FDA Public Health Alert: Avoid using King Bio drugs and homeopathic products

Drugs and homeopathic products manufactured by King Bio Inc. (Asheville, NC) may contain high levels of microbial contamination and pose a risk to humans and pets.

In an alert posted today, FDA recommended that consumers stop using these products, and dispose of them immediately.

The FDA announcement coincided with a voluntary nationwide recall initiated by the manufacturer of all aqueous-based products for human and animal use. A complete list of recalled products has been posted on the company’s website.

This is the third product recall announced by King Bio since July 20, 2018.

Among the products included in the most recent recall are: Dr. King’s Children’s Cough Relief, Dr. King’s Chicken Pox Symptom Relief, Dr. King’s Children’s Ear Relief Formula, Dr. King’s Children’s Appetite Enhancer, Dr. King’s Attention and Learning Enhancement For Kids, Dr. King’s Cold Sore treatment, Dr. King’s Wart Freeze, and pet products for urinary incontinence and digestion relief.

The recall announcement and the associated consumer alert follow an inspection of the company’s manufacturing facility by FDA – an inspection that uncovered substandard conditions, including recurring microbial contamination associated with the water system used to manufacture the drug products.

FDA found several microbial contaminants during the course of its investigation, including Burkholderia Multivorans, a strain of bacteria that can cause illness in people with compromised immune systems.

What should consumers do?
The FDA encourages health care professionals and consumers to report adverse events or quality problems experienced with the use of King Bio’s products to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program:

For reporting adverse drug events in animals, please see How to Report Animal Drug Side Effects and Product Problems.

Recalls and Alerts: August 25 – 27, 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

Allergy Alert: New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets advises consumers that Lily Bulb (10-oz plastic bag; Product of China; UPC 6-43719-11002-0) contains undeclared sulfites. Consumers who are sensitive to sulfites and have purchased “Lily Bulb” should discard the product.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Greenbelt Greenhouse Ltd. recalls Greenbelt Greenhouse Broccoli Microgreens (75g; Best before 08/26/18; UPC 8 90082 00016 2) and Greenbelt Greenhouse Spicy Microgreen Mix (75g; Best before 08/28/18; UPC 8 90082 00000 1) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled products were supplied to consumers in Ontario.

Food Safety Recall: Randsland Farms Inc. recalls Randsland Super Salad Kit (454g; Product code 083118; UPC 0 57225 00005 6) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled product was supplied to consumers in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (New Zealand): Rolf Ken Ltd recalls Laziz Foods brand frozen precooked sausages (1kg; Various flavors; All batches and dates) due to undeclared sulfites. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Recalls and Alerts: August 23 – 24, 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.

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

United States

Public Health Alert: USDA and Empire Kosher Poultry Inc. alert the public to a possible Salmonella outbreak in the US Northeast that may be linked to the company’s raw chicken. The Empire Kosher brand raw chicken items, which may include raw whole chicken, raw chicken parts, were produced and sold to consumers from September 2017 to June 2018. USDA was alerted to multiple Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- illnesses within the northeastern  and mid-Atlantic United States on June 18, 2018. Multiple confirmed cases have been identified in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic United States; many of the individuals reported consumption of Empire Kosher brand chicken products. Approximately one-half of the infected individuals were hospitalized. USDA has neither revealed the number of confirmed cases nor identified the US states where cases were reported. No recall has been announced. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to properly handle, prepare, and cook these raw chicken products.

Food Safety Recall: Cargill Meat Solutions recalls EXCEL 93/7 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF (10-lb chubs; Use/Frz. By Sep 05; Pack date 08/16/2018) due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination. The recalled items were shipped to warehouses in California and Colorado.

Food Safety Recall: Albertsons, Safeway, Pak ‘N Save, and Vons stores in Northern California, Colorado, Nebraska, Northern Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Wyoming recall various ground beef products due to potential E. coli O157:H7 contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Homeopathic Product Safety Recall: Living Well Remedies, LLC recalls Weight Away Remedy (2-oz spray bottle; Lot# 111417LWL614), due to microbiological contamination.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Manna International Trading Ltd. recalls Vegemil brand Blackbean Fortified Soy Beverage (190mL; All product codes up to and including 2019.05.07; UPC 8801033775031) due to undeclared milk. The recalled product was distributed to retailers in Alberta and British Columbia.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Belgium): QNT recalls QNT brand Vanilla Macaroon Vegan Protein powder (500g; Lot #1703972/2; Expiry date 07/2020) due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert (Belgium): L’AFSCA recalls Alubias Blancas Cocidas Extra White Beans (400g glass jar; Expiry date 22/08/2022) due to undeclared sulfites.

Allergy Alert (Italy): Dolceamaro Srl recalls Raisins covered with dark chocolate (various lot numbers) due to undeclared sulfur dioxide. Please refer to the individual recall notices for additional details.

Allergy Alert (UK): James Hall & Co. Ltd recalls Smoked Turkey Barm and Beechwood Smoked Ham Barm take-away sandwiches due to undeclared barley.

Allergy Alert (UK – England and Wales only): Clayton Park Bakery Ltd recalls Small Brown Rolls (6-pack; Best before 22 to 27 August 2018) due to undeclared barley.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Smits bvba recalls various poultry-based products due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): THAERON recalls Thaeron brand Bulots cuits / cooked whelks (Lot #119318; Best before 24/07/2018) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Diamond Food Sales Ltd recalls various frozen Indian mackerel due to presence of histamine. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall Update (UK): Ewing Seafoods recalls Smoked Salmon and Organic Smoked Salmon (all package sizes; all batch codes) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.