Recalls and Alerts: May 31, 2011

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: Irish Hills Meat Company of Michigan (Tipton, MI) recalls 900 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled  ground beef was produced on May 23 and May 26, and shipped to restaurants in Michigan.
  • Food Safety Recall: Stewart’s Shops (Saratoga Springs, NY) recalls 19 ice cream items manufactured in their Greenfield, NY facility since May 19, 2011, due to an equipment failure that may have resulted in the introduction of foreign material into the ice cream. The recalled products – packed in cartons or boxes bearing Plant #36-3918 -were distributed to Stewart’s Shops in New York and southern Vermont.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Reed’s Inc. (Los Angeles, CA) that an October/November inspection of the company’s carbonated beverage and human dietary supplement manufacturing facility revealed significant violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) in Manufacturing, Packaging, Labeling, or Holding Operations for Dietary Supplements regulations, causing the Reed’s Nausea Relief dietary supplement products manufactured in your facility to be adulterated, in that the dietary supplements have been prepared, packed, or held under conditions that do not meet current good manufacturing practice regulations for dietary supplements.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Family Fresh Pack, LLC (Belleville, WI) that a December 2010/January 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation, and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Natural Choice Distribution Company (Oakland, CA) that a February 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation, and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Manolo and Son, LLC (Alexandria, VA) that a March 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Contes Pasta Company, Inc. (Vineland, NJ) that a January/February 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation, and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Nuvonyx, Inc. DBA Real Aloe, Inc. and U.S. Aloe (Carlsbad, CA) that October 2010 and  January 2011 inspections of the company’s facility revealed significant violations of Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packaging, Labeling or Holding Operations for Dietary Supplements (CGMP) regulations.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Import Food Wholesale (St. Paul, MN) that a November 2010 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation, and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Country Maid, Inc. (Milwaukee, WI) that a December 2010 inspection of the company’s food processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation, and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Dawn’s Foods, Inc. (Portage, WI) that a February 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation, and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns ADAO, Inc. (Denver, CO) that a December 2010 inspection of the company’s food manufacturing facility revealed serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations in manufacturing, packing, or holding of human food, causing the products manufactured in the Denver facility to be adulterated, in that they were prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have been contaminated with filth, or whereby they may have been rendered injurious to health.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Tiny Greens (Urbana, IL) that a December 2010-January 2011 inspection of the company’s sprouting facility revealed conditions and practices that are likely to have contaminated the products, causing the sprouts to be adulterated, in that they were packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have been contaminated with filth or rendered injurious to health. Sprouts produced by Tiny Greens were responsible for an outbreak of Salmonella gastroenteritis that sickened 140 people in 26 states and the District of Columbia between November 2010 and February 2011.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Valley Wholesale Produce and Seafood (Winchester, VA) that a March 2011 inspection of the company’s produce and seafood warehouse revealed serious violations of the seafood HACCP regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Great Oriental Food Products Co., Ltd. (Mae Sod, Thailand) that a January 2011 inspection of the company’s low-acid canned food facility revealed serious deviations from the low-acid canned food regulations.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Guangxi Jisheng Foods Inc. (Hengxian, China) that a January 2011 inspection of the company’s low-acid canned food facility revealed serious deviations from the low-acid canned food regulations.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Franklin Foods, Inc. (Delray Beach, FL) that a September/October inspection of the company’s food processing facility located in Enosburg Falls, Vermont revealed serious violations of the seafood HACCP regulation, regarding the manufacturing of smoked salmon cream cheese.

Canada

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Norway): Kjøttvirksomheten Kuraas AS (Narvik) has withdrawn a number of meat products after Salmonella was detected in a sample of pork. Please see the official withdrawal notice for distribution details on the seven tons products of withdrawn pork and beef products.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0710): Mercury in frozen red snapper fillets from Madagascar; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0711): Dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorobiphenyls in frozen cooked crabs from Ireland; distributed to France.
  • Outbreak Alert (Russia): Twenty-six children, aged 10 to 13 years, have been hospitalized, and an additional 45 people isolated after the attendees at Sail camp (near Novgorod) were stricken by what is believed to be food poisoning.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Alert (New Zealand): The Ministry of Agriculture and Food has opened an investigation into Kaiora New Zealand International, a company that is allegedly selling and exporting Heitiki infant formula. The investigation will focus on food safety concerns, as well as possible breaches of requirements such as labeling, advertising, and claims.
  • Shellfish Safety Advisory (New Zealand): Upper Whangarei Harbour has been closed for gathering shellfish until July 2nd, after high levels of norovirus were found in Whangarei wastewater and the upper harbour during a May 2nd storm.

