Category: outbreaks and alerts

Recalls and Alerts: April 2-4, 2022

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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.

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Chapter 6. Birth of a Pathogen

United States

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: The FDA and the CDC are investigating a multistate outbreak of Norovirus infections associated with eating raw or lightly cooked oysters from Canada. The potentially contaminated oysters were harvested in the south and central parts of Baynes Sound, British Columbia, Canada, were distributed to restaurants and retailers in CA, CO, FL, HI, IL, MA, MN, NJ, NV, NY, OR, TX, and WA.

Allergy Alert: B&G Foods recalls Back to Nature Cheddalicious Cheese Flavored Crackers (6 oz; Best by SEP 05 2022; UPC 8-19898-01491-0) due to undeclared egg and milk.

Canada

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: The PHAC is investigating an outbreak of 279 Norovirus illnesses associated with eating raw or lightly cooked oysters harvested in the south and central parts of Baynes Sound, British Columbia. Illnesses have been reported by British Columbia (262), Alberta (1), Saskatchewan (1), and Ontario (15).

Food Safety Recall: Les Végétaleries (Waterville, QC) recalls VÉGÉPÂTÉ PATATES DOUCES ET TOURNESOL / Sweet potato and sunflower vegetable pâté and HOUMOUS NATURE  / Hummus (225 ml glass jars; Sold up until 4 April 2022) due to potential food safety risk.

Food Safety Recall: Les Aliments Esposito (Montréal, QC) recalls Saumon fumé / Smoked salmon (Variable weights; Sold up until 1 April 2022) due to lack of expiration date information on the packages.

Europe

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE (UK): The FSA and Food Safety Scotland report 12 linked cases of Listeria monocytogenes in England and Scotland since 2020 associated with smoked fish. Six of the outbreak cases were reported since January 2022.

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION (Multiple countries): The UK and multiple EU member states are reporting an outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to Kinder Surprise novelty chocolate products manufactured in Belgium.

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Albert Heijn recalls AH Excellent brand Paastartelettes / Easter biscuits (142g; Best before 07-04-2022) due to undeclared almonds and pistachios.

Allergy Alert (Belgium): SLIGRO FOOD GROUP BELGIUM recalls Bien Sûr brand cornichons aigre-doux en rondelle / Sliced sweet-and-sour pickles (1 kg glass jars; Best before 03/11/23) due to undeclared mustard.

Allergy Alert (Germany): Marmara Import-Export GmbH recalls Marmara Getrocknete Aprikosen / Dried apricots (350g; Lot 340075314 / 1-11-247; Best before 09/2022) due to undeclared sulphur dioxide.

FOOD SAFETY ALERT (Belgium): AFSCA warns consumers to avoid five varieties of Ferrero brand chocolates, including Kinder Surprise (20g and 3 x 20g packages; Best before dates between 11/07/22 and 7/10/22), Kinder Surprise Maxi (Best before dates between 10/08/22 and 10/09/22), Schoko Bons (Best before dates between 10/08/22 and 10/09/22) and Kinder Mini Eggs (Best before dates between 10/08/22 and 10/09/22), as these products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Food Safety Recall (France): SOCIETE FROMAGERE DU LIVRADOIS Cartry recalls Plateau 5 fromages / Tray of five cheeses (Lot 133; Use by 20/04/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): TREGORDIS LECLERC recalls SAUMON FUME / Smoked salmon (packs of 2 slices and 4 slices; Lot 07032022; Use by 28/03/2022) due to presence of histamine.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Ferrero recalls Kinder Surprise novelty chocolate products (20g and 20g x 3 packages; All “best before” dates between 11 July 2022 and 7 October 2022; Product of Belgium) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Ferrero recalls Kinder Surprise novelty chocolate products (20g and 20g x 3 packages; All “best before” dates between 11 July 2022 and 7 October 2022; Product of Belgium) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (New Zealand): Various importers recall Hanami brand Toasted Prawn Crackers (15g, 60g, and 100g foil packets and plastic bags of 12x15g packets; All batch codes and dates) due to undeclared molluscs, milk and soy.

Raw oysters linked to cross-border Norovirus outbreak

Oysters from British Columbia, Canada, have been linked to at least 326 cases of norovirus gastroenteritis since mid-January in four Canadian provinces and two US states.

Image courtesy of Public Health Agency of Canada

Norovirus cases linked to consumption of raw or lightly cooked oysters have been reported in British Columbia (262), Alberta (1), Saskatchewan (1), and Ontario (15), according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

On March 18, 2022, the BC Centre for Disease Control alerted restaurants and retail establishments in the province to “reports of norovirus illness associated with the consumption of raw and lightly cooked oysters,” adding that the province was investigating the illness reports.

