Category: E. coli O157:H7

Recalls and Alerts: June 30, 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

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: McNeil Consumer Healthcare recalls Tylenol® Extra Strength Caplets, 225-count bottles (Manufactured in February 2009; Lot #ABA619) due to reports of an uncharacteristic musty, moldy odor that has been linked to the presence of trace amounts of 2,4,6-tribromanisole (TBA). TBA has been associated with temporary and “non-serious” gastrointestinal symptoms. The recalled product was distributed in the USA.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: Cost Plus Inc. (Oakland, CA) recalls Wooden Hexagonal Animal Drums (SKU #424857; Manufactured in China) because the paint used on the drum exceeds the maximum allowable lead level of 90ppm. The recalled toys were sold at Cost Plus World Market stores nationwide from December 2010 through May 2011.
  • FDA Enforcement Action: FDA has announced that Howard Sousa, doing business as the Artery Health Institute LLC, and DeSousa LLC, in New York, N.Y., has signed a consent decree of permanent injunction. The consent decree prohibits Sousa from distributing products with claims in the labeling to cure, treat, mitigate or prevent diseases. Prior to entry of the consent decree, Sousa distributed Advanced Formula EDTA Oral Chelation capsules on his website. Under the terms of the consent decree, Sousa will remove the drug claims from his website. He has also agreed to hire an independent expert to review the claims he makes for his product and to certify that he has omitted all violative claims. Under the decree, the FDA can order Sousa to stop making and distributing any product if he fails to comply with any provision of the consent decree, the FFDCA or other FDA regulations. Sousa is also required to pay $1,000 per violation and twice the retail value of each shipment of product in the event he fails to comply with the consent decree.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: King’s Processing Ltd. (Alberton, PEI) recalls Circle K and Sub Delicious brands of sandwiches, subs, wraps, burgers, breakfast muffins and bagels (Canada 514 legend; various sizes and Best Before dates), because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were distributed in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (PRC): According to the Beijing Times, some supposedly edible cooking oil on store shelves in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province has been produced from gutter oil and swill-cooked oil – waste animal oil and oil that has been used several times (usually by restaurants) for frying.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection has received reports of seven additional case of food poisoning linked to a Jordan restaurant, bringing the total number of cases to sixteen. One person has been admitted to Tseung Kwan O Hospital.
  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating two clusters of suspected food poisoning cases – affecting 11 people in total – among diners at a restaurant in Kowloon City.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Medical Device Recall: IGC Dorey Pty Ltd recalls Safety 1st Complete Healthcare Kits (Item #49773; Barcode Number 8439254291), because the recalled kits contain a thermometer that displays the temperature in degrees Farenheit rather than degrees Celsius. The kits were sold through Kmart, Target, Toys R Us and independent retail stores nationwide between April 2011 and June 2011.
  • Synthetic Cannabis Recall and Alert (Australia and New Zealand): New Zealand’s Director General of Health has warned retailers to remove Kronic Pineapple Express herbal smoking product from store shelves, because it has been found to contain phenazepam, a prescription medicine that is not available for use in New Zealand. Separately, New South Wales has announced a ban – effective July 2011 – of Kronic, Northern Lights, Spice, Kaos, Voodo & Mango synthetic cannabis products after the products were found to contain the synthetic cannabinoid JWH-018.

