Category: botulism

Recalls and Alerts: December 4, 2012

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.

For current information on international and retail distribution of peanut butter products recalled due to Salmonella Bredeney, please consult the Trader Joe’s/Sunland Peanut Butter Recalls tab.

United States

  • Food Safety Recall: Cantina Foods (Buffalo, NY) recalls Beef and Cheese Pastellios (cartons containing four plastic bags with 6 x 4-oz pies per bag; sold from Oct 3, 2012 through Nov 20, 2012), because the item was produced without the benefit of federal inspection. In September 2012, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) carried out a food safety assessment that identified problems with the company’s Listeria monocytogenes control program. The recalled products were distributed to retail establishments in the Buffalo, NY area; individual pies may have been available from heat trays at convenience stores.
  • Food Safety Recall: The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC alerts its customers to a recall of Veggie Patch Ultimate Meatless Burger (9 oz; Sell by January 12, 2013; UPC 61012900211), due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Safety Recall: Gean Farm Inc. (Oxnard, CA) recalls Harry’s Berries Salsa Mild, Harry’s Berries Salsa Hot, and Dill Beans, due to possible botulism risk. The recalled products were sold at Certified Farmers Markets in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Golden Gate Soy Food, Inc. (San Francisco, CA) that a September 2012 inspection of the company’s food manufacturing facility found serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Sol Fish Traders (General Santos City, Philippines) that an evaluation of the firm’s HACCP plan and supporting documentation for processing of tuna products revealed that the firm has serious deviations from the requirements of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Blue Marine Seafoods Trading (General Santos City, Philippines) that an evaluation of the firm’s HACCP plan and supporting documentation for processing of Fresh Frozen Yellowfin Tuna Fillet Treated With Filtered (Tasteless) Smoke revealed that the firm has serious deviations from the requirements of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Ito En (USA) Inc. (Honolulu, HI) that a June-July 202 inspection of the company’s low-acid canned food facility found serious deviations from the low-acid canned food regulations.

Canada

  • Health Canada Enforcement Action: Health Canada has suspended the Establishment License of Chemi Pharmaceutical Inc. (Mississauga, ON) after uncovering falsified testing results during the course of an inspection. Companies that have had their testing done by Chemi are being asked to temporarily halt sales until the safety of those products can be confirmed. Health Canada has released a list of products and ingredients that are affected by this action.

