Author: Phyllis Entis

Recall Roundup: March 30, 3011

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: Completely Fresh Foods Inc. (Montebello, CA) recalls approximately 131,000 pounds of Trader Joe’s Pizza Al Pollo Asado, 10-oz. pkg (Produced on various dates between jan 27, 2011 and March 27, 2011), due to the presence of undeclared wheat. The recalled pizza products were supplied to Trader Joe’s stores nationwide.
  • Food Safety Recall: Nutrition Express (Torrance, CA) recalls specific products containing whey protein isolate from one supplier, because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. Please see the recall notice for details.
  • Food Safety Recall: The Smokehouse LLC (Mamaroneck, NY) recalls PORTIER FINE FOODS Norwegian Smoked Salmon (various size packages; Batch Code 066) due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled Smoked Salmon was distributed and sold on March 7, 2011 to retailers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
  • Food Safety Recall (Ohio): Pettisville Meats Inc. (Est 1240; Pettisville, OH) recalls various meat and poultry products that were produced without the benefit of state inspection and were sold prior at various carry-out and food service establishments in Ohio. Please see the recall notice for details.
  • Food Safety Recall: Price Chopper recalls Price Chopper Homestyle Regular Potato Salad (UPC 26716700000), due to possible contamination with Listeria.
  • Food Recall/Withdrawal: Food City announces the recall/withdrawal of Food Club Frozen Onion Rings and of Valu Time RTS Milk Chocolate Frosting. No details have been provided.
  • Parenteral Nutrition Product Safety Recall/Investigation: Meds IV recalls all of its intravenous (IV) compounded products. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) products produced by Meds IV have been identified as a potential common source for 19 cases of Serratia marcescens bacteremia reported in six Alabama hospitals.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Quality Natural Foods Ltd. recalls Quality brand Freshly Minced Ginger Garlic, Freshly Minced Garlic, and Freshly Minced Ginger (Lot Codes L-210610, L-230910 and L-120410) due to the presence of undeclared sulphites. The recalled products were distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Burren Smokehouse Ltd. recalls Burren Smokehouse Smoked Salmon (1kg, 500g, 300g, 200g and 100g packs; Batch code 1018X; Use by 15/04/2011), due to the presence of low levels of Listeria monocytogenes. This is in addition to an earlier recall.
  • Food Safety Recall (UK): Premier Foods recalls Fray Bentos ‘Boozy’ Steak & Ale Pie, 475g (Batch code 1003 & 1004; Best before end January 2013) and Fray Bentos Steak & Onion Pie, 425g (Batch code 1004; Best before end January 2013), because the canned pies may contain small pieces of glass.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Allergy Alert (New Zealand): Lindt and Sprüngli recalls various Lindt chocolate easter eggs (Product of USA; Best before 30 JUN 11) due to the presence of undeclared peanuts. The 16g Easter Eggs are foil-wrapped and available in various package sizes and formats. The recalled confectionery products were sold in supermarkets and retail outlets nationwide.

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.

Salmonella Panama: Del Monte’s Dilemma

Cantaloupes grown in Guatemala have been blamed for a baker’s dozen of Salmonella Panama illnesses, according to CDC and various state health authorities.

CDC, which released an updated tally yesterday (March 29th), reports that the 13 outbreak victims fell ill between February 5th and March 4th. Three of the 13 infected individuals were hospitalized.

In response to the outbreak, Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. Inc. recalled cantaloupe melons (packaged three to a bag in mesh bags) that were distributed through warehouse stores in Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. The recalled melons all came from a single Del Monte Fresh Produce farm – the Asuncion Mita farm in Guatemala – and were sold in Costco stores in those seven states between March 10th and March 21st.

