Author: Phyllis Entis

Recalls and Alerts: April 19, 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: Cinderella Sweets recalls Cindy’s Scrumptious Chocolate Chip Pound Cake, 16 oz., due to the presence of undeclared egg. Due to a labeling error, the product packaging indicates “Egg Free” but eggs are listed on the ingredient statement.
  • Allergy Alert: S&M (USA) Enterprise Corp recalls Rain Swiss Roll, Banana Flavor (160g uncoded cardboard box; Product of China), because the product contains undeclared eggs. The recalled product was distributed nationwide.
  • Food Safety Recall: Charcuterie La Tour Eiffel (Montreal, Canada) recalls all Summersweet seafood mousses and dips after samples from two lot codes of Salmon & Spinach Mouse were found to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled mousses and dips (see FDA recall notice for product list) were sold in retail outlets in New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida, California and Texas, including in Ralphs supermarkets. The manufacturer has suspended production pending the outcome of an investigation into the source of the contamination.
  • Food Safety Recall: Royal Sweet Bakery, Inc. (Brooklyn, NY) recalls Herring in Vegetable Oil Filling, after the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets determined that the fish was improperly eviscerated prior to processing and may, therefore, be contaminated with spores of Clostridium botulinum.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Investigation Update: As of April 18th, The Rhode Island Department of Health has identified 79 confirmed and suspect cases of salmonellosis linked to baked goods from De Fusco’s Bakery in Johnston, RI. Forty-eight cases were lab-confirmed; 30 people were hospitalized, and there have been two Salmonella-associated deaths.
  • Salmonella Outbreak Investigation Update: During the past two years (beginning April 9, 2009), 216 Salmonella illnesses have been confirmed in 41 states as a result of contact with water frogs, especially African dwarf frogs. The outbreak victims were infected with a strain of Salmonella Typhimurium that has been traced to a single African dwarf frog breeding facility in California. The outbreak strain also was recovered from a water sample collected in March 2011 from an aquarium containing African dwarf frogs in the household of a sick infant. Approximately 30% of the outbreak victims were hospitalized as a result of the infection.
  • Food Safety Alert: A retail-level survey of 100 samples of raw chicken (including whole fryers and packages of chicken parts) sold in Fred Meyer, Safeway, QFC, Whole Foods, Costco, Sam’s Club, Albertsons, Thriftway, PCC Natural Markets and Ken’s Market stores in the Seattle area from March 1st to April 4th revealed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus (42 samples), Campylobacter (65 samples), Salmonella (19 samples), Listeria (1 sample) and E. coli O126 (1 sample). Ten of the samples were contaminated with a methicillin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus.
  • Recreational Water Advisory Update (Oregon): A heath advisory for contact with marine water at Seaside Beach in Clatsop County, Oregon was lifted after further testing showed that fecal bacteria levels have subsided at the beach.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Brinkman Turkey Farms, Inc. (Findlay, OH) that a January/February 2011 inspection of the company’s low-acid canned food manufacturing facility revealed significant deviations from the Low-Acid Canned Food regulations.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Schindler’s Broad Run Cheese House, Inc. (Dover, OH) that a series of inspections carried out between September 2010 and December 2010 revealed serious deviations from Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Hocean Food Corporation (Los Angeles,  CA) that a November/December 2010 inspection of the company’s rice noodle processing establishment revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Delta Airlines, Inc. (Atlanta, GA) that an inspection of a Delta aircraft in Atlanta uncovered the presence of rodent excreta pellets and mammalian urine at various locations the aircraft.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Omega Nutriton U.S.A., Inc. (Bellingham, WA) that a December 2010 inspection of the company’s dietary supplement manufacturing facility revealed serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for Dietary Supplements.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Aliments Trigone Inc. recalls Les Moissonneries du Pays brand Green Buckwheat Flour Stone Ground Finely Milled (1 kg., Code 349642), due to the presence of undeclared gluten. The recalled product was distributed in the province of Québec.
  • Allergy Alert: Armstrong Food Service recalls Roast Beef (Product code 123790; Best Before dates up to and including 21/04/11), Shaved Roast Beef (Product code 124804; Best Before dates up to and including 21/04/11), and Thin Sliced Shaved Roast Beef (Product code 124802; Best Before dates up to and including 21/04/11) due to the presence of undeclared soy. The recalled products were distributed to hotels, restaurants and institutional customers in Nova Scotia., Shaved
  • Health Product Recall: Mary Ginseng House recalls Mary Ginseng House 100% Pure High Calibre Pow Sum Ontario Genseng after Health Canada’s testing revealed the presence of Klebsiella oxytoca, Pantoea sp. and Enterobacter cloacae in product samples. These bacteria can cause serious infection in an individual whose immune system has been weakened by another illness or chronic condition.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Galati Cheese Company Ltd. (Windsor, ON) that a January 2011 inspection of the company’s cheese manufacturing facility revealed a serious violation of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food, in that the company failed to store and transport finished food under conditions that will protect the food against physical, chemical, and microbial contamination.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (UK): Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC recalls Morrisons Fresh Ideas Mini Chicken Roast, 411g (Use by 22 April 2011), Morrisons 6 Carrot Cake Slices (Best before 11 May 2011), and Morrisons The Best Prawn & Smoked Salmon Cocktail, 140g (Use by 20 April 2011), due to the presence of undeclared allergens.
  • Petting Farm Outbreak Investigation (Wales, UK): Public Health Wales is investigating an outbreak of Cryptosporidium in an unspecified number of people who fell ill over the past twelve months following farm and “lamb petting” events at Erddig Hall.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (Abu Dhabi): Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority has ordered the closure of Al Tazaj Fakieh Grilled Chicken (License No. 1043939), a restaurant at the Hamdan Centre building on Hamdan Bin Mohamed Street, for repeated violation of food safety rules.
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (China): Food quality inspectors raided steamed bun producers in Zhejiang Province, and found tens of thousands of buns containing banned dyes and other chemicals sold to local schools.
  • Chinese Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Lai Sing Medicine Factory Limited recalls Prolonged Man Power Essence, as its lead level exceeds the permitted limit.
  • Chinese Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Lee Sze Trading Co. recalls Lee Sze Texiao Houtong Wan, as its arsenic level exceeds the permitted limit.