Europe

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: July 27, 2012

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 Update: USDA releases Retail Distribution List for chicken and yam pie products recalled by Piccadilly Fine Foods due to the presence of undeclared shrimp.
  • Food Safety Recall: Wegmans recalls Gills Onions Diced Celery and Onions (8-oz clear plastic container; Use by on or before August 3) and Gills Onions Diced Yellow Onions (8-oz clear plastic container; Use by on or before August 3), because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were sold in Wegmans stores in the Syracuse, NY area only (John Glenn, Dewitt, Onondaga, Cicero, Taft Road, Great Northern, James Street, Auburn, and Fairmount).
  • Food Safety Recall: Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, LLC recalls Calico Bean Salad (sold on salad bar between July 18, 2012 through July 26, 2012), due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The action follows a recall of the salad by Costa Fruit & Produce (Boston, MA)
  • Food Safety Recall Update: US Foods, a foodservice distributor, notifies its customers that Gill’s Onions (Oxnard, CA) has recalled a number of processed onion products (use by dates on or before August 3, 2012), due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled onion products were sold under the following brand names: Gills Onions, True Leaf, Cross Valley Farms, Western Onions, and Wegmans.
  • Food Safety Recall: Huxtable’s Kitchen (Vernon, CA) recalls Trader Joe’s BBQ Chicken Salad (14.5-oz trays; Est #P-11079; Use by dates through July 30, 2012), because the product contains diced onions that were recalled by Gill’s Onions due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled product was manufactured between July 20, 2012 and July 24, 2012 and was distributed to Trader Joe’s stores in Arizona, New Mexico, Southern California, Southern Nevada and Texas.
  • Animal Feed Safety Recall: Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC recalls certain Purina® Honor® Show Chow® and DuMOR® Show Poultry feed products, due to the lack of added vitamin D. The recalled feeds were manufactured between May 23 and July 20, 2012 and sold nationwide. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of affected products.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Ohio): A 4-year old girl suffering from hemolytic uremic syndrome remains hospitalized in serious condition, after attending a July 3rd picnic at Neff’s Lawn Care in Germantown. The girl is one of at least 75 individuals who became ill; 18 of the outbreak victims are confirmed to have been infected with E. coli O157. Two other victims also were hospitalized – a 14-year old male who was in serious condition but has since been released, and a 73-year old man who died on July 24th.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (New York): Onondaga County health officials have documented 69 cases of Shigella infections, up from the previous reported total of 45, according to Food Safety News. The source of the outbreak is still undetermined.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Montreal Kosher (Montreal, QC) recalls Montreal Kosher Potato Knish (283g and 454g sizes; All lot codes), due to the presence of undeclared egg. The recalled products were distributed in Ontario and Quebec.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert Update (UK): The Food Standards Agency has learned from Italian authorities that 60 jars of Divini d Chicco Francesco Olive Bella Di Cerignola (580g; Best before 10 June 2014; Lot #161/11) were distributed to a single UK supplier. The UK supplier distributed the product to three independent delicatessens in the UK between July 2011 and July 2012, and has since visited these delicatessens to remove remaining stock from sale. A jar of the Italian-produced olives has been implicated in a single case of botulism poisoning.
  • Allergy Alert (Finland): HK Ruokatalo Oy recalls HK Kabanossi Sipuli (400g; Best before 28/07/2012), because the product may contain a small amount of undeclared cheese.
  • Allergy Alert (Greece): Bazaar AE recalls Appassionato Sorbet Cassis Black Currant (550g; Lot #112688; Expiry 11-2013), due to the presence of undeclared casein (milk protein).
  • Allergy Alert (Greece): Moseskou Vir recalls Gusto raro Basic soya kuvertüre 40% (Expiry 04.12.2012) and Labooko Dark Chocolate 80% Peru Criollo (Expiry 10.11.2012), due to the presence of undeclared casein (milk protein).
  • Allergy Alert (Greece): Santikos Costas & Co. recalls Balance Belgian Chocolate no sugar added 72% cocoa (100g; Lot L491; Expiry 04/2013), due to the presence of undeclared casein (milk protein).
  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Univeg Belgium recalls certain Forestière brand SOJA and Wok products, because they contain soy sprouts that may be contaminated with Salmonella. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of affected products and Best before dates.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Danish Bottling Company recalls TEAM Denmark PLUS Sports Drink (Best before 14.06.2013), due to mold in some of the bottles.
  • Food Safety Recall (Finland): Eckes-Granini Finland Oy Ab recalls Brämhults Apple Juice (1-liter and 0.38-liter containers; Best before 08.04.2012), due to the presence of patulin in excess of permitted levels.
  • Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Colruyt recalls Nice & Easy Soy Sprouts (500g; Item #29578; Best before 25/7/2012, 27/7/2012 and 29/7/2012) due to Salmonella contamination.
  • Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Delhaize Luxembourg recalls Delhaize Wok Soja (250g; Best before 26 and 27 July), Delhaize Wok légumes et soya (400g; Best before 27 July), Delhaize Wok chop soy (400g; Best before 26 and 27 July), Delhaize Wok mélange de légumes (400g; Best before 27 July) and Delhaize Wok légumes chinois (400g; Best before 27 July), due to possible Salmonella contamination in the soy sprouts.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2012.1072): Benzethonium chloride in food supplement from the United Kingdom, via Bulgaria; distributed to Bulgaria.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2012.1073): Excessive Enterobacteriaceae in meat meal from the United Kingdom; distributed to Belgium.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1075): Salmonella Group E1 in soybean sprouts from Belgium; distributed to Belgium, France and the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1077): Histamine in canned sardines in vegetable oil from Morocco; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1078): Unauthorized clenbuterol and phenylbutazone in chilled deboned horse meat and frozen deboned horse meat from Canada; distributed to Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1079): Histamine in chilled yellow fin tuna from Spain; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1080): Salmonella enteritidis in frozen raw chicken from Poland; distributed to France.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2012.1081): Arsenic and lead in food supplement from the USA; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1082): Metal pieces in chilled ready-to-eat horse meat sausage from Belgium; distributed to France.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection reports a lab-confirmed case of cholera involving a 62-year old woman who traveled to India between June 14 and July 19, and who developed diarrhea since July 20th. The woman was treated in hospital and discharged the following day. This is the first confirmed case of cholera in Hong Kong in 2012.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Allergy Alert (Australia): VIC State Distributors recalls Kanga Kandy Choc Winter Mix (400g clear bag; Best before 17/05/2013), due to the presence of undeclared almonds. The recalled product was sold in IGA Supermarkets, Foodworks and other independent supermarkets in rural Victoria.

