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.

United States

• Allergy Alert:  Allied Imports Inc. (Brooklyn, NY) recalls Dried Potato (12-oz/340g plastic bag; UPC 6 43719 12507 9; Product of China; No lot/date codes), due to the presence high levels of undeclared sulfites. The product was distributed in the immediate New York City area.
• Medical/Surgical Kit Safety Recall Update: North American Rescue, LLC (Greer, SC) recalls NAR Surgical Crichothyroidotomy Kit – Crickit® – due to the potential contamination with the bacterium Elizabethkingia meningoseptica of the povidone iodine prep pads, manufactured by Triad Group. This is a follow up to the recall initiated on May 5, 2011 by North American Rescue. The Crickit® Kit also may be found inside the NAR Medic Trauma Pack Kit, available in 4 colors. The recalled kits were distributed from 4/30/09 to 4/22/11 in the USA, Switzerland, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Austria, Norway, England, Estonia, Japan, South Africa and Canada.
• Outbreak Alert (Cruise Ship): 142 passengers and 8 crew members on board the P & O Cruises ship Aurora developed norovirus gastroenteritis while on a voyage that  began on January 4, 2012 and terminated in San Francisco on January 26, 2012.
• Outbreak Alert (Cruise Ship): 248 passengers and 11 crew members on board the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line ship Voyager of the Seas developed symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea while on a voyage that began on January 28, 2012 and terminated in New Orleans on February 4th. The causative agent has not yet been identified.
• Outbreak Alert (Cruise Ship): 364 (or more) passengers and 32 crew members on board the Princess Cruises ship Crown Princess developed symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea while on a voyage that began on January 28, 2012 and terminated in Ft. Lauderdale on February 4th. The causative agent has not yet been identified.
• Outbreak Alert (Update): The Pierre, South Dakota outbreak linked to the Pierre-Mitchell high school boys’ basketball game held on January 31st was due to Clostridium perfringens food poisoning, according to a news release issued today by the South Dakota Department of Health. Questionnaires completed voluntarily by outbreak victims strongly implicated tacos as the source of the illnesses that struck approximately 50 people.

Canada

• Allergy Alert: Veggie Favour Food Store recalls Veggie Favour brand Veggie Large Shrimp Style Soy Product (300g; No lot/date codes), due to the presence of undeclared wheat. The recalled product was sold in British Columbia.
• Food Safety Recall: Milford Bay Trout Farm Inc. (Bracebridge, ON) recalls Milford Bay Trout Farm Inc. Smoked Trout Filet (variable weight vacuum packages; Best before February 9, 2012 and February 10, 2012; Lot code 30644-1), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled smoked trout filets were distributed in Ontario.
• Food Safety Recall: Livno Meats (Hornby, ON) recalls Livno Meats Dry Sausage (200g vacuum package; Batch #4; Packed on DE/11/28 OR packed in plastic bag per customer order and sold from December 28, 2011 through January 21, 2012), due to possible contamination with Salmonella. The recalled sausage was sold only from the Livno Meats retail store in Hornby, ON.
• Medical/Surgical Kit Safety Recall Update: North American Rescue, LLC (Greer, SC) recalls NAR Surgical Crichothyroidotomy Kit – Crickit® – due to the potential contamination with the bacterium Elizabethkingia meningoseptica of the povidone iodine prep pads, manufactured by Triad Group. This is a follow up to the recall initiated on May 5, 2011 by North American Rescue. The Crickit® Kit also may be found inside the NAR Medic Trauma Pack Kit, available in 4 colors. The recalled kits were distributed from 4/30/09 to 4/22/11 in the USA, Switzerland, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Austria, Norway, England, Estonia, Japan, South Africa and Canada.
• Consumer Product Safety Recall: Abond Corporation (Lachine, QC) recalls Honey Bunny Infant Terry Bib with Pocket (Manufactured in China; Style #BB52; UPC 773299000524), because the front pocket and the back lining of the bib contain phthalates in excess of the allowable limit.
• Consumer Product Safety Recall: Tech4Kids Inc. (Mississauga, ON) recalls Splat Shot – Marvel Spider Sense Spiderman, Splat Ball – Marvel Spider Sense Spiderman, and Splat Shot Disc – Marvel Spider Sense Spiderman, because the product contains the toxic substance, bronopol. The recalled toys were manufactured by JS Vision Ltd./Miracle Toys Ltd, Kowloon, Hong Kong and sold in Canada from November 2010 to January 2012.

