Category: E. coli O157:H7

Recalls and Alerts: March 20, 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 Alert: Washington State Department of Agriculture  (WSDA) recommends that the public not eat eggs from Daizen Farms (Burlington, WA), due to insanitary processing conditions and a high risk of Salmonella infection in the laying hens. This warning results from an FDA inspection of the company’s operations. WSDA reports that the eggs were produced by hens that ate feed contaminated with rodent droppings. The feed has been confirmed by lab analysis to contain Salmonella. In addition, the eggs were packaged under insanitary conditions on the farm (rodent droppings observed on an egg-washing machine). Please check the distribution list provided on the WSDA web site for a list of restaurants, grocery stores and distributors who were supplied with eggs from Daizen Farms.
  • Food Recall: Ingles Markets Inc. recalls Sioux City Sarsaparilla (Item #909955; Lot codes BB081013 and BB092213), because there may be a rusting issue under the caps.
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Recall Update: Lowes foods reports that  the manufacturer has recalled Pepto Cherry Liquid (12 oz; UPC 3-01490-32047; Lot code 2018171961), because water used to rinse a product contact surface did not meet the specifications for the manufacturer’s purified water system.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Fog River, LLC (Salt Lake City, UT) that a December 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility 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 Zhong Shun Inc. (City of Industry, CA) that a December 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood importer establishment uncovered serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns consumers with allergies to egg not to consume BioX brand Xtreme Powder Whey Isolate Powder (908g; UPC 8 13535 00103 5; Lot code 11104 103 15 NOV; Best before NOV 2013) and BioX brand Protein Shot Recovery Blue Raspberry Drink (473 mL; UPC 8 13535 00116 5; Lot code 100311 03OCT; Best before OCT 2012), because the products may contain undeclared egg. The affected products are known to have been distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, and may have been distributed nationally.
  • Food Safety Recall/Health Hazard Alert Update: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has released a list of more than 135 ground beef product brand names and codes that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The implicated products were manufactured at Establishment 761, owned and operated by New Food Classics. The products were manufactured between July 1, 2011 and February 15, 2012 and distributed nationally to retail stores, restaurants and institutional establishments. Affected products may bear one of the following codes: (a) Best Before date from BB 2012 JA 01 up to and including BB 2013 FE 15; (b) Production code with the format of 11 JL 01 up to and including 12 FE 15; or (c) 5-digit lot code where the last four digits are 1831 or greater.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (UK): Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc recalls Morrisons Cooked Turkey Breast (160g; Use by 27 April 2012), due to an error in the date code labeling. The product packages should have been labeled with a “use by” date of 27 March 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Millstream Ltd. recalls Millstream Oak Smoked Salmon (100g, 200g and sides; Batch 44318/Best before 02.04.2012, and Batch 44203/Best before 13.03.2012), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product was distributed to a small number of restaurants and a retailer in the Dublin and Wicklow region.
  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): Inzersdorfer recalls Rinds-Gulasch/Beef Goulash (400g can; Product of Austria; Lot #L1515; Best by 2015), because a small part of the batch was not adequately heated during processing.
  • Food Withdrawal (Greece): Milupa (Numil Hellas) recalls Aptamil 2 Baby Formula (Expiry date 24.01.2014), due to incorrect labeling. The package label states incorrectly that the formula is for babies “from 0-6 months”, instead of “by 6 months.”
  • Cosmetics Product Safety Recall (Spain): Henkel Iberica, S.A. recalls all production lots of Blondme Crystal Transparent Gel Bleach System Developer 6%/20 vol, Blondme Crystal Transparent Gel Bleach System Developer 9%/30 vol, and Blondme Crystal Transparent Gel Bleach System Dust, due to a quality defect.

