Category: allergy

Recalls and Alerts: May 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

  • Pet Treat Safety Recall: Boss Pet Products, Inc. (Maple Heights, OH) recalls Diggers Natural Treat Pig Ear pet treats, because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recall came after Keys Manufacturing Company, Inc. notified Boss Pet that several shipments of potentially contaminated products were included in Diggers brand products shipped by Boss Pet in November 2010 through April 2011. The recalled products were shipped by truck to distributors in Montana, California, Washington, Oklahoma, Tennessee, New York, Kansas, Ohio, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Oregon, Utah, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana and Minnesota.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Omar Seafood, Corp (Miami, FL) that a February 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Zuccaro’s Produce Company (Minneapolis, MN) that a January/February 2011 inspection of the company’s facility revealed a violation of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food (CGMP) regulation, causing the company’s shredded lettuce and frozen foods to be adulterated, in that they were prepared, packed or held under insanitary conditions.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Green Hope, LLC, dba Rosewood (Ann Arbor, MI) that a February/March 2011 inspection of the company’s food processing facility revealed serious violations of FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food (CGMP) regulation, causing the food products to be adulterated, in that they were prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have become contaminated with filth or rendered injurious to health.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Company, Inc. (Wheeling, IL) that a December 2010 through February 2011 inspection of the company’s low-acid canned food manufacturing facility revealed misbranding. In addition, processing and production records for products manufactured in 2009 were not provided upon written demand, as required by the relevant regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Southeast Asian Food Product (San Francisco, CA) 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 regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Dani Jacq, Inc. dba The Home Fresh Foods Company (Baltimore, MD) that a January 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Captain’s Fine Foods, LLC (Tampa, FL) that a February-March 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 regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Triple A. Services, Inc. (Chicago, IL) that a January 2011 inspection of the company’s food processing and storage facility revealed serious violations of FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for food.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Star Food Products Inc (Weston, FL) that an inspection of the company’s seafood importer establishment revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Mave Enterprises, Inc. (North Hollywood, CA) that a September/October 2010 inspection of the company’s food storage and processing facility revealed serious violations of FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food (CGMP) regulation.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Fruiterie Boucherie Longueuil (Longueuil, QC) recalls Hamburger Steak, Chicken Gumbo and Quatre-Quarts Carottes et Ananas, due to the presence of undeclared milk (Hamburger steak) or soy (Chicken Gumbo and Quatre-Quarts Carottes et Ananas).

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Mega Food recalls Kilic red lentils (Product of Canada; Best before 25-10-2012) and Kilic green lentils (Product of Canada; Best before 10-10-2012), after samples were found to contain glyphosate above the permitted level.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall Update (Multiple countries): B.K. SA (Versele-Laga) recalls Nutritional Balance Lamb & Rice all breeds Growth Petfood for puppies (see recall notice for package sizes and lot codes), after receiving reports that some dogs experienced behavioral problems, including on occasion epileptic seizures after consuming the foods. The recalled products were distributed to the following European countries (see RASFF #2011.0639): Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0642): Glass fragments in rice pudding (cherry, cinnamon and pure) from Germany; distributed to Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Slovakia and Slovenia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0643): Bulging packaging, leaking cans and dirty labels of canned chicken ravioli in tomato sauce from Italy; distributed to Belgium.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0644): Salmonella in frozen chicken without giblets from the Netherlands, produced in Germany, via Austria; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0645): Parasitic infestation with Anisakis of tub gurnard from France; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0646): Diarrhoeic shellfish poisoning toxins in mussels from France; distributed to France and Spain.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0648): Ochratoxin A in dried figs from Greece, via Austria; distributed to the Czech Republic.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0649): Nitrosamines in barley malt from Germany; distributed to Austria and Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0651): Salmonella in herbs from France, via Belgium; distributed to Sweden.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2011.0652): Salmonella Mbandaka in complete feed for aquarium fish from Taiwan; distributed to Finland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0653): Glass fragments in De Graal beer in bottles from Belgium; distributed to Belgium and Italy.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Pet Food Safety Recall Update (Multiple countries): B.K. SA (Versele-Laga) recalls Nutritional Balance Lamb & Rice all breeds Growth Petfood for puppies (see recall notice for package sizes and lot codes), after receiving reports that some dogs experienced behavioral problems, including on occasion epileptic seizures after consuming the foods. The recalled products were distributed to Israel and Japan (see RASFF #2011.0639).
  • Food Safety Alert (PRC): Sichuan peppers that release a red dye when soaked in water were recently found in some markets in Beijing, according to the People’s Daily Online.
  • Outbreak Alert/Expired Pharmaceutical (India): Seven railway employees were taken to hospital due to diarrhea and vomiting. The intravenous glucose solution with which they were treated was beyond its expiration date.

