Author: Phyllis Entis

More dog food recalled due to excess Vitamin D

This story by Phyllis Entis first appeared in Food Safety News and is reposted here with permission

Lidl US (Lidl), in association with Sunshine Mills, and Natural Life Pet Products (Natural Life) are recalling additional dry dog foods due to elevated levels of Vitamin D.

Consumers should stop feeding the products listed below. Dogs consuming elevated levels of Vitamin D could exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, and weight loss.

The following products are included in the voluntary recalls, which are being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Lidl US / Sunshine Mills

Orlando brand Grain Free Chicken & Chickpea Superfood Recipe Dog Food:- Lidl product number 215662; Lot numbers TI1 3 Mar 2019, TB2 21 Mar 2019, TB3 21 Mar 2019, TA2 19 Apr 2019, TB1 15 May 2019, and TB2 15 May 2019; manufactured between March 3, 2018 and May 15, 2018

Natural Life Pet Products

Natural Life Chicken & Potato Dry Dog Food:- 17.5-lb bags; UPC 0-12344-08175-1; Best by dates December 4, 2019 through August 10, 2010

Lidl has removed the Orlando brand dog food from its stores.

The Natural Life product dog food was distributed to retail stores in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and California.

Both companies are asking customers who have purchased any of these products to discard the food or return it for a full refund.

Lidl customers who have questions about this recall should call the Lidl US Customer Care Hotline at 1-844-747-5435 (8 am-9 pm Eastern time 7 days a week).

Consumers with questions about the Natural Life recall may contact the company at (888) 279-9420 from 8 AM to 5 PM Central Standard time, Monday through Friday, or by email at consumerservices@nutrisca.com for more information.

One death, 63 hospitalized, 164 ill in Salmonella outbreak linked to raw turkey products

In the last year, a multidrug-resistant strain of Salmonella Reading has infected 164 people in 35 states. Sixty-three people have been hospitalized, one person is dead, and the outbreak is showing no signs of abating.

According to CDC, the outbreak strain has been isolated from live turkeys and from raw turkey products, including raw turkey pet food. No single source of the outbreak strain has been identified, and the outbreak strain appears to be widespread in the turkey industry.

Outbreak victims have reported consuming different types and brands of turkey products purchased from many different locations.

Three of the victims were members of a household that fed its pets with a commercial raw turkey pet food.

In February 2018, the Minnesota Department of Health reported two cases of Salmonella Reading linked to Raws for Paws Ground Turkey Food for Pets. The company recalled the implicated product on February 8th.

No other products have been recalled in conjunction with this outbreak investigation.

States reported confirmed illness associated with this outbreak include:

Alaska (1), Arizona (1), California (13), Colorado (6), Connecticut (3), Delaware (1), Florida (7), Georgia (2), Hawaii (1), Idaho (1), Iowa (3), Illinois (16), Indiana (3), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Maryland (3), Massachusetts (3), Michigan (6), Minnesota (17), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (8), New York (12), North Carolina (7), North Dakota (2), Ohio (5), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (2), Pennsylvania (8), South Carolina (1), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (11), Virginia (8), Wisconsin (6).

With Thanksgiving fast approaching in the US, consumers and food service operators should take extra care in handling all poultry products.

CDC advises consumers to follow these steps to help prevent Salmonella infection from raw turkey:

  • Wash your hands. Salmonella infections can spread from one person to another. Wash hands before and after preparing or eating food, after contact with animals, and after using the restroom or changing diapers.
  • Cook raw turkey thoroughly to kill harmful germs. Turkey breasts, whole turkeys, and ground poultry, including turkey burgers, casseroles, and sausage, should always be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F to kill harmful germs. Leftovers should be reheated to 165°F. Use a food thermometer to check, and place it in the thickest part of the food.
  • Don’t spread germs from raw turkey around food preparation areas. Washing raw poultry before cooking is not recommended. Germs in raw poultry juices can spread to other areas and foods. Thoroughly wash hands, counters, cutting boards, and utensils with warm, soapy water after they touch raw turkey. Use a separate cutting board for raw turkey and other raw meats if possible.
  • Thaw turkey in the refrigerator, in a sink of cold water that is changed every 30 minutes, or in the microwave. Never thaw your turkey by leaving it out on the counter.
  • CDC does not recommend feeding raw diets to pets. Germs like Salmonella in raw pet food can make your pets sick. Your family also can get sick by handling the raw food or by taking care of your pet.

