Author: Phyllis Entis

Recalls and Alerts: November 20, 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 retail distribution of peanut butter products recalled due to Salmonella Bredeney, please consult the Trader Joe’s/Sunland Peanut Butter Recalls tab.

For current information on retail distribution of beef products containing Canadian beef recalled due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination please consult the Canada/USA Beef Recall tab.

United States

  • Allergy Alert: Whole Alternatives, LLC recalls Harris Teeter brand Dried Apricots (6 oz pkg; UPC 7203670494) and Harris Teeter brand Dried Golden Raisins (8 oz pkg; UPC 7203670490), because the products contain undeclared sulfur dioxide.
  • Food Safety Recall: Michael Gourmet Delicacies recalls Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon, Vacuum Packed (4-oz, 8-oz and 16-oz pkgs; Batch #1443) and Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon (4-oz trimmings in plastic container; Batch 1443; UPC 93573 81729), because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were sold in Whole Foods Markets stores in Florida during June 12, 2012 through November 16, 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall: Stanley’s Market Brands, LLC (Toledo, OH) recalls Stanley’s Market Fresh Kielbasa (Case code S0011; Package codes “30412,” “30512,” “30612,” “31012,” “31112,” “31312,” “31412,” “31812,” “32012,” “32112.”), Stanley’s Market Fresh Kielbasa (41-0z white freezer paper wrapped pkgs, each containing 4 links), Stanley’s Market Fresh Kielbasa (21-oz whote freezer paper wrapped pkgs; Case code S0071; Package codes 31012 or 21112; Produced Nov 5, 2012 and Nov 6, 2012), Stanley’s Market Fresh Kielbasa (bulk packages) and Stanley’s Market Smoked Fresh Kielbasa (6.6-lb vacuum sealed pkgs; Case code S0013; Package codes 31312 or 31012; Produced Nov 5, 2012 and Nov 6, 2012), because they may contain small (less than 5 mm sized) pieces of plastic.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Stuart’s Seafood Market, Ltd. (Amagansett, NY) that an October 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood producessing facility found serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation and  the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns HKH JVC LLC (Honolulu, HI) that an August 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility found serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Pacific Northwest Tofu, LLC (Portland, OR) that an August 2012 inspection of the company’s facility revealed serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Marine Foods Express, Ltd (Houston, TX) that an August 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood processing and importer establishment found serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Molinaro’s Fine Italian Foods Ltd. (Mississauga, ON) recalls Molinaro’s Supremo Dunn’s Famous Smoked Meat Pizza, frozen (507g/pkg of 3 pizzas; UPC 0 59949 09055 9; Best before/lot codes 13 MAR 14/258.12, 13 MAR 20/264.12, 13 MAR 21/265.12, 13 APR 02/276.12, 13 APR 03/277.12, 13 APR 04/278.12, 13 APR 12/286.12, 13 APR 19/293.12, 13 APR 22/296.12, 13 MAY 01/306.12, 13 MAY 08/313.12, 13 MAY 09/314.12, 13 MAY 15/320.12), because the product contains undeclared mustard. The recalled product was distributed nationally.
  • Allergy Alert: Beary Berry Honey Inc. recalls Beary Berry Honey Mandarin Sesame Dressing (250 ml; UPC 8 75294 00053 7; Code 2013.09.20), due to the presence of undeclared sesame seeds and soy. The recalled product was distributed in Alberta.
  • Allergy Alert: Coleman Group of Companies recalls Lee’s Luxury Mini Snowballs (200g; UPC 5 010082 142388; Code 28 DEC 2012 D), due to the presence of undeclared sulphites. The recalled product was distributed in Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • Food Safety Recall: Birtch Farms and Estate Winery (Woodstock, ON) recalls Birtch Farms and Estate Winery brand Pumpkin Butter (110 ml and 250 ml jars; All lot codes), because the product may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. The recalled product was distributed in Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall: Indigo Books & Music Inc. recalls Cocoa Cones White Confectionery Drop Cocoa Cone (178g; Best if used by August 2013; UPC 8 98137 00388 5) and Cocoa Cones White Confectionery Chocolate Flavored Chip Cocoa Cone (178g; Best if used by August 2013; UPC 8 98137 00200 0), due to the presence of unspecified “non-harmful” extraneous material. The recalled products were distributed nationally.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Ireland): Walkers/Pepsico withdraws Walkers Lights Variety 6-pack crisps (6 x 24g; Best before 12 January 2013 and 19 January 2013), due to the presence of undeclared milk, resulting from a labeling error.
  • Allergy Alert (UK): Raynor Foods Ltd. recalls Deli Creations Wensleydale Carrot Chutney Sandwich (Use by dates 20 November 2012, 21 November 2012, and 22 November 2012), due to the presence of undeclared egg.
  • Food Safety Recall (Italy): Nordiconad Soc. Coop recalls Mozzarella Letterie riunite Srl Carpinone (Lots 2172, 2175, 2176, 2178 and 2179), due to the presence of Aflatoxin M1 in excess of the permitted limit.
  • Food Safety Recall (Italy): Mitica Food srl recalls Salati Preziosi Pop corn (90g; Lot 370; Expiry 27/03/13), Break Pop corn (100g; Lot 383; Expiry 10/04/13), Deco Pop corn (100g; Lot 389; Expiry 17/04/13), Salati Preziosi Pop corn (40g; Lot 399; Expiry 24/04/13), Les Bon Snack Pop corn (100g; Lot 411; Expiry 08/05/13) and Pik Up Pop corn (125g; Lot 390; Expiry 17/04/13), due to the presence of Aflatoxin B1 in excess of the permitted limit.
  • Food Safety/Outbreak Notification (EU #2012.1604): Foodborne outbreak (Salmonella Bredeney) caused by peanut butter and peanut-based products from the United States; distributed to France, Italy, Norway and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1605): Excessive Escherichia coli in live mussels from Spain; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1606 & 2012.1607): Excessive benzoic acid in juice from Peru; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1608): Salmonella in frozen snails in butter from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, via Greece; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1609): Aflatoxins in maize grains from Spain; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1610): Mold in hazelnuts from Turkey; distributed to Ireland and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1611): Histamine in skipjack tuna from Thailand; distributed to Ireland.

