Category: outbreaks and alerts

Recalls and Alerts: February 11-13, 2023

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: Daiso California LLC  recalls multiple snacks due to undeclared milk, soy, wheat, or tree nuts (almonds, cashew, or coconut). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products. The prepackaged snacks were sold in Daiso stores in California, Washington, Nevada, Texas, New York, and New Jersey.

Advertisements

Canada

Allergy Alert: MacMillan’s Specialty Foods recalls MacMillan’s Specialty Foods brand McCain 3/8″ Staycrisp Straight Cut Fries (2.04 kg; UPC 1 89987 76455 3; All batch codes where wheat is not declared on the label) due to undeclared gluten and wheat. The recalled product was sold in Ontario.

Food Safety Recall: Le Fromage au Village Inc. recalls Le Fromage au Village Inc. brand Le Cru du Clocher raw milk cheddar cheese (160g (UPC 6 73536 00051 8) and variable weights (no UPC); All lots manufactured prior to 10 AL 2022) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled products have been sold in Ontario, Quebec, online and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories.

Food Safety Recall: Les Délices Normandie inc. (Lévis, QC) recalls Delices brand Saumon fume a chaud / Hot-smoked salmon (Variable weights; Sold up to 13 February 2023) due to lack of correct storage temperature labeling.

Advertisements

Europe

OUTBREAK UPDATE (UK): UK Public Health advises that reports of Norovirus infections are 66% higher than the average incidence for this time of year. The biggest increase has been seen in the 65+ age group. The number of outbreaks caused by Norovirus have increased in hospitals, schools and care homes, with the majority of outbreaks reported in care home settings.

Allergy Alert (Germany): Dirk Rossmann GmbH recalls enerBiO Kartoffel-Pilz-Taler / Organic potato crisps (100g; Lot 220141301; Best before 31.12.2023) due to undeclared soy.

Allergy Alert (Italy): Bonduelle Italia srl recalls Minestrone ricco con passato surgelato / Rich minestrone with frozen purée (750g; Multiple lot codes; Use by dates from 09/23 to 11/24) due to undeclared celery.

Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Ardo A/S recalls REMA1000 Lækkert & Nemt Grøntsagbund / Delicious & Easy Vegetable Base (500g; Lot L 02-11-2022; Best before 01.11.2024) due to foreign matter contamination (hard yellow plastic pieces).

Food Safety Recall (France): GAEC DU BOSQUET recalls Beurre doux Le Bosquet brand beurre demi-sel cru / Reduced salt butter from raw milk (125g; Lot 04/02; Use by 04/02/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): PEDONE GLACIER recalls PEDONE GLACIER brand Crème glacée SESAME NOIR / Black sesame ice cream (1,5L and 4,75L; Lots 220819, 220914 and 221013; Best before dates between 01/08/2024 and 01/11/2024) due to possible foreign matter contamination (small metal particles).

Food Safety Recall (France): SOCIETE LAITIERE DE VICHY recalls SOCIETE LAITIERE DE VICHY brand gaperon de chèvre au lait pasteurisé / Pasteurized goat cheese (200g; All lots) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SOCIETE LAITIERE DE VICHY recalls SOCIETE LAITIERE DE VICHY brand gaperon de brebis au lait pasteurisé / Pasteurized sheep cheese (300g; All lots) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): MH – Lebensmittel recalls Halva with Pistachios (375g; Lot BN21520523; Best before 22.12.2023) due to Salmonella contamination.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Food Safety Recall (Israel): Telfrost recalls Cut green beans (800g; Use by 05/29/2024), Season’s pick (1 kg; Use by 10/08/2024) and Spinach medallions (1 kg; Use by 08/08/2024) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

TAINTED formats 3
“Reads like a true crime novel” – Food Safety News

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations?

Click on the link to listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.

Chapter 6. Birth of a Pathogen

TAINTED is available in digital format from all major on-line retailers. Press the button to go directly to your preferred digital bookstore.

Amazon
Apple
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Smashwords
Chapters/Indigo
Advertisements

Recalls and Alerts: February 7-8, 2023

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 INVESTIGATION (UPDATE): FDA issues Warning Letter to J.M. Smucker LLC in response to the company’s proposed corrective actions undertaken following an investigation that linked Jif Peanut Butter to an outbreak of 21 confirmed Salmonella Senftenberg illnesses in 2022.

