Author: Phyllis Entis

Excedrin Is Back; No Sign of Interceptor

Novartis announced today that it has relaunched three of the over-the-counter medications that disappeared from circulation when the company was forced to suspend operations at its Lincoln, Nebraska manufacturing facility.

Excedrin Migraine, Triaminic and Lamisil were relaunched in mid-October, according to the company’s quarterly report presentation. Excedrin Extra Strength is expected to follow in January. Due to continued delays in bringing the Lincoln facility fully on-line, the manufacture of these products has been contracted out to a third party.

The Lincoln plant was idled last January after FDA observed numerous violations – many of them repeat violations – during a reinspection of the manufacturing facility. The company has been working with FDA to correct the violations and, gradually, resume full production. But progress, according to company management, has been slower than expected.

Pet owners will be disappointed to learn that Interceptor – a popular heartworm prophylactic for dogs and cats that also was manufactured in Lincoln – did not even rate a mention during the company’s quarterly conference call with investors and analysts. There is no indication of when, or whether, this product will return to the market.

Recalls and Alerts: October 24, 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

  • Food Safety Withdrawal: Rudi’s Organic Bakery, Inc. withdraws Rudi’s Organic Bakery brand Multigrain Oat Bread (22 oz; Lot code 1-173-R; UPC 0-31493-82888-8), Colorado Cracked Wheat Bread (22 oz; Lot code 2-193-R; UPC 0-31493-54373-6), and Cinnamon Raisin Bread (24 oz; Lot code 1-273-R; UPC 0-31493-92183-1), due to the possible presence of metallic objects in select products or product packaging.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Wildwood Seed & Specialties (Monroe, OR) recalls certain Sleek and Sassy brand bird and small animal foods (Manufacturing codes 01148 through 01241) that contain raw in-shell peanuts from Sunland, Inc. as these products may be contaminated with Salmonella. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of products and their corresponding UPC identifiers.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: CDC reports that a total of 38 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bredeney have been reported from 20 states; 10 people are/were hospitalized. The illnesses have been linked to consumption of peanut products originating from Sunland, Inc. (Portales, New Mexico).

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Palmoqua Distribution recalls Kakao Berlin Munich Dark 55% Chocolate (5 kg; All codes; UPC 8 15405 01007 9) and Kakao Berlin Chocolate Matches (1.6 kg; All codes; Item #20009800), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled products were distributed to hotel, restaurant and institutional customers in Quebec.
  • Food Safety Recall: Intercity Packers Inc. (Edmonton, AB) recalls various beef products due to potential contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled items (please refer to the recall notice for details) were distributed to hotel, restaurant and institutional customers in Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (France): Magasins Leclerc recalls Pom’lisse Marque Repère oven potatoes (600g bag; UPC 3564700030264; All lots), due to the presence of undeclared wheat.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Northern Ireland): The Public Health Agency has confirmed 124 cases of E. coli O157 and is continuing to investigate and additional 166 cases in the outbreak linked to Flicks restaurant in Cityside Mall, Belfast. Anyone who ate at Flicks retaurant since September 24th and has developed symptoms of diarrhea (especially, bloody diarrhea) should seek immediate medical attention.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1485): Parasitic infestation with Anisakis of chilled Lophius Piscatorius from Denmark; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1486): Salmonella in curry powder from the Netherlands; distributed to Belgium and the Netherlands.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.1487): Undeclared gluten in frozen potatoes from the Netherlands; distributed to France and Portugal.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Personal Care Product Safety Recall (Australia): BleachBright recalls KeepBright Teeth Whitening Pen (all lots), because the product contains carbamide peroxide in excess of the recognized safe limit of 18% w/w and may cause irritation or inflammation to the gums and mouth. The recalled product was sold through various distributors in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

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: October 23, 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.

United States

  • Food Safety Recall: Higa Meat & Pork Market (Honolulu, HI) recalls Higa Market Ground Beef – Bulk (1-6 x 10-lb bags/carton or case; Est 12457M; Case code #291; Produced Oct 17, 2012), because the meat may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled meat was distributed to restaurants in the Oahu, HI area.
  • Food Safety Recall: Main Street Quality Meats (Salt Lake City, UT) recalls Ground  Beef Bulk (10-lb cases; Est 19916; Lot Nos. 1018121, 1019121, 1018122 or 1019122; Produced Oct 18 & 19, 2012) and Ground Beef Patties (12-lb cases; Est 19916; Lot Nos. 1018121, 1019121, 1018122 or 1019122; Produced Oct 18 & 19, 2012), because the meat may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled meat was distributed to restaurants in Utah.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Sun Boricua, Inc. (Camuy, PR) that a June 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood manufacturing facility found serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Advanced Nutritional Technology Inc. (Dublin, CA) that an April-May 2012 inspection of the company’s dietary supplement facility found serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for dietary supplements.
  • FDA Warning letter: FDA warns Gold Coast United, Inc. (Elkridge, MD) that a June 2012 inspection of the company’s manufacturing facility found insanitary conditions and serious violations of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 110 – Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food regulation.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Denmark): Frellsen Kaffe recalls Rooibush Julethe tea (bags of 100g; Best before 30-09-2014), because the tea contains undeclared almonds.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Northern Ireland): The Public Health Agency reports that, as of October 23rd, there were 119 confirmed cases and 163 probable cases of E. coli O157 infections linked to Flicks restaurant in Cityside Mall, Belfast. The number of suspect cases is leveling off as fewer new case reports are being received.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1478): Listeria monocytogenes in mozzarella from Spain; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1479): Chlortetracycline in veal carcass from Italy; distributed to Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany and Italy
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1480): Excessive Escherichia coli in mussels from France; distributed to France and Luxembourg.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1481): Metal pieces in biscuits from the United Kingdom; distributed to Ireland and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1482): Excessive Escherichia coli in mussels form Spain; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1483): Listeria monocytogenes in smoked rainbow trout fillets from Chile; distributed to Spain.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1484): Listeria monocytogenes in frozen crab meat from Ireland; distributed to France, Ireland and Spain.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Outbreak Alert (Australia): Food Standards Australia New Zealand reports twenty-seven confirmed or suspected cases of Salmonella illnesses associated with the consumption of some batches of raw almonds supplied by Select Harvests and sold as Woolworths Almond Kernels (Best before 05/02/13; 06/04/13; 07/04/13; 12/04/13) and as Flannerys Own Almonds in 500gm and 1kg zip-lock sealed pouch (Best before dates between 02/07/13 and 05/10/13). The raw almonds were recalled on October 4th and 10th, respectively.

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.