Recalls and Alerts: January 9–10, 2024

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.

“A complete and compelling account of the hidden and not-so-hidden ways the food we give our beloved pets can be contaminated.” – JoNel Aleccia, Health Reporter, Food & Nutrition, The Associated Press.

“An invaluable resource for busy pet owners” – Food Safety News

Available from all major on-line retailers, including:

United States

INVESTIGATION UPDATE: As of January 8, 2024, the FDA has received 87 confirmed complaints/reports of adverse events potentially linked to recalled Cinnamon Applesauce pouches.

Food Safety Advisory: FDA advises restaurants and retailers not to serve or sell and consumers not to eat certain whole, live scallops that were received from an unlicensed harvester, incorrectly labeled as harvest location FED 514 (Harvest dates 12/26/23, 12/27/23 and 01/01/24) because the scallops are believed to have been harvested from prohibited waters in Massachusetts.

Allergy Alert: Vesta Fiery Gourmet Foods, Inc. recalls five varieties of Benny T’s Vesta Dry Hot Sauces due to undeclared wheat. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert: Ventura Foods recalls Publix Deli Carolina-Style Mustard BBQ Sauce (2 oz pkg; Use by APR 08 24B; UPC 0 41415 57162 4) due to undeclared fish (anchovy).

Allergy Alert: HY Success Inc. recalls Fat Choy Kee Dried Longan (5 oz; Expiration date 12/31/2024) due to undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert: Wegmans recalls Outrageous Oat Cookies (5-pack and by the pound; All Use-by dates) due to undeclared wheat.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Farm Boy Company Inc. recalls Farm Boy brand Vegan Gluten Free Margherita Pizza (330g; Lot 23 200; Best before 2024 JL 19; UPC 8 08912 01086 1) due to undeclared milk.

Food Safety Recall: Industry recalls various brands of caffeinated energy drinks due to various non-compliances related to caffeine content and labelling requirements. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Resto Bar O’Max recalls Sauce à spaghetti / Spaghetti sauce (All sizes; Sold up to 9 January 2024) due to omission of mandatory storage temperature labeling.

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Europe

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Colruyt Meilleurs Prix recalls Everyday salade de viande / Meat salad (250g; Use by 3/2/2024) due to undeclared shellfish and fish.

Allergy Alert (UK): Lean Supper Club recalls Dark Chocolate Peanut Mousse (125g; Use by 15 January 2024) due to undeclared peanuts and milk.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): CARREFOUR recalls FQC Filière qualité Carrefour brand Huîtres creuses Cancale / Hollow oysters (12 pc & 48 pc; Lots 227352412 & 227352511 and Lot 227352412, respectively; Use by dates 12/01/24, 13/01/24, 14/01/24, 18/01/04 and Use by date 13/01/24, respectively) due to possible Norovirus contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Finland): Foodin Oy recalls Goji marja luomu / Organic goji berries (150g & 450g; Lots L051023 & L301123, respectively; Best before 4/2025 & 5/2025, respectively) and Trailmix high ﬁve (70g; Lot L181223; Best before 3/2025) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Finland): Foodin Oy recalls Miniviikuna luomu / Organic mini figs (150g; Lot L201023; Best before 11/2024) due to elevated ochratoxin.

Food Safety Recall (France): GUYOT NATHALIE recalls Les coquilles de MR Gaster brand Escargots au court bouillon / Snails in court bouillon (Lot 1520; Best by 30/11/2025) due to potential for growth of Clostridium botulinum.

Food Safety Recall (France): OUDAIRIDIS E.LECLERC recalls Mousse forestière (Sold between 03/01/2024 and 06/01/2024, inclusive) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): OUDAIRIDIS E.LECLERC recalls Jambon noël miel rôti au four / Oven-roasted honey Christmas ham (Sold between 18/12/2023 and 08/01/2024, inclusive) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): BRETZELS MORICETTES MFP POULAILLON recalls POULAILLON LES ATELIERS GOURMANDS brand GRANDE MORICETTE® POULET, MORICETTE® POULET, SANDWICH PAVE POULET / Chicken sandwiches (Lot 100824; Use by 17/01/2024 and 09/01/2024) due to foreign matter contamination in the sauce (white plastic).

