Category: botulism

Recalls and Alerts: October 21, 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: Murray Biscuit Company, LLC recalls Murray Sugar Free® Chocolate Chip cookies (5.5-oz pkgs; Best if used by APR1712 EA6), because the product may contain undeclared pecans. The recalled cookies were shipped to retail customers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee.
  • Allergy Alert: Kuck’s Turkey Farm (St. Mary’s, OH) recalls Amish Heritage Rotisserie Seasonings Turkey Breast (7- and 8-lb pkgs; Sell by dates from 10/09/11 to 11/28/11), because the products contain undeclared wheat and soy.
  • Food Safety Recall: Church Brothers, LLC recalls Bagged Clipped Spinach (2.5-lb bags; Best by 10/23/2011; Manufacturer Code A279 47166), after one bag tested positive for Salmonella during a random USDA sampling program. The recalled spinach was processed on October 6, 2011 and shipped to Super King Markets in Los Angeles, CA.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1479): Botulinum toxin in Gaudiano organic olives with almonds in glass jars from Italy; distributed to Finland, Germany and the USA.
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Insight Pharmaceuticals, LLC (Langhorne, PA) recalls Nostrilla Nasal Decongestant nasal spray (1/2 oz plastic bottle; UPC Code 6373673005; Lot #11G075; Expiry date 05/2014), due to possible contamination with Burkholderia cepacia, an opportunistic pathogen that may cause serious infection in individuals with a compromised immune system or chronic lung infection. The recalled nasal spray was distributed nationwide through retail outlets and pharmacies.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Gestion J.F. Lefebre inc., dba IGA Extra (Granby, QC) recalls GM Roul Imp Poulet due to the presence of undeclared milk protein and sesame oil, and Hamburger Steak MM due to the presence of undeclared sulfites. The recalled products bear the label “Marché IGA Gaouette.”
  • Food Safety Recall: Fumoir Grizzly Inc. recalls Grizzly Smoked Coho Salmon (Flakes), 1kg (Code #20890115), due to Salmonella contamination. The recalled smoked salmon product was distributed to hotels, restaurants and institutional customers in Québec.
  • Food Safety Recall: Loblaw Companies Ltd. recalls Butterball Seasoned Young Turkey with Giblets (5-7kg; Lot codes beginning 251175 and 251178) and Butterball Seasoned Young Stuffed Turkey with Giblets (5-7kg; Lot codes beginning 251175 and 251178), due to microbiological spoilage. The recalled products were sold in Loblaw banner stores in Ontario.
  • Food Safety Alert: The City of Toronto Public Health department ordered the closure of Pusateri’s Fine Foods’ Avenue Rd. store due to “poor sanitation and pest infestation” after a complaint led to an inspection of the store. The store will remain closed for cleaning, and will only be permitted to reopen after a successful reinspection.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (UK): Greencore recalls Beverley Manor Vanilla Cheesecake (450g; Use by dates up to and including 29 October 2011), due to the presence of undeclared egg. The recalled product was sold through Morrisons stores.
  • Allergy Alert (UK): Wm Morrison Supermarkets recalls Duc D’Ardennes Pork and Apricot Coarse Paté (170g; all date codes), due to the presence of undeclared wheat gluten.
  • Cosmetic Product Safety Recall (Spain): AEMPS orders the termination of marketing and production of Dermalit Jabón Liquido Dermoprotector (liquid soap), due to bacterial contamination (possible Klebsiella pneumoniae). The product was marketed by Gold Internacional SA and manufactured by Silver Industrial S.L., an unauthorized manufacturer.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Spain): Astellas Pharma, S.A. recalls ADVAGRAF 0,5MG 30 CÁPSULAS DURAS DE LIBERACIÓN PROLONGADA/Advagraf 0.5mg, 30 extended release capsules (Expiry 31/03/2012), because the product is out of specification, and could deliver an amount of active ingredient in excess of the specified maximum value.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert (Finland): Two members of a Southern Finland family are suffering from botulism after consuming Gaudiano Organic Olives with Almonds (Product of Italy; packed in 314ml glass jars; Best before 09/2012). Lab tests have confirmed the presence of botulinum toxin in the product, and Kespro (the importer) has recalled the product. The recalled Italian olives were imported into Finland as early as September 2010 and sold to K-food stores, KCM Big Apple (Espoo), KCM Jumbo (Vantaa) and KSM South Centre (Rovaniemi), and to a few restaurants.
  • Outbreak Alert (UK): Thirty school-age children in Sandown (the Isle of Wight) have developed Campylobacter symptoms over the past two weeks, triggering a public health investigation. The source of the outbreak has not been confirmed.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1456): Mercury in fish slices from Spain; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1459): Benzo(a)pyrene in pumpkin oil from Slovenia; distributed to Slovenia.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2011.1462): Undeclared sulphite in candied kiwi from China; distributed to the Czech Republic.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2011.1463): Salmonella infantis in soybean meal from Argentina, via Singapore; distributed to Denmark and Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1464): Benzo(a)pyrene in sprats in oil from Latvia; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1465): Mites in frozen mushrooms from Slovenia; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1466): Listeria monocytogenes in smoked salmon from Poland, via Germany; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1468): Salmonella in raw sausage spread with onions from Germany; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1469): Metal fragments in fresh chanterelles from Lithuania; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1470): High level of acrylamide in potato crisps from the Czech Republic; distributed to Poland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1471): Listeria monocytogenes in smoked salmon from Poland; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1472): Listeria monocytogenes in smoked salmon from Germany; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1473): Glass fragments in milk chocolate bar from Romania; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1476): Phosmet in apples from France; distributed to Sweden.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1478): Salmonella Newport in chilled turkey breasts from Germany; distributed to Denmark.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1479): Botulinum toxin in Gaudiano organic olives with almonds in glass jars from Italy; distributed to Finland, Germany and the USA.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1481): Salmonella spp. in paan leaves from Bangladesh; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1484): Oxamyl in cucumbers from Bulgaria, via the Czech Republic; distributed to Slovakia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1485): Listeria monocytogenes in chilled smoked salmon from Poland; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1486): Salmonella enteritidis in frozen duck breasts from the Netherlands; distributed to Iceland.
  • Pet Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1488): Salmonella Mbandaka and Salmonella typhimurium in deep frozen pet food from Belgium and the Netherlands; distributed to Belgium.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1489): Listeria monocytogenes in chilled gorgonzola from Italy; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1490): Metal pieces in mini Mortadella salami from Italy; distributed to the United Kingdom.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Hind Wing Co. Ltd. recalls Algikey Inj 3% (Manufactured in Spain by Farma Mediterrania), due to carbonization of the liquid content during sealing of the ampoules.
  • Outbreak Alert (India): Food poisoning is suspected in an outbreak of illness that has killed eight people and sickened 25 in Dera Halwana village (Karnal). The source of the outbreak is under investigation.

