Recalls and Alerts: August 23 – 24, 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.

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United States

Public Health Alert: USDA and Empire Kosher Poultry Inc. alert the public to a possible Salmonella outbreak in the US Northeast that may be linked to the company’s raw chicken. The Empire Kosher brand raw chicken items, which may include raw whole chicken, raw chicken parts, were produced and sold to consumers from September 2017 to June 2018. USDA was alerted to multiple Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- illnesses within the northeastern and mid-Atlantic United States on June 18, 2018. Multiple confirmed cases have been identified in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic United States; many of the individuals reported consumption of Empire Kosher brand chicken products. Approximately one-half of the infected individuals were hospitalized. USDA has neither revealed the number of confirmed cases nor identified the US states where cases were reported. No recall has been announced. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to properly handle, prepare, and cook these raw chicken products.

Food Safety Recall: Cargill Meat Solutions recalls EXCEL 93/7 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF (10-lb chubs; Use/Frz. By Sep 05; Pack date 08/16/2018) due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination. The recalled items were shipped to warehouses in California and Colorado.

Food Safety Recall: Albertsons, Safeway, Pak ‘N Save, and Vons stores in Northern California, Colorado, Nebraska, Northern Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Wyoming recall various ground beef products due to potential E. coli O157:H7 contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Homeopathic Product Safety Recall: Living Well Remedies, LLC recalls Weight Away Remedy (2-oz spray bottle; Lot# 111417LWL614), due to microbiological contamination.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Manna International Trading Ltd. recalls Vegemil brand Blackbean Fortified Soy Beverage (190mL; All product codes up to and including 2019.05.07; UPC 8801033775031) due to undeclared milk. The recalled product was distributed to retailers in Alberta and British Columbia.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Belgium): QNT recalls QNT brand Vanilla Macaroon Vegan Protein powder (500g; Lot #1703972/2; Expiry date 07/2020) due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert (Belgium): L’AFSCA recalls Alubias Blancas Cocidas Extra White Beans (400g glass jar; Expiry date 22/08/2022) due to undeclared sulfites.

Allergy Alert (Italy): Dolceamaro Srl recalls Raisins covered with dark chocolate (various lot numbers) due to undeclared sulfur dioxide. Please refer to the individual recall notices for additional details.

Allergy Alert (UK): James Hall & Co. Ltd recalls Smoked Turkey Barm and Beechwood Smoked Ham Barm take-away sandwiches due to undeclared barley.

Allergy Alert (UK – England and Wales only): Clayton Park Bakery Ltd recalls Small Brown Rolls (6-pack; Best before 22 to 27 August 2018) due to undeclared barley.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Smits bvba recalls various poultry-based products due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): THAERON recalls Thaeron brand Bulots cuits / cooked whelks (Lot #119318; Best before 24/07/2018) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Diamond Food Sales Ltd recalls various frozen Indian mackerel due to presence of histamine. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall Update (UK): Ewing Seafoods recalls Smoked Salmon and Organic Smoked Salmon (all package sizes; all batch codes) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

What you don’t see CAN hurt you

More than 500 customers of McDonalds have become infected with a nasty little parasite that goes by the name Cyclospora. Twenty-four people have been hospitalized, according to CDC.

Cyclospora is a single-cell, microscopic parasite that is transmitted through contaminated food or water. The most common symptom of infection is watery diarrhea. Other symptoms may include loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping, bloating, increased gas, nausea, vomiting, low-grade fever and fatigue.

Symptoms appear, on average, 7 days following initial infection (incubation period ranges from 2 days to more than 2 weeks) and can persist for several weeks. Cyclospora infections are not usually life-threatening.

outbreak_mapMC_8.23.18 — Geographic distribution, courtesy of CDC

Confirmed cases have been reported by fifteen states and by New York City (which boasts a larger population that many of the states). Consumers in Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, and New York City.

