Category: allergy

Recalls and Alerts: February 6, 2012

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:  Allied Imports Inc. (Brooklyn, NY) recalls Dried Potato (12-oz/340g plastic bag; UPC 6 43719 12507 9; Product of China; No lot/date codes), due to the presence high levels of undeclared sulfites. The product was distributed in the immediate New York City area.
  • Medical/Surgical Kit Safety Recall Update: North American Rescue, LLC (Greer, SC) recalls NAR Surgical Crichothyroidotomy Kit – Crickit® – due to the potential contamination with the bacterium Elizabethkingia meningoseptica of the povidone iodine prep pads, manufactured by Triad Group. This is a follow up to the recall initiated on May 5, 2011 by North American Rescue. The Crickit® Kit also may be found inside the NAR Medic Trauma Pack Kit, available in 4 colors. The recalled kits were distributed from 4/30/09 to 4/22/11 in the USA, Switzerland, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Austria, Norway, England, Estonia, Japan, South Africa and Canada.
  • Outbreak Alert (Cruise Ship): 142 passengers and 8 crew members on board the P & O Cruises ship Aurora developed norovirus gastroenteritis while on a voyage that  began on January 4, 2012 and terminated in San Francisco on January 26, 2012.
  • Outbreak Alert (Cruise Ship): 248 passengers and 11 crew members on board the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line ship Voyager of the Seas developed symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea while on a voyage that began on January 28, 2012 and terminated in New Orleans on February 4th. The causative agent has not yet been identified.
  • Outbreak Alert (Cruise Ship): 364 (or more) passengers and 32 crew members on board the Princess Cruises ship Crown Princess developed symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea while on a voyage that began on January 28, 2012 and terminated in Ft. Lauderdale on February 4th. The causative agent has not yet been identified.
  • Outbreak Alert (Update): The Pierre, South Dakota outbreak linked to the Pierre-Mitchell high school boys’ basketball game held on January 31st was due to Clostridium perfringens food poisoning, according to a news release issued today by the South Dakota Department of Health. Questionnaires completed voluntarily by outbreak victims strongly implicated tacos as the source of the illnesses that struck approximately 50 people.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Veggie Favour Food Store recalls Veggie Favour brand Veggie Large Shrimp Style Soy Product (300g; No lot/date codes), due to the presence of undeclared wheat. The recalled product was sold in British Columbia.
  • Food Safety Recall: Milford Bay Trout Farm Inc. (Bracebridge, ON) recalls Milford Bay Trout Farm Inc. Smoked Trout Filet (variable weight vacuum packages; Best before February 9, 2012 and February 10, 2012; Lot code 30644-1), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled smoked trout filets were distributed in Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall: Livno Meats (Hornby, ON) recalls Livno Meats Dry Sausage (200g vacuum package; Batch #4; Packed on DE/11/28 OR packed in plastic bag per customer order and sold from December 28, 2011 through January 21, 2012), due to possible contamination with Salmonella. The recalled sausage was sold only from the Livno Meats retail store in Hornby, ON.
  • Medical/Surgical Kit Safety Recall Update: North American Rescue, LLC (Greer, SC) recalls NAR Surgical Crichothyroidotomy Kit – Crickit® – due to the potential contamination with the bacterium Elizabethkingia meningoseptica of the povidone iodine prep pads, manufactured by Triad Group. This is a follow up to the recall initiated on May 5, 2011 by North American Rescue. The Crickit® Kit also may be found inside the NAR Medic Trauma Pack Kit, available in 4 colors. The recalled kits were distributed from 4/30/09 to 4/22/11 in the USA, Switzerland, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Austria, Norway, England, Estonia, Japan, South Africa and Canada.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: Abond Corporation (Lachine, QC) recalls Honey Bunny Infant Terry Bib with Pocket (Manufactured in China; Style #BB52; UPC 773299000524), because the front pocket and the back lining of the bib contain phthalates in excess of the allowable limit.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: Tech4Kids Inc. (Mississauga, ON) recalls Splat Shot – Marvel Spider Sense Spiderman, Splat Ball – Marvel Spider Sense Spiderman, and Splat Shot Disc – Marvel Spider Sense Spiderman, because the product contains the toxic substance, bronopol. The recalled toys were manufactured by JS Vision Ltd./Miracle Toys Ltd, Kowloon, Hong Kong and sold in Canada from November 2010 to January 2012.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Culina Foods bvba recalls Dress It Up Mustard/Dill Dressing (Expiration dates 17/02/2012, 09/04/2012 and 21/05/2012), because a production error occurred which may result in fermentation in the bottle, causing the bottle cap to blow off.
