Category: norovirus

Recalls and Alerts: September 7, 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

  • Food Safety Recall: American Licorice Co. (Union City, CA) recalls Red Vines Black Licorice Twists and other candies, including Black Licorice Bar (2.5 oz.), Jumbo Black Licorice Hanging Bag (8 oz.), Black Licorice Tray (5 oz.), Black Licorice Laydown Bag (7 oz.), Black Licorice Laydown Bag (16 oz., Black Licorice Jar (4 lbs.), Mixed Bites Hanging Bag (8 oz.), Mixed Bites Bag (16 oz.), Family Mix Laydown Bag (24 oz.), Family Mix Laydown Bag (32 oz.), Snaps Hanging Bag (5.5 oz), Snaps Theater Box (4.5 oz.), and Snaps Tin (12 oz), due to unacceptable levels of lead in the candy. The recalled products were sold at retailers across the USA, including Copps, D&W Fresh Market, Family Fare, Glen’s Markets, Glen’s Fresh Market, Haggen, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pick’n Save, Rainbow, Spartan, TOP Food & Drug, Tops, Valu Land, VG’s Grocery, VG’s Fresh Market, and Wegmans.
  • Food Safety Recall: Gills Onions recalls Diced & Slivered Onions, including Cross Valley Farms onions (Use by date 9/07/12), after random sampling by FDA finds Listeria. The recalled product was supplied only to foodservice companies. Because none of the recalled product is available at retail outlets, FDA and Gills will not be issuing a press release.
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Recall: Lowes Foods alerts its customers to a recall of Orajel Kits (3 oz; UPC 10310 32370; Lot code BI1041), following reports of off flavor and numbing when using the product.
  • Outbreak Alert (Cruise): CDC reports that 114 passengers and 11 crew members on board the Princess Cruises’ ship Dawn Princess developed norovirusinfections during a cruise that began on August 21st and is scheduled to terminate on September 13th. Two CDC Vessel Sanitation Program environmental health officers are scheduled to board the ship today (Sept 7th) on its arrival in Juneau, AK to conduct an environmental health assessment and evaluate the outbreak and response activities.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert – Mangos: Please refer to Salmonella Braenderup – Mango for current information on US retail distribution of recalled Daniella brand mangos and other products that contain these mangos.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: London Drugs Limited recalls Red Vines Red & Black Mixed Bites Licorice(226g; UPC 0 41364 00240 8; All codes), due to unacceptable levels of lead. The recalled product was sold in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert – Mangos: Please refer to Salmonella Braenderup – Mango for current information on Canadian retail distribution of recalled Daniella brand mangos and other products that contain these mangos.

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 kindergarten/child care center in Yuen Long District. Nineteen pupils aged between three and five, and four staff members have developed symptoms of gastroenteritis since September 3rd. None of the victims has needed hospitalization.

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: August 28, 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

  • Food Safety Withdrawal: Charlie’s Produce and TOP Food & Drug withdraw all Daniella mangos (PLU #3114, 4051, 4311, 4584 and 4959) from stores in the TOP supermarket chain, because of a concern that the mangos may be linked to Salmonella illness. TOP Food & Drug stores are located in  Auburn, Edmonds, Federal Way, Grays Harbor, Kent, Lacey, Lake Tapps, Olympia, Puyallup, Tacoma, Woodinville, and Yakima.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall Update: North American Produce Sales expands its earlier recall of Daniella brand Mangoes (Product of Mexico; PLU #4959) to include all products sold at retail stores between July 12 and August 24, 2012. the mangoes may have been distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon. The Public Health Agency of Canada reports 22 cases of Salmonella Braenderup illness linked to consumption of these mangoes.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1229): Aflatoxins in nutmeg from Spain; distributed to Andorra, Guinea Republic-Conakry, and Spain.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Outbreak Alert (New South Wales, Australia): New South Wales Health is warning of an outbreak of gastroenteritis that has affected more than 3,500 people around the state in the past fortnight. The outbreak – due mainly to norovirus or rotavirus – has affected people in nursing homes, hospitals and child care centers.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (Argentina): The National Food Safety and Quality Service has seized and destroyed 8,600 kilos of food products that were transported under improper conditions and/or without proper documentation.

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: August 24, 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: Bay Valley Foods (Oak Brook, IL) recalls Naturally Fresh® Roasted & Glazed Pecan Pieces Salad Toppings (3.5-oz pouch-type package; UPC (0)7653905520(0); Best by 07 APR 13 and 08 APR 13), because some of the packages may contain undeclared almonds. The recalled product was distributed between June 26, 2012, and August 22, 2012, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas, including in Kroger stores (Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Knoxville, Tennessee, Greater Memphis, TN, Arkansas, Mississippi and Western Kentucky, Texas and Louisiana) and in Publix.
  • Food Safety Withdrawal: Protica, Inc. (Whitehall, PA) withdraws Body Choice Protein Shots (3-oz vial; Manufacture date Dec 20, 2011; Lot #PP 3541 2924), Nutritional Resources Protein Wave gelatin (6-oz cup; Manufacture date May 03 2012; Lot #PP 1242 6123) ProBalance Protein to Go French Vanilla Latte (2.5-oz bottle; Manufacture dates 9/8/2011, 10/11/2011, 10/18/2011, 12/6/2011, 2/13/2012, 4/2/2012, 4/4/2012, 4/11/2012, 4/24/2012, 5/1/2012, 5/8/2012, 6/8/2012) and Protein to Go Milk Chocolate Shake (2.5-oz bottle; Manufacture dates 2/9/12, 2/13/12, 2/16/12, 4/12/12, 4/25/12, 5/3/12, 5/8/12), because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. The products were distributed nationally through retail and direct mail.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert: North American Produce Sales (Vancouver, BC) recalls Mangoes (Product of Mexico; Individual fruit bearing PLU #4959; Sold between July 12th and August 14th), because they may be contaminated with Salmonella Braenderup. Several confirmed illnesses are associated with the consumption of the mangoes. The recalled fruit may have been was sold at various retail stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon.
  • Food Safety Recall: Fine Choice Foods Ltd. recalls Sum-m! Crispy Vegetable Spring Rolls (Lot #3045; Production date July 11th; Expiry date August 22nd), due to two reports of a customer finding small pieces of aluminum in the product. The recalled Spring Rolls were sold at Costco Wholesale outlets in Canada.
  • Outbreak Alert (PEI): CBC reports that the PEI Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness – suspected to be due to norovirus – at the Stanhope Beach Resort and Conference Centre. Approximately 60 people complained of nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps or diarrhea after attending events at the resort. Test results are pending.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Proprietary Medicine Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Department of Health asks the public not to buy or consume the unregistered proprietary Chinese medicine “Quan Xie Jin Gu Tong,” as it may contain the undeclared Western drug ingredients diclofenac, piroxicam and prednisone acetate.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1220): Benzalkonium chloride in passion fruit juice powder from Germany; distributed to Denmark, Germany, Japan and Sweden.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Outbreak Alert (New Zealand): More than 110 residents of the Darfield area have developed gastroenteritis after drinking contaminated water. The Selwyn District Council issued a boil-water notice after E. coli was found in some parts of the Waimakariri River. Six of the outbreak victims have been confirmed to be suffering from Campylobacter infections.

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.