Category: E. coli O157:H7

Here’s The Beef

On September 4, 2012, Canada’s Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) each, independently, recovered E. coli O157:H7 from a sample of raw beef trimmings from the Brooks, Alberta production establishment of XL Foods Inc., registered with CFIA as Est. 038.

According to the Summary of Events released by CFIA, no recall was initiated, because CFIA determined that neither of the contaminated batches of product (beef trimmings produced on August 24th and 28th) had reached the Canadian marketplace.

Here are a few of the key dates and events that followed the initial findings:

On September 6th, CFIA requested distribution information and testing results from XL Foods for all products from those two production dates.

On September 12th, FSIS reported two more positive E. coli O157:H7 findings to CFIA.

On September 13th, CFIA removed XL Foods from the list of establishments eligible to export meat to the USA. But, despite the multiple findings of E. coli O157:H7 in samples of beef trimmings from the Brooks plant, and despite noting several deficiencies in the plant’s operations and sampling protocols, no public recall was announced – because, in the words of CFIA, of “…the absence of evidence that any affected product from the initial discovery had reached the marketplace.”

Nevertheless, that same day, XL Foods began to advise its customers that it was recalling beef trimmings produced on August 24th, August 28th, and September 5th.

On September 16th, Canadians finally were let into the dirty little secret. CFIA released its initial Health Hazard Alert. It was another four days before FSIS issued its first Public Health Alert for Imported Canadian Raw Boneless Beef Trim from XL Foods. Both CFIA and FSIS have issued multiple updates as the number of production dates under recall increased.

On September 18th, the Public Health Agency of Canada told CFIA that the Alberta Health Services was investigating five cases of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses; there was a possible link, CFIA was informed, between four of those cases and steaks purchased at an Edmonton Costco Wholesale store – steaks that had originated at XL Foods Inc.’s Brooks facility.

On September 27th, CFIA temporarily suspended the operating license for XL Foods Inc. (Establishment 038) in Brooks, AB after determining that “…adequate controls for food safety were not fully implemented in the facility.”

On September 29th, CFIA acknowledged in an updated Health Hazard Alert (for the first time) that four E. coli 0157 illnesses were associated with the consumption of beef products originating from XL Foods Inc. (Est. 38). The following day, CBC News reported that a total of nine cases of E. coli were under investigation, including the four confirmed cases.

So what’s my beef?

1. CFIA should have insisted on a recall of the meat from August 24th and August 28th production dates as soon as it was clear that there was a contamination problem at Brooks that involved more than a single batch of beef trimmings.

2. CFIA’s initial Health Hazard Alert should have been issued as soon as a decision was taken to recall product – NOT THREE DAYS LATER.

3. Neither the Public Health Agency of Canada nor Alberta Health Services have posted any information on their web pages regarding the E. coli O157:H7 illness investigations.

4. FSIS waited four extra days after the Canadian Health Hazard Alert to issue its own Public Health Alert.

5. FSIS still has not released a list of recalled products in the USA; nor has it released names of any of the meat processing or grinding or food service or distribution companies that are impacted by this beef recall – just a list of affected retailers. FSIS is relying, instead, on the individual retailers to post information listing recalled products.

On the plus side, CFIA has been very forthcoming with detailed recall information, including full identification of products by name, UPC, and packing or expiration dates, and retail distribution information by retailer and province/territory.

For a full list of products recalled to date in both Canada and the USA, including retail distribution information, please consult the Canada/USA Beef Recall page.

Recalls and Alerts: September 29, 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.

For current information on retail distribution of peanut butter products recalled due to Salmonella Bredeney, please consult the Trader Joe’s/Sunland Peanut Butter Recalls tab.

For current information on retail distribution of beef products containing Canadian beef recalled due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination please consult the Canada/USA Beef Recall tab.