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: March 19, 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: USDA releases retail distribution list for 7-Eleven Fresh to Go Grilled Chicken Caesar Wrap products that were recalled by LSG Sky Chefs (San Jose, CA) due to the presence of undeclared egg.
  • Food Safety Recall: El Ranchero Del Sur, LLC (South River, NJ) recalls El Ranchero Queso Fresco/Fresh Cheese (14 oz; UPC 88052230013), Los Corrales Queso Fresco en Hoja De Platano/ Fresh Cheese in Banana Leaf (14 oz; UPC 880522300037), and El Ranchero Queso Oaxaca/String Cheese (14 oz. and 10 lb; UPC 880522300068 and 88522300051, respectively), after a sample of Los Corrales Queso Fresco en Hoja De Plantano was found by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were distributed from 2/23/12 through 3/14/12 through direct deliver to retail stores, supermarkets and restaurants in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. El Ranchero Del Sur has halted production and distribution of its products so that the company and FDA can continue their investigation into the source of the contamination.
  • Food Safety Recall: Lawson Foods LLC (Irvington, NJ) recalls Pork Shoulder Butts (various weight cases; Case code 30312; Est 34227), because it includes pork product imported from Canada that was not properly presented for re-inspection upon entry into the USA. The recalled product was produced on March 3, 2012 and was distributed to one wholesale firm in New Jersey.
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Pfizer Consumer Healthcare recalls Advil Pain Reliever Ibuprofen Adult Bonus Pack (60 count; UPC 30573016931) and Advil Pain Reliever Ibuprofen Adult (40 count; UPC 30573016930), after marketed lots presented a more intense odor. This recall information is courtesy of Giant Food Stores.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Bramic Sales recalls Koh-Kae Nori Wasabi Coated Peanuts (240g; Code 5512 BM 48/11; UPC 8 852023 664101) and Koh-Kae Shrimp Flavour Coated Peanuts (240g; all codes; UPC 8 852023 665481) due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled products were distributed in Ontario.
  • Allergy Alert: Transhing Investment Inc. (QC) recalls Koh-Kae Peanuts Nori Wasabi Coated (240g; All codes; UPC 8 852023 664101), Koh-Kae Peanuts Coconut Cream Flavour Coated (255g; All codes; UPC 8 852023 664248) and Koh-Kae Peanuts Shrimp Flavour Coated (230g; All codes; UPC 8 852023 665481), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled products were distributed in New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec.
  • Food Safety Recall: La Fine Tulipe (Saint-Roch-de-L’Achigan) recalls Mini-Cornichons d’Asclépiade/Asclépiade Mini-Pickles (110ml size) and Têtes de Violon Marinés/Marinated Fiddleheads (190ml size), because the items were not produced in a manner that would ensure their microbiological safety.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Apotex Incorporated recalls Apo-Ramipril 5mg Capsules (Lot JR2178; DIN 02251574), after medication in the affected lot was found to contain intact but empty capsules. The recalled product was supplied to retail outlets across Canada. Apo-Ramipril is a prescription medication used to treat hypertension.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Ontario): Ottawa Public Health has now confirmed 37 cases of salmonellosis, including 33 involving children of between 15 months and 18 years of age. One daycare facility (Tiny Hoppers Daycare, 50 Colchester, Kanata) and seven schools have been affected by this outbreak.

Europe

  • Outbreak Alert Update (UK): Friarswood Primary School (Newcastle-under-Lyme), which was closed after an outbreak of 18 confirmed cases of E. coli O157, is expected to remain closed until after Easter, according to a BBC report.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0416): Dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in lamb liver from the United Kingdom; distributed to Germany.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Cosmetic Product Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Department of Health advises the public not to buy or use Super 9.9.9 Natural Vit. E, C cosmetic product, as it may contain excessive mercury that is dangerous to health.
  • Food Safety Advisory (PRC): Huaying Agricultural, a leading Chinese poultry company, has fired four employees suspected of being involved in activities that resulted in diseased ducks being sold to unsuspecting consumers, according to Channel News Asia. The ducks allegedly were sold to businessman Cui Jinping, who processed them in a “black” factory for resale as meat. Mr. Cui is facing criminal prosecution.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Unregistered Cancer Treatment Product Safety Alert (Australia): The Therapeutic Goods Administration advises consumers not to purchase or use Black Salve or Red Salve, which are unproved products that claim to cure or treat cancer, including certain types of skin cancer.

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.

New Food Classics Goes Bankrupt, Then Recalls Beef

New Food Classics applied for bankruptcy protection on January 17, 2012. The ground beef producer and its associated companies are in liquidation.

On February 15th (according to a report filed with the Court), the company learned that a case of E. coli O157:H7 illness had been linked to the consumption of frozen hamburger manufactured in October 2011 at New Food Classics’ production facility (Establishment Registration Number 761, based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan). Three days later, the company recalled 3,800 cases of frozen hamburger products. On February 22nd, the company and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced that another 767 cases of product had been added to the recall list.

Since then, Canadians have been subjected to a continuing trickle of additional recall notices and Health Hazard Alerts. These culminated yesterday (March 17th) in an announcement that the earlier public warnings were now extended to all ground beef products manufactured at Establishment 761 from July 1, 2011 to February 15, 2012. This represents approximately 1.25 million cases of ground beef products (the company produced some 2 million cases annually, according to the bankruptcy filing).

There is still only one reported illness associated with the consumption of these recalled beef burgers; however, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has not yet finished querying the various Provinces and Territories. So far, neither PHAC nor CFIA have responded to my email requests for additional information on the illness investigations.

The company’s Saskatoon facility (Establishment 761) is now described as “Temporarily Inactive” on the CFIA List of Federally Registered Meat Establishments. It had been operating under a number of different business names, including: New Food Classics, The Foodservice Company, Over The Edge, Grillhouse, BBQ Perfect, Ground & Browned, Bento, Oven Perfect, Absolute Favourites, Micro Perfect, Canadian Gourmet, Pubpan, Mastercut, Super Club and Recipe Ready.

CFIA has not yet released a complete list of brand names, package sizes and formats covered by its most recent Health Hazard Alert, but will do so as the information becomes available. In the interim, the agency has released the following product description:

The affected products can be identified by the Establishment number that appears on the packages, cartons or cases. The products made at this facility bear Establishment number (EST) 761.

The affected products involved in this recall may be identified by one of the following codes:

  • bearing a Best Before date from BB 2012 JA 01 up to and including to BB 2013 FE 15;
  • bearing a production code with a format of 11 JL 01 up to and including 12 FE 15;
  • bearing a 5 digit lot code where the last four digits are 1831 or greater.

We will be updating product description information as it becomes available.

These products have been distributed nationally to retail stores, restaurants and institutional establishments.

You can find more information – including retail distribution details – on all of the items recalled prior to CFIA’s March 17th Expanded Health Hazard Alert by clicking on the E. coli O157:H7 Beef Recall – Canada tab at the top of the page.