Category: Clostridium

Recalls and Alerts: May 6, 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

  • Allergy Alert: Tri-State Bakery, LLC (Amarillo, TX) recalls 24-ounce white and wheat breads purchased prior to May 2, 2011 (see recall notice for detailed list of products), because the bread may contain undeclared soy flour, soy lecithin, and milk. The recalled breads were distributed through retail stores in Texas (except for El Paso Area), New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas and Arizona.
  • Allergy Alert: Nut Bar Company Inc. (Wyoming, MI) recalls GFS Pecan Pieces (40-oz. packages; Lot #095 1094), because they may contain undeclared walnuts instead of pecans. The recalled product was distributed through Gordon Food Service’s Shepherdsvilly, KY distribution center to restaurants and GFS Marketplace Stores in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
  • Allergy Alert: Stir the Pot, LLC (Louisville, KY) recalls J. Gumbo’s Drunken Chicken-Dark Chicken With Stewed Tomatoes (9-lb bags; Batch #2401), J. Gumbo’s Chicken Zydeco-Dark Chicken Meat in a Sweet Chili Sauce (9-lb. bags; Batch #Z020), J. Gumbo’s Voodoo Chicken-Dark Meat Chicken With Tomato Sauce and Spices (9-lb bags; Batch #VD 3242) and J. Gumbo’s Red Hot Chicken-Dark Chicken in Hot Sauce (9-lb. bags; Batch #RH-Y042), because the products contain undeclared fish protein in the form of anchovy puree. The recalled products were manufactured between March 28, 2011 and April 28, 2011 and were shipped to distributors for foodservice use in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee.
  • Allergy Alert: Butterfield Foods (Noblesville, IN) recalls barbecue beef, pork and chicken products, because they contain undeclared soy. The recalled products were manufactured between April 2, 2010 and May 5, 2011 and were distributed to retail establishments and restaurants in Indiana under the Butterfield Foods and Amish Classic brands.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: Taylor Farms Pacific, Inc. (Tracy, CA) has corrected its earlier recall notice for products containing grape tomatoes to include updated product and distribution information. Please see the recall notice for a detailed list of recalled items and distribution details. USDA  has released an updated retail distribution list for the recalled products that fall under its jurisdiction. Separately, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has confirmed that the recalled salad products were distributed to companies in the Pacific Northwest that supply products to Alaska. Please see the Alaska Press Release for details. Colorado has posted a list of recalled grape tomato products that were sold in Safeway, King Soopers and City Market stores in that state.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: American Regent recalls Caffeine & Sodium Benzoate Injection, USP, 250mg/mL, 2 mL Single Dose Vial (NDC # 0517-2502-10, Lot #0084, Exp Date February, 2012; Lot #0084 only), because some of the vials may contain visible particulates. The recalled product was distributed to wholesalers and distributors nationwide.
  • Shellfishing Areas Closed (New York): The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has temporarily closed particular areas in the Town of Huntington to shellfish harvesting, after shellfish samples collected from western Shinnecock Bay tested positive for saxitoxin, a marine biotoxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert Update: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued an expanded Alert to include additional product codes of Doctor’s CarbRite Diet Chocolate Brownie Bars (56.7g/2-oz. pkgs; Lot #EXP101211, EXP040211, EXP080811, EXP080911, and EXP041012), which have been recalled because they may contain undeclared peanuts. The product may have been distributed nationally.
  • Allergy Alert: Quality Natural Foods Ltd. (Scarborough, ON) recalls Quality brand Super Tasty Rasmalai (1Kg & 4Kg), because the product contains undeclared sulphites. The recalled products were distributed nationally.
  • Outbreak Alert: An acute gastrointestinal illness – suspected to be Norovirus – has struck 20 travelers and 16 staff members at the Chateau Lake Louise resort hotel in Alberta. The afflicted hotel guests were quarantined in their rooms for 48 hours after their symptoms subsided, while sick staff members were told to remain at home. Kitchen staff were instructed to stay home for 48 hours after their symptoms subsided.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Finland): Inex Partners Oy withdraws Rainbow Grilled Vegetables, 450g pkg (Product of Belgium; Batch code L1048-2; Best Before 17.08.2012), because the product contains undeclared milk protein and wheat gluten.
  • Food Safety Alert (Netherlands): Inproba asks consumers to discard Inproba Creamy Coconut Milk (250 ml; Expiration date 3/9/2012), because the product might spoil before the indicated expiration date. No other production lots are affected by this warning.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Moughal Imports Ltd. recalls TRS Whole Brown Lentil (Lot No. P100218; Best before 28/12-2012) and Natco Green Lentil (Lot #090211 14547; Best before 28/2-2013), after glyphosate was detected at levels above the permitted amount.
  • Food Withdrawal (Denmark): Ello-Food ApS withdraws Life brand Chestnut Flour (Product of Italy; Best Before 30/6-2011; Lot #266.10 and 245.10) after mold was found in the product by the Italian supplier.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Poisoning Illness/Death (India): An eighteen-year old girl died in hospital due to food poisoning after sharing a meal with her family. The girl’s two teenaged sisters and their father also suffered from diarrhea, but are out of danger.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (El Salvador): Bonamesa Packing has been ordered to halt production of sausages after Clostridium perfringens was found in samples of the company’s sausages. The action comes after the company failed to implement recommended improvements to its hygienic practices and operations. Clostridium perfringens is the third leading cause of food poisoning in El Salvador, according to the Deputy Minister of Health.
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.