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: June 28, 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: Risvold’s Salads Inc. (Gardena, CA) recalls Seafood Pasta Salad (Use by 7/17/11) and Seafood Salad (Use by 6/27/11, 7/4/11 and 7/11/11), because they may contain undeclared milk, sunflower, sesame and soy. The recalled salads were sold behind the deli case in retail markets in Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Montana and Idaho.
  • Allergy Alert: JFC International, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA) recalls all UCC and Taitan Instand Drink Mix (Product of Taiwan), because they contain undeclared milk.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Nestlé Purina PetCare Company recalls Cat Chow Naturals Dry Cat Food (6.3-lb bag; Best by Aug 2012; Production Code 10331083 13), and Friskies Grillers Blend Dry Cat Food (3.15-lb and 16-lb bags; Best By Aug 2012; Production code 10381083 06), because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The bags were distributed in error in February 2011 to a small number of customers in Colorado, Idaho and Oregon, which may have further distributed the products to other Western states.
  • Food Safety/Outbreak Alert: FDA warns the public not to eat alfalfa sprouts or spicy sprouts from plastic bags labeled “Evergreen Produce” or “Evergreen Produce Inc.” because the sprouts may be linked to 21 confirmed Salmonella Enteritidis infections in five US states: Idaho (3), Montana (7), North Dakota (1), New Jersey (1) and Washington (9). Three people have been hospitalized. The investigation is ongoing, and the producer has not (yet) recalled the implicated sprouts.
  • Outbreak Alert: The Alaska Section of Epidemiology is investigating four known cases of Campylobacter infections associated with drinking raw milk from an Alaska dairy farm in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley that operates a cow-share program.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The Alabama Department of Public Health is continuing its investigation into an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in Lee County that has sickened 13 children and two adults who either played in the Splash Park or swam in the pool at the Opelika SportsPlex and Aquatic Center. Five of the children have been confirmed positive for E. coli O157:H7; four children were hospitalized initially, and two remain in hospital.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Wild Foods, Inc., dba Ma Baensch’s, Baensch Food Products Co. (Milwaukee, WI) that a February-April 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 La Fiesta Food Products, Inc. (San Jose, CA) that a February 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood repackaging facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Ozark Bottling Co. (Lake Ozark, MO) that a January/February 2011 inspection of the company’s facility revealed serious deviations from the Acidified Food regulations described in Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 108, Emergency Permit Control (21 CFR Part 108) and Part 114, Acidified Foods (21 CFR Part 114).
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Sally Jackson Cheeses (Oroville, WA) that a December 2010 inspection of the company’s cheese processing establishment revealed the presence of the pathogen E. coli O157:H7 in a sample of aged cow milk cheese wrapped in chestnut leaves, and the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of aged raw goat milk cheese wrapped in grape leaves, rendering these cheeses adulterated. The E. coli O157:H7 isolate obtained from the aged cow milk cheese sample was indistinguishable from a strain of E. coli O157:H7 that caused an outbreak of human illness.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Los Genuinos, Inc. (Bayamon, PR) that a January 2011 inspection of the company’s food manufacturing facility revealed serious violations of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 110 (21 CFR 110), Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Baxter Healthcare Corporation (Deerfield, IL) that a July/August 2010 inspection of the company’s pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Jayuya, PR revealed significant violations of Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for Finished Pharmaceuticals, Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 210 and 211.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Mutual Trading Company, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA) that a May 2010 inspection of the company’s seafood processor/importer/distribution facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point regulation, and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.

