Category: botulism

Recalls and Alerts: March 31, 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: The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC and Giant Food, LLC recall Simply Enjoy Frozen Vanilla Cream Puffs (19.4-oz pkg; UPC 8826712409), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled product was sold in Giant Food supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia, and in Stop & Shop supermarkets in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York and New Jersey.
  • Allergy Alert: Taylor Farms New Jersey, Inc. (Swedesboro, NJ) recalls GOOD & deLISH ISLAND SEASONED CHICKEN (10-oz plastic trays and 12.5-lb cases; Est. No. P-3453; Case codes 089512 or 119312; Use by dates from March 30 to April 4, 2012), due to the presence of undeclared wheat and milk resulting from a labeling error. The recalled products were shipped to a distribution center and retail locations in the New York City area.
  • Outbreak Alert: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting three overlapping multistate outbreaks of Salmonella infections linked to exposure to small turtles or their environments. Sixty-six people in 16 states have been infected with one of the outbreak strains – Salmonella Sandiego, Salmonella Pomona and Salmonella Poona – since September 2011. Eleven people were hospitalized; 55% of the confirmed victims are children 10 years of age or younger.
  • Outbreak Alert (New York): The New York City Department of Health is investigating two cases (one confirmed) of botulism that may be associated with unrefrigerated fresh bulk tofu, according to WABC New York. Both patients are Chinese-speaking residents of Queens, and purchased the tofu from the same store in Flushing, NY.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Canadian Natural & Specialty Brands (Gormley, ON) recalls Sunstart Brand Chocolate & Orange Cookies (198g pkgs; UPC 8 77099 00005 5; Lot code L11139; Best if used by 2013 APR 26), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The product was distributed nationally.
  • Food Safety Recall: Mumm’s Sprouting Seeds Ltd. (Parkside, SK) recalls Mumm’s brand Sprouting Seeds – Sunflower (75g; UPC 7 73295 07582 3; Lot #SF2020), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product is known to have been distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario, and may have been distributed nationally.
  • Food Recall: Ontario Natural Food Co-op recalls Ontario Natural Food Co-op brand Organic Thyme, Organic Basil, Organic Italian Seasoning, Organic Savoury Seasoning, Organic Oregano and Organic Rosemary (21g pkgs; Best by May 2012), due to the presence of “non-harmful” extraneous material. The recalled products were sold in Ontario.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall/Alert (Multiple Countries): Health authorities in the United Kingdom, France and Italy NOT TO USE food-grade chemicals purchased from Mistral Laboratory Chemicals (Antrim, Northern Ireland) or bearing the Mistral brand name. This warning follows the death of a woman at a private medical clinic in Italy, and the serious illness of two other people in Italy who were reported to have consumed “Sorbitol Food Grade” from this company. Lab analysis has determined that the product actually consisted of sodium nitrite, a food additive that can cause cardiovascular problems if consumed in large doses. The company has ceased all food product sales and is cooperating with the UK Food Standards Agency investigation.
  • Food Safety Recall (Greece): Unison Hellas recalls Yummy Gummy brand Meyveler, Hot Dog, Alligator, and Tarantula candies. Please refer to the recall notice for 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.

