Category: cholera

Recalls and Alerts: January 22, 2013

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: C & H Meat Company (Vernon, CA) recalls Korean Brand BBQ Flavored Spicy Pork Butt (10-oz pkgs and bulk pkgs; Produced through Jan 16, 2013), Marinated Spicy Pork Butt (10-oz pkgs and bulk pkgs; Produced through Jan 16, 2013) and Korean Brand BBQ Flavored Spicy Boneless Chicken Leg Meat (10-oz pkgs and bulk pkgs; Produced through Jan 16, 2013), due to undeclared monosodium glutamate (MSG). The recalled products were distributed to retail establishments and restaurants in California.
  • Food Safety Recall: Knott’s Fine Foods, Inc. (Paris, TN) recalls Chicken Salad Sandwiches (3-oz black wedge with clear plastic film closure; UPC 0-11984-01132-6; All expiration dates 1/29/13 and earlier), after routine testing by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture found Listeria monocytogenes in a sandwich. The recalled sandwiches were supplied to 35 retail stores in West Tennessee, Western Kentucky and North Mississippi.
  • Food Safety Recall: Annie’s Inc. recalls all varieties of Annie’s Rising Crust Frozen Pizza (Best by dates including and between 09Jan13 and 14Sep13) after learning a fine metal mesh screen failed at a third-party flour mill and fragments of flexible metal mesh were found in the flour and pizza dough. The recalled varieties include: Organic Four Cheese Pizza (23.5 oz; UPC 013562 200016), Organic Pepperoni Pizza (23.6 oz; UPC 013562 200009), Organic Supreme Pizza (25.4 oz; UPC 013562 200023), Organic Spinach and Mushroom Pizza (25.0 oz; UPC 013562 200054), Four Cheese Pizza (22.5 oz; UPC 013562 200078), Pepperoni Pizza (22.6 oz; UPC 013562 200061), and BBQ Recipe Chicken Pizza (23.1 oz; UPC 013562 200092). The recalled products were distributed at grocery, mass and natural food stores throughout the United States.
  • Food Safety Recall: Pamela’s Products recalls Pamela’s Baking & Pancake Mix (24 oz; Best by Sep 26 2013), Pamela’s Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix (13.6 oz; Best by Oct 7 2013), Pamela’s Chocolate Cake Mix (21 oz; Best by Sep 11 2013, Sep 19 2013 and Oct 4 2013) and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie (5.29 oz; Best by Apr 14 2013), after having received notice from four individual consumers that they found what appears to be a single plastic or glass fragment in four different Pamela’s products. The recalled products were supplied to retailers nationwide.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Burr Favara Enterprises (Omaha, NE) that a December 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility found serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Bryon K. Townsend (Tollesboro, KY) that a November 2012 inspection of his seafood processing facility found violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Sunburst Trout Farms, LLC (Canton, NC) that a July 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility found 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 True Taste, LLC (Kenosha, WI) that an October-November 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility found 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 Pierino Frozen Foods, Inc. (Lincoln Park, MI) that a November 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility found serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Sally’s Cider Press (Harmony, PA) that a September-October 2012 inspection of the company’s juice processing facility found serious violations of the Juice Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation, and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Food for Health International, LLC (Provo, UT) that an April-May 2012 inspection of the company’s dietary supplement manufacturing facility found a number of violations of the Current Good manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for Manufacturing, Packaging, Labeling, or Holding Operations for Dietary Supplements

