Category: cholera

Recalls and Alerts: August 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

  • Medical Device Safety Recall: CooperVision, a subsidiary of The Cooper Companies (Pleasanton, CA) recalls certain lots of Avaira® Toric contact lenses, because of the unintended presence of a residue on certain lenses. The problem was discovered as a result of a “small number of complaints” of temporary hazy vision. According to the Hong Kong Department of Health, this recall extends also to BioComfort XO Toric contact lenses, and affects lenses sold in the USA, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Far East North America Food Ltd. (Richmond, BC) recalls Trung Nguyen brand G7 Coffee (24 x 16g outer pkg/16g inner pouch; NSX: 15.03.2011 20 or 21; HSD: 15.03.2013 T1), because the product contains undeclared milk. The recalled product was distributed in Alberta and British Columbia.
  • Food Safety Recall: Beverly Meats (1995) Ltd. (Edmonton, AB) expands its earlier recall to include all ready-to-eat meat products sold from Beverly Meats from August 4th up to and including August 17, 2011, because the meats may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled meat products were sold only at Beverly Meats (1995) Ltd. located at 4018 – 118 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta.
  • Food Recall: Olympic Dairy Products Inc. recalls Krema Thick and Rich Yogurt Greek Style(100g; Code date 2011 SE 13), due to microbiological
  • Medical Device Safety Recall: CooperVision, a subsidiary of The Cooper Companies (Pleasanton, CA) recalls certain lots of Avaira® Toric contact lenses, because of the unintended presence of a residue on certain lenses. The problem was discovered as a result of a “small number of complaints” of temporary hazy vision. According to the Hong Kong Department of Health, this recall extends also to BioComfort XO Toric contact lenses, and affects lenses sold in the USA, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Greece): Carrefour Greece recalls several types of chocolate bars after insect larvae were detected in the products sampled from the company’s Cyprus operation.
  • Food Safety Recall (Finland): Raisio Nutrition Ltd. recalls Anni Helena wheat flour (2-kg bag; Best before 29/07/2012) due to infestation with insect larvae.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): SuperBest(Venusvej 10 , 7000 Fredericia) recalls all foods purchased at its location from 4 July 2011 to 18 August 2011 inclusive, after rats were found on the premises of the supermarket.
  • Medical Device Safety Recall: CooperVision, a subsidiary of The Cooper Companies (Pleasanton, CA) recalls certain lots of Avaira® Toric contact lenses, because of the unintended presence of a residue on certain lenses. The problem was discovered as a result of a “small number of complaints” of temporary hazy vision. According to the Hong Kong Department of Health, this recall extends also to BioComfort XO Toric contact lenses, and affects lenses sold in the USA, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (Vietnam): A survey of 119 samples of fruit imported from China found 18 with pesticide residues – all under the allowed level. The Vietnam Department of Agriculture plans to verify pesticide residues in 1,300 vegetable samples by year end.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall (Saudi Arabia): The Saudi Food & Drug Authority has ordered the recall of several “health” products from Aghadeir Company Products of Morocco, after finding pharmaceutical ingredients such as cyproheptadine, tadalafil and anthraquinone in these products. Consumers are urged not to use these products to dispose of any remaining products in their possession.
  • Medical Device Safety Recall (Hong Kong): CooperVision Hong Kong recalls BioComfort XO Toric and Avaira Toric contact lenses (all lot codes), after some consumers report discomfort or blurred vision due to transient swelling of the surface layer of the cornea, due to a small amount of residues on the lens.
  • Outbreak Alert (Mali): One hundred and thirty people landed in hospital in Koutiala with symptoms of food poisoning after consuming fritters and pancakes that had been fried in adulterated oil. Three people have been arrested and investigations are continuing. The incriminated oil was imported from a “neighboring country.”
  • Outbreak Alert (PRC): Vinegar adulterated with anti-freeze is suspected to have killed 11 people – including six-year-old child – who participated in a Ramadan feast in the western region of Xinjiang. One person is still in critical condition; 120 people were poisoned by the tainted vinegar.
  • Outbreak Alert (Congo): Several thousand cases of cholera have been reported since March 2011 along the Congo River, both in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in the Republic of Congo, according to a travel notice from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
  • Outbreak Alert (Fiji): Eight serious cases of typhoid were recorded at the Lautoka Hospital in Western Fiji last month.
  • Outbreak Alert (Egypt): A homemaker and three children developed severe food poisoning after consuming spoiled food at home. All four victims were hospitalized.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Medical Device Safety Recall: CooperVision, a subsidiary of The Cooper Companies (Pleasanton, CA) recalls certain lots of Avaira® Toric contact lenses, because of the unintended presence of a residue on certain lenses. The problem was discovered as a result of a “small number of complaints” of temporary hazy vision. According to the Hong Kong Department of Health, this recall extends also to BioComfort XO Toric contact lenses, and affects lenses sold in the USA, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy and Spain.