Based on information contained in the CDC report and obtained from health officials in the affected states, the 13 confirmed cases of Salmonella Panama infections are located in:

  • Alaska.- No cases of Salmonella Panama have been reported.
  • California.- Two confirmed cases. Based on the retail distribution list posted by the California Department of Public Health, the recalled melons were sold in Costco stores in Northern California.
  • Colorado.- One confirmed case. The victim reported having eaten cantaloupe “from a warehouse store” prior to becoming ill.
  • Idaho.- No cases have been confirmed. The Central District Health Department is investigating a cluster of approximately 40 people who fell ill after attending a March 12th wedding reception in the Boise area at which cantaloupe from Costco was served. Two of the ill individuals submitted stool samples, which are still undergoing lab tests for Salmonella and Norovirus. Two melons were obtained from Costco for testing, but the store could not confirm whether the melons were from an implicated lot. Neither melon yielded Salmonella.
  • Maryland.- One confirmed case matching the outbreak strain. This victim reported having eaten cantaloupe in the week prior to becoming ill. The cantaloupe WAS NOT purchased at Costco.
  • Montana.- No cases of Salmonella Panama have been reported.
  • Oregon.- Five confirmed cases, among attendees at a church supper where cantaloupe purchased from Costco was served. An additional three attendees at the supper also were ill, but have not been lab-confirmed. One more person was infected with a very similar (but distinguishable) genetic variant of Salmonella Panama, and also reported having consumed melon from Costco.
  • Washington.- Four confirmed cases, including one adult (male), and three children (2 boys and one girl). The adult victim is from Whatcom County; the children live in Thurston County (one boy) and King County (one boy and one girl).

According to Bill Keene, Oregon’s No. 1 Disease Detective, Costco receives only about 6% of the cantaloupes grown on Del Monte’s Asuncion Mita farm. The rest of the crop is shipped to numerous other wholesalers and retailers – most, but not all, of them in the USA. The farm comprises some 15 cantaloupe fields, which are planted and harvested in series to ensure a continuous supply of melons. The last of the 15 fields to be harvested has been shut down since early March.

I asked Bill Keene about the rationale behind the recall. He said that the situation presented quite a dilemma, both to public health officials and to Del Monte. By the time the outbreak was identified and a probable source determined – which happened rather quickly, thanks to the relative rarity of Salmonella Panama and the Oregon illness cluster – the implicated melons had passed their usable shelf life. There was no point in recalling fruit that was no longer edible.

Why, then, did Del Monte recall the cantaloupes that were sold in Costco stores in several states beginning on March 10th? According to Keene, it was unclear whether the outbreak was a “one-off” problem relating to a small quantity of melons from one portion of a single field or whether it was a continuing situation. Del Monte Fresh Produce, therefore, decided on the recall.

And why was the recall limited to cantaloupes shipped to Costco in seven states? Because, except for the Maryland case, all of the illnesses were clustered within that group of states and were linked to cantaloupes purchased from Costco stores. It did not seem logical to recall the entire remaining production from the Asuncion Mita farm for what appeared to be a limited contamination problem.

Was Del Monte’s decision justified? So far, it looks as though the company, in consultation with public health officials, made a reasonable call. While it’s too soon to say for sure, the outbreak appears to have burned out.

Nevertheless, consumers should remain wary of cantaloupes. Avoid purchasing or consuming melons with bruised or broken skin. Wash the cantaloupes before cutting them open, and store cut cantaloupe in the refrigerator to minimize the risk of bacterial growth.

Finally, if you think that you have become ill after eating cantaloupe – or any other food – seek medical advice and cooperate with your public health authorities. This includes providing stool or any other clinical samples on request. “It is the only way,” says Tom Shanahan of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, ” to confirm a link.”