Food Safety Recall (France): CARREFOUR FRANCE recalls Filière Qualité Carrefour brand HUITRES FINES DE CANCALE N°3 / Oysters (1 kg (12-pack) and 2 kg (24-pack); Multiple pack dates) due to Norovirus contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): FROMAGERIE DES GORS recalls FROMAGERIE DES GORS brand LA CHEVRETTE / goat cheese (6-pack & 12-pack; Lot EOM 314; Use by 10/01/2024) due to shiga toxin-producing E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): FURIC SOLUTIONS recalls Préparation à base de saumon mariné – Cubes de saumon façon tartare / Marinated cubed raw salmon (Lot 622024004; Use by 13/01/2024) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): BARVIN INTERMARCHE recalls LE BURON brand SAINT-NECTAIRE FERMIER / Cheese (Lot 01M250423C; Use by 20/01/2024) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): LDC SABLE recalls LOUE brand Cuisses de poulet / Chicken legs (Lot 2023093723; Use by 25/12/2023) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Yayla Türkische Lebensmittel Vertrieb GmbH recalls Yayla Sucuk in Stücke / in pieces (250g; Lot 10855916; Best before 09.03.2024) and Yayla Sucuk 80g in Scheiben / in slices (80g; Lot 10865984; Best before 09.02.2024) due to shiga toxin-producing E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Firma Fromagerie des Gors in Frankreich recalls Brique de Sakura / Sakura block cheese (220g; Best before 06.01.2024; Product of France) due to shiga toxin-producing E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Firma Fromagerie des Gors in Frankreich recalls Petit Dome cendre / cheese (100g; Best before 13.01.2024; Product of France) due to shiga toxin-producing E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Hungary): Müller Drogéria Magyarország Bt. recalls Alnatura brand Gojibeeren/Goji bogyó / Goji berries (100g; Use by 2024.07.04 to 2024.10.22) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Hungary): Müller Drogéria Magyarország Bt. recalls Bio Primo brand Gojibeeren/Goji bogyó / Goji berries (100g; Multiple lot codes and Use-by dates) due to Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Allergy Alert (Israel): Eden Shir Sachar Ltd. recalls three Coffee Time brand cookie varieties due to undeclared sesame. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Alert (Hong Kong): Centre for Food Safety instructs trade to suspend importation and sale of raw oysters harvested in area 14-161 Grandcamp-Maisy West and Géfosse-Fontenay in France due to possible Norovirus contamination.

TAINTED formats 3 — “Reads like a true crime novel” – Food Safety News

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations?

Click on the link to listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.

Chapter 6. Birth of a Pathogen

TAINTED is available in digital format from all major on-line retailers. Press the button to go directly to your preferred digital bookstore.

Amazon

Apple

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Smashwords

Chapters/Indigo

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Recalls and Alerts: January 6–8, 2024

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

“An invaluable resource for busy pet owners” – Food Safety News

Available from all major on-line retailers, including:

Canada

Allergy Alert: Chatman’s Bakery Ltd. recalls Chatman’s Bakery brand Peanut Butter Balls and Date Squares due to undeclared wheat and peanut. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

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Europe

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): AFSCA recalls Rekolte brand figue sèche / Dried fig (250g; Lot 090022480/1-11-111; Best before 31/03/2024) due to elevated ochratoxin A.

Food Safety Recall (France): CORICO recalls IDHALAL / Neutre brand Saucisse de volaille au fromage / Poultry sausages with cheese (Lot 9773000360; Use by 09/01/2024) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): CORICO recalls IDHALAL / Neutre brand Saucisse de volaille aux herbes / Poultry sausages with herbs (Lot 9773000360; Use by 09/01/2024) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): CORICO recalls IDHALAL / Neutre brand Saucisse de volaille / Poultry sausages (Lot 9773000360; Use by 09/01/2024) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): CORICO recalls IDHALAL / Neutre brand Corizo de volaille / Poultry chorizo (Lot 9773000360; Use by 09/01/2024) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): CORICO recalls IDHALAL / Neutre brand Merguez de volaille / Poultry merguez (Lot 9773000360; Use by 09/01/2024) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): CORICO recalls Neutre brand Saucisse père rigaud / Père Rigaud sausage (5 kg; Lot 9773000360; Use by 09/01/2024) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): CORICO recalls Neutre brand Saucisses de volaille indiennes / Indian poultry sausage (5 kg; Lot 9773000360; Use by 09/01/2024) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): DETA DISTRIBUTION E. Leclerc recalls E. Leclerc Bellaing brand Rillettes de saumon / Salmon rillettes (Lots 336 to 365; Use by dates between 08/12/2023 and 06/01/2024) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): DETA DISTRIBUTION E. Leclerc recalls E. Leclerc Bellaing brand salade de pâtes nordique / Nordic pasta salad (Lot 350; Use by 22/12/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): LE MARCHE D’ABIDJAN recalls KABATO brand FARINE DE MAIS / Corn flour (1 kg; Use by 31/03/2025) due to elevated aflatoxin.

Food Safety Recall (France): FROMAGERIE DES GORS recalls FROMAGERIE DES GORS brand ANNEAU CENDRE / Cheese (6 or 12/pkg; Lot EOM 306; Use by 02/01/2024) due to shiga toxin-producing E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): FROMAGERIE DES GORS recalls several varieties of FROMAGERIE DES GORS brand cheeses due to shiga toxin-producing E. coli contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Italy): Fattorie Salentine S.A.R.L. recalls ALICOM brand Uova / Shell eggs (Various package sizes; Various egg sizes; Multiple lot codes) due to Salmonella Typhimurium contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Food Safety Alert (Hong Kong): Trade has been instructed to suspend the import and sale of raw oysters harvested in area 50-07 Saint Vaast La Hougue in France due to Norovirus contamination.

