Frozen, raw chicken nuggets sicken 54 in Canada

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) are investigating a new Salmonella outbreak linked to raw chicken.

As of January 25, 2019, 54 Canadians from ten provinces and three territories have become infected with Salmonella Enteritidis after consuming a frozen, raw breaded chicken product. None of the outbreak victims have been hospitalized in this latest outbreak.

Since mid-2017, PHAC has received reports of 529 laboratory-confirmed cases of Salmonella illness linked to raw chicken, including frozen, raw breaded chicken. To date, three people are dead, and 90 victims needed to be hospitalized. The deaths cannot be attributed directly to the Salmonella infection.

The outbreak investigations triggered recalls of eleven different brands and varieties of frozen, raw breaded chicken products.

In response to findings by CFIA during its investigation of the most recent outbreak, Sofina Foods Inc. has recalled the following product:

Crisp & Delicious brand Chicken Breast Nuggets – Uncooked Seasoned Breaded Chicken Cutlettes, 1.6 kg packages:- Product code 2019 JL 19; UPC 0 69299 11703 5)

The recalled product is known to have been distributed to retailers in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, and may have been available nationwide, according to the recall notice.

Illnesses in the current outbreak have been confirmed in British Columbia (42), Alberta (81), Saskatchewan (18), Manitoba (25), Ontario (187), Quebec (111), New Brunswick (27), Nova Scotia (17), Prince Edward Island (5), Newfoundland and Labrador (12), Northwest Territories (1), Yukon (1), and Nunavut (2).

Symptoms of Salmonella infection may include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, chills, headache and low grade fever. The very young, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to severe symptoms, and secondary complications.

The public is advised not to consume the recalled product, and retailers and restaurants are advised to not sell or serve the recalled product.

PHAC recommends that consumers and food handlers observe the following precautions when preparing and handling frozen, raw breaded chicken products

Do not eat raw or undercooked frozen breaded chicken products. Cook all frozen raw breaded chicken products to an internal temperature of at least 74°C (165°F) to ensure that they are safe to eat. Use a digital food thermometer to verify the temperature. Insert the digital food thermometer through the side of the product, all the way to the middle. Oven-safe meat thermometers that are designed for testing whole chicken and roasts during cooking are not suitable for testing nuggets, strips or burgers.
Microwave cooking of frozen raw breaded chicken products—including chicken nuggets, strips, burgers, popcorn chicken or chicken fries—is not recommended because of the possibility of uneven heating.
Always follow the cooking instructions on the package, including for products labelled Uncooked, Cook and Serve, Ready to Cook, and Oven Ready.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before and after handling frozen raw breaded chicken products.
Use a separate plate, cutting board and utensils when handling frozen raw breaded chicken products to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria.
Do not re-use plates, cutting boards or utensils that have come in contact with frozen raw breaded chicken products to serve the cooked product unless they have been thoroughly washed.

Recalls and Alerts: January 24 – 26, 2019

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: Mrs. Grissom’s Salads recalls Mrs. Grissom’s SELECT Old Fashioned Pimento Cheese (Best before MAR 13 2019) due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert: Harvest Food Group, Inc. recalls yumnum global cuisine YAKITORI SEASONED CHICKEN FRIED RICE (9-oz pkgs; Lot codes C041A8K12 BEST BY 11/12/2019, C091A8L04 BEST BY 12/04/2019, and C091A8L05 BEST BY 12/05/2019) due to undeclared milk. The recalled items were shipped to retail locations in Illinois and Michigan.

Allergy Alert: Publix recalls Publix Deli Turkey, Cheddar & Bacon Pinwheels (Use by January 28) due to undeclared egg.

Food Safety Recall: Whole Foods Market recalls various prepared foods items prepared with baby spinach from Satur Farms, due to potential Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were sold in Whole Foods Market stores in Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island.

Food Safety Recall: Jac. Vandenberg, Inc. recalls Fresh Peaches, Fresh Nectarines and Fresh Plums due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were distributed in Alabama, California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia through ALDI, Costco, Fairway Market, Hannaford, Market Basket, Walmart and various small retail establishments.

