Category: norovirus

Recalls and Alerts: August 21, 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

  • Outbreak Alert (New York): Food Safety News reports that Livingston County (New York) health officials are investigating seven cases of E. coli; four people were hospitalized. The source of the infections is unknown.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Wing Kee Foodstuff Company (San Francisco, CA) that a June 2011 inspection of the company’s facilities found a serious violation of the seafood HACCP regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Old Fashioned Foods, Inc. (Mayville, WI) that an April/May 2012 inspection of the company’s low-acid and acidified food manufacturing facility found significant deviations from the Low-Acid Canned Foods regulations and from the Acidified Foods regulations.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Santos Incorporated (San Leandro, CA) that a March 2012 inspection of the company’s facility found serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Centrum Valley Farms, LLP (Clarion, IA) that an April/May 2012 inspection of the company’s shell egg production faciliity found serious violations of the Prevention of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) in Shell Eggs During Production, Storage, and Transportation regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Parrillo Performance (Fairfield, OH) that a February 2012 inspection of the company’s dietary supplement manufacturing and re-packaging facility revealed a failure to comply with the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for dietary supplements.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns East Asia Noodle Co., Inc. (Philadelphia, PA) that a May 2012 inspection of the company’s processing facility found significant deviations from the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations for food manufacturers.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Petruzzi Pizza Mfg., Inc. (Hazleton, PA) that a May 2012 inspection of the company’s processing facility found significant deviations from the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations for food manufacturers.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Diamond Head Seafood Wholesale, Inc. (Honolulu, HI) that a June 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 The Crab Lady’s Market (Little Deer Isle, ME) 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 New Day Fisheries, Inc. (Port Townsend, WA) that a June 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 Curry’s Bakery, Inc. dba Pastry Perfection (Garden City, ID) that a June 2012 inspection of the company’s food manufacturing facility found serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Philippine Cinmic Industrial Corp (General Santos City, Philippines) that a review of documentation submitted by the company found serious deviations from the Seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Nicho Produce Company, Inc. (Edinburg, TX) that a December 2011 inspection of the company’s produce processing facility carried out in response to recalls of “Cut Above” brand shredded bagged lettuce and spinach products associated with Listeria monocytogenes findings in two samples, documented the presence of L. monocytogenes on direct food-contact surfaces at the facility in addition to serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Food.
  • Consumer Advisory: Lucky Supermarkets advises its customers that the company DOES NOT CARRY Tanimura & Antle Farms Field Fresh Wrapped Single Head Romaine Lettuce, which was recalled by Tanimura & Antle due to potential E. coli O157:H7 contamination.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: La Branche d’Olivier (Verdun, QC) recalls La Branche d’Olivier Rubbed Basil (90g; UPC 200001 802003), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled Rubbed Basil was Sold from La Branche d’Olivier, 4342 Wellington, Verdun, Quebec, up to and including May 25, 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall: Champ’s Mushrooms (Aldergrove, BC) recalls Champ’s Mushrooms brand Sliced Crimini Mushrooms (Product of Canada; 227g/8-oz pkgs; Packed on date PO 10AUG2012; UPC 6 78286 88877 5), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled mushrooms were distributed in British Columbia.
  • Outbreak Alert (Nova Scotia): Barfblog reports that 26 cases of apparent norovirus-like illness have been reported among patrons and workers at The Bicycle Thief restaurant in Halifax.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection reports that a total of 122 outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis and norovirus have been recorded so far in 2012, the highest number since 2007. Fifty-two out of 65 institutional outbreak for which lab confirmation was obtained were associated with 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: August 19, 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: Ciolino Produce recalls Highline Mushrooms (227g/8-oz containers; Lot code L410805 followed by 4-digit time code; Best before 12AU15), after receiving notification from its supplier that the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled mushrooms were supplied by Highline Mushrooms (Leamington, ON, Canada) and held for sale at Ciolino Produce (Temperance, MI/Monroe, MI) on August 10, 2012 – August 12, 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall: 7th Heaven Gourmet (Hesperia, CA) recalls its Pate Mediterraneo and Eggplant & Shitake Tapenade spreads (8-oz glass jars with screw-on metal lids; no production or date codes),  because they may have been improperly produced, making them susceptible to contamination with Clostridium botulinum. The spreads were sold between September 2011 and July 2012 at the Victorville Farmers Market (Victor Valley College), Victorville, and the Victoria Garden Farmers Market, Rancho Cucamonga.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): Nine female patients of a neurosurgical ward of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital developed symptoms of diarrhea since August 15th. Lab tests have confirmed norovirus in four of the patients; test results on the remaining five patients are pending. One staff member is on sick leave due to diarrhea. Infection control measures have been stepped up in the ward.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Japan): Japan Times reports that seven people are dead and 103 have become ill with E. coli O157 after consuming a lightly pickled Chinese cabbage produced in late July by Iwai Shokuhin, a Sapporo-based company. Six of the dead were elderly women who were residents of nursing homes in Sapporo and another Hokkaido island city; the seventh was a 4-year old Sapporo girl. The source of the E. coli O157 contamination is still under investigation.

