Category: eggs

Salmonella: Eggs From Spain Do It Again

The UK’s Health Protection Agency reports that a batch of imported eggs has been linked to an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis Phage Type (PT) 14b infections in England and Wales since the start of 2011.

One hundred and seventy-four (174) cases have been reported, including 77 from North West England and 35 from the West Midlands. The illnesses were traced to eggs from a single shed on one farm in Spain. The outbreak strain was recovered from samples taken from a single batch of eggs produced from that laying shed.

Spanish authorities have been alerted and have initiated measures to eliminate the risk of further contamination from the source of the outbreak.

A review of recent Food and Feed Alerts (RASFF) reveals that the implicated Spanish eggs were shipped both to the UK and to France. Specifically:

  • Reference #2011.0831: foodborne outbreak suspected (Salmonella enteritidis) to be caused by eggs from Spain; notification from France on 24/06/2011; updated 22/07/2011.
  • Reference #2011.0896: Salmonella enteritidis in eggs from Spain; notification from the United Kingdom on 05/07/2011; updated 22/07/2011.
  • Reference #2011.1009: foodborne outbreak suspected to be caused by eggs from Spain; notification from France on 26/07/2011.

Notwithstanding France’s two notifications to RASFF, I have seen no mention of any outbreak investigation or egg recall in France.

For readers experiencing a sense of déja vu, let me assure you that you are not going slightly mad. A September 2010 Press Release from the UK’s Health Protection Agency began with the following:

How international co-operation curtailed a salmonella outbreak

14 September 2010

Contaminated eggs from a single flock of hens on a Spanish farm were implicated in an upsurge in Salmonella food poisoning notifications in England and Wales over a 16 week period between September and December 2009, delegates to the Health Protection Agency’s annual conference – Health Protection 2010 – at the University of Warwick will hear.

A search of the RASFF Alert Notifications from 2009 uncovered three notices relating to these food poisonings – one from the UK (#2009.1437), and two from France (#2009.1424 and #2009.1085).

As I explained during last year’s massive egg recall in the US, each individual egg sold in the UK must be stamped with the method of production, the country of origin and the production establishment. Only producers with fewer than 50 laying hens are exempted from this mandate.

It’s fortunate that the UK Health Protection Agency has published the results of its outbreak investigation. Otherwise, how are French consumers to know that they, too, may be at risk of salmonellosis from contaminated Spanish eggs?

Recall Roundup: January 17, 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.


United States

 

  • Allergy Alert (Update): Barry Callebaut USA LLC expands its earlier recall of Kroger Value Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips, 12 oz. to include all Best By dates ending in 2012, because the product may contain undeclared milk. The recalled Chocolate Chips were sold in Kroger-owned stores, including Kroger stores nation-wide; and Dillon’s and Gerbes stores in Kansas and Missouri; Baker’s stores in Nebraska; Jay C, Hilander, Owen’s, Pay Less and Scott’s stores in Illinois and Indiana; Fred Meyer, Fry’s, King Soopers, Smith’s, City Market, Foods Co., and Food 4 Less stores in California, Nevada, Nebraska, New Mexico, Illinois and Indiana (Chicago area). Several consumer complaints have been received.
  • Food Safety Recall: Price Chopper advises its customers that AdvancePierre Foods has recalled Fast Fixin’ Popcorn Chicken, 26 oz. (UPC 75901-33613) after receiving two consumer complaints of small pieces of plastic in the product.

 


Europe

 

 

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Food Safety Update (Philippines): The Department of Health has lifted its ban on Chinese infant formula and other milk products from China. The ban was imposed on 23 September 2008 following confirmation of melamine in infant formula and milk products manufactured in China.
  • Food Safety Alert (Taiwan): Three shipments of US beef were removed from retail sale in Taiwan after they were found to contain Paylean, a drug used to promote leanness in animals raised for meat. Taiwan, China and the European Union ban the use of Paylean because of possible human health risks, according to the report posted by Channelnewsasia.com; however, use of Paylean is legal in the USA, Canada, Australia, Brazil and more than 20 other countries.
  • Herbal Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): The Department of Health advises the public not to consume the Chinese herbal powder Ramulus Cinnamomi (brand name 百草牌; batch #B20100513), wholesaled by Dynamic Medical Company, as it is contaminated with aconitum alkaloids. Dynamic Medical is recalling the powder, which was manufactured in China.
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.

Recall Roundup: January 4, 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.

United States
  • Allergy Alert: Crave Foods (Los Angeles, CA) recalls Crave Pies Chicken Mushroom Pie (6-lb cases containing 12 individual 4-oz packages), because the product contains undeclared monosodium glutamate (MSG). The recalled pies were produced between September 2010 and December 2010 and shipped to distribution centers in California and New York for further retail distribution.
  • Food Safety Recall: Sprouters Northwest, Inc. (Kent, WA) recalls all of its clover sprout and and clover mixed sprout products, because they may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recall was initiated after clover sprouts produced by Sprouters Northwest were linked to four cases of Salmonella Newport infections in Washington State and two cases in Oregon. The recalled sprouts were distributed to wholesalers, grocery stores – including QFC and Fred Meyer stores – and restaurants in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and British Columbia.
  • Food Recall: Price Chopper recalls Olivio Premium Spread, 15-ounce tub because droplets of water can surface in the container and may promote mold growth.
  • Food Recall: Food City recalls Food City Fat Free Yogurt, 32 oz (Exp. date 01/21/2011). No reason was given for the recall.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: The Ritedose Corporation recalls 0.083% Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution, 3mL (25, 30, 60 unit dose vials), because the 2.5mg/3mL single use vials are embossed with the wrong concentration and represent a health hazard. The recalled products were distributed across the USA and in Puerto Rico.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. recalls 6 lots of Acetadote® (acetylcysteine) Injection after particulate matter was found in a small number of vials of the injectable pharmaceutical product.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: Drive Total Energy recalls Rock Hard Extreme and Passion Coffee dietary supplements after FDA finds undeclared sulfoaildenafil (an analogue of sildenafil) in the product.
  • Dietary Supplement Recall: Giant Eagle recalls Natures Basket Fiber Complex, 100-ct (all lots) due to mislabelling.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Tico’s Mexican Foods, Inc. (Denver, CO) that a September 2010 inspection revealed serious deviations from the Seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) Regulation.
Canada
  • Food Safety Recall: Sprouters Northwest, Inc. (Kent, WA) recalls all of its clover sprout and and clover mixed sprout products, because they may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recall was initiated after clover sprouts produced by Sprouters Northwest were linked to four cases of Salmonella Newport infections in Washington State and two cases in Oregon. The recalled sprouts were distributed to wholesalers, grocery stores – including QFC and Fred Meyer stores – and restaurants in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and British Columbia.
Europe
Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Puerto Ric0): The Ritedose Corporation recalls 0.083% Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution, 3mL (25, 30, 60 unit dose vials), because the 2.5mg/3mL single use vials are embossed with the wrong concentration and represent a health hazard. The recalled products were distributed across the USA and in Puerto Rico.
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.