Recalls and Alerts: June 28 – 29, 2017

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

Food Safety Alert: Par’s Natural Foods, LLC alerts the public that Par’s Natural Foods Pueblo Green Chili Sauce (16 and 32 oz containers) as the product may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum.

Food Safety Recall: Mountain Fresh Dairy, LLC recalls Mountain FRESH KOSHER DAIRY CHOLOV YISROEL 1% Lowfat Milk (half-gallon plastic containers; Use by JUL 07 2017) due to improper pasteurization. The recalled milk was sold at three Non Profit Grocery Stores in New Jersey (NPGS) and was also distributed by the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW) in Broome County, New York

Food Safety Recall: Vinh Hoan USA, Inc. recalls approximately 84,000 pounds of imported frozen Swai fillet products that were distributed into U.S. commerce without meeting federal requirements. Please refer to the recall notice for complete details of the recalled products, which shipped to wholesale locations in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin.

Canada

Outbreak Alert: Public Health Agency of Canada alerts the public to an outbreak of 20 cases of Cyclospora in British Columbia (5) and Ontario (15). The source of the outbreak has not yet been identified.

Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert (Updates): MAPAQ and the City of Montreal urge consumers to avoid products containing IQF whole raspberries due to Norovirus contamination. Please refer to the June 28, 2017 and June 29, 2017 advisories for lists of affected products. A number of illnesses linked to the raspberries have been reported to MAPAQ.

Allergy Alert: Pita Royale recalls various pita bread products due to undeclared sesame seeds. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Thrifty Kitchens recalls various Thrifty Kitchens brand products due to the potential presence of harmful extraneous material. Please refer to the recall notice for additional information on affected products, which were distributed to retailers in British Columbia.

Food Safety Recall: Maple Leaf Foods Inc. recalls Chicken Breast Nuggets (840g; Best Before Date 2018 MR 06; Retail Package Code 7065; Shipping Carton Code 2017-03-06; UPC 0 63100 02776 6) due to potential presence of pieces of pen. The recalled product was distributed to retailers nationwide.

Food Safety Recall: Mantab Groupe Alimentaire recalls Below Zero brand IQF Whole Raspberries (5 x 1kg; Product code 161109; UPC 1 00 69821 06020 1) due to Norovirus contamination. The recalled product was supplied to hotels, restaurants and institutional customers in Ontario and Quebec.

Food Safety Recall: Industry recalls certain pie shells and tart shells due to E. coli O121 contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of affected products, which were distributed to retailers in Ontario.

Food Safety Recall: Industry recalls certain pie shells and tart shells due to E. coli O121 contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of affected products, which were distributed to retailers in Ontario.

Europe

Allergy Alert (UK): Sainsbury’s recalls Taste the Difference Edamame Thai Spiced Dip (170g; Use by date 5 July 2017) due to undeclared milk and pistachio nuts.

Food Safety Recall (France): La société VF recalls Les Economiques brand 20% ground meat (800g; Lot 7171C02; Expiry date 27 June 2017) and unbranded 20% ground steak (2 x 100g; Lot 7171S02; Expiry date 27 June 2017) due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination. The recalled products were sold in AUCHAN supermarkets during the period between 21/06/2017 and 26/06/2017.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Lidl Ireland recalls What’s Cooking? Meat Free Mince (454g; all batch codes and best before dates) due to possible presence of plastic pieces.

Food Safety Recall (UK): MTA Foods (UK) Ltd recalls What’s Cooking? Frozen Meat Free Mince (454g; all best before dates) and Meet The Alternative Beef Style Mince (500g; Best before January 2018, February 2018, April 2018) because the products may contain blue plastic pieces.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (New Zealand): Manuka Melts New Zealand Ltd recalls Manuka Melts brand New Zealand Manuka Honey Melts Original Flavour (48g carton; Batch #28018; Best Before 29/04/2019) due to undeclared propolis. The recalled product was sold in retail outlets throughout the South Island and Wellington.

Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Westie Food Group Ltd recalls Westie Food Group brand Café Style Beef Lasagna (300g plastic bags; Affected dates up to and including Chilled Use By 14/7/2017, Frozen Best Before 28/06/2018) because the product may contain plastic pieces. The recalled product was sold in Countdown Supermarkets throughout New Zealand.

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket’s recall website.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.

Second class action suit filed in pentobarbital pet food scandal

Texas pet owner Wendy Black has initiated a complaint seeking class action status against Party Animal Inc. and Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Company, Inc.

