Category: food poisoning

California Investigating Salmonella Braenderup Outbreak

The California Department of Public Health has taken the lead in the investigation of approximately 90 cases of Salmonella Braenderup infections in the USA. Seventy-three of those cases are within California.

All of the cases involve the same outbreak strain of Salmonella Braenderup that has caused at least 22 cases of salmonellosis in Canada. The Canadian cases are linked to consumption of Daniella brand Mangoes, imported from Mexico. About two-thirds of the California outbreak victims reported mango consumption, although specific mango brands or sources have not yet been identified in the US outbreak.

On August 24th, North American Produce Sales (Vancouver, BC) – the Canadian importer of the implicated mangoes – recalled all Daniella brand Mangoes sold at retail stores in Canada from July 12th to August 14, 2012. And earlier today, both Stop & Shop and Giant Foods LLC alerted their customers that Splendid Products (Burlingame, CA) has voluntarily recalled these mangoes.

Neither the California Department of Public Health nor the CDC is prepared to list the other states that have reported outbreak cases at this time. CDC spokesperson Lola Russell told eFoodAlert by email that the outbreak is “under investigation.”

Canadian Salmonella Outbreak Prompts Mexican Mango Recall

An outbreak of Salmonella Braenderup infections in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta has prompted recalls of Daniella Mangoes in both Canada and the United States.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has confirmed 22 cases of mango-linked Salmonella Braenderup – 17 in British Columbia and 5 in Alberta. The PHAC is continuing its investigation and has promised a weekly update to its table of confirmed cases.

North American Produce Sales (Vancouver, BC), the importer of the implicated mangoes, recalled Daniella brand Mangoes (Product of Mexico, labeled with a sticker bearing PLU #4959) on August 24th in response to the outbreak. The recalled mangoes were sold at “…various retail stores between July 12 and August 14, 2012…” according to the recall notice, and are believed to have been distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon. The names of Canadian retailers of the recalled mangoes have not been released.

The Stop & Shop and Giant Food LLC supermarket chains (including both Giant Food and Martin’s stores) announced this morning that Splendid Products – the US supplier of Daniella brand Mangoes – has initiated a voluntary recall of all Daniella mangoes (PLU #4959) sold between July 12 and August 24, 2012. Information on other possible retail distribution of the mangoes in the USA is not yet available.

eFoodAlert’s Advice to Consumers

  • Check the mangoes that you purchased, and discard any that are labelled with the Daniella brand and a sticker bearing PLU #4959, regardless of where the mangoes were purchased.
  • Always wash the outside of a mango carefully and thoroughly before slicing through the skin.
  • If you or a family member consumed mangoes during the July 12th to August 24th – either alone or as part of a fruit salad – and who developed symptoms of Salmonella gastroenteritis within a week after having eaten the fruit should consult a health care professional.

Recalls and Alerts: August 24, 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.

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United States

  • Allergy Alert: Bay Valley Foods (Oak Brook, IL) recalls Naturally Fresh® Roasted & Glazed Pecan Pieces Salad Toppings (3.5-oz pouch-type package; UPC (0)7653905520(0); Best by 07 APR 13 and 08 APR 13), because some of the packages may contain undeclared almonds. The recalled product was distributed between June 26, 2012, and August 22, 2012, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas, including in Kroger stores (Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Knoxville, Tennessee, Greater Memphis, TN, Arkansas, Mississippi and Western Kentucky, Texas and Louisiana) and in Publix.
  • Food Safety Withdrawal: Protica, Inc. (Whitehall, PA) withdraws Body Choice Protein Shots (3-oz vial; Manufacture date Dec 20, 2011; Lot #PP 3541 2924), Nutritional Resources Protein Wave gelatin (6-oz cup; Manufacture date May 03 2012; Lot #PP 1242 6123) ProBalance Protein to Go French Vanilla Latte (2.5-oz bottle; Manufacture dates 9/8/2011, 10/11/2011, 10/18/2011, 12/6/2011, 2/13/2012, 4/2/2012, 4/4/2012, 4/11/2012, 4/24/2012, 5/1/2012, 5/8/2012, 6/8/2012) and Protein to Go Milk Chocolate Shake (2.5-oz bottle; Manufacture dates 2/9/12, 2/13/12, 2/16/12, 4/12/12, 4/25/12, 5/3/12, 5/8/12), because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. The products were distributed nationally through retail and direct mail.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert: North American Produce Sales (Vancouver, BC) recalls Mangoes (Product of Mexico; Individual fruit bearing PLU #4959; Sold between July 12th and August 14th), because they may be contaminated with Salmonella Braenderup. Several confirmed illnesses are associated with the consumption of the mangoes. The recalled fruit may have been was sold at various retail stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon.
  • Food Safety Recall: Fine Choice Foods Ltd. recalls Sum-m! Crispy Vegetable Spring Rolls (Lot #3045; Production date July 11th; Expiry date August 22nd), due to two reports of a customer finding small pieces of aluminum in the product. The recalled Spring Rolls were sold at Costco Wholesale outlets in Canada.
  • Outbreak Alert (PEI): CBC reports that the PEI Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness – suspected to be due to norovirus – at the Stanhope Beach Resort and Conference Centre. Approximately 60 people complained of nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps or diarrhea after attending events at the resort. Test results are pending.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Proprietary Medicine Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Department of Health asks the public not to buy or consume the unregistered proprietary Chinese medicine “Quan Xie Jin Gu Tong,” as it may contain the undeclared Western drug ingredients diclofenac, piroxicam and prednisone acetate.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1220): Benzalkonium chloride in passion fruit juice powder from Germany; distributed to Denmark, Germany, Japan and Sweden.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Outbreak Alert (New Zealand): More than 110 residents of the Darfield area have developed gastroenteritis after drinking contaminated water. The Selwyn District Council issued a boil-water notice after E. coli was found in some parts of the Waimakariri River. Six of the outbreak victims have been confirmed to be suffering from Campylobacter infections.

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.