Category: E. coli

Recalls and Alerts: June 16, 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: Big B Distributors, Inc. (Evansville, IN) recalls Moonlite Bar-B-Q Burgoo Soup (16-oz and 32-oz jars; Est. 1717; Case codes 2022141, 2022142, 2052171 or 2052172; produced on February 24, 2011 and May 27, 2011), because the product contains undeclared sodium caseinate, a milk protein. The recalled product was shipped to a distribution center in Kentucky for retail distribution.
  • Allergy Alert: Blount Seafood Corporation dba Blount Fine Foods (Fall River, MA) recalls Turkey Gravy (12 oz, 24 oz plastic and 32 oz sealed cups; packaged for Stop & Shop, Giant (AHOLD), Kings Supermarket, and Hannafords Brothers) and Poultry Gravy (12 oz., 16 oz sealed cups; packaged for Shaws, Hannaford Brothers Blount Fine Foods Poultry Gravy), due to the presence of undeclared hydrolyzed soy protein.
  • Food Safety Recall: Quesos CentroAmericano Corp (Freeport, NY) recalls Queso Fresco “Fresh Cheese” (5-pound foil tray packages; Plant No. 36-9845; Product lot code 05/31/11), after a routine sample tested by the New York State Food Laboratory was found to be contaminated with high levels of Staphylococcus aureus. The recalled Queso Fresco was distributed to stores, delis and restaurants on Long Island, NY.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: C.W. Hendrix Farms, Inc. (Boca Raton, FL) recalls 15,832 cartons of Fresh Cucumbers (Lot #4329 and 4314), after FDA lab analysis detected Salmonella. The recalled cucumbers were distributed in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and New Jersey, and were used in the following vegetable tray brands, which were recalled by Del Monte Fresh Produce, N.A. Inc. (Miami, FL and Canton, MA): Roche Bros. Pick of the Crop, Del Monte, Del Monte Quality, and CIBO Express Gourmet Markets. Please see the Enforcement Report for June 15, 2011 for details. These recalls are ongoing.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Le Culinaire (Saint-Cyprien, QC) recalls several terrines, due to the presence of undeclared soy protein.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (UK): Morrisons withdraws Morrisons The Best Fruit Muesli 500g (Best before end May 2012), due to the presence of undeclared nuts.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert (France): La société Seb recalls Steak Country brand frozen hamburger patties, sold at Lidl (1-kg boxes containing 10 x 100g patties; Lots 10/05/11, 11/05/11, and 12/05/11; Best if used by 10/05/12, 11/05/12 and 12/05/12), due to possible contamination with E. coli. Seven children, aged 20 months to 8 years, have been hospitalized with bloody diarrhea due to E. coli after consuming the hamburgers. At least three of the children are still being treated with dialysis. The hamburgers were produced using meat originating in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Le laboratoire D&A Pharma recalls Rocgel, 1.2g oral suspension of aluminium oxide (Lots H020 and H021), after certain packages are found to be out of specification for microbiological content.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: Germany reports 786 cases of HUS (including 25 deaths) and 2518 cases of non-HUS EHEC (with 13 deaths) in the outbreak of enterohemorrhagic E. coli O104:H4 has been traced to contaminated sprouts. Fifteen other countries – 13 European countries, the USA and Canada – also have reported cases, producing a total of 825 HUS and 2,587 non-HUS EHEC infections, and 39 deaths.
  • Water Safety Alert (UK): Dawlish town beach (south Devon) has been closed to swimmers after filing a routine water quality test.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (PRC): Ten people, including four government staff and six butchers, have been arrested in a case involving clenbuterol-tainted pork.
  • Food Safety Seizure/Recall (Taiwan): The Public Health Bureau of Taichung City has seized more than 80,000 nutritional supplement capsules made with imported ginger powder contaminated with DIPB, a toxic chemical. Distributors were order to remove the product from store shelves.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Water Safety Alert (Christchurch, NZ): The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is reminded food businesses in Christchurch that water used in coffee machines needs to be pre-boiled, due to recent earthquakes.

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 15, 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

