Category: norovirus

Recalls and Alerts: February 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

  • Food Safety Recall Update: USDA releases retail distribution list for Harold Food Co. Grand Strand Deluxe Chicken Salad, recalled by Bost Distributing Company due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: Various brands of non-alcoholic malta beverages manufactured by The Florida Brewery, Inc. and recalled due to potential breakage of glass on the exterior of the bottles upon opening, were sold at Publix (Malta Hatuey, Goya Malta, Malta Polar, and Publix Malta brands), Walmart, Sams Club and Whole Foods Market (Goya Malta brand) stores.
  • Outbreak Alert: The New Mexico Department of Health has confirmed that norovirus is the likely cause of an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness that has affected 27 people at Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital in Albuquerque. The hospital has closed two inpatient skilled nursing units to new patients; all patients with symptoms have been isolated.

Canada

  • Food Safety Alert: Patrons of the Costco Canada warehouse store located at 3180 Laird Road, Mississauga, Ontario have been alerted by telephone to discard Barbecued Chicken purchased at that location on February 23, 2012. Thanks to eFoodAlert reader Morty M. of Mississauga for alerting us to this notification.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: Hamilton public health officials have identified an additional 12 cases of Salmonella illness among patrons of Eat A Pita (1384 Main St. East, Hamilton East). A February 9, 2012 inspection of the restaurant detected two critical infractions (both relating to hold temperatures) and five minor infractions. The restaurant was reinspected on February 15th and found to be in compliance.

Europe

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: February 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.

United States

  • Food Safety Recall: Nuts & Spice Co. (Union City, CA) recalls HB Rewari Gur-Flat Jaggery Candy (28 oz; Product of India; All date codes), due to unacceptable levels of lead. The recalled candy was distributed to retail facilities in Northern California.
  • Food Safety Recall: The Chili Station (Ludlow, MA) recalls The Chili Station Beef Chili with Beans (5-gal containers and 1-gal bags; Est. 6380 or P-6380) and The Chili Station Beef Chili with Beans and/or Turkey Chili (5-gal containers and 1-gal bags; Est. 6380 or P-6380), because they may have been produced without the benefit of federal inspection. The recalled products were sold in Massachusetts.
  • Outbreak Alert: Officials at George Washington University (Washington, DC) report that about 85 students have been infected with norovirus in the last week. No common link was found.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The Campylobacter raw milk outbreak associated with The Family Cow dairy in Pennsylvania has sickened 77 people in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and West Virginia.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Les Viandes CDS Inc. recalls Bégin Frozen Pepperoni (2.78 kg; Code #35111), due to contamination with metal particles. The recalled product was distributed to hotels, restaurants, and/or institutions in Québec.
  • Health Alert: Health Canada advises Canadians of a possible association between the use of prescription stomach antacids (proton pump inhibitors) and an increased risk of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea. While healthy adults are not typically vulnerable to C. difficile infections, the risk of infection increases with advanced age, severe underlying illness, hospitalization, or antibiotic use.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert: Auchan recalls Auchan Oriental Taboulé (400g, 600g, and promotional 400g + 200g free; Best before 15/02/12), due to the presence of undeclared seafood.
  • Allergy Alert: ERUs Kasewerk Sangerhausen GmbH recalls ERUs Cream Cheese Exquisito – Indian Spices, due to the presence of undeclared mustard and celery.
  • Food Safety Recall: Fiskerikajen ApS recalls Spéciale écaille d’argent 96 No. 3 Oysters (Lot #12034EC3, 12046EC3 and 12056EC3; Production dates 18/1-2012, 27/1-2012, and 3/2-2012, respectively), due to norovirus contamination.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating a food poisoning outbreak that has sickened 50 students, who complained of abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea approximately 1 to 20 hours after having lunch in a primary school in Tuen Mun on February 14th.

