Author: Phyllis Entis

Cantaloupe Case Count, Death Toll, Continue To Rise

Twenty-nine confirmed illnesses – including 3 deaths.
Twenty-two suspect illnesses – including 4 deaths.
Twelve states reporting at least one suspicious illness.
Fifty-one confirmed or suspected Listeria monocytogenes so far.

And the outbreak is far from over.

As of this evening, at least eleven states are reporting confirmed or suspected cases of Listeria monocytogenes that are part of this outbreak – including, sadly, a total of 7 deaths. The states reporting possible cases are:

  • Colorado – 12 confirmed cases; 1 death
  • Kansas – 6 suspect cases
  • Illinois – at least 1 suspect case in Cook County (IDPH web site doesn’t say how many)
  • Indiana – 1 confirmed
  • Missouri – 2 suspect, with 1 death
  • Montana – 1 confirmed, 1 suspect
  • Nebraska – 1 confirmed, 2 suspect
  • New Mexico – 5 confirmed, with 1 death; an additional 5 suspect, with 3 deaths
  • Oklahoma – 6 confirmed, with 1 death; an additional 4 suspect
  • Texas – 2 confirmed
  • West Virginia – 1 confirmed
  • Wyoming – 1 suspect

The majority of the outbreak victims are more than 60 years old – many of them over 80 years old. As far as is known, all of the confirmed case patients were hospitalized.

This outbreak has been traced unequivocally to whole cantaloupes from a single grower – Jensen Farms, Inc., located in Holly, Colorado. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, ten cantaloupe samples identified as being from Jensen all tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes; several samples matched the outbreak strain recovered from Colorado’s 12 confirmed case patients.

On September 14th, Jensen Farms recalled the implicated cantaloupes. A complete list of retailers that were supplied with these cantaloupes has not been released either by Jensen or by FDA. For a partial retail distribution list, please check the latest eFoodAlert update.

Serious cases of Listeria monocytogenes illness typically have a long incubation period – three weeks or more. Even if all of the contaminatied cantaloupes have now been removed from circulation and discarded, additional illnesses likely will be reported in coming weeks.

Please check your refrigerator for any cantaloupe that may be part of the recall and discard it in a sealed bag. Listeria monocytogenes infections are especially dangerous for the very young, the elderly, pregnant women, and anyone with a compromised immune system. If you, a family member, or a friend begin to experience the following symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes (as described by CDC), seek immediate medical attention:

A person with listeriosis usually has fever and muscle aches, often preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. Almost everyone who is diagnosed with listeriosis has “invasive” infection, in which the bacteria spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract. The symptoms vary with the infected person:

Pregnant women: Pregnant women typically experience only a mild, flu-like illness. However, infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.

Persons other than pregnant women: Symptoms, in addition to fever and muscle aches, can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.

Recalls and Alerts: September 17, 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.

