Category: allergy

Recalls and Alerts: November 4, 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: Foremost Foods International, Inc. (Pomona, CA) recalls Pangasinan Roundscad Smoked Galunggong (Product of FITRITE Incorporated, Philippines; 6 oz; UPC 2239257451) and Pangasinan Mackerel Smoked Hasa Hasa (Product of FITRITE Incorporated, Philippines; 6 oz; UPC 2239257470), because the partially eviscerated products have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. The recalled products were sold between March 2010 and October 2011 in California, Nevada and Washington, through Seafood City and Manila Seafood. Please refer to the California Department of Public Health for the California retail distribution list.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: Missouri health officials report that 24 people have been confirmed to be part of the St. Louis area E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, after two new cases were added to the list, and four other cases previously thought to be part of the outbreak were removed. The state lab is testing specimens from four Boone County cases; three have tested positive for E. coli, and the fourth is pending. At this point, however, the Boone County cases are thought not to be connected to the St. Louis area outbreak. All food samples tested so far in the St. Louis outbreak have been negative for E. coli.
  • Outbreak Alert (Utah): An unnamed man, given the nickname “Mr. Cheese” by the Salt Lake Valley Health Department, has been supplying homemade queso fresco to a Salt Lake City restaurant/deli since 2009. The queso fresco, which was made from raw milk, is blamed for a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 73 people in Salt Lake, Tooele, Davis, Utah, Weber and Morgan counties. Officials believe that hundreds more people were sickened by the contraband cheese, but never reported their illnesses. Officials have ordered the deli – not identified by name – to stop purchasing cheese from illegal sources.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: CFIA advises that Bumble Bar Organic Energy Bar – Chocolate Crisp (45g; All codes; UPC 7 60590 10072 5), is recalled due to the presence of undeclared milk, peanuts and soy. The recalled Energy Bar was distributed through Nationwide Natural Foods (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan), Puresource Inc. (nationwide), Horizon Distributors (Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Yukon), and Corwin Distribution Limited (Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario).
  • Allergy Alert: Grant Chocolatier recalls Grant Chocolatier Dark Chocolate Cups for Liquor in a Box (variable count) and Grant Chocolatier Dark Chocolate Nuggets (variable weight), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled chocolate products were distributed in Quebec.
  • Food Safety Recall: Pâtisserie La Faradole inc. (Sainte-Adèle, QC) recalls Foie gras maison à l’armagnac, Catégorie A, Foie gras nature maison, and Foie gras maison au cognac, Catégorie A, sold in glass Mason jars, because the product labels do not include the instruction “Garder réfrigéré” even though these products must be stored in the refrigerator for safety.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Sweden): Candy King warns that Lösgodiset Halloween Balls may contain undeclared peanuts.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Eurofrugt A/S recalls Sweet Peas (500g; Product of Kenya; Lot #L11278EU), after Camplyobacter is detected in samples.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Lembcke A/S and Total Produce Nordic A/S recalls Blue River brand Mini Corn (125g; Lot #L11411), after Campylobacter is found in a sample.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Rieber & Son Denmark A/S recalls Salad Master Remoulade (Lot 03), Budget Remoulade (Lot L92), Rema1000 Remoulade and REMO Remoulade (Lot L78), due to yeast growth in the product, resulting in gas production and package swelling.
  • Outbreak Alert (Denmark): Datterino tomatoes imported from Italy are blamed for an outbreak of salmonellosis that sickened 40 people in Denmark this fall. The tomatoes were sold mainly in stores belonging to the Rema1000 supermarket chain. The implicated tomatoes are no longer available. The Salmonella outbreak appears to be over.
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Spain): Colgate-Palmolive España, S.A. recalls COLGATE PERIOGARD CLORHEXIDINA COLUTORIO BUCAL SIN ALCOHOL (Registration No. 1173-DENT; all production lots), due to contamination with Burkholderia cepacia.
  • Cosmetic Product Safety Recall (Spain): Estelca SLU has been ordered to cease the marketing of, and to recall all outstanding inventory of, seven cosmetic products, as the products were being sold even though they had exceeded their expiration dates.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1547): Campylobacter spp. in sugar snaps from Kenya; distributed to Denmark.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1548): Ochratoxin A in spice mix from Israel; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1549): Unauthorized operator for canned mix of fish and vegetables form Italy; distributed to Belgium and Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1550): Listeria monocytogenes in paté from Belgium; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1551): Listeria monocytogenes in smoked bacon from Poland; distributed to Poland and Sweden.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1553): Aflatoxins in dried figs from Turkey; distributed to France and Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1554): Salmonella spp. in paan leaves from Bangladesh; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2011.1555): Unauthorized tin, nickel and vanadium in food supplement from the USA, via China; distributed to Cyprus.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1556): Salmonella in dry sausage from Spain; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1557): Unauthorized Sudan 1 and Sudan 4 colors in sumac spice from Germany; distributed to Switzerland.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2011.1558): Dioxins in molasses sugar beet pellets from Germany; distributed to Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1559): Salmonella in chilled Perilla spp. from Vietnam; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1560): Salmonella in Piper sarmentosum from Vietnam; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1561): Salmonella in Vietnamese coriander from Vietnam; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1562): Salmonella in chilled Malabar spinach from Vietnam; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1563): Salmonella in chilled green mint from Vietnam; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1564): Benzo(a)pyrene in sesame oil from China; distributed to Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1565): Benzo(a)pyrene in canned sprats in oil from Latvia; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1566): Abamectin in corned beef from Brazil; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1567): Salmonella in paan leaves from Thailand; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1568): Unauthorized leucomalachite green in live trouts from Poland; distributed to the Czech Republic.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1569): Excessive sorbic acid in dried prunes from France; distributed to Slovakia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1570): Listeria monocytogenes in chilled tuna loins from Sri Lanka; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1572): Glass fragments in currants in syrup from Germany; distributed to Spain.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Australia): Analysis carried out by the Therapeutic Goods Administration has confirmed the presence of therapeutic quantities of sibutramine and phenolphthalein in capsules of Reduce Weight Fruta Planta, sold over the internet. The package label claims that this product is 100% Natural. Neither sibutramine nor phenolphthalein are currently approved for use in Australia.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Australia): Analysis carried out by the Therapeutic Goods Administration has confirmed the presence of therapeutic quantities of sibutramine in Ying Da Wang tablets, sold over the internet. The package label claims that this product is 100% Natural. Sibutramine is not currently approved for use in Australia.

