Author: Phyllis Entis

Recalls and Alerts: August 10, 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.

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United States

  • Allergy Alert: Alexis Wholesale, Inc. (Gardena, CA) recalls Salvadorian Brand Chorizo (10-lb boxes; Est. 44823), due to the presence of undeclared monosodium glutamate. The recalled sausages were manufactured on July 2-27, 2012 and sold to a distributor in Los Angeles, CA.
  • Allergy Alert: Two Moms in the Raw (Lafayette, CO) recalls Two Moms in the Raw, Gluten-Free Pesto Sea Crackers (4 oz pkg; Lot Nos. 1008, 1016, 1027, 1055, and 1067), because they may contain undeclared peanuts. The recalled batches were distributed from 7/2/2012 to 8/6/2012 to retailers and distributors nationwide.
  • Food Safety Recall: Reichel Foods (Rochester, MN) recalls Armour Active Packs Turkey & Cheese Wrap (5.6 oz pkgs; Package code 1026090112 or Case code 27815-17994; Sell by date of Sept 1, 2012) and Armour Active Packs Ham & Cheese Wrap (5.6 oz pkg; Package code 1026090112; Case code 27815-17995; Sell by date of Sept 1, 2012), because the ready-to-eat products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were manufactured between July 23, 2012 and July 26, 2012 and shipped to distribution centers in Indiana, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Texas. The products were sold in Wal-Mart stores nationwide and in Shop N Save stores in Illinois and Missouri.
  • Food Safety Recall: Kenosha Beef International, Ltd. (Kenosha, WI) recalls Sam’s Choice Fireside Gourmet Black Angus Beef Patties Bacon and Aged Cheddar patties (2-lb cartons; Est 425B; Best if used by 120812B), because they may contain pieces of gasket material. The recalled product was manufactured on June 11, 2012 and distributed in Indiana, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Wisconsin.
  • Food Safety Recall: Tomales Bay Foods, Inc. (Petaluma, CA) recalls all partial wheels of the following cheeses, because of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination: Shepherd’s Way; Big Woods Blue (make date 7/19/2011-7/27/2011) and Tumalo Farms; Pondhopper (pack date 6-28-2012). The recalled cheese was distributed to restaurants and retail stores in California, North Carolina, and Florida, between June 25th and July 27, 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall: Menno Beachy (Cresco, IA) recalls Menno Beachy Certified Organic Grape Tomatoes (1 pt plastic clamshell containers; UPC 044419310176; Lot No (printed only on cases): MB725GT3, MB725GT8, and MB725GT0), because the Minnesota Department of Agriculture found Salmonella in a sample of Lot #MB725GT0 collected at the Minnesota distributor of the tomatoes. The recalled grape tomatoes were supplied to retail stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan between July 26, 2012 and August 6, 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall: Reichel Foods, Inc. (Rochester, MN) recalls Dippin’ Stix Apples & Caramel with Peanuts (2.75 oz single-serve trays; Case code dates 09/01/12, 09/02/12, and 09/03/12; Single use tray Use By dates 01SEP2012, 02SEP2012, and 03SEP2012) and Armour Active Packs Cheese Pizza (5.6 oz pkg; Package code 1026090112 or Case Code 27815-17996), because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were distributed to retail and convenience stores nationwide. California consumers should check the retail distribution list released by the California Department of Public Health.
  • Food Safety Recall: Lucky Country (Lincolnton, NC) recalls Lucky Country  Aussie Style Soft Gourmet All Natural Black Licorice (All packages sizes; Lot A3057), because the candy may contain excessive lead levels. The recalled products were sold in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and Washington State.
  • Food Safety Recall:  Shatto Dairy (Osborn, MO) recalls Whole Milk, unflavored (1/2-gal; Code date Aug 19), 2% Milk, unflavored (1 pt; Code date Aug 19), 1% Milk, unflavored (1 qt; Code date Aug 20), Skim Milk, unflavored (1 qt; Code date Aug 19), Half and Half (1 pt; Code date Aug 19), Whole Milk, Cotton Candy flavor (1 pt; Code date Aug 20) and Cream (1 pt; Code date Aug 17), because the products may not have been adequately pasteurized. Plant operations have been suspended temporarily, pending the results of investigations by the State Milk Board, and the Missouri Departments of Agriculture and Health and Senior Services. The recalled products are packaged in glass bottles and labeled Grade “A.”
