Another Pentobarbital-related Pet Food Recall

Late this afternoon, Against the Grain Pet Food voluntarily recalled one lot of Against the Grain Pulled Beef with Gravy Dinner for Dogs (12 oz. cans; Lot #2415E01ATB12; Expiration date of December 2019) due to the potential presence of pentobarbital. The recalled dog food was manufactured and distributed in 2015 to independent pet retail stores in Washington and Maryland.

Who is Against the Grain Pet Food?

The company website makes the following claim:

Unlike 95% of other brands, Against the Grain owns its own manufacturing facility and produces its own products. This gives us accessibility and the ability to create totally unique and innovative products. Our manufacturing plant adheres to the highest standards of preserving our natural resources. For example, the use of natural light (skylights) is dominant throughout our plant, we have the maximum amount of recyclable materials in our retail packaging, all packaging materials are recycled, our water is supplied by our own on-site well, resulting in our conscious efforts to be socially and economically responsible.

In fact, Against the Grain Pet Food is part and parcel of the Sher family business. The telephone number provided on the Against the Grain Pet Food Contact page is 847-537-0102, the same phone number that appears in the February 3rd Evanger’s recall notice. The Against the Grain trademark (serial number 85569018) was registered on 2013-02-12 and is owned by Chelsea L. Sher. And, according to an article in the August 2012 issue of Pet Business, the Against the Grain product line, launched by Chelsea Sher and her twin brother Brett Sher, is manufactured at the Evanger’s factory. In effect, Against the Grain is an Evanger’s brand.

So, what’s the big deal?

The big deal is that the product recalled on February 3rd by Evanger’s was manufactured in June 2016 (with a June 2020 expiry date). The Against the Grain product recalled earlier today was manufactured six months earlier, in December 2015 (with a December 2019 expiry date). This is not a one-shot event.

The Against the Grain recall notice states that the recall was initiated “Out of an abundance of caution.” What does this mean? Now, we enter the realm of speculation – something I am not usually willing to do. This time, though, I’ll make an exception. There are four possibilities that come to mind.

Possibility #1: The same shipment of beef was used to manufacture both recalled products.

This strikes me as highly unlikely. First of all, the February 3rd recall was for ‘Hunks of Beef’, while today’s was for ‘Pulled Beef’ – two entirely different formats. Secondly, if the same shipment was used in both products, the ‘Hunks of Beef’ product would have been manufactured with 6-month old beef. Possible, of course, but not highly probably, unless the company stores its raw meat in the deep freeze for months at a time.

Possibility #2: Beef from the same supplier was used to manufacture both recalled products, and the manufacturer is just being super-cautious.

Evanger’s February 3rd update, posted on the company website, states:

We feel that we have been let down by our supplier, and in reference to the possible presence of pentobarbital, we have let down our customers. Despite having a relationship for forty years with the supplier of this specific beef, who also services many other pet food companies, we have terminated our relationship with them and will no longer purchase their beef for use in our Hunk of Beef product. As Hunk of Beef is a very unique product, requiring very specific cuts of meat, this supplier’s meat was used in no other products.

If this is accurate, then the Against the Grain product should not contain meat from this supplier at all. Again, this explanation does not make sense.

Possibility #3: Either the company or FDA arranged for lab testing of a number of Evanger’s products and detected pentobarbital in a sample of the Against the Grain product.

Based on my years of off-and-on contact with the food industry and regulatory bodies, I am confident that FDA is testing extensively for pentobarbital in samples of Evanger’s products. We won’t know what, if anything, they find until their investigation is complete and they release their results. However, a positive finding of pentobarbital would certainly trigger an immediate recall.

Possibility #4: Either the company or FDA has found evidence that meat from an unauthorized source was introduced into the company’s products.

This, too, would be sufficient to trigger a recall “Out of an abundance of caution.” Again, we won’t know whether or not this took place until FDA completes its investigation.

The good news for pet owners is that, so far at least, this problem appears to be confined to products manufactured at Evanger’s Wheeling, IL facility. Let’s hope it stays that way.

Expanded Baby Food Recall in Canada – Illnesses Reported

Example of recalled PC Organics baby food

An unspecified number of illnesses that may be associated with consumption of PC Organics brand baby foods have been reported in Canada.

