Category: canned food

Botulism Update: All Gaudiano Products Recalled

Botulism is a big deal. It is a rare – and potentially deadly – form of food poisoning that is caused by a potent neurotoxin produced during the growth of Clostridium botulinum.

In October 2011, two members of the same Finnish household developed symptoms of botulism after consuming commercially produced pasteurized olives stuffed with almonds (Bio-Gaudiano Olives Stuffed with Almonds; product of Italy). One of the two victims died two weeks after being admitted to hospital. The second victim also was hospitalized, but survived. One other family member also tasted the olives, but only suffered from diarrhea. A fourth member of the household had no symptoms – and never sampled the olives.

Lab analysis of the stomach contents and the stool of both hospitalized victims revealed the presence of the gene for botulinum toxin type B. Lab tests of various food samples retrieved from the patients’ household found botulinum toxin type B in the remaining contents of the jar of olives. All other food samples were negative for the toxin.

Finland’s Food Safety Authority (EVIRA) conducted a trace-back investigation of the implicated olives, and the offending batches were recalled from the market. During the trace-back, investigators found some leaking jars of Bio-Gaudiano olives; the contents of some jars were obviously spoiled. As a result, the Italian manufacturer withdrew all production batches of Bio-Gaudiano Olives Stuffed with Almonds, and suspended production pending investigation by Italian public health authorities.

The withdrawn products were distributed to several EU member countries, as well as to a number of countries outside the EU. Notification was sent to authorities in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, Armenia, Barbados, Brazil, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Taiwan and the USA. No country other than Finland reported even one case of botulism that could be associated with the stuffed olives.

Consumers following the Italian Ministry of Health web site could be excused if they thought that the story ended there. No updates have been released since the original notice was posted on October 21st. But that was definitely NOT the end of the story.

On December 1st, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland announced that “[i]nvestigations in Italy and in Finland have led to the decision to extend the withdrawal to include all products manufactured by Societa Cooperativa Agricola GMG F.lli Gaudiano arl, Italy.” Finland’s EVIRA followed with its own announcement on December 2nd.

Based on the information released by Ireland and Finland, the product withdrawal includes all batch codes and “best before dates” of the following products (different products may have been exported to other countries):

  • Bio Stuffed Olives Almonds
  • Bio Sundried Tomatoes in Sunflower Oil
  • Bio Green Olives Paté
  • Bio Stuffed Olives Peppers
  • Bio Semi-dry Tomatoes in Sunflower Oil
  • Bio Black Olives Paté
  • Bio Stuffed Olives Garlic
  • Bio Salted Capers 9/10 mm
  • Bio Sundried Tomatoes Paté
  • Bio Stuffed Olives Hot Chilli Peppers
  • Bio Hearts Artichokes in Sunflower Oil
  • Bio Artichokes Paté
  • Bio Stuffed Olives Cranberry
  • Bio Grilled Aubergines
  • Bio Garlic Paté
  • Gaudiano Black Olive in Salamoia (Brine)
  • Gaudiano Green Olive in Salamoia (Brine)

The withdrawn products were distributed to only one company in Ireland – Russell Gallery in New Quay, Co. Clare. In Finland, the products were supplied to K-food stores, KCM Big Apple (Espoo) KCM Jumbo (Vantaa) and KSM South Centre (Rovaniemi), and to three restaurants: Three Smiths (Helsinki), LaFamiglia (Helsinki and Vantaa), Rafaelo (Helsinki) and Apple (Helsinki).

No new Food Safety Alert has been posted as yet (December 8, 2011) on the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). Nevertheless, it is safe to assume that many of the countries identified in the original notice (#2011.1479) also received one or more additional withdrawn products. The likely recipient countries include: Armenia, Barbados, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the USA.

eFoodAlert Consumer Advisory

Check your pantry and refrigerator for any product manufactured by Societa Cooperativa Agricola GMG F.lli Gaudiano arl, Italy. Discard all of these products in a safe manner. DO NOT TASTE THESE PRODUCTS. If you have consumed even a tiny amount of one of the withdrawn products and begin to experience any symptoms of botulism, including blurred vision or difficulty swallowing, seek immediate medical attention.

Botulism Update – Gaudiano Olives Shipped To 3 Continents

One elderly Helsinki woman is dead and a second patient – an adult member of the same household – is recovering in hospital after both ate from the same jar of almond-stuffed organic olives manufactured and packed by Gaudiano, an Italian food company.

Botulinum toxin was found in the opened jar by the Finnish National Institute of Health and Welfare laboratory.

Approximately 900 jars of the incriminated olives were imported into Finland by Kespro in September 2010; most were sold at supermarkets belonging to the K-chain in Espoo (Iso Omena), Vantaa (Jumbo) and Rovaniemi (Eteläkeskus). Some of the olives also were served to customers in four restaurants in the Greater Helsinki area: Kolme Seppää (Helsinki), La Famiglia (Helsinki and Vantaa), and Rafaello.

Kespro has withdrawn the olives from retail sale, and EVIRA (the Finnish Food Safety Authority) has issued a warning to the public against eating the potentially toxic olives. The recall encompasses Gaudiano Organic Olives Stuffed With Almonds (314 ml glass jars; see sample jar, above; Best before dates 08/2012 and 09/2012; Batch numbers H2510X or L1810X).

EVIRA has continued to analyze unopened jars of the stuffed olives, but has not yet discovered botulinum toxin in any jar except for the opened jar consumed by the two Helsinki victims. During its investigation, however, EVIRA has observed that the lids of some of the jars were not tightly closed and had leaked.

After receiving notification of the problem via the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), Italian health authorities instructed the manufacturer (Società Cooperativa Agricola G.M.G. a r.l. dei F.lli Gaudiano) to suspend production and quarantine all outstanding products (not just the olives) pending an investigation of their manufacturing and packing operations. The company has withdrawn all production lots of its Almond-Stuffed Olives from the market.

Based on the trace-forward investigation carried out at Gaudiano’s facility, the incriminated batch of stuffed olives was shipped to one or more destinations in the following countries (see RASFF Notification #2011.1479): Armenia, Barbados, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the USA.

Government food safety sites in Finland, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Germany have issued consumer alerts and/or recall notices for the incriminated batch of olives.

Olive-lovers around the world should check their pantries and refrigerators for Gaudiano products, and return the Almond-Stuffed Olives to the store or discard them in a sealed bag. And, until the Italian investigation is complete and the outcome is known, it would be wise to abstain from eating other Gaudiano products that are packed in hermetically-sealed jars.