  • Food Safety Recall: Christopher Ranch LLC (Gilroy, CA) recalls Fresco Green Farms Inc. brand Fresh Cilantro (30-bunch and 60-bunch undated containers), after random sampling by FDA finds Salmonella in the product. The fresh cilantro was supplied to US Foods for distribution to its customers, and may also have been supplied to other distributors.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: USDA releases updated retail distribution list for various meat and poultry salad products that were recalled by Garden Fresh Foods because the onions used in the products were supplied by Gills Onions and may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Archer Farms and Market Pantry deli salads were sold in Target stores.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: Burch Equipment LLC (North Carolina) corrects the variety of cantaloupe involved in its July 28th and August 2nd recall announcements. The affected cantaloupes are the Caribbean Gold variety; Athena cantaloupes are not subject to the recall. The company has recalled nearly 189,000 cantaloupes, supplied in cases (9 melons/case) and bins (110 melons/bin), due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The initial recall was expanded after FDA found unsanitary conditions at the cantaloupe packing shed. The Caribbean Gold cantaloupes were shipped between July 15th and July 27th and distributed in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia. Hannaford, Reid and Food Lion supermarkets carried the recalled Caribbean Gold cantaloupes.
  • Food Safety Recall: Busch’s Fresh Food Market recalls various Busch’s brand products that contain Gills Onions’ Peeled Whole Yellow Onions, because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of affected products.
  • Food Safety Recall: Agavera Camichines, S.A. de C.V. recalls 1800® Tequila 1.75 Liter Silver, Reposado and Coconut packaging, due to potential damage during transportation and handling in some cases to the glass stopper, which could result in the presence of small particles of glass in the bottles. Some of the recalled product was supplied to Publix and to Giant Eagle for retail sale.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: CDC reports that the number of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to the consumption of fresh ground beef supplied by Cargill Meat Solutions has risen to 40 people in Maine (1), Massachusetts (3), New Hampshire (2), New York (18), Rhode Island (2), Vermont (11), Virginia (2), and West Virginia (1). Eleven people have been hospitalized.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: CDC reports that small turtles infected with various strains of Salmonella are the source of 168 illnesses in 30 US states. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of the outbreak victims are children under the age of 10 years; 27% are one year old or less. The turtles are behind six distinct outbreaks, caused by Salmonella Sandiego, Salmonella Newport and Salmonella Poona.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns that Healthy Times brand Oatmeal Cereal for Baby (170g/6oz pkg; Product of USA; UPC 0 48685 71786 8; Use by date of 15 Apr 2013) contains undeclared gluten and has been recalled by Canadian importers. The recalled product was distributed in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia and may have been distributed nationally.
  • Allergy Alert: TWI Foods Inc. (Mississauga, ON) recalls Crispy Just Baked, Crispy, and Sunrize Oven Fresh brands of cookies, due to the presence of undeclared milk. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
  • Allergy Alert: Four Star Enterprise Co. Ltd. recalls Erom Dr. Hwang’s Black Soy and Rice Drink (16 x 190 mL; All codes) due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled product was sold in Alberta and British Columbia.
  • Allergy Alert: Let’s Pasta Food Services Ltd. recalls Let’s Pasta Barolo Braised Beef Ravioli (500g; All codes), due to the presence of undeclared soy. The recalled product was sold in Alberta.
  • Allergy Alert: Maison Dorée (Saint-Hubert, QC) recalls Pain Multi-son/Multigrain bread (6 rolls/pk; All codes), due to the presence of undeclared soy.
  • Allergy Alert: Westpoint Distributors Ltd. (Vancouver, BC) recalls certain pine nut products sold under the Blush Lane Organic Market, Capers Community Market/Whole Foods Market, Charlie Brown’s, Dad’s Organic Market, Down to Earth Health Shop, Healthyway, Homesteader Health Organic, Isabel Creek Store Natural Foods, Lifeforce Health Food, Maria’s Health Foods, Nature’s Finest, Nature’s Finest Gourmet, Parsley, Sage & Thyme Health Store, Planet Organic Market, The Organic Grocer, Valley Natural Health Products, and Westpoint Naturals brands, because the products contain undeclared peanuts. Please refer to the recall notice for additional information on the recalled products, which were distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall: Shah Trading Co. Ltd. (Scarborough, ON) recalls Spice Kingdom brand BASIL – EGYPTIAN, 30M, Whole, Fancy (25kg/55-lbs bulk bags; Lot #4685/E), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled dried basil was sold to cash & carry outlets, restaurants, bakeries and food service establishments in Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba.
  • Food Safety Recall/Alert: Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns the public,  distributors, and food service establishments not to consume, sell, serve or use Basil products containing dried basil recalled by Shah Trading Co. Ltd. on August 3, 2012, due to potential Salmonella contamination.
  • Food Safety Recall: Agropur Cooperative recalls various Sealtest and Mac’s brand milks, due to the presence of non-harmful extraneous material. Please refer to the recall notice for details.
