Category: E. coli O157:H7

Recalls and Alerts: May 6, 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: FunFresh Foods, Inc. (San Clemente, CA) recalls FunFresh Foods™ World Berries™ Organic “Cacao Nibs” (6-oz pouch; UPC 632474929022; Use by date 04/14; Lot code 161104), because the product may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled product was distributed from April 12th through 17th (2012) to health and natural food retail stores in AK, AR, AZ, CA, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NM, OH, OK, OR, SC, SC, TN, TX, WA, WI, and WV.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Diamond Pet Foods expands its dry pet food recall, because products manufactured at its Gaston, South Carolina production facility may be contaminated with Salmonella. Please see the Diamond Pet Foods, Etc. Recalls – 2012 page for details on the recalled products.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Natural Balance recalls several products manufactured on its behalf by Diamond Pet Foods, because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. Please see the Diamond Pet Foods, Etc. Recalls – 2012 page for details on the recalled products.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Canidae Pet Foods recalls several products manufactured on its behalf by Diamond Pet Foods, because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. Please see the Diamond Pet Foods, Etc. Recalls – 2012 page for details on the recalled products. The recalled products were distributed in Florida, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee. Further distribution to other pet foods channels may have occurred.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: WellPet LLC recalls Wellness Complete Health® Super5Mix® Large Breed Puppy dry dog food (15-lb and 30-lb bags and 5-oz sample bags; Best by dates of JAN 9 2013 through JAN 11 2013), because the product, which was manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods, may be contaminated with Salmonella.
  • Outbreak Alert: WRAL reports that the Nash County Health Department is investigating several reports of gastroenteritis that it says might be associated with Ribeye’s Steakhouse off N.C. Highway 64 in Nashville. One person has been hospitalized.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Fromagerie Bergeron Inc. (Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly, QC) recalls  Brins de Gouda cheese (100g, 180g, 230g, 260g, 300g and 500g; Lot 12-0687; Best before 2012 MA 18) and Le Populaire cheese (335g; Lot 12-687; Best before 2012 AU 03), because they may contain harmful pieces of metal wire. The recalled products were distributed in Quebec.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: Costco Canada advises its customers that Jascor Housewares has recalled Twist ‘n Sparkle home beverage carbonation systems (Costco item # 295585, model # ISITNSB10, Costco item # 295556, model # ISITNSS10 and Costco item # 295582, model # ISICO240), because certain clear plastic bottles develop micro-cracks around the four grooves at the base of the bottle with repeated use. Once the cracks form, the bottles can burst under pressure.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Diamond Pet Foods has announced an expanded recall of dry pet food manufactured at its Gaston, South Carolina facility. Some of the recalled products were distributed to Canada. Please see the Diamond Pet Foods, Etc. Recalls – 2012 page for details on the recalled products.

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: May 4, 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: Old Fashioned Foods, Inc. recalls Old Fashioned Cheese Snack Spread – Pepper Jack, Old Fashioned Cheese Snack Spread – Jalapeno, and Old Fashioned Cheese Snack Spread – Nacho (8 oz; Best by dates April 17, 2012 through April 17, 2013), because milk was inadvertently omitted from the ingredient statement.
  • Food Safety Recall: Cleveland Beansprouts Co. (Cleveland, OH) recalls all Alfalfa Sprouts, because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The contamination was discovered by the Ohio Department of Agriculture while collecting and testing samples under the United States Department of Agriculture’s Microbiological Data Program.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: Buncombe County Department of Health reports that the bacteria found in tempeh produced by Smiling Hara is a match to the Salmonella Paratyphi B outbreak strain that has sickened 46 people, and hospitalized seven of them. Smiling Hara withdrew all of its products from restaurants and retail outlets on May 1st.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Régine Fine Chocolate recalls Régine Fine Chocolate brand Chocolate Licorice (10-count; UPC 8 76689 00002 6), due to the presence of undeclared sulphites. The recalled product was sold in Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall: Walmart Canada Corp recalls Great Value brand Polskie Ogorki Dill Pickles, Sweet Mixed Pickles, Baby Dill Pickles, Bread and Butter Pickles, and Garlic Dill Pickles (1L; All best before dates up to and including 13 DE 28), due to extraneous material (insect) contamination. The recalled pickles were sold nationally.
