Author: Phyllis Entis

Pet Treat Company Refuses FDA Recall Request

FDA is warning pet owners and caretakers that Nature’s Deli Chicken Jerky Dog Treats (3-lb pkgs; Lot code BESTBY061913DEN; Product of USA) should not be fed to pets, because the treats may be contaminated with Salmonella. The contaminated product was sold at Costco stores in the Denver, Colorado area. Costco is cooperating with FDA, and has removed all of the implicated product from store shelves. The retailer also will contact customers who may have purchased the product.

The FDA warning follows three prior recalls of pet treats initiated by Kasel Associates Inc. (Denver, CO), issued in September and October 2012. Kasel has refused to recall the batch that is the subject of FDA’s most recent warning, even though the Colorado Department of Agriculture found Salmonella in a sample of the product.

Kasel appears to have an ongoing Salmonella contamination problem.

  • In September 2012, the company recalled Boots & Barkley American Beef 5-inch Bully Sticks after Colorado found Salmonella in four production lots;
  • In October 2012, Kasel recalled Nature’s Deli Chicken Jerky Dog Treats (one lot code) after FDA detected Salmonella during what the recall notice described as a routine testing program; and
  • In October 2012, the company recalled one production lot each of Boots & Barkley Roasted American Pig Ears and Boots & Barkley American Variety Pack Dog Treats after Colorado again found Salmonella in a sample of the treats.

When FDA carried out its follow-up inspection of Kasel’s manufacturing facility after the first (September 2012) recall, the agency found “certain finished dog treat products and 34 out of 72 environmental samples positive for Salmonella.”

If Kasel was manufacturing “human” food instead of pet treats, I suspect that a far more extensive product recall would have followed the FDA inspection findings. It was only last spring that Diamond Pet Foods’ dry dog food products were implicated in an outbreak of human salmonellosis. People – including children – handle these products and do not always wash their hands after doing so. Will it take another pet-related disease outbreak for pet food companies and FDA to recognize that Salmonella–contaminated pet food and pet treats present a health risk to pet owners and pet caretakers, and not just to pets?

Why is Kasel being allowed to get away with supplying products that were manufactured in a Salmonella-contaminated environment?

Recalls and Alerts: December 6, 2012

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.

For current information on international and retail distribution of peanut butter products recalled due to Salmonella Bredeney, please consult the Trader Joe’s/Sunland Peanut Butter Recalls tab.

United States

  • Food Safety Recall Update: USDA releases updated retail distribution list for Beef and Cheese Pastellios manufactured by Cantina Foods. The products were recalled by the company because they were produced without the benefit of federal inspection.
  • Food Safety Alert: The California Department of Public Health advises the public not to collect and eat wild mushrooms. Four people died of wild mushroom poisoning in California in November 2012. From January 2011 through November 2012, the California Poison Control System reports that there were 1,602 cases of mushroom poisoning statewide.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Loblaw Companies Ltd. (Brampton, OH) recalls Ennis variety In-Shell Filberts/Hazelnuts (Product of USA; Sold from bulk bins up to and including December 4, 2012), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product was sold in Ontario (Cash & Carry, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, Fortinos, No Frills), Quebec (Loblaws, Maxi & Cie, Maxi, Provigo), and Newfoundland and Labrador (Dominion).

Europe

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 web site.

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

Recalls and Alerts: December 5, 2012

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.

For current information on international and retail distribution of peanut butter products recalled due to Salmonella Bredeney, please consult the Trader Joe’s/Sunland Peanut Butter Recalls tab.

United States

  • Allergy Alert: Price Chopper Supermarkets recalls Central Market Classic Cinnamon Nut Coffee Cakes (Expiration date of October 17 through October 25, 2012), because they were incorrectly labeled as Pumpkin Coffee Cakes and, therefore, contain undeclared tree nuts. The recalled product was sold on or after October 11, 2012 at the Mountain Road store in Worcester, MA.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: USDA releases retail distribution list for Beef and Cheese Pastellios recalled by Cantina Foods, because the products were manufactured without benefit of federal inspection.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Cidrerie Michel Jodoin recalls Vista Bella Michel Jodoin Sparkling Apple Must, No Alcohol (750 mL; Lot 1112; UPC 6 09780 01127 7), due to contamination with patulin, a mycotoxin. The recalled product was sold in Quebec.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): MB Food A/S recalls “Ungdyr bovklump” (Packaged 22/11-2012; Best before 22/12/2012), due to contamination with Salmonella Dublin.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Proprietary Chinese Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Luen Hing Hong recalls [Fung Shing Pai] Tian-Ma Wan (Registration Numer HKP-00317), because the product contains about 1.7 times the permitted level of lead.

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 web site.

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