Category: botulism

Recalls and Alerts: June 29, 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: Bavan Food Company (Sacramento, CA) recalls Bavan Brand Sugar Rewari (Santra Goli) Candy (10.5-oz plastic bag; Product of India), due to unacceptable levels of lead. The recalled product was distributed in California.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert Update (France): France orders the recall of Thompson & Morgan brand Fenugreek, Mustard and Arugula seeds for sprouting, because the seeds are implicated in an outbreak of 16 E. coli O104:H4 illnesses (8 cases of bloody diarrhea and 8 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome) in the Bordeaux region. The outbreak strain is the same strain as the German outbreak strain, which – as of June 28th – comprises 4,022 cases of HUS and EHEC in 16 countries (including 47 deaths in Germany and one death in Sweden). The European CDC and European Food Safety Authority report that traceback investigations point to fenugreek seeds from Egypt as the likely source of both outbreaks. The seeds were imported into Germany by AGA SAAT GmbH (Dusseldorf) which, in turn, supplied seeds to Thompson & Morgan. The European CDC and individual government agencies in Europe and elsewhere, are strongly urging consumers to avoid eating all uncooked sprouts.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Welfore Co. Ltd, in response to instruction from the Department of Health, recalls Welfore Senna Forte Tab 17mg, Wei Health Strong Senna Tab 17mg, Legend Senna Extra Tab 17mg, and Senna Forte Tab 17mg (Product of USA), after a sample fails the disintegration test.
  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating two suspected food poisoning outbreaks affecting a total of nine people. One group, consisting of two people became ill after dining at a restaurant in Jordan on June 19th. The second group, consisting of seven people became ill after dining at the same restaurant on June 25th. All of the victims complained of abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fever and nausea/vomiting.
  • Outbreak Alert (Taiwan): A 4-year-old boy is in intensive care in a Kaohsiung City hospital after developing symptoms of botulism. Lab tests of the boys serum sample confirmed botulinum Type A toxin; tests of food samples are in progress. This is the third case of botulism reported in Taiwan so far this year. Taiwan CDC reminds the public that any homemade pickled products or vacuum-packaged food should be boiled for 10 minutes prior to consumption in order to inactivate any botulinum toxin that may be present in the food.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Inghams Enterprise Pty Ltd. recalls Brannans Marinated Whole Chicken (All weights; Use by 27.06.11 to 05.07.11, inclusive), due to the presence of undeclared soy, oat, fish, sesame seeds and sulphite. The recalled poultry products were sold exclusively through Aldi stores in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): McCain Foods recalls McCain Family Pizza Cheese & Bacon frozen pizza (500g cardboard box; Best before Mar 2012 B 090 and Mar 2012 C 090), because the food may be contaminated with metal pieces. The recalled frozen pizzas were distributed nationally to Coles (including Coles online and BiLo), Woolworths/Safeway, Franklins and Independent stores, including IGA and Foodland.

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.

Recall Roundup: March 22, 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: Universal Nutrition (New Brunswick, NJ) recalls specific lot numbers for Gain Fast, LAVA, Real Gains, Super Whey Pro, Torrent, Ultra Mass 4500, Ultra Whey Pro and Uni-Syn because one ingredient, whey protein, has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled products were distributed in all 50 states.
  • Food Safety Recall: Northwest Premium Meats (Nampa, ID) recalls approximately 2,130 pounds of Homestead brand and Panther Ranch brand smoked ham and bacon products because they contain sodium nitrite, which is not declared on the label.
  • Food Safety Recall: Lakeside Foods, Inc. (Manitowoc, WI) recalls 105 oz. canned Pickled Sliced Beets (Codes EFBB229/003034 and EFBB229/003047), because some of the cans may have been undercooked and have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. The product was distributed under the Bountiful Harvest, Code Elite, Comsource Medal, Lakeside, Monarch, Nugget Black, Restaurant Pride, and Sysco Classic labels in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
  • Food Safety Recall: Palmyra Bologna Company, Inc. (Palmyra, PA) recalls approximately 23,000 pounds of Seltzer’s Beef Lebanon Bologna that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled products were manufactured in December 2010 and shipped to distribution centers in California, Colorado, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania for further distribution to retailers. The CDC and state public health agencies have identified four cases of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania that have been linked to the consumption of the recalled Lebanon bologna products.
  • Food Safety Recall: Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. (Coral Gables, FL) recalls 4,992 cartons of cantaloupes, each containing 4 plastic mesh sleeves with 3 cantaloupes per sleeve (lot codes 02-15-24-10, 02-15-25-10, 02-15-26-10 and 02-15-28-10), because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella Panama. The recalled melons were grown in and shipped from Del Monte Fresh’s farm Asuncion Mita in Guatemala and distributed through warehouse clubs (Costco, according to Marler Blog)  in Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. FDA has notified Del Monte of 12 reported cases of Salmonella Panama that have been linked epidemiologically to these cantaloupes.

