Author: Phyllis Entis

Recalls and Alerts: December 23, 2011

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: Sirocco Enterprises, Inc. (Jefferson, LA) recalls Pat O’Brien’s Blood Cocktail Mix (33.8 fl. oz./ 1-L bottles), because the product contains undeclared soy and wheat. The recalled product was distributed nationally in retail stores and over the internet.
  • Food Safety Recall: Green Valley Food Corp. recalls Let’s Grow Healthy Together Alfalfa Sprouts (5-oz containers; Product code 3440210; Code date 1/1/2012), after a random sample taken from a customer revealed Salmonella contamination. The company advises, “Till this present day there has been no related illnesses CONFIRMED because of this recall.” (emphasis in original Firm Press Release) The recalled sprouts were distributed in Texas via truck deliveries to retail chains (including Brookshire’s food & pharmacy) and food distribution centers.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: USDA releases updated retail distribution list for 10-lb chubs of Chuck Fine Ground Beef 80/20 that were recalled by Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. due to contamination with E. coli O157:H7.
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action: FDA announces that Triple A Services, Inc. and its owners and operators have agreed to stop producing and distributing ready-to-eat sandwiches and produce as part of a consent decree. The consent decree followed filing of a complaint by FDA that describes Triple A’s history of operating under unsanitary conditions and Listeria monocytogenes contamination in the processing facility, and its failure to comply with Current Good Manufacturing Practice and seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point regulations.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Groupe Alimentaire Miron recalls Minos Honey (5kg; Lot code L100913;  Best before 30-09-2012), due to the presence of drug residues in the product.
  • Medical Device Safety Recall: Smiths Medical recalls Bivona® Neonatal, Pediatric and Flextend Tracheostomy Tubes (Lot #1631477 through 1923406), because some customers experienced difficulty disconnecting accessories from the connectors of the affected tubes.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (UK): The Food Standards Agency advises that some bottles of Chapelle des Bois – 2990 Ac Fleurie Wine may contain undeclared sulfites.
  • Allergy Alert (Finland): Kraft Food Ireland Ltd. Ab withdraws certain chocolates, because the product packages lack Finnish labeling, including allergy information. Please see the EVIRA notice for details.
  • Food Recall (Denmark): Harboe Brewery A/S recalls Super Peak Soda (2-liter bottle; Best before 24.07.2102), due to an off-flavor and possible turbidity.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert Update: Red Label dried sausages from France, implicated in an unspecified and unpublicized foodborne Salmonella outbreak, was distributed to Andorra, France, French Polynesia, Mauritius, Poland, Portugal, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and Slovenia, according to updated RASFF Notification #2011.1880.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Pet Food Alert (Taiwan): The Taipei Government orders the removal of four pet food brands – Belicom’s Tuna and Beef Cat Food, Dobi’s Beef, Chicken and Potato Dog Food, Ever Red’s Beef Dog Food, and Maxwell’s Beef Dog Food – because none of the four products actually contained any beef.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Department of Health warns the public not to take an oral product named 糖人365康巽牌桑葛活胰素膠囊, as the product has been found to contain at least four undeclared western drugs, one of which – phenformin – is banned in Hong Kong.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert Update: Red Label dried sausages from France, implicated in an unspecified and unpublicized foodborne Salmonella outbreak, was distributed to Andorra, France, French Polynesia, Mauritius, Poland, Portugal, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and Slovenia, according to updated RASFF Notification #2011.1880.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Allergy Alert (Australia): Quality Patisserie Food Pty Ltd. recalls Pepe’s Vegetable Peas Pastizzi, Pepe’s Apple Pastizzi, and Pepe’s Pea and Bacon Pastizzi (500g plastic packet containing 12 individual pastizzis; All use by dates up to and including 10 DEC 12), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled products were distributed in grocery stores, corner stores and butcher shops in the Sydney metropolitan area.

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.

Missouri Baby Dead: Is Infant Formula To Blame?

FDA, CDC, and health officials in Missouri and Illinois are investigating at least two cases of Cronobacter sakazakii (once known as Enterobacter sakazakii) – a rare, but often fatal, cause of meningitis that most often affects newborn babies.

Two Missouri infants have died – 10-day old Avery Cornett of Lebanon, and a one-month old baby girl in Granite City – and an Illinois infant is recovering from the infection.

At least one of the three infected babies is known to have been fed Enfamil Newborn Formula (12.5-oz cans; Lot #ZP1K7G), a product of Mead Johnson Nutrition.

Mead Johnson Nutrition released the following statement yesterday:

December 22, 2011

Our company recently became aware of an infant’s death in Missouri. This infant tested positive for Cronobacter, which is a microorganism commonly found in the environment and sometimes implicated in rare but serious illnesses in newborn babies. We were informed that the infant had been fed one of our products.

