island (Real Foods; Pan D’Amore; Walt’s Lynwood Center Market), Bothell (Tru Health), Bremerton (CJ’s Evergreen General Store; Fresh Local), Federal Way (Marlene’s Market & Deli), Issaquah (Front Street Red Apple), Longview (Country Village Nutrition Shoppe), Olympia (Olympia Food Co-op East; Olympia Food Co-op West), Port Angeles (Country Aire; Good To Go), Port Townsend (Port Townsend Food Co-op), Poulsbo (Abundantly Green), Seattle (Madison Market; My Asia’s Essentials; Pike Place Market Creamery), Sequim (Sequim Prairie Grange; Red Rooster Grocery; Sunny Farms Farm Store), Tacoma (Marlene’s Market & Deli), and Vancouver (Chuck’s Produce; Neighbors Market)

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Cardinal Meat Specialists Limited recalls Cardinal Beef Burgers (4.54 kg; Production code ending 22712) due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination. The recalled product was supplied to hotels, restaurants and institutions in Ontario and Quebec.
  • Food Safety Recall: Arla Foods Incorporated (Concord, ON) recalls Mauri brand Gorgonzola Cheese (Approx. 1.44 kg; Product of Italy; Code L. 3100012; Packaging date 07/01/13; Best before 07/04/13), due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled product was sold to consumers in Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec.
  • Food Safety Recall: Clic International Inc. (Laval, QC) recalls Clic Sesame Paste Tahina (454g/1 lb containers; Lot #1 350/12; UPC 0 58504 74097 7), due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recalled product was sold to consumers nationwide.
  • Food Safety Recall: Loblaw Companies Ltd. recalls PC White Corn Black Bean Mild Salsa (650ml UPC 060383697211; Product code date BB 2013DE07) and PC Salsa Mild (430ml; UPC 060383736194; Product code date BB2014JA30), because some of the product may contain pieces of plastic. The recalled products were sold to consumers in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan.
  • Food Recall: Saladexpress (1995) Inc. recalls Saladexpress Iceberg Kit (3.745 kg; Product code 70344; Production date 13/02/2013; Best before 24/02/2013), due to non-harmful extraneous material contamination. The recalled product was supplied to hotels, restaurants and institutions in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Europe

  • Food Safety Withdrawal (UK): Castle Foods Company (London) Ltd. withdraws Sangha Foods and Core Foods brands of Chicken Tikka Masala with Rice, Chicken Curry with Rice, Chicken Biryani and Lamb Biryani with Rice (All use by dates), because the products were manufactured in premises that are not approved for meat products.
  • Food Fraud Recall (France): Ikea recalls KÖTTBULLAR chez IKEA brand meatballs, frozen (1 kg) due to possible adulteration with horse meat, after the Czech Republic reported finding horse DNA in a production lot of the meatballs.
  • Food Fraud Recall (Italy): Primia (San Giovanni in Persiceto) recalls Lasagne alla Bolognese (Lot #12326; Expiry 23 May 2014), due to possible adulteration with horse meat.
  • Food Fraud Recall (Spain): Nestlé España recalls Fusilli boloñesa Buitoni, Canelones microondas La Cocinera, Empanada gallega de carne La Cocinera, Relleno de carne La Cocinera, Gratén de berenjenas la Cocinera, and Empanadillas de carne La Cocinera due to potential adulteration with horse meat.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2013.0248): Salmonella in paan leaves from Bangladesh; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Fraud Notification (EU #2013.0251): Adulteration (horse DNA) of tortelloni carne from Liechtenstein, produced in Switzerland; distributed to Slovenia.
  • Food Fraud Notification (EU #2013.0252): Adulteration (horse DNA) of frozen beef burgers from Poland; distributed to the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2013.0253): Salmonella in chilled trimmings from Sweden, with raw material from the Netherlands; distributed to Sweden.

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.

*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.

Recalls and Alerts: February 25, 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.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

For up-to-date information on recalls and product withdrawals associated with the horse meat investigation, please consult the Horse Meat Synopsis and Recalls page.

For up-to-date information on recalls and product withdrawals associated with the Kasel pet treat recalls and investigation, please consult the Kasel Dog Treat Recalls: 2012-2013 page.