Allergy Alert: Titans Global Inc. recalls “JSJ Chocolate Cake”, “JSJ ZSR Cake”, “JSJ DMC Leaf Cake” food treats (95g; Lot 20221108B; Production date 2022/11/08) due to undeclared egg.

Allergy Alert: FSIS issues Public Health Alert for ready-to-eat smoked pork Linguica link sausages due to undeclared milk. Please refer to the Alert notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert: Pilgrim’s Roasted Nut’Z recalls multiple products due to undeclared milk, soy, and/or walnut. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Pet Food Safety Recall: Royal Canin USA Inc recalls Royal Canin Veterinary Feline Renal Support F (6.6 lb (3 kg); Lot 242B4RCR04 with time stamps  00:00 – 07:06; Best by 04/17/2024) because some bags may contain a different product. This recall was initiated on 1/23/2023, and has been classified as Class II. No public recall notice was issued.

Pet Food Safety Recall: Nestlé Purina Petcare Company recalls Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EL Elemental (8 lb & 20 lb; UPC 38100 19190 & 38100 19192, respectively; 1st 8 characters of production code equals 2249 1082, 2250 1082, 2276 1082, 2277 1082, 2290 1082, 2360 1082 & 2361 1082) due to potentially elevated Vitamin D. The company has received reports of two separate confirmed cases of a dog exhibiting signs of vitamin D toxicity after consuming the diet, to date. Once taken off the diet, each of these dogs recovered.

Advertisements

Canada

Enforcement Action: CFIA suspends Safe Food for Canadians license #9DM4P9DP, issued to Le Fromage au Village Inc. (Lorrainville, QC), due to the “…absence of adequate corrective measures to prevent the risk of Listeria monocytogenes contamination.” Cheeses from this manufacturer have been the subject of several recalls in recent weeks. Until the license has been reinstated, the company may not conduct any activity for which SFC licence #9DM4P9DP was issued.

Advertisements

Europe

Allergy Alert (France): COOPERATIVE U recalls U SAVEURS brand TERRINE DE CAMPAGNE / Country style terrine (~180g; Lot 30250041; Use by 24/02/2023) due to undeclared egg.

AllergyAlert (Italy): Motta S.R.L. recalls Il tagliere del Re brand Prosciutto cotto Alta Qualita / High quality cooked ham (750g; Lot L225139; Use by 21/02/2023) due to undeclared soy.

Allergy Alert (Italy): GLG srl recalls multiple varieties of tiramisu and mousse due to undeclared allergens. Please refer to the Italy recall page for a complete recall list.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Dirk recalls Bakker van der Akker Vloerbrood Meergranen / Whole grain bread (Best before 07-02-2023) due to undeclared sesame.

Allergy Alert (UK): Vegan Store recalls Go Max Go Buccaneer Candy Bar (57g; Best before 24 April 2023) due to undeclared peanuts.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): LDC recalls Le Gaulois brand Grignottes “EXTRA” Mexican / Mexican-style nuggets (250g; Lot 026; Use by 17/02/2023) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SOCIETE FROMAGERE DU LIVRADOIS recalls L’GAPERON FICELLE DU TOINE & L’GAPERON DU TOINE cheeses (All lots; Use by dates between 06/12/2022 and 23/03/2023 or between 26/11/2022 and 22/02/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): GAEC SERVAIN DE VOS recalls Les Vaches de Fadainville brand Beurre cru doux / Sweet butter made from raw milk (250g; Use by 14/02/2023 & 16/02/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): GAEC SERVAIN DE VOS recalls Les Vaches de Fadainville brand Beurre cru demi-sel / Reduced-salt (2%) butter made from raw milk (250g; Use by 14/02/2023 & 16/02/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): GAEC SERVAIN DE VOS recalls Les Vaches de Fadainville brand Crème crue / Raw milk cream (250 ml & 500 ml; Use by 13/02/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SOCIETE LAITIERE DE VICHY recalls SOCIETE LAITIERE DE VICHY brand COMTESSE DE VICHY LAIT CRU / Raw milk cheese (180g; All lots) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): PURE SALMON FRANCE recalls Neutre brand Pavés mi-cuits ail des ours & Pavés mi-cuits nature / Part-cooked salmon with wild garlic and Part-cooked plain salmon (6 x 125g; Lot 053-0312; Use by 01/03/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SILVE NETTO recalls NETTO brand Croc’ poulet rôtis / Roast chicken croc’ (250g; Lot 27; Use by 18/02/2023) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SILVE INTERMARCHE  recalls VOLAE brand Grignottes de poulet rôties Grignotte de poulet saveur barbecue / BBQ-flavor roast chicken nuggets (250g; Lot 27; Use by 18/02/2023) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Tradition Emotion recalls Tomette des Alpes cheese (200g; Lots 012722347, 012722357, 012722361 & 012723003; Use by dates up to 17.03.2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Romania): SC FIRENZE COM S.R.L recalls Figurine de Crăciun din ciocolată fină cu lapte / Christmas figurines made of fine milk chocolate (100g & 10g; Lots 17.05.2023 & 11.05.2023) due to foreign matter contamination (plastic).

