Recalls and Alerts: October 19–20, 2023

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.

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TOXIC

From Factory To Food Bowl
PET FOOD IS A RISKY BUSINESS

Available from all major on-line retailers, including:

Enjoy the slideshow as you listen to a sample of TOXIC, narrated by the author.

“A complete and compelling account of the hidden and not-so-hidden ways the food we give our beloved pets can be contaminated.” – JoNel Aleccia, Health Reporter, Food & Nutrition, The Associated Press.

United States

Food Safety Alert: FDA advises restaurants and food retailers not to sell and to dispose of oysters and consumers not to eat oysters from Future Seafoods, Inc. (PE 4217 SP), Prince Edward Island, Canada, from harvest area PE9B on 10/10/2023, and shipped on 10/10/2023 to importers in FL, MA, MD, ME, PA, and VA, due to the possible presence of Salmonella and E. coli. Future Seafoods, Inc. has not yet initiated a recall.

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE: CDC declares the outbreaks of Salmonella linked to backyard poultry are over. In all, these outbreaks accounted for reported 1,072 illnesses and 247 hospitalizations in 48 states and Puerto Rico.

Allergy Alert: Aunt Kitty’s Foods Inc. recalls HANOVER SOUP CLASSICS Chicken Pot Pie (15-oz metal cans; Lot code P864 4893 23241950; Best by SEP 2026) due to undeclared soy.

Allergy Alert: Nature’s Path Organic Foods recalls Nature’s Path Organic Pumpkin Spice Waffles (7 oz (2 x 70g); Lot code 2C110242; Best before 2023 OCT 24; UPC 0 5844959077 4) and Nature’s Path Organic Dark Chocolate Chip Waffles (7 oz (2 x 70g); Lot code 2C110262; Best before 2023 OCT 26; UPC 0 5844916701 3) due to undeclared peanut.

Allergy Alert: Braga Fresh recalls Wegmans Organic Sweet Kale Chopped Salad Kit (8 oz bag; Lot BFFS282B4; Best if used by OCT 27, 2023; UPC 0 77890 55911 6) due to undeclared egg.

Food Safety Recall: Del Valle Import and Export LLC recalls Chorizo Olanchano Mezcla de chorizo Centroamericano Centroamerican Brand Chorizo Mix (14-oz plastic tubs; Produced from October 1, 2021, through October 18, 2023) because the product was manufactured without benefit of federal inspection.

Food Safety Recall: Baker Farms recalls Kroger Collard Greens (16-oz bags; Production code 110093-387; Best by 10-16-2023; UPC 11110-18171) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Tiffany Food Corp recalls Mini Fruit Jelly Cups (all codes and flavors) due to potential choking hazard.

Food Safety Recall: East Coast Food Distributors recalls approximately 7,767 pounds of pork chicharrones products. The products were imported from Colombia, a country ineligible to export meat products to the United States. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

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Canada

Allergy Alert: Produits alimentaires L.M. inc. (Lévis, QC) recalls POITRINE DE POULET MARINÉE MIEL ET MOUTARDE / Chicken breast marinated in honey and mustard (2 kg; All lots in which wheat (gluten) is not mentioned on the label) and RÔTI DE PORC MIEL ET MOUTARDE / Pork roast with honey and mustard (4 pieces; All lots in which wheat (gluten) is not mentioned on the label) due to undeclared wheat (gluten).

Allergy Alert: 2213256 Ontario Ltd. recalls Compliments brand Buffalo Chicken Meatballs (680g; Best before 2024 FE 15; UPC 0 55742 56277 4) due to undeclared soy.

Allergy Alert: Marché D&T (Montréal, QC) recalls POULET GÉNÉRAL TAO / General Tao chicken (All lots) due to undeclared wheat (gluten) and sesame, and recalls NOUILLES À LA SAUCE SOYA / Noodles with soy sauce (All lots) due to undeclared wheat (gluten).

Food Safety Recall: Industry recalls various brands of caffeinated energy drinks due to various non-compliances related to caffeine content and labelling requirements. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Super C (Sherbrooke, QC) recalls Bœuf haché ex-maigre / Extra lean ground beef (Packed 16 OCT 2023), Bœuf haché mi-maigre / Semi-lean ground beef (Packed 16 OCT 2023) and Veau grain haché / Ground grain-fed veal ((Packed 16 OCT 2023) due to possible foreign matter contamination (pieces of plastic and metal).