  • Food Safety Recall: Stellar Smoked Salmon recalls Stellar Smoke Salmon brand Sliced Smoked Salmon (125g; All codes), due to a risk of Clostridium botulinum contamination. The recalled product was sold in Ontario.
  • Outbreak Alert/Food Safety Recall (Quebec): L’entreprise de Mme Diane Dumont (Saint-Lambert de Lauzon) recalls Oeufs de cane Diane Dumont 1468 (12 eggs/pkg; Best before date 1708 12), because the duck eggs may be contaminated with Salmonella. One illness has been reported to be associated with the consumption of the indicated eggs so far.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (UK): Asda recalls Asda Free From 5 Caramel Wafers (Best before 03 Dec 2012), because the products, which are labeled “gluten free”, contain wheat gluten.
  • Allergy Alert (UK): Premier Health Products Ltd. withdraws Basic Nutriton Odourless Garlic 60 Capsules (Best before July 2015; Batch No. M8399 and M8408) because the product contains undeclared soya. The withdrawn product was sold in Home Bargains, Branded Bargains and Quality Save retail stores.
  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Tamarind Foods recalls Annaki Mezze Apero (320g; Lots #241432 to 241460; Best before 07/08/12 to 21/08/12) and Annaki Mezze Dolmas (380g; Lots #241432 to 241460; Best before 07/08/12 to 21/08/12), due to possible contamination with Listeria. The recalled products were sold in Delhaize stores.
  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Delhaize Belgique recalls three additional lots of Delhaize brand Fresh Sticks (349g; Lots #241460, 241462 and 241602; Best before 06/08/12, 07/08/12 and 08/08/12, respectively) due to possible Listeria contamination.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): delika as recalls principle! Smoked Sausage (Batch 1198; Expiry 06-08-12 and 19-08-12), due to gas production in the packages as a result of excessive concentration of lactic acid bacteria.
  • Food Withdrawal (Denmark): Danish Supermarket withdraws budget, Old Mill and Bakersfield brand Pita breads (390g, 400g and 500g packs; Product of England; All date codes), due to mold growth in some packages.
  • Food Safety Recall (France): A recall has been issued for SNVC brand Horsemeat Sausages (Lot #121980034, 121980029, 122050015 & 122050016; All date codes) and New Vepeli brand Horsemeat Sausages (Lot #5513 and 5681; All date codes), following the detection of metal pieces in the products.
  • Food Safety Recall (Italy): Ditta Molino Spadoni Srl recalls Farina di castagne Molino Spadoni/Molino Spadoni Chestnut Flour (Lot 363 D-11B), due to contamination with aflatoxin.
  • Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Tamarind Foods/Delhaize recalls Annaki brand Mezze Dolmas (380g; Lots #241432 to 241460; Best before dates 07/08/12 to 21/08/12), due to possible Listeria contamination.
  • Outbreak Alert (Finland): Evira is investigating 12 cases of Listeria diarrhea, all due to a single strain. Outbreak cases were reported during July in Vassa (10), Juvalta (1) and Mikkeli (1). The source of the illnesses has not been found.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Allergy Alert (Hong Kong): Smart Year Limited (distributor) recalls Lotte brand Choco Pie (280g; UPC 8 802062 168255), due to the presence of undeclared almonds.
  • Food Safety Alert/Recall (Hong Kong): The Centre for Food Safety warns that Wakodo powdered infant formula (for 0-9 months old; 850g; Product of Wakodo Co. Ltd., Japan; All batches) and Morinaga powdered infant formula (for 0-9 months old; 850g; Product of Morinaga & Co. Ltd., Japan; All batches) contain unusually low levels of iodine and should not be used. Importers of the products have been informed, and have initiated a product recall.
  • Food Safety Recall (Israel): Ein Gedi Mineral Water recalls Bottled Water (2-liter bottles; Produced 1.8.12, 2.8.12 and 3.8.12; Expiry 1.8.13, 2.8.13 and 3.8.13, respectively), due to suspected contamination with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
  • Food Safety Recall (Israel): Tnuva recalls 3% homogenized milk (1-liter cartons; Kosher Rabbi Whiteman only; Expiry 02/22/2012B), due to possible detergent contamination. The milk was distributed in the central region between Binyamina in the north and Rishon LeZion in the south and east of Lod.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): A.E. Preston Ltd. recalls Bay Cuisine Ezi Carve (plain packaged) boneless leg ham pieces (All best before dates up to and including 12 September 2012; Prestons price labeling; sold at Prestons Stores in Wellington and Porirua between 27 June and 8 July) and Bay Cuisine Ezi Carve (plain packaged) whole hams Ratanui cooked on bone half hams (All best before dates up to and including 12 September 2012; Sold at Wellington and Porirua Stores between 27 June and 16 July 2012), because the products may be contaminated with Listeria.
  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Grand Foods recalls Mint Tr Kuru Nane (Tr) dried mint (200g clear plastic packaging; Best before 08/08/2013; Product of Turkey), due to Salmonella contamination. The recalled product was sold in the Grand Foods retail outlet in Campbellfield, VIC.