The suit, filed June 6 in the Superior Court for Los Angeles County’s Central District seeks damages “…on behalf of all persons who purchased Party Animal organic brand dog food … in the four years prior to the filing of this complaint.”

Evanger’s produced the dog food for Party Animal.

Black fed two varieties of Party Animal’s Cocolicious canned dog food to Bianca, a miniature Schnauzer she was fostering, according to the complaint. Bianca allegedly became severely ill after consuming the dog food, requiring veterinary visits, including administration of IV fluids.

In early March, realizing that Bianca’s ongoing illness appeared to be linked to consumption of the Party Animal food, Black communicated in writing with the retailer where she bought it. Shortly thereafter, she was contacted by a representative of Evanger’s, who instructed her to assemble the remaining cans of food in her possession for pick-up by Federal Express, promising to replace the cans with a different food at no cost.

Black returned some of the food, but retained a portion, submitting a sample to Texas A&M University for testing. The test result was positive for pentobarbital, according to the lawsuit.

Following receipt of the pentobarbital test result, Black requested tests to determine whether the Cocolicious pet food ingredient label was accurate. According to her lawsuit, lab tests revealed that the sample, which was purported to contain coconut oil, “… did not contain coconut or coconut compounds as advertised.”

Black is seeking “…appropriate compensatory damages and restitutionary disgorgement…” for herself and on behalf of others who bought Party Animal dog food, as well as punitive damages. She has requested a jury trial.

On April 24, Party Animal recalled two lots of its Cocolicious canned dog food, manufactured in 2015, because of possible contamination with the animal euthanasia drug pentobarbital. The recalled dog food can be identified by the following label information:

  • Cocolicious Beef & Turkey dog food with the Lot # 0136E15204 04 and a best-by date of July 2019; and
  • Cocolicious Chicken & Beef dog food with the Lot # 0134E15 237 13 and a best-by date of August 2019.

Party Animal Inc. filed suit in federal court in May against Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Co. Inc. because dog food Evanger’s produced for Party Animal was found to be contaminated with the animal euthanasia drug pentobarbital.

This article first appeared in Food Safety News and is reposted here with permission.

Recalls and Alerts: June 27, 2017

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

Allergy Alert: Global Lamsheng Kee Inc. recalls Lam Sheng Kee Frozen Fish Tofu (240g (8.5OZ); all lots; UPC 4712757550542), Lam Sheng Kee Frozen Fried Fish Ball (227g (8OZ); all lots; UPC 4712757550535) and Lam Sheng Kee Frozen White Fish Ball (32.1OZ (910g); all lots; UPC 9555123702252) due to undeclared egg. The recalled products were sold at at retail stores in Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Texas, Michigan and North Carolina.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Naturiste Inc. recalls Clean Protein Complete Meal Replacements (various flavors, all lots) due to undeclared milk. Please refer to the recall notice for complete details of affected products, which were supplied to retailers in New Brunswick and Quebec.

Food Safety Recall (Update): Industry recalls certain pie shells and tart shells due to possible E. coli O121 contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of affected products, which were distributed in Ontario.

Outbreak Alert/Food Safety Recall (Update): MAPAC advises consumers to avoid consuming the following products that were made using IQF Whole Raspberries imported from China, due to possible Norovirus contamination. Several illnesses have been reported in connection with this advisory. Please refer to the recall notice for a list of affected products.

Europe

Allergy Alert: Heron Foods recalls XSell brand Mini Vegetable Samosas (Best before Aug 2018; all batch codes) due to undeclared milk, soya and wheat).

Allergy Alert: Hoo Hing Limited recalls Fisherman Salted Radish (400g; Batch code 1509163; Best before 15 June 2018) due to undeclared sulphur dioxide and/or sulphites.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): B. Cordier recalls Brebis Fermier Cheese made from raw sheep milk (Best before 15.07.2017) due to verotoxin-producing E. coli.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Aldi Stores Ltd. recalls Mae’s Kitchen Frozen Meat-Free Mince (454g; best before dates April 2018, May 2018 and June 2018; batch codes 095, 109, 122, 150 and 152; Product of UK) due to possible presence of small pieces of blue plastic.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Colruyt Distribution recalls Assiette Nordique Gabriel (150g vacuum package; Lot #17 EWYC; Best before 06/07; 08/07; 12/07; 14/07; 15/07 and 16/07/2017) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket’s recall website.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.