Category: norovirus

Recalls and Alerts: October 16, 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.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

For current information on retail distribution of peanut butter products recalled due to Salmonella Bredeney, please consult the Trader Joe’s/Sunland Peanut Butter Recalls tab.

For current information on retail distribution of beef products containing Canadian beef recalled due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination please consult the Canada/USA Beef Recall tab.

United States

  • Allergy Alert: Publix Super Markets recalls Publix Premium Frozen Tempura Shrimp, because the dipping sauce packet included with the product contains undeclared soy.
  • Food Safety Recall: Mondelēz Global LLC recalls Green & Black’s Organic Peanut and Sea Salt Milk Chocolate Bar (3.5 oz; UPC 708656100562; All Best By dates), because the product contains peanuts supplied by Sunland and may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product was sold in retail and specialty stores nationwide.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns James G. Cole, Inc., dba Maxam Nutraceutics (Hood River, OR) that a March 2012 inspection of the company’s dietary supplement manufacturing facility found serious violations of FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) in Manufacturing, Packaging, Labeling, or Holding Operations for Dietary Supplements regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Mid Pac Foods, Inc. (Honolulu, HI) that a June 2012 inspection of the company’s food processing facility found significant deviations from the requirements of the Acidified Food regulations described in Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Finca Cohobas, Inc. (Arecibo, PR) that an April-May 2012 inspection of the company’s shell egg production facility found serious violations of the Prevention of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) in Shell Eggs During Production, Storage, and Transportation regulation (the shell egg regulation).
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Tropical Seafood, Inc. (Lockport, LA) that a July 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility found serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation, and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Creation’s Garden Natural Products, Inc. (Valencia, CA) that a January-March 2012 inspection of the company’s dietary supplement manufacturing, packaging, and labeling facilities found significant violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for Dietary Supplements.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns AHN International, Inc., d/b/a Amazing Herbs Nutraceuticals (Buford, GA) that a May 2012 inspection of the company’s dietary supplement manufacturing, repacking and distributing firm found serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulation for dietary supplements.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency alerts the public that PureFit brand Peanut Butter Crunch bars (56.7g; UPC 8 12787 00100 8; Best by 1 March 2013, 12 July 2013) and PureFit brand Peanut Butter Crunch (box of 15; UPC 8 12787 00200 5; Best by 1 March 2013, 12 July 2013) have been recalled by the US manufacturer because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.
  • Food Safety Recall: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency alerts the public that several beef products have been added to the list of beef and beef products recalled due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis at a seniors home in North District involving 18 residents and three staff members. Rectal swabs or stool specimens of three residents have tested positive for Norovirus.

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.

Recalls and Alerts: October 12, 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.

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: Hannaford Supermarkets recalls Red Velvet Cake Truffle (UPC 20335800000) and Triple Chocolate Cake Truffle (UPC 20335700000) due to the presence of undeclared egg, peanuts, wheat, soy and tree nuts. The recalled product was distributed in New York, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont.
  • Allergy Alert: Asia Cash & Carry Inc. (Maspeth, NY) recalls Nova Salted Biscuit (14.08 oz/400g paper box; Expiration dates March 2013, November 2013 and December 2013; Product of Bangladesh), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled product was distributed nationwide.
  • Food Safety Recall: S & P Company, Limited (Paramount, CA) recalls Su-non Crush Roasted Thai Red Pepper ‘Super Hot’ Flakes (10.58 oz; Bar code 659613000770), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product was distributed in Los Angeles Area Grocery stores (between July of 2012 to October 2012) including Bell and Long Beach, in Rockford, IL, in Phoenix, AZ, in Omaha, NE and in Brooklyn, NY.
  • Food Safety Recall: Justin’s recalls various peanut butter products after receiving notification from their contract manufacturer, Fresca Foods, Inc. (Louisville, CO) that the products may contain peanut butter from Sunland and may be contaminated with Salmonella. Please refer to the recall announcement for a detailed list of products and code dates. The items were distributed nationally to numerous supermarket chains and were available for purchase on the internet from 3/23/10 to 9/26/12.
  • Food Safety Recall: AdvancePierre Foods recalls select frozen products including Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches, Peanut Butter and Jelly Graham Cracker sandwiches and Peanut Butter cup products (produced in Easley, SC), because the products contain peanut butter supplied by Sunland and may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled products were manufactured between the dates of July 17, 2011 through May 18, 2012 and distributed nationwide through retail stores, food service, convenience stores and the USDA commodity foods programs
  • Food Safety Recall: Lin-Mar Partners, Inc. (Austin, TX) recalls Longhorn Roasted Peanut with Chocolate Energy Bars (UPC 8-57087-00301-7; Best by date 11/10/12) and Longhorn Peanut Butter Trail Mix Protein Bars (UPC 8-57087-00303-1; Best by date 11/11/12), because they may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled products were distributed in Texas through Randall’s, Tom Thumb, HEB, University of Texas Coop, and Academy retail stores.
  • Food Safety Recall: JagRma LLC (San Diego, CA) recalls NuttZo Original (16 oz; UPC 894697002030; Best By 10/7/12 – 12/31/12), because the product may contain peanuts supplied by Sunland, and may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product was distributed from October 2011 to February 2012 through natural grocery retail stores in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Nevada, California, Arizona, Hawaii; and through mail order in 50 states.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: CDC reports that, as of October 11th, 20 people in 12 states and the District of Columbia were infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes associated with Frescolina Marte brand ricotta salata cheese imported from Italy. Nineteen of the 20 victims were hospitalized. Four people died and there was one miscarriage ending in death of the fetus.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: CDC reports that the Salmonella Montevideo and Salmonella Hadar outbreaks associated with live poultry in backyard flocks appear to be over. A total of 93 people from 23 states and Puerto Rico were infected with Salmonella Montevideo; 21 people were hospitalized and one person died. A total of 46 people from 11 states were infected with Salmonella Hadar; 13 were hospitalized, and all survived.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: Clark County Washington Public Health reports 15 confirmed and 44 probable cases of Salmonella linked to On the Border restaurant in Vancouver, WA. The source of the outbreak has not been determined.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Starbucks Coffee Canada Inc. (Toronto, ON) recalls Starbucks Protein Bistro Box kits (192g pkgs; UPC 7 62111 88794 8; Best before 12SE29 to 12OC07, inclusive), because the Bistro Box contains Justin’s brand Honey Peanut Butter Blend (0.5 oz pouch; UPC 894455000391; Best by between 07-14-13 and 08-30-13), which may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product was distributed nationwide.
  • Food Safety Recall: G. Brandt Meat Packers Ltd. recalls Brandt Polish Ham (4 kg; Best before 2012 Oct 21, 2012 Oct 29, and 2012 Nov 04), due to contamination with Clostridium perfringens. The recalled product was sold in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The Public Health Agency of Canada reports that 15 cases of E. coli O157 illness have been linked to beef from XL Foods Inc. (Brooks, AB). Cases were confirmed in Alberta (7), Newfoundland and Labrador (1), Quebec (4) and British Columbia (3).