  • Food Safety Recall (Sweden): ICA recalls ICA Minced Beef (1600g and 2500g; Product of Ireland; Use by dates of February 6 and 7 and of February 5 and 6, respectively), after routine testing discovered Salmonella in the products.
  • Food Safety Recall (Switzerland): Migros recalls five Cornatur Quorn brand products, because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were available for sale since January 2012. Please refer to the recall notice for full details.
  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): Dr. August Oetker KG Foods recalls Chopped Hazelnuts (100g; Best before 01/2013; Batch #1:13-L002-L003), due to contamination with metal filament fragments.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Spain): Ferrer Farma, S.A. recalls Etoposido Ferrer Farma 20mg/ml Solution for Injection (1 vial of 200mg/10mL; Lot 96883306; Expiry 01/2014; Manufactured by EBEWE Pharma GmbH NFg. KG of Austria), because of a defect in the capsule seal in certain vials.
  • Medical/Surgical Kit Safety Recall Update: North American Rescue, LLC (Greer, SC) recalls NAR Surgical Crichothyroidotomy Kit – Crickit® – due to the potential contamination with the bacterium Elizabethkingia meningoseptica of the povidone iodine prep pads, manufactured by Triad Group. This is a follow up to the recall initiated on May 5, 2011 by North American Rescue. The Crickit® Kit also may be found inside the NAR Medic Trauma Pack Kit, available in 4 colors. The recalled kits were distributed from 4/30/09 to 4/22/11 in the USA, Switzerland, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Austria, Norway, England, Estonia, Japan, South Africa and Canada.
  • Outbreak Alert (Russia): Fifteen young gymnasts returning from a sporting event in Bratsk (Irkutsk region) developed food poisoning symptoms during their journey. The children were hospitalized for observation.
  • Food Safety Notification/Outbreak Alert (EU #2012.0178): Foodborne outbreak suspected to be caused by watermelon from Brazil; distributed to Ireland and the United Kingdom.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.0186): Hazelnut traces in chocolate paste from Belgium; distributed to Belgium and the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0187): Aflatoxins in organic broken white rice from Pakistan; distributed to Belgium.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Food Safety urges the public not to consume Shinshu Enokitake Gold-Needle Mushrooms (100g and 200g; Production date February 1 and 2, 2012; Produced by JA Kitashinshu Miyuki, Nagano Prefecture, Japan), because the products may contain glass fragments.
  • Chinese Herbal Medicine Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Department of Health warns the public to stop using Flos Campsis, purchased from Cheong Kee Medicine Co in Yen Chow Street, Sham Shui Po, because the product may be mislabeled.
  • Illegal Health Product Safety Alert (Singapore): The Singapore Health Sciences Authority alters the public to a series of serious adverse health events related to the consumption of illegal sexual enhancement health products.
  • Medical/Surgical Kit Safety Recall Update: North American Rescue, LLC (Greer, SC) recalls NAR Surgical Crichothyroidotomy Kit – Crickit® – due to the potential contamination with the bacterium Elizabethkingia meningoseptica of the povidone iodine prep pads, manufactured by Triad Group. This is a follow up to the recall initiated on May 5, 2011 by North American Rescue. The Crickit® Kit also may be found inside the NAR Medic Trauma Pack Kit, available in 4 colors. The recalled kits were distributed from 4/30/09 to 4/22/11 in the USA, Switzerland, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Austria, Norway, England, Estonia, Japan, South Africa and Canada.
  • Outbreak Alert (Algeria): Seventy-four cases of hepatitis A have been confirmed during January 2012 in Constantine. Most of the victims are school children.
  • Outbreak Alert (Congo DR): Twenty-three cholera cases, including two deaths, have been reported in Kasindi-Lubiriya since the beginning of 2012.
  • Outbreak Alert (India): More than 70 people were rushed to hospital with symptoms of food poisoning after attending a wedding function in Shamli town (Prabhudhnanag). All are reported to be in stable condition.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Outbreak Alert (Australia): Queensland Health is warning the public about an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis, a highly contagious parasitic disease that is a cause of acute diarrhea, especially in young children. Fifty-one lab-confirmed cases have been reported in the past month; in a typical year, fewer than 20 cases are seen.
  • Boil Water Alert (Australia): Residents along some parts of the New South Wales Central Coast have been advised to boil their drinking water after E. coli was found in the water supply.