Loblaw Companies Limited has responded by expanding its initial recall notice to include all date codes of a long list of additional products. Please refer to the recall notice for a list of affected baby food pouches. According to the recall notice, published late yesterday on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website, a “… manufacturing error resulted in excess water in the product, which under certain circumstances could support the growth of Clostridium Botulinum and pose a health risk to consumers.”

Although food contaminated with Clostridium Botulinum may not look, smell or even taste spoiled, it may contain a toxin that, if ingested, can cause nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, blurred or double vision, dry mouth, respiratory failure and paralysis. In severe cases, the toxin can cause death.

The reported illnesses have not been definitively linked to the recalled baby food; nor have they been described as being caused by ingestion of botulinum toxin. But, the manufacturing error that triggered the food recall could have opened the door to the growth of other harmful bacteria in the baby foods – bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens, which can cause gastrointestinal illness.

Which PC Organics baby food pouch products have been recalled?

The expanded recall encompasses all date codes of the following items (128mL unless otherwise noted):

Apple, Blueberry & Green Pea strained baby food
Apple Crisp Muffin flavour puree snack
Apple, Carrot, Apricot & Millet strained baby Food
Banana, Sweet Potato & Blueberry strained baby food
Apple strained baby food
Apple, Banana & Blueberry with Yogurt strained baby food
Apple, Banana & Strawberry with Yogurt strained baby food
Apple Cherry strained baby food
Sweet Potato, Apple and Mango strained baby food
Peach Maple Cobbler Flavour puree snack
Banana Apple & Carrot strained baby food
Pumpkin, Apple, Peach & Buckwheat strained baby food
Prune, Apple, Butternut Squash & Quinoa strained baby food
Pear strained baby food
Mango, Apple, Carrot & Peach strained baby food
Blackberry Cobbler Flavour puree snack
Banana & Kiwi strained baby food
Mango strained baby food
Banana & Raspberry strained baby food
Banana, Apple, Apricot & Rice strained baby food
Banana Bread Flavour puree snack
Pear, Apple and Broccoli strained baby food
Sweet Potato, Banana & Apricot strained baby food
Tropical Twist Smoothie with Greek Yogurt puree snack
Banana, Mango & Apple with Yogurt strained baby food
Orange Twist Smoothie with Greek Yogurt puree snack
Prunes strained baby food
Apple, Banana & Strawberry with Yogurt strained baby food (6 x 128 mL)
Sweet Potato, Apple and Mango strained baby food (6 x 128 mL)
Banana Apple & Carrot strained baby food (6 x 128 mL)
Mango strained baby food (6 x 128 mL)
Pear, Apple and Broccoli strained baby food (6 x 128 mL)

How can something as simple as too much water lead to this?

Food processors walk a food-safety tightrope every day. The conditions under which sealed packages of food are processed to ensure their safety are always in a delicate balance. Even minor changes in a recipe can affect the cooking conditions required to kill harmful bacteria. One of those changes is the amount of water that is available to the bacteria, allowing them to multiply in the food. A food with little free water will need milder cooking cooking conditions (time and temperature combination) than a food with abundant free water.

Then why not treat every food with the same severe cooking conditions?

Palatability, appearance and cost. Foods processed at a higher temperature taste overcooked, lose their natural color, and their natural texture. And, higher cooking temperatures for extended periods of time are more expensive.

What should consumers do about this recall?

Check your pantry and set aside any of the products listed in the expanded recall notice.
DO NOT try to determine whether the food is safe by smelling or tasting them. Clostridium botulinum can multiply and produce its toxin in a food without changing its appearance, smell or taste in any way.
Return any packages of recalled product to the place of purchase for a refund.

Where were the recalled products sold?

Ontario: Fortinos, Loblaws, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, valu-mart, Your Independent Grocer, Zehrs, Shoppers Drug Mart, and affiliated independent stores

Atlantic: Atlantic Superstore, Dominion, Cash&Carry, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, Your Independent Grocer, Shoppers Drug Mart, and affiliated independent stores

Québec: Club entrepôt, Maxi, Maxi & Cie, Presto, Provigo, Provigo le Marché, AXEP, Pharmaprix, and Intermarché

West: Extra Foods, Loblaws City Market, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, Your Independent Grocer, Shoppers Drug Mart, and affiliated independent stores

Finally, if you have fed one of the recalled products to your infant or toddler, and your child is experiencing any unusual symptoms, please seek immediate medical attention.