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.

Recalls and Alerts: May 23, 2011

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 Notification (EU #2011.0672): Sulfathiazole unauthorized in honey from Italy; distributed to the USA and other countries in Europe and Asia.

Europe

  • Food Safety Withdrawal (UK): Snax 4 U withdraws Chicken Tikka Drumsticks (all packs) and Chicken Biryani and Rice Ready Meal (all packs), because the products were manufactured on and supplied by unapproved premises.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Condi ApS recalls Paradise Pepper (Imported from West Africa), because the seeds of Aframomum melegueta are considered to be unacceptable for human consumption.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0664): Defective packaging of cooked poultry meat from Belgium, via the Netherlands; distributed to Denmark.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0665): Salmonella spp. in chilled minced turkey from France; distributed to Belgium and France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0666): Listeria monocytogenes in chilled smoked salmon from Lithuania, via Italy; distributed to Slovenia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0667): Histamine in canned sardines in olive oil from Morocco; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0668): Cadmium in sardines in oil from Morocco; distributed to  Greece.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0669): Cadmium in octopus in water from Greece; distributed to Greece.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0670): Dead insects in dried figs from Turkey; distributed to Poland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0672): Sulfathiazole unauthorized in honey from Italy; distributed to Belgium, Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the USA.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0673): Bone fragments in sausage from Hungary; distributed to the Czech Republic.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2011.0674): Unauthorized tadalafil in food supplement from China; distributed to Norway and Sweden.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0675): Carbon monoxide treatment of farmed yellowtail fillet from Japan; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2011.0676): Unauthorized sildenafil in food supplements from China, via the UK; distributed to Norway.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2011.0677): Unauthorized tadalafil in food supplements from China, via Sweden; distributed to Norway.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2011.0678): Unauthorized sildenafil and tadalafil in food supplement from unknown origin; distributed to Norway.
  • Outbreak Alert (Germany): Uncooked vegetables are suspected to be the source of a dangerous outbreak of Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli across Germany. Two victims of the outbreak have been placed on artificial respirators. Forty people are being treated in Hamburg; Frankfurt reports 10 people hospitalized – 4 of them in intensive care – and an additional 50 people reporting mild symptoms. Cases of the infection also have been reported in Rostock, Lower Saxony, Bremen and Schleswig Holstein.
  • Outbreak Alert (Germany): Fifty-seven patients and 30 employees of the 300-bed Robert Koch Hospital in Gehrden (Hanover) have been infected with norovirus. The source of the infection apparently was an employee in the hospital kitchen. An additional 11 patients and one staff member in the hospital’s sister clinic in Springe also are ill. The hospital kitchen supplies both facilities.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Outbreak Alert (Sudan): An outbreak of diarrhea at the Otash displaced people camp in South Darfur has claimed the lives of ten children daily in three out of 11 centers in the camp.
  • Outbreak Alert (India): Four family members are dead from suspected food poisoning and four other people have been admitted to hospital in critical condition after participating in a family function in Biranwadi village.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0672): Sulfathiazole unauthorized in honey from Italy; distributed to Japan, Thailand and countries in Europe as well as to the USA.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Greens General Foods Pty Ltd. recalls Black & Gold Fruity Rings Breakfast Cereal (300g cardboard box; Best before 23 Mar 2012 and 24 Mar 2012), because the cereal may contain fine wire thread. The recalled products were sold nationally in IGA, Foodworks, Friendly Grocers and other independent supermarkets, and may have been exported.
  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Coles Supermarkets Limited recalls Coles Frooty Rings Breakfast Cereal (300g cardboard box; Best before 22 Feb 2012, 23 Feb 2102, 24 Feb 2012 and 24 Mar 2012), because the cereal may contain wire contamination. The recalled product was distributed nationally to all Coles supermarkets, Bi-Lo and Pick N’ Pay stores.
  • Food Safety News (Australia): An analysis of two samples of human feces fertilizer (also known as ‘night soil’) has revealed traces of an infectious virus, Salmonella and Blastocystis. According to an article in The Sunday Telegraph, fertilizers made from human waste are being used on 20 farms in New South Wales, and may also be in use on vegetable and dairy farms in Queensland.
  • Outbreak Alert (New Zealand): Timaru Hospital (South Canterbury District) has been closed to non-essential visitors while it deals with a suspected outbreak of norovirus in three wards. Fifteen patients and six staff members on these wards have reported suffering from vomiting and/or diarrhea since Saturday.