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: July 30, 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: Clif Bar & Company recalls Coconut Chocolate Chip CLIF® Bars (6-packs; Best by 16MAY13G1; UPC 7-22252-66030-5) and Coconut Chocolate Chip CLIF Bars mislabeled in White Chocolate Macadamia CLIF Bar individual wrappers found in the above Coconut Chocolate Chip CLIF Bar 6-pack box with the same “Best By” date 16MAY13G1, due to the presence of undeclared coconut. The recalled bars were distributed to limited Target and Walmart stores.
  • Food Safety Recall: Huxtable’s Kitchen recalls Trader Joe’s Roasted Butternet Squash, Red Quinoa and Wheatberry Salad (9.5 oz container; Use by 7/28/2012 and 7/30/2012), because the onions used as an ingredient may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product was distributed from 7/23/12 to 7/26/12 to Trader Joe’s stores in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington.
  • Food Safety Recall: Burch Equipment LLC recalls whole Athena cantaloupes (Red label reading Burch Farms and referencing PLU #4319; shipped July 15th), after a random sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled cantaloupes were distributed to retail stores (including Hannaford) in the northeastern United States.
  • Food Safety Recall: Garden Fresh Foods (Milwaukee, WI) recalls the following Spartan Brand Prepackaged Deli Salads that may contain onions recalled by Gills Onions LLC due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination: American Potato Salad (16 oz & 3 lb; Sell by 8/9 through 8/14/12 & 8/9 through 8/20/12, respectively), Creamy Cole Slaw (16 oz & 3 lb; Sell by 8/7 through 8/20/12 & 8/9 through 8/20/12, respectively), Macaroni Salad (16 oz & 3 lb; Sell by 8/7 through 8/14/12 & 8/7 through 8/20/12, respectively), and Mustard Potato Salad (16 oz & 3 lb; Sell by 8/7 through 8/14/12 & 8/9 through 8/20/12, respectively. The recalled deli salads were sold in D&W Fresh Market, Family Fare Supermarkets, Glen’s Markets, Glen’s Fresh Market, Spartan, VG’s, VG’s Fresh Market, and Valu Land stores.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1090): Aflatoxins in chestnut flour from Italy; distributed to Australia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the USA.

Canada

  • Outbreak Alert (Ontario): One elderly person has died and 11 patients have been diagnosed with hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile at St. Joseph’s Hospital’s Charlton campus, according to CBC.  The infected patients have been placed in isolation rooms.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert: Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc recalls Morrisons Takeaway Chicken Piri Piri (350g; Use by 2 August 2012), because of a packaging error. The product may contain chicken korma, which includes nuts that are not listed in the allergy information box on the Piri Piri packaging.
  • Food Safety Recall (Sweden): Axfood recalls Marinated loin of pork (400g approx; Best before 2012-07-30, 2012-07-31, 2012-08-01, 2012-08-02), Sliced pork loin (1.25 kg; Best before 2012-07-31 and 2012-08-01), Blandfärs import loaf (1kg & 2.2kg; Best before 2012-07-31), Grilled Pork Chop (800g; Best before 2012-08-08), Pork Loin Grilled (800g; Best before 2012-08-08, 2012-08-09, 2012-08-10), and Grillbricka mini pork sirloin (600g approx; Best before 2012-07-30, 2012-07-31), because Salmonella was detected in a sample during routine examination. The recalled pork products were imported from Denmark and sold in Willys, Hemköp, Prisextra and Tempobutiker stores.
  • Outbreak Alert: The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is warning of an outbreak of Salmonella Stanley in Hungary (32 cases), Belgium (20 cases) and Germany (8 cases), all due to a single outbreak strain. Investigations are ongoing, and ECDC expects that more cases will be identified. The outbreak does not appear to be related to international travel.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1083): Aflatoxins in organic ground chili from Sri Lanka; distributed to Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1084): Carbendazim in longan from Thailand; distributed to France.
  • Food Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2012.1085): Arsenic and lead in food supplement from the USA; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2012.1086): Unauthorized dimethylsildenafil in food supplement from Cyprus; distributed to Poland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1087): Metal wires in dextrose from France; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.1088): Undeclared egg in salsa brava from Belgium; distributed to Spain.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1089): Campylobacter spp. in chilled chicken breast fillets from France; distributed to Denmark.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1090): Aflatoxins in chestnut flour from Italy; distributed to Australia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the USA.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1091): Foreign body (pieces of asbestos-containing material) in wheat from Germany; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1092): Cadmium in tuna flakes in oil and brine from Ecuador; distributed to Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Recall (Israel): Strausbhlk (שטראוסבחלק) recalls Strausbhlk Cake Products Rich Chocolate Brownies (UPC 7290100853689; Expiry date 09/08/2012), after mold was discovered in the product.
  • Food Safety Recall (Israel): Israel Beer Breweries Company recalls Prigat Grape, Prigat Grapefruit, and Prigat Oranges soft drinks (330 ml bottles; Expiration dates 01/17/13, 20/01/13, 01/19/13 and 18/1/13), due to possible contamination with glass shards in some bottles.
  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating a case of shigatoxin-producing E. coli involving a 2-year old boy who was hospitalized for treatment of abdominal pain and vomiting. The patient had no recent travel history, and has since been discharged.
  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating an outbreak of acute gastroenterities at two seniors’ homes in Sheung Shui. Twenty-three residents and four staff members are involved in the outbreaks. Five of the outbreak victims were hospitalized; one tested positive for Norovirus. Both homes share staff and kitchen facilities.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1090): Aflatoxins in chestnut flour from Italy; distributed to Australia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the USA.

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.