Author: Phyllis Entis

Tainted Tapenade Sends Eight to Hospital in France

Eight people are in hospital today – 5 in Vaucluse and 3 in Somme – after consuming a commercial tapinade tainted with Clostridium botulinum type A toxin. Three of the eight are on life-support.

Botulinum toxin is a potent neurotoxin that may be produced during the growth of Clostridium botulinum. Even a small amount of the toxin, when ingested, causes a potentially deadly paralysis. Most instances of botulism are traced to consumption of home-canned foods. But this case is different.

All eight victims reported having consumed a commercially prepared “artisanal” tapenade of green olives and almonds, identified as follows:

“les délices de Marie Claire” Conserve de tapenade d’olive verte aux amandes, pot de 180g. Lot #112005; DLC 16/12/2012. Produced by “La ruche”, 84300 Cavallion.

The Institut Pasteur reports finding botulinum toxin in a sample of this product. The tapenade, which was sold in grocery stores in Bouches du Rhône, Drôme, Var, and Vaucluse, has been recalled, and consumers are alerted not to consume the offending tapenade.

La Ruche, the producer of the toxin-tainted tapenade, never registered with the Prefecture. The couple who own and operate La Ruche did not carry out appropriate control procedures, did not seek technical assistance, and did not have the proper equipment in place to sterilize their product effectively, according to Mme. Martine Clavel, Secretary General of Vaucluse Prefecture.

Because the company was unknown to Prefecture food safety authorities, its production facility – in operation since 2000 – was never inspected. Even a cursory inspection of La Ruche’s operations would have uncovered the egregious errors of omission and commission described by Ms. Clavel.

While the offending batch of tapenade is small – approximately 60 jars – the risk to the public is large. Prefecture authorities have ordered the suspension of all production activities at La Ruche in addition to the recall of all outstanding product currently in circulation.

Please check your pantry for any Les Délices de Marie Claire brand of preserves, and discard them safely or return them to the grocery store. DO NOT TASTE THESE PRODUCTS. Even a tiny amount may contain enough botulinum toxin to cause serious illness.

As always, “when in doubt, throw it out” is the safest policy.

Del Monte vs. The Food Cops: What’s YOUR Verdict?

On March 30, 2011, I reported on an outbreak of Salmonella Panama that eventually sickened – when all the dust settled – 20 people in 10 states. Twelve victims (out of 16 interviewed) reported eating cantaloupe in the week before they became ill. Eleven of the twelve purchased their cantaloupes from eight different Costco locations.

The melons implicated during the outbreak investigation were supplied to Costco by Del Monte Fresh Produce, and were grown on a single farm in Guatemala. But the outbreak strain never was recovered from the implicated cantaloupes.

By the time the outbreak was detected and the probable source of the infections determined by the federal and state epidemiologists (through patient interviews and product traceback investigations), the implicated cantaloupes had passed their useable shelf life and were no longer on the market. Nevertheless, Del Monte Fresh Produce decided to recall the remaining stock of Guatemalan cantaloupes that it had supplied to Costco in states where outbreak cases has been confirmed.

In addition to the recall action, the FDA issued an Import Alert (#22-03), authorizing its District Offices to “…detain, without physical examination, all raw fresh and raw fresh refrigerated cantaloupes, frozen and processed cantaloupe, including fresh-cut cantaloupe (i.e., sliced/chopped), offered for importation that appear to originate from …” Asuncion Mita, the Guatemalan farm that grew the implicated melons.

At the time of the recall, Del Monte Fresh Produce chose to cooperate with FDA. Now, however, the company has had second thoughts. On August 22, 2011, Del Monte filed a lawsuit against the FDA, claiming that the federal agency had “…imposed harmful restrictions on Del Monte’s importation of cantaloupes from a major source in Guatemala, based upon an erroneous speculative assumption, unsupported by evidence, that cantaloupes previously imported from that source were contaminated with the pathogen Salmonella.” The lawsuit asks the Court to issue “…declaratory judgment holding that FDA’s actions restricting importation are unlawful, set aside the actions, and issue a permanent injunction prohibiting FDA from enforcing or effectuating them in the future.”

And that’s not all. Del Monte also has notified the state of Oregon that the company intends to file suit against the state’s Department of Public Health and its senior epidemiologist, Dr. Bill Keene, who played a major role in the outbreak investigation.

This is the first time that I can remember that a food company has sued FDA over a regulatory decision such as an Import Alert or a recall recommendation. If this case goes forward – even if it is ultimately decided in favor of FDA – I strongly fear that the agency will be more timid in future when faced with potentially controversial recall recommendations.

I know what Del Monte Fresh Produce thinks – that’s clear from their Court filing.

I know what food poisoning attorney and blogger Bill Marler thinks – that’s eminently clear from his blogs on the subject since the lawsuit was filed on August 22nd.

But, I want to know what my readers think. Here’s your chance to have your say. Just answer the two poll questions below, and add any comments you care to in the comments field at the bottom of this post.


I look forward eagerly to reading your replies.

Cooper Recalls Avaira®, BioComfort XO, Encore 100 Contact Lenses: Update #4

Recalled lenses sold in Costco stores in Canada, Walmart, Costco and LensCrafters stores in USA, 1-800-CONTACTS (on-line) and through eye care practitioners in Australia.

FDA, Health Canada silent on this recall.