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.

Post From The Past. A Multitude of Mushrooms

First posted on November 7, 2009

Many years ago, when I was an undergraduate microbiology student at McGill University in Montreal (Canada), I took a mycology course given by the Botany Department. Unlike courses in clinical mycology that I have taken, the Botany Department course surveyed fungi that live and grow in fields and forests.

The professor marked our final lab session by preparing for us a dish of mushrooms sautéed with butter and sherry. Needless to say, we gave him an “A+” for his final grade.

Despite – or perhaps because of – having taken that course, I have never tried to pick wild mushrooms for the dinner table. There are too many poisonous varieties that resemble completely innocuous mushrooms.

Everyone is familiar with the typical cultivated mushrooms that are found, either loose or packaged, in the produce section of the local supermarket. These mushrooms were on display at the San Francisco Farmer’s Market in September.


They can easily be confused with two very poisonous mushroom varieties – Amanita phalloides and Amanita ocreata – that, between them, were responsible for 894 episodes of poisoning in the state of California in 2008.

As I was reminded while roaming the Farmer’s Market, edible mushrooms come in a surprising range of shapes, sizes and colors. There are chanterelles and cioppini, portobello and pioppini, lobster mushrooms and oyster mushrooms.

These are just some of the mushroom varieties that were on display at the market.

And here are a few more.

The lobster mushrooms and oyster mushrooms intrigued me most – not only due to their names, but because of their growth and development.

