Author: Phyllis Entis

Recalls and Alerts: April 12, 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

  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Chesapeake Crab Connection Co. (Lancaster, PA) that a December 2010 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility 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 Chantel’s Cakes & Pastries (Sterling, VA) that a November 2010 through January 2011 inspection of the company’s manufacturing facility revealed insanitary conditions and serious violations of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 110 – Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Sam Hak Food Corp. (Flushing, NY) that a January/February 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Sanuka Kanzyme Co. (Yurihonjyo-shi, Japan) that a November 2010 inspection of the company’s low-acid canned food facility revealed serious deviations from the low-acid canned food regulations.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Day Boat Seafood, LLC (Lake Park, FL) that a December 2010/January 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulation for foods.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: My Michelle (New York, NY) recalls My Michelle girls tops and dresses, because the jewelry and decorative trim attached to the girl’s garments contain high levels of lead. The recalled articles of clothing were manufactured in Vietnam and sold at Burlington Coat Factory, Dillard’s, J.C. Penney, Kohl’s, Army and Air Force Exchange (AAFES), K & G Fashion Superstore and other retail stores nationwide from January 2011 through March 2011 for about $38.
  • Public Health Reminder: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reminds parents that young children should not be permitted to handle young birds, such as chicks and ducklings, as the birds may carry Salmonella.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Bangle Hand Inc. (Toronto, ON) recalls Bangle Hand Pakkoda due to the presence of undeclared wheat. The recalled product was distributed in the Greater Toronto Area.
  • Expanded Health Hazard Alert/Recall: CFIA’s public warning has been expanded to include the following retailers who repackaged and sold raw shelled walnuts and products containing walnuts that were distributed by Amira Enterprises Inc: Asia Food Mart, London, ON (Shelled Walnuts  and Salad Booster containing Walnuts), and Jimmy’s A & A Mediterranean Deli, Calgary, AB (Raw Shelled Walnuts Halves  Pieces). The walnuts were recalled by Amira after they were implicated in an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick.
  • Food Safety Recall (Expanded): Boucherie Atlantique ltée (Montréal) recalls Walnuts (variable weights; sold in plastic containers from January 1 to April 4, 2011), because the walnuts may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
  • Expanded Health Hazard Alert/Recall: Québec’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food warns the public not to consume bulk walnuts and products containing walnuts that were purchased from the following retailers between January 1 and April 5, 2011, because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7:- Produits Eden, Montréal (walnut pieces); Fruiterie St.-Amour, Gatineau (trail mix, and walnut pieces); and Épicerie Européenne, Québec (Shelled walnuts).
  • Cosmetic Product Safety Alert: Health Canada warns the public that eleven additional professional hair smoothing solutions have been found to contain levels of formaldehyde that exceed the permitted limit. Please refer to the Health Canada Information Update for details.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Ireland): Celery DNA has been detected in the parsley ingredient of Organix Goodies Organic Cheese and Herb Puffs, 15 g, (Best Before dates: 30/05/11, 04/07/11, 18/07/11, 25/07/11, 01/08/11, 15/08/11, 22/08/11, 05/09/11 and 26/09/11). This may make the snacks unsafe for consumers who are allergic to celery.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Allergy Alert (New Zealand): General Mills New Zealand recalls Frescarini Wholegrain Roasted Vegetables Ravioli (300g; Use by 02.05.11), due to the possible presence of undeclared sesame, egg, milk, soy, wheat, and rye. The recalled product was sold through all major supermarket chains in New Zealand.

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.

My Food Safety Magic Wand

A few weeks ago, the publisher of Food Safety News asked me to consider what I would do if I had a food safety magic wand. The following contribution was posted on-line today.

If I Had A Food Safety Magic Wand …..

If I had a food safety Magic Wand,
Everybody would have a safe supply of drinking water;
Everyone would have sanitary toilet facilities;
And every household would have a clean area to prepare food.
If I had a food safety Magic Wand.

If I had a food safety Magic Wand,
Every country would publicize food safety recalls;
Every country would encourage safe food production techniques;
And every country would enforce food safety laws.
If I had a food safety Magic Wand.

If I had a food safety Magic Wand,
FDA would promptly disclose all food inspection reports (Form 483);
USDA would promptly disclose all food inspection reports;
And FDA and USDA would enable on-line consumer food safety complaints;
If I had a food safety Magic Wand.

If I had a food safety Magic Wand,
All local health agencies would make restaurant inspection results available on-line;
All schools would teach food safety as part of the core curriculum;
And all chefs would practice and promote safe food handling.
If I had a food safety Magic Wand.