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: April 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: Organic Food Bar, Inc. (Fullerton, CA) recalls Chocolatey Chocolate Chip RAW Organic Food Bars (Lot #3071210 & 2071210, exp 12 Jul 2011; Lot #02081610 & 01081610, exp. 08/11; Lot #04092710, exp. 27 Sep 2011), because they may contain undeclared peanut proteins. The recalled product was distributed nationally in the United States and Canada through retail stores, mail order and direct delivery.
  • Allergy Alert: La Fiesta Food Products, Inc. recalls all La Fiesta brand and Mi Pueblo brand Dried Shredded Shrimp products, because the products contain undeclared sulfites.
  • Food Safety Recall: B&M, Inc. (Mount Vernon, MO) recalls Archer Farms Ground Turmeric, 2.6 oz. (Lot numbers 1740901A, Best By 6/23/2011; 2180902A, Best By 8/6/11; 2780906A, Best By 10/5/2011; 2920903A, Best By 10/19/11; 3060903A, Best By 11/2/2011; 0071003A, Best By1/7/2012), because the product contains excessive levels of lead. The recalled Ground Turmeric was distributed to Target retails stores nationwide, and was sold from June 2009 to February 2010 in the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, and WI.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Ortho-McNeil Neurologics Division recalls TOPAMAX®, 100mg tablets (Lot #0KG110, Exp 06-2010; and Lot #0LG222, Exp. 09-2012), after receiving consumer complaints of an uncharacteristic odor thought to be caused by trace amounts of TBA (2,4,6 tribromoanisole). The recalled TOPAMAX® tablets were distributed in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
  • Food Safety Advisory (Connecticut): The Department of Public Health releases an updated guide on safely eating fish caught in Connecticut, including in Long Island Sound.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Investigation Update: On Friday, March 25th, the Rhode Island Department of Health issued a recall of all baked goods from DeFusco’s Bakery in Johnston. The recalled products have been implicated in a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 77 residents of Rhode Island and one person in Massachusetts. Forty-six of the cases have been lab-confirmed; 29 people were hospitalized, and two people have died as a result of their infection.
  • Norovirus Outbreak Alert (Hawaii): Cholo’s Homestyle Mexican Restaurant (Haleiwa, HI) closed temporarily after the restaurant was found to be the source of an outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis that has sickened as many as 42 people. The restaurant has since reopened after undertaking a clean-up.
  • Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigation (Indiana): An unspecified number of Indiana State University (ISU) students and employees developed gastroenteritis after consuming food at the April 4th Ethics and Social Responsibility Conference at ISU. Sodexo, the ISU food service provider, has denied that contaminated food is to blame for the illnesses.
  • Food Recall: Food City advises its customers that Bakers Bright Sheen (Gallon bottles) has been recalled.
  • Food Recall: Price Chopper recalls Price Chopper Sour Neon Worms (6 oz., Code date 3103561), because the packages contain another candy, Spearmint Leaves.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Organic Food Bar, Inc. (Fullerton, CA) recalls Chocolatey Chocolate Chip flavour Raw Organic Food Bars, due to the presence of undeclared peanuts. The Allergy Alert first issued by CFIA on March 17th has been expanded to include all of the following lot codes: 01081610, 2071210, 04092710, 3071210, and 02081610. The recalled product is known to have been distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Ontario, and may be distributed nationally.
  • Allergy Alert: Olympic Distributors recalls Sparkle Dried Bean Curd Sheet, 170g, due to the presence of undeclared sulphites. The recalled product was distributed through retailers in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Yukon.
  • Allergy Alert: Diners Express (Senneterre, QC) recalls several sandwiches, subs and snacks, because the products may contain undeclared milk, wheat or soy. The recalled products were sold in a number of retail establishments in Abitibi.
  • Food Safety Recall: Charcuterie La Tour Eiffel recalls Summersweet Fine Foods seafood mousses and dips, because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The following products, which were sold in various sizes at retail locations nationally, have been recalled: Smoked Salmon & Spinach Mousse; Mousse Smoked Salmon & Spinach; Smoked Salmon & Dill Mousse; Dip Crab & Roasted Red Pepper; Dip Lobster & Shrimp; Smoked Salmon & Roasted Artichoke Dip; and Dip Crab & Three Cheese.

