Author: Phyllis Entis

Recalls and Alerts: May 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.

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

Outbreak Alert Update: North Dakota Department of Health reports its first case of E. coli O157:H7 illness linked to consumption of romaine lettuce. The outbreak has now spread to 26 states.

Food Safety Recall: Eddy Packing Co., Inc. recalls approximately 49,558 pounds of smoked sausage products due to foreign matter (hard plastic pieces) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Texas All Grass-Fed recalls approximately 2,300 whole frozen chickens because of processing issues that may have permitted the growth of Salmonella or other bacteria. Please refer to the recall notice for additional product and distribution information.

Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: Badger Botanicals, LLC recalls Green Suma, Red Suma, Green Hulu 2, and Red Hulu 2 kratom dietary supplements (250g pouches) due to potential Salmonella contamination. The recalled products were sold directly to consumers via the company website from January 1st, 2018 to April l 12th, 2018.

Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: Maya Distribution, LLC recalls Dragon Kratom labeled bottles and sealed packages of encapsulated and raw powder product due to potential Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Canada

Food Safety Alert: Gastronomie Concept inc. (Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, QC) urges consumers to thoroughly cook Gastronomie Concept burger de filet mignon (160g or 170g; all units sold up to and including May 3, 2018), as the cooking instruction on the product label is in error.

Food Safety Recall: Pastaga inc recalls Le Petit Coin Épicerie brand partially-preserved soups and sauces as the products were not preserved in a manner to their safety for consumption. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Update): K&K Foodliner recalls K&K Foodliner brand pork schnitzel products due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Abel’s Deli recalls Abel’s Deli brand Vegetable Medley (460g; Best before 05-05-2018 and 07-05-2018) due to undeclared walnuts.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Halal Food Chakirs SPRL recalls CHATAR brand powdered ginger (200g pouch; Lot #E170686; Expiry 2020) due to possible Bacillus cereus contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Scandic Food A/S recalls Svansø Dansk Lyng Honey (225g; Lot #L36; Best before 10/07/2019) due to foreign matter (metal) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): E. Leclerc recalls Tradizioni d’Italia brand Mozzarella di Buffala (Lot #101; Best before 11 May 2018) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Food Safety Recall (Hong Kong): FICO International Ltd recalls Epoisses brand Fromages Mons Sas (250g; Lot #18043; Best before May 11, 2018; product of France) due to possible shiga-toxin producing E. coli contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Coles recalls Coles Mini Classics Ice Creams, Vanilla (360 mL; Best before 16/04/2020 and 17/04/2020) and Coles Mini Classics Ice Creams, Almond (360 mL; Best before 18/04/2020) due to possible foreign matter (metal fragment) contamination.

Recalls and Alerts: April 30 – May 2, 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

OUTBREAK ALERT (UPDATE): One person has died and 121 individuals in 25 states have been infected with a strain of E. coli O157:H7, according to the latest report from CDC. Fifty-two (52) people have been hospitalized, including 14 who have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (a form of kidney failure). The illnesses are linked to consumption of romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region.

OUTBREAK ALERT: FDA advises consumers to avoid potentially contaminated raw oysters from British Columbia. The oysters have been linked to an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness in three Canadian provinces. Some of the cases have been confirmed as Norovirus. Food Safety News reports that California has experienced 100 cases of Norovirus-like illnesses linked to consumption of the raw oysters.

Allergy Alert: Stonewall Kitchen recalls Stonewall Kitchen brand Basil Pesto Aioli (10.25 oz; Use by 28 Sep 2019) due to undeclared egg.

Allergy Alert: Utz® Quality Foods, LLC recalls certain select expiration dates of some Golden Flake, Good Health, Utz and Weis Brand Tortilla Chip items due to undeclared milk. Please refer to the recall notice for complete details on the affected products, which were distributed to retail outlets in AL, AR, AZ, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WV.

Food Safety Recall: Seabear Company recalls Gerard & Dominique Seafoods brand Cold Smoked Wild Coho Salmon Lox (3 oz.; Lot #CSCO-17339; Pack Date 17-340) due to potential Clostridium botulinum contamination. The recalled product was distributed directly to distributors in CA, MD, and WA between 12/8/17 and 4/10/18 and it may have been further distributed and sold through retail stores at least in these states.

Food Safety Recall: JBS USA, Inc. recalls approximately 35,464 pounds of raw ground beef products due to foreign matter (hard plastic) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were shipped to distribution centers in Virginia and Indiana for further distribution to retail locations.