But I haven’t a food safety Magic Wand,
So we’ll just have to muddle through –

With no access to clean water for millions around the world,
With no sanitary toilets in much of Asia and Africa,
With fragmentary information,
With fragmentary enforcement,
With inadequate education,
And with celebrity chef misinformation.

Until someone invents a Food Safety Magic Wand.

Recalls and Alerts: April 11, 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: Mexicantown Wholesale (Detroit, MI) recalls all lots of Pan Nuez, Magdalena, Pan de Maiz, Yoyo and Tacos de Pan Danes manufactured between 6/27/2010 and 12/28/2010 because they contain undeclared j8oikn wheat and FD&C Yellow #5. In addition, the Pan Nuez contains undeclared pecan chips. The recalled products were sold in retail stores in Michigan.
  • Food Recall/Withdrawal: Food City recalls/withdraws Food Club Mild Taco Sauce.
  • Cosmetics Product Recall: Procter & Gamble recalls ten Clairol Natural Instincts shades, due to a mismatched ColorFresh™ Revitalizer sachet in the kits that may create an unwanted color result. The recalled product was distributed in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Quality Natural Foods Ltd. (Scarborough, ON) recalls Haldiram’s Nagpur brand Gulab Jamun Indian Sweets (1 Kg and 4 Kg sizes; All codes and Best Before dates), due to the presence of undeclared gluten. The products were distributed across Canada.
  • Food Safety Recall (Expanded): Farm Boy recalls all glass-bottled Farm Boy Organic Milk, Skim, 2 Percent, 1 Percent, 3.8 Percent, Unhomogenized and Chocolate, due to reports of glass fragments apparently originating from the packing process at Cochrane’s Dairy in Russel. The recalled products were distributed at Farm Boy stores in Ontario.
  • Health Hazard Alert (Update): The public is warned not to consume raw shelled walnuts sold between January 1 and April 8, 2011 at Kim’s Mart (519-523 E. Broadway, Vancouver, BC) and sold between March 30 and April 8, 2011 at Triple A Market (1626 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC), because the walnuts may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. This Alert relates to the walnut recall announced last week by Amira Enterprises and the ongoing investigation into a series of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses reported in Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick.
  • Health Hazard Alert/Safety Recall: The Québec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the City of Montréal warn the public not to consume walnuts and mixed nuts containing walnuts sold at the following locations: Fruiterie Royal Gala, 2213 rue Beaubien Est, Montreal (between February 11 and April 8, 2011), Pâtisserie traiteur Adar, 5634 avenue Westminister, Côte-Saint-Luc (between January 17 and April 4, 2011) and Délices des nations, 185 Belvédère Nord, Sherbrooke (between January 1 and April 8, 2011). The walnuts were recalled after being implicated in an outbreak of E. coli o157:H7 that is still under investigation.
  • Food Safety Recall: Nys Pâtissier (Pâtisserie Belge Artisanale, Trois-Rivières) recalls Sauce à Spaghetti Maison (1000 glass jars), because it was produced and stored under conditions that could result in a food safety hazard.
  • Cosmetics Product Recall: Procter & Gamble recalls ten Clairol Natural Instincts shades, due to a mismatched ColorFresh™ Revitalizer sachet in the kits that may create an unwanted color result. The recalled product was distributed in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Sweden): ICA withdraws Euroshopper brand Fish Fingers x30 (900g package; all best-before dates) due to the presence of undeclared egg protein.
  • Food Safety Recall (UK): Bernard Matthews Farms recalls Bernard Matthews Farms Turkey Goujons (192g and 384g pack sizes; Use by 13 April 2011), because the product may contain small hard pieces of plastic.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Consumer Product Safety Recall (Saudi Arabia): The Saudi Food & Drug Authority warns the public not to use Camera brand industrial nipples models 10095, 140 ml with Barcode 4711146100948, and model 10099, 250 ml with Barcodes 4711146100986 and 4711146100993 , made in Peoples Republic of China. Analysis of the nipples determined that they are made of polyvinyl chloride (the packages state silicon). The nipples do not comply with Saudi Standard Specifications for Nipples, as the nipples exceeded the permissible limits for transfer of plastic components into contacting food.

Australia and New Zealand

  • “Boil Water” Alert (Queensland): Queensland Health is warning Roma residents to use cooled, boiled water for drinking, cooking, washing raw foods, making ice and cleaning teeth, after Salmonella was detected in the Council’s drinking supplies connected to households in Roma. Residents experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis should contact their medical practitioner or health facility.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Cosmetics Product Recall: Procter & Gamble recalls ten Clairol Natural Instincts shades, due to a mismatched ColorFresh™ Revitalizer sachet in the kits that may create an unwanted color result. The recalled product was distributed in the United States, Canada 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.