Category: norovirus

Recalls and Alerts: March 3, 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: Jelly Belly Candy Co. (Fairfield, CA) recalls Peter Rabbit Deluxe Easter Mix “Gluten Free” candies (2.7 oz bags; UPC 071567992794; Lot codes 111111, 111215, and 120120; Best before January 11, 2013, February 15, 2013 and March 20, 2013 respectively), because gluten is present in the collection of candies. The recalled products were distributed nationwide, including in California.
  • Animal Feed Safety Recall: Western Feed, LLC recalls Payback Kountry Buffet 14% Feed (50-lb bags; Lot #M718430 and M720280; Distributed December 2, 2011 through December 15, 2011), because the feed may contain monensin sodium (Rumensin) at a level that is potentially harmful to horses. Monensin sodium is approved for use in some livestock and poultry species, but can be fatal to horses if fed a sufficiently high levels. The recalled feed was distributed to retailers in Nebraska and Wyoming. The company has received a report of some horses that died as a result of consuming the feed.
  • Food Safety Recall: Pasou Foods (Syracuse, IN) recalls Pizza Stix frozen, fully cooked, ready-to-eat pizza stick products (boxes of 100 sticks; Produced Feb 2nd and Feb 29th, 2012), because a meat ingredient used in the pizza sticks may have been produced without the benefit of federal inspection. The recalled pizza stick products were sold to a food distributor for further distribution to a caterer and other institutions in Indiana.
  • Food Recall/Withdrawal: Food City advises its customers about the recall of several varieties of Food Club Tomato Juice, Food Club Vegetable Juice, and Full Circle Organic Vegetable Juice, sold in 46 oz and 64 oz plastic bottles.
  • Food Recall: Lowes Foods recalls Lowes Foods Tomato Juice (46-oz; UPC 74164303058) and Full Circle Vegetable Juice (46-oz; UPC 3680014611), because the product does not meet quality standards.
  • Outbreak Alert (Hawaii): The Hawaii Department of Health reports a flare-up of norovirus outbreaks on Maui. Victims include residents of small elderly care homes, as well as preschool and early elementary school-aged children. The number of cases and outbreaks is roughly double the numbers seen last year.
  • Outbreak Alert (Ohio): The Columbus Public Health Department is investigating more than 300 cases of norovirus reported in central Ohio, according to a report on 10TV.
  • Outbreak Alert (New York): Onondaga County’s health department is investigating what is suspected to be a norovirus outbreak among 15-20 people who patronized the Twin Trees Too restaurant (1029 Milton Ave., Syracuse) last weekend. None of the victims were hospitalized.
  • Pet Treat Recall Debunked: On February 27, 2012, The Daily Puppy carried a recall notice for Jerky Treats Beef Flavor Dog Snacks, sold at Costco in the USA and Canada, purported to have been updated by FDA on 1/12/2012. According to Laura Alvey, a spokeswoman for FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, FDA has no information on this recall. The treats are manufactured by Del Monte Pet Products, which responded to eFoodAlert’s inquiry with the following statement: “There is no recall for any Del Monte products.“

Canada

  • Outbreak Alert (British Columbia): The Vancouver Island Health Authority alerts the public to active outbreaks of suspected or confirmed norovirus illnesses at five healthcare facilities in Victoria and Saanichton. Affected facilities include Beacon Hill Villa, Mount Edwards Court, Sunrise of Victoria and Saanich Peninsula Hospital (Acute Care unit and Extended Care Unit 2 unit). The Extended Care Unit at Saanich Peninsula Hospital has been closed for admissions.
  • Outbreak Alerts (Ontario): Toronto Public Health reports increased Salmonella activity in Toronto this year, with 114 cases report since the beginning of 2012. Included in the case count are: a large catered event on February 11th that resulted in a cluster of Salmonella typhimurium illnesses among attendees; an outbreak of Salmonella heidelberg across the Greater Toronto Area that is under investigation by Public Health Ontario; and an increase in Salmonella enteritidis associated with recent travel to Cuba.

Europe

  • Food Safety Alert (Denmark): Denmark’s Food Administration warns that it has received a report that several Polish retailers have been selling salt not intended for human consumption. The Food & Drug Administration is monitoring the situation closely.
  • Outbreak Alert (Russia): Authorities are investigating an outbreak of acute intestinal infection among 19 students (aged 10 to 14 years) of the Choreographic College in the Krasnoyarsk region.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Outbreak Alert (Pakistan): Eight staff nurses and 47 student nurses have been hospitalized with acute food poisoning at the Benazir Bhutto Hospital (Rawalpindi) after eating food at the nursing hostel.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert (Mexico): At least 45 cases of acute diarrhea were reported in the community of Providence, Naples (Guanajuato). The outbreak is thought to be due to contamination of drinking water with sewage.