Canada

Food Safety Recall (Update): Greenbelt Greenhouse Ltd. recalls certain Greenbelt Microgreens brand microgreens due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the updated recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were sold to consumers in Alberta , British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Ireland): Lidl Ireland recalls certain Alesto Dried Fruit Products due to undeclare sulfur dioxide and nuts. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Albert Heijn recalls AH Lunch Salmon goat cheese with spinach, blueberries, walnuts and citrus vinaigrette (200g; Best by 05-05-2018) due to undeclared milk and nuts.

Allergy Alert (UK): BOL Foods recalls BOL Caribbean Jerk Curry (345g; Use by 5 May 2018) due to undeclared milk and barley.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): FROM-UN recalls Anny brand Camembert cheese (250g; Lot #260 218 DSO; Best by 28/04/2018 and 02/05/2018; Product of France) due to E. coli 026:H11 contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): TURK FOOD IMPEX SPRL recalls Favorim brand Powdered Ginger (100g, 150g & 700g pkgs; Lots #E170873, E170932 & E170811; Best by 31/08/2021) due to Bacillus cereus contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Notre Savoir Faire Charcutier recalls Pork snout (4 slices, 200g; all lots) and Jellied Tongue (3 slices, 280g; all lots) due to Listeria contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Monique Ranou recalls Roasted snout (4 slices, 180g; all lots) and Jellied Tongue (3 slices, 280g; all lots) due to Listeria contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Block Foods AG recalls Block House Bread Garlic (Best by 20.05.2018) and Block House Bread Herbal Pesto (20.05.2018) due to possible foreign matter (fragments of a machine part) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): INTER-OVO GmbH recalls certain free-range eggs due to possible Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Fromagerie Gaugry recalls various cheeses due to E. coli O111 contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Dunnes Stores recalls a number of its Simply Better yogurts due to possible foreign matter (pieces of rubber) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Italy): Natural Salumi S.r.l. recalls Salame romagnolo senza lardello (Lot #30209D; Best by 02/07/2018) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Poiesz supermarkets recalls Extra-lean ground beef (250g and 500g; Shelf life of 30-4, 1-5 and 2-5) due to possible Shiga-toxin producing E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): MCD supermarket and Boon’s market recall Lean ground beef (300g and 500g; Shelf life of 30-4, 1-5 and 2-5) due to possible Shiga-toxin producing E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): SPAR recalls Lean ground beef (320g and 520g; Shelf life of 30-4, 1-5 and 2-5) due to possible Shiga-toxin producing E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Dunnes Stores recalls a number of its Simply Better yogurts due to possible foreign matter (pieces of rubber) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Food Safety Recall (Hong Kong): FICO International Ltd recalls Fromagerie du Plessis brand Camembert de Normandie – Appelation d’origine protégée – raw milk cheese (250g; Batch code 260218DS0; Use by May 2, 2018) due to possible Shiga-toxin producing E. coli contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (Australia): Sweet Bondi Pty Ltd recalls Tapioca Coconut Milk Puddings – Mango, Raspberry and Plain flavours (180g; All Use by dates up to and including 15/5/18) due to undeclared milk.

Oysters linked to Canadian norovirus outbreak distributed in USA

Raw oysters from British Columbia linked to an outbreak of Norovirus in Canada were also distributed in the USA, according to information just released by the FDA.

Since mid-March, the Public Health Agency of Canada has been investigating reports of an outbreak of gastrointestinal illnesses in three provinces: British Columbia (132 cases), Alberta (15 cases), and Ontario (25 cases).

Most of the outbreak victims reported eating raw oysters from the south and central parts of Baynes Sound, British Columbia. Several of the illnesses have been confirmed to be due to Norovirus.

Four shellfish farms in British Columbia linked to the outbreak have been closed.

Typically, people infected with Norovirus develop diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. Diarrhea tends to be watery and non-bloody. Diarrhea is more common in adults and vomiting is more common in children. Symptoms usually develop within 24-48 hours of consuming the contaminated food.

FDA has confirmed that potentially contaminated raw oysters harvested in the south and central parts of Baynes Sound, British Columbia, Canada, were distributed in California, Illinois, Massachusetts and Washington. The oysters may also have entered other states, either directly from Canada or through further distribution within the US.

Retailers in the US are being advised to avoid serving raw oysters harvested from the following harvest locations within Baynes Sound: #1402060, #1411206, #1400483, and #278757.

What consumers should know
People who think they might have become ill from eating possibly contaminated oysters should talk to their health care providers. Contact your healthcare provider if you have diarrhea that lasts for more than 3 days, or is accompanied by high fever, blood in the stool, or so much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down and you pass very little urine.