Category: E. coli

Recalls and Alerts: July 17, 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

  • Outbreak Alert Update (Ohio): Fourteen people have been hospitalized – three of them serious ill with hemolytic uremic syndrome – and at least 68 attendees at a July 3rd Germantown, Ohio picnic have become ill, according to an update from Dayton & Montgomery County Public Health. Sixteen of the 68 outbreak victims are confirmed to be infected by E. coli O157.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Mexican Products and Spice Company (La Feria, TX) that a May 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 Prismic Light International (Murfreesboro, TN) that a January 2012 inspection of the company’s facility revealed a failure to comply with the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for dietary supplements.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Vincent Piazza, Jr. & Sons Seafood, Inc. (Harahan, LA) that a February-March 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility found serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation, and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Silva Foods of Kansas City, Inc. (Kansas City, KS) that a May 2012 inspection of the company’s food processing facility found significant deviations from the requirements of the Acidified Food regulations.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Falengreen A/S recalls Urtekram Organic Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (140g; Best before 01-10-2012), due to mold growth in the bags. The recalled product was sold in grocery stores, supermarkets and Salling shops.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Rieber & Son Denmark A/S recalls AH Pølseketchup/Hot Dog Ketchup (900g plastic bottles, L-code 3025098; 1800g plastic containers, L-code 3025091; 4.25kg Bag in box, L-code 3025087), due to contamination with lactic acid bacteria. The recalled products were sold to catering companies in Denmark; the 900g bottles also were sold to SuperBrugsen in Thisted.
  • Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): La Société Gabriel Coulet SA recalls Auchan brand Roquefort AOP Tranche (150g; Lot #120406156 and 120406159; Best before 06/10/2012) and Le Fromager brand Roquefort AOP Barquette (130/180g; Lot #120406164; Best before 13/07/12, 14/07/12 and 15/07/12), due to possible contamination with Escherichia coli O26:H11. The recalled products were sold from 13/06/2012 to 13/07/2012, inclusive.
  • Food Safety Recall (UK): Prompt Thai 2000 (Wholesale) recalls Kraft Cheez Whiz Original (450g; Product of Philippines; all codes and expiry dates), and Kraft Cheez Whiz Pimiento Flavour (450g; Product of Philippines; all codes and expiry dates), because the Philippines is a country not approved to export milk or milk-based dairy products into the European Union.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.0999): Undeclared sulphite in champagne from France; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1000): Salmonella enteritidis in frozen poultry meat preparation from Poland; distributed to Slovakia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1002): Mercury in swordfish from Spain; distributed to Italy.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.1004): Undeclared milk ingredient in biscuits from Slovenia; distributed to Slovenia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1005): Prohibited nitrofuran in frozen peeled shrimps from India; distributed to Greece.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): United World Foods Ltd. (Christchurch, NZ) recalls Sea Cuisine Frozen Oyster Meat (1kg bags; Code 2090), Sea Cuisine Frozen Battered Oysters (1kg bags; Code 2080), Sea Cuisine Frozen Crumbed Oysters (1kg bags; Code 2083), Sea Cuisine Frozen Floured Oysters (1kg bags; Code 2084) and Sea Cuisine Frozen Japanese Crumbed Oysters (500g bags; Code 2085), due to possible presence of Norovirus. The recalled products were sold in smaller retail and wholesale food outlets throughout New Zealand.
  • Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Bay Cuisine Ltd. (Napier, NZ) recalls The Mad Butcher Salami Roll (500g; All best before dates up to and including 17 August 2012), The Mad Butcher Pepperoni Roll (500g; All best before dates up to and including 17 August 2012), Ratanui Hams – cooked on the bone (Whole, half and champagne hams; All best before dates up to and including 12 September 2012) and Eazi Carve Plain Packed Boneless Leg Ham (Pieces and whole; All best before dates up to and including 9 September 2012), because the products may be contaminated with Listeria. The recalled products were sold in The Mad Butcher stores throughout New Zealand; ham products also were sold in Preston’s stores in Wellington, Porirua and Palmerston North.

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 website.

*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.

California Lettuce Fingered In US/Canada E. coli O157:H7 Outbreaks

Romaine lettuce grown on a California farm is the probable source of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses that were reported in April and May in California, New Brunswick and Quebec.

The binational outbreak sickened at least 18 people in New Brunswick (Canada) and nine residents of California. At least one resident of Quebec also was infected with the same outbreak strain.