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.

Recalls and Alerts: May 20, 2011

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: The Arizona Department of Health has mandated a mass recall of Lazy Cakes relaxation brownies after a 2-year old child was rushed to hospital. The toddler fell into a deep sleep after biting into one of the brownies, which contains 8mg of melatonin, a naturally occuring compound that helps to regulate sleep cycles. A typical adult dose of melatonin is 1-3mg.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: Phoenix Import & Distribution LLC recalls Pentrexyl Forte Natural (Exp. 04/14; Lot #102050 and all lots distributed between November 1, 2010 and May 1, 2011), because the packaging is believed to be misleading, causing the product to be confused with an antibiotic.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: American Regent (Shirley, NY) recalls Sterile Water for Injection, USP, 50 mL single-dose vial (Lot 0092; Exp. February 2014), because some of the vials may contain rust-like particulate matter.
  • Food/Water Safety Alert (Alaska): The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services reminds the public that all locally harvested shellfish may contain paralytic shellfish poison (PSP). Alaska does not have a PSP testing program for recreational or subsistence harvested shellfish, and does not certify beaches as PSP-free.
  • Recreational Water Alert (Ohio): Water warnings have been posted at Grand Lake St. Mary, due to an algae bloom. People should not swim or wade in the lake, or touch any of the algae in the lake.
  • Outbreak Alert (California): San Joaquin County has noticed a sharp increase in the number of cases of Campylobacter gastroenteritis – about twice the usual number so far this year. The County Public Health Services has not yet found a common source or specific explanation for this increase. The rise began in 2010, with 233 cases reported, versus 135 cases in 2009.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Health Canada cautions the public that cereal grains such as oats or barley may contain low levels of wheat, because of the way the grains are grown and harvested. Individuals who are allergic to wheat should review package labels carefully to determine whether the product may contain traces of wheat.
  • Allergy Alert: Pâtisserie St-Martin (Laval, QC) recalls Pâté au poulet (chicken pâté), Pâté au saumon (salmon pâté) and Tourtière maison (meat pie), because the products contain undeclared egg and soy.
  • Food Safety Recall: The Tree of Life Canada (Surrey, BC) recalls King James brand Blue Stilton Cheese (Product of England; Lot/Batch numbers between 019 and 034, inclusive), because the cheese may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The cheese was sold to retailers in 2 kg bulk round packages, but may have been cut and sold at retail and deli counters in random weight packages between April 14, 2011 and May 19, 2011. The product was distributed in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland; however it may have been sold nationally.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (France): Magasins U recalls Magasins U brand Pain de Mie extra moelleux (Extra-chewy sandwich bread; Lot 3 256 224 034 261; Best before 27/05/2011), because the bread may contain glass fragments. The recalled bread was sold in Hyper U, Super U, Marché U, U Express, and Utile stores.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Lantmännen Danpo A/S recalls Chicky Cuts, plucked chicken (Product of Belgium; Danpo Batch No. 20110104), because the product contains elevated bacteria levels, which may be due to defective bag seals.
  • Dog Food Safety Recall Update (Finland): VIP Vescor Oy recalls additional batches of Nutritional Balance Dog Food. The recalled batches include 1kg packs (Batch #OW 320, OW 246 and OW 321), 3kg packs (Batch #OW 221, OW 320, OW 321, OX 039 and OX 040) and 15 kg packs (Batch #OW 222, OW 291, OW 312, OW 356, OW 249, OW 336, OX 025 and OX 055). Lab results suggest that rice protein used in the product contains an extraordinary amount of nitrogen.
  • Shellfish Alert (France): Due to the presence of toxic algae in the water, the harvest, sale and consumption of shellfish is prohibited over a large part of the Seine-maritime coastline.
  • Outbreak Alert (UK): Redfield Edge School in Oldland Common has shut two classes after an outbreak of E. coli diarrhea, suspected to be E. coli O157. One child has been hospitalized, two others have received medical treatment, and 25 others have called in sick with diarrhea. The source of the outbreak has not yet been determined.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Australia and New Zealand

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.