Recalls and Alerts: November 3 – 6, 2018

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 / Food Safety Recall: Conagra Brands recalls four Duncan Hines brand cake mixes due to potential linkage to a cluster of Salmonella illnesses currently under investigation by CDC and FDA. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Ganaderos Borges, Inc. recalls PORK PATTIES FOR INSTITUTIONAL USE ONLY (10-lb. cardboard boxes containing 54-3 oz. pieces; Expiry date 16/11/18) due to foreign matter (metal) contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Sprout Creek Farm recalls Margie cheese (1-lb wheels; lot number make date of 10-9-18; best by date of 12-9-18) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Pet Food Safety Recall: Natural Life Pet Products and Nutrisca recall several dry dog foods due to elevated levels of Vitamin D. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Canada

OUTBREAK ALERT (Update): PHAC is investigating an outbreak of 50 lab-confirmed Salmonella illnesses possibly linked to long English cucumbers. Ten of the 50 outbreak victims have been hospitalized.

Allergy Alert and Faulty Labeling: Marché Label Terre recalls Grana padano cheese due to undeclared egg and lack of labeling to indicate presence of raw milk, and Gruyère doux suisse cheese due to lack of labeling to indicate presence of raw milk.

Allergy Alert: Boucherie Jacques Beaulieu inc recalls certain Spécialités MR brand sausages due to undeclared sesame seeds, mustard, egg, milk, sulfites, soy and wheat (gluten).

Europe

Allergy Alert (UK): Candyco recalls Monarch Confectionary Chocolate Statins (100g; All dates up to and including 31 October 2019) and Monarch Confectionery Vanilla, Raspberry and Peppermint macaroon bars (115g; All dates up to and including 31 March 2019) due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert (UK): Waitrose recalls Waitrose Aromatic Green & White Chickpea and Bean Salad with a basil yoghurt dressing (180g; Use by 3 November 2018) due to undeclared wheat and barley (gluten), nuts, mustard and soya.

Food Safety Recall (France): E. Leclerc recalls Ronde de Mers brand 16 Mini blinis (135g; Best before 19/11/2018) due to Listeria contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Casino recalls Casino brand 16 Mini blinis ((135g; Best before 19/11/2018) due to Listeria contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Intermarché recalls Jean Rozé brand Rissolette de veau (4 x 100g; Lot 82910005; Best before 18/10/2019) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Biocoop recalls Bébé MANDORLE brand Préparation Infantile 2ème âge à partir de 6 mois (800g cans; Lot 240/7 – Expiry 02/2020; Lot 022/8 – Expiry 07/2020; Lot 096/8 – Expiry 10/2020; Lot 205/8 – Expiry 01/2021) due to Cronobacter sakazakii contamination in the guar gum used in the preparation.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): MERKUR Aussenhandel recalls KING’S CROWN brand hand-peeled white asparagus with heads (314ml glass jars; Batch L0161320180528 3700/01090; Expiry 30.06.2021) due to foreign matter (glass particles) contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Canberra Milk recalls Canberra Milk Full Cream (300ml, 500ml and 1 Litre; Use By dates: 05/11/2018; 06/11/2018 (1 litre only); 08/11/2018; 09/11/2018 (1 litre only); 12/11/2018; 13/11/2018 (1 litre only); 15/11/2018) due to a faulty seal on some of the black caps.