Australia and New Zealand

  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Australia): Integria Healthcare Australia Pty Ltd. recalls Greenridge Gastrocalm Liquid (200ml bottle; Batch #5972; Expiry 08/14) and Greenridge Triplex Liquid (200ml bottle; Batch No. 6797; Expiry 08/14), because the affected bottles have been mislabelled.
  • Outbreak Alert (Australia): Central Queensland Public Health Unit warns of a recent rise in the number of cases of Cryptosporidium infections across the region. Twenty-six cases have been reported so far in 2012, versus the usual number of 25-30 cases for an entire year.

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: February 15, 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: AA Meat Products Corporation (Maywood, CA; Espt. 21492) recalls various meat and poultry products, produced between January 11, 2011 and February 8, 2012, because they may have been produced without the benefit of federal inspection. The recalled products were sold within California. Please see the recall notice for details.
  • Outbreak Alert: Forty people at the Carriage House Estates retirement community have been quarantined after having become infected with norovirus. The facility has undergone extensive cleaning and sanitation, and visitors are asked to wear masks and gloves to prevent further spread of the virus.
  • Outbreak Alert: Framingham State University is reporting an increase in the number of cases of gastroenteritis over the past month. Norovirus is suspected.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The Campylobacter outbreak associated with consumption of raw milk from Your Family Cow dairy in Chambersburg, PA has grown to 71 confirmed victims. At least 9 people have been hospitalized. Confirmed cases are reported from Pennsylvania (62), Maryland (4), West Virginia (3) and New Jersey (2).
  • Outbreak Alert: Twelve people in five states have been infected with a shiga toxin-producing strain of E. coli O26. The infections are due most probably to infected raw clover sprouts served at Jimmy John’s restaurant outlets.

Canada

  • Consumer Product Safety Alert: Health Canada advises Canadians not to buy an unregistered, highly toxic pesticide product being imported from China and sold in various retail outlets as “insecticide chalk.” The Insecticide Chalk is not registered for use in Canada. Children are especially at risk from insecticide chalk because they can easily mistake the product for blackboard or sidewalk chalk and play with it or put it in their mouths.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert: Health Canada advises Canadians that using “MMS”, also known as Miracle Mineral Solution or Miracle Mineral Supplement may cause serious health problems. The product information lists sodium chlorite as an ingredient and is promoted as a substance that can cleanse toxins from the human body. There are no therapeutic products containing sodium chlorite authorized for oral consumption by humans in Canada.

Europe

  • Food Safety Alert (Russia): Russia has banned cheese imports from Ukraine over the failure of three Ukrainian producers to meet Russian food standards. The action has resulted in the suspension five tons of Ukrainian cheese, and has prevented the import of 128,500 tons of cheese.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Skare Meat Packers K/S recalls Vilstrup Farm minced pork/veal, 8-12% (500g; Packaged 06.02.12; Best before 14.02.12; modified atmosphere packaging), due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recalled meat was sold at LIDL stores.
  • Outbreak Alert (Russia): Eighteen kindergarten children in Chita developed gastroenteritis. Three of the children were hospitalized and the others were treated at home. Norovirus was confirmed in four of the sick children.
  • Food Safety Notification (2012.0240): Norovirus in oysters from the Netherlands; distributed to Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0241): Suspicion of fraud in relation to horse carcasses from Hungary; distributed to Italy.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2012.0242 & 2012.0243): Unauthorized tadalafil in food supplement from China; distributed to Finland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0244): Tin in baked beans in tomato sauce from Italy; distributed to Malta.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0247): Aflatoxins in dried figs from Turkey; distributed to Slovenia.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2012.0248): Unauthorized sildenafil in food supplement from Spain; distributed to France, Germany, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Venezuela.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2012.0248): Unauthorized sildenafil in food supplement from Spain; distributed to France, Germany, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Venezuela.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2012.0248): Unauthorized sildenafil in food supplement from Spain; distributed to France, Germany, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Venezuela.

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.