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: July 26, 2012

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: Piccadilly Fine Foods (Santa Clara, CA) recalls Top Nosh Farmer’s Market Chicken and Yam with Coconut Curry Pies (Est #P-9216; Lot code 184-12), due to the presence of undeclared shrimp. The recalled pies were produced on June 29, 2012 and sold to a San Jose, Calif.-area distributor for further distribution.
  • Allergy Alert: Spillson’s LTD recalls Texas BBQ Beef Sandwiches (4-oz; Best by date between July 20th and August 3rd, 2012), due to the presence of undeclared soy flour and wheat flour. The recaled product was sold at various convenience stores in Monroe, MI.
  • Food Safety Recall: Gills Onions, LLC (Oxnard, CA) expands its earlier recall to include all diced, slivered and whole peeled onions and diced onion/celery mix with use-by-dates on or before August 3rd, due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were shipped directly to retailers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Montana, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Washington and Canada. US retailers impacted by this recall include KingSoopers, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, Food4Less, QFC and Albertsons, The expanded recall was initiated after FDA investigation revealed the presence of Listeria in the company’s facility.
  • Food Safety Recall: Sartori Inspirations, LLC recalls Ciolo brand tapenades, goudas, cheeses and salsas (please refer to recall notice for details), because the products may contain onions from Gill Onions and may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled dips and spreads were distributed to Whole Foods Market stores in Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.
  • Food Safety Recall: Publix Super Markets (Lakeland, FL) recalls Sub Sandwiches With Onions, because the onions were supplied by Gill Onions LLC and may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled Sub Sandwiches were sold from the Publix Deli department between July 7, 2012 through July 26, 2012 in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Publix stores in Florida are not involved with this recall.
  • Food Safety Recall: Spartan Stores recalls Spartan Stores Central Kitchen Three Bean Salad (5 lb bulk bag; Spartan code #329; All lots) and Spartan Stores Central Kitchen Broccoli Stir Fry (12 oz; Spartan code #010; All lots), because the products contain onions recalled by Gills Onions, LLC, and may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were shipped between July 13th through July 26th, 2012 to VG’s Grocery, Spartan, Valu Land, VG’s Fresh Market, Glen’s Markets, Glen’s Fresh Market, Family Fare Supermarkets, and D&W Fresh Market stores.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: USDA updates Retail Distribution List for frozen, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products recalled by Buona Vita, Inc. due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Safety Alert (Washington): The Washington State Department of Health has closed Hood Canal to shellfish harvesting after tests detected diarrhetic shellfish poison at unsafe levels in molluscan shellfish from Hood Canal near Brinnon.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: CDC reports that the outbreak of Salmonella Bareilly and Salmonella Nchanga that was associated with consumption of products containing raw scrape ground tuna is over. In all, 425 people in 28 states were infected with one of the outbreak strains, and 55 of those were hospitalized.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Korea Food Trading recalls Lotte Choco Pie (336g; All codes) due to the presence of undeclared tree nuts. The recalled product was sold in Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall: Gills Onions LLC (Oxnard, CA) has expanded its earlier recall to include all Best before date codes up to and including 08/03/12 for the following products, because of potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination: Fresh Diced Yellow Onions (198g; UPC 6 43550 00044 3), Fresh Diced Red Onions (198g; UPC 6 43550 00045 0) and Fresh Diced Celery & Onions (198g; UPC 6 43550 00046 7). The recalled products may have been distributed nationally.
  • Food Safety Alert (British Columbia): The BC Centre for Disease Control is reminding the public there’s a risk of illness associated with eating raw or undercooked bivalve shellfish such as oysters, clams, mussels, scallops, and cockles. Five cases of locally acquired Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections have been reported so far in 2012.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Apotex Inc. (Canada) recalls Apo-Trifluoperazine Tablet 5mg (Batch #JW2265 and JW2266), as the indicated batches were found to be out of specification during post marketing stability study.

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.