On August 19, 2011, The Cooper Companies, Inc. announced a recall by its subsidiary, CooperVision, of “limited lots” of Avaira® Toric contact lenses. The recall was described as being due to “…the unintended presence of a residue on certain lenses.” According to the news release, which was intended to advise investors of the recall, the residue was discovered as a result of “… a small number of complaints of temporary hazy vision.”

CooperVision has posted the following recall notice on its web site.

“Avaira® Toric Limited Lot Voluntary Recall

We at CooperVision take great pride in the quality of our products.We initiated a voluntary recall after investigating a small number ofunexpected wearer reports of hazy vision and discomfort. The wearer symptoms were temporary in many cases.

This recall involves only a slight percentage of Avaira Toric lenses. To determine if the Avaira Toric lenses you wear are included in this recall, enter the Lot Number found on your product package or blister (as shown in the illustration) into the search box below.

We apologize for any inconvenience this situation may cause you. For more information read our Questions & Answers document. You can also call 1-855-5-COOPER or 1-855-526-6737 if you have any other questions. (Consumer Care hours of operation are 9:00AM-5:00PM EST Mon-Fri).”

In contrast, eFoodAlert readers tell a scarier story. Here are three comments, which were posted in response to my initial recall story.

  • From Helen: “My son went to ER due to severe eye pain. His 1st Avaira Toric caused blur vision and rainbow coloring to his vision, but it disappeared couple days later. Then his 2nd pair had the same effect. so he took them off. Then his eye pain started. It was so intense we took him to ER.”
  • From Krystal, in Texas: “We are located in Texas in the US and my son was in severe eye pain he had to miss the 2nd day of school. This was a horrifying experience for my family. The pain inflicted on my son was unbearable to watch. After taking him to his doctor then to an ophthalmologist purchasing 3 different prescriptions the bills staked up. His cornea was severely scratched and swollen. A week later he is doing better. We are just praying no long term damage was caused.”
  • From Dan in Virginia: “My daughter also had to go to the ER due to severe eye pain after using these contacts. Diagnosed with severe tear to the cornea. Doing better now, scheduled to follow up with an opthamologist today. Contacts were purchased at the walmart in Hampton, VA.”

I’m neither an optometrist nor an ophthalmologist, but these reports sound a lot worse than just “temporary hazy vision.”

Here is what we know about the distribution of these recalled contact lenses.

  • Recalled Avaira Toric lenses were distributed in the USA, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Germany, Italy and Spain (according to the Hong Kong Department of Health).
  • Avaira Toric contact lenses were sold in Walmart (per Dan in Virginia, above).
  • BioComfort XO Toric lenses also were recalled. These lenses were distributed directly to members of the Hong Kong Association of Private Practice Optometrists.
  • Encore Toric contact lenses, which were sold in Costco Canada warehouse stores (Costco Item #277220) between April 18 and August 23, 2011, also have been recalled.
  • Contacts (Avaira?) were sold in Costco in Seattle, WA (per Ineke van W in Washington, below (Update #1).

I call on all eFoodAlert readers to help publicize this recall. The vision you save may belong to a friend or family member. Here is what you can do:

  1. If you or a family member wears Toric contact lenses, go to the CooperVision recall web page and enter the lot number of your package to determine whether your lenses have been recalled. If you no longer have the package, and you have experienced any discomfort whatsoever, stop wearing the contact lenses. Contact your optometrist or ophthalmologist for advice.
  2. Email this story to any friends or family members who wear contact lenses – especially if you know that they use Toric lenses.
  3. If you, a friend, or a family member has experienced a problem with these lenses, please post your story as a comment, below. Please state where you live (city, state/province, country), and where you purchased the Toric lenses. I’ll add this information to the recall distribution list.

Media coverage of this recall has been sparse – in keeping with the tone of Cooper’s original recall notice. Together, we can do what FDA, Health Canada, and CooperVision have collectively failed to do – GET THE WORD OUT!

Update #1 – From Ineke van W in Washington: I purchased contacts at Costco in Seattle WA and also ended up in the ER with the most excruciating eye pain. ER doc noted that the corneal abrasion was in the shape of the contact lens.

Update #2 – August 30, 2011: Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration posts recall notice for CooperVision Avaira® Toric contact lenses.

Update #3 – From Annette in Texas: I purchased the Avaira Toric lenses in Spring, TX through 1800CONTACTS. When I took them out on the first day of wearing them (Tuesday, 8/30/11) it felt like I scratched my eye. When I woke up the next morning I couldn’t open my eyes. The pain was so severe. I went to my eye doctor and was told that both my cornea’s were torn. She gave me a prescription for an antibiotic but I still can’t see well enough to drive. I have never felt pain like this before.

Update #4 – From Melissa in Georgia: REGARDING AVAIRA TORIC CONTACT LENSES:
I’ve suffered a severe corneal abrasion due to this lens.  My lot number is involved in the recall.  Over the weekend I noticed vision in my right eye was filmy so I removed the contact.  About an hour later I was in severe pain in that eye–felt like a bee stiniging my eye.  Doctor at the ER said I had a corneal abrasion in the shape of a contact over 15% of my cornea. I called my eye care provider and they said they had no idea of the recall.  It’s frustrating that no one from either company failed to notify me that these lenses were defective. I live in Atlanta, Georgia and purchased these lenses at a Lencrafters.