Author: Phyllis Entis

Recalls and Alerts: November 10, 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

  • Food Safety Recall: United Natural Foods, Inc. recalls FoodMatch, Inc. Divina Olives Stuffed with Feta Cheese (4 oz; UPC 63172352780; Best Used By: 11 JAN 2012), FoodMatch, Inc. Divina Olives Stuffed with Blue Cheese(4 oz; UPC 63172352790; Best Used By: 11 JAN 2012, 15 DEC 2011, and 30 DEC 2011) and Tabatchnick Yankee Bean Soup (15 oz; UPC 07126229491; Best If Used By 05 04 14; sold at Safeway store in Corte Madera, CA only), because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum due to a lack of temperature control during the distribution process. Affected Tabatchnick Yankee Bean Soup was distributed through Carrs, Safeway, Pavilion and Vons stores in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada, South Dakota, Colorado and Wyoming. Feta-stuffed Divina olives were sold in certain Safeway stores in South Dakota (Spearfish, store #0583), Wyoming (Lander, store #2761), and Colorado (Colorado Springs, store #1577; Boulder, store #1615; Falcon, store #1644; Conifer, store #2792; Longmont, store #2910)
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The North Carolina Division of Public Health and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs have traced the source of the recent outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illness in that state to the Kelley Building at the North Carolina State Fair. The Kelley Building is a permanent structure which housed sheep, goats and pigs for the fair’s livestock shows. As of November 9th, 12 confirmed and 16 suspect cases were reported in 8 North Carolina counties: Wake (13), Sampson (6), Cleveland (1), Durham (2), Johnston (1), Lenoir (1), Orange (2) and Wilson (2).

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Chocolat Lamontagne Inc. recalls Bite-Size Orange Flavour 73% Dark Chocolates (142g; Product #3335 & 3337), Assorted Chocolate Bite-Size (200g; Product #3333) and Assorted Dark Chocolate Bite-Size (200g; Product #3338), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled products were distributed nationally between October 4th and November 4th, and were sold through catalogues for fund-raising activities at daycares, schools, clubs and associations.
  • Food Safety Alert: Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns the public not to consume Woody’s Mexican Lime Alcoholic Vodka Beverage (330mL, BB014/06/13, hh:mm S16516136; 330mL, BB 22/08/13, hh:mm S23516851; 4 x 330mL, BB014/06/13, hh:mm S16516136l3; 4 x 330 mL, BB 22/08/13, hh:mm S23516851), because the product may contain harmful glass particles. The recalled beverages were distributed in Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario, and may have been distributed to other provinces and territories.

Europe

  • Food Recall (Denmark): Løgismose Dairy A/S recalls Løgismose Organic Skyr, 0.2% natural (350g; Best before 26.11.2011, 30.11.2011 and 01.12.2011), due to yeast fermentation. The recalled skyr was sold in Netto stores across Denmark and in the Løgismore retail store Nordre Toldbod, Copenhagen.
  • Food Recall (Denmark): CO-RO FOOD A/S recalls Sunfresh Tropical (500ml; Best before 13-03-2012; Batch code 10010), due to product fermentation.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (France): Pfizer recalls Zithromax tablets, 250mg (Batch A10029; Expiry March 2014) and Azithromycin tablets, 250mg (Batch A10018; Expiry March 2014), following the observation of plastic particles from raw material containers, which may have contaminated some tablets.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2011.1609): Salmonella infantis in feed material from France; distributed to France, Italy and South Africa.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1612): Salmonella in chilled morning glory from Vietnam; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1614): Mercury in dried mushrooms from Poland; distributed to Poland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1615): Insect larvae in roasted, unshelled peanuts from China, via Slovakia; distributed to the Czech Republic.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1616): Salmonella in la lot from Vietnam; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1617): Benzo(a)pyrene in smoked dried crayfish from unknown origin, via the United Kingdom; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1618): Mercury in chilled swordfish from France; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1619): Salmonella spp. in dry sausage from France; distributed to France, Lithuania, Portugal and Slovenia.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2011.1609): Salmonella infantis in feed material from France; distributed to France, Italy and South Africa.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Allergy Alert (Australia and New Zealand): The Sanitarium Health & Wellbeing Company recalls Sanitarium So Good Rice Milk (1-liter UHT block pack; Batch code 31206; Best before 25 Mar 2012), due to the presence of undeclared soy. The recalled beverage was exported to New Zealand and was sold in Australia in Coles Supermarkets nationally, IGA Supermarkets (WA, VIC, NSW, and QLD) and Franklins (NSW).