Latin America and the Caribbean

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.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.

Recalls and Alerts: February 4, 2012

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: Nest Collective™ recalls Revolution Foods brand Jammy Sammy™ Strawberry Jam & Peanut Butter Flavor Snack Size Sandwich Bars (5-count carton; Best by 06/28/12, because peanut was not declared as an ingredient on the inner wrappers. The recalled cartons are sold online and at retail stores across the USA.
  • Food Safety Recall: Greencore, USA – Cincinnati recalls Take Away Café Egg Salad Sandwiches (7.66 oz; Sell by 1/25/12 through 2/7/12) and Quick Café Egg Salad Wedge (5.68 oz; Enjoy by date of 1/22/12 through 2/4/12), because the sandwiches contain eggs manufactured by Michael Foods Inc that are the subject of a recall due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The sandwiches were distributed to retailers in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.
  • Food Safety Recall: F&S Produce Company Inc (Deerfield, NJ) recalls Fresh Garden Highway Spinach Salad with Bacon (10-oz plastic container; All Sell by dates through 2/8/12) and Fresh Garden Highway Cobb Salad (10.75-oz plastic container; All Sell by dates through 2/8/12), because the salads contain eggs manufactured by Michael Foods Inc that are the subject of a recall due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled salads were shipped to a warehouse in Pennsylvania for distribution to retail locations.
  • Food Safety Recall: Delhaize America recalls all Food Lion brand and Hannaford brand potato salads sold at Bloom, Bottom Dollar Food, Food Lion, Reid’s and Sweetbay grocery stores (Use By dates of March 12, 13, 14 or 15), as well as Allison’s Gourmet Kitchens Potato Salad (Bulk sales from full service deli cases at Bloom, Food Lion, Reid’s and Sweetbay stores), because the salads contain eggs manufactured by Michael Foods Inc that are the subject of a recall due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Safety Recall: GH Foods CA, LLC (Sacramento, CA) recalls DeLish brand Egg Salad on HoneyWheat Sandwich (8.5 oz; UPC 0 49022-51925 1; Enjoy By date 1/17/12 through 2/5/12) and DeLish brand Tuna Salad on Multigrain Bread Sandwich (8.5 oz; UPC 0 49022 51928 2; Enjoy by date 1/22/12 through 2/5/12), because the salads contain eggs manufactured by Michael Foods Inc that are the subject of a recall due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Safety Recall: The Kroger Company recalls Fresh Garden Highway Cobb Salad (7.5 oz; Kroger stores in Texas and Louisiana), Deli Egg Salad Sandwich w/White Bread (6 oz; Dillons, Baker’s, Gerbes and Food4Less Fremont stores) and various Allison’s Gourmet prepared salads (Dillons, Baker’s Gerbes and Food4Less Fremont stores), because the salads contain eggs manufactured by Michael Foods Inc that are the subject of a recall due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: Healthy People Co. recalls the following dietary supplements, after FDA lab analysis confirmed the presence of Sibutramine and Tadalafil in the products: Mince Belle Dietary Supplement (HPCMB/10-026, HPCMB/10-027, HPCMB/10-029, HPCMB/10-020, HPCMB/10-021; UPC7503013203305), PERFECT Men Dietary Supplement (HPCPM/002; UPC7503013203190), EVERLAX Dietary Supplement (HPCEX/074, HPCEX/076, HPCEX/072; UPC7503013203046), EVER Slim Dietary Supplement (HPCES-079, HPCES-070, HPCES-071; UPC7503013203053), Herbal Drink Acai-man Mangosteen Dietary Supplement (HPJAC/004: UPC7503013203015), EVER SLIM Shake Mix Dietary Supplement Strawberry (HPESSF/168: UPC7503013203084), and EVER SLIM Shake Mix Dietary Supplement Chocolate (HPESSC/061: UPC7503013203077).

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Kuo Hua Trading Company Ltd. (Markham, ON) recalls Mic’s brand Sesame Brown Rice Wafer (190g package; Product of Taiwan; Exp. 21.11.2012), due to the presence of undeclared peanuts. The recalled product was distributed in Ontario and British Columbia.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: Dollarama LP/S.E.C. (Montreal, QC) recalls Baby Bibs (Manufactured in China; Item No. 19-1900392 and 19-3018618), because the bibs’ lining contains a phthalate, specifically DEHP (Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate), which exceeds the allowable limit.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Alternative Treatment Product Safety Alert (Australia): The Therapeutic Goods Administration advises consumers not to purchase or use unproven products that claim to cure or treat cancer. Specifically, the recent use of Black Salve (also known as Cansema or Bloodroot) has resulted in serious harm to the skin of three Australian consumers who used the unproven product to treat various skin conditions. Black Salve has not been formally assessed by the TGA and is not included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Food Safety Alert (Colombia): The Ministry of Health advises the public that two Jones’ Seasoning Blends – Jones’ Mock Salt Original and Jones’ Mock Salt Spicy Southwest Blend – were recalled by the manufacturer due to possible contamination with Salmonella. The recalled products were sold internationally over the internet between July 1, 2011 and December 14, 2011.

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.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.