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Denmark): Stryhns A/S, Graasten Salater recalls Lunch Salad brand Russian Salad (200g plastic cups), because the product contains undeclared milk and soy.
  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Coöbra recalls Green Celery (Lot 2527), because the product contains excessive levels of dimethoate and cyhalothrine (lambda).
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Max Krone recalls Nordic Gourmet Crispbread (150g; Best before 1/12-2012 and 1/1-2013), because moths and larvae have been found in some individual packages.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Eliza Chocolate Wholesale ApS recalls Chokolatier nøddebar, milk and dark varieties (35g; All date codes), because moth larvae were found in some packages.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Løgismose Dairy A/S recalls Løgismose Organic Skyr, Natural (350g; Best before 23/10-2012), Løgismose Organic Skyr with raspberries, rhubarb and vanilla (250g; Best before 23/10-2012) and Løgismose Organic Skyr with mango, passion and ginger (250g; Best before 23/10-2012), due to a high level of yeast in the products.
  • Food Safety Recall (UK): Brasserie de Saint-Omer extends its recall of several brands of beer, as a limited number of bottles may contain small pieces of glass. Please refer to the recall notice for details of the recalled products, which were sold by Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, and Tesco.
  • Outbreak Alert (France): Eighteen cases of food poisoning have been reported between September 21st and October 10th in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. The cause of the poisonings was traced to contamination of organic buckwheat flour with datura, a wild plant that naturally contains high levels of  atropine and scopolamine. These alkaloid chemicals are toxic to humans.
  • Outbreak Alert (UK): Twenty-seven guests at the Bay Great Western Hotel in Oban have developed symptoms consistent with norovirus infection. The hotel remains open for business, but is working to contain the virus.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Proprietary Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Wah Shun Medicine Limited recalls Tian Ma Toutong Wan (Batch #80090TR3; Manufactured in Mainland China), because the product contains approximately 1.6 times the permitted level of lead.
  • Proprietary Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Peking Medicine Manufactory recalls Bak Foong Pills (Batch #AL0225), because the product contains approximately 1.7 times the permitted level of mercury.
  • Proprietary Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Kin Lik Trading Company Limited recalls 24 brands of unregistered proprietary Chinese medicines.
  • Herbal Medicine Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Department of Health advises the public not to buy or consume the oral product known as Snake Powder Capsule for Rheumatism, as it may contain undeclared Western medicines, including piroxicam, dexamethasone, hydrochlorothiazide and cimetidine.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Roche Hong Kong Limited recalls Rocephin for Inj 250mg IM (HK-20182), Rocephin for Inj 500mg IM (HK-20187), Rocephin for Inj 500mg IV (HK-20188), Rocephin for Inj 1g IV (HK-20190), Rocephin for Inj 1g IM (HK-20192) and Rocephin for Inj 250mg IV (HK-52844) because of a stability issue.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Vaccine Recall (Australia): GlaxoSmithKline Australia Pty Ltd. recalls Infanrix hexa vaccine (Batch #A21CB144A, A21CB188D, A21CB188E, A21CB190A, A21CB197A and A21CB221B; Expiry 21 January 2014), because a surface in the area where one of the manufacturing steps for the vaccine takes place was found to be contaminated with a small amount of Bacillus cereus. No contamination was found either in the ingredients or in the vaccine itself.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Australia): The Therapeutic Goods Administration advises the public that Naturally Kouxan Best Slim Capsules contain the undeclared prescription drug sibutramine and should not be used.