Recalls and Alerts: May 2, 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

  • Allergy Alert: Organic Food Bar, Inc. (Fullerton, CA) recalls certain Raw Organic Cinnamon Raisin Food Bars, Raw Organic Chocolate Coconut Food Bars, Raw Organic Oooatmeal Apple Pie Food Bars, Raw Organic Chocolatey Chocolate Chip Food Bars, Raw Organic Fiber Chocolate Delite Food Bars, Raw Organic Keerunch Crunchy Chocolate Chip Food Bars and Raw Organic Oohmega Cherry Pie Food Bars, because the products may contain undeclared peanut, through cross contamination of cashew butter provided by a former supplier. Please refer to the recall notice for expiry code and lot code details.
  • Allergy Alert: Oberto Sausage Company (Kent, WA) recalls Lowrey’s Hickory Smoked Beef Jerky (3 individual snack packs of 6 beef jerky sticks; Best by 130412 01), because the product contains undeclared soy. The recalled beef jerky was produced on April 15, 2011 and was distributed to retail establishments in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin.
  • Allergy Alert: Bay Valley Foods, LLC (Pittsburgh, PA) recalls Great Value Reduced Sodium Chicken Noodle Condensed Soup (10.5-oz cans; Best By 09 29 12), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled canned soup was distributed through Walmart stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming.
  • Allergy Alert: Simply Asia Foods, LLC recalls Thai Kitchen® Noodle Carts (Sweet Citrus Ginger, Thai Peanut, and Spicy Thai Basil) and Simply Asia® Noodle Bowl (Roasted Peanut), because the products contain undeclared milk. The recalled Thai Kitchen Noodle Carts were distributed to retail stores nationally beginning October 1, 2009; the Simply Asia Noodle Bowl – Roasted Peanut was distributed nationally beginning September 23, 2010.
  • Food Safety Recall: Six L’s (Immokalee, FL) recalls Cherry Berry Grape Tomatoes (packed in clam shells or 20 lbs. cardboard containers; Lot Code DW-H), after USDA detects Salmonella in a random sample obtained at a New York distributor. The recalled lot of grape tomatoes was harvested from and farm in Estero, FL and was distributed through retailers and to restaurants in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Georgia and Canada.
  • Food Safety Recall: Taylor Farms Pacific, Inc. (Tracy, CA) recalls certain products made for Albertsons, Raley’s Safeway, Savemart, Sam’s Club & Walmart, because the products contain grape tomatoes that were recalled by Six L’s due to possible Salmonella contamination. The affected products were sold under the Albertsons, Raley’s, Signature Cafe (Safeway), Savemart, Sam’s and Wal-Mart brand names in various states. Please refer to the recall notice for detailed lot code and distribution information.
  • Food Safety Recall: Satur Farms (Cutchogue, NY) recalls Satur Farms Cilantro (1/2 lb and 1 lb bulk bags; Lot code 6361), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled cilantro was distributed in New York City and Long Island to food service customers. None of the cilantro was supplied to retailers.
  • Food Safety Recall: Rock Garden South, Inc. (Miami, FL) recalls Coosemans Worldwide Bunched Cilantro (UPC 0 33383 80104 9), after USDA finds possible Salmonella in Jacksonville, FL. The recalled product may have been distributed through Publix supermarkts in Florida, Georgia, Coastal South Carolina and Southern Alabama.
  • Food Safety Recall: Quinault Tribal Enterprise (Taholah, WA) recalls all canned seafood products including all Quinault Pride and Quinault Tribal Enterprises canned Salmons, smoked and non-smoked; Tuna, smoked and non-smoked; Smoked Sturgeon; Minced Razor Clams; smoked Razor Clams; and smoked Steelhead, because they were not adequately processed according to FDA low-acid canned food regulations. Inadequate processing could permit the survival of harmful microorganisms such as Clostridium botulinum, with the potential for causing possibly life-threatening illness. The recalled products were sold nationwide through distributors and retail stores.