The Minnesota Department of Health has confirmed 29 outbreak cases. All twenty-nine victims became ill after eating raw oysters at Travail Kitchen in Robbinsdale, MN on March 20. The oysters served were Stellar Bay Gold oysters harvested on March 10 from Deep Bay 14-8 CLF #1407063 in British Columbia, Canada.

Eighteen residents of Washington reported norovirus-like illness after eating BC oysters from harvest area BC 14-8 since March 7, 2022, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

On February 18, 2022, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced the first in a series of recalls of raw oysters harvested from “Subarea 14-8.” This harvest subarea is located on the east coast of Vancouver Island, and facing the west coast of Denman Island.

Additional recalls were issued through March 2022, expanding the recall to an additional subharvest area (14-15) and to multiple harvest and processing dates.

Consult the following individual recall notices for additional details on harvest dates, lot codes and product distribution.

The outbreak and product traceback investigations are ongoing, and there may be additional recalls. Follow eFoodAlert to stay informed.

What is norovirus?

Norovirus is a common cause of gastrointestinal illness, and is highly contagious. It can be transmitted by eating a contaminated food, or by touching a contaminated surface and then handling food without washing your hands.

Norovirus symptoms can begin as soon as 12 hours after exposure to the virus, and usually consist of diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach cramps. In most cases, the illness is of short duration, lasting just a day or two.

Although the symptoms are of relatively short duration and are self-limiting, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, young children and the elderly are at risk for developing more serious complications, like dehydration.

PHAC recommends:

  • Do not eat, use, sell, or serve the recalled oysters. 
  • Avoid eating raw or undercooked oysters to reduce your risk of foodborne illness and follow proper food handling practices. 
  • Cook oysters to an internal temperature of 90° Celsius (194° Fahrenheit) for a minimum of 90 seconds.
  • Discard any oysters that did not open while cooking.
  • Eat oysters right away after cooking and refrigerate leftovers.
  • Always keep raw and cooked oysters separate to avoid cross-contamination. 
  • Do not use the same plate or utensils for raw and cooked shellfish, and wash counters and utensils with soap and warm water after preparation.
  • Wash your hands well with soap before and after handling any food. Be sure to clean and sanitize cutting boards, counters, knives and other utensils after preparing raw foods.

If you develop symptoms of norovirus

  • Thoroughly clean contaminated surfaces, and disinfect using chlorine bleach, especially after an episode of illness.
  • After vomiting or diarrhea, immediately remove and wash clothing or linens that may be contaminated with the virus (use hot water and soap).
  • If you have been diagnosed with norovirus illness or any other gastrointestinal illness, do not prepare food or pour drinks for other people while you have symptoms, and for the first 48 hours after you recover.

Find more information on the risks associated with eating raw and undercooked food in TAINTED. From Farm Gate to Dinner Plate, Fifty Years of Food Safety Failures, available in digital, print and audiobook editions.

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

Belgian chocolate linked to UK Salmonella cases

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) are alerting consumers to potential Salmonella contamination in certain batches of Kinder Surprise chocolates, according to a joint news release by the two agencies.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), in cooperation with partners in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, have documented an unspecified number of Salmonella cases across the UK that appear to be associated with the novelty item.

A number of the reported cases are in young children, according to the FSA.

Ferrero has recalled Kinder Surprise 20g and Kinder Surprise 20g x3 with best before dates between 11th July 2022 and 7th October 2022.

The recalled products were manufactured in a single factory in Belgium and were distributed in the UK and in the Republic of Ireland.

A Kinder Surprise consists of a hollow milk-chocolate egg surrounding a plastic capsule, which contains a small toy.

The FSA is advising consumers not to eat any of the products listed in the FSA alert, and urges parents and guardians of children to check if any products already in their home are affected by this recall.

The UKHSA offers the following advice to the public:

“Symptoms of salmonellosis typically resolve themselves within a few days. However, symptoms can be more severe, especially in young children and those with weakened immune systems. Anybody with concerns that they have symptoms of salmonellosis should contact their GP or call NHS 111. Salmonella can be spread from person to person, so anyone affected should adhere to good hygiene practice such as washing hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and avoiding handling food for others where possible, if you have symptoms.”

You can find additional background information on a prior Salmonella outbreak associated with chocolate novelty products in Chapter 15 of TAINTED. From Farm Gate to Dinner Plate, Fifty Years of Food Safety Failures. Order the digital or audiobook editions from your favorite on-line retailer, or purchase the paperback or hardcover edition from Amazon.

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