Category: E. coli O157:H7

Recalls and Alerts: July 11, 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

  • Allergy Alert: Runoland USA, Inc. (Ridgewood, NY) recalls Dried Fruit Owoce Suszone (300g/10.58 oz clear plastic bags; no date or production codes; UPC 5 905660 001082), because the product contains undeclared sulfites. The recalled product was distributed in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida and Pennsylvania.
  • Allergy Alert Update: Frozen desserts recalled by Arctic Zero Inc. (Escondido, CA) due to the presence of undeclared milk allergen were sold nationwide at Whole Foods, Publix, Sprouts, Winn Dixie, and independent Natural and Grocery Stores, including King Soopers, City Market and Giant Food Stores.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Ohio): WHIO TV reports that the total number of food poisoning victims who participated at a customer appreciation picnic on July 3rd at Neff’s Lawn Care has risen to 55. Ten people have been hospitalized, but none of the illnesses are life-threatening. Five of the victims are confirmed to be infected with E. coli O157:H7.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Philippines): Pfizer Consumer Healthcare recalls Robitussin DM containing Dextromethorphan HBr 15mg and Guaifenesin 100mg per 5 mL, due to a labeling error that resulted in incorrect dosage instructions.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Philippines): Cathay Drug Company, Inc. recalls Profurex 750mg Sterile Powder for Injection (IM/IV) product (Manufactured by Biolab Co., Ltd, Thailand; Lot P116069), because a broken glass was found inside a vial of the product.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Philippines): Novartis Healthcare Philippines, Inc. recalls Varemoid Forte 200 mg product (SCT Batch 1201), due to presumed contamination with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Recall (Philippines): GlaxoSmithKline Philippines, Inc. recalls Valda Lemon Pastilles (Batch 220212M and 220212L; Manufactured 22 February 2012; Product of Malaysia), because the products were incorrectly packaged with a Valda Menthol tin base instead of a Valda Lemon tin lid.
  • Outbreak Alert (Thailand): The Bangkok Post reports that 460 students at Chiang Mai Welfare School were infected with Salmonella as a result of consuming three-day-old boiled eggs. The eggs were donated to the school and were not reheated before being consumed.
  • Outbreak Alert (Samoa): The Ministry of Health has received more than 100 reports of typhoid fever in Samoa since April 2012.
  • Outbreak Alert (Sahel Region, Africa): More than 60 people have died of cholera in the region so far this year, and 2,800 have been infected. Sahel Region encompasses Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and the norther regions of Cameroon and Nigeria. UNICEF warns that malnourished children are especially at risk.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Empower Foods recalls Empower Power Wraps (245g flexible plastic packaging; Best before 14 JAN 2013) and Tony Ferguson High Fibre Wraps (175g flexible plastic packaging; Best before 14 12 12), due to possible foreign matter contamination (small metal pieces). The recalled products were sold at health food stores, online, and in chemists selling Tony Ferguson products in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.

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 10, 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

  • Allergy Alert Update: Frozen desserts recalled by Arctic Zero Inc. (Escondido, CA) due to the presence of undeclared milk allergen were sold nationwide at Whole Foods, Publix, Sprouts, Winn Dixie, and independent Natural and Grocery Stores, including Giant Food Stores.
  • Food Supplement Safety Recall: Sedona Labs recalls iFlora® Kids Multi-Probiotic® (UPC 6 48575 01013 2; Lot #1074711, 1479611, 1640811, & 1734411 and UPC 6 48575 01014 9; Lot #1595811 & 2089411), because Sedona’s supplier of Galactooligosaccharide has recalled the ingredient due to a Salmonella contamination. The recalled product was distributed between 3/16/2011 and 5/3/2012 throughout the US to health food stores and internet retailers and sold via health care professionals.
  • Food Safety Recall: Carl Rittberger Sr., Inc. (Zanesville, OH) recalls Spiced Loaf, Breakfast Loaf, Garlic Bologna, German Brand Bologna, Wieners, Grillers, Kielbasa, Straight HB Roll, and Natural Casing Wieners (5 to 6 lb wholesale packages; code dates 26 and 27; purchased after 06/25/2012 through 07/06/2012) and Wieners, Natural Casing Wieners, Grillers, Straight HB Roll and Kielbasa (retail packages purchased after 6/25/2012), because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Safety Recall: Combs Produce (Dallas, TX) recalls Cross Valley Farms and Packer Label whole tomatoes (Lots53886701 & 53892701; distributed to two US Foods distribution centers in Texas between June 27th and July 7th, 2012) because the equipment has tested positive for E. coli.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: Hannaford Supermarkets recalls Homestyle Meatballs with Sauce (sold by the pound in the deli department), Meatball Panini – cold (UPC 941260723096) and Meatball Panini – hot (UPC 94126072102), because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The three items were among a number of frozen, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products that were recalled by Buona Vita Inc. (Bridgeton, NJ), after testing by the Ohio Department of Agriculture and USDA found Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Ohio): Five people who attended a July 3rd picnic at Neff’s Lawn Care in Germantown, OH are confirmed to be infected with E. coli O157:H7, according to Marler Blog. At least 36 attendees at the picnic have become ill; 9 were hospitalized.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns New Rich City Company (Philadelphia, PA) that a June 2012 inspection of the company’s multiple food warehouse documented significant violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for foods, including the presence of rodent excreta pellets, rodent urine stains, live insects, dead insects, avian excreta, live animals, animal excreta/urine, animal food and animal hair.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns HPC Foods, Ltd. (Honolulu, HI) that a March 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facilities 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 Riverfront Egg Robbers, Inc. (Biscoe, AR) that a January 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 Freshwater Fish Products, Inc. (Bradford, AR) that a February 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility found serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.