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: March 2, 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

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Glatt’s Kosher Meat Products (Montreal, QC) recalls Glatt’s Beef Frankfurters Jumbo BBQ (375g packages; UPC 0 55627 00203 6; Best Before date of 12AL21), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled Beef Frankfurters were distributed in Quebec and Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall: Charcuterie La Tour Eiffel Inc. recalls La Belle Bretagne brand Our Cooked Ham – Original (Variable kg; Best before 12AL14 or 12AL21), La Belle Bretagne brand Sliced Cooked Ham (Variable kg; Best before 12AL01), La Belle Bretagne brand Our Cooked Ham – Original Sliced (175g; Best before 12MR30), Tour Eiffel Cooked Ham – Extra Lean (Variable kg; Lot 271), Tour Eiffel Parisian Cooked Ham (175g; Best before 12MR31), Tour Eiffel Shaved Parisian Cooked Ham (175g and 400g; Best before 12MR20 or 12MR21), and Tour Eiffel Chopped Cooked Ham (400g; Best before 12MR16), due to contamination with Clostridium perfringens. The recalled products were supplied to retailers, and to hotels, restaurants, and institutions in Quebec.

Europe

  • Food Safety Withdrawal (UK): B&M Sausages withdraws the following meat products in Scotland, due to inadequate disinfection of food contact surfaces between raw and ready-to-eat foods, resulting in potential cross-contamination with pathogenic bacteria: Wiejka Sausage, Szynka Poledwica, Boczek Rdowany, Zwyczajna, Firmova, Szynkowa, Kabanos, Schab Rolonkiny, Krakowska, Biala, Przysmak Swietokrzyski, Parowkova, Pasztetowa, Frankfurterki, Salceson, Zeberka Wedzone, Boczek, Kaszanka, Blgosowka, Rolada Pieczen, Karczek Pieczony, and Boczek Pieczony (produced up to and including 1 March 2012).
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall (Spain): AEMPS mandates the recall of L-5HTP (60 capsules; 1000mg/capsule), because the product contains the unauthorized active ingredient L-5 hydroxytriptophan
  • Outbreak Alert (UK): The Royal Lancaster Infirmary (Lancashire) has banned visitors from nine wards in an effort to contain an outbreak of norovirus at the hospital.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0319): Shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli in onion mettwurst sausage from Germany; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0320): Cadmium in frozen ribbonfish from India; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0321): Dicofol and oxamyl in green beans from Morocco, via Spain; distributed to Germany.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.0322): Undeclared milk ingredient in dark chocolate spread from Belgium; distributed to Andorra, France and Spain.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Allergy Alert (Australia): The Reject Shop Ltd. recalls Snack Stacks Potato Crisps Barbeque (160g cardboard tube; Product of China; All best before dates up to and including 20/02/2012), due to the presence of undeclared whey, a milk protein. The recalled product was sold in The Reject Shop retail stores across Australia.
  • Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Vitaco Health (NZ) Limited recalls Healtheries Kidscare Rice Wheels-Cheese-Sour Cream & Chives-Burger (All pack sizes; All Best before dates up to and including 24/11/12) and Healtheries Wiggles Ricey Bites-Cheese-Tomato (All pack sizes; All Best before dates up to and including 24/11/12), due to possible contamination with glass particles. The recalled products were sold in Supermarkets and Health Stores across New Zealand.
  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Vitaco Health Australia recalls Healtheries Kidscare Rice Wheels Roast Chicken (10 x 18g packets; Best before dates up to and including 4/01/13), Healtheries Kidscare Rice Wheels Burger (10 x 18g packets; Best before dates up to and including 4/01/13), Healtheries Kidscare Rice Wheels Cheese (10 x 18g packets; Best before dates up to and including 4/01/13) and Healtheries Wiggles Ricey Bites Cheese (8 x 15g packets; Best before dates up to and including 4/01/13), due to contamination with foreign matter (glass). The recalled products were imported from Indonesia and sold online and nationally at Coles, Woolworths, Safeway, The Reject Shop, IGA and other independent supermarkets.
  • Outbreak Alert (New Zealand): At least 19 cases of hepatitis A infections have been confirmed in Auckland, including a cluster of cases involving school-age children. The source of the outbreak is unknown.

