Category: food safety

Recalls and Alerts: December 24 – 26, 2018

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

Food Safety Recall: Apio Inc. recalls several Eat Smart Salad Shake Ups varieties due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were shipped to retail and distributor customers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and also distributed in Canada.

Pet Food Safety Recall: Columbia River Natural Pet Foods recalls Cow Pie (2-lb pkg; Lot #72618) and Chicken & Vegetables (2-lb pkg; Lot #111518) due to possible Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled fresh, frozen raw meat foods for dogs and cats were distributed in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington through retail stores and direct delivery.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Industry recalls various Eat Smart brand Salad Shake Ups due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were supplied to consumers nationwide.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Lidl Nederland recalls Délicieux brand Gourmet sauzen / Gourmet sauces (5 x 80 ml) due to undeclared wheat, celery and soy. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (UK): Waitrose recalls Morello Cherry and Almond Tart (375g; Use by 27 December 2018) due to undeclared pistachios.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Colruyt recalls Boni Selection chipolatas de poulet (±1.2kg; Best before 27/03/2020) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Allergy Alert (Israel): S. Shestowitz recalls Barilla gluten-free fusilli (400g; Product of Italy; All Best before dates up to and including 31.10.2020) due to undeclared peanuts.

Food Safety Recall (Hong Kong): PARKnSHOP (HK) Limited recalls Waitrose brand 6 Chunky Battered Haddock Fish Fingers (300g; Best before November, 2019; Product of UK) due to possible presence of large fish bones.

 

Recalls and Alerts: December 19 – 23, 2018

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: Funky Chunky, LLC recalls  Nutty Choco Pop Gift Box (10 oz), Holiday Crowd Pleaser (50 oz) and Crowd Pleaser (50 oz), due to undeclared almonds and cashews. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected lot codes. The recalled products were distributed to AZ, AL, CA, CO CT, DC, DE, FL GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI and WY through mail order or direct delivery.

Food Safety Recall: Jennie-O Turkey Store Sales, Inc. recalls approximately 164,210 pounds of raw ground turkey products that may be contaminated with Salmonella Reading. Raw turkey product from this company has been linked to a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Reading illnesses. The recalled products were shipped to retail locations nationwide.

Food Safety Recall: Inspired Organics, LLC recalls Organic Almond, Peanut, and Tahini Butters due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were distributed exclusively by Lipari Foods. LLC in Warren, Michigan to food service and retail stores throughout Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada.

Food Safety Recall: Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. recalls fresh Cauliflower Rice, Veggie Cauliflower Rice Blend and Stir-Fry Mix with Cauliflower (Use by dates 12/11/18 through 12/22/18) due to potential E. coli O157:H7 contamination. The recalled products were distributed to 98 Wegmans stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Massachusetts.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Marché Hochelaga M&H recalls Creamy cole slaw and Macaroni Salad due to undeclared mustard seed, and eggs in both products and wheat in cole slaw.

Allergy Alert: Bulk Barn Foods Limited recalls certain Coco Polo brand Dark Cocoa Bars due to undeclared milk. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were sold to consumers nationwide.

Food Safety Recall: Inspired Organics, LLC recalls Organic Almond, Peanut, and Tahini Butters due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were distributed exclusively by Lipari Foods. LLC in Warren, Michigan to food service and retail stores throughout Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Denmark): Robert Damkjær A/S recalls Chicken sausages (300g; Best before 19/3-2019) due to undeclared soy.

Allergy Alert (Denmark): Aurion A/S recalls Aurion gluten-free organic oatmeal mixture (600g; Best before 25 / 5-2019) and Aurion gluten-free organic buckwheat flour mix (600g; Best before 15 / 5-2019) due to undeclared gluten.

Allergy Alert (Denmark): Eliza Chokolade recalls Dessert Chocolates (80g; Best before 9/2-2019, 26/3-2019 & 25/7-2019) due to undeclared hazelnuts.

Allergy Alert (France): Auchan recalls Auchan brand Tzatziki (200g; Best before 08/01/2019) due to undeclared sesame.

Allergy Alert (Germany): Eurosnack S. A. recalls Chrupcie Maisstangen (60g; Best before 20.02.2019) due to undeclared gluten.

Allergy Alert (Italy): Vergani recalls  DESPAR VEGGIE brand DOLCE DI NATALE AL CIOCCOLATO VEGANO (750g; Lot #8290; Best before 30-04-2019) due to undeclared milk protein.

Allergy Alert (Luxembourg): Auchan recalls Auchan brand Tzatziki (200g; Best before 08/01/2019) due to undeclared sesame.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Dirk recalls 1 De Beste Gehakt Cordon Bleu Italiaans 2x (Best before 28-12-2018) due to undeclared celery.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): DekaMarkt recalls 1 De Beste Gehakt Cordon Bleu Italiaans 2x (Best before 28-12-2018) due to undeclared celery.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Kook bvba recalls Lunchtime Cassolette de poisson (500g; Lot # 3518 3000; Best before 28/12/18) due to inadequate processing.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Mathonet-Gabriel s.a. recalls Mathonet-Gabriel s.a. brand Filets de Truites Saumonée fumée (Lot #M-02369; Best before 02/01/2019 03/01/2019, 04/01/2019, 05/01/2019 & 06/01/2019) and Mathonet-Gabriel s.a. brand Mousse de Truite Saumonée fumée (150g; Lot #M-0739; Best before 31/12/2018, 01/01/2019, 02/01/2019, 03/01/2019 & 04/01/2019) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Raunsmed poultry farm recalls freshly slaughtered Danish turkey (5-8 kg; Lot #160; Best before 27-12-2018 and 28-12-2018) due to off-odor.

Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Max Krone ApS recalls Brødcooperativet Vaniljekranse (150g; Best before 2/1-2019 & 9/1-2019) due to foreign matter (small pieces of silver-colored plastic) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Bonduelle Frais France recalls Auchan Roquette (125g; Best before 25/12/2018 and 28/12/2018) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): La Société Fromagère d’Eteaux recalls Beulet brand Reblochon de Savoie AOP (450g; Lot #185394230; Best before 10/12/2018) due to E. coli O26:H11 contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): La Société Fromagère d’Eteaux recalls Pochat et Fils brand Reblochon de Savoie AOP (450g; Lot #185394214; Best before 24/12/2018) due to E. coli O26:H11 contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Fabry`s Food & Snack GmbH & Co. KG recalls Snack Time Sweet Chili Chicken on Wheat Bread (Best before dates 20.12.2018, 23.12.2018, 25.12.2018, 26.12.2018, 27.12.2018, 30.12.2018, 31.12.2018, 01.01.2019, 02.01.2019, 03.01.2019, 06.01.2019) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Achva recalls Téhina naturelle (500g; Expiration dates 07/04/2020 & 21/05/2020) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): LACTIS S.A. recalls Boni lait entier and Boni lait demi-écrémé (1L; Best before 26/12/19) due to an incorrect ‘Best before’ date.

Food Safety Recall (Sweden): H Karlssons Charkuterifabrik AB recalls Wiener Sausage (410g; Batch #234112) due to Listeria contamination.

Food Safety Recall (UK – England and Wales): Waitrose recalls 6 Chunky Battered Haddock Fish Fingers (300g; Best before November 2019) because the product may contain large fish bones.

Food Safety Recall (UK – England and Wales): Pieminister recalls Gluten Free Moo Pie (275g; Use by 14 December 2018) due to foreign matter (small pieces of plastic) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Lactalis McLelland Ltd recalls Seriously Melting Pot Original and Seriously Melting Pot Roasted Onion (150g; All batch codes; All dates) because the glass pot may break when heated.

Pet Food Safety Recall (UK – England and Scotland): Avondale Pet Foods Ltd recalls Just Natural Chicken & Tripe (20 x 454g and 8 x 1kg pkgs; Batch code 104-6/14105/339CT; Best before December 2019) due to Salmonella contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Vic’s Premium Quality Meat recalls Vic’s Meat BONE-IN HAM HALF LEG (4.5kg; Best Before 29/01/2019) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): The New Zealand King Salmon Co. Ltd recalls Regal Marlborough King Salmon brand Wood Roasted Salmon Mixed Pepper & Spices (200g; Use by 10 Dec 19) due to incorrect “use by” date.

Dietary indiscretion – Ten tips to avoid holiday poisoning in pets and people

The following story by Phyllis Entis first appeared in Food Safety News and is reposted here with permission

Some animals are scavengers, eating anything from poultry to poinsettias, and paying for their impulsive behavior with diarrhea, vomiting, or worse. Veterinarians call it “dietary indiscretion.”

The most dangerous time of year for pets in the United States is right now: the period leading up to, and including, the Christmas and New Year holidays. This is the time of year that presents both pets and people with a plethora of opportunities to be “indiscreet” eaters.

It is tempting to offer a pet a special holiday treat: an unfamiliar food, a chance to lick raw cake batter from a mixing bowl, or a dish of leftovers from the banquet table. It is easy to overlook the risks posed by Christmas decorations, snack foods, candies, and candles. 

Some of these temptations are equally hazardous to the humans in our households. Both flour and raw eggs are potential sources of Salmonella, and raw flour may contain E. coli bacteria. 

Leftover food that sits out for hours at room temperature during and after holiday meals are breeding grounds for toxin-producing bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus (staph) and Clostridium perfringens. Both of these pathogens can make pets and people sick with acute nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. 

Cats, especially, are sensitive to staph toxins. In fact, the earliest test for the presence of this toxin in a food sample was the aptly named Kitten Test, in which a portion of the food was fed to kittens. An episode of vomiting within a few hours confirmed the presence of the toxin.

Clostridium perfringens can be deadly for dogs. A 2012 article published in the Canadian Veterinary Journal reported on the death due to acute bloody diarrhea, of a two-year old Pomeranian show dog that had appeared perfectly healthy the day before. Large numbers of Clostridium perfringens were found in the dog’s intestinal tract on necropsy.

Following these tips will help you to keep your pets and family members safe during the holidays.

DO refrigerate leftovers promptly.

DO handle raw meat and poultry as though contains Salmonella and Campylobacter, because it probably is contaminated with one or both of these pathogens.

DO place all chocolate, candies and plants out of reach of pets.

DO brush up on practices for the safe handling of foods.

DO visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center website to familiarize yourself with foods, plants and household products that may be toxic to your pets.

DON’T allow your pets or children to sample raw cake batter, raw cookie dough, raw pie crust or any other raw baked goods.

DON’T offer unusual food to your pets. This is not the time of year to experiment.

DON’T feed your pets raw poultry.

DON’T offer cooked bones of any type to your dog. Cooking makes bones more brittle and they may splinter and injure your pet.

DON’T set aside safe food handling practices in your hurry to prepare for the deluge of holiday guests.