Recalls and Alerts: December 19 – 21, 2019

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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United States

OUTBREAK ALERT: CDC is investigating a deadly outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to hard-boiled eggs produced by Almark Foods of Gainesville, Georgia. Seven cases have been reported from five states; 4 people have been hospitalized, and one person has died. See below for a link to the Almark Foods recall notice.

Allergy Alert: Whole Foods Market recalls 365 Everyday Value Dark Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich Cremes (Best by dates through May 1, 2020; UPC 9948247605) and 365 Everyday Value Dark Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt Sandwich Cremes (Best by dates through May 9, 2020; UPC 9948247606) due to undeclared milk or coconut.

Food Safety Recall: Advance Pierre Foods recalls approximately 15,739 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) beef patty products due to possible foreign matter (small, green soft plastic pieces) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected product.

Food Safety Recall: Ashland Sausage Co. recalls BERKSHIRE NATURAL CASING SAUSAGE (12-oz. plastic packages containing 5 pieces; Lot code S318) due to possible foreign matter (hard, dark plastic) contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Emesa Foods recalls Premium Sesame Tahini (800g; Expiration date 2/25/2021; UPC 850005298267) due to potential Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Alli & Rose, LLC recalls approximately 21,930 pounds of Siluriformes (catfish) products that were not presented for import re-inspection. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Montpak International Inc recalls approximately 2,804 pounds of veal and lamb products that were not presented for import re-inspection into the United States. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Almark Foods recalls Hard-Boiled and Peeled Eggs in white plastic pails with white plastic lids due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Canada

OUTBREAK ALERT UPDATE: PHAC reports 25 E. coli O157:H7 illnesses across 7 provinces linked to Fresh Express brand Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kits. The salad kits contain romaine lettuce from the Salinas, California growing area.

Allergy Alert: Whole Foods Market recalls 365 Everyday Value Dark Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich Crèmes (220g; All Best By dates up to and including May 1, 2020; UPC 0 99482 47605 2) and 365 Everyday Value Dark Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt Sandwich Crèmes (220g; All Best By dates up to and including May 9, 2020; UPC 0 99482 47606 9) due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert: Speers Meats & Delicatessen recalls Mealie Pudding (150-250g; All Packed On dates after 19.SE.17) due to undeclared gluten.

Food Safety Recall: La Panchita (MDC International) recalls various soups that were not processed or packaged under conditions that ensure product safety. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Albert Heijn recalls mini gourmet groenteburgers / vegetarian burgers (180g; Best before 06/01/2020 & 16/01/2020) due to undeclared mustard.

Allergy Alert (Belgium): SoFine recalls SoFine brand SOCHICKEN STICKS (160g; Best before 30/12/2019) due to undeclared mustard.

Allergy Alert (Germany): Sofine Foods B.V. recalls three SoFine brand vegetarian products due to undeclared mustard. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (Ireland): Sacla UK recalls various pesto products due to undeclared peanuts. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (Ireland): SuperValu recalls SuperValu Fruit Cake (450g; Batch code 352; Best before 26.02.2020) due to undeclared almonds.

Allergy Alert (Luxembourg): SoFine recalls SoFine brand SoChicken Sticks (160g; Best before 14/01/2020) and SoFine brand Veggie Nuggets (160g; Lots 301219 & 030120) due to undeclared mustard.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Molenaartje recalls Molenaartje volkoren spelt biscuit (200g; Best before 01/12/2020) and Molenaartje volkorenbiscuit (200; Best before 01/12/2020) due to undeclared mustard.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): SoFine Foods BV recalls ProLaterre® Vegan Nuggets (Best before 14-01-2020) due to undeclared mustard.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): SoFine recalls three SoFine brand vegetarian products due to undeclared mustard. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (UK): Sacla’ recalls various pesto products due to undeclared peanuts. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Industry recalls Baltique saumon fumé and Traiteur saumon fumé (200g; Best before 21/12/2019, 22/12/2019, 25/12/2019, 26/12/2019, 27/12/2019, 28/12/2019, 29/12/2019, 31/12/2019 & 02/01/2020) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Fleischerei Blässe recalls various sausage products due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Italy): MACELLERIA PERUCCHETTI GIUSEPPE & C SNC recalls SALAME (400/500g; Lot #B03-10-19) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Oudwijker Kaas recalls certain batches of Oudwijker Fiore cheese and Oudwijker Stella cheese due to Listeria contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected batch codes.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Food Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Classic Fine Foods (Hong Kong) Limited recalls Saumon Fume Ecosse T. Main Ficelle (1.8kg; Best before December 31, 2019; Product of France) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (Australia): David Jones Pty Limited recalls David Jones Almond Roughs (Best before 9th June 2020) due to undeclared peanuts and David Jones Peanut Caramel Clusters (Best before 9th June 2020) due to undeclared almonds.

Allergy Alert (Australia): Babilhara Lebanese Pastries and Sweets recalls Baklava and Pistachio Baklava (250g; Best before 16/10/2020) due to undeclared peanuts.

Allergy Alert (Australia): Coal River Farm Investments Pty Ltd recalls various chocolates (All products, all November/December Batches – dates up to 15 Dec 2019) due to undeclared milk and soy. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Recalls and Alerts: December 16 – 18, 2019

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United States

OUTBREAK ALERT: CDC reports an outbreak of 30 cases of multidrug-resistant Campylobacter infections in 13 states. The illnesses have been linked to contact with puppies, especially those from pet shops.

