Category: norovirus

Recalls and Alerts: July 13, 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 Alert: FDA warns consumers not to purchase or consume any products from the Mexicali Cheese Corp (Woodhaven, NY) after Listeria monocytogenes was found in finished product samples. Under a May 1, 2012, consent decree of permanent injunction, Mexicali Cheese was required by a court order to stop manufacturing and distributing any articles of food until it completed FDA-approved measures to correct food safety deficiencies, decontaminate its facility and take other steps needed to comply with the law. The company did not comply with these requirements.
  • Food Safety Recall: Valley Fine Foods Company, Inc. recalls Signature Café Spaghetti & Meatballs (30-oz/850g microwaveable tray; UPC 0-21130-06875-3; Use Components By dates of Jun 30 12, Jul 01 12, Jul 05 12, Jul 07 12, Jul 08 12, Jul 11 12, Jul 14 12, Jul 18 12, Jul 19 12, Jul 21 12, Jul 25 12, Jul 27 12, Jul 28 12, Aug 01 12, Aug 05 12, Aug 07 12, Aug 08 12 and Aug 11 12), because the product contains meatballs supplied by Buona Vita, Inc. (Bridgeton, NJ) and may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product was sold in the refrigerated deli area from May 26, 2012 through July 9, 2012 exclusively at Safeway and Safeway-owned stores throughout the U.S., including Carrs, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Pak ‘N Save, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb and Vons.
  • Food Safety Alert (Rhode Island): The Rhode Island Department of Health advises consumers not to eat any bakery products purchased at Bristol Bakery or any products that may have originated at the facility after multiple violations were found during an inspection of the establishment by inspectors from the Office of Food Protection. Bristol Bakery has been ordered to remain closed until such time as the facility passes a re-inspection and is approved to reopen.
  • Food Safety/Outbreak Alert: The Rhode Island Department of Health advises food establishments to avoid using or selling any shellfish harvested from areas in the Town of Oyster Bay (NY), due to an illness outbreak caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus in the shellfish. Three people who ate raw or partially cooked shellfish in Nassau County became ill; an additional five illnesses were reported by three other states that received shellfish harvested in Oyster Bay.
  • Outbreak Alert (Wisconsin): Food Safety News reports that at least 200 people contracted Norovirus after swimming in Lake Wazee (Wisconsin) on July 4th. One child was hospitalized.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Costco Wholesale Canada recalls Lilydale Chicken Whole Chicken Fryer (Best before July 21st, 2012), Lilydate Chicken Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (Best before July 21st, 2012) and Lilydale Chicken Split Tip Removed Chicken Wings (Best before July 20th, 2012), due to a possible temperature abuse issue. The affected products were sold only at the Rocky View (Alberta) Costco Wholesale warehouse.
  • Food Safety Recall: Henlong Market recalls Chining Boiled White Nuts – Gingko (397g; Best before 30-06-2013; Code 3200/01023 926; UPC 6 901383 002060), due to an unspecified microbiological issue. The recalled product was sold in British Columbia.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Australia and New Zealand

  • Personal Care Product Safety Recall (Australia): Essential Image recalls Take-home Teeth Whitening Kit (no identifying numbers or markings), because the product contains concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in excess of the recognized safe limit of 6%. The recalled product was sold nationally directly to consumers via the Essential Image website.