United States

  • Food Safety Recall: Ingles Markets Inc. recalls Laura Lynn Macaroni (16 oz; Item #97987), due to possible infestation.
  • Food Safety Recall: Altiza Inc. (Chula Vista, CA) recalls Malichita brand Cucumbers (44 lbs/box; Lot #MA012304), due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recalled product was distributed in California.
  • Food Safety Recall: Hoop Nuts LLC, dba Christophers Nut Co. (Van Nuys, CA) recalls ARO Pistachio/Orandi Farms Pistachio Halves ‘n’ Pieces raw pistachios (30-lb boxes; Lot #121203) due to Salmonella contamination. The recalled product was distributed in California.
  • Food Safety Recall: Hoop Nuts LLC, dba Christophers Nut Co. (Van Nuys, CA) recalls ARO Pistachio / Orandi Farms Pistachio Halves ‘n’ Pieces dry roasted pistachios (30-lb boxes; Lot #1-121213), due to Salmonella contamination. The recalled product was distributed in California.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: Olaax Corp recalls Maxiloss Weight Advanced Dietary Supplement softgels (3 x 12 blister packs per box; Batch #001; All lots) due to undeclared sibutramine. The recalled product was distributed nationwide from January 2011 to November 2012. The product was sold to distributors nationwide and known-to-be counterfeit versions are sold on various online sites. The recall includes ALL authentic Lot numbers and known to be counterfeit lot numbers of authentic lots. Any packaging types that are different from listed are counterfeit. Any lot numbers not listed are counterfeit and are also part of the recall.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall/Alert: Affymax, Inc. and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited recall OMONTYS® (peginesatide) Injection (10mg Multi-dose vials and 20 mg Multi-dose vials; All lots) after receiving postmarketing reports regarding serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis. The recalled product was distributed Nationwide, including Puerto Rico and Guam to dialysis centers via specialty distributors. FDA has been notified by Affymax of 19 reports of anaphylaxis from dialysis centers in the USA, including three fatal cases.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Sweet Revenge Confection Company recalls Barr’s Dark Almond Bark (350g; All codes; UPC 7 79781 70211 2) and Barr’s White Almond Bark (350g; All codes; UPC 7 79781 70206 8), due to undeclared peanut. The recalled products were sold in Saskatchewan.
  • Allergy Alert: Canada Volumes Import/Export Inc. recalls James Bun Frozen Golden Shine Pastry Sheet (7.02 kg; Lot No. CV21323) and James Bun Golden Shine Puff Pastry Sheets (585g; UPC 6 81240 00015 1), due to undeclared milk. The recalled products were distributed to retailers, hotels, restaurants and institutional customers in Alberta and British Columbia.
  • Allergy Alert: Unfi Canada Inc. recalls J1 Crunchy Rice Roll Black Pearl Rice & White Rice (100g; All codes; UPC 6 78108 20405 9) and J1 Crunchy Rice Roll Brown Rice & White Rice (100g; All codes; UPC 6 78108 20401 1), due to undeclared gluten. The recalled products were supplied to retailers in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec.
  • Food Safety Recall: CFIA warns the public not to consume Murchie’s Lemon Drop Tea (25 tea bags/56g; Batch code 615125; UPC 0 67421 31025 5) and Co-Op Gold Organic Pomegranate White Tea (20 tea bags/40g; BBD: 2014JA26 and 2014MA26; UPC 0 57316 14280 1) due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recalled products were distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan

Europe

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.

*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.

Kasel Inspection Report: Roaches and Rodents and Filth. Oh My!

FDA has released its Inspectional Observations report (Form 483) covering the issues encountered during the agency’s September 19 – 28, 2012 inspection of the Kasel Associates Industries, Inc. manufacturing plant in Denver.

Last week, Kasel recalled a range of pet treats manufactured from April 20, 2012 through September 19, 2012 due to potential Salmonella contamination. As I reported yesterday, FDA found 14 different Salmonella strains in finished product and environmental swab samples taken at the company’s manufacturing facility during the September 2012 inspection.

FDA’s 9-page report documents improper sanitation throughout the facility, inadequate pest control – including live and dead cockroaches, rodent droppings, flies and a dead mouse – improper food storage, improper handling of work-in-progress, and inadequate maintenance. Following is just a sampling of the deficiencies:

OBSERVATION 1. Failure to conduct cleaning and sanitizing operations for utensils and equipment in a manner that protects against contamination of food, food–contact surfaces, and food-packaging materials.

  • Food debris build-up on and underneath conveyor belts on packing lines
  • Food and grease build-up on metal crates used to hold finished product before packaging
  • Finished, unpackaged bulk product stored in grease-laden and reused cardboard totes
  • Floor fan with accumulated dust and grease was blowing onto uncovered bulk bins of unpackaged finished product

OBSERVATION 2. Effective measures are not being taken to exclude pests from the processing areas and protect against the contamination of food on the premises by pests.

  • Larvae-like inspects on floor drain of Cutting Room
  • Live and dead cockroaches in numerous areas, including the Packaging Room, Bulk Storage Room and Preparation Room
  • Large flies (live and dead) in the Packaging Room
  • Dead mouse in Bulk Storage Room partially under pallet of finished product
  • Rodent excreta pellets in the General Storage Room near pallets of finished/packaged products

OBSERVATION 3. Failure to take effective measures to protect against the inclusion of metal and extraneous material in food.

  • No functioning metal detector on packaging lines
  • Wooden pallets with chipping wood and loose nails stored directly on top of uncovered bulk bins of finished product
  • Metal fragments in direct contact with chicken chips on drying racks

OBSERVATION 4. Failure to take effective measures to protect finished food from contamination by raw materials.

  • Plastic tubs used in both raw production and finished product packaging to hold both raw and finished product; no system in place to differentiate which tubs were used for which purpose
  • No dedicated washing equipment or system to wash, rinse and sanitize the plastic tubs

OBSERVATION 5. Failure to store finished food under conditions that would protect against physical and microbial contamination.

  • Finished product stored uncovered in bulk bins
  • Finished product stored in unlined wire bulk crates in direct contact with floor

OBSERVATION 6. Failure to handle work-in-progress in a manner that protects against contamination.

  • Uncovered pallet of frozen chicken stored on loading dock while employees loaded a truck with loading dock door open
  • Floor sanitizer foam sprayer (label states chemical unfit for human or pet consumption) observed spraying onto uncovered bulk pallet of frozen chicken chips

OBSERVATION 7. Failure to maintain buildings, fixtures, and physical facilities in repair sufficient to prevent food from becoming adulterated.

  • Floors not sealed: grease accumulation in cracks and exposed concrete, visible chipping paint
  • Broken, taped and swollen ceiling tiles above filling lines and throughout Packaging Room
  • Broken and missing light shields
  • Hand sinks in Preparation Room not functioning

OBSERVATION 8. Employees did not wash and sanitize hands thoroughly in an adequate hand-washing facility after each absence from the work station and at any time their hands may have become soiled or contaminated.

  • Employees observed not washing hands after leaving rest room or break room

Is it any wonder that Salmonella ran rampant throughout this facility?