The New Brunswick outbreak victims ate at Jungle Jim’s, a restaurant in Miramichi, between April 23rd and April 26th, and had consumed romaine lettuce, either in a salad, as part of a wrap, or as a garnish on hamburger. Most of the nine California victims had eaten at a single (unnamed) restaurant in April 2012, according to information provided by Ronald Owens (Office of Public Affairs, California Department of Public Health). A case control study implicated lettuce as the source of the California outbreak. No information has been released on the Quebec cases(s).

California was notified in May by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that CDC had learned of an outbreak in Canada, caused by the same strain of E. coli O157:H7 as the California illnesses. Traceback investigations carried out by Canada and California both led to a single California farm that supplied lettuce to the California restaurant and to Jungle Jim’s in New Brunswick. Lettuce from the implicated fields was also supplied to Quebec.

Unfortunately, tracing the source of the lettuce did not lead to the source of the contamination. According to Ronald Owens, FDA and California followed up at the farm, but could not identify what might have led to the contamination. “The field had long since been harvested at the time of the investigation,” Owens explained in his email to me, “and all lettuce from the implicated lots had long since been consumed or disposed.”

In addition to shining a spotlight on the behind-the-scenes cooperation that takes place between federal, state and provincial health agencies in the USA and Canada, this outbreak investigation also highlights a significant difference in attitude and responsiveness between the New Brunswick Department of Health and the California Department of Public Health.

In its May 15, 2012 update on the Miramichi outbreak – the last update that appears on the Province’s website – a promise was made to release the results of the outbreak investigation. I have twice requested a copy of the investigation report, and both requests have been ignored. Not refused. Ignored.

In comparison, I requested information on the California investigation by email on the evening of Friday, July 13th. I received a complete and substantive reply today – less than one business day after making the request. My thanks to Ronald Owens of the CDPH Office of Public Affairs for his prompt and thorough attention to my information request.