Recalls and Alerts: February 2, 2012

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: S&M USA Enterprise recalls ZHANG ZHOU BRAND TREMELLA (150g plastic bag; Product of China), due to the presence of undeclared sulfites. The recalled product was sold in New York and New Jersey.
  • Food Safety Recall: W & C International Import Inc. recalls Rely Sardine Anchovies (7-oz plastic packages; Product of China) and Rely Dried Yellow Croaker (bulk cartons; Product of China), because the products were not properly eviscerated prior to processing and represent a heightened risk of Clostridium botulinum contamination.
  • Food Safety Recall: Wegmans Foods Markets, Inc. recalls Hard-Cooked Eggs, and several prepared foods that contain hard-cooked eggs (sold at Wegmans’ Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, Canandaigua, Newark, Geneva, Corning, Elmira, Geneseo, and Hornell stores between January 23 and February 1, 2012), because the eggs may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and were recalled by Michael Foods, Inc. The following items are included in this recall notice: Hard-Cooked Eggs (sold by the pound in prepared foods or as a choice on the Fresh Foods Bar), Eggs (special-order deli tray or 6-pack, 12 pack), Cobb Salad (10 oz, 43 oz, and 6.5 lb), Garden Salad (10 oz, 20 oz, 2 lb, and 5 lb), Baby Spinach Salad (9 oz, 1.8 lb, and 3.9 lb), Chef Salad (9 oz. and 18 oz.), Egg Salad (sold by the pound in prepared foods), Egg Salad Sub (Sub Shop), Kosher Macaroni Salad (sold by the pound in kosher deli), and Kosher Pickled Eggs (sold by the pound in kosher deli).
  • Food Safety Recall Update: ShopRite reminds consumers that ShopRite of Stanton (1600 West Newport Pike, Wilmington, DE) recalled store-made ground beef (80/20 and 85/15; various packages sizes; Sell by January 22, 2012), because the product may pieces of blue glove. Customers are asked to check their freezers and return any of the recalled meat to the store.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall Update: Advanced Animal Nutrition updates its December 13, 2011 notice alerting consumers to the recall of Dog Power Dog Foods to correct the affected lot numbers. The affected products were manufactured between Jan 4, 2011 and Nov. 18, 2011 and can be identified by lot numbers 4K1004 through 4K1322. The recalled products were distributed in Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has confirmed the presence of Campylobacter jejuni in two unopened samples of raw milk purchased from The Family Cow farm. Maryland has reported 4 confirmed cases of Campylobacter illnesses linked to the consumption of raw milk from this Pennsylvania farm, and Pennsylvania has confirmed 19 cases.
  • Outbreak Alert: CDC and the Pennsylvania State Health Department are cooperating in an ongoing investigation of human Salmonella enterica serotype Paratyphi B var. L (+) tartrate + infections associated with pet turtle exposures.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: JB’s Sausage Making Supplies Ltd. recalls various flavors of marinades due to the presence of undeclared soy or wheat. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products. The recalled items were distributed in Saskatchewan.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: Phoenicia Group (St-Laurent, QC) updates its earlier recall notice to correct the lot codes. The company has recalled Alkanater brand Tahini (454g containers; UPC 6 92551 00002 0; Prod: 5/7/2011; Exp: 5/7/2013), due to possible contamination with Salmonella. The recalled product was distributed across Canada.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Fredsted The A/S recalls Xtra brand Chamomile Tea (Boxes of 20 bags; Lot #889 and 1327; Best before 31/12-2012 and 30/4-2013, respectively), due to pesticide residues in excess of the permitted limit.
  • Outbreak Alert (France): Consumption of dried pork sausage was linked to a nationwide outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype 4,[5],12:I:- in November and December 2011. In all, 337 outbreak cases were identified.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0163): Insect infestation in dried figs from Turkey; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0164): Dead insects in frozen spinach leaves from Belgium; distributed to Greece.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU# 2012.0165): Unauthorized tadalafil in food supplement from Norway; distributed to Andorra, France, Portugal and Spain.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0166): Ethephon in seedless grapes from South Africa, via Belgium; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0167): Metal fragments in chocolate pralines from Italy; distributed to Italy and Switzerland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0168): Listeria monocytogenes in crab bread from France; distributed to France and Spain.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Allways (Germany) Medicine Ltd. recalls the pharmaceutical products Centiplex-B Tab and Abacod Cod Liver Oil Cap, as the products bear unapproved labels.
  • Food Safety Alert (Philippines): The Department of Health has announced a shellfish ban in the waters of Wawa, Bani in Pangasinan, in addition to already announced bans in Dumanquillas Bay, Murcielagos Bay, Masinloc Bay, Matarino Bay, and in Bataan costal waters of Mariveles, Limay, Orlon, Pilar, Balanga, Orani, Abucay and Samal. The ban were triggered by the finding of paralytic shellfish poison in excess of the regulatory 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.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.