Recalls and Alerts: September 27 – 30, 2018

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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Canada

Allergy Alert: Highwide International recalls Lavite brand Soft-Dried Mango (100g; Product code 2018 APR 20 / 2019 APR 20; UPC 8 936131 430107) due to undeclared sulfites.

Food Safety Recall: Ernie et Ellie (Montreal, QC) recalls various prepared foods that were manufactured under conditions that may have rendered them unfit for human consumption. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Le Fumoir d’Antan recalls various smoked fish products that were not maintained frozen, which may have rendered them unfit for human consumption. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Imperial Meat Products recalls Aoste Pain de Viande(100g; Best before dates 24/09/2018, 3/10/2018, 9/10/2018, 18/10/2018, 19/10/2018; Lots 004028, 004036, 004041, 004049, 004050) due to undeclared egg and gluten.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Hoogvliet recalls various products due to undeclared nut, shrimp, wheat and soy. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (UK): N J Marketing Ltd recalls Lemon Bonbons (180g; Use by September 2019) due to undeclared soy and milk.

Food Safety Recall (France): Seeberger GmbH recalls Seeberger brand Popcorn (500g; Lots #L435136, L435137, L437018, L437019; Expiry dates 01/2020, 02/2020, 02/2020, 02/2020) due to elevated levels of mycotoxins.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Glockenbrot Bäckerei GmbH & Co. OHG recalls BÄCKERKRÖNUNG Pro Vital Schnitte (500g; Batch code K264; Best before 01.10.2018) due to foreign matter (black plastic pieces) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Seeberger GmbH recalls Seeberger brand Popcorn (500g; Lots #L435136, L435137, L437018, L437019; Expiry dates 01/2020, 02/2020, 02/2020, 02/2020) due to elevated levels of mycotoxins.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Glockenbrot Bäckerei GmbH&Co. OHG recalls REWE Beste Wahl Pro Vital Schnitte (500 g; Best before 01.10.2018) due to foreign matter (black plastic pieces) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Manufacturer recalls various spinach leaves and mixed leaves containing spinach due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Italy): GASTRONOMIA D’ITALIA recalls COUS COUS POLLO E VERDURE (200g; Best before 07-10-2018) due to risk of microbiological contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Seeberger recalls Seeberger brand Popcorn (500g; Lots L435136, L437059, L435137; Expiry date 31/01/2020) due to elevated levels of mycotoxins.

Food Safety Recall (UK-Northern Ireland only): Lidl Ireland recalls Lidl Baby Leaf Spinach (250g; Batch codes #260 & 261; Best before 23rd, 24th & 25th September 2018) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (UK-Northern Ireland only): Dunnes Stores recalls Fresh, Ready to wash, Spinach Leaves (100g; Use by 26th September 2018) and Fresh, Ready to Wash, Mixed Leaves (75g; Use by 26th September 2018) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (Australia): V4 IMPORTS PTY LTD recalls Deli Spice Sesame Biscuit Black (150g; Best Before: 12/2019) due to undeclared peanut and gluten.

Allergy Alert (New Zealand): Harman Impex (NZ) Ltd recalls Idhayam brand Mantra Groundnut Oil (all batches; Product of India) due to undeclared peanut.

Allergy Alert (New Zealand): Bluerock Ltd recalls Veesey brand Egg Free Mayo (200g and 1kg; Best before 8/11/18, 15/11/18 and 19/10/18) due to undeclared egg.

Allergy Alert (New Zealand): Foodstuffs Own Brands Ltd recalls Pams brand Couscous (500g; Batch #NZ006577; Best before 06/08/2019) due to undeclared peanuts.

Op-Ed. FDA acknowledges Kellogg – Kerry tie in Honey Smacks cereal outbreak

Now that the outbreak is over and the question is purely academic, FDA has acknowledged Kerry Inc. to be the manufacturer behind the Salmonella Mbandaka outbreak linked to contaminated Kellogg’s Honey Smacks breakfast cereal.

Earlier today, FDA released an update to its outbreak investigation report, stating:

“The FDA, CDC, along with state and local officials investigated a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Mbandaka infections linked to Kellogg’s Honey Smacks sweetened puffed wheat cereal. The FDA worked with Kellogg’s to voluntarily recall Honey Smacks from the market and conducted an inspection at the manufacturing facility owned by Kerry, Inc., resulting in a warning letter identifying specific problems at the facility.

The FDA is working with Kellogg’s to ensure Honey Smacks are safe when they are again available to consumers and is continuing to warn consumers against eating any Honey Smacks with a marked “best if used by” date before June 14, 2019.”

The acknowledgment came just two days after CDC declared the outbreak to be at an end, and just three days after a spokesperson for FDA declined eFoodAlert’s request to identify the strain of Salmonella found during the agency’s inspection of the Kerry Inc. manufacturing facility in Gridley, Illinois.

Why the secrecy? Why the delay?

News of the outbreak first broke on June 14, 2018, with a voluntary recall announced by The Kellogg Company, and an outbreak investigation notice from FDA and CDC.

On July 26th, FDA released the text of a Warning Letter issued to Kerry Inc. pursuant to an inspection of the company’s Gridley, Illinois facility.

On July 31st, I submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to FDA for the inspection and lab reports on which the warning letter was based.

On September 25th, almost two months after making the request, I received the redacted reports. I immediately inquired as to why the specific Salmonella strain found inside the Kerry cereal production plant was redacted from the report. I was told, “The information you have received via foia is all we can provide at this time.”

Why should this matter?

The Kellogg Company is not Kerry’s only customer.

As I reported three days ago, Kerry initiated its own voluntary recall on July 12th. The recall was not publicized. On July 16th, General Mills also issued an unpublicized recall for a Cheerios variety that contained an ingredient matching the description of the material recalled by Kerry.

