Category: E. coli

Recalls and Alerts: May 26, 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: Top Food & Drug advises its customers that Galaxy Desserts Morning Mini Sticky Buns (UPC: 6-40445-00115) have been recalled, because they contain undeclared pecans.
  • Food Safety Recall: Food Depot #24 recalls Ground Beef Products (1-lb through 4-lb tray packs; Sell by 05/20/11), because the meat may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled ground beef was sold at Food Depot, Store #24 in McDonough, GA.
  • Recreational Water Safety Alert (Missouri): Swimming beaches at three Missouri parks are closed due to elevated E. coli levels.
  • Recreational Water Safety Alert (Oregon): Oregon has issued a public health advisory for ocean waters at Indian Beach in Clatsop County, due to higher-than-normal levels of fecal bacteria.
  • Food Safety Advisory: Taiwan has advised US heath authorities that some bottled drinks imported into the USA from Taiwan may be contaminated with the cancer-causing chemical DEHP.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Nikita Foods & Spices Ltd. recalls Kamal Premium Quality Spice Dumpling – Punjabi Wadi (200g and 400g sizes) due to the presence of undeclared gluten.
  • Food Safety Recall: Les Aliments Edesia Foods Inc. (Saint-Hubert, QC) expands its earlier recall of Listeria monocytogenes-contaminated meat products from Italy to include both of the following products: Fumagalli La Salumeria Seasoned Dry Cured Pork Loin (1.2-1.6kg or sliced at retail; Best before 30.08.2011; Batch 119062) and Fimagalli Pronto e Fresco Spianata Romana Salami (100g; Best before 05.07.2011; Batch 119066). The recalled products were distributed only in Quebec.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (UK): Channell’s Norfolk Preserves Ltd. advises that it is relabeling Channell’s Sticky Rib Sauce and Channell’s Barbecue Sauce, because they may contain the undeclared antigens soy, fish, sesame, wheat and/or barley.
  • Food Safety Alert (UK): Taiwan’s Department of Health warns that Bubble Tea ingredients exported to the UK from Taiwan are suspected to be contaminnted by the cancer-causing chemical DEHP.
  • Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Delhaize recalls DelhaizeTrances de Nazareth (180g; all dates), Delhaize Plateau de fromage Belgo-Français (400g; Best before 18/04/2011 and 02/05/2011) Nazareth Fromage Nazareth en Bloc (250g; all dates) and Brugge Kaas Plateau de fromage Brugge (450g; Best before 13/04/2011), because the products may contain Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0695): Mold infestation in chilled white cheese from Germany; distributed to Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany and Italy.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2011.0696): Unauthorized synephrine in food supplement from Canada; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0697): Salmonella Heidelberg in frozen chicken breasts from Brazil; distributed to Denmark.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2011.0698): Unauthorized idebenone, vinpocetine, vincamine and vinburnine in food supplement from the USA, via Hungary; distributed to Cyprus.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0699): Unsuitable organoleptic characteristics of long grain rice from Poland; distributed to Slovakia.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Germany): Cucumbers imported into Germany from Spain are suspected to be the source of the outbreak of E. coli O104 disease, which has killed four people and sickened several hundred across several states of Germany.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (Multiple countries): The Taiwan Department of Health has informed health authorities in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and the Philippines that some bottled drinks exported to these countries from Taiwan may be contaminated with the cancer-causing chemical, DEHP. Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety urges the public not to consume Speed Sports Drink (600ml; Expiry February 14, 2013), Speed Sports Drink, Lemon Flavour (600 ml; Expiry February 14, 2013), and Dong Nung 1000 Sports Drink / Yuet’s Sports Drink (Expiry March 21, 2013).
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Singapore): The Health Sciences Authority advises the public that Metabolic Advantage (manufactured by Enzymatic Therapy, Inc. in the USA) has been withdrawn, because it contains the unauthorized substances, thyroid gland and thyroid hormones.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Enrico’s Kitchens recalls a number of Frozen Ready-to-eat pizza and pasta products (best before 25 May 2012), because the products may be contaminated with foreign matter, including metal, plastic and cloth. The recalled products were distributed nationally to major supermarkets including Coles and Woolworths, independent grocery stores and food service outlets such as cafés, hospitals and school canteens.