The product – Enfamil PREMIUM® Newborn powdered formula – has not been recalled, but is being tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with our assistance. All of our finished infant powdered products (including this batch) are tested for Cronobacter (Enterobacter sakazakii) prior to shipment. If an ingredient or a batch of powdered infant formula product is found to contain Cronobacter, it is rejected and not distributed.

The batch of the product used by the child’s family did not show the presence of the bacteria when it was produced and packaged, and that has recently been reconfirmed from our batch records. This product is not being recalled – nor is any other Mead Johnson product – but some retailers are removing it from their shelves as a precautionary measure. The product is Enfamil PREMIUM Newborn 12.5 ounce powder with number ZP1K7G on the bottom of the can.

We recognize that recent media stories may cause confusion and we apologize for that. We want to make every effort to keep our customers informed on any topics related to our products.

We are working with health authorities to support their efforts to identify the source or cause of the infant’s infection. All the employees at Mead Johnson Nutrition wish to extend our heartfelt sympathy to the family.

If you have any questions please contact us at 1-800-BABY-123.

Although the investigation is still in progress and Mead Johnson has not recalled the powdered baby formula, a number of retailers, including Walmart and Price Chopper, have removed the suspect product from store shelves until FDA and CDC complete their studies.

This is not Mead Johnson’s first brush with Cronobacter (formerly Enterobacter) sakazakii. In 2001, a hospital outbreak of Enterobacter sakazakii was traced to a contaminated batch of Portagen powdered infant formula, used to feed babies in the neonatal intensive care unit of a Tennessee hospital. The investigation into the causes of that outbreak led to changes in FDA’s recommendations for the preparation, use, and storage of reconstituted powdered infant formula.

FDA has collected – and is in the process of analyzing – several samples of the infant formula and the water used to reconstitute the formula from the Lebanon, Missouri and the Illinois cases, according to FDA Spokesperson Siobhan DeLancey.

“This is a tragic case,” DeLancey said, “and we are working as quickly as possible to investigate all the avenues by which the baby could have been infected.”

“It is important to note,” DeLancey adds, “that at this time there is no confirmation that either infant’s infection was caused by the infant formula or the water used to reconstitute it.”

FDA estimates that its test results will be completed by the middle or latter part of next week. And I’m told by CDC’s Lola Russell that genetic profiles (PFGE profiles) of the bacteria recovered from the infected babies also may be available next week. CDC expects that the complete investigation, including environmental test results, could take up to one month.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has issued the following recommendations to consumers who use powdered infant formula:

Clean utensils

  • Wash hands, forearms and fingernails thoroughly before handling any feeding materials or preparing formula.
  • All bottles, nipples, caps and rings should be washed in hot, soapy water with thorough rinsing.

Preparing formula

  • Before use, powdered formula should be kept dry in an airtight container with a firm cap or lid and stored in a cool, dark area. Make sure the expiration date has not passed.
  • During formula preparation, bring water to a bubbling boil for two minutes and allow the water to cool before mixing.
  • Do not use a microwave oven to warm the formula.

Storing formula

  • Formula should be prepared in small amounts immediately before feeding time to minimize the need for storing reconstituted formula.
  • Reconstituted formula should not be stored at room temperature for more than one hour or more than four hours in the refrigerator after preparation.
  • Throw out any formula left in a bottle after feeding.

Readers can find more information on Cronobacter (Enterobacter) sakazakii – including its connection with powdered infant formula and meningitis in infants – in my book, Food Safety: Old Habits, New Perspectives, published in 2007 by ASM Press.

Hannaford Hamburger US Salmonella Outbreak – An Update

Updated December 22, 2011

On December 20th, CDC reported that 16 people in Hawaii (1), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (1), Maine (4), New Hampshire (4), New York (4), and Vermont (1) have been infected with the relatively uncommon outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium. Illnesses began on or after October 8, 2011, with the most recent illness onset reported on or about December 3rd.

Most of the illnesses are linked to the consumption of store-ground hamburger meat purchased from Hannaford supermarkets. Hannaford is a regional chain located in the northeast USA, with stores throughout Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. The implicated ground beef packages were purchased between October 12th and November 20th.

Given the geographic location of Hannaford’s stores, it’s logical that the Northeastern states should bear the brunt of this outbreak. But what about the cases in Kentucky and Hawaii?

I checked with the departments of health for both states. Other than the genetic similarity between the strains of Salmonella Typhimurium recovered from outbreak patients, there is nothing that connects either the Hawaii or the Kentucky victim to this outbreak. Neither one reported traveling to the US Northeast prior to becoming ill. And, while the Kentucky case is still being investigated, neither victim reported any obvious link to the outbreak, such as consuming ground beef in the week before becoming ill.