  • Food Recall: Costco Store #533 (Kingston, ON) recalls Kirkland Signature brand Pork Rib Chops, Pork Loin Centre Chops, Lamb Loin Chops Australian and Pork Side Ribs Breast Bone Off (various weights; Packed 12/AL/30), due to contamination with “non-harmful” unspecified extraneous material.
  • Food Safety Recall: Gort’s Gouda Cheese recalls Gort’s Gouda Heavy Cream (250mL, 500mL and 750mL; Best before April 20, 2012), due to unspecified microbiological contamination. The recalled product was sold in British Columbia.
  • Outbreak Alert (New Brunswick): New Brunswick Public Health is investigating 24 cases of bloody diarrhea suspected to be caused by E. coli; 20 of the cases are in Miramichi, 2 in Saint John and 2 in Bathurst. Several of the cases have been confirmed as E. coli o157:H7. The source has not yet been identified.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Prince Edward Island): PEI’s Chief Public Health Office continues to investigate an outbreak of gastrointestinal illnesses that has afflicted 205 people so far. The illnesses are associated with the consumption of a roast beef dinner prepared by volunteers as part of a fundraiser for Princetown United Church on Saturday, April 28th.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Sweden): Saltå Mill Ltd. recalls Buckwheat Flour (500g; Best before date 02 2013; Batch 47th), because the product, which is labeled gluten-free, contains gluten.
  • Food Safety Recall (Finland): Lunden Catering Ltd recalls Gourmet Quality Barberry Duckbreast, frozen (800g vacuum-pack; Best before and batch code 21/03/2014 280 312), due to Salmonella contamination. The product was supplied to cruise ships.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): DK Trading ApS recalls Chicken breast fillets and cuts thereof (eg strips) and marinated fillets and cuts (varying pack sizes; Labeled with stores own label; Expiry dates 22/4 – 30/4-2012), after Salmonella Newport is found in samples of the chicken breast fillet. The products have passed their expiration date, but may still be in consumers’ freezers.
  • Food Safety Recall (Greece): Carrefour SA Marinopoulos recalls certain yogurt desserts due to mold growth. Please refer to the recall notice for details.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0611): High level of alkalinity (pH 14; 3% active chlorite solution) in sparkling mineral water from France, via Belgium; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0612): Glass fragments in nut cream from Italy; distributed to Italy and Slovakia.
  • Pet Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0615): Salmonella spp. in dog chews from India; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0616): Mercury in swordfish steaks from Vietnam, via the Netherlands; distributed to Belgium.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Cosmetic Product Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Department of Health advises consumers not to buy or use Dokter Pemutih Special cosmetic cream, as it may contain excessive mercury that is dangerous to health.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Synmosa Biopharma (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd. recalls Noderin Tablets, 200mg, after one batch of the product fails the dissolution test.

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: April 30, 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: Isernio’s Sausage Co. withdraws 150 lbs of  Isernio’s Fresh Spinach & Feta Chicken Sausage, because the labeling of the product failed to note that the product contains milk, a known allergen. Customers with questions or concerns about the voluntary product withdrawal should contact Michael Durand at 206-762-6207.
  • Food Safety Recall: Henry’s Farm Inc. (Woodford, VA) recalls Soybean Sprouts (approx 10-lb bulk bags; no lot number or date code) and Grown in Natural Spring Water Soybean Sprouts (approx 1.5-lb clear plastic packages; No lot or date code) , because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled sprouts were distributed to retail stores in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The outbreak of Salmonella Paratyphi B infections reported by the Buncombe (North Carolina) County Department of Health has grown to 34 cases as of today (April 30th). Cases still appear to have been associated with residence or travel to Buncombe County since February 28, 2012. Health labs do not yet have final lab results that would enable identification of a specific source of the infections. Final lab characterization of the outbreak strain is expected near the end of the week.
