Author: Phyllis Entis

Recalls and Alerts: November 30, 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: Tri City Cheese and Meats (Kawkawlin, MI) recalls Troll Smokehouse Fully Cooked Jalapeño Vienna sausage products ( 1- and 2.5-lb Cryovac bags; Est 32015; Sell by 12/17/12 through 01/03/13), because they contain undeclared monosodium glutamate (MSG). The recalled product was distributed to retail establishments in Michigan.
  • Food Safety Recall: Veggie Patch recalls Veggie Patch Ultimate Meatless Burgers (9 oz; UPC 61012900211; Sell by date January 12, 2013), because of possible contamination by Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product was sold at Stop & Shop, Giant Food Stores, Martin’s, and Giant of Maryland stores.
  • Food Safety Recall: Food City advises its customers that Hillshire Lil Smokies (12-14 oz) have been recalled. No additional information was provided by the retailer.
  • Outbreak Alert Final Update: CDC reports that the Salmonella Bredeney outbreak associated with contaminated peanut butter manufactured by Sunland, Inc. (Portales, NM) appears to be over. In total, 42 people were infected with the outbreak strain in 20 states. Ten people were hospitalized. FDA has suspended the company’s food facility registration, prohibiting Sunland from introducing food into commerce in the USA.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Pure Indulgent Foods Inc. recalls Flats by Pure Apricot Pecan Unique Savory Baked Crackers (170g; Code 5/30 13; UPC 8 73376 00303 2), because the product contains undeclared sulphites. The recalled product was sold through retailers in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall: ERAA Supermarket Inc. recalls ERAA Jaggery Lump Brown Sugar (900g; Batch 06/12; Best before AUG 2013; UPC 8 901792 100911 and 8 901792 101321), due to contamination with unspecified extraneous material. The recalled product was sold through retailers in Ontario.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Ireland): Food Safety Authority of Ireland warns consumers that Kupiec corn flour “gluten free” (400g; Product of Poland; Batch B184 PL; Best before 31/01/2013) was found to contain undeclared gluten. The product, which is known in Polish as Maka Kukurydziana, has been sold in stores across Ireland, mainly those selling Eastern European foods.
  • Food Safety Recall (France): SARL Fontanilles recalls Charcuterie Fontanilles brand of meat-based canned deli products (Expiry 2016), due to lack of product stability. The recalled products were sold in the département of Tarn after May 23, 2012. Please refer to the recall notice for a list of retailers that carried the recalled products.
  • Food Safety Recall (Switzerland): La fromagerie Moléson recalls Le Capriglânois soft curd goat cheese, made from raw milk (80g; Lot # L224703 / L224935 / L225166 / L225436 / L226154; Expiry dates 6.12.2012 / 7.12.2012 / 10.12.2012 / 11.12.2012 / 14.12.2012), after Listeria monocytogenes was found in the product.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Norway): The number of illnesses due to Salmonella Mikawasima has risen to 12 cases in nine counties, including Oslo (1 patient) Akershus (1), Vestfold (1), Aust-Agder (1), Vest-Agder (3) Telemark (1), Oppland (1 ), Hordaland (2) and Nordland (1). All of the affected individuals are adults, most of them aged 20 – 50 years. Norway’s Public Health Institute is continuing its investigation into the source of the outbreak.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1658): Listeria monocytogenes in gorgonzola and mascarpone cheese cake from Italy; distributed to Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1659): Sulfathiazole and sulfadimidine in forest honey from Poland; distributed to Slovakia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1660): Mercury in frozen slices of swordfish from Spain; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1661): Mercury in frozen sword fish from Spain; distributed to Germany and Italy.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Delin (Australia) Trading Pty Ltd. recalls Favor Swallow Bean Sauce (350g glass jar; Best before 18/09/14; Product of China) due to contamination with Bacillus cereus. The recalled product was sold in some Asian supermarkets in Victoria only.
  • Outbreak Alert (New Zealand): The New Zealand Herald reports that a ward has been closed at Hawke’s Bay Hospital due to an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhea among staff and patients. Visitors have been urged to stay away.

