Author: Phyllis Entis

Recalls and Alerts: May 9, 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: Mann Packing expands its earlier recall of certain vegetable platters and Snacks on the Go products to include Safeway’s Eating Right Veggie Party Platter (3 lbs, 6 ozs; Best if used by dates ranging from 05-09 2011 to 05-16 2011; UPC 79893-10708) because the grape tomato ingredient in the platters may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled Veggie Party Platters were sold at Carrs, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s Pavilions, Randall’s, Safeway, Tom Thumb, and Vons.
  • Food Safety Recall: Northeast Produce Inc. (Plainville, CT) recalls grape tomatoes (Lot #202 GB) that were supplied to the company by Six L’s, because the tomatoes may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled products, which include Fancy Sweet, Cutie Brand and Cherry Berries grape tomatoes, were supplied to distributors in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York and Rhode Island.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Certain Mann’s Sunny Shores, The Produce Stand, and Eating Right brands pre-packaged vegetable products (Best if used by dates between May 9, 2011 and May 16, 2011) are being recalled by the importers, because they contain grape tomatoes that may be contaminated with Salmonella. Please see the CFIA Health Hazard Alert for a detailed list of recalled products.
  • Outbreak Alert: Twelve residents (out of 192) of the Village of Aspen Lake long-term care home are suffering from Clostridium difficile symptoms; one staff member also has displayed symptoms but has not been confirmed to have been infected with the outbreak microbe. Residents and visitors are being cautioned, but no quarantine or restrictions have been imposed.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Chinese Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Wah Ning Chinese Medicine Co. recalls [Hua Tuo Brand] Youzhi Baoying Dan proprietary Chinese medicine (Manufactured on the Mainland; Batch No. 20101028), because the product contains twice the permitted level of mercury. The recalled medicine was distributed to three retailers in Hong Kong.
  • Outbreak Alert (Israel): A kindergarten teacher and a cook at the kindergarten in Neve Yamin (near Petach Tikva) are being questioned as part of an investigation into the food poisoning outbreak that sent a number of children to hospital with nausea and diarrhea.
  • Outbreak Alert (New Delhi): Students at IIT-Delhi have reported suffering from gastroenteritis, and are blaming contaminated water in the college residences. College officials deny the charge, although the director acknowledged “stray cases” of typhoid and gastroenteritis have occurred.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall Update (New Zealand): Le Marché Français recalls Fromi Assau Iraty Raw Milk Ewe Cheese, imported from France (Use by 30/07/2011), because the cheese is contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product was sold at Le Marché Français Deli and at their stand at City Market, both in Wellington.
  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Cottage Cheese Farm Pty Ltd recalls Cottage Cheese Farm Full Cream Fetta (1kg and 2kg white plastic bucket; Use by 26 SEP 11), because the product is contaminated with E. coli. The recalled cottage cheese was sold in Victoria only, through the Cottage Cheese Farm onsite retail outlet and other outlets.
  • Cosmetic Product Safety Recall (Australia): Dateline Imports Pty Ltd. recalls Keratin Complex Intense RX (Batch No. 0021RX; Lot No. 040610) because the product contains undeclared thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid. The recalled product was distributed nationally.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert (Honduras): A dozen kindergarten children in Pespire developed developed stomach pain and vomiting less than three hours after consuming a meal of fried tortillas with beans and cheese at school. The meal was prepared by a group of mothers. Two of the children – a 4-year old boy and a 5-year old girl – died in hospital.
  • Outbreak Alert (US Virgin Islands): A US Coast Guard crew medevaced two crewmen off the cargo ship Noblesse after five of the 24 crew members developed food poisoning symptoms.

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.

Recalls and Alerts: May 7, 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: Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products, Inc. (Downers Grove, IL) recalls Target Market Pantry Snickerdoodles Cookies, 15-oz. clear clamshell pkg. (Lot #110592W03, 110933W03, 110941W03, 111152W03 and 111232W03), because the product contains undeclared whey. The recalled product was distributed nationwide to Target retail stores beginning in March 2011.
  • Food Recall: Food City recalls Food Club French Roast Coffee, 11.05-oz can and Food Club Classic Decaf Can Coffee, 13-oz can.
  • Outbreak Alert: CDC is investigating an outbreak of diarrhea that has affected 66 passengers and three crew members on the Coral Princess (Princess Cruises). Cruise ships are obliged to report to CDC illness outbreaks affecting 3% or more of the passenger roster on any cruise. The affected voyage was completed on May 4th. Onboard tests for Norovirus were negative; CDC is analyzing stool samples from passengers and crew to try to determine the cause of the outbreak.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The South Dakota Department of Health has determined that Norovirus was the cause of an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis that sickened about 130 children at Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary School in Mitchell.

Europe

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): La Marche Francais recalls Fromi Ossau Iraty raw milk sheep’s cheese, imported from France and sold at its Thorndon Quay deli and at the City Market between April 15 and April 26, because the cheese was found by the manufacturer to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled cheese was exported to New Zealand and to several European countries.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert Update (Domincan Republic): A Haitian man died of cholera, bringing the total number of cholera-related deaths to 13 since the outbreak spread into the Dominican Republic from Haiti last year; 34 new cases of cholera were confirmed during the last week.

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.