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: May 25, 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: BCS Int’l Corp (Long Island, NY) recalls Dr. Snack brand Choco Raisin, 12 oz. (Sell by 03/05/2012), because they may contain undeclared peanuts. The recalled product was distributed to retail stores in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: Globe All Wellness, LLC (Hollywood, FL) recalls Slim Xtreme™ Herbal Slimming Capsule (30 capsules/bottle; all lots), because the product contains undeclared simbutramine.
  • Cosmetic Product Safety Alert: Minnesota Department of Health warns residents to stop using some types of skin lightening products, after testing revealed that they may contain dangerous levels of mercury.
  • Outbreak Alert: Three Ouachita Christian School students were admitted to local hospitals last week after contracting infections with E. coli O157:H7. The students had been playing in a mud pit on a farm where an end-of-the-year party was being held.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Les Aliments Edesia Foods Inc. (Saint-Hubert, QC) recalls Fumagalli La Salumeria brand Seasoned Dry Cured Pork Loin (Batch 119062; Best before 30.08.2011), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product was distributed in Quebec.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Ireland): Booja Booja recalls Hazelnut Crunch, Around Midnight Espresso, Cognac Banana, and Champagne chocolate truffles (all date codes and all pack sizes), because the products may contain undeclared milk.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Rieber & Son Denmark A/S recalls Salad Master Remoulade (400g; Best before 30/8/2011; Lot #L32), due to the development of gas in the packages, as a result of the growth of yeasts and lactic acid bacteria.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Nature Drogeriet A/S recalls Paradisfrø (Item #4501), because the seeds are rated as unacceptable for human consumption.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (France): The Health Directorate advises the public that Burnermax 3000, sold as a weight-loss dietary supplement, has not been authorized for use or sale in France. The product was linked to a report of a heart attack in a 27-year old man with no prior history of coronary problems or risk factors. The man had been consuming Burnermax 3000 on a regular basis for three weeks.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2011.0688): Unauthorized vinpocetine in food supplements from the United States, via Hungary; distributed to Cyprus.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0689): Prohibited metronidazole in honey from China; distributed in Belgium and Poland.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2011.0691): Vanadium in multi-vitamins and minerals food supplements from the United States, via Hungary; distributed to Cyprus.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0692): Salmonella in desiccated coconut from Vietnam, via the Netherlands; distributed to Estonia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0693): Omethoate in water mimosa from Thailand; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Pet Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0694): Salmonella anatum, Salmonella Schwarzengrund, Salmonella Galiema, Salmonella Haifa, and Salmonella Typhimurium in dog chews from Bahrain; distributed to Germany.
  • Outbreak Alert (UK): Health officials have confirmed an outbreak of seven cases of E. coli infections among students at Redfield Edge Primary School.
  • Outbreak Alert (France/Jersey): A group of 56 children from Granville developed vomiting while on a day trip to Jersey. The cause of the outbreak is under investigation.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Germany): Three people have died, 80 are confirmed with E. coli O104, and an additional 350 cases are under investigation in this multi-state outbreak.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Recall (Taiwan): The Department of Health and the Consumer Protection Commission has ordered several dozen beverages and foodstuffs be removed from store shelves, because they may contain the plasticizing agent, Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, or DEHP.
  • Outbreak Alert (Philippines): Zamboanga City Health Office officials report that 1,823 patients were sickened by diarrhea during the first four months of 2011, compared to 1,360 in the same period last year.

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: May 24, 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

  • Outbreak Alert Update (Illinois): The number of Salmonella Typhimurium cases that appear to be linked to Portillo’s restaurant in St. Charles, IL stands at 14 confirmed cases from 4 Illinois counties – Kane (8), DuPage (4), Chicago (1), and DeKalb (1) – and one confirmed case from Minnesota. Epidemiological evidence suggests salad as the source.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection urges the public not to collect and eat wild mushrooms from parks or the countryside, after receiving reports of two individuals who became ill after eating wild mushrooms picked from Lung Tsui Park.
  • Disinfectant Solution Safety Recall (Hong Kong): B. Braun Medical AG recalls three batches of Braunoderm iodine solution after the manufacturer found that the level of available iodine in some batches fell slightly under expected concentration of active ingredient before the expiry date was reached. The only recalled batch that was imported into Hong Kong was: Braunoderm Ungef Spruehfl ‘DE’ 250ml (Article No.: 3881105, Batch No.: 0253M14)
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (Abu Dhabi): Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority has ordered punitive closure of the Madinat Zayed branch of Al Ibrahimi restaurant (license number 1040214) in the capital, after an inspection revealed several violations of the rules and regulations governing food safety.
  • Outbreak Alert (Indonesia): Around 300 employees of PT Shang J Fung (Cikupa, Tangerang) developed nausea and vomiting after eating food supplied by Asep Sawawi’s catering company. The affected employees were taken to hospital for treatment.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert (Mexico): An infectious diseases specialist in Mexico City reports having confirmed 14 cases of typhoid since March 2011 – 6 with blood cultures and 8 in stool samples.

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.