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 9, 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 (Update): Frozen desserts recalled by Arctic Zero Inc. (Escondido, CA) due to the presence of undeclared milk allergen were sold in Whole Foods Market stores.
  • Food Safety Recall (Update): Some of the frozen, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products recalled by Buona Vita Inc (Bridgeton, NJ) due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes were sold at Buehler’s Fresh Foods (DiRusso’s Beef Meatballs – 10#; 1 oz meatballs; UPC 5397591615), Walmart and Sam’s Club stores.
  • Food Safety Alert (Oregon): The Oregon Department of Agriculture announces the closure of recreational mussel harvesting from Tillamook Head south to Heceta Head, about 13 miles north of Florence in Lane County on the central Oregon Coast, due to elevated levels of paralytic shellfish toxins.
  • Outbreak Alert (Ohio): At least 10 people have been infected with E. coli after eating at a picnic in Germantown, OH. Six people are hospitalized.
  • Outbreak Alert (California): Santa Barbara County Public Health is investigating an outbreak of norovirus among more than 12 guests, visitors and employees at the Alisal Guest Ranch in Santa Ynez Valley, California.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): RAW.BITE recalls Rawbite Coconut, Organic Fruit and Nut Bar (50g; Best before 17/10-2012, 25/10-2012, 23/11-2012 and 21/12-2012), due to growth of yeast in the bars. The recalled bars were sold in 7-Eleven stores.
  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): Maria Gries Landwirtschaft Grebehof (Löhnberg) recalls Bio Eier vom Grebehof/Grebehof Organic Eggs (6-packs and 10-packs; Expiry dates 25/07/2012 and 31/07/2012; Egg code stamp 0-DE-0660-391 to -394), because the eggs contain more than the permitted levels of dioxins and di-PCBs.
  • Personal Care Product Safety Recall (France): Laboratoires Pierre Fabre Médicament recalls Eludril Mouthwash Solution (0,5 ml/0,5g per 100ml; Lot G99001; Expiry 01/2015), due to breaches of Good Manufacturing Practices for chlorhexidine digluconate, the active ingredient in the mouthwash.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.0947): Undeclared milk ingredient in candies from Slovakia; distributed to Slovenia.
  • Pet Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0948): Salmonella corvallis in dog chews from Brazil, via the Netherlands; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0949): High content of beta-asarone in food supplements from the United Kingdom; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0950): Excessive Escherichia coli in big clams from Italy; distributed to Italy and Spain.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0951): Salmonella in rooibos tea from Poland; distributed to the Czech Republic and Poland.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating a cluster of 15 cases of bacillary dysentery due to Shigella flexneri. The victims were part of a 32-person tour group that travelled from Hong Kong to Cambodia June 13th to 17th.
  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating three food poisoning outbreak clusters involving eight people, all of whom ate in a restaurant in the Eastern District on June 28th (six persons) and July 5th (two persons).

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert Update (Cuba): BBC reports that a patient has been diagnosed with cholera in Havana.

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.

Profiling Norovirus

Norovirus wreaks havoc among captive audiences – cruise ships, hotels, restaurants and nursing homes.

Some history

The syndrome known as “acute non-bacterial infectious gastroenteritis was known to physicians and epidemiologists since the 1940s. In 1972, Norwalk virus – now called Norovirus – was recognized as a significant cause of this syndrome.

What is Norovirus, and where is its natural habitat?

Humans are the natural hosts of Norovirus. Transmission of the virus through animals has been suggested as a possibility, but not confirmed.

How is Norovirus transmitted? What is the incubation period of the illness?

Norovirus is transmitted, directly or indirectly, via the fecal-oral route. The virus is extremely hardy and can survive for days on dry surfaces such as furniture, handrails, and other contact surfaces. The virus is spread through the vomit or feces of an infected individual, or via contaminated food or water. An outbreak can expand rapidly, as the incubation period is usually only 24-48 hours.

What are the symptoms of Norovirus gastroenteritis?

Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and copious watery diarrhea.

What is the prognosis of Norovirus gastroenteritis?

Symptoms typically are self-limiting in otherwise healthy adults, lasting 24 to 60 hours. Norovirus gastroenteritis can cause severe dehydration in the elderly or the very young. Approximately 1% of victims require hospitalization.

What foods carry Norovirus?

Norovirus can be present on any surface (including food utensils) or in any food that has been contacted by an infected individual, such as a food handler. The virus does not multiply outside of its human hosts, but as few as 10 virus particles are enough to cause infection.

How can people protect themselves from Norovirus?

  • Paying attention to food recall announcements and immediately discard any recalled food or return it to the store.
  • Pay close attention to personal hygiene, especially when caring for an individual who is suffering from gastroenteritis.
  • If you are suffering from gastroenteritis, do not prepare food for others or serve food.
  • Avoid self-serve buffets, especially on cruise ships.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly after touching surfaces in public places, before eating, and before touching your face. Be aware that some objects (e.g., gambling chips in casinos) have been handled by many people, any of whom may be harboring the virus.

For more information on Norovirus and other food-borne pathogens, visit the CDC website or read Food Safety: Old Habits, New Perspectives.