Canada

  • Outbreak Alert (New Brunswick): New Brunswick public health officials have confirmed four cases of E. coli O157:H7 in the Fredericton area, according to a CBC report. Three of the victims were hospitalized. Lab tests are underway to determine whether all four victims were infected with the same strain of E. coli O157:H7. These same tests will reveal whether there is any connection between the Fredericton outbreak and the recent outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in Miramichi.

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert Update (Cuba): The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is monitoring the cholera situation in Cuba, including media reports that the disease has spread beyond Manzanillo to other cities, including Havana. As of July 3rd, the Cuban Ministry of Health confirmed 53 cases of Vibrio cholerae in Manzanillo, including 3 deaths.

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 5, 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 Update (California): California Department of Public Health advises that Cream Top Chocolate Milk (8-oz, 1-qt and half-gallon; Code date 7-11-2012), which was recalled by Dairy Goddess (Lemoore, CA) due to lack of proper pasteurization, was sold at the San Luis Obispo Downtown Farmers’ Market, the Cambria Farmers’ Market, the Sunset Strip Farmers’ Market – West Hollywood, and the Clovis Farmers’ Market.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Bedford Laboratories recalls Bedford Leucovorin Calcium Injection, 500mg SDV (Lot #/Expiration date 2017620‐1/31/2013 and 2038374‐2/28/2013) and NOVA PLUS® Leucovorin Calcium Injection, 500mg SDV (Lot #/Expiration date 2038374A-2/28/2013), due to the discovery of visible crystalline particulate matter in a small number of vials.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Alert: FDA has issued instructions to companies to stop manufacturing and distributing certain unapproved drugs containing oxycodone.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert (Re-release): The Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns people with allergies to wheat and sensitivities to gluten not to consume Healthy Times brand Brown Rice Cereal for Baby (Product of USA; 6-oz/170g pkgs; UPC 0 48685 02188 0; Lot 14211 & 17011; Use by 01 MAY 2013 and 30 MAY 2013, respectively, because this product contains undeclared wheat or gluten. This alert was first issued on July 26, 2011; however, affected product may still be in the marketplace.
  • Food Safety Recall: Fromagerie St-Fidèle Inc. (La Malbaie, QC) recalls St-Fidèle brand Cheddar Cheese (variable weight pkg containing cheese curds; Code 3959, made on 12JUN19 or 12JUN20; Best before 12JUL19 or 12JUL20), Cheddar Cheese (variable weight pkg containing BBQ-flavoured cheese curds; Code 3959; Made on 12JUN19 or 12JUN20; Best before 12JUL19 or 12JUL20), and Cheddar Cheese Curd (85g, 200g, 400g, and 2.5kg; Code 3959, made on 12JUN20; Best before 12JUL20), because the products may be contaminated with Staphylococcus toxin. The recalled products were distributed in Quebec.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Dille & Kamille recalls Breckland Orchard brand Pear & Elderflower Lemonade and Breckland Orchard brand Blackcurrant & Raspberry Lemonade, because the pressure inside the bottles is too strong and may result in spontaneous breakage.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Lactalis Denmark recalls Cheese Factory White Cheddar Cheese (400g; Best before 06-11-2012; Product of England), due to mold growth on some of the cheeses.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Mammen Dairy A/S recalls Urtekram brand Danbo 45+ Cheese, Danbo Middle Aged 45+ Cheese and Samso 30+ Cheese (net wt 550g; Best before dates 19-08-2012 and 20-08-2012), due to mold growth on some of the cheeses.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Arla Foods amba, Braband Dairy recalls Mejse Yoghurt, 1.5% fat with peach melba (1 liter; Best before 25.07.2012), due to the presence of undesirable bacteria in the product.
  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): Aschara Meat Market GmbH recalls Teewurst sausage (100g, unpackaged and unlabeled, with ends tied with silver and blue metal clips), after Salmonella Derby is found in an official sample. The recalled product was sold from June 22nd to July 2nd.
  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): H. Birkenstock Dairy GmbH recalls Birkenstock Mainzer Cheese (200g; Best before 08/03/2012), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Supplement Safety Alert (Ireland): Food Safety Authority of Ireland warns the public that food supplements containing the illegal stimulant DMAA have been imported into Ireland from the USA and are being sold online. Products containing DMAA are unauthorized medicines and are prohibited in Ireland.
  • Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Nutricia Baby Food recalls Bambix Bears Biscuits for Babies six months and older, due to a choking hazard, as the biscuits do not soften quickly enough in a baby’s mouth.
  • Food Safety Alert (UK): The UK Food Standards Agency advises the public to consider avoiding drinking bottled water described or labelled as Zam Zam water, because tests have shown that Zam Zam water sold in the UK may contain high levels of arsenic or nitrates.
  • Topical Product Safety Recall (Spain): The Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products alerts the public that Clear N Smooth Skin Toning Cream has been recalled, because it contains the unauthorized active pharmaceutical agent hydroquinone, 2%.
  • Food Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2012.0924): Unauthorized 1,3 dimethylamylamine in food supplement from Canada; distributed to Finland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0925): Defective packaging of fruit juice from the United Kingdom; distributed to Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0926): Excessive propylene glycol in muffins from Spain; distributed to Denmark.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0927): Aflatoxins in groundnuts from Nicaragua; distributed to Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0928): Shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 in chilled beef from Belgium; distributed to Belgium and Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0929): Salmonella Oranienburg in galacto oligosaccharide from South Korea via the USA; distributed to Belgium, Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0930): Campylobacter jejuni in fresh whole chicken from Germany; distributed to Denmark.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2012.0932): Salmonella anatum in roasted soy beans from Belgium; distributed to Belgium and Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0933): Mold infestation in cheddar cheese from the United Kingdom; distributed to Denmark.

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.