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 28, 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: Tri State Beef (Cincinnati, OH) recalls Tri-State Beef Co., Inc. Boneless Beef (Combo bins; Est. 1750; Produced between July 19, 2011 and July 22, 2011), because the beef may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled beef was sold to federally inspected establishments for further processing and distribution in Illinois (Chicago), Ohio (Columbus and Cincinnati), Iowa and Virginia.
  • Food Safety Recall: GHSW, LLC (Houston, TX) recalls Garden Highway Island Medley, Central Market Island Medley, Central Market Papaya Spears, Central Market Tropical Medley, and Central Market Tropical Salsa fresh cut fruit products containing papaya (Best if used by 7/30/11), because the products contain papayas covered by the Agromod Produce, Inc. recall, and may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled fresh cut fruit products were supplied to retail establishments and distribution centers in Texas.
  • Food Safety Recall: Northwestern Meat, Inc. (Miami, FL) recalls C&D brand bulk-packed boneless beef (Imported from Honduras; Lot. N60 146-11 A and N60 146-11 B; Processing date of 26.05.11), because the meat may contain Ivermectin (a broad spectrum anti-parasitic chemical used as a de-worming agent in live animals). The recalled products were produced on May 26, 2011 and shipped to further processors in Florida and Illinois.
  • Food Safety Recall: Flying Food Group (Lawrenceville, GA) recalls all USDA and FDA-regulated sandwiches, parfaits, wraps, plates and salads, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. This expanded recall includes products made for Core-mark Atlanta Division (Alabama, Georgia and Florida), Race Trac (Georgia), and Starbucks (Alabama and Georgia). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of recalled products and their distribution.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The Arizona Department of Health Services reports that 24 cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome have now been confirmed in an area straddling the Arizona-Mexico border. Seventeen of the cases were diagnosed in Mexico (San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora), and the others in Yuma County (western Arizona). Arizona first signaled the investigation of this trans-border illness cluster on July 18th.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Dorgel Ltd. (Woodbridge, ON) recalls M&M Meat Shops brand Limbo Lemon Sorbet and Mango Fandango Sorbet (700 mL containers; All lot codes), because the products may contain undeclared milk.
  • Allergy Alert: Seng Fung Distribution & Marketing recalls Trung Nguyen Coffee 3 in 1 (320g; Codes NSX: 10.05.2010 24 and HSD: 10.05.2012 T2) due to the presence of undeclared milk.
  • Allergy Alert: Walmart Canada Corp. recalls Great Value Mini Debreizine Sausages (500g; Best before 11SE02), due to the presence of undeclared milk.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (UK): Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd. withdraws Sainsbury’s freefrom Stem Ginger Cookies, 150g (Best before 23 December 2011) due to a packaging error, because the product has been incorrectly packed with Chocolate Chip Cookies that contain soya.
  • Food Safety Recall (France): Blédina recalls Blédi’Fruit Pommes Fruits Rouges (100% Fruits; For children 8 months or older; Best before 28/12/2011), after a consumer discovers a piece of glass in one container.
  • Food Safety Recall (Greece): Greece reports the recall of Keim Saat Bockshornlkee seeds for sprouting due to possible contamination with E. coli O104:H4.
  • Outbreak Alert (France): At least 125 people, including 52 children, have been sickened with what may be norovirus gastroenteritis at a holiday resort in the Haute Savoie region. The outbreak appears to be spread person-to-person rather than via food contamination.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): Sogo Department Store, Apita and City’Super recall fresh Matsutake, fresh Catathelasma ventricosum, fresh Pseudohydum gelatinosum, fresh Termitomyces albuminosus, fresh Red Porcini and fresh Yellow Porcini mushrooms, that may be adulterated with toxic mushrooms. The recalled mushrooms are thought to be linked to six cases of food poisoning.
  • Outbreak Alert (Turkey): Ninety-eight Russian tourists required medical attention after suffering food poisoning while staying at the Club Gunes Garden Hotel in the Turkish resort city of Alanya. Eight tourists remain in hospital.
  • Food Safety Enforcement (Abu Dhabi): Four food shops were fined and warnings were issued to 15 others after inspectors from the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority visited 50 bakeries and sweet shops in the capital.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (Australia and New Zealand): Kellogg recalls Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut Clusters (450g and 540g cardboard cereal boxes; Produced in Australia; Best before 21/03/2012, 22/03/2012 and 01/06/2012) because the cereal may contain small pieces of plastic. The recalled products were sold nationally in Australia in Coles, Woolworths, Safeway, Franklins, and IGA supermarkets and in SPAR independent grocery stores, and were exported to New Zealand.
  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Woolworths Limited recalls Woolworths Australian Mince Beef Premium (Random weights; Polystyrene tray with cling wrap covering; Use by 29.07.2011) due to contamination with soft plastic pieces. The recalled mince beef was sold in a single Woolworths Supermarket in Deception Bay, Queensland.
  • Medical Device Safety Recall (Australia): Medical Industries Australia Pty Ltd. recalls TRIAD Sterile Lubricating Jelly (3g sachet; Catalogue No. LG1002; Batch Numbers beginning 7, 8, 9, & 0) because the product may not have been sterilized properly.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert (Chile): Chile has confirmed one case of cholera (Vibrio cholerae O:1 Ogawa) and is investigating three additional suspected cases, all of whom are individuals who traveled to the Dominican Republic between July 7th and 16th. These are the first reported cases of cholera in Chile since a 23-case outbreak that took place in late 1997/early 1998.