Food Safety Recall: Thrive Market, Inc recalls various Thrive Market-branded nut butters due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Canada

OUTBREAK ALERT / Food Safety Recall: Sofina Foods Inc. recalls Crisp & Delicious brand Chicken Breast Nuggets – Uncooked Seasoned Breaded Chicken Cutlettes (1.6 kg; Product code 2019 JL 19; UPC 0 69299 11703 5) due to Salmonella contamination. This recall was triggered by findings by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) during its investigation into a foodborne illness outbreak.

Allergy Alert: Industry recalls certain Ottogi brand noodle products due to undeclared egg. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Le Maître Boucher recalls Hummus Maison (Variable weights; Product sold January 13 – 24, inclusive) due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Boucherie 4 Saisons recalls Spaghetti sauce (500 mL and 1 L glass jars; product sold up to 25 January 2019) because the product may not be safe to consume.

Food Safety Recall: Karino gâteaux recalls Spaghetti sauce, vegetarian sauce and chili (500 mL and 1 L glass jars; product sold up to 23 January 2019) because the product may not be safe to consume.

Europe

OUTBREAK ALERT / FOOD SAFETY RECALL (France): Lactalis recalls Picot AR brand infant formula (sold in pharmacies from November 29, 2018 onward) due to possible contamination with Salmonella Poona. The product was manufactured in the same Spanish facility that manufactured product associated with 4 cases of Salmonella Poona in infants under two years of age.

OUTBREAK ALERT / FOOD SAFETY RECALL (France): SODILAC recalls various Modilac brand rice-protein based infant formula products due to Salmonella Poona contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products. The product has been linked to 4 cases of Salmonella Poona in infants and toddlers under two years of age.

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Turk Food Impex SPRL recalls various Dr Oetker brand products due to undeclared milk, wheat (gluten), and soy. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (Finland): Gunz Warenhandels GmbH recalls Piacelli brand citrus juice concentrates due to undeclared sulfite. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (Iceland): Blomsterbergs recalls Blomsterbergs lemon fromage (116g; All batches and dates) due to undeclared almonds and other nuts.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Bonvita B.V. recalls Bonvita Bon-Ice Dark Chocolate (100g; Production code L8/78; Best before 31-3-2020) due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Jan Linders recalls various Onze Trots and Jan Linders products due to undeclared sulfites. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (France): McCain recalls McCain brand La Noisette (1 kg; Lot LZ 25102018 manufactured between 16h00 and 19h00; Best before end 10/2020) due to foreign matter (small metal pieces) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Naturalia recalls L’Atelier V brand Red beet bean hummus (150g; Lot 90110022; Best before 12/03/2019) due to absence of high pressure processing, resulting in a shortened shelf life.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): OVO-Vertriebs-GmbH recalls various Bockwurst and Wiener sausages due to foreign matter (small black plastic pieces) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Bell Germany GmbH & Co. KG recalls Zimbo Spicy onion sausage (3x40g; Best before 03.02.2019; Lot #L926012-14) due to Salmonella contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert: So Real Natural Food Products Ltd recalls Soreal Natural Food brand Pork Buns Mini (all batches and all dates) due to undeclared soy.

Recalls and Alerts: January 20 – 23, 2019

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United States

Allergy Alert: Perrigo Company, in coordination with The Kroger Company, recalls Simple Truth Organic Banana, Strawberry & Apple Fruit Puree with Nonfat Greek Yogurt (LOT L8159; best by 08/06/2019; Product of Spain) due to undeclared milk. The affected product was distributed to the Kroger Family of Stores located in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Food Safety Recall: Stino Da Napoli recalls approximately 11,392 pounds of various meat products that were produced, packed and distributed without the benefit of federal inspection. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were shipped to retail stores in Ohio.