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.

Europe-Wide Botulism Alert

From Greece and Italy in the South of Europe, to Finland, Sweden and Norway in the North, national food safety agencies are warning consumers that La Ruche artisanal spreads, dips and preserves may be tainted with botulinum toxin.

On September 6th, France issued a Health Alert, advising that eight people were hospitalized due to botulism – five in Vaucluse, and three in Somme. The eight victims reported consuming a tapenade manufactured by the artisanal food processor La Ruche (Cavaillon, France), and sold under the brand name Les délices de Marie Claire. Analyses carried out by l’Institut Pasteur found botulinum toxin in the implicated tapenade.

Investigators of this outbreak determined that La Ruche never registered with the Prefecture in which it operated. The company’s operations, as a result, were never inspected. To make matters worse, the couple who own and operate La Ruche did not carry out appropriate control procedures, did not seek technical assistance, and did not have the proper equipment in place to sterilize their product effectively.

Clostridium botulinum or its potentially lethal neurotoxin have now been found in several different La Ruche products. French health authorities have ordered a recall of the entire output of the company’s food production facility, including products sold under the brand names Les délices de Marie-Claire, Terre de Mistral, and Le secret d’Anaïs.

The recalled products were sold in stores and markets in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of France, and over the internet through the websites  http://www.chocolatprovence.com and http://www.epicerie-terroirprovence.com.

Although the recalled products were not exported from France, health authorities across Europe are concerned that people who traveled to the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur may have purchased these products and brought them back as souvenirs or gifts. Health Alerts have been issued by a number of European countries, including Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. So far, there have been no cases of botulism linked to these products except for the eight cases reported in France.