Europe

  • Food Safety Alert (Denmark): The Danish Food Authority warns the public that meat and meat products sold from Kappendrupvej 12, 5450 Otterup came from animals that were not subject to control by food authorities either before or after slaughter. Furthermore, the animals from which the meat came were slaughtered without authorization and in dirty and poorly maintained premises. Anyone who purchased meat or meat products from this premises should discard it.
  • Food Safety Alert (Denmark): The Danish Food Authority warns the public that Riz Gluant Noir Perfume, 1kg (Product of Thailand, via France; Best Before 17/2-2012; Lot #100217 122 000 331), contains black dye that has not been approved for use in rice.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Jinghua shop recalls Black Rice, 400g (Schwarzer reis; Product of China, via Germany; Best before 12.2011), because the rice contains the dye Black PN, which is not approved for use in rice.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall (Denmark): SCANPAN A/S recalls SCANPAN Black Nylon Palette Knife (Made in China), sold in hardware stores throughout Denmark, because the tools release primary aromatic amines at quantities above the permitted threshold.
  • Outbreak Alert (UK): Dorset County Hospital has closed two wards to new admissions due to an outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis that has affected more than 20 patients in the Barnes and Day Lewis wards. The public has been asked to avoid any non-essential visits to the hospital.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2011.0500): Undeclared egg in shell pasta from Croatia; distributed to Slovenia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0501): Mercury in chilled swordfish (Xiphias gladius) loins from Chile; distributed to Belgium, France and Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0502): Unauthorized ivermectin in corned beef from Brazil; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2011.0503): Undeclared milk ingredient in broth of vegetables in grains from Greece; distributed to Cyprus.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0504): Salmonella Mbandaka in sesame seeds from Turkey; distributed to Austria.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0505): Yersinia enterocolitica in radicchio from Italy, via the United Kingdom; distributed to Norway.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2011.0506): Traces of milk ingredient in vegetarian margarine from Greece; distributed to Cyprus.
  • Allergy Alert Notiifcation (EU #2011.0507): Undeclared milk ingredient in chocolate cake mixture from Greece; distributed to Cyprus.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0508): Parasitic infestation with Anisakis of chilled anchovy (Engraulis enchrasicholus) from Croatia; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0509): Salmonella Dublin in chilled veal meat from the Netherlands; distributed to Denmark.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Pharmaceutical Product Recall (Hong Kong): Actavis (China) Holding Limited recalls Amitriptyline Tablets, 10mg (Imported from the U.K.; Batch No. AA750), due to a printing error in some labels, resulting in incorrect indication of expiry dates.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Ortho-McNeil Neurologics Division recalls TOPAMAX®, 100mg tablets (Lot #0KG110, Exp 06-2010; and Lot #0LG222, Exp. 09-2012), after receiving consumer complaints of an uncharacteristic odor thought to be caused by trace amounts of TBA (2,4,6 tribromoanisole). The recalled TOPAMAX® tablets were distributed in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

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.

