Category: outbreaks and alerts

OUTBREAK ALERT AND PRODUCT RECALL: Listeria monocytogenes in pre-cooked chicken

One person is dead and two more have been hospitalized in a multi-state outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes according to a report released last night and updated today by the US Centers for Disease Contol and Prevention (CDC).

All three outbreak victims were either living in a long-term care facility or were already hospitalized at the time they became infected.

Two of the cases, including the single fatality, are in Texas. The remaining case is in Delaware.

Victims range in age from 60 to 95, with a median age of 89 years old. Two of the three are male.

The CDC warns that the true number of infected people may be higher, and the outbreak may not be limited to Texas and Delaware.

The outbreak strain was recovered from two samples of precooked chicken products during routine sampling conducted by the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

One of the positive samples was produced by Tyson Foods Inc. in Dexter, MO. The producer of the second sample to test positive for the outbreak strain has not yet been named.

Tyson recalls 4,246 TONS of pre-cooked chicken products

Tyson has recalled approximately 8,492,832 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken products produced between December 26, 2020 and April 13, 2021 and bearing the establishment number, EST. P-7089.

The recalled products include frozen, fully cooked chicken strips, diced chicken, chicken wing sections, and fully cooked pizza with chicken and were sold under multiple brand names, including: Tyson, Jet’s Pizza, Casey’s General Store, Marco’s Pizza, and Little Caesars.

These items were shipped nationwide to retailers and institutions, including hospitals, nursing facilities, restaurants, schools and Department of Defense locations. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Consumers and food handlers should take additional care when preparing dishes that included pre-cooked chicken, especially when the food will be offered to the elderly or to immunocompromised individuals, including pregnant women.

What businesses need to know

  • Do not serve or sell recalled products.
  • Long-term care facilities, hospitals, and other facilities that serve people at higher risk for severe Listeria illness should take extra precautions. Listeria is particularly harmful to people who are 65 years or older, pregnant, or have a weakened immune system.
  • All of the sick people in this outbreak ate foods served at a long-term care facility or hospital.
  • Follow USDA-FSIS guidelines to prevent the spread and growth of Listeria.

What consumers need to know

  • Do not eat any recalled products. Throw them away or return them to where you bought them.
  • Follow these five steps to clean your refrigerator, containers, and surfaces that may have touched the recalled products. Listeria can survive in the refrigerator and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.
  • Call your healthcare provider right away if you have these symptoms after eating recalled products.
    • If you are pregnant: Fever and muscle aches. Your illness may be mild, but Listeria can cause pregnancy loss or premature birth. It can also cause serious illness or death in newborns.
    • If you are not pregnant: Headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, in addition to fever and muscle aches.

Recalls and Alerts: June 29-30, 2021

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.

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations? Click on the TAINTED menu at the top of the page to read a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital or print copy to your personal library.

United States

Food Safety Recall (Indiana): Merkley & Sons Packing Co. recalls Ground Beef, 80% Lean (1-lb & 5-lb pkgs; Sold between June 7 and June 24) due to possible E. coli contamination. 

Pet Treat Safety Recall: Manna Pro Products, LLC recalls Flock Party Quack Snacks poultry treats (1.68 pound bags; Best by 12/2023) due to potential Salmonella contamination.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Little Saigon Kitchen Ltd. recalls Little Saigon brand Spring Rolls (454g; No batch codes; UPC 6 10708 02775 1) due to undeclared wheat.

Food Safety Recall: Lelièvre, Lelièvre & Lemoignan ltée. recalls Homards cuits / Cooked lobsters (30 lb; Batch code 172-21; Packed on date 21 juin 2021) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Le restaurant chez Papa recalls CHILI GARLIC SAUCE (Sold up to and including 28 June 2021) due to lack of mandatory label instruction to keep the product refrigerated.

Food Safety Recall: Boulangerie Acadia recalls multiple baked goods that were manufactured and packaged under conditions that could render them unsafe to consume. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Europe

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION (Finland): One hundred or more children in Finland have been infected with Salmonella in an outbreak that appears to be associated with their attendance at various day care facilities. Authorities have ruled out local drinking water or swimming water as the source of the outbreak.

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Momento recalls Momento brand Tiramisu Speculoos and Tiramisu Oreo Crumble (110g; Expiration date 09/12/2021) due to undeclared wheat and soya and undeclared soya, respectively.

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Carrefour recalls Carrefour brand Nouilles Royales / noodles (350g; Lot #215168 B912; Use by 10/07/2021) due to undeclared wheat, eggs, shellfish, soy and anchovies.

Allergy Alert Update (Belgium) Biofresh Belgium recalls Happy Mrs Jersey brand “Nuts about Pistache” crème glacée bio / Pistachio organic ice cream (480 ml; Lots 01/2023 04121 and L04121 03/2023) due to undeclared nuts and cashews.

Allergy Alert (France): CJV DISTRIBUTION recalls LA Glace brand CREME GLACÉE CHOCOLAT NOIR / Dark chocolate ice cream (600g; Pack date 20.04.2021; Use by 16/10/2021) due to undeclared soy.