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: November 29, 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: Sukhi’s Gourmet Indian Foods recalls Sukhi’s Red Curry Vegetables (UPC 7-67226-02901-6; Lot code 3390113612; Use-by date 5/14/2013), due to the presence of undeclared shrimp. The recalled product was shipped to distributers in California, Texas, Minnesota and Georgia, between the dates of 5/21/2012 and 10/15/2013.
  • Food Safety Alert: The Arkansas Department of Health alerts the public that stolen ham products sold out of a truck on Chicot Road (Little Rock, AR) may not be safe to eat. Consumers should destroy any ham that was bought from the truck since proper handling to ensure the food is safe to eat cannot be verified.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: M&M Meat Shops Ltd. (Kitchener ON) recalls M&M Meat Shops brand Marinated Barbecue Chicken Kabob (142g/5-oz pkg), because the product contains undeclared mustard and gluten. The recalled kabobs were distributed nationally through M&M Meat Shops retail stores.
  • Allergy Alert: Lennie Ciglen Distribution Inc. (Toronto, ON) recalls all lot codes of Cleo’s Peanut Butter Cups (43g; UPC 8 99033 00204 0), Mahalo Candy Bar (57g; UPC 8 99033 00203 3), SNAP! Candy Bar (50g; UPC 8 99033 00205 7), Buccaneer Candy Bar (57g; UPC 8 99033 00202 6), Jokerz Candy Bar (60g; UPC 8 99033 00200 2) and Twilight Candy Bar (60g; UPC 8 99033 00201 9), because the products contain undeclared milk. The recalled Dairy-free Vegan Candy Bars were produced in the USA. The products are known to have been distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and may have been distributed nationally.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Israel): The Jerusalem Post reports that Israel’s Ministry of Health has warned consumers that EZbetic, which is registered as a “natural” food supplement, contains the medication glibornuride, which is used to treat type II diabetes. Use of this product is liable to cause a dangerous and rapid drop in blood sugar. The product is sold mostly door-to-door and via the Internet, especially in the northern part of the country.

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: November 28, 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

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Ranbaxy Inc. recalls 41 lots of Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets (10 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg), because the tablets may contain very small glass particles (less than 1 mm diameter). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected lot numbers and pack sizes. The recall was initiated on November 9, 2012, and posted on the Ranbaxy website on or before November 23rd. The recall notice appeared on the FDA site for the first time on November 28th.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Delhaize Belgique recalls Coucou de Malines (Lot #247202; Expiry 26/12/2012; sold from November 20th to November 27th, inclusive) and Poulet jaune biologique (Lot #247201; Expiry 27/12/2012; sold from November 20th to November 27th, inclusive), due to incorrect expiry dates on the packaging.
  • Food Safety Recall (UK): Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd. recalls Sainsbury’s Red Tree iced Rich Fruit Cake (900g; All date codes), due to signs of mold spoilage.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Norway): Public Health reports that 11 people have now been confirmed to be infected by a rare strain of Salmonella, called Salmonella Mikawasima. The patients all are adults (20 – 50 years of age) and live in the following counties: Akershus Aust-Agder, Vest-Agder, Hordaland, Oppland, Oslo, Vestfold, Telemark and Nordland. The government is trying to determine the source of this unusual cluster of cases.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1650): Tin in canned mushrooms in brine from China, via Germany; distributed to Slovenia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1651): Incorrect expiry date of chilled organic chicken from Belgium; distributed to Belgium and Luxembourg.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1653): Parasitic infestation with Anisakis of chilled Atlantic mackerel from Spain; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1654): Bromopropylate in lemons from Turkey; distributed to Slovakia.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Outbreak Alert (Japan): The Japan Times reports that government health officials are warning local governments to be on the alert to norovirus outbreaks. The number of suspected cases of norovirus gastroenteritis currently stands at the highest level since 2006.

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.