Recalls and Alerts – January 1-7, 2017

spc Here is this week’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

Salmonella Illness Cluster: Five Salmonella illnesses between October 15, 2016 and December 13, 2016 have been linked to hazelnuts sold at the Schmidt Farm and Nursery farm stand on Oregon Route 18 at McMinnville. Test performed on nuts purchased at the farm confirmed the presence of the same strain of Salmonella that was recovered from individuals who became ill. Anyone who purchased nuts at the roadside stand should discard them immediately.

Allergy Alert: Bakers of Paris recalls Croissants sold in 18 Northern California Whole Foods Market stores because the croissants were made with an egg wash which is not declared on the ingredient list.

Allergy Alert: Harris Teeter‘s in-store deli recalls Harris Teeter Everroast Chicken Caesar Wrap due to the presence of undeclared anchovies.

Allergy Alert: Whole Foods Market recalls chocolate ganache, French apple, fresh berry, fresh fruit amero shell, fruit, key lime, lemon, and peanut butter chocolate tarts because the products contain undeclared almond flour. The recalled tarts were packaged in cardboard containers with Whole Foods Market labels and best-by dates of January 7, 2017 and earlier and were available at Whole Foods Market stores in Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Allergy Alert: High Liner Foods recalls breaded round shrimp due to undeclared milk and egg allergens.

Public Health Alert: USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is issuing a public health alert due to concerns that assorted sliced deli meat products served to customers at Dion’s restaurants may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The assorted sliced deli meats were produced by Peter DeFries Corporation, of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The potentially contaminated meats were distributed to Dion’s restaurants in Colorado, New Mexico and Texas.

Food Safety Recall: The J.M. Smucker Company recalls certain lots of 9Lives, EverPet and Special Kitty cat foods due to low levels of thiamine (vitamin B1). Various of the recalled products were sold in certain Food City, Price Chopper, and Walmart stores, and in Kroger stores located in Greater Cincinnati (including Northern Kentucky and Dayton, Ohio plus South Eastern Indiana); Central and Northwest Ohio; Northwestern Virginia panhandle; North Carolina; Virginia; Eastern West Virginia; Eastern Kentucky; Southeastern Ohio.

Class III Recall: 4G Meat Processing LLC recalls pork and turkey rope products due to undeclared monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Food Recall (not safety related): Giant Food Stores LLC recalls four varieties of Own Brands Rolls due to a technical issue that could affect product quality. The recalled items were sold in Giant and Martin’s stores.

Canada

Allergy Alert: King’s Pastry recalls various cakes due to undeclared hazelnuts/tree nuts. The recalled products were sold in Ontario and may also have been distributed in other provinces.

Europe

Allergy Alert (UK): Pepsico recalls Doritos Lightly Salted Corn Chips because of undeclared soya and wheat (gluten).

Allergy Alert (UK): Booths recalls Free Range Egg Mayonnaise Sandwich because of undeclared egg and mustard.

Food Safety Alert (via RASFF Portal): L’Isola D’Oro Conserve Ittiche brand anchovy paste (batch no. 8 033609 750443), manufactured by Flott SpA, contains elevated levels of histamine. The product, which was manufactured in Italy, has been distributed in Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Hong Kong, Italy, New Zealand, Nicaragua and Romania.

Food Safety Alert (via RASFF Portal): Live oysters from France are believed to be the source of a foodborne outbreak of norovirus. The oysters were distributed in Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Ager recalls Hirschlandjäger – ripened raw sausage due to Verotoxin-forming E. coli.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): FRIHOL Champignon Vertriebsges. mbH recalls various mushroom products due to Listeria monocytogenes.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Food Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Lorence & Company recalls L’Isola D’Oro Conserve Ittiche brand anchovy paste, manufactured in Italy by Flott SpA, due to elevated histamine levels.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Simplot Australia Pty Ltd has recalled Birds Eye Golden Crunch Hash Browns from Coles, Woolworths, IGA, Farmer Jacks and Spud Shed supermarkets in WA due to the presence of foreign matter (small blue plastic pieces).

Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Mediterranean Food Company recalls L’Isola D’Oro Conserve Ittiche brand anchovy paste due to elevated histamine levels.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Food Safety Alert (via RASFF Portal): L’Isola D’Oro Conserve Ittiche brand anchovy paste (batch no. 8 033609 750443), manufactured by Flott SpA, contains elevated levels of histamine. The product, which was manufactured in Italy, has been distributed in Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Hong Kong, Italy, New Zealand, Nicaragua and Romania.