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

  • Allergy Alert: Strong America Ltd (New York) recalls Huipu Chinese Wolfberry (5.28 oz clear plastic package), due to the presence of undeclared sulfites. The recalled Wolfberry was distributed in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Albany, NY.
  • Food Safety Recall (Update): USDA issues updated retail distribution list for ground turkey recalled by Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation due to contamination with antibiotic-resistant Salmonella Heidelberg.
  • Food Safety Recall: Safeway recalls Jumbo Cantaloupes from the Rocky Ford region of Colorado (supplied by Jensen Farms; sold between August 30 and September 6), because the cantaloupes may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The melons were sold in Safeway stores in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico (Aztec and Farmington), South Dakota and Wyoming.
  • Food Safety Recall: Del Bueno (Grandview, WA) recalls Queso Fresco Casero Fresh Cheese (16-oz. pkg; Date stamp Sept 14, 2011), because the cheese may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled cheese was sold in retail markets in Washington and at the Pasco, WA flea market.
  • Outbreak Alert: The City of Lubbock Texas has issued a health alert regarding a Cheddars restaurant employee who contracted hepatitis A. According to Marler Blog, the city is offering a free Hepatitis A vaccine clinic to anyone who ate at Cheddars during August 31st to September 8th, inclusive.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Qualitest Pharmaceuticals recalls multiple lots of Cyclafem, Emoquette, Gildess, Orsythia, Previfem and Tri-Previfem oral contraceptives, due to a packaging error that makes the lot number and expiry date no longer visible. Please navigate to the Qualitest site for a list of affected lot numbers.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Five Continents International Ltd. recalls Hong Kong Zhi Zun Fu Gui Moon Cake (750g; Exp 20/10/2011), due to the presence of undeclared egg.
  • Allergy Alert: European Market Bakery recalls various European Market Bakery breads, due to the presence of undeclared milk.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Ireland): Due to a packaging error, some packs of Cow and Gate Little Gourmet meals labelled (on outer sleeve) as Tender Beef Stroganoff; best before 24.6.2012; 2 x 200g bowls in an outer sleeve contained two bowls of Little Gourmet Tuscan Style Chicken Tagliatelle instead of the Tender Beef Stroganoff. This product may be unsafe for consumers who have an allergy or intolerance to egg, wheat or gluten.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): WIOS Food ApS recalls Apple Pie, Tarte aux Pommes (Product of Spain; 400g; Lot #1193C; Expiry 25/9-2011), because it contains excessive propylene glycol.
  • Food Safety Recall (Scotland): Tower Bakery recalls nine varieties of savoury product (use-by dates up to and including 29 September 2011), because the products were labelled with incorrect date codes.
  • Food Safety Recall (France): Carrefour recalls Engagement Qualité Carrefour Petit Munster Fermier and Assortiment de Fromages au Lait Cru (sold between 25/08/11 and 13/09/2011, after Listeria monocytogenes was found in the cheese.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (France): UCB Pharma recalls VIMPAT, 15mg/ml (200ml vials; all lots; Product of Germany), after a precipitate was observed in certain vials.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Spain): UCB Pharma S.A. recalls VIMPAT 15mg/ml (200ml vials; all lots; produced by UCB Pharma GmbH, Germany), due to the appearance of precipitate in some vials.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (France): Janssen recalls Eprex 2000 IU/ml (Lot #AHS4T00; Expiry January 2012), due to an elevated concentration of active agent.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1245): Glass fragments in glass bottles containing cider from the United Kingdom, manufactured in Belgium; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1246): Aflatoxins in ground nutmeg from Indonesia, via the Netherlands; distributed to Bulgaria, Germany and the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1248): Cadmium in horse meat from Poland; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1249): Escherichia coli O26:H11 in frozen minced veal meat from France, with raw materials from the Netherlands; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1250): Parasitic infestation with Anisakis of chilled mackerel from Norway, via Denmark; distributed to Germany, Greece and Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1252): Bemzopyrene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in roasted seaweed from China; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1253): Rusty cans containing whole radish and shredded radish from China; distributed to Belgium, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU# 2011.1254): Lead in frozen rabbit haunches with bones from Austria; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU# 2011.1255): Nitrofuran in frozen prawns from China; distributed to Sweden.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Outbreak Alert (India): Thirty-seven girls at a Malegaon school were hospitalized for food poisoning after consuming khichdi at a midday meal.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Little Creatures Brewing Pty Ltd. recalls Little Creatures Pale Ale Pint (Between 7 JUL 12 and 5 Aug 12), Little Creatures Bright Ale Pint (7 APR 12) and Little Creatures The Dreadnought Single Batch Pint (4 MAY 12), because a packaging fault has resulted in the potential for glass contamination.
  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Asahi Beverages recalls various Apple Time and Homebrand juices, due to the possible presence of metal shavings. Please refer to the recall notice for details of the affected products.
  • Outbreak Alert (Australia): South Australia Health has received notification of two cases of Shiga-E. coli (STEC) infections and one case of Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) in children who attended the Royal Adelaide Show. The child with HUS is receiving treatment in hospital, and is in serious but stable condition. Two of the three infected children are known to have been in contact with animals at the Animal Nursery during the Show.
  • Medical Device Safety Recall Update (Australia): Johnson & Johnson Medical Pty Ltd. recalls LifeScan OneTouch Verio blood glucose meter system kits, manufactured by LifeScan Inc., USA. Users are experiencing repeated ‘Error 2’ warning messages when used in conditions of high temperature and/or humidity due to contamination on one of the meter’s components, which occurred during the manufacturing process.

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: September 15, 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.

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 Update: USDA releases retail distribution list for ground turkey products recalled by Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation due to possible contamination with antibiotic-resistant Salmonella Heidelberg.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert: Jensen Farms, Inc. (Holly, CO) recalls Rocky Ford whole cantaloupes (shipped between July 29, 2011 and September 10, 2011) due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The cantaloupes may be linked to an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes that has sickened at least 22 people in seven states and caused two deaths. The recalled cantaloupes were distributed to 17 states. FDA is warning consumers not to eat these cantaloupes, and to discard them in the trash in a sealed container so that others cannot access them.
  • Food Safety Recall: Johnston Family Farm (Newborn, GA) recalls 240 gallons of skim milk (half-gallon and one-gallon containers; Sell-by date of September 16), because the milk was improperly pasteurized. The recalled milk was sold at Whole Foods (Atlanta), Two Story Coffeehouse (Athens), Yogurberry (Atlanta), Daily Groceries Co-op (Athens), Athens Locally Grown (Athens), Sevananda Natural Foods Market (Atlanta), Alon’s Bakery and Market (Dunwoody), farmers markets in the Atlanta area and at the dairy itself.
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Buehler’s Fresh Foods advises its customers that the manufacturer has recalled Maalox Advanced Max Liquid Cherry Flavor, 12 oz (Lot #10105720; expiration Feb 28/2013), because of “addition of non-USP water at the manufacturers.”
  • Outbreak Alert: The state of Wisconsin and the Green County Department of Health are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 that has killed a 20-month old girl and sickened eight other people. Two of the victims have been diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome. No common source for the cluster of nine cases has been found as yet.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Kuo Hua Trading Company Ltd. recalls Trojan Instant Fruit Latte powders, including Taro, Magic Mocha, and Bubble Ice Coffee (Product of Taiwan; 1000g packages; Code #P6154), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled products were distributed in British Columbia.

Europe

Australia and New Zealand

  • Consumer Product Safety Withdrawal (New Zealand): Progressive Enterprises withdraws Woolworth Homebrand and Select Scented Baby Wipes, after it was revealed that the wipes contain the restricted preservative iodopropynyl butylcarbamate (IPBC), which may pose a health risk.

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.