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Lennie Ciglen Distribution Inc. recalls all packages of Mahalo Candy Bar (57g; UPC 8 99033 00203 3), Buccaneer Candy Bar (57g; UPC 8 99033 00202 6), Snap! Candy Bar (50g; UPC 8 99033 00205 7), Twilight Candy Bar (60g; UPC 8 99033 00201 9), Jokerz Candy Bar (60g; UPC 8 99033 00200 2) and Cleo’s Peanut Butter Cups (43g; UPC 8 99033 00204 0), due to undeclared milk. The recalled products were supplied to retailers in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario.
  • Allergy Alert: Meilleures Marques Limitée recalls St-Hubert Chicken Noodle Soup Mix (240g; Lot 112489; Exp. 2015/01/20; UPC 0 66701 00131 9), due to undeclared egg. The recalled product was supplied to retailers in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Quebec.
  • Food Safety Recall: Michel St-Arneault Inc. recalls Selection Hashbrown Potatoes (750g; Lots 2327, 2305, and 2306; UPC 0 59749 89329 9), due to ‘non-harmful’ extraneous material contamination. The recalled product was supplied to retailers in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and Quebec.
  • Food Recall: Metro Inc. recalls Irresistibles Three-Meat Pie (635g; Lot 28412; UPC 0 59749 88304 7), due to a labeling issue. The recalled product was sold in Quebec.
  • Food Safety Alert: CBC reports that expired infant formula has been found on some Vancouver-area supermarket shelves in violation of federal food safety guidelines.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Ove Johnsen, Fisketorvet recalls Live Oysters (Product of France; Package dates 3/1-2013 and 7/1-2013), due to Norovirus contamination. The oysters were supplied to retail stores with fish departments, fishmongers and restaurants.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2013.0066): Possible rodenticide granules in confectionery made with milk powder from Poland; distributed to the Czech Republic, Germany, Latvia, Poland and Slovakia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2013.0068): Salmonella in lemon thyme from Morocco; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2013.0069): Acephate in okra from India; distributed to France.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating two suspected food poisoning clusters involving six people who dined at a restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui on January 15. All six people sought medical attention, but no one required hospitalization.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Allergy Alert (Australia): The Market Grocer recalls The Market Grocer brand Raisins (Golden), Crimson Raisins, and Cranberry Fruit and Nut Mix (500g clear plastic packaging; All Best Before dates up to and including 30/11/2013; Manufactured in NSW with raw ingredient imported from Chile), due to undeclared sulphur dioxide. The recalled products were sold at Thomas Dux Grocers, Harris Farm Markets and other independent grocers in the ACT, NSW and VIC.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert: The Public Health Agency of Canada warns travelers that cholera cases have been reported in Cuba since July 2012, and reminds Canadians that the Dominican Republic and Haiti have reported “thousands of cholera cases and related deaths” since  the beginning of the Haitian cholera epidemic in October 2010. Travelers should practice safe food and water precautions while visiting Cuba, Haiti or the Dominican Republic.

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 website.

*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.
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Recalls and Alerts: January 15, 2013

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: Boba Direct recalls Almond, Avocado, Banana, Blueberry, Café Latte, Cherry, Chocolate, Coconut, Honeydew, Lavender, Lychee, Mango, Matcha Green Tea, Milk Tea, Passionfruit, Peppermint, Pineapple, Red Bean, Strawberry, Taro, Vanilla and Watermelon BD Flavored Powders (2.2-lb plastic bags; Distributed from December 26, 2012 through January 4, 2013), due to undeclared milk. The recalled product was supplied to cafés, restaurants and smoothie shops throughout the USA.
  • Allergy Alert: Belmont Confections Inc. recalls Dymatize Nutrition Elite Cookies & Cream bars (1.5 oz and 3 oz sizes; UPC 705016993147 and 705016993000, respectively) and Dymatize Nutrition Elite Gourmet Fudge Brownie (1.5 oz and 3 oz sizes; UPC 705016993130 and 705016993079, respectively), due to undeclared peanuts. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected lot numbers and Best By date codes.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert: Glenn’s Market and Catering (Watertown, WI) recalls Glenn’s Market ground round, ground chuck and ground beef (various size packages; Sold between Dec 22, 2012 and Jan 4, 2013), due to potential E. coli O157:H7 contamination. The recalled ground beef was implicated in an outbreak cluster of three E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in Wisconsin. The three patients became ill between Dec 29, 2012 and Jan 1, 2013. Two of the three case-patients reported having consumed raw ground round purchased on Dec 24, 2012; the third individual consumed product that was ground and purchased on Dec 30, 2012.  The recalled ground meat products were sold at Glenn’s Market and Catering, 722 West Main Street, Watertown, WI.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns The Box Lunch Company, Inc. (South San Francisco, CA) that an October-November 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility found serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese (Austin, KY) that an August 2012 inspection of the company’s cheese manufacturing facility confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes on food contact and non-food contact surfaces. In addition, sampling carried out by FDA on August 30, 2012 revealed Listeria monocytogenes in three finished product samples. In addition, the August inspection revealed violations of Current Good Manufacturing Practices.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns North Fish Co., Ltd. (Etobicoke (Toronto), ON, Canada) that a June 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility found serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Fisherman’s Market Ltd. (Halifax, NS, Canada) that a June 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility found serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Les Aliments Deli Chef recalls various Sandwiches prepared for Deli Chef and various Sandwiches prepared for Couche Tard, due to undeclared mustard. The recalled sandwiches were supplied to retailers in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec. Please refer to the recall notice for details on the varieties, UPC and Best before dates.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The Public Health Agency of Canada has confirmed two additional cases of E. coli O157:H7 linked to the consumption of shredded lettuce supplied to fast food and food service companies. The 28 confirmed illnesses were reported from New Brunswick (6), Nova Scotia (10) and Ontario (12). The implicated lettuce was traced to its origin in California.