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 19, 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 retail distribution of peanut butter products recalled due to Salmonella Bredeney, please consult the Trader Joe’s/Sunland Peanut Butter Recalls tab.

For current information on retail distribution of beef products containing Canadian beef recalled due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination please consult the Canada/USA Beef Recall tab.

United States

  • Outbreak Alert: CDC reports 28 persons infected with the outbreak of strain of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli o157:H7 from five states, including New York (22), Connecticut (2), Massachusetts (2), Pennsylvania (1) and Virginia (1). Most of those ill in New York state had consumed Wegmans brand Organic Spinach and Spring Mix blend, produced by State Garden (Chelsea, MA). Lab tests conducted on four leftover packages of this product from four outbreak victims’ homes, yielded the outbreak strain. Outbreak victims from states other than New York reported having eaten other brands of pre-packaged leafy greens.
  • Outbreak Alert: The Oregonian reports that a petting zoo and pumpkin patch in Longview, WA has been linked to an outbreak of at least 10 cases of E. coli illnesses. The Willow Grove Gardens Pumpkin Patch has shut down and is not planning to reopen.
  • Food Recall: Bi-Lo and Food City advise their customers that Bailey’s Hazelnut Creamer (16 oz; UPC 0-44100-10753; Item code 581465; Expiry February 26, 2013) has been recalled due to a quality issue.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Pak National Foods Ltd. recalls National Apple Spread (440g; Batch 20 19 2011 (Best before Dec 2012) and Batch 12 18 2011 (Best before 11 12 13); UPC 6 20514 00192 0), due to the presence of undeclared sulphites.
  • Food Safety Recall: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency advises the public not to consume, sell or serve Sunland Inc. Organic Dark Chocolate Creamy Peanut Butter (375g; UPC 0 48687 89829 9; Lot code 100326), because the product has been recalled by the manufacturer due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recalled product was distributed in Quebec, and may have been sold across Canada.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Belgium): Albert Heijn recalls Euro Shopper brand Dark Chocolate Sprinkles (500g; Lot codes L12275 and L12276), due to the presence of undeclared milk powder.
  • Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Disschof (Diksmuide, Belgium) recalls the following cheeses, sold in the Netherlands, due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes: Keiems Bloempje with and without herbs, Keiem Lean To Nature, KeimerBloemetje with Herbs, Keiemnaer, Keiemse White, KeiemseBloemGroot, and Keiem Skinny with herbs.
  • Outbreak Alert (Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom): The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports an increase in cryptosporidiosis notifications in the UK (England and Wales), Netherlands and Germany in late summer-autumn 2012. No other countries have reported an unusual increase, and there is no evidence pointing to a single, common source. Lab and epidemiological investigations are in progress to explore the source of this increased incidence of infections.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Organic Echo Limited recalls Organic Echo brand Les Viva Infant Milk Powder, for 0 – 12 months (800g; Batch CPF0212064; Best before September 6, 2013; Packaged in Malaysia), because the potassium and protein content exceed the standards of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex).