  • Food Safety Recall: Atalanta Corp. (Elizabeth, NJ) recalls Royal Blue Stilton Cheese (Product of UK; Batch code B038; one 8-9 lb. wheel), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The cheese was manufactured in England by Quenby Hall Dairy and exported to the USA by Coombe Castle International.
  • Outbreak Alert (Cruise): CDC reports back-to-back outbreaks of gastroenteritis on the Sea Princess (Princess Cruises). The first outbreak, which occurred during the May 20-30, 2011 cruise and sickened 128 passengers and 13 crew members, was confirmed by Health Canada labs to be due to Norovirus, genotype II. The second outbreak, which took place during the May 30-June 9, 2011 cruise, has sickened 135 passengers and 6 crew members. This outbreak is still under investigation.
  • Outbreak Alert: At least 16 people have been sickened by an outbreak of gastroenteritis, which appears to be linked to a celebration for fourth-graders at North Cape Elementary School in Western Racine County, Wisconsin. Raw milk was served at the event, but a specific source of the illnesses has not been established, nor was the pathogen identified in the news report.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Jérôme’s Steakhouse et Boucherie (Boucherville, QC) recalls several ready-to-eat products, due to the presence of undeclared wheat, soy, and/or eggs.
  • Health Advisory: Health Canada advises the public that a number of unauthorized health products, including sexual enhancement products, were removed from sale at Male and Female Harmony retail stores in Richmond and Burnaby, BC and at the Happy Paradise Adult Store in Burnaby, BC. The action was in response to a consumer complaint.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (France): CGC recalls BIO LP chez LEADER PRICE – FRANPRIX – LEADER EXPRESS – MIRANDA – GEIMEX brands of Extra-fine Organic Green Beans in glass jars (Lot #1598 L:N2M 7; Best before 31/08/2014), because the product may be contaminated with fragments of glass.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (E. coli O104:H4): As of June 14th, Germany has reported 784 cases of HUS (23 deaths) and 2,470 cases of non-HUS enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), with 13 deaths, for a total of 3,254 illnesses and 36 deaths. Including international cases, the total number of illnesses and deaths stands at 3,343 HUS and EHEC cases, and 37 deaths. The number of new cases reported in Germany has decreased considerably in the last few days.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0774): Salmonella in rocket leaves from Italy; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2011.0775): Salmonella Mbandaka in organic soya from Italy; distributed to Sweden.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0776): Unauthorized leucomalachite green in cultured caviar from China; distributed to Germany, Luxembourg, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2011.0777): Traces of sesame and peanuts in diet meal from Finland; distributed to Norway, Sweden and Taiwan.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0780): Taste disturbance caused by pine nuts from China, packaged in Malta, via Italy; distributed to Malta.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2011.0781): Undeclared milk ingredient in roasted meat loaf (garlic) from the Czech Republic; distributed to Slovakia.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Recall (Taiwan): Chuang’s Square Cookies has recalled brown sugar square cookies from the retail market pending tests, after Hong Kong reported finding traces of plasticizers in the cookies. The company denied using plasticizer-contaminated ingredients, and said that the contaminant found by Hong Kong may have come from the packaging.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0776): Unauthorized leucomalachite green in cultured caviar from China; distributed to Germany, Luxembourg, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2011.0777): Traces of sesame and peanuts in diet meal from Finland; distributed to Norway, Sweden and Taiwan.

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 13, 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

  • FDA Enforcement Action: FDA announces that a consent decree of condemnation, forfeiture, and permanent injunction has been filed against H&P Industries Inc., The Triad Group Inc., and three individuals that would prevent them from manufacturing and distributing products from their Hartland, Wis., facility, or any other location. Under the decree, the defendants cannot resume manufacturing and distributing drugs or medical devices until they establish an acceptable Quality Assurance and Quality Control program to ensure that all products manufactured in their facilities comply with federal standards for quality and have the identity, purity, potency and safety they are expected or are represented to possess.

Canada

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Recall/Import Ban (Hong Kong): Centre for Food Safety prohibits the import and orders a complete recall of DrinkaZine Energy Watt Sports Drink (Product of Taiwan; all batches), Chuang’s Square Cookies (Product of Taiwan), and Wei Lih Hand-Made Instant Noodle (Product of Taiwan; Roasted chicken flavour), because the products are contaminated with DEHP.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2011.0765): Unsuitable organoleptic characteristics (oxidation of ingredients) of high energy liquid medical nutrition product from the Netherlands; distributed to Ireland, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Spain and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Alert (Vietnam): The Ministry of Health has requested the recall of Red Apple, Grape, and Litchi Syrups (Produced in Taiwan by Ye Yen Gen. Co. Ltd.) and Marshies vanilla, strawberry and chocolate candies (Imported from the Philippines), because the product contain DEHP.
  • Food Safety Alert (Taiwan): The Department of Health has suspended the importation of mung bean sprouts and soy bean sprouts from Germany. This is considered a precautionary gesture, as no sprouts have been imported into Taiwan from Germany in the last two years.
  • Food Safety Alert (PRC): China bans eight additional food ingredients, due to fears that they may be contaminated with DEHP.
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (Taiwan): Taiwan prosecutors are seeking jail terms of up to 25 years for four people charged with selling banned chemicals to food processors.
  • Outbreak Alert (Nigeria): A suspected cholera outbreak has killed more than 30 people in Mubi South and Maiha (Adamawa State) and sent 200 more to hospital.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Brinks Premium Ltd. recalls Brinks whole smoked bird (1Kg; Use by 14 July 11), because the ready-to-eat product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled smoked chickens were sold at Pak ‘n Save on Riccarton Road, Christchurch.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert (Colombia): An isolated case of E. coli gastroenteritis has been reported in Monteria. It’s not yet known what strain of E. coli is responsible. Neither the patient nor any members of his family report having traveled to Europe.

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.