Recalls and Alerts: July 1 – 6, 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/Pet Treat Safety Recall: Pet Supplies Plus recalls bulk pig ear product supplied to all locations by several different vendors due to the potential of Salmonella contamination. CDC reports 45 cases of Salmonella illness linked by epidemiological evidence to pig ear pet treats sold from bulk bins.

Food Safety Recall: Growers Express recalls multiple Green Giant, Growers Express, Signature Farms and Trader Joe’s brands of fresh vegetable products due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Les Dépendances recalls Bouq’Émissaire brand goat cheese made from pasteurized milk (variable weights; All product sold on or before 5 July 2019) because the product was not manufactured or packaged in a manner that ensures safety for consumption.

Food Safety Recall: Les Dépendances recalls Dongé brand Coulommiers raw milk cheese (500g; Best before 2019 JL 12; LOT MA010419CO; UPC 8 31014 41211 0) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Salish Sea Foods LP recalls Salish Sea Foods LP brand Emerald Cove, Malaspina, and Chef Creek Farmed Oysters (Lot #4787; Harvest/Process Date 06/24/19; Beach/Lease #0236161; Area 14-15) due to Vibrio parahaemolyticus contamination.

Europe

OUTBREAK ALERT (Iceland): Four children have been diagnosed with shigatoxin-producing E. coli infections in the last 3 weeks. The children all live in the capital region but may have been infected in Bláskógabyggð.

Allergy Alert (Finland): Barebells recalls Barebells Salty Peanut Ice Cream Bar (73ml; Best before 2020-08-08) and Barebells Caramel Pecan Ice Cream Stick (110ml; Best before 2020-07-30 and 2020-07-31) due to undeclared egg.

Allergy Alert (Ireland): P&B Foods Ltd. recalls Heera Premium Quality Golden Sultana (20 x 100g, 20 x 250g, 6 x 700g, 3 x 5kg, 10kg; Batch codes ED18/281, ED18/071, HP1TN1040319, HP3TN1210618, HP2TN1211118, 1G2280818, 1G1280818, 2G1100119, 2G1170419, 2G1261118, 2G1240518; Best before end 30 April 2020, 31 October 2020) due to undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert (Ireland): Co-op Ltd. recalls Co-op Veg Taster (Use by 07 July 2019) due to undeclared fish.

Allergy Alert (Italy): T’A MILANO SRL recalls Dragees arancia candita ricoperta di cioccolato fondente (120g; various best before dates) due to undeclared sulphur.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Asia Express Food recalls Sempio brand Herbal Soybean Paste (12 x 500g) due to undeclared mustard.

Allergy Alert (UK): P&B Foods Ltd recalls Heera Premium Quality Golden Sultana (20 x 100g, 20 x 250g, 6 x 700g, 3 x 5kg, 10kg; Batch codes ED18/281, ED18/071, HP1TN1040319, HP3TN1210618, HP2TN1211118, 1G2280818, 1G1280818, 2G1100119, 2G1170419, 2G1261118, 2G1240518; Best before end 30 April 2020, 31 October 2020) due to undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert (UK): Co-op Ltd recalls Co-op Veg Taster (Use by 07 July 2019) due to undeclared fish.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Fromagerie du Gros-chêne recalls Moellon – Fromage au lait cru de vache / Raw cow’s milk cheese (300g; Lots 308.19 & 1008.19; Best before 03/08/19 & 10/08/19, respectively) due to LIsteria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Ferme de Neubempt recalls Ferme de Neubempt brand maquée au lait cru (190g; Best before 05/07/2019) due to Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): TLC recalls various TLC brand catering products due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Sonnendorfer GmbH recalls certain shell eggs (Best before 22.07.19) due to Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Damse Kaasmakerij recalls Damse Mokke cheese, large (Lot #190528; Best before 22/07/2019 and 23/07/2019) due to possible Listeria contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Iceland): Stjörnugrís ehf recalls The ISK brand Fresh ground pork (Best before 03.07.2019) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall Update (Ireland): P & B Foods Ltd. recalls Heera Chilli Powder Extra Hot (6 x 1kg and 10 x 400g; Batch code PB9446M/4; Best before end April 2021) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Jan Linders Supermarkets and PLUS Supermarkets recall certain raisin-currant rolls due to foreign matter (hard plastic) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall Update (UK): P & B Foods Ltd recalls Heera Chilli Powder Extra Hot (6 x 1kg and 10 x 400g; Batch code PB9446M/4; Best before end April 2021) due to Salmonella contamination.

Pet Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Industry recalls MultiFit Poumon d’agneau / lamb lung (150g; Lot 024; Best before 13.11.2020; Product of Poland) due to Salmonella Anatum contamination.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Food Safety Recall (Israel): Fine Being Ha’Basar Ltd. recalls Frozen ground turkey (500g; Expiry date 31/7/19) due to Salmonella contamination.

Cavi brand whole papayas fingered in Salmonella outbreak

Cavi brand whole, fresh papayas imported from Mexico and distributed by Agroson’s LLC of Bronx, New York are the likely source of an outbreak of Salmonella Uganda that has sickened 71 people in eight states.