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: November 3, 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: Giant Eagle recalls Cut Out Cookies, 10-ct (UPC 28968500000; All Lots; All Date codes), due to the presence of undeclared milk.
  • Food Recall: Hawaii Candy recalls Hawaii Candy Fortune Cookies (UPC 073366-12950), Petite Wafers (UPC 073366-12952), Sesame Wafers (UPC 073366-12954) and Ginger Wafers (UPC 073366-12955), because the products contain undeclared Yellow #6 as an ingredient.
  • Outbreak Alert: More than 175 children at the Pittsburgh Montessori PreK-8 in Friendship school (Pittsburgh, PA) became ill last week with suspected norovirus gastroenteritis. Seven teachers (nearly one-fourth of the staff) also were absent due to the same illness. The school building was closed on Friday for disinfection. Lab tests are under way to confirm the cause of the illness.
  • Outbreak Alert: Three cases of E. coli infection have been confirmed in Boone County, Missouri. Two more cases are under investigation. County public health officials say that there is no connection to the St. Louis outbreak. Two of the Boone County victims were hospitalized.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Boucherie Fairmount (Montréal, QC) recalls Csabai sausages, because the sausages were not stored in a manner to ensure their safety. The public is advised not to consume this product.
  • Food Safety Recall: CFIA announces the recall of Jones Hot Air Popcorn (2kg; Manufactured by Jones Popcorn), due to the insect contamination.
  • Cosmetic Product Safety Recall: ITN Food Corporation recalls Black Henna Cone and Red Henna Cone (Manufactured in Pakistan; all lots), because the products contain phenol and other phenolic compounds, which can produce chemical burns to the skin. The recalled products were sold at various ethnic stores in Ontario and Quebec from December 2010 to May 2011.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: Colgate-Palmolive recalls Colgate Motion Electric Toothbrush (battery-operated), after receiving several reports that the toothbrushes had “exploded.” The company is no longer manufacturing this toothbrush.