*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: January 31, 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: Gemini Food Corporation (City of Industry, CA) and Tong Enterprises (Hayward, CA) recall Bin-Bin Snow Rice Crackers (5.3 oz/150; all codes) and Bin-Bin Rice Crackers (15.8oz/450g; all codes) due to the presence of undeclared eggs. The recalled product was distributed nationwide.
  • Pediatric Medical Food Safety Recall: Vitaflo USA recalls Renastart (14.11-oz/400g cans; Batch No. 12832), because some of the product shipped throughout the USA from December 29, 2011 through January 26, 2012 has been incorrectly labeled. Renostart is a powdered medical food used in the dietary management of pediatric renal disease, for patients one year and older in the United States. The company urges all patients (or their caregivers) “…who have consumed any Renastart from this batch should contact their health care professional immediately to determine next steps, including nutritional management alternatives.”
  • Food Safety Recall: The Kroger Company recalls Deli Country Potato Salad, RW and Bakers Country Potato Salad, 5-lb because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled potato salads were sold in Dillons, Baker’s, Gerbes and Food4Less Fremont stores.
  • Food Safety Recall: Super1Foods & Discount Pharmacy recalls Deli Fresh Gourmet Mustard Potato Salad (3 lb; Batch 3/19/12), because the potato salad contains hard-cooked eggs recalled by Michael Foods due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Safety Recall: Brookshire’s food & pharmacy recalls Brookshire’s brand Southern Mustard Potato Salad (1 lb and 3 lb; Batch 3/19/12), and Deli Fresh Gourmet Mustard Potato Salad (3 lb; Batch 3/12/12), because the potato salad contains hard-cooked eggs recalled by Michael Foods due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Withdrawal: Topco Associates withdraws Spartan Pasteurized Processed Cheese Food Individually Wrapped Slices (3-lb; Date code April 3, 2012; Manufactured by Great Lakes Cheese), because the cheese slices cannot be peeled cleanly from the wrapper. This is NOT a food safety issue. The withdrawn product was sold through the Spartan family of stores, including 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.
  • FDA Enforcement Action: FDA has asked a U.S. District Court to issue a permanent injunction agains Mexicali Cheese (Woodhaven, NY) and two of its officers, because the firm has a history of unsanitary conditions and of producing cheese in a facility that is contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Mexicali Cheese manufactures and distributes soft Mexican cheeses to grocery stores and supermarkets in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Douty Brothers, Inc. (Portland, ME) that a December 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 Negocios Industriales Real “N.I.R.S.A.”, S.A. (Guayaquil, Ecuador) that an August 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility revealed serious deviations from the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Flavors from Florida, Inc. (Bartow, FL) that a September 2011 inspection of the company’s juice processing facility revealed inspection revealed serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulation for food.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Pacific Cheese Company, Inc. (Hayward, CA) that a follow-up inspection conducted during February-March 2011 of the company’s cheese processing facility revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in samples of cubed and shredded cheddar cheese collected from a third-party warehouse. In addition, FDA found the company’s response to the agency’s FDA Form 483-Inspectional Observations to be inadequate.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The outbreak of Campylobacter illnesses in Pennsylvania and Maryland believed to be associated with the consumption of raw milk from The Family Cow farm in Pennsylvania has grown to 12 cases.
  • Outbreak Alert: Health officials in Louisville, Kentucky report an unusually high number of cases of shigellosis. There have been 84 lab-confirmed cases in the last 13 weeks, including 18 cases during the week of January 23rd. The metropolitan area has averaged just 62 confirmed cases per year over the past five years. Shigellosis is a highly contagious diarrhea caused by Shigella bacteria.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The outbreak of Norovirus gastroenteritis linked to the Harbor Inn Seafood restaurant in Conover, NC has grown to 128 complaints. Most of the victims report having eaten at the restaurant on January 13th or 14th.
  • Outbreak Alert: Norovirus has been fingered as the probable cause of an outbreak of gastroenteritis at the Lytton Gardens senior living center in downtown Palo Alto, CA. The illnesses have affected 10 residents and 2 staff members between January 5th and 18th.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns the individuals who are allergic to egg not to consume the following Bin Bin Rice Crackers, which have been recalled by the importers because the products contain undeclared egg: Snow Rice Crackers (150g; UPC 8 852098 700124), Rice Crackers Jumbo Bag (450g; UPC 8 852098 701510), and Rice Crackers (450g; UPC 6 84431 00113 5). The recalled products were distributed across Canada.
  • Allergy Alert: Walmart Canada Corp. recalls Original Gourmet brand Passion Cookies (0.88 oz/25g pkg; Product of Turkey; Best before 11 05 2012 LH 031), because the product contains undeclared hazelnuts and may also contain other undeclared tree nuts. The recalled products were distributed across Canada.
  • Allergy Alert: Eurotrade Import-Export recalls Nutrafruit Plum Butter (750mL; All codes), due to the presence of undeclared sulphites. The recalled product was distributed in Ontario.
  • Outbreak Alert: One unit of the Colchester Regional Hospital (Truro, NS) has been shut down due to an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness that has affected 15 patients and staff members.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (UK): Asda withdraws Asda Layered Prawn Salad (440g; Use by 2 February 2012), because the product is labeled incorrectly as Asda tuna layered salad and, therefore, does not mention prawns.
  • Food Safety Withdrawal (Ukraine): Agromars has withdrawn several batches of  poultry meat after Salmonella was found in the products during a scheduled government inspection. As many as 30,000 tonnes of chicken may be affected.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall (Spain): Spanish health authorities order the recall of Doimas Capsules, because they were found to contain the illegal and undeclared ingredient nitrosoprodenafil.
  • Outbreak Alert (Scotland): A norovirus outbreak struck staff and patrons of Troon Restaurant, overlooking Troon Yacht Haven (Ayrshire) last weekend.
  • Outbreak Alert (Kyrgyzstan): Nine cases of botulism were reported in Bishkek during January. Two patients are in intensive care. The source of the outbreak was determined to be homemade preserves.
  • Outbreak Alert (Russia): Twenty-seven kindergarten children and three adults from one school and one child from a different preschool in Kolosok were diagnosed with Salmonella infections after consuming substandard. Six of the children were hospitalized.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0154): Salmonella Amsterdam in teff meal from the Netherlands; distributed to Sweden.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0155): Lead in pig fat from Poland; distributed to Hungary.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0156): Parasitic infestation with Acanthocephalus (in muscle) of canned natural saury in oil or in own juice from Russia; distributed to Lithuania.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

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.