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.

Recalls and Alerts: July 19, 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 Update: USDA releases retail distribution list for imported ready-to-eat smoked duck breast products that were recalled by Palmex, Inc. (Champlain, NY) due to possible Salmonella contamination.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: American Regent recalls Calcium Gluconate Injection, USP, 10%, 100 mL Pharmacy Bulk Package (Lot #1006, Expiration Date: January 2013, NDC # 0517-3900-25), because some of the vials may contain silicone particles.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Punjab Trading, Inc. (Auburn, WA) that a February 2011 inspection of the company’s food storage and processing facility revealed serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations for manufacturing, packing, or holding human food.
  • Boil Water Order (Florida): Residents of Sunrise, Weston, Southwest Ranches and parts of Davie are told to boil water for one minute, as E. coli was found in a Sunrise city well.
  • Food/Water Safety Advisory (New Jersey): The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has issued a reminder that harvesting blue claw crabs from the waters of the Lower Passaic River and Newark Bay is prohibited, as scientists have found that crabs from those waters continue to show harmful levels of cancer-causing dioxin and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as well as other contaminants, including mercury.
  • Dietary Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0965): Unauthorized sildenafil thiono analogues, tadalafil and vardenafil in various food supplements from China; distributed to Andorra, Germany, Italy, Panama, Spain and the USA.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Salamina Inc. recalls Bacon and Back Bacon Topping (5 Kg; Codes 179185 and 172187), due to the presence of undeclared soy. The recalled product was distributed to hotels, restaurants, and institutional customers in Ontario and Quebec.
  • Allergy Alert: KO & C Enterprises Ltd. recalls Yuh Ming Dried Marinated Mustard (70g), due to the presence of undeclared sulphites. The recalled product was sold in retail stores in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.
  • Outbreak Alert (Ontario): A patient at Welland Hospital has become the 23rd fatality in an outbreak of Clostridium difficile, which has plagued the Niagara region since May 28th. At least 20 of the 23 patient deaths were due to hospital-acquired C. difficile infections.