Europe

  • Food Safety Alert (UK): The Food Standards Agency (FSA) warns the public that, since August, a high proportion of consignments of paan leaves – also known as betel leaves – imported from Bangladesh and India have been found to be contaminated with Salmonella. As paan leaves typically are chewed raw, this represents a risk of Salmonella food poisoning. At the request of FSA, local port authorities are sampling and testing all consignments of paan leaves presented for import.
  • Food Recall (Belgium): Colruyt and OKay recall several lots of Everyday U.H.T. milk, 1L boxes, including whole milk, part-skim milk and skim milk, following customer complaints concerning taste and odor. Please refer to the recall notice for details of the affected production lots.
  • Food Recall (Belgium): Carrefour recalls Carrefour Discount brand Whole Milk (1L carton; Lot #111678, 111724 and 111732), due to off-taste or unusual odor.
  • Food Advisory: Delhaize advises its customers that certain boxes of the following milk may, in time, develop an altered taste or odor, due to a sporadic technical malfunction at the manufacturer: Delhaize 365 Ecrémé lait (Lot 111891 and 111892; Expiry 28/01/2012).

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (Singapore): The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore advises the public that Società cooperativa agricola G.M.G F. ar.l. dei F.lli Gaudiano, Italy, has, as a precautionary measure, initiated a market recall of all batches and sizes of olives stuffed with almonds dated from 2010 and 2011. This was because two cases of botulism found in Finland has been linked to the consumption of the olives. There is no import of the affected products into Singapore. Nevertheless, AVA advises consumers who have bought the implicated products, whilst overseas, to discard the products and not to consume them.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Allergy Alert (New Zealand): Bon-Soy recalls Bon-Soy Phyto-Nutraceutical soy milk powder (500g; all batches) and Bon-Rice Phyto-Nutraceutical rice milk powder (450g; all batches), due to the presence of undeclared casein, a milk protein. Please refer to the recall notice for a list of stores where the products were sold.
  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Charlie’s Group Australia Pty Ltd. recalls Phoenix Ginger Beer (330ml; Best Before 22/08/12), Phoenix Creaming Soda (330ml; Best Before 22/08/12), Phoenix Cola Cluster Pack (4 x330ml; Best Before 22/08/12), Phoenix Orange Fizz (330ml; Best Before 23/08/12), Phoenix Sparkling Apple (300ml; Best Before 23/08/12), and Phoenix Sparkling Blood Orange (300ml; Best Before 23/08/12), because some of the bottles were inadequately pasteurized. As a result, the contents of some bottles may ferment, increasing the risk of shattering.
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Australia): Colgate-Palmolive Pty Ltd recalls Savacol Antiseptic Mouth & Throat Rinse Alcohol Free chlorhexidine gluconate 2 mg/mL mouthwash bottle (manufactured by Gaba International AG Active, Switzerland; All unexpired batch numbers), due to microbial contamination.

