Month: February 2017

Recalls and Alerts: February 9 – 11, 2017

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

Allergy Alert: Legendary Baking recalls Private Selection Salted Caramel Chocolate Almond Pie, 91N (9″ pies; 34 oz.; Lot Code 17025) due to undeclared eggs and almonds. The recalled products were sold in Fry’s, Fred Meyer, Smith’s and certain Kroger stores.

Food Safety Recall: Ruth’s Salads (Charlotte, NC) expands its earlier recall of Ruth’s Salads Pimento Cheese Spreads (packed in Chester, SC) due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of recalled products.

Food Safety Recall: Taylor Farms establishments in Dallas, TX and Tracy, CA recall 6,630 pounds of chicken and pork salad products due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled items include 10.5 oz plastic trays of Signature Café Southwest Chicken Premade Saled (USE BY 2/13/17, 2/14/17 or 2/15/17), Signature Café Southwest Style Salad with Chicken (USE BY 2/14/17, 2/15/17 or 2/16/17) and H-E-B Shake Rattle & Rowl Rowdy Ranch Hand (contains pork) (USE BY 2/17/17, 2/18/17 or 2/19/17). The recalled products contain Bevel Shred Pepperjack cheese supplied to Taylor Farms by Sargento Foods, Inc. and recalled recently by Sargento due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Meijer recalls Meijer Brand Colby Cheese and Colby Jack Cheese sold through Meijer deli counters  from Nov. 10, 2016 to Feb. 9, 2017 due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Sargento Foods Inc. recalls Sargento Ultra Thin Sliced Longhorn Colby (6.84 oz.; Sell By 12APR17B and 10MAY17B) and Sargento Chef Blends Shredded Nacho & Taco Cheese (8 oz.; Sell By H14JUN17 and H12JUL17), packaged at the Sargento facility in Plymouth, WI after receiving notification from their supplier that the cheese may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Food Safety Recall: Deutsch Kase Haus, LLC (Middlebury, IN) recalls various cheese products after the Tennessee Department of Agriculture detects Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of cheese obtained from a store in Trenton, TN. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of recalled products. Some of the cheese was supplied to US Foods for distribution to food service customers.

Food Safety Recall: Riviana Foods Inc. recalls Mahatma Yellow Rice (1o oz.; Best By July 2018) because the products may be contaminated with grey metallic dust particles.

Food Safety Recall: Stubb’s BBQ recalls Stubb’s Sticky Sweet BBQ Sauce (18 oz; Best By 01/17/2020) due to a glass bottle defect.

Food Safety Recall: Pride & Joy Creamery (Toppenish, WA) recalls organic retail raw fluid milk (Best By FEB 10 through FEB 24) after sampling conducted by the Washington State Department of Agriculture detected the presence of toxin-producing E. coli in the product.

Pet Food Safety Recall: WellPet LLC recalls seven varieties of Wellness Canned Cat food (12.5 oz) after learning that foreign material was found in non-WellPet products made in the same facility. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of recalled products.

Pet Food Safety Recall: PetSmart recalls Grreat Choice® Adult Dog Food with Chicken & Rice Classic Ground (13.2 oz cans; Best By 8/5/19; Lot 1759338) due to metal contamination that could potentially be a choking hazard.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Schneider’s Gourmet World recalls Salt and Vinegar Seasoning (14g and 100g pkgs) and Dill Pickle Seasoning (14g and 100g pkgs) due to undeclared milk.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Czech Republic):  Government monitoring activities have detected undeclared sulphites in a lot of F.W. Tandoori al. s.r.o. Shi-ta-ke mushrooms (50g; Best before 16.2.2018; product of China.

Allergy Alert (Ireland): A consignment of Toblerones were sold in Ireland with an incorrect oversticker, which omitted the ingredient, egg white. Consumers who are sensitive to egg should avoid packages labeled with the oversticker.

Food Safety Recall (France): Société MCD CHAMSYL recalls Cêpes de France dried mushrooms (60g pkg; Expiry date 03/10/2020) due to unspecified microbiological contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Sidroga GfGmbH recalls Sidroga Bio Säuglings- und Kindertee due to contamination with pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Tugra Großhandel recalls Sour Pickled Beets due to the presence of Rhodamine B dye. Please refer to the recall notice for details.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Tesco Ireland recalls Tesco Mackerel Fillets (300g pack size; Use By 01 Feb 2017) due to elevated levels of histamine.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Sainsbury’s recalls various stir fry products due to possible Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of affected products.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (New Zealand): Icelandic Holdings Ltd. recalls all batches and date codes of Sun Valley Foods brand Granny’s Treat Mix (300g re-sealable plastic pouch) due to undeclared gluten. The product is sold in FreshChoice and Four Square supermarkets throughout the South Island.