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations?

Click on the link to listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.

Chapter 6. Birth of a Pathogen

TAINTED is available in digital format from all major on-line retailers. Press the button to go directly to your preferred digital bookstore.

Amazon

Apple

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Smashwords

Chapters/Indigo

Advertisements

The Purina Affair: One dog’s story

A note of explanation: Mindy is just one of many pet owners who believe a Purina product to be behind the illness or death of their dogs and cats. She has made a formal Consumer Complaint report to the FDA.

Mindy graciously agreed to share Snoops’s story with us in the hope that it will help to prevent other tragedies.

Snoops’ Story

Snoops fell ill the last week of October 2023.

“My 9-year old sweet boy…was playful, happy and just fine before this,” according to Mindy, his owner.

Then she opened a new bag of Purina Pro Plan food, and everything started to change.

“He started not feeling well, he had thrown up a few times, he stopped wanting to eat his food,” Mindy said. “I immediately suspected the food!! I stopped feeding it, called Purina. They said they had not had any complaints, which seemed funny to me because I was seeing complaints that same month on Chewy.

“One morning he woke up and could hardly walk or lift his head. I took him to the vet and had blood work done. His liver enzymes and something I think with the gallbladder were really high. He had a UTI. They admitted him to the pet hospital for a few days. The vet said yes, there was a possibility kibble could cause this! They had him on meds and fluids. His numbers dropped a little bit so they sent him home.”

After a short while, Snoops started going downhill. He developed jaundice, and Mindy’s veterinarian recommended an ultrasound. The specialist who reviewed the results expressed concern about the appearance of Snoops’s liver and pancreas.

“At this point I was trying anything to save my sweet baby,” Mindy said. “He wasn’t eating much. He lost a lot of weight. One night he started throwing up all night so the next day we admitted him back to the pet hospital.

“After a few days I knew he probably wasn’t going to make it…I knew we had to have him euthanized. I called my daughters to come say goodbye. I still didn’t want to make that decision to have my sweet baby put down, it broke my heart in a million pieces.

“Right before they were going to come in and euthanize him, I had alone time with him. I picked him up and put him on my chest against my heart like I always used to do. It was his comfort place. I told him it was OK to let go, this little boy just couldn’t fight anymore, that I would be ok and he could let go… he sighed deeply, contently and I felt him pass away in my arms”

Mindy’s message

“Snoops was my little soul mate, my little constant companion, my first fur baby, I loved him more than words! I am so angry at Purina that they seemed to have no care!! This was my baby’s life in your hands! They offered some coupons!

“I tried to spread the word to hopefully save other fur babys but so many were not willing to hear or believe it. I feel so guilty having fed that food and I wish so much I had known then what I know now, I tried so hard to save my sweet boy.”

The latest numbers

As of January 6, 2024, the public Facebook group Saving Pets One Pet @ A Time has received reports of 314 sick animals (233 dogs and 81 cats) in the USA and Canada.

Ninety-one (91) of them have died.

The FDA has not yet released any information on the number of complaints the agency has received.

What is the FDA doing?

FDA is aware of reports of pet illnesses and is in the process of evaluating those reports.

In response to our request for comment, we received the following statement on January 4, 2024:

“We encourage pet owners or their veterinarians to submit reports of illness or other adverse events associated with pet food directly to FDA by following the instructions on this page: How to Report a Pet Food Complaint.”
FDA spokesperson, January 4, 2024

How to report a pet illness

The FDA relies heavily on reports from pet owners and veterinarians to alert them to safety issues with pet foods. Especially useful are reports that include veterinary information and details on the suspect food (brand, variety, batch codes, etc.).

Most of all, the FDA is looking for pet owners who still possess partial or unopened bags of the suspect food.

If your pet is sick or has died, and you suspect the pet food to be the cause, please ask your veterinarian to file an Adverse Event report with the FDA.

Whether or not a veterinarian agrees to file a report, pet owners can file directly with the FDA. Prepare to make your report by assembling as much information about your pet’s symptoms, any lab reports (eg., blood work), and whatever information you have on the specific product(s) you have fed your pet. This includes brand and variety names, lot code, expiration date, and bar code information, all of which can be found on the package.

There are two options for filing, which are explained on the FDA web page, How to Report a Pet Food Complaint

Option 1: Contact the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator for your state by telephone (in the case of California, there are separate coordinators for Northern and Southern California). The list of telephone numbers is available at: Consumer Complaint Coordinators.

Option 2: File on-line using the FDA Safety Reporting Portal. Simply click on the “Report as Guest” button and follow the step-by-step directions.