Epidemiologists have nightmares like this!

Of course, the explanation may be very simple. PFGE, the genetic profiling used as a first stage “genetic fingerprint” in outbreak investigations is not infallible. CDC has been working with a second genetic profiling tool, which has, in some recent outbreaks, found that a few apparently connected illnesses actually were due to different strains of the same microbe. It’s also possible that some other common link will be found, or that the Kentucky and Hawaii cases will prove to be simply coincidental.

Regardless of the explanation for the Kentucky and Hawaii oddball cases, CDC offers the following reminders to consumers:

  • Consumers should check their homes, including their freezers, for recalled ground beef products and not eat them; restaurant and food service operators should not serve it. Consumers with questions about recalled ground beef products may contact Hannaford’s Customer Information Center, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at telephone number (800) 213-9040, and choose option 6.
  • Wash hands, kitchen work surfaces, and utensils with soap and water immediately after they have been in contact with raw meat or poultry, including frozen and fresh ground beef. Then, disinfect the food contact surfaces using a freshly prepared solution of 1 tablespoon unscented liquid chlorine bleach to 1 gallon of water.
  • Cook ground beef thoroughly. Ground beef dishes should always be cooked to 160°F internal temperature as measured with a food thermometer; leftovers also should be reheated to 160°F. The color of cooked ground beef is not an indicator that product has been safely cooked. Only by using a food thermometer can one accurately determine that ground beef has reached a safe minimum internal temperature of 160°F throughout the product. Ground beef can remain pink even after cooking to a safe minimum internal temperature of 160°F. Be particularly careful with foods prepared for infants, older adults, and persons with impaired immune systems. For more information, please visit FoodSafety.gov.
  • If served undercooked ground beef in a restaurant, send it back to the kitchen for further cooking.
  • Avoid cross-contaminating other foods. Uncooked meats and ground beef should be kept separate from produce, cooked foods, and ready-to-eat foods. Do not wash raw meat or poultry before cooking because splashing water can spread any pathogens present on raw meat surfaces to other kitchen surfaces. Hands, cutting boards, counters, knives, and other utensils should be washed thoroughly after touching uncooked foods. Hands should be washed before handling food, and between handling different food items.
  • Refrigerate raw and cooked meat and poultry within 2 hours after purchase (1 hour if temperatures exceed 90°F). Refrigerate cooked meat and poultry within 2 hours after cooking. Refrigerators should be set to maintain a temperature of 40°F or below.
  • Persons who think they might have become ill from eating possibly contaminated ground beef should consult their health care providers. Infants, older adults, and persons with impaired immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness.

Original Story (posted December 16, 2011)

Fourteen people in the US northeast have been infected with a strain of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium. Eleven of the 14 victims reported having eaten ground beef; in ten cases, the beef was purchased at a Hannaford store. Seven of the 14 victims (50%) were hospitalized.

Three illnesses were reported in New Hampshire. Other outbreak victims are from Maine (4), New York State (4) and Vermont (1). Three of the four New York State victims were among the seven who were hospitalized.

The outbreak has been traced epidemiologically to fresh in-store ground beef prepared in and purchased at Hannaford stores in Maine, New York, New Hampshire and Vermont between October 12 and November 20, 2011. The 85% ground beef was the most common variety associated with the outbreak.

Hannaford has recalled the following ground beef products (all package sizes) bearing Sell-by dates of Dec. 17, 2011 or earlier that were sold at the supermarket’s stores throughout Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont:

  • 73% Hannaford Regular Ground Beef
  • 75% Hannaford Regular Ground Beef
  • 80% Hannaford Regular Ground Beef
  • 85% Hannaford Regular Ground Beef
  • 90% Hannaford Regular Ground Beef
  • 80% Taste of Inspirations Angus Ground Beef
  • 85% Taste of Inspirations Angus Ground Beef
  • 90% Taste of Inspirations Angus Ground Beef
  • 85% Nature’s Place Ground Beef
  • 90% Nature’s Place Ground Beef

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has not been able to identify the suppliers who furnished Hannaford with the raw meat that was used to prepare the recalled ground beef, due to what the agency described as the retailer’s “limited records.” The possibility exists that raw beef contaminated with the Salmonella outbreak strain may also have been supplied to other retailers in the region.

Consumers who purchased ground beef from a Hannaford Supermarket should check their refrigerators and freezers for the recalled product. Hannaford is urging its customers to discard or return any packages of ground beef bearing a sell-by date of Dec. 17, 2011 or earlier. Anyone experiencing symptoms of salmonellosis should seek medical attention.

FSIS reminds consumers to “safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160° F.”