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.

Recalls and Alerts: May 15, 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 (Woodmere, NY) recalls Shabtai brand Kosher for Passover cookies with an “egg free” notation on the product label, even though the products contain egg. The ingredient label and allergy statement both indicate the presence of egg in the recalled cookies. The recall encompasses Shabtai Gourmet Daisy Cookies, Shabtai Gourmet Leaf Cookies, Shabtai Gourmet Coconut Macaroons, and Shabtai Gourmet Choc Coated Coconut Macaroons only.
  • Food Safety Recall: Rose & Shore Meat Co. (Vernon, CA) recalls Olympic Gold Beef Pastrami (Lot #20911; Lot code 10951), Rose and Shore N.Y. Style Pastrami (Lot #20911; Lot code 10951), Cooked Angus Roast Beef (Lot #20941; Use by 05-17-11), and Togo’s Pastrami (Lot #20911; Use by 05-23-11), because the products may contain Listeria monocytogenes. Togo’s Sandwiches has announced that the company has taken measures to ensure that none of the recalled pastrami is currently being used in any of its restaurants.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: Mann Packing reissues and expands its voluntary recall of Party Trays and Snacks on the Go items containing grape tomatoes, because one item was inadvertently omitted from a follow-up announcement. Please refer to the revised recall notice for a complete list of recalled products that were distributed in the USA and Canada.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification: FDA warns the public about a counterfeit version of ExtenZe dietary supplements. The counterfeit products bear Lot #1110075 or Lot #F050899, and contain tadalafil or a combination of tadalafil and sildenafil, which are prescription medicines used to treat erectile dysfunction.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification: FDA warns consumers not to use products marketed as dietary supplements that also claim to be antimicrobial drugs.
  • Pet Product Safety Alert: FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine warns pet owners to be cautious when using an unapproved animal drug product, Douxo Seborrhea Shampoo (0.1% phytosphingosine), distributed by Sogeval Laboratories, Inc. (Coppell, TX), after receiving a report of the death of a woman who used the product on her dog. The woman, who had severe, preexisting asthma, had a sudden, severe asthma attack and died while bathing a dog with this product. A few days later, according to the FDA report, another asthmatic family member bathed the dog using the same product and experienced a mild asthma attack, but recovered.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Worcester, MA): The gastrointestinal illness outbreak that affected some 200 people who ate Easter brunch at Luciano’s Cotton Club restaurant is thought to have been caused by a norovirus, which was spread by an infected employee. Three food handlers at the restaurant had symptoms of gastroenteritis, and one of them tested positive for norovirus. The outbreak could not be traced to any single food item, making direct or indirect contact with the infected employee the most likely explanation for the illnesses.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Kane County, IL): Thirteen people – 12 from Illinois and one from Minnesota – have now been confirmed as having been infected with a single strain of Salmonella Typhimurium. Nine of the 13 individuals reported eating at Portillo’s restaurant in St. Charles, IL during April. Three of the victims were hospitalized, but all have been released.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Canadian Food Inspection Agency advises that Punjabi Wadi Spicy Lentil Chunks (Product of India; Asian, afc, and BANSI brands) have been recalled by the importers, due to the presence of undeclared wheat. The products may have been distributed nationally.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: Mann Packing reissues and expands its voluntary recall of Party Trays and Snacks on the Go items containing grape tomatoes, because one item was inadvertently omitted from a follow-up announcement. Please refer to the revised recall notice for a complete list of recalled products that were distributed in the USA and Canada.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall Update: Lidl Germany recalls St. Maarten Classic Cheeses Slices, 200g packages, sold prior to May 11, 2011 in Lidl stores in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony only. The recall was undertaken after Belgomilk detected Listeria monocytogenes in batches of cheeses produced in its Moorslede facility and recalled all cheeses manufactured in that factory.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Outbreak Alert Update (Northland, New Zealand): Norovirus has claimed the lives of two elderly residents of Northland resthomes, and has sickened at least 298 people in five different resthomes in the region in the last month. The dead include Betty Friend (May 5th at Puriri Court Resthome) and Ian Grant (April 27th at Jane Mander Retirement Village. Mr. Grant suffered from a muscle wasting condition and was confined to his unit, raising concerns that he may have contracted the infection through a staff member.