Canada

Allergy Alert: 57 Vegane Prêt à manger recalls various products due to undeclared gluten, milk and eggs. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert: Peavey Industries LP recalls Backwoods brand Cured Sausage Seasonings – Summer Sausage Kit (430.8g; All product/date codes; UPC 7 34494 09284 4) due to undeclared mustard.

Food Safety Recall: Laiterie Coaticook Ltée recalls certain Coaticook brand Cheddar cheese due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Albert Heijn recalls Albert Heijn cremepaté (170g; Best before 13/01/2020) due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert (Finland): Industry recalls Becel ProActiv Gourmet Margarine (450g; Batch code L93261E088; Best before 28-03-2020) due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert (France): GlobeXplore recalls Algaé gastronomie brand Perles de saveurs Yuzu / Yuzu flavour beads (200g; Lot #279-19-309-200G; Best before 04/11/2020) due to undeclared soy and wheat.

Allergy Alert (France): Mondelēz International recalls LU brand Cracotte Chocolat (200g; Lot #OVE1293742; Best before 30/06/2020) due to undeclared hazelnuts.

Allergy Alert (Luxembourg): Industry recalls Ahinur brandMisir Gevregi Crunch – Gerost. Mais / Corn flake crunch (200g; Lot #19-01; Best before 02.05.2021) due to undeclared gluten and fatty acid esters.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Albert Heijn recalls AH cremepaté (170g; Best before 13/01/2020) due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): PLUS recalls PLUS Bio donker meergranen brood / Organic dark multigrain bread (loaves and half-loaves with date of sale up to and including 17-12-2019) due to undeclared mustard.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Poiesz recalls Lodewijker Bio Donker meergranen heel en half / Organic dark multigrain bread (whole and half-loaves; Best before 13/12 to 17/12) due to undeclared mustard.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): ALDI recalls Organic whole-grain multiseed half bread (sold up to and including December 16, 2019) due to undeclared mustard.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Coop recalls Coop bio floor dark multigrain & Coop bio floor light multigrain breads (various products) due to undeclared mustard. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): S.A. Beyers Koffie recalls certain varieties of Fortisimo Dolce Gusto®-compatible single-serving coffee packets (6-packs; sold from 29/05/2019 to 17/12/2019) due to foreign matter (pieces of plastic) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a list of affected varieties and lot codes.

Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Jens Christian Holt Jensen recalls smoked game products and salami as the items may have been manufactured under insanitary conditions.

Food Safety Recall (France): Service Consommateurs DLP recalls Leader Price brand Capsules de café / coffee capsules due to foreign matter (pieces of plastic) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected varieties.

Food Safety Recall (France): GéantCasino recalls Casino brand Capsules de café / coffee capsules due to foreign matter (pieces of plastic) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected varieties.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Industry recalls Gołąbki Gospodarza / stuffed cabbage rolls (500g; Batch code LSPS9AB0219; Best before 11/02/2021; Product of Poland) due to foreign matter (glass fragments) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Yaadgaar Bakeries recalls Yaadgaar Rasmalai (All Best before dates up to and including 1 January 2020; Product of UK) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Italy): Industry recalls various brands of coffee capsules due to foreign matter (pieces of plastic) contamination. Please refer to the individual recall notices for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Beyers Koffie recalls certain varieties of Fortisimo Dolce Gusto®-compatible single-serving coffee packets (6-packs; sold from 29/05/2019 to 17/12/2019) due to foreign matter (pieces of plastic) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a list of affected varieties and lot codes.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Heinz and Tesco recall all 7+ months Heinz By Nature baby food range after discovering that a single jar of product had been tampered with. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Allergy Alert (Israel): Hadar Hapodim Ltd. recalls various products due to undeclared dairy protein. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Multi-state Campylobacter outbreak linked to contact with puppies

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating a 13-state outbreak of 30 Campylobacter illnesses linked to contact with puppies.

Four of the 30 victims have been hospitalized.

The outbreak began early in January 2019.

Among the 24 outbreak victims who were interviewed, 21 (88%) reported contact with puppies. Fifteen of the victims indicated the puppy came from a pet store; 12 reported contact with a puppy from the Petland. Five of these were Petland employees.

Petland is an international pet store chain with operations in the United States, Canada, Brazil, China, El Salvador, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

Outbreak cases have been reported in Connecticut (1), Florida (1), Georgia (1), Illinois (1), Kentucky (3), Maryland (1), Minnesota (6), Nevada (4), Ohio (5), South Carolina (2), Tennessee (1), Utah (3) and Wyoming (1).

The outbreak strain is resistant to multiple antibiotics, including: tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, azithromycin, erythromycin, clindamycin, telithromycin, and gentamicin.

No single, common source for the puppies has been identified.

The strain of Campylobacter identified with this outbreak is very similar genetically to the strain that was responsible for 113 illnesses and 23 hospitalizations in a similar outbreak in 2016-2018.

The earlier outbreak also was associated with contact between outbreak victims and puppies sold through Petland stores.

Puppies and dogs infected with Campylobacter may suffer from diarrhea lasting 5 – 15 days. The diarrhea may be watery to bloody with mucus, and is sometimes bile-stained. Not every infected dog exhibits symptoms, and apparently healthy dogs may still be able to transmit the bacteria to other animals or to people.

Symptoms of Campylobacter infection in people include diarrhea (often bloody), fever, and stomach cramps 2 to 5 days after being exposed to the bacteria.

According to CDC, the illness usually lasts about a week and most people recover without antibiotic treatment.