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (Australia): Calbee Australia recalls Calbee Harvest Snaps Vegemite (200g; Best before 28.08.23 and 29.08.23) due to undeclared gluten.

TAINTED formats 3
“Reads like a true crime novel” – Food Safety News

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations?

Click on the link to listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.

Chapter 6. Birth of a Pathogen

TAINTED is available in digital format from all major on-line retailers. Press the button to go directly to your preferred digital bookstore.

Amazon
Apple
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Smashwords
Chapters/Indigo
Advertisements

Honey Smacks manufacturer pleads guilty to food safety violations

Kerry, Inc., manufacturer of the breakfast cereal that was responsible for a 2018 Salmonella outbreak that sent thirty-four victims to hospital, has pled guilty in federal court to a charge that it manufactured the cereal under insanitary conditions.

The contaminated Kellogg’s Honey Smacks breakfast cereal caused 135 confirmed illnesses in 36 states.

According to a news release from the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the company has agreed to pay a criminal fine and forfeiture amount totaling $19,228,000.

The plea agreement has not yet been accepted by the court.

According to the DOJ’s news release, if the agreement is accepted, “…the $19.228 million fine and forfeiture will constitute the largest-ever criminal penalty following a criminal conviction in a food safety case.”

The company shut down operations at its Gridley, Illinois, facility in December 2018 due to a drop in demand for the products manufactured at that location.

In October 2022, Ravi Kumar Chermala, Kerry’s former Quality Assurance Director, pled guilty to three misdemeanor counts of introducing adulterated food into Interstate Commerce.

Kerry Inc. released a statement on February 3, 2023, in which the company regretted “…the unacceptable practices and failures that occurred at Gridley.”

Advertisements

On the Q-T

The FDA’s investigation into this Salmonella outbreak–and the subsequent actions taken against the manufacturer–have been surrounded by a veil of silence from the beginning.

Honey Smacks cereal was manufactured by Kerry Inc. under a third-party contract with the Kellogg Company. At the time of the initial investigation, the FDA declined to reveal the name of the manufacturer it believed to be responsible for the Salmonella outbreak.

It was only after the CDC had declared the outbreak to be over that the FDA revealed the name of the manufacturer.

The FDA also declined to identify the Salmonella serotype it had discovered during the inspection of Kerry’s manufacturing facility and declined to reveal whether the strain it found was a genetic match to the strain recovered from outbreak victims.

In July 2018, Kerry initiated a recall of 82 tons of Soy Honey Cluster. Two days later, General Mills recalled six production batches of Cheerios Protein Oats and Honey cereal. In both cases, the potential for Salmonella contamination was given as the reason for the recall. Yet, no public notice was posted on the FDA website in either case.

What next?

The next step in this process will be for the Court to decide whether or not to accept the plea agreement.

The case has been assigned to U.S. District Court Judge James E. Shadid and Magistrate Judge Jonathan E. Hawley in Peoria, Illinois, and a sentencing date of March 14, 2023, has been set.

Information regarding upcoming court hearings or other significant developments in the case will be posted on the DOJ’s Information for Victims in Large Cases website.

TAINTED formats 3
“Reads like a true crime novel” – Food Safety News

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations?

Click on the link to listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.

Chapter 6. Birth of a Pathogen

TAINTED is available in digital format from all major on-line retailers. Press the button to go directly to your preferred digital bookstore.

Amazon
Apple
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Smashwords
Chapters/Indigo