Food Safety Recall: General Mills recalls Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour (5-lb bags; Best if used by 20APR2020KC; UPC 000-16000-19610-0) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Satur Farms recalls specific lot numbers of Baby Spinach and Mesclun due to possible Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Pet Food Safety Alert: FDA cautions pet owners not to feed Hare Today Gone Tomorrow Ground Chicken/Bones/Organs (1-lb fine ground, 2-lb find ground, 3-lb coarse ground, 5-lb fine ground; Processing date 12.04.2018) due to Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Paradis Végétarien Inc. recalls Paradis Végétarien brand Veg-O-Mix Mushroom Chicken Flavour (350g and 18 (6 x 3) kg; All product codes) due to undeclared egg and milk. The recalled products were distributed to hotels, restaurants and institutional customers in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.

Food Safety Recall: Marché Carrier recalls Fèves au canard et à l’érable (500 mL glass jar; All product sold up to and including 23 January 2019) due to inadequate storage temperature that could render the product unsafe for consumption.

Food Safety Recall: Canada Herb recalls Canada Herb brand Red Chili (variable weight; All product sold up to and including January 20, 2019) due to Salmonella contamination. The recalled product was sold by retailers in Ontario.

Food Safety Recall: Hello Fresh Canada Inc. recalls the red chili ingredient included in certain Hello Fresh brand and Chefs Plate brand meal kits due to Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were supplied to consumers in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec

Food Safety Recall: Veg-Pak recalls Veg-Pak brand Hot Peppers Red Thai and Longo’s brand Hot Red Thai Chili Peppers due to Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected package sizes, product codes and UPCs, which were sold to consumers in Ontario and may have been distributed nationwide.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Industry recalls Piacelli Lemon juice concentrate (various package sizes) due to undeclared sulfites. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (Finland): HKScan Finland Oy recalls HK Kabanossi Grillibalkania (400 g; Best before 2.2.2019) and Popsi Grillinakkia (300 g; Best before 2.2.2019) due to undeclared milk and soy.

Allergy Alert (France): Industry recalls Piacelli Lemon juice concentrate (various package sizes) due to undeclared sulfites. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (France): Petit Choisi recalls Petit Choisi brand Strawberry Mini Fourrés (Lot #353 G1; Best before 20/06/2019) due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert (Iceland): Samkaup recalls Piacelli brand Lemon Juice concentrate and Piacelli brand Lime juice concentrate due to undeclared sulfites. Please refer to the recall notice for additional details on the recalled products.

Allergy Alert (Ireland): Industry recalls Piacelli Citrilemon Lemon Juice Concentrate (200 mL; Best before date 20/07/2020) due to undeclared sulfur dioxide.

Allergy Alert (Luxembourg): Industry recalls Piacelli Lemon juice concentrate (various package sizes) due to undeclared sulfites. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Finland): Lidl Suomi Ky recallsBergmann Bovine minced meat, 10% (1kg pkg; Batch #1901520; Use by 15.1.2019; Product of Germany) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Casino recalls Casino Ça Vient d’Ici brand Ardêche dried sausages (250g; Lot #3540010; Best before 17/02/2019) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): La Société Beaume Drobie recalls MMM ! – AUCHAN brand Saucisse sèche d’Ardèche IGP (250g; Lot #3540010; Best before 13/02/2019) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Italy): Facchini srl recalls Terra &Vita brand Capricciosa (150g; Lot #A15L6M255; Best before 25/01/19) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Auchan recalls MMM ! – AUCHAN brand Saucisse sèche d’Ardèche IGP (250g; Lot #3540010; Best before 13/02/2019) due to Salmonella contamination.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Food Safety Recall (Singapore): Mac Taste Bakery & Confectionery Pte Ltd recalls Da Ji Da Li brand Peanut Puff / Kok Chye (300g; Best before 30.09.2019; Product of Malaysia) due to foreign matter (metal fragment) contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Target Australia recalls The Fabulous Food Company Candy Cane (40g; Best Before August 2019; Keycode 59595465) due to foreign matter (plastic) contamination.