Following is a complete list of recalled products, by brand:

  • Terre De Mistral
    • Tapenade Noire
    • Tartinade De Tomate Sechees
    • Tapenade Verte
    • Pesto
    • Anchoiade
  • Les délices de Marie-Claire
    • Tapenade Noire 180g
    • Tapenade Noire Aux Pignons
    • Tapenade Noire Au Pistou
    • Tapenade Noire Aux Tomates Sechees
    • Tapenade Verte
    • Tapenade Verte Aux Amandes
    • Tapenade Verte Au Thon
    • Anchoiade A La Provencale
    • Anchoiade De Marius
    • Tomates Sechees A L’huile D’olive
    • Thoionade
    • Delice De Tomates Sechees Au Piment D’espellette
    • Tartinade De Tomates Sechees
    • Caviar D’aubergines
    • Tartinade D’aubergines Sechees Au Piment Doux
    • Pesto Sauce Au Pistou
    • Poivronnade
    • Poichichade
    • Artichonade
    • Tapenade verte Aux Olives Vertes Et Aux Amandes
  • Le secret d’Anaïs
    • Tapenade Noire
    • Tartinade De Tomate Sechees
    • Tapenade Verte
    • Pesto
    • Anchoiade

Anyone who has purchased one of these items, or has received them as gifts, should return them to the place of purchase (if possible) or discard them in a manner that will prevent their accidental consumption.

Clostridium botulinum can grow and produce its toxin without altering the appearance, taste or smell of a food. Under no circumstances should you “sample” any of these products to see whether they are “OK” to eat. Even a miniscule amount of botulinum toxin can cause serious illness.

Symptoms of foodborne botulism typically begin with double vision or blurred vision, and difficulty in swallowing and speaking; diarrhea and vomiting can also occur. A progressive paralysis ensues, which can be fatal in 3-5% of cases. Most fatalities are due to respiratory arrest. The severity of symptoms depend in large part on the amount of toxin ingested.

If you have eaten any of the recalled products and believe yourself to be experiencing symptoms of botulism, please seek immediate medical attention.

Recalls and Alerts: September 7, 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 Alert: USDA reports that an “…analysis of FSIS testing data has shown that 23% of Salmonella positive samples from ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products are from pork barbecue with vinegar and pepper-based sauce.” The sauce is applied to the pork after the meat is cooked. The source of the Salmonella in the sauce is unclear.
  • Outbreak Alert: Washington State health officials have closed Samish Bay and part of Hood Canal to oyster harvesting, after several people who ate raw oysters from these areas were infected with Vibrio parahaemolyticus.
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Novartis Consumer Health, Inc. recalls Excedrin® Extra Strength Caplets (100ct; Lot #10068948), due to instances of product mix-ups found in the recalled lot. This recall notice was posted on the Tops Friendly Markets and Giant® Food Stores web sites.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall Update: Johnvince Foods expands its earlier recall of walnuts to include raw shelled walnuts sold from bulk and additional prepackaged raw shelled walnuts and walnut-containing products, because these products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled nuts and nut products were imported by Johnvince Foods in 25-lb cardboard cases bearing Lot code W1866 and the name Andersen and Sons Shelling, Vina, California and distributed across Canada. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of recalled products.
  • Food Safety Recall: La Mer (Montreal, QC) recalls Poissonnerie La Mer brand Sauce romanoff (500ml glass jar) and Sauce tomate fèves/moules (1000ml glass jar), because the product labels do not carry the instruction “Garder réfrigéré.” These products represent a health hazard if they have not been stored under refrigeration after purchase.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert Update (France): Analysis of food manufactured by La Ruche – the company whose tapenade is blamed for eight cases of botulism – has determined the presence either of botulinum toxin or of the microbe Clostridium botulinum in additional products from this company. As a result, French health authorities have mandated the recall of all products from this company, including the brands Les Délices de Marie-Claire, Terre de Mistral, and Les Secrets d’Anais. The recalled products include tapenades, anchoïades, tomates séchés, thoïnade, tartinades, caviar d’aubergines, pesto sauce pistou, poivronnade, poichichade and artichonade. Consumers are instructed to return these products to the place of purchase or to local health protection offices.
  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium and Luxembourg): Colruyt group recalls Everyday brand Iced Tea Lemon (50cl PET bottle; Lot L11183BN; Expiry 02-01-2012), because a small amount of alcohol was detected in some bottles of the product. The recalled beverages were sold in Colruyt (in Belgium and Luxembourg), Spar and OKay stores.
  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Delhaize Belgique recalls 365 brand Ice Tea Lemon (500ml PET bottles; Lot codes L1183, L11156, L11197 and L11210; Expiry 02/01/2012, 16/12/2011, 16/01/2012 and 29/01/2012, respectively), because the product may contain a small amount of alcohol.
  • Pet Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1202): Salmonella in dog chew from Mexico; distributed to Belgium.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1203): Clostridium botulinum type A in olive-almond spread from France; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1206): Unauthorized Basic Red 46 in sumac from Turkey; distributed to Switzerland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1208): Salmonella anatum in chilled fresh pork from Germany; distributed to Denmark.

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.