Europe

  • Cosmetic Product Safety Recall (France): Casino Famili recalls Casino Famili brand hair care cream with shea butter, due to bacteriological contamination. The recalled product was sold in Casino supermarkets.
  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU #2011.0884): Salmonella spp. in mild paprika from Spain, via Belgium; distributed to Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Martinique, Morocco, Netherlands and Sweden.
  • Food Withdrawal (Denmark): Dansk Supermarked withdraws ATCO Almonds (200g, 500g and 1000g packs; imported from Germany; all lots with package date of 03.03.2011 onwards), due to traces of moths in the bags of almonds.
  • Outbreak Alert (UK-Northern Ireland): Seven cases of Clostridium difficile have been reported in the South Eastern Trust area, including one case of the virulent 027 strain at Ulster Hospital. There also has been an outbreak of Norovirus at the Ulster Hospital, with up to 50 patients and staff having been affected with vomiting and diarrhea.
  • Outbreak Alert (Ukraine): As of July 16th, 23 cases of Vibrio cholerae (O1 serogroup, El Tor biovar, serovar Ogawa) have been reported in Mariupol. The city is maintaining a ban on swimming and fishing in the Azov sea and in local rivers.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0960): Aflatoxins in roasted rice flour from India, via the United Kingdom; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0961): Glass fragments in banana based baby food from Spain; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0964): Salmonella in frozen marinated chicken breast fillets from Brazil, via Portugal; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Dietary Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0965): Unauthorized sildenafil thiono analogues, tadalafil and vardenafil in various food supplements from China; distributed to Andorra, Germany, Italy, Panama, Spain and the USA.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0966): Plastic fragments in biscuits from Italy; distributed to Belgium.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0967): Salmonella in spiced and marinated chicken meat from Brazil; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Pet Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0968): Salmonella Agona in dog chew from Germany; distributed to Austria.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0969): Salmonella in spiced marinated chicken meat from Brazil; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0970): Moths in almonds from Germany; distributed to Denmark.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0971): Parasitic infestation with Anisakis of chilled hake from Spain; distributed to Italy.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Hong Kong): The Department of Health orders GlaxoSmithKline Limited to recall Augmentin 375mg tablets, because samples of the product were found to contain the plasticizers DIDP, DEHP and DINP.
  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU #2011.0884): Salmonella spp. in mild paprika from Spain, via Belgium; distributed to Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Martinique, Morocco, Netherlands and Sweden.
  • Food Safety Alert/Recall (Saudi Arabia): The Saudi Food & Drug Authority warns the public not to consume Dunya potable drinking water, produced by Wadi Al Heniya Factory for Health Water, after lab analysis shows that the water contains bromate in excess of maximum allowed limits.
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (Korea): The Korea Food & Drug Administration has taken legal action against two companies who used illegal food preservatives in their products.
  • Outbreak Alert (PRC): China reports 2,658 cases of food poisoning in the second quarter, and 29 deaths. Bacterial causes of food poisoning accounted for 1,744 of the illnesses in the quarter.
  • Outbreak Alert (Thailand): The Udon Thani Provincial Health Office reports 16,851 cases of diarrhea in the province since the beginning of 2011.
  • Outbreak Alert (Israel): Twenty Palestinian prisoners were treated for food poisoning at a Negev prison.
  • Outbreak Alert (India): Two people died of typhoid recently in the city of Ahmedabad.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert: Food Standards Australia New Zealand advises the public not to consume two coffee products – Sexpresso and Rock Hard – as the products contain variations (analogues) of Viagra (sildenafil).

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU #2011.0884): Salmonella spp. in mild paprika from Spain, via Belgium; distributed to Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Martinique, Morocco, Netherlands and Sweden.
  • Dietary Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0965): Unauthorized sildenafil thiono analogues, tadalafil and vardenafil in various food supplements from China; distributed to Andorra, Germany, Italy, Panama, Spain and the USA.

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.