Recalls and Alerts: May 6, 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: Tri-State Bakery, LLC (Amarillo, TX) recalls 24-ounce white and wheat breads purchased prior to May 2, 2011 (see recall notice for detailed list of products), because the bread may contain undeclared soy flour, soy lecithin, and milk. The recalled breads were distributed through retail stores in Texas (except for El Paso Area), New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas and Arizona.
  • Allergy Alert: Nut Bar Company Inc. (Wyoming, MI) recalls GFS Pecan Pieces (40-oz. packages; Lot #095 1094), because they may contain undeclared walnuts instead of pecans. The recalled product was distributed through Gordon Food Service’s Shepherdsvilly, KY distribution center to restaurants and GFS Marketplace Stores in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
  • Allergy Alert: Stir the Pot, LLC (Louisville, KY) recalls J. Gumbo’s Drunken Chicken-Dark Chicken With Stewed Tomatoes (9-lb bags; Batch #2401), J. Gumbo’s Chicken Zydeco-Dark Chicken Meat in a Sweet Chili Sauce (9-lb. bags; Batch #Z020), J. Gumbo’s Voodoo Chicken-Dark Meat Chicken With Tomato Sauce and Spices (9-lb bags; Batch #VD 3242) and J. Gumbo’s Red Hot Chicken-Dark Chicken in Hot Sauce (9-lb. bags; Batch #RH-Y042), because the products contain undeclared fish protein in the form of anchovy puree. The recalled products were manufactured between March 28, 2011 and April 28, 2011 and were shipped to distributors for foodservice use in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee.
  • Allergy Alert: Butterfield Foods (Noblesville, IN) recalls barbecue beef, pork and chicken products, because they contain undeclared soy. The recalled products were manufactured between April 2, 2010 and May 5, 2011 and were distributed to retail establishments and restaurants in Indiana under the Butterfield Foods and Amish Classic brands.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: Taylor Farms Pacific, Inc. (Tracy, CA) has corrected its earlier recall notice for products containing grape tomatoes to include updated product and distribution information. Please see the recall notice for a detailed list of recalled items and distribution details. USDA  has released an updated retail distribution list for the recalled products that fall under its jurisdiction. Separately, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has confirmed that the recalled salad products were distributed to companies in the Pacific Northwest that supply products to Alaska. Please see the Alaska Press Release for details. Colorado has posted a list of recalled grape tomato products that were sold in Safeway, King Soopers and City Market stores in that state.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: American Regent recalls Caffeine & Sodium Benzoate Injection, USP, 250mg/mL, 2 mL Single Dose Vial (NDC # 0517-2502-10, Lot #0084, Exp Date February, 2012; Lot #0084 only), because some of the vials may contain visible particulates. The recalled product was distributed to wholesalers and distributors nationwide.
  • Shellfishing Areas Closed (New York): The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has temporarily closed particular areas in the Town of Huntington to shellfish harvesting, after shellfish samples collected from western Shinnecock Bay tested positive for saxitoxin, a marine biotoxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert Update: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued an expanded Alert to include additional product codes of Doctor’s CarbRite Diet Chocolate Brownie Bars (56.7g/2-oz. pkgs; Lot #EXP101211, EXP040211, EXP080811, EXP080911, and EXP041012), which have been recalled because they may contain undeclared peanuts. The product may have been distributed nationally.
  • Allergy Alert: Quality Natural Foods Ltd. (Scarborough, ON) recalls Quality brand Super Tasty Rasmalai (1Kg & 4Kg), because the product contains undeclared sulphites. The recalled products were distributed nationally.
  • Outbreak Alert: An acute gastrointestinal illness – suspected to be Norovirus – has struck 20 travelers and 16 staff members at the Chateau Lake Louise resort hotel in Alberta. The afflicted hotel guests were quarantined in their rooms for 48 hours after their symptoms subsided, while sick staff members were told to remain at home. Kitchen staff were instructed to stay home for 48 hours after their symptoms subsided.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Finland): Inex Partners Oy withdraws Rainbow Grilled Vegetables, 450g pkg (Product of Belgium; Batch code L1048-2; Best Before 17.08.2012), because the product contains undeclared milk protein and wheat gluten.
  • Food Safety Alert (Netherlands): Inproba asks consumers to discard Inproba Creamy Coconut Milk (250 ml; Expiration date 3/9/2012), because the product might spoil before the indicated expiration date. No other production lots are affected by this warning.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Moughal Imports Ltd. recalls TRS Whole Brown Lentil (Lot No. P100218; Best before 28/12-2012) and Natco Green Lentil (Lot #090211 14547; Best before 28/2-2013), after glyphosate was detected at levels above the permitted amount.
  • Food Withdrawal (Denmark): Ello-Food ApS withdraws Life brand Chestnut Flour (Product of Italy; Best Before 30/6-2011; Lot #266.10 and 245.10) after mold was found in the product by the Italian supplier.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Poisoning Illness/Death (India): An eighteen-year old girl died in hospital due to food poisoning after sharing a meal with her family. The girl’s two teenaged sisters and their father also suffered from diarrhea, but are out of danger.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (El Salvador): Bonamesa Packing has been ordered to halt production of sausages after Clostridium perfringens was found in samples of the company’s sausages. The action comes after the company failed to implement recommended improvements to its hygienic practices and operations. Clostridium perfringens is the third leading cause of food poisoning in El Salvador, according to the Deputy Minister of Health.
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.