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: November 2, 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: Pure Italian, LLC, in conjunction with Bio Gaudiano, Italy, recalls Bio Gaudiano Organic Olives Stuffed with Almonds (all sizes of glass jars and cans; all production lots), because the product has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Two adults hospitalized in Finland were diagnosed with botulism after consuming almond stuffed olives produced by Bio Gaudiano lot# H2510X expiration 09/2012. One of the victims died. The recalled product was distributed to Massachusetts retailers, and some of the product (314 mL glass jar; Lot #E0511X; Expiry 05/2013) was sold at the SoWa farmers market in South End, MA.
  • Food Withdrawal: The manufacturer has withdrawn Food Club Graham Crumbs (15 oz; Lot #Nov 12 11), Food Club Low Fat Cinnamon Grahams (13 oz) and Food Club Low Fat Grahams (14 oz), because of product rancidity. The recalled products were sold at Food City and Top Food & Drug stores.
  • Food Safety Advisory (Hawaii): The Hawai’i State Department of Health Food and Drug Branch has ordered Wong Hon Hin, Inc. farm (Waianae) to destroy and dispose of approximately 800 pounds of fresh green onions after routine sampling detected the presence of Oxamyl, an unapproved pesticide. The farm has been ordered to cease all sale of suspect produce until follow-up testing confirms the absence of pesticide residue.
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Recall Update: Novartis Consumer Health, Inc. recalls certain Excedrin® products, as a result  of product mix-ups in these lots. The following list consolidates information posted on the Tops Friendly Markets, Food City, Price Chopper and Buehler’s Fresh Foods web sites: Excedrin Tablets ( UPC 30067203091; Size 100 1N), Excedrin Extra Strength Tablets (UPC 30067203077; Size 250 1N), Excedrin Aspirin Free Tension Cap (UPC 30067204591; Size 100 1N), Excedrin Migraine Caplet (UPC 30067203924; Size 24 1N), Excedrin Tension Headache Caplets (100ct; Lot #10087530; Exp 3/31/2013), Excedrin Extra Strength Tablets (100 ct; Lot #10091817; Exp 5/31/2013), Excedrin Extra Strength Caplets (24 ct), and Excedrin Floorstand ES Migraine with $1 IRC.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Mayrand Limitée (Montréal, QC) recalls Amande chocolate lait, because the product contains undeclared wheat.
  • Allergy Alert: Alimentation D.P. Plouffe inc/Metro (Farnham, QC) recalls Côtelette de porc à la diable, due to the presence of undeclared soy, and Salade de macaroni, due to the presence of undeclared egg and possibly sulfites.
  • Allergy Alert: Chocolat Belge Heyez Père & Fils Inc. recalls Heyez Chocolat Belge Noir Ébène (50g), due to the presence of undeclared milk.
  • Food Safety Recall: Sobeys Inc. recalls several ground beef products bearing a “Packaged On” date of Oc 31, 11, because the products may contain metal pieces. The recalled ground beef packages were sold only in the Sobeys store located at 961 Bedford Highway, Bedford, NS.
  • Food Safety Recall: Clear Bay Fisheries Inc. recalls Clear Bay Fisheries Manila Clams (Lot #10778; Harvest date October 26/11; Harvest Area 15-02), due to possible presence of a marine biotoxin.
  • Food Safety Recall: Groupe Alimentaire Miron recalls Minos Greek Liquid Honey (500g; Lot 100913; UPC 5 203985 124708 and 5 203985 120243) due to contamination with a drug residue.

Europe

  • Food Safety Alert (Sweden): Whitefish from Lake Vänern contain dioxins as four times the permitted limit, and cannot be sold to consumers under current law.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Defco A/S recalls several varieties of Sunday Spreads (70-100g; Package dates 10.10.11 and 11.10.11; Best before 04.11.11 and 05.11.11), because of leaking package seals.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): A/S Nordana recalls Patty shells without lids (Item No. 80050; Lot #L11011033; Best before 11-06-2012) due to mold growth in some packages.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (UK): GABA GmbH and its UK distributor, Colgate-Palmolive (UK) Ltd, recall Colgate Periogard 0.2% Oromucosal Solution – EL (11)A/26 (Chlorhexidine Digluconate; 300ml; Batch Nos. 9196CHG11B, 9197CHG11B, 9198CHG11B, 0103CHG12B, 0103CHG11B, 0104CHG11B, 0155CHG11B, 0158CHG11B, 0158CHG12B, 0250CHG11B, 1068CHG11B, 1069CHG11B, 1236CHG11B, and 1237CHG11B), because microbial contamination with Burkholderia sp. has been detected in some batches. All unexpired batches are being recalled as a precaution.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1546): Insect larvae in almonds from Germany; distributed to Denmark.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Advisory (Abu Dhabi): The Food Control Authority has confirmed that Bio Gaudiano olives from Italy (glass jars; Expiry September 2012) were not sold in Abu Dhabi.

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.