Month: September 2022

Recalls and Alerts: September 17-19, 2022

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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.

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations? Click on the TAINTED menu at the top of the page to read or listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.

TAINTED is now available FREE to Kindle Unlimited subscribers

Listen to an excerpt of the new audiobook edition right here

Chapter 6. Birth of a Pathogen

United States

Allergy Alert: Valley International Cold Storage Acquisition, LLC recalls Healthy Choice POWER BOWLS Korean-Style Beef (9.25 oz cartons; Lot code 5246220320; Best by 04-18-2023) due to undeclared milk.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Tofutown North America, Inc. recalls Viana brand Veggie Cevapcici (200g; Date code 31/3/23; UPC 8 78397 00406 8) due to undeclared almond.

Food Safety Recall: Kam Ding Investment Ltd. recalls K-Fresh Fresh Produce brand Enoki Mushroom (200g; Product code SN: 080202; UPC 4 892742 010234) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled product was sold in British Columbia and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Pepsico Nederland BV recalls Duyvis Borrelnootjes Provençale / Beer nuts (125g & 1000g; Lot NLZ 010 230; Best before 15/04/2023 & 20/05/2023, respectively) due to undeclared almonds and cashews.

Food Safety Recall (France): SCAMARK E.LECLERC recalls DOUCEUR DU VERGER brand DESSERT DE FRUIT POMME / Apple dessert (16 x 100g; Lot LF2205691; Best before 25/01/2023) due to elevated patulin levels.

Food Safety Recall (France): International Store recalls Asian choice brand Wakame Salade / Seaweed salad (225g; Lot 2111040038; Use by 25/07/2023) due to Hepatitis E virus contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SARL IKIZDERE IYI MARKET recalls EKONOMIK brand TAHIN HELVA PISTACHE / Tahini halvah with pistachios (300g; Lot L16B22; Use by 29/02/ 2024) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): DekaMarkt recalls DekaVers Buffelmozzarella Piccolini / Buffalo mozzarella piccolini cheese (125g; Expiration date 8-10-2022) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Food Safety Recall (Hong Kong): PNS FRESH INTERNATIONAL recalls CASINO STE MAURE GOAT LOG (200g; Use by dates between September 25, 2022 to October 10, 2022; Product of France) due to foreign matter contamination (metal).

Food Safety Recall (Israel): Zarobi Cruise Galilee Ltd recalls Zarobi Craper Galilee ground nutmeg (100g; Best by 14.06.2024) due to high level of toxins.

Food Safety Recall (Israel): Yossi Cohen butcher recalls Yossi Cohen butcher brand frozen kebab (1 kg; Use by dates 11.2.22-14.11.22) due to Salmonella contamination.

Good news for fans of Ferrero chocolates

On September 16, 2022, Belgium’s food safety authority (AFSCA) issued a final authorization for production for Ferraro’s manufacturing facility, located at Arlon.

The Arlon plant produces Kinder Surprise and other novelty chocolate products, and has been operating under a conditional authorization since June.

What happened?

On April 2, 2022, the UK Food Standards Agency alerted consumers to potential Salmonella contamination in certain batches of Kinder Surprise chocolates.

On April 8th, Belgium announced its decision to withdraw Ferrero’s authorization to manufacture food products at its Arlon plant, where the Kinder Surprise chocolates were made.

The decision, according to AFSCA, was due to the presence of Salmonella in the plant’s environment, the agency’s dissatisfaction with the lack of transparency on the part of the company regarding its Salmonella problem, and reports of Salmonella illnesses associated with the products from that plant.

In response to the AFSCA action, Ferrero expanded its initial recall to encompass all products manufactured in the Arlon facility. In doing so, the company also acknowledged that it had been aware of a Salmonella contamination problem in its production plant since December 15, 2021.

According to the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC), as of July 15th, 401 confirmed (n=399) and probable (n=2) cases of monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium had been reported in 13 EU member countries and the UK. An additional 54 cases were reported in Canada (n=4), Switzerland (n=49), and United States (n=1).

Specific chocolate products from a Belgian chocolate factory were identified as likely vehicles of infection in the ECDC report, although the agency did not mention the company by name.

A new beginning

Following extensive cleaning, testing, and updates to product safety protocols, trainings, and sampling in the plant, conducted by Ferrero in concert with the AFSCA, the Belgian agency granted Ferrero conditional authorisation to restart its production lines on June 17, 2022.

After three months of probationary production, the authorization has now been finalized.

In announcing the authorization, Ferrero expressed its gratitude with AFSCA’s close collaboration and its assistance, and promised to do better going forward.

“We have learned a lot during this period and have quickly put these learnings into practice,” the company said in its news release. “The granting of our production licence means everything is in place for our factory to produce with confidence and we will continue to do everything we can to prevent this from happening again.”

You can find additional background information on a prior Salmonella outbreak associated with chocolate novelty products in Chapter 15 of TAINTED. From Farm Gate to Dinner Plate, Fifty Years of Food Safety Failures. Available in digital, print, and audiobook editions.

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“Reads like a true crime novel” – Food Safety News

Recalls and Alerts: September 15-16, 2022

TAINTED formats 3

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.

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations? Click on the TAINTED menu at the top of the page to read or listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.