*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: January 7, 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: Enhorabuena! (Bayamón, PR) recalls Palitos de Guayaba/Guava Sticks (7-oz bags, 11-oz cans and 10-unit packs), due to the presence of undeclared milk, wheat, tree nuts, and eggs. The recalled product was distributed in Puerto Rico retail stores during December 2011.
  • Allergy Alert: Bloch’s Best Inc. dba Laromme (Monsey, NY) recalls Laromme brand Vanilla Rugelach (14-oz containers; UPC 87062500954-8), due to the presence of undeclared eggs. The recalled product was distributed in retail stores in Massachusetts, Maryland and New Jersey between November 2nd and December 22, 2011.
  • Allergy Alert: Price Chopper recalls Gourmet Stuffed Clams (UPC 20918100000; Sold October 1st through December 23, 2011), due to the presence of undeclared milk, wheat and eggs.
  • Food Safety Alert: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Pepin Heights Orchards advise consumers to avoid drinking Pepin Heights brand Honeycrisp 100 Percent Fresh Pressed Apple Cider (64-oz plastic jugs; Use by FEB 09 12), after department lab tests found some product may be contaminated with patulin, a mycotoxin. The affected product was distributed in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.
  • Food Safety Recall: Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Meat and Poultry Inspection Program temporarily halts all cooked-meat processing for retail and wholesale at Kleoppel Meats d.b.a Alma Meats (Alma, MO) due to violations identified during an inspection. Kleoppel Meats d.b.a. Alma Meats is recalling 320 pounds of meat, including summer sausage, snack sticks, beef jerky and roast pork produced on various dates between November 14, 2011 and November 23, 2011.
  • Food Safety Recall: Green Valley Food Corp. expands its earlier recall of Let’s Grow Healthy Together, Green Valley Food Corp, and Broccosprouts sprout and salad blend products to include additional products. The recall was initiated after random samples tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Please refer to the January 3, 2012 recall notice for a detailed list of recalled products.
  • Food Safety Recall: Bekkum Family Farms LLC (Westby, WI) recalls Nordic Creamery Brand Grumpy Goat Shreds (8 oz bags; Code date 10-MAR-12), because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product was sold in Wisconsin, Minnesota and California beginning November 11, 2011.
  • Food Safety Recall: S. Martinelli & Company (Watsonville, CA) recalls Martinelli’s Gold Medal Sparkling Cider (250mL glass bottles in six-packs; Best by 11 APR 2014, 12 APR 2014, 13 APR 2014 and 14 APR 2014), due to the possibility of a defective seal that could break when opening the bottle. The recalled product was distributed in the Western USA.
  • Food Safety Recall: Rich Products Corporation recalls 1/4 Sheet Vanilla Flavored Pre-Soaked Sponge Cake Artificially Flavored (Product Code 00405; Produced after July 10, 2011), because small plastic fragments from the packaging were found on top of the product. The recalled product was produced by Rich’s in Ocoyoacac, Mexico and imported into the USA by Rich’s.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: CDC reports that 19 cases of Salmonella Typhimurium infections in seven states are linked to consumption of ground beef purchased from Hannaford supermarkets. The confirmed illnesses were reported in Hawaii (1), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (1), Maine (4), New Hampshire (6), New York (5) and Vermont (1).

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Germany): Milupa GmbH recalls Milubrei Abendbrei Banana Cereal, for ages 4-months and up, due to the presence of undeclared gluten and wheat.
  • Food Safety Recall (Switzerland): Ferme de Jouvence recalls Le Camembert Fermier (275g pkg; Lot #11309VC; Best if used by 14.01.2012), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The camembert was imported into Switzerland from France in mid-December 2011.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (France): Le Laboratoire Hospira France recalls Tomudex 2mg Powder for Infusion solution (Lots #1857244V (EXP février 2013), 1857244M (EXP février 2013), 1857244F (EXP février 2013), 1857245P (EXP mars 2013), and 1857245W (EXP mars 2013)), because the sterility of the product may not be assured.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Coles Supermarkets Pty Ltd recalls Coles Frozen Chicken and Vegetable Pies (4-pack/700g; Best before 18 MAR 13 and 19 MAR 13), due to the presence of bone fragments. The recalled products were distributed nationally in Coles, BI-LO and Pick n’ Pay stores.

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.