Recalls and Alerts: April 14, 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: Spice Hunter recalls Spice Hunter Curry Seasoning, 1.8oz (Lots 09 198 and 09 225) and Spice Hunter Ground Turmeric, 2.0oz (Lots 09 196, 09 201 and 09 264) due to the possibility of high levels of lead in the products. The recalled items were sold at Top Food & Drug store locations, and may also have been available elsewhere.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Investigation: On Friday, March 25th, the Rhode Island Department of Health issued a recall of all baked goods from DeFusco’s Bakery in Johnston, RI. As of April 13, 2011, the recalled zeppole and other baked goods have been implicated in 75 cases of Salmonella gastroenteritis (74 in Rhode Island and one in Massachusetts); 46 of the cases have been lab-confirmed; 29 victims were hospitalized (2 remain in hospital), and two people have died.
  • Recreational Water Safety Advisory (Oregon): A Health Advisory has been issued due to higher-than-normal levels of bacteria in ocean waters at Seaside Beach in Clatsop County. Direct contact with the water should be avoided until the advisory is lifted.
  • Cosmetics Product Safety Recall: Redken recalls Redken Guts Volume Foam Mousse (UPC 82214226107), because the aerosal can liner may corrode over time, leading to possible explosion of the can.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: L’Épicerie du Village (Sainte-Sophie) recalls a large number of prepared soups, entrées, pâtés and sauces, due to the presence of undeclared egg, wheat, soy, milk protein and/or sulfite.
  • Outbreak Alert (Saskatchewan): Four residents and six staff members at the Gull Lake Special Care Centre have been identified as suffering from an enteric illness, the cause of which has not been determined. The Cypress Health Region has declared a “Full Outbreak” at the facility. In order to prevent the outbreak from spreading further, visitation to the entire facility is restricted until further notice.
  • Health Advisory (Saskatchewan): The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority and Ministry of Health warn that heightened risk of flooding in many parts of the province this spring may pose a threat to private water wells and cisterns used for drinking water sources. As a safety measure during spring runoff, the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority is offering free testing of private wells and cisterns used as sources of drinking water that have been potentially impacted by flooding across the province.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (Singapore): Singapore has lifted its suspension on the import of fruites and vegetables from Japan’s Ehime prefecture.
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (China): Chinese authorities have detained five people and shut down the Shanghai Shenglu Food Co, a steamed bun manufacturer, after finding that the company’s products had been dyed, were expired, or contained undeclared chemicals.
  • Outbreak Alert (Philippines): The Provincial Health Office has warned of an outbreak of typhoid fever in Negros Occidental province. The number of cases reported so far in 2011 is 60% higher than during the same period last year. Three deaths due to typhoid have been recorded this year.
  • Outbreak Alert (Philippines): An outbreak of cholera has been declared in Bataraza town in Palawan. At least 430 cases of diarrhea have been reported since March 1st; at least 30 people – mostly children belonging to a tribe – have died.
  • Outbreak Alert (Congo DR): Fifty-one people have died as a result of cholera in eastern Congo (Democratic Republic) since February. Since the onset of the outbreak, 913 people have been hospitalized. It is feared that the onset of heavy rains could worsen the outbreak.
  • Food Poisoning Outbreak Investigation (Mauritius): Eighty-two people were diagnosed with food poisoning by staff of the Flacq Hospital on April 10th. Sixty people were admitted to hospital due to the severity of their symptoms. One death may be linked to the outbreak. All of the victims report having eaten cream pie purchased at the Marday White Mountain bakery on April 7th. The bakery’s manager, who also suffered from the food poisoning incident, has been questioned by police.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert (Colombia): The Ministry of Health reports that 19 confirmed cases of hepatitis A infections have been diagnosed in La Paz within the last month; an additional 10 suspect cases are under investigation. Approximately one-half of the victims are under 14 years of age. The source of the outbreak has not been determined, but contaminated food and/or unsafe drinking water are suspected.
  • Outbreak Update (Haiti): The rainy season is bringing with it a flare-up in the number of reported cases of cholera. In the last two weeks – since the onset of the rainy season – the Partners in Health cholera center in Mirebalais has seen 1,000 new cases. As a whole, Haiti is reporting some 2,000 new cholera cases a week.
  • Health Alert (Mexico): The Ministry of Health reports that 27,476 cases of acute diarrheal disease have been documented in Yucatan so far in 2011 – up 19% over the same period last year. Forty percent of the cases are children under five years of age.

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.