Author: Phyllis Entis

Food Safety Recalls: October 1 – 16, 2018

The FoodBugLady is back after a two-week holiday, and it’s time to play catch-up.

Here is a list of recalls relating to food safety issues for the first half of October. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices containing detailed information for each 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.

USA

October 16th: Prime Deli Corporation (Lewisville, Texas) is recalling approximately 217 pounds of ready-to-eat salad with bacon products that contain a corn ingredient that may be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.

October 15th: A La Carte Foods Properties, LLC (Belle Rose, LA) is recalling approximately 30,438 pounds of meat and poultry products that contain meat produced without the benefit of federal inspection.

October 11th: Valley Fine Foods (Forest City, N.C.) is recalling approximately 35,516 pounds of heat-treated, not fully cooked meat and poultry products that may be adulterated due to presence of spoilage organisms that have rendered it unwholesome and unfit for human food.

October 11th: Jerky Boyz Chicken Jerky (Pigeon Forge, Tenn) is recalling approximately 23 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken jerky products due to a processing deviation that may have led to underprocessing of products.

October 10th: Malone’s Fine Sausage Inc. (Milwaukee, WI) is recalling approximately 26,323 pounds of ready-to-eat pork head cheese product that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes.

October 6th: Bazzini LLC (Allentown, PA) is recalling 4,000 pounds of Roasted and Salted Colossal Natural, Super Colossal Natural and Rams Head Natural In Shell Pistachios received from one of its suppliers because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

October 5th: Ladyfingers Caterers is voluntarily recalling its Signature Shaved Country Ham Rolls as a result of the Johnston County Hams recall. The rolls were made with ham produced by Johnston County Hams, which recently initiated a recall of its ham products due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

October 5th: Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods (Richmond, VA) is recalling approximately 18,296 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry deli-sliced products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes.

October 5th: Randsland Farms Inc. recalls Randsland brand Broccoli Florets and Broccoli Salad Kit due to Listeria contamination.

October 4th: Working Cow Homemade Ice Cream, Inc. (St. Petersburg, FL) is conducting a voluntary recall of No Sugar Added Vanilla and No Sugar Added Chocolate ice cream manufactured in three-gallon tubs during the month of May 2018 due to a potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

October 4th: Callie’s Charleston Biscuits, LLC is issuing a voluntary product recall for two products that may contain Johnston County Hams recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

October 4th: JBS Tolleson, Inc. (Tolleson, AZ) is recalling approximately 6,937,195 pounds of various raw, non-intact beef products that may be contaminated with Salmonella Newport.

October 3rd: Johnston County Hams (Smithfield, N.C.) is recalling approximately 89,096 pounds of ready-to-eat ham products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Canada

October 15th: Abbott is recalling certain Abbott brand formulated liquid nutrition products in 235 mL metal cans from the marketplace due to possible bacterial contamination. One illness has been reported.

October 12th: Fromagerie Les Rivières recalls various cheeses that may not be safe to consume.

October 12th: Le Petit Magasin recalls Bolognaise Tomato sauce that may not be safe to consume.

October 11th: Euro-Balkan Specialty Foods recalls Euro-Balkan Specialty Foods brand Balkan Style Kajmak Cream Cheese Product due to Staphylococcus enterotoxin contamination.

October 9th: La Granja Foods recalls The Farm La Granja brand Queso ranchero fresco from the marketplace due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination.

October 5th: Ferme Écologique Coop d’Ulverton recalls cheeses made with raw (unpasteurized) goat milk due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

October 4th: Sobeys Inc. is recalling certain Sobeys brand packaged vegetable products from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

October 3rd: Monsieur Émile Smokehouse is recalling Monsieur Émile Smokehouse brand and unbranded Smoked Salmon, sold refrigerated, from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

October 2nd: Loblaw Companies Limited is recalling certain $10 Chicken Fries from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recalled product is associated with an outbreak investigation.

Europe

October 13th (Belgium): Albert Heijn recalls AH brand Mackerel fillets due to Listeria contamination.

October 15th (Denmark): Løgismose recalls Løgismose brand chicken due to Campylobacter contamination.

October 15th (Denmark): Aldi Danmark Aps recalls “Landlyst” turkey breast due to Salmonella contamination.