Canada

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Advisory: Following an R.C.M.P. seizure of counterfeit Cialis in the Greater Toronto Area, Health Canada is reminding Canadians that unauthorized and counterfeit health products can pose serious risks to their health. The seized product contained sildenafil, instead of the authorized prescription medicine tadalafil.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (UK): Asda withdraws Asda Extra Special Strawberry & White Chocolate Popcorn, 150g (Best before 04/11/11), because a packaging error has resulted in the packages containing Pecan and Milk Chocolate Popcorn, and presents a risk to people who are allergic to nuts.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Lantmännen Cerealia recalls Kornkammeret organic muesli (Best before 15.02.2012), because the product contains a foreign object which may be rodent residue.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (France): Sixteen cases of E. coli O104:H4 infections in Gironde have been linked to the consumption of raw sprouts. Eight of the patients are suffering from hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Recall (Hong Kong): AIC Merchandising (Japan) Ltd recalls TOPVALU TV SALT Flavoured Instant Ramen Noodles (Product of Japan; Expiry October 6, 2011), because the sachet of soup powder included in the noodle pack was found to contain DEHP.
  • Chinese Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Wah Shun Medicine Limited recalls [W.S] Gan Mao Ling, because the medicine contains excessive arsenic.
  • Chinese Medicine Safety Alert (Singapore): The Health Sciences Authority warns consumers not to use Ren Sem Tu Chon Chin Kuo Pill and Huo Li Bao, as these Chinese medicines contain undeclared western pharmaceutical ingredients, including dexamethasone, chlorpheniramine, piroxican, and/or frusemide.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Shin Mi (Australia) Pty Ltd. recalls WANG Dried Kelp Varech Speche (56g and 170g plastic packets; Product of Korea; Date Marking 2013.01.20), because the dried seaweed contains high levels of naturally occurring iodine.
  • Safety Advisory (Australia): The Therapeutic Goods Administration warns consumers that Pure Fat Three Days Reduce Weight Capsules, sold over the internet, contain therapeutic quantities of sibutramine, and are not 100% herbal as claimed. Sibutramine was a prescription-only medicine supplied in Australia until it was withdrawn in October 2010 due to safety concerns.

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.

Outbreaks and Alerts: June 27, 2011

A daily digest of international outbreaks, alerts and food safety news

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

  • Lansing, MI. June 23rd: The Michigan Department of Community Health announced three people in Michigan have been diagnosed with of Q fever after drinking raw milk from a dairy herd share program Livingston County.
  • Lee County, AL. June 24th: Six children sickened with E. coli O157:H7 after playing in Opelika Splash Park and Aquatic Center.
  • Anchorage, AK. June 27th: The State of Alaska Section of Epidemiology is investigating four recent cases of Campylobacter infection associated with drinking raw milk from an Alaska farm.
  • Idaho, New Jersey, North Dakota, Washington & Montana. June 24th: FDA warns the public not to eat alfalfa sprouts or spicy sprouts from plastic bags labeled “Evergreen Produce” or “Evergreen Produce Inc.” because the sprouts may be linked to as many as 20 cases of Salmonella Enteritidis in Idaho, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota and Washington State. Six of the outbreak victims report having consumed sprouts obtained from Evergreen Produce (Moyie Springs, ID). While no recall has been initiated, federal and state officials are warning consumers to discard any Evergreen Produce sprouts in their possession.
  • Cruise Ship Inspection. June 10th: Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 fails routine unannounced CDC Vessel Sanitation Program inspection, obtaining a score of 84 (a score of 86 or above represents a Satisfactory result).

Europe, including Russian Federation and Ukraine

  • Bordeaux, France. June 27th: Sprout seeds incriminated in an outbreak of E. coli O104:H4 in Bordeaux were imported from Italy. The seeds were purchased from Jardiland de Villenave d’Ornon (Gironde) before sprouting. At least 10 people are suffering from bloody diarrhea, 8 of whom have been hospitalized. Five of the victims are suffering from hemolytic uremic syndrome. At least six people reported having consumed sprouts. E. coli O104:H4 has been confirmed in 3 of the outbreak victims.

Asia and Africa

  • Hong Kong. June 22nd: The Centre for Health Protection is investigating a suspected food poisoning case involving 14 members of a study tour group from Taiwan. The victims developed gastroenteritis some 10-35 hours after dining at a restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui in the evening of June 20th.
  • Kinshasa, Congo. June 27th: Four new cases of cholera were reported in Kinshasa earlier today, bringing the total number of cases in the capital city to seven.
  • Zabul Province, Afghanistan. June 27th: More than 70 civilians and military personnel in the Ma’ruf district of Zabul province have developed cholera. Another 200 people have been exposed to the disease and are experiencing its initial symptoms. Members of the Afghan air force and the US 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group have transported medical personnel and supplies to the affected region.