According to CDC, the largest numbers of illnesses occurred in Illinois (273), Iowa (99) and Missouri (52). Multiple cases also were reported in neighboring states. Outbreak victims in Connecticut, New York City, Tennessee, and Virginia purchased salads while traveling in Illinois; the Florida patient purchased a salad while traveling in Kentucky.

Most of the reported cases materialized in late June and early July.

The parasite was recovered from a packaged romaine lettuce/carrot mix supplied to the restaurant chain by Fresh Express. The investigation is ongoing and FDA is currently reviewing distribution and supplier information for both the romaine and the carrots.

FDA offers the following suggestions for restaurants, food service facilities and consumers.

What Do Restaurants and Retailers Need To Do?

Based on current information available Cyclospora may be resistant to routine chemical disinfection methods such as those using chlorine. However, restaurants and retailers should still follow basic food safety practices:

Retailers, restaurants, and other food service operators should always practice safe food handling and preparation measures. It is recommended that they wash hands, utensils, and surfaces with hot, soapy water before and after handling food. Wash and sanitize display cases and refrigerators where potentially contaminated products were stored.
Wash and sanitize cutting boards, surfaces, and utensils used to prepare, serve, or store potentially contaminated products.
Wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.
Regular frequent cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces and utensils used in food preparation may help to minimize the likelihood of cross-contamination.

What Do Consumers Need To Do?

Consumers who have symptoms of cyclosporiasis should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care. Most people infected with Cyclospora develop diarrhea, with frequent, sometimes explosive, bowel movements. Other common symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps/pain, bloating, increased gas, nausea, and fatigue. Vomiting, body aches, headache, fever, and other flu-like symptoms (relapse).

Recalls and Alerts: August 20 – 22, 2018

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United States

Allergy Alert: Taylor Farms Northwest, LLC recalls Homestyle Meatloaf (16-oz clear containers; Sell By 8/25/2018) due to undeclared fish (anchovies) and milk. The 62 recalled units were shipped to retail locations in Oregon and Washington.

Food Safety Recall: Lipari Foods, LLC recalls Premo brand Turkey & Cheese Wedge sandwiches (5 oz; Lot #08201808; Best by 08/31/2018; UPC 612510002018) due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Pet Food Safety Recall: Radagast Pet Food, Inc. (Portland, OR) expands an earlier recall to include various Rad Cat Raw Diet products with Best By dates ranging from 10/19/18 through 12/3/19, due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products and lot numbers. The recalled items were shipped to distributors in the USA and Canada.

Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: King Bio recalls various Kids and Infant Products due to microbial contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were distributed nationwide between August 2017 and July 2018, inclusive.

Canada

Europe

Allergy Alert (France): Lidl recalls Crownfield brand Cereal Bars (all best before dates; all lots sold between 21/12/2017 and 21/08/2018) due to undeclared peanuts.

Allergy Alert (Sweden): Orkla Foods Sverige recalls Felix Ravioli i köttsås / Felix Ravioli in Meat Sauce (560g; Best before 03.07.2021) due to undeclared milk protein.

Allergy Alert (UK): Clayton Park Bakery Ltd recalls various bakery products due to undeclared barley. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (France): Carrefour recalls Filière Qualité Carrefour brand Fromage Rocamadour fermier / Rocamadour farm-style cheese (2-pack; Lot #H-180718; Best before 28/08/2018) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): d’aucy recalls d’aucy brand Poêlée Tex Mex (2.5 kg; Lot nos.7157M, 7251M & 7272M; Best before 06/06/2019, 08/09/2019 & 29/09/2019 respectively) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Italy): Terremerse Soc. Corp. recalls La Casareccia brand Salsiccian Stagionata / Seasoned Sausage (~600g; Lot No. 1-8-165.124) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Food Safety Recall (Singapore): Danone Dumex recalls Dumex Mamil Gold Infant Milk Formula – Step 1 (850g; Batch no. 09117R1; Expiry date 11 Sept 2019; Product of Malaysia) due to Cronobacter sakazakii contamination.