Food Safety Recall: Genuine Health Inc. recalls Genuine Health brand Fermented Vegan Proteins+ Peanut Butter Chocolate Bar (12 x 55g; Lot PB032822; Best before Nov 2023) due to possible mold growth.

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Europe

Allergy Alert (Germany): Appel Feinkost GmbH & Co. KG recalls Appel zarte Filets vom Hering in sahniger Meerrettich-Creme / Fillets of herring in creamed horseradish (200g; Lot L2319503827; Best before 17.07.2027) undeclared allergens.

Allergy Alert (Italy): Biolab srl recalls VEGGIE DESPAR brand TEMPEH BIOLOGICO / Organic tempeh (150g; Lot 097; Best before 25-12-2023) due to undeclared wheat (gluten) and mustard.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Debaenst recalls différents type de viande de bœuf, viande hachée et préparations de viande hachée de la marque Jules’ Butchery / Various types of Jules’ Butchery brand beef, minced meat, and minced meat preparations due to shiga toxin-producing E. coli contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Hamlet NV recalls FUN brand Chewing gum (75g, Best before 2/08/2026, 12/08/2026, 23/08/2026; 200g, Best before 06/09/2026) due to possible foreign matter contamination (small pieces of metal).

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): CARREFOUR recalls Carrefour brand HUÎTRES CREUSES BRETAGNE N3 / Oysters (12 pieces; Use by 22/10/2023) due to possible E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): LES SALOIRS D’ESPELETTE recalls Kukulu, Ezpela brands Fromage brebis poivron piment / Pepper & pimento sheep milk cheese (Lot BP52223; Best before dates between 20/03/2024 and 03/04/2024) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): LE FUMET DES DOMBES recalls Cuisine du Pêcheur brand Rillettes cuisse de grenouille persillade / Frog leg rillettes with parsley (90g; Lot 2339; Best before 31/12/2026) due to risk of Clostridium botulinum growth.

Food Safety Recall (France): LES VIANDES DU HAUT BEARN recalls Les viandes du Haut Béarn brand STEAK HACHE / Ground steak and HACHE DE BOEUF / Ground beef (Various package formats, lot codes and Use by dates) due to E. coli O26 contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): RUEIL MALMAISON DISTRIBUTION Centre E.LECLERC recalls AMBROSI SPA brand MAGOR AOP / cheese (Use by dates between 07/10/2023 and 22/10/2023) due to E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): CARREFOUR HYPERMARCHES recalls JAMBON CUIT SUPERIEUR DECOUENNE DEGRAISSE TORCHON / Rindless, defatted cooked ham (Lot 01204715; Use by 11/11/2023 and 06/11/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): DEMARNE recalls DELTA MOSSEL brand MOULE HOLLANDE / Dutch molluscs (2 kg, 10 kg, 15 kg; Lot 00620; Use by 24/10/2023) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): METRO FRANCE recalls DELTA MOSSEL brand Moule fraîche de Hollande Extra / Fresh Dutch molluscs (2 kg, 10 kg; Use by 24/10/2023) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SOCIETE COOPERATIVE APPROVISIONNEMENT – SCAPMAREE LECLERC recalls DELTA MOSSEL brand MOULE ELEVEE EN HOLLANDE / Dutch molluscs (1.4 kg; Lot 00620; Use by 24/10/2023) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): ROUFFIAC DISTRIBUTION LECLERC recalls Paupiette de dinde façon Orloff / Orloff-style turkey paupiette (Sold 26/09/2023 through 28/09/2023) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): BLEDINA recalls BLEDINA brand Blédîner Brocolis Petits Pois Riz Touche de Lait / Broccoli, peas, rice and touch of milk (2 x 200g; Best before 07/06/2024) due to product stability issue.