Oyster mushrooms come in a variety of sizes and colors. They grow wild on dead tree bark, and look for all the world like oyster clusters. They are also reputed to taste like oysters.

A lobster mushroom is the result of a parasitic fungus growing on certain species of mushrooms. The parasite changes the color, shape and texture of its host mushroom, producing a lobster mushroom.


With the amazing variety of mushrooms that are available at Farmer’s Markets such as the one in San Francisco, who needs to forage for fungi in the field?

 

Post From The Past. Say Raw Milk Cheese, Please!

First posted on October 12, 2009

To visit France is to experience cheese in its infinite variety of aromas, flavors and textures.

The French take their cheese seriously, and frown on the North American practice of using pasteurized milk to make cheese. Indeed, European cheeses that wish to boast a “Protected Denomination of Origin” – the cheese equivalent of wine’s “Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée” – must be manufactured from raw milk.

The US Food and Drug Administration permits the manufacture and marketing of hard cheese made from raw milk, if the cheese is aged at a temperature of at least 35ºF for no less than 60 days. Blue, brick and cheddar are a few of the cheeses that fall into this category.

Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company was just one of the raw milk-blue cheese producers on display at the San Francisco Farmer’s Market during our visit last month. The company makes its cheese exclusively with milk from its own herd of Holsteins. The cheese-making process begins within a few hours after milking, and the cheese is allowed to age for six months – well beyond the 60 days required by FDA.
“But,” you ask, “What about Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella and E. coli? Is raw milk cheese as safe to eat as cheese made from pasteurized milk?“

According to Dr. Catherine W. Donnelly, University of Vermont Professor, Listeria monocytogenes expert, and co-Director of The Vermont Institute for Artisan Cheese(“VIAC”), the answer is “Yes” – as long as cheesemakers are educated about how to ensure the safety of their raw-milk products.

VIAC offers Beginning and Advanced Cheesemaking Certificate programs, which include a course on Hygiene and Food Safety In Cheesemaking, and one on Risk Reduction Practices. The Institute also conducts ongoing research, including programs onCheese Microbiology and Safety and Milk Quality.

Vermont and California are not the only states taking a hard look at hard cheeses made with raw milk. Maryland recently introduced a pilot program to encourage the production of raw milk cheeses on a few farms in the state. Pennsylvania, too, encourages an artisan cheese industry.

But don’t expect FDA to expand its acceptance of raw milk cheeses beyond the hard cheese varieties. Recent research carried out by Dr. Donnelly and her University of Vermont colleagues showed that Listeria monocytogenes can grow on aged soft cheeses (e.g., Brie and Camembert). This is true regardless of whether the cheeses were made using pasteurized milk or raw milk.

Sticking to pasteurized milk for the production of soft cheeses reduces the risk of pathogens in the raw ingredients and, therefore, in the finished cheeses. Nevertheless, Listeria monocytogenes, which is found just about everywhere in the environment, can contaminate the cheese after it is made.

What does this mean for the consumer? Simply, anyone who is elderly, very young, pregnant, or suffers from a weakened immune system for any reason, should avoid eating soft cheeses – especially those made from raw milk. Hard cheeses that were made from fresh milk of high microbiological quality and held at 35ºF for 60 days or more, are far less likely than soft cheeses to support growth of bacterial pathogens.

The insertion of sound science into the cheesemaking process by organizations such as VIAC is good for both the dairy industry and the consumer. If we continue along this path, the United States will someday be able to rival its European cousins in the art and science of artisan cheesemaking. As you can see, we’re already not doing too badly.

Some of the information contained in this article came from the following source:

D’Amico, D.J., M.J. Druart, and C.W. Donnelly. “60-Day Aging Requirement Does Not Ensure Safety of Surface-Mold-Ripened Soft Cheeses Manufactured from Raw or Pasteurized Milk When Listeria monocytogenes Is Introduced as a Postprocessing Contaminant” in Journal of Food Protection, vol 71(8): 1563–1571. 2008.