TAINTED is now available FREE to Kindle Unlimited subscribers

Listen to an excerpt of the new audiobook edition right here

Chapter 6. Birth of a Pathogen

United States

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: The FDA investigation of consumer complaints of gastrointestinal illness and abnormal liver function that may be attributable to eating Daily Harvest French Lentil & Leek Crumbles frozen product is on-going. The agency has received 386 “Adverse Event Reports,” including 130 hospitalizations. Daily Harvest initiated a recall on June 17, 2022. The FDA reminds consumers not to eat, sell, or serve recalled products. Consumers who may still have the recalled product in their freezers should throw it away.

Allergy Alert: FSIS issues Public Health Alert for aprons READY TO COOK MEAL FOR ONE BACON-CHEDDAR SMOTHERED CHICKEN (12 oz plastic wrapped metal containers; Use by 9/21/2022) due to undeclared egg. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Cardinal Meat Specialists Ltd. recalls M&M Food Market brand Prime Rib Beef Burgers (825g; Batch code 195 2; UPC 6 61815 01672 5) due to undeclared gluten and wheat.

Food Safety Recall: Œuf Xceptionnel (Saint-Constant, QC) recalls SAUMON FUMÉ / Smoked salmon (Sold up to 15 September 2022) due to lack of mandatory storage temperature instruction labeling.

Europe

Food Safety Recall (Austria): Käserei Gloggnitz GmbH recalls Kajmak, Trinkjoghurt, Frischkäse / Kajmak, Drinking yoghurt and cream cheese due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): LEADER PRICE recalls PANZANI brand TOMACOULI / tomato coulis (3 x 200g; Best before 01/04/2024 & 01/05/2024; Multiple lot codes) due to package defect that could result in swollen packages.

Food Safety Recall (France): AZ Distribution recalls ALGOTA brand Sésame Tahini (400g; Lot P1/2021; Best by 31/01/2023) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): PRODUCTION MYTILIMER recalls La Cancalaise brand Moules de Bouchot Baie du Mont-Saint-Michel AOP / Bouchot mussels (1.4 kg; Lot 8350809251; Use by 16/09/2022) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): LE PETIT DIEU recalls Le petit Dieu Rollot Fermier / Farm cheese wheel (Lots 170, 177, 198; Best before dates between 29/09/2022 and 12/10/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Lidl recalls Etal du boucher brand Merguez fortes sausages (Lot C2250350; Use by 19/09/2022) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): EARL DES GIRAULTS recalls EARL des Giraults brand oeufs en vrac / Bulk shell eggs (Use by dates between 08/08/2022 and 10/10/2022) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SOLEANE recalls SOLEANE brand SALADE DE PATE AU JAMBON EMMENTAL OU GNOCCHI AU JAMBON EMMENTAL / Pasta salad with emmental, ham or gnocchi (230g, 400g & 2.5 kg; Lot 248; Use by 30/09/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SOLEANE recalls SOLEANE and MON POTAGER brands SALADE NORVEGIENNE AU SAUMON FUME / Norwegian salad with smoked salmon (400g & 2.5 kg; Lot 245; Use by 27/09/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): DIPA CEMOI recalls L’authentique petit ourson guimauve lait XL / Milk chocolate covered marshmallow bear (25g; Lot number starting 22171; Best before 30/06/2023) due to foreign matter contamination (metal wire).

Food Safety Recall (France): KARMIN INTERMARCHE CHAROLLES recalls ONETIK brand OSSAU IRATY AU LAIT CRU / Ossau Iraty (sheep milk cheese) made with raw milk (Lot 082; Use by 10/11/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): GAEC RECONNU LA MARTINERIE recalls fromage frais / fresh cheese made with raw cow’s milk (Lot 0609; Best by 18/09/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): EDEKA recalls Gut & Günstig Frischeiwaffeln / Fresh egg waffles (250g; Best before 04.11.2022) due to foreign matter contamination (metal).

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Dovgan GmbH recalls SUNTAT Helva mit Vanillegeschmack / Vanilla flavoured halvah (350g; Lot 11.2023 L 15M21; Best before 11/2023) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Fa. BLG Kardesler GmbH recalls SUNTAT Helva mit Vanillegeschmack / Vanilla flavoured halvah (350g; Lot L 15M21; Best before 30.11.2023) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Spain): Industry recalls President brand Président Rulo cabra Sainte Maure / Saint Maure goat cheese log (180g x 6pcs; Expiry dates 10/10/2022, 10/13/2022 and 10/21/2022; Product of France) and President brand queso cabra Riblaire / Riblaire goat cheese (1 kg x 2 pcs; Expiry dates 10/24/2022 and 10/28/2022; Product of France) due to foreign matter contamination (metal).

Food Safety Recall (Spain): Industry recalls Ovopack brand Huevo entero líquido pasteurizado / Pasteurized liquid whole egg (1L Tetrabrik; Lot 11160; Expiry date 01/10/2022) due to Salmonella contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Public Health Alert (New Zealand): The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is advising consumers of a possible risk of contracting Hepatitis A from imported frozen berries. Consumers, especially those with chronic liver damage, the elderly and pregnant people to consider extra precautions if eating frozen berries. MPI is aware of three genetically linked cases of Hepatitis A virus in individuals who regularly consume imported frozen berries.