Recalls and Alerts: July 14, 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: Morgan Foods, Inc. (Austin, IN) recalls Hill Country Fare Chunky Chicken Corn Chowder, Wegman’s Chunky Chicken Corn Chowder, Chef’s Cupboard Chunky Chicken Corn Chowder, and America’s Choice Chicken Corn Chowder Chunky corn chowder soup products (18.8-oz cans; Best by 01 Mar 2014; Est P-1469), because the products may contain foreign materials (pieces of a marker pen). The Hill Country Fare product was shipped to retail stores in Texas; Wegman’s product was distributed in New York; Chef’s Cupboard was distributed to retail stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin; America’s Choice product was distributed to retail stores in Connecticut, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
  • Animal Feed Safety Recall: Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC recalls certain Purina® feed products, due to a potential for elevated vitamin D levels. The recall includes WellSolve W/C® (40#; Formula #35TD; ALL Lots APR 02 12 1 Thru MAY 08 12 3 Inclusive), WellSolve W/G® (25# bucket; Formula #355U; ALL Lots APR 02 12 1 Thru MAY 08 12 3 Inclusive), Game Fish Chow® (50#; Formula #52C1; ALL Lots APR 02 12 1 Thru MAY 08 12 3 Inclusive), Catfish 32 (50#; Formula #51J2; ALL Lots APR 02 12 1 Thru MAY 08 12 3 Inclusive), Catfish Chow® SR (50#; Formula #5136; ALL Lots APR 02 12 1 Thru MAY 08 12 3 Inclusive) and Minnow Chow (50#; Formula #5115; ALL Lots APR 02 12 1 Thru MAY 08 12 3 Inclusive).
  • Animal Feed Safety Recall: Feed Solutions recalls certain varieties of animal feed products (All lots APR 02 2012 1 through May 08 12 12 3) due to the potential for elevated vitamin D levels. The recall includes Aquamaz Grower 600 (50 lb; Formula 5D06), Catfish 32 (50 lb; Formula 51J2), Catfish Chow SR (50 lb; Formula #5136), Maz Koi Pond Nuggets (20 lb; Formula 5M78), Mazuri Guinea Pig Diet (25 lb; Formula 5664), Mazuri Ratite Diet (50 lb; Formula 5647), Mazuri Waterfowl Maint. (50 lb; Formula #5642), Nutrisource Koi Pond (6 x 4.5 lb; Formula 5ZC9; Best if used by 04/25/14, only), Wellsolve W/C (50 lb; Formula #35TD) and Maz Koi Platinum Nuggets (20 lb; Formula #5M80). The products were distributed at select Tractor Supply and Del’s Feed & Farm Supply stores nationwide starting April 2, 2012 through May 8, 2012.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Westone Laboratories, Inc. recalls Oto-Ease® Ear Lubricant (All sizes and packaging configurations), after FDA sample analysis finds that the product is potentially contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and mold. The product was previous recalled in October 2011 within the USA and from Australia (without FDA knowledge). The recalled Ear Lubricant products were distributed hospitals, health professionals, and retailers nationwide and to Belgium, Greece, Canada, Thailand, Australia, Panama, Singapore, Russian Federation, Ireland, The Philippines, France, Korea, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Brazil, Japan, Germany, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Sweden.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Melinda’s Biscotti (Sidney, BC) recalls Melinda’s Biscotti brand Almond Biscotti (240g pkgs; UPC 8 75281 00030 4; BEST BEFORE code of NOV 2012, DEC 2012, or JAN 2013), due to the presence of undeclared wheat and milk. The recalled product was distributed only in British Columbia.
  • Allergy Alert: Pan Asia Food Co. Ltd. recalls Lotte Choco Pie (168g; Best before 13.11.2012 and 12.02.2013; UPC 8 801062 161881) and Lotte Choco Pie (336g; Best before 14.11.2011, 03.02.2012, 12.11.2012, and 06.02.2013; UPC 8 801062 160709), due to the presence of undeclared tree nuts. The recalled products were sold in Ontario and Quebec.
  • Allergy Alert: Seoul Trading Corporation (BC) recalls Lotte Choco Pie (336g; Code 13.02.2012 B4 12.02.2013; UPC 8 801062 160709), due to the presence of undeclared tree nuts. The recalled products were sold in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Westone Laboratories, Inc. recalls Oto-Ease® Ear Lubricant (All sizes and packaging configurations), after FDA sample analysis finds that the product is potentially contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and mold. The product was previous recalled in October 2011 within the USA and from Australia (without FDA knowledge). The recalled Ear Lubricant products were distributed hospitals, health professionals, and retailers nationwide and to Belgium, Greece, Canada, Thailand, Australia, Panama, Singapore, Russian Federation, Ireland, The Philippines, France, Korea, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Brazil, Japan, Germany, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Sweden.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium): La Société Gabriel Coulet SA recalls Cora/Winny brands of Roquefort cheese (150g; Lot 120406156; Best before 08/09/2012, 29/09/2012 and 06/10/2012), due to contamination with Escherichia coli O26:H11, a shigatoxin-producing strain of E. coli. The recalled cheese was sold in Match, Smatch and Match Food and More stores.
  • Food Safety Alert (UK): BBC reports that trade in Ribble Estuary cockles has been banned until further notice by the West Lancashire Environmental Health Department, after cockles from the estuary were found to contain dangerous levels of E. coli and other fecal coliform bacteria.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Multiple Countries): Westone Laboratories, Inc. recalls Oto-Ease® Ear Lubricant (All sizes and packaging configurations), after FDA sample analysis finds that the product is potentially contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and mold. The product was previous recalled in October 2011 within the USA and from Australia (without FDA knowledge). The recalled Ear Lubricant products were distributed hospitals, health professionals, and retailers nationwide and to Belgium, Greece, Canada, Thailand, Australia, Panama, Singapore, Russian Federation, Ireland, The Philippines, France, Korea, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Brazil, Japan, Germany, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Sweden.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Multiple Countries): Westone Laboratories, Inc. recalls Oto-Ease® Ear Lubricant (All sizes and packaging configurations), after FDA sample analysis finds that the product is potentially contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and mold. The product was previous recalled in October 2011 within the USA and from Australia (without FDA knowledge). The recalled Ear Lubricant products were distributed hospitals, health professionals, and retailers nationwide and to Belgium, Greece, Canada, Thailand, Australia, Panama, Singapore, Russian Federation, Ireland, The Philippines, France, Korea, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Brazil, Japan, Germany, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Sweden.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Australia): Westone Laboratories, Inc. recalls Oto-Ease® Ear Lubricant (All sizes and packaging configurations), after FDA sample analysis finds that the product is potentially contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and mold. The product was previous recalled in October 2011 within the USA and from Australia (without FDA knowledge). The recalled Ear Lubricant products were distributed hospitals, health professionals, and retailers nationwide and to Belgium, Greece, Canada, Thailand, Australia, Panama, Singapore, Russian Federation, Ireland, The Philippines, France, Korea, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Brazil, Japan, Germany, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Sweden.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Multiple Countries): Westone Laboratories, Inc. recalls Oto-Ease® Ear Lubricant (All sizes and packaging configurations), after FDA sample analysis finds that the product is potentially contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and mold. The product was previous recalled in October 2011 within the USA and from Australia (without FDA knowledge). The recalled Ear Lubricant products were distributed hospitals, health professionals, and retailers nationwide and to Belgium, Greece, Canada, Thailand, Australia, Panama, Singapore, Russian Federation, Ireland, The Philippines, France, Korea, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Brazil, Japan, Germany, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Sweden.

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.