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: March 1, 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

  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: Shaklee Corp (Pleasanton, CA) recalls Shakleebaby Multivitamin & Multimineral Powder for Infants and Toddlers (net wt. 4.2 oz / 120g; Lot Code AR1E01 and AR9K01; Expiry 10/12 and 4/11, respectively), because the recalled batches have an iodine level higher than that claimed on the label. The recalled supplement was manufactured by Arnet Pharmaceutical Corp (Davie, FL). This Class II recall of 8,882 bottles was announced by letters on January 24, 2012 and appeared in the February 29, 2012 FDA Weekly Enforcement Report. The products were distributed nationwide.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (UK): Nisa withdraws Nisa Heritage Blueberry Muffins (4-pack; Best before 20 April 2012), due to the presence of undeclared soy.
  • Allergy Alert (UK): Surya Foods Ltd. withdraws J.F. Mills Rich ‘n Moist Luxury White Cake Mix (500g; Lot 11272 00; Best before Sep 12) and J.F. Mills Rich ‘n Moist Luxury Yellow Cake Mix (500g; Lot 1251 UA; Best before Sep 12), due to the presence of undeclared wheat flour.
  • Allergy Alert (Belgium): Mannavita recalls Schock Sesam schoko krokant bars (35g; Lot I-0701; Best before 150412; Product of Germany), due to the presence of undeclared milk, which could cause problems for consumers who are either lactose-intolerant or allergic to milk.
  • Food Safety Recall (Finland): Lidl Finland Ky withdraws Harvin Pineapple Slices in pineapple juice (565g cans; Sold prior to 29/02/2012), because some batches have been found to contain tin levels in excess of the maximum permissible concentration.
  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): William Brandenburg recalls Timmendorfer ham Zwiebelmettwurst (2 x 100g; Best before 09.03.2012) and Master Class Ham Sausage Onion (200g; Best before 03.12.2012), due to contamination with shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). The recalled products were distributed in REWE and PENNY stores in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Schleswig-Holstein.
  • Food Safety Recall (Greece): Fatachi Farzan (Athens) recalls N & A Eastern Trading Ground Turmeric (100g packages; Lot #1115; Expiry date 26.02.2014), due to Salmonella contamination.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall (Spain): Tunaliment recalls Compy wet dog food (sold in cartons) after tests on the pet food confirmed excessive levels of Vitamin D in the product. The recall followed complaints from dog owners of vomiting and kidney problems. Mercadona supermarket chain has withdrawn carton-packaged Compy wet dog food from its shelves in 190 stores in Albacete, Almeria, Alicante and Murcia provinces.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Withdrawal (Denmark): Natupharma A/S withdraws Prosan Propolis Throat mixture (strong), Danisan Neck Mixture with Propolis, and Fitness Pharma Propolis Throat Mixture strong, packaged in 200 ml brown glass bottles, because the products contain parabens that are not permitted as preservatives in food supplements.
  • Outbreak Alert (Germany): Hamburg health authorities are reporting four confirmed cases of shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections – two of them in children. The serotype and the source of the infections is not yet known.
  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU #2012.0240): Norovirus in oysters from the Netherlands; distributed to Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU #2012.0257): Norovirus in oysters from Ireland, via France; distributed to Belgium, Denmark, French Polynesia, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation and Sweden.
  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU 2012.0264): Salmonella enteritidis in fresh eggs from Poland; distributed to Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iraq, the Netherlands and Poland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0302): Salmonella in chilled mixed minced meat from Denmark and Ireland; distributed to Sweden.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2012.0304): Benzethonium chloride in grapefruit seed extract from the USA; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0305): Salmonella in chilled sheep carcasses from Sweden; distributed to Sweden.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0306): Norovirus in oysters from Ireland, via the Netherlands; distributed to Denmark.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0307): Salmonella enteritidis in fresh chicken fillets from Lithuania; distributed to Latvia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0308): Parasitic infestation with Anisakis of chilled anglerfish from France; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0309): High count of Pseudomonas spp. in and high aerobic plate count for nile perch from Kenya; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0310): Prohibited substance nitrofuran nitrofurazone in salted sheep casings from Mongolia; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0311): Histamine in frozen yellow fin tuna from Indonesia, with raw material from Vietnam, via Belgium; distributed to Sweden.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0313): Dioxins in lamb liver from the Netherlands; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0314): Listeria monocytogenes in chilled smoked salmon from Poland; distributed to France.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU #2012.0257): Norovirus in oysters from Ireland, via France; distributed to Belgium, Denmark, French Polynesia, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation and Sweden.
  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU 2012.0264): Salmonella enteritidis in fresh eggs from Poland; distributed to Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iraq, the Netherlands and Poland.
  • Outbreak Alert (India): More than 50 children and a few adults developed symptoms of food poisoning thought to be linked to consuming ice cream from a make-shift stall outside the premises of the Subramanian Kovil temple at Kiliyalam in Kinanur-Karindalam village.

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.