October 10th (Denmark): Himmerlandskød recalls Champion chopped beef due to Salmonella and E. coli contamination.

October 3rd (Denmark): Naturesource ApS recalls organic goji berries and organic chocolate coated goji berries due to foreign matter (metal pieces) contamination.

October 5th (Finland): SOK recalls POPCORN MAISSINJYVISSÄ Rainbow Popcorn due to foreign matter (metal pieces) contamination.

October 16th (France): CASINO recalls CASINO CA VIENT D’ICI brand Quenelles Lyonnaises Nature pur beurre due to Listeria contamination.

October 12th (France): Intermarché recalls Jean Rozé brand Picada due to Salmonella contamination.

October 10th (France): Auchan recalls Atelier Blini brand 8 falafels (pois chiches, carottes & coriandre) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

October 8th (France): Geantcasino recalls Casino Bio brand crêpes moelleuses au sucre de canne et au lait frais due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

October 5th (France): EARL Les Poulettes brand shell eggs recalled due to Salmonella contamination.

October 12th (Germany): Bur Sales GmbH recalls Tunas brand Sesame paste and Sesame paste with pistachios due to Salmonella contamination.

October 12th (Germany): HOFKÄSEREI VETTER recalls BLAUSCHIMMEL RAW MILK CHEESE, soft cheese at least 50% fat due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

October 5th (Ireland): The Raw Chocolate Company recalls Raw Chocolate Goji Berries due to foreign matter (small metal pieces) contamination.

October 15th (Italy): Mareblus recalls Tuna in Olive Oil due to a potential processing error.

October 8th (Italy): AZIENDA AGRICOLA BOSI LUIGI recalls Fresh Eggs from Free-range Hens due to Salmonella Enteritidis contamination.

October 4th (Italy): Macelleria Partenzi di Partenzi Francesco recalls Salsiccia stagionata /  Seasoned sausage due to Salmonella contamination.

October 3rd (Italy): Nutravant recalls Protein+ White 31% (gusto Crema-Limone) due to Salmonella contamination.

October 3rd (Italy): Bauli SpA recalls CROISSANT A LIEVITAZIONE NATURALE CON CREMA AL LATTE due to Salmonella contamination.

October 3rd (Italy): SOCIETA AGRICOLA F.LLI PONTI recalls FORMAGGELLA due to STEC E. coli contamination.

October 12th (Luxembourg): Atelier Blini brand 8 falafels (pois chiches, carottes & coriandre) recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

October 10th (Luxembourg): Ochsen-Ziemerenden pet food product recalled due to foreign matter (small metal pieces) contamination.

October 13th (Netherlands): Albert Heijn recalls AH brand Mackerel fillets due to Listeria contamination.

October 5th (Netherlands): PLUS Supermarkets recalls PLUS Lamsspies piri piri due to possible contamination with Shiga toxin-producing E.coli bacterium.

October 2nd (Netherlands): DekaMarkt and Poiesz recalls Jong Belegen Boerenkaas due to contamination with Shiga toxin-producing E.coli bacterium.

October 1st (Sweden): Lidl Sverige recalls Guldgrytan brand Nötfärs 6% due to Salmonella contamination.

October 5th (UK): The Raw Chocolate Company are recalling their Chocolate Goji Berries because they may contain small pieces of metal.

October 1st (UK): Montezuma’s Chocolates Ltd is recalling its ‘Great British Puddings Truffle Collection’, because it may contain small pieces of plastic in the lemon meringue truffle.

Australia and New Zealand

October 11th (Australia): Drakes Supermarkets recalls Drakes Gourmet Premium Selection Silverside due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

October 5th (New Zealand): FSL Foods Ltd is recalling a specific batch of its Fruzio brand premium mixed berries as the product may contain foreign matter (metal).

Asia, Africa and the Middle East

October 3rd (Israel): Maadaney Hagalil recalls various kebab products due to Salmonella contamination.

Allergy Alerts: October 1 – 16, 2018

The FoodBugLady is back after a two-week holiday, and it’s time to play catch-up.

Here is a list of recalls relating to allergy alerts for the first half of October. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices containing detailed information for each 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.

USA Allergy Alerts

October 15th: Clackamas Bakery has recalled Fred Meyer Bakery Angel Food Cake Bar (12 oz.) sold in its retail stores because the product may contain milk and soy not listed on the label.