Food Safety Recall (France): LAGRUA INTERMARCHE hyper recalls araignées de porc marinées ail et fines herbes / raw pork pieces marinated with garlic and fine herbs (Lot N3272024; Use by 08/10/2023) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): FERME DE LASPEYRIERES recalls Ferme de Laspeyrières brand Rocamadour fermier / Farm-style cheese (Lot 0610; Use by 06/11/2023) due to shiga toxin-producing E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): ETABLISSEMENTS BERNI ET CIE recalls Les délices de l’atlas brand Jambon de dinde / Turkey ham (150g; Lot 023257; Use by 13/11/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Meininger Wurstspezialitäten aus Thüringen GmbH recalls Thüringer Knackwurst mit Knoblauch / Knackwurst with garlic (300g; Lot 348; Best before dates up to 14.11.2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Hungary): EUROSER DAIRY GROUP recalls MORBIER PDO sajt / Cheese (Use by 19.11.2023) due to possible E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Various supermarkets recall Kauwgombal / Gum balls (Various brands, package sizes and Best before dates) due to possible foreign matter contamination (small pieces of metal). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Animal Feed Safety Recall (France): DEVELOPPEMENT NUTRITION ANIMALE recalls REGAL brand POULE PONDEUSE COMPLET / Complete pelletted feed for laying hens (20 kg; Lot 81308140080001; Best before 31/05/2024) due to possible Salmonella Enteritidis contamination in one ingredient (barley).

Animal Feed Safety Recall (France): DEVELOPPEMENT NUTRITION ANIMALE recalls VERT VALLON brand POULE PONDEUSE / Complete pelletted feed for laying hens (25 kg; Lot 81308310150001; Best before 31/05/2024) due to possible Salmonella Enteritidis contamination in one ingredient (barley).

Animal Feed Safety Recall (France): DEVELOPPEMENT NUTRITION ANIMALE recalls EVIALIS brand TRADIPONTE PERFO INITIAL / Complete pelleted feed for laying hens (25 kg; Lot 81308310190001; Best before 31/05/2024) due to possible Salmonella Enteritidis contamination in one ingredient (barley).

Animal Feed Safety Recall (France): DEVELOPPEMENT NUTRITION ANIMALE recalls ALPES ALIMENTS brand PONTE FERMIERE A5H TRACE/ Complete pelleted feed for laying hens (25 kg; Lot 81308040050001; Best before 31/05/2024) due to possible Salmonella Enteritidis contamination in one ingredient (barley).

Animal Feed Safety Recall (France): DEVELOPPEMENT NUTRITION ANIMALE recalls GAMM VERT ALIMENTS brand PONDEUSE / Complete pelleted feed for laying hens (25 kg; Lots 81308090020001, 81308140120001 & 81309250120001; Best before 31/05/2024 & 30/06/2024) due to possible Salmonella Enteritidis contamination in one ingredient (barley).

TAINTED formats 3 — “Reads like a true crime novel” – Food Safety News

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations?

Click on the link to listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.

Chapter 6. Birth of a Pathogen

TAINTED is available in digital format from all major on-line retailers. Press the button to go directly to your preferred digital bookstore.

Amazon

Apple

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Chapters/Indigo

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It’s Publication Day!

Calling All Pets
(and Pet Parents, Too)

Five years after the idea for a book on the pet food industry first took hold of me during a walk on Carmel Beach, I am proud to announce the official launch of TOXIC. From Factory to Food Bowl, Pet Food Is a Risky Business.

If you share your life with a companion animal—especially a dog or cat—you owe it to your pet to educate yourself about the practices that take place behind the scenes in the factories and kitchens where raw, canned, and kibbled pet foods are manufactured.

The reality behind the appetizing package labels and enticing website advertising may shock you. It will certainly disillusion you, as it did me.

The stories and investigations described in TOXIC are drawn from interviews with pet owners, public records, published articles, and FDA inspection reports.

FULL DISCLOSURE: My husband and I are very fortunate to share our home with our 7½ year old Australian Cobberdog, Rutlands Shalom. She thrives on a home-cooked diet that I prepare for her myself.

Word On the Street

As part of the run-up to the publication of TOXIC, I supplied Advance Review copies to a number of colleagues in the writing community. Several of these individuals have already posted their reviews, and I am proud to share a few of their comments here. If you wish to read a complete review, please click on the reviewer’s name or handle.