This information was contained in an investigation update released today (July 5) by FDA.

The Mexican government, which described FDA’s initial report as “premature” on July 1st has not yet responded to this update.

Agroson’s is an importer and distributor of papayas. The company was one of the distributors involved in the 2017 Salmonella outbreaks linked to contaminated papayas from Mexico.

Epidemiological and traceback evidence indicates that the Agroson’s was the exclusive distributor of the implicated papayas.

FDA has asked Agroson’s to initiate a product recall. The company has not yet complied.

Illnesses associated with this outbreak have been reported in eight states: Connecticut (14), Florida (1), Massachusetts (5), New Jersey (18), New York (27), Pennsylvania (4), Rhode Island (1), and Texas (1).

Twenty-seven people have been hospitalized. There have been no deaths.

The hospitalization rate is higher than usual in a Salmonella outbreak, according to CDC.

Among those victims for whom information is available, the rate is 60%. The usual hospitalization rate in Salmonella outbreaks is approximately 20%.

The Cavi papayas were distributed in six states, all of which have reported outbreak cases. There was no distribution in Florida or Texas.

The Florida victim reported traveling to Connecticut before becoming ill. The Texas victim reported having traveled to New York.

FDA, which is continuing its investigations, offers the following recommendations:

For Consumers, Restaurants, and Retailers:

Consumers in all states should not eat any Cavi brand whole, fresh papayas and should throw them away. If consumers are unable to determine the brand of papayas, they should be thrown away. Retailers, restaurants, and other food service providers in all states should not serve or sell whole, fresh papayas under the Cavi brand, which is distributed by Agroson’s LLC.

Consumers no longer need to avoid whole, fresh papayas, with the exception of Cavi brand papayas.

For Restaurants, Retailers, Importers, Suppliers, and Distributors in All States:

The FDA strongly advises importers, suppliers, and distributors, as well as restaurants, retailers, and other food service providers from all states to not sell or distribute whole, fresh papayas from Agroson’s LLC that are labeled under the Cavi brand.

Pig ear pet treats blamed for human Salmonella outbreak

Pig ear pet treats have been linked to an outbreak of multidrug-resistant Salmonella infections in 13 states, according to an investigation report released today by CDC.

Forty-five individuals in California (1), Illinois (3), Indiana (3), Iowa (12), Kansas (3), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (7), Missouri (3), New York (6), North Dakota (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (1) and Wisconsin (1) have been infected with the outbreak strain, identified as Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:-.

Twelve outbreak victims were hospitalized.

According to CDC, epidemiological evidence points to pig ear pet treats as a likely source of the illnesses.

Of the outbreak victims interviewed, 89% reported contact with a dog before getting sick and 71% reported contact with pig ear dog treats or with dogs who were fed pig ear dog treats.

In comparison, only 61% of healthy individuals reported contact with a dog, and only 16% reported having handled dog treats such as pig ears in the week before the interview.

Pig ear pet treats obtained from bulk bins at two Michigan retailers have tested positive for a number of different Salmonella strains, according to a report from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).

According to FDA, MDARD found four different strains – Salmonella London, Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Newport, and Salmonella Infantis – in the pig ear samples.

FDA is working with CDC and state health partners to determine whether any human or animal cases of Salmonella illness may be linked to the strains found in the treats tested by MDARD.

Other brands of individually wrapped or bagged pig ears sold at multiple retail locations in the state tested negative for Salmonella.

Pet Supplies Plus (Livonia, MI) issued a voluntary recall after learning that MDARD found Salmonella in “…aging bulk pig ear product…” in one of the company’s stores.

The contaminated bulk pig ears were stocked in open bins in Pet Supplies Plus stores in AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI and WV. Prepackaged pig ears are unaffected by the recall.

The company has removed bulk pig ear treats from all of its stores and has stopped shipping these treats from its distribution center.

FDA is working to identify the source of the pig ear treats, how they became contaminated, and where they were distributed.

What consumers need to know

Salmonella can cause illness in both humans and animals. People infected with Salmonella can develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. Most individuals recover without treatment. However, in some cases, the diarrhea may be so severe that hospitalization is needed.

In severe cases, without antibiotic treatment the infection may spread from the intestines into the blood stream and from there to other parts of the body.

Pets do not always display symptoms when infected with Salmonella, but signs can include vomiting, diarrhea (which may be bloody), fever, loss of appetite and/or decreased activity level. Infected pets can shed the bacteria in their feces and saliva without showing signs of being sick.

If you or a household member is suffering from symptoms of Salmonella, consult a healthcare provider.

If you believe your pet may be infected with Salmonella, consult your veterinarian.

How to alert FDA to a problem

Veterinarians who wish to have pets tested for Salmonella may do so through the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN Network) if the pet is from a household with a person infected with Salmonella.

FDA encourages consumers to report complaints about pet food products electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal. This information helps FDA further protect human and animal health.