  • Outbreak Alert: At least 30 residents, staff and visitors at the Blue Water Lodge senior living center in Fort Gratiot, Michigan have been stricken with norovirus, according to the St. Clair County Health Department.
  • Outbreak Alert: Twenty-seven participants at a luncheon event for the Pueblo Community Health Center developed gastroenteritis, according to the Pueblo City-County Health Department.
  • Outbreak Alert: The Tennessee Department of Health has confirmed cases of E. coli O157 infection in three children who attend the same Cocke County day care facility. All three children were hospitalized; the investigation is ongoing.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Little B’s Bakery recalls Little B’s Bakery Chocolate Coconut Haystacks (380g; Best before dates up to and including May 18, 2012) and Little B’s Bakery Coconut Haystacks (320g; Best before dates up to and including May 18, 2012), due to the presence of undeclared sulphites. The recalled products were sold in Ontario.
  • Allergy Alert: New World Imports Ltd., Far East North America Food Ltd., Sea Links Foods Trading (Canada) and Choy Foong International Trading Co. Ltd. recall Koh-Kae Peanuts Coconut Cream Flavour Coated (255g; All codes; UPC 8 852023 664248) and/or Koh-Kae Peanuts Coffee Flavour Coated (255g; All codes; UPC 8 852023 664255), due to the presence of undeclared egg and additives. The recalled products were sold in Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan.
  • Outbreak Alert (Prince Edward Island): The PEI Department of Health and Wellness is investigating a possible outbreak of gastrointestinal illness among several people who at food distributed as part of a community meal from the Princetown United Church in Malpeque. The victims report having experienced nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (France): Auchan recalls Pierre Chanau chez Auchan Côtes du Rhone Vieilles Vignes 2010 (Lot L 12054; Bar code 3254569571946), due to the presence of glass fragments in certain bottles of the incriminated lot.
  • Outbreak Alert/Investigation (Russia): Consumption of Familiar Recipes brand Potato Cutlets, sold by the Vester supermarket (Soviet Prospect, 159, Kaliningrad) has been linked to nine cases of enterocolitis, including four Salmonella enteritidis infections, according to a report from IA Regnum. The investigation is ongoing.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Wales): Public Health Wales reports four additional cases of cryptosporidiosis associated with Cwmbran farm, bringing the total number of diagnosed cases to eight. All patients are either members of staff or volunteers who bottle fed unwell animals, which have since been removed from the farm.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Chinese Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Hip Wo Medicine Company Limited recalls Radix Aconiti Lateralis (all batches), because it has been found contaminated by another Chinese herbal medicine, processed Radix Aconiti, both of which contains aconitum alkaloids.
  • Outbreak Alert (China): A total of 129 students in a kindergarten today ill after eating school breakfast in the province of Yunnan, southwest China. Initial investigations implicate improperly cooked soy milk as the source of the illnesses.
  • Outbreak Alert (Philippines): An outbreak of typhoid has sickened approximately 100 people in Maydolong (Eastern Samar). Contaminated water is suspected.
  • Outbreak Alert (Philippines): The Department of Health-Cordillera reports an increase in cases of acute bloody diarrhea in the region this calendar year. Health officials have recorded 479 cases during the first 16 weeks of 2012, up from 388 cases during the same period last year.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert (Mexico): Eighty-four children and three adults were treated in hospitals in Acapulco for suspected poisoning after celebrating Children’s Day by sharing a meal of beef barbecue, spaghetti and cake at Juan R. Escudero grade school.
  • Outbreak Alert (Mexico): At least 20 children and 3 teachers were treated for food poisoning after eating chicken salad, served during Children’s Day celebrations at the Day Care Centre located in subdivision DIF Prairie River in Ciudad Valles.
  • Outbreak Alert (Mexico): Health officials are investigating an outbreak of food poisoning among children at the Gilberto Owen Kindergarten located in the cidy of Los Mochis. Thirty six youngsters developed stomach pain, nausea and vomiting within minutes of eating chicken provided to them at the kindergarten. Four adults also complained of symptoms.

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.