October 15th: Feel Good Foods Inc. of Brooklyn, NY is recalling six lots of “Vegetable Fried Rice” frozen meals, UPC 00899039002129 because they may contain undeclared egg.

October 11th: Forager Project is recalling three dates of Nuts and Vanilla – Organic Plant Protein Shake because the product contains almond flour which is not declared on the label.

October 9th: Kemps of St. Paul, Minn., is voluntarily recalling Sweet Me Creamery Brookie Dough ice cream, individual pints and pint four-packs, because it may contain an undeclared peanut allergen

October 2nd: Apollo Food International Inc. of Long Island City, NY, is recalling its 2.469 ounce packages of “Mini Roll” food treats because they may contain undeclared eggs.

Canada

October 12th: J. L. Trading Co. Ltd. recalls Coconut Town brand Coconut Wafer Roll due to undeclared milk.

October 9th: Ten Ten Dim Sum recalls Ten Ten Dim Sum brand Dumplings due to undeclared egg.

October 9th: AJ International Trading (2372761 Ontario Inc.) recalls Rice Cracker (Barbecue Flavor) and Squid Snack (Hot & Spicy) due to undecalred sesame and squid.

October 4th: 9355936 Canada Inc. recalls various Carstairs Ideal Weight Loss brand and Nutritional Ketosis brand Protein Bars due to undeclared soy.

October 3rd: La Galette de Montréal recalls crêpes de sarrasin due to undeclared gluten.

October 3rd: Guruji Foods Inc. recalls Guruji brand Amritsari Punjabi Wari Spice Chunkes Spiced Lentil Dumplings due to undeclared wheat.

October 2nd: Magasin Coop de Ste-Perpétue recalls spaghetti sauce due to undeclared soy and wheat.

October 2nd: La Glutinière inc recalls various products due to undeclared soy.

Europe

October 13th (Belgium): Hema recalls rouleaux de spéculoos au beurre due to undeclared soy.

October 12th (Belgium): Colruyt recalls boulettes de poulet aux légumes / chicken & vegetable balls due to undeclared wheat and celery.

October 6th (Belgium): Aviko recalls Cheese Croquettes due to undeclared shellfish.

October 12th (Denmark): Lantmännen Cerealia recalls Simply Great Granola Blueberry, Date & Cardamom due to undeclared nuts.

October 2nd (Finland): Lidl Suomi Ky recalls Sportyfeel Naturally Raw Bar Orange & Raw Cocoa due to undeclared milk.

October 4th (France): Auchan recalls various sheep’s milk cheeses due to undeclared egg.

October 12th (Ireland): Various batches of Brady Family Glazed by Hand Real Irish Ham recalled due to undeclared mustard.

October 1st (Ireland): Various batches of Uncle Bok products recalled due to undeclared wheat gluten, fish and/or sulphur dioxide.

October 11th (Italy): Nutriops S.L. recalls Ecomil brand Coconut Milk Nature due to undeclared nuts.

October 15th (Luxembourg): Colruyt recalls boulettes de poulet aux légumes / chicken & vegetable balls due to undeclared wheat and celery.

October 15th (Luxembourg): HEMA recalls rouleaux de spéculoos au beurre due to undeclared soy.

October 11th (Netherlands): HEMA recalls Cream butter gingerbread bars due to undeclared soy.

October 2nd (Sweden): ICA recalls Grilled Chicken in Soft Tortilla Bread due to undeclared tuna.

October 16th (UK): John & Pascalis Ltd recalls Four Seasons Sesame Tahini due to undeclared peanuts.

October 15th (UK – England only): Southern Synergy recalls Arnott’s Shapes Originals Savoury, Arnott’s Shapes Originals Cheddar and Arnott’s Cheds due to undelcared celery and mustard.

October 13th (UK): E H Booths & Co Ltd is recalling Booths Honey & Spelt Bread because it contains barley (gluten), lupin and sesame which are not mentioned on the label.

October 13th (UK – England and Wales): Milegate Ltd is recalling Noury Individually Quick Frozen Prawns because they contain crustaceans and sulphites which are not mentioned on the label.