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Recall: Giant Food Stores and Price Chopper alert consumers to a recall of Colace Laxative, 100mg Capsules (30-count). The recall was issued due to the product being out of specification.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Bristol-Myers Squibb recalls Coumadin® Crystalline, 5 mg tablets (Lot #9H49374A; Expiry September 30, 2012; bottles of 1,000 tablets). The recalled product was distributed to pharmacies for dispensing to patients in prescription quantities. The manufacturer initiated the recall after a single tablet was found to be higher in potency than expected.
  • Marine Water Health Advisory (Update): The Oregon Health Authority lifts its health advisory for water contact at Cannon Beach (Clatsop County) after the bacterial contamination levels subside.
  • Outbreak Alert: King County (Washington) Public Health warns residents of Snoqualmie Valley to “mind their hygiene and vaccines” after six cases of hepatitis A were reported in the Valley in the last three months. The source of the virus is not known. King County recorded a total of seven cases of hepatitis A in all of 2010.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Simply Asia Foods/McCormick Canada (London, ON) recalls Simply Asia Roasted Peanut Noodle Bowl (240g; Best before MAY 10 12 B, APR 24 12 B, and JUN 21 12 B), because the product contains undeclared milk. The recalled product was distributed across Canada.
  • Food Safety Recall: Six L’s (Immokalee, FL) recalls Cherry Berry Grape Tomatoes (clam shells or 20lb cardboard containers; Lot Code DW-H; Packed April 11, 2011), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled Grape Tomatoes originated from a farm in Estero FL and were distributed through retail stores and restaurants in several US states and Canada.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Recall (Saudi Arabia): Belgomilk recalls Supramil 1 Brand Infant Powder Milk Advanced Formula (400g metal containers; Product of Belgium; Expiry 7/2011; Lot Code BN0014), because the product may be contaminated with Chronobacter (formerly Enterobacter) sakazakii, which can be harmful to infants’ health.
  • Outbreak Alert (Japan): The Japan Times reports 38 cases of food-poisoning cases in Toyama Prefecture and two deaths since mid-April. The illnesses and deaths have been linked to a raw beef dish served at a Foods Forus Co. outlet. A highly toxic strain of E. coli O:111 was recovered from one of the dead boys.
  • Outbreak Alert (India): Nearly 30 people in Dyavappahalli village have complained of vomiting and diarrhea, and may be infected with cholera. Mixing of sewage with drinking water is suspected to be the source of the outbreak.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Tasti Products Limited recalls Tasti Double White Choc Muffin Bakes (240g; Best Before 29 March 2012), because some of the bars may be contaminated with hard clear plastic from a machine guard. The recalled snack bars were sold on or after April 8th in Four Square, Write Price, Pak N Save and New World stores across the North Island only.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0567): Listeria monocytogenes inLou Peyrou brand raw milk ewe cheese from France; distributed to France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, New Zealand 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.