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.

Prompt Prose: That Book

She closed the book, placed it on the table, and finally, decided to walk through the door.

She knew she was late and would miss her bus. But she hadn’t been able to help herself. Once she started reading, she was compelled to finish. It had taken her 15 hours – and cost her a night of sleep – but it was worth it.

It’s not as though Anna didn’t know the story. She couldn’t help knowing it – she had grown up with it. She first heard about what her grandmother had done in “the war” when she was just a toddler, too young to understand what it all meant. It was a story to be whispered among the grown-ups, lest the youngsters get scared and have nightmares.

As Anna grew older, she began to question. “Why, Grandma,” she would ask, “Why did you do it?”

“I had to,” was the unfailing reply. “It was the war. I did what had to be done.” After a while, Anna stopped asking.

Somehow, through the years, she managed to avoid That Book. Its very existence was disturbing. She didn’t think it would be wise or safe to delve too deeply. This time, though, she had no choice. It was required reading – part of the literature syllabus at the high school where she taught.

So last night, in trepidation, she opened a tattered copy at random and read, “Nice people, the Germans! To think that I was once one of them too!” Shocked, she flipped forward through the book, only to encounter, “There’s in people simply an urge to destroy…”

This would never do. She must begin at the start and force her way through. She must find out for herself – at last – why Grandma had behaved the way she did. Anna began to read. As she approached the story’s climax, she believed that she had discovered the answer she was searching for.

But, what now? This question occupied Anna as she absorbed the remainder of the book. It filled her mind as she walked outside and headed to the bus stop. Suddenly, she knew what she must do.

Abruptly, she crossed the street to catch a bus that would take her to the center of town – away from her school. Away from her daily responsibilities. She would be missed, of course, but that didn’t matter. She had to see for herself.

One hour and two bus transfers later, with whole sentences from The Diary of Anne Frank – it was no longer That Book in her mind – running riot through her brain, she found herself in the center of Amsterdam. Stopping for directions, she made certain of her route. She strode purposefully now – no longer in doubt; no longer questioning herself – “two blocks down, then turn right, cross the Prinsengracht canal and you can’t miss it,” the helpful police officer had told her.

All at once, she saw it. Prinsengracht 263-267. The Anne Frank House. After all those years of hearing the stories, after reading Anne’s Diary in a single sitting, she was face-to-face with her family’s past. She felt Anne Frank’s words reverberate through her soul, “[I]n spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.”

Solemnly, Anne Frank’s namesake crossed the threshold into the factory building where, for more than two years, her Grandmother Miep had sustained the lives and the hopes of a handful of Jews, so many decades ago.

©2012 Phyllis Entis. All rights reserved.

A Note of Explanation: This story was my submission to Round Eight of National Public Radio’s “Three Minute Fiction” contest. All stories submitted for Round Eight were required to begin with the sentence “She closed the book, placed it on the table, and finally, decided to walk through the door.”