October 10th (UK): E H Booths & Co Ltd is recalling Booths Chicken Tikka Masala with Pilau Rice Pot because it contains cashew nuts which are not mentioned on the label.

October 9th (UK – England): Southern Synergy is recalling Arnott’s Shapes Originals Barbecue and Arnott’s Shapes Originals Pizza because they contain celery and/or mustard which are not mentioned on the label.

October 9th (UK –  England): Farmhouse Biscuits Ltd is recalling Honey & Oat Biscuits because they contain wheat which is not mentioned on the label.

October 5th (UK): The National Trust is recalling a range of biscuits that may be contaminated with traces of peanuts or treenuts.

Australia and New Zealand

October 4th (Australia): Coles recalls Big Yum Beef Pie due to undeclared egg.

October 6th (New Zealand): Wilson Consumer Products Ltd recalls Hershey’s Caramel Syrup Sundae Dream due to undeclared milk.

Israel – Food Safety Travel Alert

Anyone who has stayed in one of the high-end Israeli hotels will know instantly what is  meant by an “Israeli breakfast.” At it’s best, it is opulent and can fuel an entire day’s tourist activities. Even modest Israeli hotel breakfasts put to shame the ‘complimentary’ breakfasts offered by hotel chains in the USA and Canada.

When my husband and I applied to renew our US passports several weeks ago, we decided that our first trip with the new documents would be to Israel. As soon as the passports arrived in the mail, we solidified our plans.

Our only previous visit to Israel was twenty-three years ago, and I could still recall the sight, smell and taste of those Israeli hotel breakfasts, complete with several choices of egg dishes, a variety of salads, sweet melons and juicy oranges, freshly baked breads and rolls, and decadent breakfast pastries.

We landed at Ben Gurion Airport on the evening of October 3rd, and took a taxi directly to the Orchid Okeanos Boutique Hotel, situated right by the beach in Hertzliya. Following an abbreviated night of sleep, we arose, eager to begin the day with one of those amazing breakfasts.

The offerings at the Orchid were neither opulent nor decadent by Israeli hotel standards. Nevertheless, we partook of freshly squeezed orange juice, freshly baked rolls and croissants, smoked salmon, halvah, and fresh melon. I drank cappuccino and my husband, who is not partial to coffee, opted for soy milk.

We decided to work off some of the calorie intake by walking to the car rental agency offices, some twenty minutes away. An hour or so after breakfast, while we were waiting our turn at the car rental desk, my husband became violently ill. Volunteer first responders from the Magen David Edom arrived at the scene with incredible speed, followed a few minutes later by an ambulance.

We spent the rest of the morning at the ER of the closest hospital. Fortunately, the doctors could find nothing organically wrong, and my husband recovered quickly. As we rode our taxi back to the hotel, I began to suspect he had been the victim of Bacillus cereus food poisoning.

Bacillus cereus (B. cereus for short) is a multi-talented, spore-forming microbe. One of its talents is the production of an enterotoxin – a heat-stable protein that can trigger vomiting in as little as thirty minutes after ingestion.

For the microbe to multiply in a food sample and produce its toxin, the food must be held at room temperature for several hours. But the soy milk – the most likely culprit – was kept in a small refrigerator in the breakfast room. Might the refrigerator have been defective?

We had our answer the next morning when I reached into the refrigerator and discovered it to be at room temperature. The LED status display on the front of the unit was flashing “OFF” in bright red letters.

With Israel’s reputation as a world leader in so many areas of medicine, science, and technology, it is easy to forget that this is still a third-world country in other respects. I have since learned from a reliable source that Israel is not equipped to test food for bacterial toxins. Test kits for these toxins are readily available and are relatively easy to use. This is not rocket science.

We allowed ourselves to forget that we were in the Middle East. I let down the food-safety guard I always have maintained during our travels to places such as Myanmar, Thailand and Bora Bora. And my husband suffered the consequences.

Don’t make the same mistake we did. Follow these safety rules whenever you travel, especially to third world countries.

1. Do not drink the water or use ice in your drinks;

2. Never eat food purchased from street vendors;

3. Avoid raw salads;

4. Be very cautious about the food you select from a buffet; and

5. Be watchful of holding temperatures for perishable foods.

By following these rules, you will miss some interesting taste experiences, but you will be more likely to remain healthy to enjoy the rest of your trip.