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: May 13, 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

  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: Phoenix Import & Distribution LLC recalls Pentrexyl Forte Natural (UPC 893843001293; Lot #102050; Exp 04/14), because the packaging may cause this Dietary Supplement to be confused with an antibiotic. The recalled product was sold through retail stores in Texas.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns the public that additional Doctor’s CarbRite Diet Bars (2 oz; Chocolate Brownie, Toasted Coconut, rosted Cinnamon Bun, Chocolate Mint Cookie, S’mores, Raspberry Chocolate Truffle, Chocolate Banana Nut, Blueberry Cheesecake, Cookie Dough, and Lemon Meringue varieties; Best before dates up to and including June 30, 2012), and Universal Hi Protein Diet Bars (3 oz; Chocolate Brownie and S’mores varieties; Best before dates up to and including June 30, 2012) may contain undeclared peanuts. The recalled product may have been distributed nationally.
  • Food Safety Recall: Les Aliments Edesia Inc. (Saint-Hubert, QC) recalls Fumagalli brand Pronta Fresca Lonza Stagionata/Seasoned Dry Cured Pork Loin (100g pkg; Imported from Italy; Batch 119066; Best before 05/07/2011), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled pork product was distributed only in the province of Québec.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Belgomilk (Moorslede, Belgium) recalls Saint-Martin-Classic cheese slices (200g; sold before May 11, 2011), because the manufacturer has found Listeria monocytogenes in some lots of cheese. The recalled cheese was sold in Lidl stores in the Netherlands, and is part of a larger recall, announced on May 11th.
  • Food Safety Alert (France): Aude prefecture has temporarily forbidden the harvesting and sale of clams from Leucate pond on the Mediterranean coast, after routine microbiological testing revealed elevated levels of E. coli bacteria.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0628): Salmonella Chester in kangaroo meat from Australia; distributed to Germany and Belgium.
  • Consumer Product Safety Notification (EU #2011.0629): Migration of cadmium and of lead from latte macchiato glasses from China; distributed to Austria and Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0633): Excessive and undeclared benzoic acid in fruit jams from Turkey; distributed to Romania.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0634): Aflatoxins in ground nutmegs with raw material from Poland; distributed to Germany and Hungary.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0635): Excessive sulphite in frozen prawns from Ireland; distributed to Italy.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Healthcare Pharmascience Ltd. recalls Cyclovax Cream 5% (all lots; manufactured in Cyprus by Remedica Limited) after the Department of Health determines that a second batch of the product contains only 3.5% of the active ingredient aciclovir instead of the claimed 5%.
  • Food Safety Alert (Malaysia): The Ministry of Health is investigating media reports that meat from dead pigs was used to make processed foods, including pork sausage, smoked pork, dim sum and pau.
  • Outbreak Alert (Malaysia): Eight cases of food poisoning were recorded at National Service training camps during the first three months of this year, compared to three cases during the first quarter of 2010.
  • Outbreak Alert (Nigeria): A staff member of the Independent National Electoral Commission has died of suspected food poisoning after eating a dish of rice served to him by one of the kitchen staff at the presidential lodge in Gusau.
  • Outbreak Alert (Iraq): About 125 members of the Peshmerga in the Kurdistan region developed food poisoning after consuming milk and other Iranian made food. Reports of food poisoning traced to canned foods and other processed foods from Iran have also been recorded in other Iraqi cities.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Outbreak Alert (New Zealand): Eight kiwifruit workers in the Bay of Plenty have been isolated after a guest worker from Samoa was diagnosed as a typhoid carrier. Around 100,000 trays of kiwifruit are being dumped, because they may have come into contact with the worker.

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.