“As the former global pathogen product manager at a major testing manufacturer, I found this book a fantastic companion to Tainted by Phyllis Entis.” – George Nagle (Amazon USA reviewer)

“TOXIC provides an eye-opening look at the pet food industry’s failures.” – Amy M. Reade (Amazon USA reviewer)

“Well, wow! As with Entis’s first book, TAINTED, this new installment is frighteningly eye opening.” – PeaceLoveHope (an Amazon USA Vine Voice reviewer)

“My thanks to the author for this meticulous insight – would that it weren’t necessary to hold those responsible constantly to account, but it is … and this book does that with aplomb.” – MeandtheMutts (Amazon UK reviewer)

A Peek Inside the Book

If you have read this far, please let me entice you further with a short excerpt from Chapter 9: Pentobarbital’s Pervasive Presence. I interviewed Mark Johnson via email for this story.

Mark was a California cattleman and his dogs were his workforce. He maintained a string of Border Collies and Australian Shepherd mixes to help with herding. Mark first purchased Gravy Train canned dog foods in 2015, using the products as supplemental feedings and as rewards for his dogs. In January 2018, when disaster struck, Mark owned thirteen dogs, ranging from ten months to approximately seven years old. One of his six female dogs was pregnant.

Typically, Mark purchased five cases of dog food weekly, patronizing the local Walmart and Big Lots stores for his supplies. In early January 2018, he replenished his supply of canned food with a purchase of two Gravy Train varieties: Chunks in Gravy with Beef Chunks, and Chunks in Gravy with T-Bone Flavor Chunks. On or about January 12^th, all thirteen dogs fell sick within hours after eating the Gravy Train dog food. He took all of the dogs to his local veterinarian. Within two days of having consumed the dog food, all thirteen dogs were showing signs of kidney failure and were euthanized at the veterinarian’s recommendation.

Although the veterinarian performed a necropsy on one of the dogs, neither he nor Mark reported the dog deaths to the FDA. According to Mark, the veterinarian died shortly after the incident, and Mark was unable to retrieve his files. As of November 2018, Mark was still searching for replacement herding dogs that were in need of a good home.

How To Order TOXIC

TOXIC. From Factory to Food Bowl, Pet Food Is a Risky Business is available in digital format from all major ebook retailers, and can be purchased in paperback on Amazon.

Alternatively, you can have your favorite bookstore order a copy of TOXIC for you.

If you prefer to borrow your reading material from a local library, please consider asking your librarian to add TOXIC to the library’s collection.

Sunday Supplement: Proposed new FDA food structure leaves pet food out to dry

IN MY OPINION

The proposed new US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) organization structure leaves the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) sucking on a hind teat.

Never a major player in the FDA heirarchy, the CVM has been formally excluded from the Human Foods Program, with only a dotted line connecting it to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner.

Although the CVM will report directly to the Office of the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, its relatively small budget and political profile will leave this essential element of food safety and nutrition with little voice or influence at the table.

Why does this matter?

The CVM is responsible for oversight of animal feed, pet foods and veterinary medicines.

If animal feeds are not properly regulated and supervised, animal nutrition–and ultimately human nutrition–suffers.

If veterinary medicines are not properly regulated and supervised, the health of livestock and the safety of the human diet suffers.

If pet foods are not properly regulated and supervised, the health of companion animals suffers.

Pet health matters

Pets play an important role in the mental and physical health of their human companions.

Those of us who have lost a dog, cat, or other pet to illness, accidents, or simply old age, understand the grief that this loss entails.

In addition, if an animal develops a gastrointestinal illness such as salmonellosis as a result of contaminated pet food, this illness can be passed along to people in the same household.

This is not speculation.

Kibble, raw pet foods, and pet treats contaminated with Salmonella have caused several outbreaks of human illness large enough to attract the attention of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Without a strong voice at the budget table, the CVM will not have the resources to oversee the pet food industry.

We have seen what has happened in the past when a pet food manufacturer has been allowed to operate on a “voluntary compliance” basis. More often than is healthy, the emphasis is on voluntary, and compliance falls by the wayside.

Can this be fixed?

I realize that the CVM has elements both of food and of pharmaceuticals in its regulatory portfolio.

Nevertheless, every component of the CVM’s mandate–animal feed, animal medications, pet food–indirectly supports the safety and nutriton of human or animal food.

I would propose that the scope of the proposed new directorate be expanded to include the CVM, and that the word “Human” be dropped from the title of the new Deputy Commissioner.

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Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations?

Click on the link to listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.

Chapter 6. Birth of a Pathogen