 

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
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.

Expanded Baby Food Recall in Canada – Illnesses Reported

Example of recalled PC Organics baby food
Example of recalled PC Organics baby food

An unspecified number of illnesses that may be associated with consumption of PC Organics brand baby foods have been reported in Canada.

Loblaw Companies Limited has responded by expanding its initial recall notice to include all date codes of a long list of additional products. Please refer to the recall notice for a list of affected baby food pouches. According to the recall notice, published late yesterday on the  Canadian Food Inspection Agency website, a “… manufacturing error resulted in excess water in the product, which under certain circumstances could support the growth of Clostridium Botulinum and pose a health risk to consumers.”

Although food contaminated with Clostridium Botulinum may not look, smell or even taste spoiled, it may contain a toxin that, if ingested, can cause nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, blurred or double vision, dry mouth, respiratory failure and paralysis. In severe cases, the toxin can cause death.

The reported illnesses have not been definitively linked to the recalled baby food; nor have they been described as being caused by ingestion of botulinum toxin. But, the manufacturing error that triggered the food recall could have opened the door to the growth of other harmful bacteria in the baby foods – bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens, which can cause gastrointestinal illness.

Which PC Organics baby food pouch products have been recalled?

The expanded recall encompasses all date codes of the following items (128mL unless otherwise noted):

  • Apple, Blueberry & Green Pea strained baby food
  • Apple Crisp Muffin flavour puree snack
  • Apple, Carrot, Apricot & Millet strained baby Food
  • Banana, Sweet Potato & Blueberry strained baby food
  • Apple strained baby food
  • Apple, Banana & Blueberry with Yogurt strained baby food
  • Apple, Banana & Strawberry with Yogurt strained baby food
  • Apple Cherry strained baby food
  • Sweet Potato, Apple and Mango strained baby food
  • Peach Maple Cobbler Flavour puree snack
  • Banana Apple & Carrot strained baby food
  • Pumpkin, Apple, Peach & Buckwheat strained baby food
  • Prune, Apple, Butternut Squash & Quinoa strained baby food
  • Pear strained baby food
  • Mango, Apple, Carrot & Peach strained baby food
  • Blackberry Cobbler Flavour puree snack
  • Banana & Kiwi strained baby food
  • Mango strained baby food
  • Banana & Raspberry strained baby food
  • Banana, Apple, Apricot & Rice strained baby food
  • Banana Bread Flavour puree snack
  • Pear, Apple and Broccoli strained baby food
  • Sweet Potato, Banana & Apricot strained baby food
  • Tropical Twist Smoothie with Greek Yogurt puree snack
  • Banana, Mango & Apple with Yogurt strained baby food
  • Orange Twist Smoothie with Greek Yogurt puree snack
  • Prunes strained baby food
  • Apple, Banana & Strawberry with Yogurt strained baby food (6 x 128 mL)
  • Sweet Potato, Apple and Mango strained baby food (6 x 128 mL)
  • Banana Apple & Carrot strained baby food (6 x 128 mL)
  • Mango strained baby food (6 x 128 mL)
  • Pear, Apple and Broccoli strained baby food (6 x 128 mL)

How can something as simple as too much water lead to this?

Food processors walk a food-safety tightrope every day. The conditions under which sealed packages of food are processed to ensure their safety are always in a delicate balance. Even minor changes in a recipe can affect the cooking conditions required to kill harmful bacteria. One of those changes is the amount of water that is available to the bacteria, allowing them to multiply in the food. A food with little free water will need milder cooking cooking conditions (time and temperature combination) than a food with abundant free water.

Then why not treat every food with the same severe cooking conditions?

Palatability, appearance and cost. Foods processed at a higher temperature taste overcooked, lose their natural color, and their natural texture. And, higher cooking temperatures for extended periods of time are more expensive.

What should consumers do about this recall?