Recalls and Alerts: April 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

  • Allergy Alert: Cinderella Sweets recalls Cindy’s Scrumptious Chocolate Chip Pound Cake, 16 oz., due to the presence of undeclared egg. Due to a labeling error, the product packaging indicates “Egg Free” but eggs are listed on the ingredient statement.
  • Allergy Alert: S&M (USA) Enterprise Corp recalls Rain Swiss Roll, Banana Flavor (160g uncoded cardboard box; Product of China), because the product contains undeclared eggs. The recalled product was distributed nationwide.
  • Food Safety Recall: Charcuterie La Tour Eiffel (Montreal, Canada) recalls all Summersweet seafood mousses and dips after samples from two lot codes of Salmon & Spinach Mouse were found to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled mousses and dips (see FDA recall notice for product list) were sold in retail outlets in New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida, California and Texas, including in Ralphs supermarkets. The manufacturer has suspended production pending the outcome of an investigation into the source of the contamination.
  • Food Safety Recall: Royal Sweet Bakery, Inc. (Brooklyn, NY) recalls Herring in Vegetable Oil Filling, after the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets determined that the fish was improperly eviscerated prior to processing and may, therefore, be contaminated with spores of Clostridium botulinum.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Investigation Update: As of April 18th, The Rhode Island Department of Health has identified 79 confirmed and suspect cases of salmonellosis linked to baked goods from De Fusco’s Bakery in Johnston, RI. Forty-eight cases were lab-confirmed; 30 people were hospitalized, and there have been two Salmonella-associated deaths.
  • Salmonella Outbreak Investigation Update: During the past two years (beginning April 9, 2009), 216 Salmonella illnesses have been confirmed in 41 states as a result of contact with water frogs, especially African dwarf frogs. The outbreak victims were infected with a strain of Salmonella Typhimurium that has been traced to a single African dwarf frog breeding facility in California. The outbreak strain also was recovered from a water sample collected in March 2011 from an aquarium containing African dwarf frogs in the household of a sick infant. Approximately 30% of the outbreak victims were hospitalized as a result of the infection.
  • Food Safety Alert: A retail-level survey of 100 samples of raw chicken (including whole fryers and packages of chicken parts) sold in Fred Meyer, Safeway, QFC, Whole Foods, Costco, Sam’s Club, Albertsons, Thriftway, PCC Natural Markets and Ken’s Market stores in the Seattle area from March 1st to April 4th revealed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus (42 samples), Campylobacter (65 samples), Salmonella (19 samples), Listeria (1 sample) and E. coli O126 (1 sample). Ten of the samples were contaminated with a methicillin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus.
  • Recreational Water Advisory Update (Oregon): A heath advisory for contact with marine water at Seaside Beach in Clatsop County, Oregon was lifted after further testing showed that fecal bacteria levels have subsided at the beach.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Brinkman Turkey Farms, Inc. (Findlay, OH) that a January/February 2011 inspection of the company’s low-acid canned food manufacturing facility revealed significant deviations from the Low-Acid Canned Food regulations.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Schindler’s Broad Run Cheese House, Inc. (Dover, OH) that a series of inspections carried out between September 2010 and December 2010 revealed serious deviations from Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Hocean Food Corporation (Los Angeles,  CA) that a November/December 2010 inspection of the company’s rice noodle processing establishment 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 Delta Airlines, Inc. (Atlanta, GA) that an inspection of a Delta aircraft in Atlanta uncovered the presence of rodent excreta pellets and mammalian urine at various locations the aircraft.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Omega Nutriton U.S.A., Inc. (Bellingham, WA) that a December 2010 inspection of the company’s dietary supplement manufacturing facility revealed serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for Dietary Supplements.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Aliments Trigone Inc. recalls Les Moissonneries du Pays brand Green Buckwheat Flour Stone Ground Finely Milled (1 kg., Code 349642), due to the presence of undeclared gluten. The recalled product was distributed in the province of Québec.
  • Allergy Alert: Armstrong Food Service recalls Roast Beef (Product code 123790; Best Before dates up to and including 21/04/11), Shaved Roast Beef (Product code 124804; Best Before dates up to and including 21/04/11), and Thin Sliced Shaved Roast Beef (Product code 124802; Best Before dates up to and including 21/04/11) due to the presence of undeclared soy. The recalled products were distributed to hotels, restaurants and institutional customers in Nova Scotia., Shaved
  • Health Product Recall: Mary Ginseng House recalls Mary Ginseng House 100% Pure High Calibre Pow Sum Ontario Genseng after Health Canada’s testing revealed the presence of Klebsiella oxytoca, Pantoea sp. and Enterobacter cloacae in product samples. These bacteria can cause serious infection in an individual whose immune system has been weakened by another illness or chronic condition.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Galati Cheese Company Ltd. (Windsor, ON) that a January 2011 inspection of the company’s cheese manufacturing facility revealed a serious violation of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food, in that the company failed to store and transport finished food under conditions that will protect the food against physical, chemical, and microbial contamination.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (UK): Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC recalls Morrisons Fresh Ideas Mini Chicken Roast, 411g (Use by 22 April 2011), Morrisons 6 Carrot Cake Slices (Best before 11 May 2011), and Morrisons The Best Prawn & Smoked Salmon Cocktail, 140g (Use by 20 April 2011), due to the presence of undeclared allergens.
  • Petting Farm Outbreak Investigation (Wales, UK): Public Health Wales is investigating an outbreak of Cryptosporidium in an unspecified number of people who fell ill over the past twelve months following farm and “lamb petting” events at Erddig Hall.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (Abu Dhabi): Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority has ordered the closure of Al Tazaj Fakieh Grilled Chicken (License No. 1043939), a restaurant at the Hamdan Centre building on Hamdan Bin Mohamed Street, for repeated violation of food safety rules.
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (China): Food quality inspectors raided steamed bun producers in Zhejiang Province, and found tens of thousands of buns containing banned dyes and other chemicals sold to local schools.
  • Chinese Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Lai Sing Medicine Factory Limited recalls Prolonged Man Power Essence, as its lead level exceeds the permitted limit.
  • Chinese Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Lee Sze Trading Co. recalls Lee Sze Texiao Houtong Wan, as its arsenic level exceeds the permitted limit.

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.