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.

Recalls and Alerts: October 8, 2012 – Part B

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.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Boucherie W.E. Bégin, inc (Saint-Jean, QC) recalls Fesse Braisée Tranchée / Sliced Ham (vacuum packaged, Best before 11 October 2012 or Sliced to order, packaged 26 and 27 September, 2012), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Safety Recall: UNFI Canada Inc. recalls Popcorn Indiana brand Aged White Cheddar Popcorn (255g & 225g; UPC 8 43571 00078 5; Best by 18/FEB/2013 & 25/FEB/2013, respectively), because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were distributed in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, and may have also been distributed in other provinces.
  • Food Safety Recall: To-Le-Do Foodservice Ltd. recalls a number of To-Le-Do beef products (code dates September 10, 25, & 26, 2012) due to potential E. coli O157:H7 contamination. The recalled products were supplied to hotels, restaurants and institutions in Manitoba.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: CBC News reports that Sanofi Pasteur has recalled batches of Typhim Vi vaccine (Batch #G1122-1, G1557-1, G0182-2 & H0176-1), used to immunize people against Salmonella typhi, because the amount of antigen varied in some syringes.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses linked to recalled meat from XL Foods, Inc. (Brooks, AB) has grown to eleven cases, in Alberta (7 cases), Newfoundland and Labrador (1 case in the Eastern Region), Quebec (2 cases) and British Columbia (1 case reported from Vancouver Island). As of October 2nd, an additional 13 cases also were under investigation in Saskatchewan.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Belgium): Natura S.p.r.l recalls Natura brand Cocktail Sauce (180g and 310g jars; DDM between 1/10/2012 and 3/04/2013), because the product contains undeclared celery.
  • Allergy Alert (Belgium): Revogan recalls Valpiform brand Pain de mie tranché (350g; Lot 12144; Expiry 21/11/2012) and Pain de mie aux fibres (350g; Lot #12145; Expiry 22/11/2012 & 24/11/2012), because the products, which are labeled “sans arachides” contain undeclared peanut.
  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium): S.p.r.l Bella Sicilia recalls Marte brand Ricotta Torretta (850-1000g; Lot #131212 & 100113; Best before dates of 13/12/2012 & 10/01/2013, respectively), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Safety Recall (Finland): Itu Biodyn Ltd. recalls Holle Bio-Babybrei 3-Korn baby food (Made in Germany; Batch #R11171; Expiry 04/25/2013), because the product contains ochratoxin A in excess of the allowable limit.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (UK): BBC reports that Sanofi Pasteur MSD has recalled 88% of its Typhim Vi vaccine stock because tests found that some samples were too weak. Individuals who were injected with the vaccine since January 2011 may not be fully immunized against typhoid.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Germany): The outbreak of acute gastroenteritis that sickened more than 11,000 individuals – most of them children – ws traced to a batch of frozen strawberries. The Saxony-Anhalt State Office for Consumer Protection has detected noroviruses in a sample from this batch of strawberries.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert/Recall (Hong Kong): The Centre for Food Safety has been advised by Canada that some of the beef products recalled by XL Foods Inc. were supplied to Hong Kong. These products were recalled due to potential contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The Centre has alerted the trade and has instructed importers and distributors to recall the affected products.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Amedis Company Limited recalls Inflexal V 2012/2013 seasonal influenza vaccine (All batches) as a result of a global recall announced by the manufacturer, Crucell. Two batches of the product at the Crucell’s Swiss manufacturing site were found to be contaminated with bacteria.
  • Proprietary Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Peking Health Products Company recalls Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Wan (Batch No.20120603W), because the total bacteria count of 61,000 is 6-fold higher than the permitted limit.
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Hong Kong): GlaxoSmithKline Ltd. recalls Panadol Cold & Flu Hot Remedy – Lemon with Honey (Batch #2004), due to an error in printing the expiration date.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Woolworths Ltd. recalls Woolworths Almond Kernels (Best before 05/02/13, 06/04/13, 07/04/13, 12/04/13), due to Salmonella contamination. The recalled nuts were distributed nationally at Woolworths Supermarkets, Safeway, Food for Less, and Flemings Supermarkets.
  • Outbreak Alert (New Zealand): Health officials are warning the public, restaurants and cafés to cook liver and other organ meats thoroughly. Twenty-six cases of Campylobacter infections have been linked to consumption of liver in the past year.
  • Outbreak Alert (New Zealand): Three patients and 13 staff members of Rotorua Hospital were infected with norovirus between September 18th and 21st. The outbreak may also have spread to a rest home.

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.