  1. Check your pantry and set aside any of the products listed in the expanded recall notice.
  2. DO NOT try to determine whether the food is safe by smelling or tasting them. Clostridium botulinum can multiply and produce its toxin in a food without changing its appearance, smell or taste in any way.
  3. Return any packages of recalled product to the place of purchase for a refund.

Where were the recalled products sold?

Ontario: Fortinos, Loblaws, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, valu-mart, Your Independent Grocer, Zehrs, Shoppers Drug Mart, and affiliated independent stores

Atlantic: Atlantic Superstore, Dominion, Cash&Carry, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, Your Independent Grocer, Shoppers Drug Mart, and affiliated independent stores

Québec: Club entrepôt, Maxi, Maxi & Cie, Presto, Provigo, Provigo le Marché, AXEP, Pharmaprix, and Intermarché

West: Extra Foods, Loblaws City Market, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, Your Independent Grocer, Shoppers Drug Mart, and affiliated independent stores

Finally, if you have fed one of the recalled products to your infant or toddler, and your child is experiencing any unusual symptoms, please seek immediate medical attention.

Recalls and Alerts: February 7 – 8, 2017

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

Allergy Alert: Fred Meyer Stores recalls Fred Meyer 100% Whole Wheat Bread (16 oz.; Julian dates 013 through 036) due to undeclared milk. The recalled product was sold in Fred Meyer stores in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

Allergy Alert: Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods (Richmond, VA) recalls Ukrop’s Chili Flavored Soup with Beans and Chicken (24 oz container; Sell by 02/08/17; Est. No. 19979 or P-19979) and Ukrop’s Chili Flavored Soup with Beans and Beef (24 oz container; Sell by 02/08/17; Est. No. 19979 or P-19979) due to undeclared milk, wheat and soy.

Pet Food Safety Recall: PetSmart recalls Grreat Choice Adult Dog Food – With Chicken and Rice Classic Ground (13.2 oz.; Lot 1759338; Best by 8/5/19). No reason for the recall wsa given. This recall coincides with the announcement of the Companion brand recall, below.

Pet Food Safety Recall: Giant Food, Martin’s, and Stop&Shop recall the following Companion brand canned dog food varieties (13.2 oz.; Best by 08/05/2019) because the products may contain foreign material. The recalled items are: Companion Dog Food with Chicken and Rice, Companion Dog Food with Chicken, Lamb and Rice, and Companion Dog Food with Turkey and Bacon.

Food Safety Recall: Thomas Foods International USA recalls Royal Dutch Ground Veal (16 oz.; UPC 64708600153; All lot codes) because the products were not approved for grinding by the United States Department of Agriculture before being distributed. The recalled product was distributed to Lucky Supermarkets.

Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: Kingsway Trading Inc. recalls Xanthium & Siler Combo (Bi Yan Pian) Dietary Supplement (Batch No. 130401 and 150201) because the product contains undeclared ephedra, an item banned by FDA. The recalled product was distributed in MA, NJ, NY, IL, MD, FL, MO, TX, IN, GA, DE, CO, VA, PA, CT, OR, VA, and AZ

Canada

Outbreak Alert: Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) reports that 202 clinical cases of norovirus gastrointestinal illness linked to oysters from British Columbia have been reported in British Columbia (143 cases), Alberta (35 cases) and Ontario (24 cases) as of February 7, 2017. All reported cases occured between December 2016 and January 2017. PHAC urges consumers to avoid eating raw or undercooked oysters. The outbreak investigation is ongoing.

Europe

Food Safety Recall (UK): Great Northern Sandwich Co. recalls six chicken products because of a blue discoloration on the meat. Please refer to the recall notice for details.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Allergy Alert (Israel): HaGavi’s Wafer Products Ltd. recalls Glilit Lugano, Chocolate Cream Filled Cookies (150g; Production date December 16 & 17) because some of the packages may contain halva-filled cookies. Individuals who are sensitive to sesame should not consume this product.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (Australia): Cape Wholefoods recalls Maree Wilkinson brand Vanilla Pancake Mix, Chocolate Cake Mix, and Raspberry Cacao Granola due to undeclared gluten. Please refer to the recall notice for details.

Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Hunter Fish (Otahuhu) recalls Pacific Oysters (whole shell and half shell) sold on or after 14 January 2017, as the products may be affected by a recent norovirus contamination event in the Mahurangi Harbour.

 

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
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.