According to a spokesperson for CDC, with whom I had an exchange of email messages in late August, no other cereals were linked to the outbreak. Nevertheless, many milder cases of salmonellosis always go unreported, especially by those who cannot afford a visit to the doctor or clinic.

There is no way of knowing whether anyone became infected as a result of eating the recalled General Mills cereal. And, in the absence of a public recall notice, US consumers were left ignorant of the risk.

Breakfast cereals, especially sweetened cereals, are consumed preferentially by children – one of the most vulnerable sectors of the population. In this instance, FDA put the ‘privacy’ concerns of Kellogg, Kerry, and other companies above its mandate to protect the public from contaminated food.

Recalls and Alerts: September 23 – 26, 2018

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United States

OUTBREAK ALERT (UPDATE): FDA and CDC have declared the Salmonella Mbandaka outbreak associated with Kellogg’s Honey Smacks ready-to-eat breakfast cereal to be over. In all, 135 consumers in 36 states were infected with the outbreak strain. Thirty-four (34) people were hospitalized in an outbreak that lasted spanned six full months (March 1 – August 30, 2018).

Allergy Alert: Harris Teeter recalls Harris Teeter Low Fat Frozen Yogurt Cookies & Cream (1.5 qt laminated cartons; all SELL BY DATES up to 07/30/19; UPC 0 72036 98182 0) due to undeclared peanut.

Allergy Alert: Whole Foods Market recalls 365 Everyday Value White Corn Tortilla Chips Salted-Party Size (20-oz bags; Best-by dates between January 24-25, 2019; UPC 9948247145) due to undeclared milk.

Food Safety Recall: Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation recalls all of its products produced at the Keaau facility between Sept. 6 – 21, 2018 due to a potential contamination of Escherichia coli. The recall was initiated after E. coli was detected in the well water and distribution system that supplies the firm’s operations. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Whole Foods Market recalls 365 Everyday Value brand White Corn Tortilla Chips Salted (567 g; Best by dates between January 24-25, 2019; UPC 0 99482 47145 3) due to undeclared milk. The recalled product was distributed to retailers in Ontario.

Food Safety Recall: 3301861 Nova Scotia Limited recalls Cabot brand Oysters (75-count and 100-count; Harvest Date 16-09-2018; Packed on date 17-09-2018; Harvest Location 1387 (lease); No UPC) due to Salmonella contamination. The recalled product was supplied to consumers in Nova Scotia and Quebec and may have been distributed nationwide.

Food Safety Recall: Abbott Nutrition recalls Abbott Promote brand High-Protein Liquid Nutrition – Vanilla Flavour (235 ml; Product code L84417RA0 xxxx (xxxx=time code) 2019JA1; UPC 0 55325 20170 0) and Abbott Two Cal HN brand Complete, Balanced Nutrition – Vanilla (235 ml; Product codes L85559RA0 xxxx (xxxx=time code) 2019FE1 and L87139RA0 xxxx (xxxx=time code) 2019AL1; UPC 0 55325 20799 3) due to bacterial contamination. One illness has been reported. The recalled products were supplied to retailers nationwide.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Icelandic Gadus recalls various salad products to due undeclared gluten. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (France): La Société BRIENT recalls Brient brand Cervelas (10 slices/90g; Lot #000001286690; Best before 08/10/2018) due to undeclared egg and mustard.

Allergy Alert (France): La société Cité Marine recalls Auchan Le Poissonnier brand Filets de cabillaud façon fish & chips (Best before 29/09/2018) due to undeclared egg.

Allergy Alert (France): Auchan recalls Auchan le Traiteur brand Samoussas Poulet / Chicken Samosas (40g x 4; Lot #05734142; Best before 10/10/2018) due to undeclared allergens.

Allergy Alert (Germany): Peter Braun Fleisch & Wurst GmbH & Co. KG recalls Paprikaschinkenwurst with egg (Best before dates up to 10.10.2018) due to undeclared pistachios.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Vomar Voordeelmarkt recalls De Notenkraam Katjang Pedis (275g; Best before 12-01-2019; Lot #18-109011) due to undeclared wheat (gluten), egg and soy.

Allergy Alert (UK): Sainsbury’s recalls in store bakery all butter croissants (individual and 2-packs; All best before dates up to and including 26 September, 2018) because they contain almond filling which is not declared on the packaging.

Food Safety Recall (France): Casino recalls Casino brand Pizza Chorizo et Poivrons (450g; Best before 20/09/18 – 25/09/18 – 01/10/18 – 04/10/18) due to possible Listeria in the chorizo.

Food Safety Recall (France): Auchan recalls Gerblé sans gluten brand Pain aux graines (Lot #190119; Best before 19/01/19) due to foreign matter (metal pieces) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Landhof “Am Ziegenried” GmbH recalls its entire range of cut cheeses due to possible Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Dr. Zak’s recalls Dr Zak’s Barn Farmed Liquid Egg White (pack size 970ml; Batch #18163BN2A, best-before 12/12/2018 – Batch #18180BN2B, best-before 29/12/2018 – Batch #18228BN2A, best-before 02/02/2019) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Cora recalls Pizza Chorizo et Poivron (450g; Best before 20/09/2018,25/09/2018,01/10/2018,04/10/2018) due to Listeria contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (Australia): Europlus Pty Ltd recalls Mahroum Sesame Halva (400g; Best Before 31.12.2018) due to undeclared pistachio nuts.

Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Premier Beehive NZ recalls Beehive brand Original sausages (1 kg; Batch #234234; Use by 17/10/18) due to foreign matter (metal) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): PAK’nSAVE Glen Innes recalls various PAK’nSAVE brand minced meats due to foreign matter (metal) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of affected products.