Europe

• Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Culina Foods bvba recalls Dress It Up Mustard/Dill Dressing (Expiration dates 17/02/2012, 09/04/2012 and 21/05/2012), because a production error occurred which may result in fermentation in the bottle, causing the bottle cap to blow off.
• Food Safety Recall (Sweden): ICA recalls ICA Minced Beef (1600g and 2500g; Product of Ireland; Use by dates of February 6 and 7 and of February 5 and 6, respectively), after routine testing discovered Salmonella in the products.
• Food Safety Recall (Switzerland): Migros recalls five Cornatur Quorn brand products, because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were available for sale since January 2012. Please refer to the recall notice for full details.
• Food Safety Recall (Germany): Dr. August Oetker KG Foods recalls Chopped Hazelnuts (100g; Best before 01/2013; Batch #1:13-L002-L003), due to contamination with metal filament fragments.
• Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Spain): Ferrer Farma, S.A. recalls Etoposido Ferrer Farma 20mg/ml Solution for Injection (1 vial of 200mg/10mL; Lot 96883306; Expiry 01/2014; Manufactured by EBEWE Pharma GmbH NFg. KG of Austria), because of a defect in the capsule seal in certain vials.
• Medical/Surgical Kit Safety Recall Update: North American Rescue, LLC (Greer, SC) recalls NAR Surgical Crichothyroidotomy Kit – Crickit® – due to the potential contamination with the bacterium Elizabethkingia meningoseptica of the povidone iodine prep pads, manufactured by Triad Group. This is a follow up to the recall initiated on May 5, 2011 by North American Rescue. The Crickit® Kit also may be found inside the NAR Medic Trauma Pack Kit, available in 4 colors. The recalled kits were distributed from 4/30/09 to 4/22/11 in the USA, Switzerland, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Austria, Norway, England, Estonia, Japan, South Africa and Canada.
• Outbreak Alert (Russia): Fifteen young gymnasts returning from a sporting event in Bratsk (Irkutsk region) developed food poisoning symptoms during their journey. The children were hospitalized for observation.
• Food Safety Notification/Outbreak Alert (EU #2012.0178): Foodborne outbreak suspected to be caused by watermelon from Brazil; distributed to Ireland and the United Kingdom.
• Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.0186): Hazelnut traces in chocolate paste from Belgium; distributed to Belgium and the Netherlands.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0187): Aflatoxins in organic broken white rice from Pakistan; distributed to Belgium.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• Food Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Food Safety urges the public not to consume Shinshu Enokitake Gold-Needle Mushrooms (100g and 200g; Production date February 1 and 2, 2012; Produced by JA Kitashinshu Miyuki, Nagano Prefecture, Japan), because the products may contain glass fragments.
• Chinese Herbal Medicine Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Department of Health warns the public to stop using Flos Campsis, purchased from Cheong Kee Medicine Co in Yen Chow Street, Sham Shui Po, because the product may be mislabeled.
• Illegal Health Product Safety Alert (Singapore): The Singapore Health Sciences Authority alters the public to a series of serious adverse health events related to the consumption of illegal sexual enhancement health products.
• Medical/Surgical Kit Safety Recall Update: North American Rescue, LLC (Greer, SC) recalls NAR Surgical Crichothyroidotomy Kit – Crickit® – due to the potential contamination with the bacterium Elizabethkingia meningoseptica of the povidone iodine prep pads, manufactured by Triad Group. This is a follow up to the recall initiated on May 5, 2011 by North American Rescue. The Crickit® Kit also may be found inside the NAR Medic Trauma Pack Kit, available in 4 colors. The recalled kits were distributed from 4/30/09 to 4/22/11 in the USA, Switzerland, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Austria, Norway, England, Estonia, Japan, South Africa and Canada.
• Outbreak Alert (Algeria): Seventy-four cases of hepatitis A have been confirmed during January 2012 in Constantine. Most of the victims are school children.
• Outbreak Alert (Congo DR): Twenty-three cholera cases, including two deaths, have been reported in Kasindi-Lubiriya since the beginning of 2012.
• Outbreak Alert (India): More than 70 people were rushed to hospital with symptoms of food poisoning after attending a wedding function in Shamli town (Prabhudhnanag). All are reported to be in stable condition.

Australia and New Zealand

• Outbreak Alert (Australia): Queensland Health is warning the public about an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis, a highly contagious parasitic disease that is a cause of acute diarrhea, especially in young children. Fifty-one lab-confirmed cases have been reported in the past month; in a typical year, fewer than 20 cases are seen.
• Boil Water Alert (Australia): Residents along some parts of the New South Wales Central Coast have been advised to boil their drinking water after E. coli was found in the water supply.

Latin America and the Caribbean

• Outbreak Alert (Argentina): Two cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome have been confirmed in the province of Entre Rios. One of the victims is a toddler (a little girl) from Chajari, and the other is a boy from Lucas González. Both children are hospitalized and have been treated by dialysis.
• Outbreak Alert (Dominican Republic): As many as 22 children became ill after drinking strawberry-flavored milk as part of the School Feeding Program in San Cristobal province. The illnesses are under investigation.

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.