United States

  • Allergy Alert: Foster Farms (Demopolis, AL) recalls Foster Farms Honey Crunchy Corn Dogs (2.67-lb, 16-ct pkgs; Est P-7322; Use by July 2, 2013; Time stamp between 06:30 and 08:30), because of misbranding and the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled products were distributed to Kroger, Walmart and Food Lion stores in the Southeastern USA.
  • Food Safety Recall: Whole Foods Market recalls Bulk Sweets Mix containing Peanut Butter Power Chews (Bulk, PLU 9663), sold in the El Segundo, California store and Treasure Trove Mix (Bulk, PLU 6922), sold in several Florida stores, because the products contain peanut butter that may be contaminated with Salmonella.
  • Food Safety Recall: Fairytale Brownies recalls Peanut Butter Sprites, Peanut Butter Brownies, and Peanut Butter Cookies (manufactured on or after August 15, 2012), because the products contain peanut butter that may be contaminated with Salmonella. Please refer to the recall notice for additional details.
  • Food Safety Recall: Walmart alerts its customers to the recall of ground beef and ground beef products due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products sold in Walmart and Sam’s Club stores.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: XL Foods Inc. (Est 38) expands its earlier recalls to include additional raw beef and beef products manufactured on August 24, 27, 28, 29 and September 5, 2012, due to potential contamination with E. coli O157:H7. Please refer to the recall notice for product and distribution details.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Bønnelykken A/S recalls Simply Fresh brand Salad with Salmon (Packaged in the Netherlands; Best before 1/10, 2/10, 3/10 and 4/10-2012), because the smoked salmon is thought to be contaminated with Salmonella.
  • Food Safety Recall (France): Société Andouille ASSELOT recalls Andouille Asselot brand Andouilles de Vire (Lot #2612, 3012, 3112), after Salmonella was detected in the product. The recalled sausages were sold directly at the Asselot store in Vire (14500), in retail stores in the Normandie region or in Carrefour, Leclerc and Intermarché stores in Vire, either as packaged product or “by the slice.”
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Germany): The food borne disease outbreak in Germany has sickened at least 8,365 individuals, including mostly children, teenagers and support staff at 342 schools and child care facilities. Twenty-three people have been hospitalized. Cases are reported from Brandenburg (97 facilities; 2,415 illnesses; 14 hospitalized), Berlin (82 facilities; 2,213 illnesses; 3 hospitalized), Sachsen (118 facilities; 2,800 illnesses; 2 hospitalized), Sachsen-Anhalt (6 facilities; 50 illnesses; none hospitalized) and Thüringen (39 facilities, 887 illnesses; 4 hospitalized). The identity of the pathogen has not yet been determined. Nearly all of the affected facilities in Brandenburg, Berlin and Thüringen were supplied with food from a common source.

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: September 28, 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.

For current information on retail distribution of peanut butter products recalled due to Salmonella Bredeney, please consult the Trader Joe’s/Sunland Peanut Butter Recalls tab.

For current information on retail distribution of beef products containing Canadian beef recalled due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination please consult the Canada/USA Beef Recall tab.