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.

UPDATE: Broiled Chicken Livers Sicken At Least 170 In 5 States

Kosher broiled chicken livers produced by Schreiber Processing Corporation (Maspeth, NY) have infected at least 170 people in five states with Salmonella Heidelberg, according to information supplied by the New Jersey, New York City and New York State health departments, and by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy (CIDRAP).

Illnesses are reported in New York State (56 in New York City and 33 in Upstate New York), New Jersey (64 – the majority from Ocean County), Pennsylvania (7), Maryland (9) and Minnesota (at least one).

The US CDC is actively involved in this outbreak investigation and expects to post an Investigation Report when the data have been fleshed out, according to CDC spokeswoman Lola Russell.

This outbreak is completely unrelated to another Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak that took place earlier this year. The earlier outbreak was associated with raw turkey meat that was contaminated with an antibiotic-resistant strain of Salmonella Heidelberg.

Illnesses linked to this outbreak occurred as early as February 2011, with the most recent illnesses having been reported in November. The earliest upstate New York illness onset date was April 10th, and the latest was October 20th, according to Peter Constantakes of the New York State Department of Health. At least 24 people have been hospitalized – 7 in New Jersey (reported as 11% of cases), 12 in New York City, and 5 in upstate New York.

The chicken livers, which appear to be ready-to-eat but are actually only partially cooked, are contaminated with Salmonella Heidelberg. Illnesses were linked to consumption of the chicken livers, and of chopped liver prepared in retail stores. New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets recovered the outbreak strain from samples of the broiled chicken livers and from samples of chopped liver produced in retail locations.

Schreiber Processing recalled the following products earlier today:

  • 10 lb. boxes with two, 5 lb. bags of “Meal Mart Broiled Chicken Liver; Made for Further Thermal Processing”
  • 10 lb. boxes of loose packed “Chicken Liver Broiled”

The recalled chicken livers were distributed to retail stores and institutional users in Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and Rhode Island. The livers may have been repackaged into smaller quantities, or made into chopped liver and sold in deli-style establishments.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has released a list of establishments in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Minnesota that sold the chicken livers or are associated with the outbreak within their communities. USDA also has promised to publish its own retail distribution list, which typically does not include restaurants, institutions or caterers.

The following communities are believed to be affected:

  • New York: Bronx, Brooklyn, Cedarhurst, Far Rockaway, Ferndale, Flushing, Kew Gardens, Lawrence, Loch Sheldrake, Monsey, New York (Manhattan), Ocean Side, Parksville, Roslyn Heights, Schenectady, South Fallsberg, Suffern, Wesley Hills, Woodridge
  • New Jersey: Elizabeth, Englewood, Freehold, Highland Park, Howell, Lakewood, Moonachie, Passaic, Paterson, Teaneck
  • Pennsylvania: Mckeesrocks, Philadelphia
  • Maryland: Baltimore
  • Minnesota: New Hope

The labeling on the original packages of chicken livers indicates clearly that the Broiled Chicken Livers are “For Further Thermal Processing”.

Meal Mart Broiled Chicken Livers - 5 lb package

The label instructs that the chicken livers must be cooked thoroughly to 160°F, and refers the user to the separate Safe Handling Instructions on the package. But, as the recall notice states, these chicken livers often are repackaged into smaller quantities for retail sale. When that happens, the original label warning and cooking instructions are lost.