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.

Recall Roundup – Canada: February 26 to March 10, 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.

Canada

Allergy Alert: PTI Foods recalls Gharse brand Amla Juice, Karela Juice and Ghiya Juice (250 mL; all lot codes beginning with PT), due to the presence of undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert: OceanPrime Inc. recalls OceanPrime brand Breaded Squid Rings Salt & Pepper (all pack codes), due to the presence of undeclared peanuts. The recalled product was distributed in Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia.

Allergy Alert: Longview Meat & Merchandise Ltd. recalls Longview brand The Original Beef Jerky – Canadian Maple, due to the presence of undeclared soy and wheat. The recalled product was distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan.

Allergy Alert: Quality Natural Foods Ltd. recalls Haldirams Cham Cham, due to the presence of undeclared sulfites.

Allergy Alert: Metro Famille Martel (Saint-Eustache, QC) recalls several products due to the presence of undeclared soy, eggs or sulfites.

Allergy Alert: Jérôme’s Steakhouse et Boucherie (Boucherville, QC) recalls several products due to the presence of undeclared wheat, milk, and/or soy.

Allergy Alert: Pâtes et Cie, Marché St-Jacques inc (Montreal, QC) recalls several products that contain undeclared soy, peanuts, nuts, fish, shellfish, and/or sulfites.

Allergy Alert: Pâtisserie St-Martin (Laval, QC) recalls several products due to the presence of undeclared egg, soy, and/or sulfites.

Food Safety Recall: CFIA is warning the public not to consume certain lot codes of Organic Peppermint Tea, imported from the USA and distributed by The Metropolitan Tea Company, because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. Please see the Health Hazard Alert for further details.

Food Safety Recall: Arla Foods (Toronto, ON) recalls Cremona Grated Dairy Product, including certain Canadian and Cremona brands of Grated Parmesan Cheese, because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled grated cheeses were sold in Famous Foods (Vancouver, BC) and Thrifty Foods stores (Victoria, Saltspring Island, and Saanichton, BC).

Food Safety Recall: Arla Foods Inc. (Concord, ON) recalls Grated Cheese Product with Parmesan (Best before 2011FE25 through 2011MR28), sold in TW Foods, North Bay, ON. The grated cheese may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Food Safety Recall: Arla Foods Inc. recalls Grated Parmesan (sold in three Montreal locations), due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Please see recall notice for details.

Food Safety Advisory: The BC Centre for Disease Control advises that all varieties of jam and jelly products prepared by Jamnation Fine Foods may pose a risk for botulism. The products were packaged in 120 mL jars and sold at charity booths across BC in 2010. BCCDC issued its original advisory on March 8th, based on a suspect case of botulism, and has now determined that the sample of watermelon jelly consumed by the victim has tested positive for botulinum toxin. BCCDC urges anyone who may have purchased these products to discard them immediately.

Food Safety Recall: DeFranco & Sons, USA recalls in-shell hazelnuts (filberts) and mixed nuts containing hazelnuts, because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Consumption of the hazelnuts has been linked to seven cases of E. coli O157:H7 illness in the USA; two Canadian cases match the genetic fingerprint of the US E. coli O157:H7 illnesses, but have not yet been linked to the recalled products. The recalled nuts were distributed in Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario, and may have been distributed nationally. Please navigate to the recall notice for additional details.

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.