Recall Roundup: March 29, 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 posts updated retail distribution list for E. coli O157:H7-contaminated Seltzer’s Beef Lebanon Bologna, recalled by Palmyra Bologna Company on March 22nd. The recalled Lebanon Bologna has been linked to 14 cases of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses reported in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and North Carolina.
  • Food Safety Recall: NAC Foods Corporation (Palisades Park, NJ) recalls Mi Pepito Arnica Flower (UPC 707425900334, item number #508, net weight .25 oz) and Stem Arnica (UPC 707425900655, item number #630, net weight .5 oz) due to inaccurate use information on the product label. The recalled products were distributed to retail outlets in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: USA Far Ocean Group Inc. (Alhambra, CA) recalls X-Hero and Male Enhancer supplements after FDA lab analysis finds sulfosildenafil (an analog of sildenafil) in a sample of X-Hero and tadalafil in a sample of Male Enhancer. Sildenafil and tadalafil are the active ingredients in prescription-only drugs approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns U Joo Foods, d.b.a. UJU Foods (Chicago, IL) that a November/December 2010 inspection of the company’s facility revealed insanitary conditions that caused the soybean and mung bean sprouts manufactured, processed, and stored in the facility to be adulterated within the meaning of the US Food and Drugs Act. These conditions included instances of rodent and insect activity in the facility, and improper storage and transport temperature control for the finished sprouts.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Shemshad Foods Products, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA) that a September 2010 inspection of the company’s manufacturing facility revealed serious violations of the Acidified Food regulations, the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for food, the labeling provisions of Section 403 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), and the provisions of Section 505 of the Act that address the marketing of new drugs.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns P.T. Indomaguro Tunas Unggul (North jakarta, Indonesia) that  an October 2010 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility revealed deviations from the Seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Regulation.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: UNFI Canada Inc. recalls Chocolate Chip Organic Food Bar (Lot 03121610) due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled bars were sold in retail stores in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec.
  • Allergy Alert: UNFI Caanda Grocery West recalls Chocolate Coconut Raw Organic Food Bar (Lot 08102710) and Fibre Chocolate Delite Raw Organic Food Bar (Lot 01092010) due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled bars were sold in retail stores in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
  • Allergy Alert: Ecomax Nutrition recalls Active Greens Chocolate Organic Food Bar (Lot 03120710), and Chocolate Chip Organic Food Bar (Lot 03121610 and 01012611), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled bars were sold in retail stores in Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan.
  • Allergy Alert: Satau Inc. recalls Chocolate Coconut Raw Organic Food Bar (Lot 08102710), Fibre Chocolate Delite Raw Organic Food Bar (Lot 01092010) and Chocolate Chip Organic Food Bar (Lot 03121610), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled bars were sold in retail stores in Ontario and Quebec.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Denmark): A/S Cervera recalls Pickled Ginger in jars, 290g (Lot #31-03-2012; Product of China) due to the presence of high levels of undeclared sulfur dioxide.
  • Food Withdrawal: Asia Square withdraws Tandoori Masala – Barbeque Ground Spice (Lot #L9279; produced by TRS Wholesale Co., England), due to the presence of the colorants tartrazine and ponceau 4R at levels that significantly exceed the permitted limit.
  • Counterfeit Product Alert: The Food Standards Agency alerts consumers that counterfeit wines labelled as Jacob’s Creek wines are being offered for sale in the Greater London area. Consumers are advised that the label on the back of each counterfeit bottle includes a spelling mistake – below the text ‘SOUTH EASTERN AUSTRALIA’ appears some smaller text, ‘WINE OF AUSTRLIA’, where the word ‘Australia’ is missing an ‘a’.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (Abu Dhabi): Following a major incident of food poisoning at Al Jaber Group’s labor camp in the Western Region, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) closed down an unlicensed catering unit at the camp which was functioning in squalid conditions. the catering unit in question was supplying food to about 2200 workers without ADFCA’s license and certificate. Food was not being supplied only to the company’s workers, but also to workers from other companies that had contract with Al Jaber Group. According to an article in the Khaleej Times, more than 230 workers at the camp contracted food poisoning; 44 were admitted to hospital for treatment.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Allergy Alert (Australia and New Zealand): Lindt and Sprüngli (Australia) Pty Ltd. recall Lindor Milk Egg Chocolate, 16g (Imported from USA; various packaging formats; Best before 30 JUN 11), because some of the product may contain undeclared peanuts. The recalled confectionery products were sold across Australia, primary through supermarkets and department stores such as Kmart, Target, Big W, Woolworths, Coles, David Jones, Myer and Priceline, and were also shipped to 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.