Consumers in one of the listed states or communities who purchased chicken livers that appear to be ready-to-eat, or who purchased chopped liver from a deli counter or supermarket deli display, should not eat the chicken liver. Anyone who develops symptoms of salmonellosis within one week after having eaten broiled chicken livers or chopped chicken liver should consult a doctor immediately.

Broiled Chicken Livers Sicken 153 In New York & New Jersey

Kosher broiled chicken livers produced by Schreiber Processing Corporation (Maspeth, NY) have infected at least 153 people in New Jersey and New York State with Salmonella Heidelberg, according to information supplied by the New Jersey, New York City and New York State health departments.

The US CDC is actively involved in this outbreak investigation and expects to post an Investigation Report when the data have been fleshed out, according to CDC spokeswoman Lola Russell.

This outbreak is completely unrelated to another Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak that took place earlier this year. The earlier outbreak was associated with raw turkey meat that was contaminated with an antibiotic-resistant strain of Salmonella Heidelberg.

Illnesses linked to this outbreak occurred as early as February 2011, with the most recent illnesses having been reported in November. The earliest upstate New York illness onset date was April 10th, and the latest was October 20th, according to Peter Constantakes of the New York State Department of Health. At least 17 people have been hospitalized – 12 in New York City, and 5 in upstate New York.

The chicken livers, which appear to be ready-to-eat but are actually only partially cooked, are contaminated with Salmonella Heidelberg. Illnesses were linked to consumption of the chicken livers, and of chopped liver prepared in retail stores. New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets recovered the outbreak strain from samples of the broiled chicken livers and from samples of chopped liver produced in retail locations.

Schreiber Processing recalled the following products earlier today:

  • 10 lb. boxes with two, 5 lb. bags of “Meal Mart Broiled Chicken Liver; Made for Further Thermal Processing”
  • 10 lb. boxes of loose packed “Chicken Liver Broiled”

The recalled chicken livers were distributed to retail stores and institutional users in Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and Rhode Island. The livers may have been repackaged into smaller quantities, or made into chopped liver and sold in deli-style establishments.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has released a list of establishments in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Minnesota that sold the chicken livers or are associated with the outbreak within their communities. USDA also has promised to publish its own retail distribution list, which typically does not include restaurants, institutions or caterers.

The following communities are believed to be affected:

  • New York: Bronx, Brooklyn, Cedarhurst, Far Rockaway, Ferndale, Flushing, Kew Gardens, Lawrence, Loch Sheldrake, Monsey, New York (Manhattan), Ocean Side, Parksville, Roslyn Heights, Schenectady, South Fallsberg, Suffern, Wesley Hills, Woodridge
  • New Jersey: Elizabeth, Englewood, Freehold, Highland Park, Howell, Lakewood, Moonachie, Passaic, Paterson, Teaneck
  • Pennsylvania: Mckeesrocks, Philadelphia
  • Maryland: Baltimore
  • Minnesota: New Hope

The labeling on the original packages of chicken livers indicates clearly that the Broiled Chicken Livers are “For Further Thermal Processing”.

Meal Mart Broiled Chicken Livers - 5 lb package

The label instructs that the chicken livers must be cooked thoroughly to 160°F, and refers the user to the separate Safe Handling Instructions on the package. But, as the recall notice states, these chicken livers often are repackaged into smaller quantities for retail sale. When that happens, the original label warning and cooking instructions are lost.

Consumers in one of the listed states or communities who purchased chicken livers that appear to be ready-to-eat, or who purchased chopped liver from a deli counter or supermarket deli display, should not eat the chicken liver. Anyone who develops symptoms of salmonellosis within one week after having eaten broiled chicken livers or chopped chicken liver should consult a doctor immediately.