Europe

Australia and New Zealand

  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Australia): The Therapeutic Goods Administration warns that Libigirl capsules pose a serious health risk due to the capsules containing the undeclared prescription substances sildenafil and tadalafil. The supply of these capsules is illegal in Australia.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert (Cuba): Reuters reports that Cuban authorities have confirmed 51 cases of cholera in an outbreak that was first detected on January 6, 2013. The first cases were traced to a baseball game at the Latin American Stadium in the Cerro municipality of Havana.

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 website.

*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: August 20, 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

  • Food Safety Recall: Tanimura & Antle Inc. recalls Tanimura & Antle Field Fresh Wrapped Single Head Romaine lettuce (Best buy date of 08 19 12; UPC 0-27918-20314-9) after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency finds E. coli O157:H7 in a single random sample. The recalled lettuce was distributed throughout the USA, Puerto Rico and Canada starting on August 2nd, and was available at retail locations Aug 2-19, 2012. The product was shipped to consignees in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington. Wegmans and Publix have both announced that none of the recalled romaine was sold in their stores.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: Costco advises its customers that Real Mex Foods, LLC has recalled El Torito Chicken Caesar Salad Kit  (UPC 5889724203; Sell by dates 082312, 083012, 090612, 091412), after being notified that the cilantro used in the Cilantro Pepita Dressing may have been contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product was sold in Costco Wholesale locations.
  • Food Safety Alert (California): The California Department of Public Health advises consumers not to eat recreationally harvested mussels and clams, commercially or recreationally caught anchovy and sardines, or the internal organs of commercially or recreationally caught crab and lobster taken from Ventura County, due to the presence of the neurotoxin domoic acid in some of the species.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: CDC reports that 163 people in 26 states were infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Newport and Salmonella Lille as a result of contact with infected chicks and ducklings from Mt. Healthy Hatchery in Ohio. Two deaths have been reported; 33 people have been hospitalized. This outbreak began in March, 2012 and is still in progress.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Supermarché Akhavan (Montreal, QC) recalls Basilic/Basil (variable weights; sold from Feb 1, 2012 to August 10, 2012 inclusive), because the basil may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled basil was supplied by Shah Trading Co. Ltd.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: Canadian distributors are recalling Tanimura & Antle brand Romaine Lettuce (Product of USA; Plastic package containing 1 head of lettuce; UPC 0 27918 20314 9), due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled lettuce was sold at retail from August 8, 2012 through August 17, 2012 in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Nunavut, Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Urtekram Int A/S recalls Organic Sage (50g plastic bag; Batch No. 0187966, 0186831, 0185149 and 0183665), Organic Sage (1kg; Best before 21/5-2014), Italian seasoning-organic (45g black metal can; Batch No. 0188862, 0188532, 0185743 and 0184742), and Lene H. Italian Mix-organic (30g glass bottle with black screw cap; Batch No. 0183169; Best before 26/10-2013), due to Salmonella contamination.
  • Outbreak Alert (UK): BBC reports that a potential outbreak of E. coli in Orkney is being investigated. Two cases are being treated in hospital; three others are under investigation. The source of the infections is not yet known.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1186): Unsuitable organoleptic characteristics of organic semi-skimmed milk from Belgium; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1187): Ochratoxin A in liquorice root from Poland; distributed to the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Poland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1189): Unauthorized cefalexin in frozen black tiger shrimps from Vietnam; notified by Switzerland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1190): Parasitic infestation of monkfish from France; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1191): Mercury in frozen swordfish slices and fillets from Spain; distributed to Italy, Portugal and Spain.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1192): Excessive doxycycline in chilled chicken breast from Slovakia, with raw material from Poland; distributed to Slovakia.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Department of Health alerts the public not to buy or consume a slimming product bearing the name “Sheng Yuan Fang” printed in Chinese on its green capsules, as it may contain undeclared and banned drug ingredients sibutramine and phenolphthalein.
  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating a suspected food poisoning outbreak involving 13 people who dined at a restaurant in Yau Tsim Mong District on August 11th.
  • Outbreak Alert (Sierra Leone):  BBC reports that an outbreak of cholera has infected more than 10,000 people in Sierra Leone and has killed at least 176 since January. Six thousand cases were reported in the past five weeks, and 100 people have died in the capital city of Freetown in the last month.

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.