United States

  • Allergy Alert: Grand BK (Maspeth, NY) recalls goodies by nature brand Black Mix Crisp and Crisp Mix (7-oz plastic containers; All products sold prior to July 27, 2012), due to the presence of undeclared peanut.
  • Food Safety Recall: Harry and David, LLC recalls Harry & David® Crunchy Almond and Peanut Butter, Harry & David® Creamy Banana Peanut Spread, and Harry & David® Creamy Raspberry Peanut Spread (Best By dates of 01MAY13 through 24SEPT13), because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The following multi-component food items also are affected: Harry & David® Apple Snack Box, Wolferman’s® Bee Sweet Gift Basket, Wolferman’s® Hearty Snack Gift Basket, Wolferman’s® All-Day Assortment Gift Basket, and Wolferman’s® Father’s Day Basket (Lot codes 1212M through 2372M, 1212H through 2372H, or 1212C through 2372C).
  • Food Safety Recall: Justin’s recalls Justin’s brand Classic Peanut Butter Jars (16 oz; UPC 855188003004; Best by 08-07-13), Honey Peanut Butter Squeeze Packs (1.15 oz; UPC 855188003042; Best by 07-24-13, 07-25-13) and Honey Peanut Butter 0.5 oz Squeeze Pack (0.5 oz; UPC 894455000391; Best by 07-14-13, 08-10-13, 08-13-13, 08-14-13, 08-15-13), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.
  • Food Safety Recall: Dale and Thomas Popcorn recalls the following flavors of Indiana-brand popcorn products due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes: Aged White Cheddar, Almond Biscotti, American Cheese, Apple Crisp, Bacon Ranch, Black & White Drizzle, Caramel, Caramel Roasted Peanuts, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Cinnamon Sugar Drizzle, Dark Fudge Chocolate Chip Drizzle, Kettlecorn, Salt & Pepper, and Wasabi Reserve. Please refer to the recall notice for complete information on package sizes and “Best By” dates. The recalled products were distributed to various retailers (including Walmart), vendors, distribution centers and consumers through the Internet on or after August 8, 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall: Oregon Ice Cream Company recalls Alden’s Organic Peanut Butter ‘n Chip Ice Cream (48 oz; UPC 0 72609 74191 2; Code dates 12195-12261) and Cascade Glacier Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream (3 gal; UPC 0 72609 60082 0; Code date 12223), because they contain peanut butter that may be contaminated with Salmonella.
  • Food Safety Recall: Jer’s™ Chocolates recalls Peanut Butter Bars (3.0 oz; Original, Pretzo, Toffee and Caramella varieties), Jer’s Squares (16-oz Gable Box – Original/Pretzo) and Jer’s Squares Gable Box (4.0 oz; Original, Pretzo, Toffee and Caramella varieties), because the products contain peanut butter that may be contaminated with Salmonella. Please refer to the recall notice for complete details.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: DOG for DOG, LLC recalls DOGSBUTTER brand DOG for DOG All Natural Jarred Peanut Butter Treat for Dogs (Manufacturing dates of May 1 through September 24, 2012), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert: Fromagerie des Grondines (Deschambault-Grondines, QC) recalls Fromage Grand 2 (variable weight; Package dates before 21 September 2012), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. One product-related illness has been reported.
  • Food Safety Recall: Champ’s Mushrooms (Aldergrove, BC) recalls Champ’s Mushrooms brand Sliced Crimini Mushrooms (200g / UPC 6 78286 99933 4 / Code 260 S4189; 227g / UPC 6 78286 88877 5 / Codes PO 15SEP2012 or PO 16SEP2012; and 454g / UPC 6 78286 88881 2 / Codes PO 15SEP2012), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled mushrooms were distributed in Alberta and British Columbia and may also have been distributed in other provinces.
  • Food Safety Recall: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has expanded its earlier Health Hazard Alert to include additional products and retail distribution information for Energy Nuggets (Imported from USA). These products may be contaminated with Salmonella. Please refer to the recall notice for full details.
  • Food Safety Recall: Costco advises its customers that XL Foods Inc. has expanded its recall to include additional beef and beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Some of this recalled beef may have been produced and sold in Costco Wholesale warehouses between August 28 and September 27, 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall: JD Sweid Foods Ltd. recalls various Ground Beef Patties supplied to the hotel/restaurant/institutional market, because the beef may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled products were distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Europe

  • Outbreak Alert (Germany): The Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and the Robert Koch Institute are investigating an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis that appears to be food-related. As of 28 September 2012, at least 4,658 cases have been reported in Brandenburg (1,194), Berlin (600 or more), Saxony (2,100) and Thuringia (764). Most of the outbreak victims are children and teenagers. Earliest onset of illness was the evening of September 25th, with additional cases occurring on September 27th and 28th. Most cases have been of short duration and self-limiting. Authorities believe that the outbreak is related mainly to canteens at child and adolescent care facilities. All of the suspect facilities were supplied with meals by the same food service company. Lab studies of patients and food samples are in progress.
  • Allergy Alert: Flying Trade withdraws Big Bamboo Jamaican Irish Moss Vanilla Flavoured Drink (284 ml; Best Before end date 24 February 2014) because the product contains milk that is not mentioned on the label.
  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): Lackmann Fleisch- und Feinkost GmbH recalls  Tuschonka Vostochnaya Turkey in its own juice (400g cans; Expiry 17/02/2013; SKU #167) and Tuschonka is Konini Horse Meat in its own juice (400g cans; Expiry 17/02/2013; SKU #155), due to a lack of heat treatment.
  • Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Foppen recalls Smoked Salmon (Oval logo on the packaging containing the codes EL-41A82EC or EN-6115EG; All lots), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled smoked salmon was sold by stores in the Albert Heijn, Aldi and Superunie supermarket chains.
  • Food Safety Recall: P&B (Foods) Limited recalls Heera Dry Dates (various package sizes, batch codes and Best before dates), due to insect infestation. Please refer to the recall notice for additional details.
  • Topical Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (France): Laboratoire ARROW Génériques recalls Amorolfine Arrow 5% medicated nail polish (Lot K004; Expiry 03/2014), due to an error in the expiration date, which should be shown as 2013 instead of 2014.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Oral Medication Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Department of Health warns the public not to buy or consume the oral product called Long Ren Tang Fu She Gu Rang Jiao Nang, as it contains multiple undeclared and unauthorized Western drugs, including including diclofenac, piroxicam, indomethacin, naproxen, ibuprofen, dipyridamole, hydrochlorothiazide, metoclopramide and cimetidine.

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.