Allergy Alert (Ireland): Certain bakery products are recalled due to undeclared egg, milk, soybeans, sulphur dioxide and sulphites and cereals containing gluten. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Austria): EatHappy ToGo Österreich GmbH recalls Poké Bowl Lachs / Salmon Poké Bowl (Use by 23.06.2021) due to Listeria contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Rømer Vegan recalls Rømer Vegan Nuggets Økologisk / Organic vegan nuggets (250g; Best before 19/07/2021, 21/07/2021, 26/07/2021) due to mold contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Finland): Oy Pågen Ab recalls Wheat buns filled with Pågen Vanillas (Best before June 29-July 7, 2021) due to possible premature spoilage.

Food Safety Recall (Finland): Atria Suomi Oy recalls Sibylla Mayo Valkosipuli / Garlic Mayonnaise (280 ml; Best before 12.10.2021) due to possible premature spoilage.

Food Safety Recall (France): SICA VIANDES PAYS recalls Le Fleuron brand JAMBON SUPERIEUR AC X 2 / Superior ham (2 slices/pkg; Lot #51173012; Use by 27/07/2021) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Iceland): Essen AlHasnaA recalls Essen AlHasnaA brand Premium Class – Roter Wassermelonenkerne / Red Watermelon Seeds (300g; Best before 31.12.2022; Product of Lebanon) due to aflatoxin contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Iceland): Government orders recall of Shirin brand Rose Leaf Tea (40g; Best before 20.12.2022; Product of Iran) due to foreign matter contamination.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Food Safety Recall (Israel): Unilever Israel recalls French vanilla cremeissimo / Ice cream (1.33L; Use by 12/10/22 and 13/10/22) due to foreign matter (plastic particles) contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (New Zealand): Gluten Free Holdings Ltd recalls Pavillion brand Beef and Gravy Pies (360g; Best before 16AUG22) due to undeclared milk.

Recalls and Alerts: June 24-25, 2021

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.

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations? Click on the TAINTED menu at the top of the page to read a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital or print copy to your personal library.

United States

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: CDC reports six confirmed cases of Salmonella Weltevreden infections in Arizona (2) and Nevada (4), with two hospitalized. The outbreak has been linked to consumption of frozen, cooked shrimp supplied by Avanti Frozen Foods.

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE: CDC reports 474 Salmonella infections (311 new), 103 hospitalizations and one death linked to contact with or handling of backyard poultry. Outbreak cases have been reported in 46 states.

Public Health Alert: FDA advises consumers not to purchase or eat Little Hatch’s ready to eat Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip, Queso, Spicy Queso, Roasted Chili Salsa Medium and Roasted Chili Salsa Hot sold in 13.5 oz or 14 oz containers due to a possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The FDA is issuing this alert because the agency is concerned with the firm’s ongoing Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Avanti Frozen Foods Pvt. Ltd recalls certain consignments of various sizes of frozen cooked, peeled, deveined, shrimp (with some packaged with cocktail sauce) sold in various unit sizes, due to potential Salmonella contamination after the company’s product was associated with an outbreak of Salmonella Weltevreden infections. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Dole Diversified North America, Inc. recalls multiple package sizes and lot codes of Dole™ Fresh Blueberries due to potential Cyclospora contamination.

Canada

Allergy Alert Update: Searay Foods Inc. recalls Thai Best brand Thailand Black Tiger Shrimp Size 16-20 (see recall notice for packaging and lot code details) due to undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert Update: Nestlé Canada Inc. recalls Nestlé brand Drumstick Vanilla Chocolate Swirl Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert Cones (4 x 120 ml; Batch code 10530375; Best before 2022-FE-22; UPC 0 55000 38384 4) due to undeclared milk.

Food Safety Recall: Save-On-Foods LP recalls Dole brand Fresh Packed Blueberries (multiple pack sizes and lot codes) due to potential Cyclospora contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Phoenicia Group Inc. recalls Al-Rabih brand Halva / Halawa – Plain / Traditional (454g; Lot #184 34520; Best before 01/DE/22; UPC 7 70338 10055 9) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Carrefour Market – groupe Mestdagh recalls Brochette de mini boulettes / mini meatballs on skewers (All lots; All expirations dates up to 26/06/2021) due to undeclared egg.

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Colruyt recalls boucherie Colruyt salade de poulet / chicken salad (Use by 05/07/2021) due to undeclared soy.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Markey vleeshandel NV recalls Markey brand araignée fumé / smoked beef (~1-1.5 kg; Lot #21210043; Expiration date 02/09/2021) and Markey brand Bacon fumé / smoked bacon (12 slices/package; Lot #21210043; Expiration date 20/07/2021) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Sushi Ran B.V. recalls various sushi products due to foreign matter (glass particles) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (France): Comme des Papas recalls Comme des Papas brand Parmentier petit pois poulet 12 mois / Puréed chicken and peas, baby food for 12 months (200g; Lot #14082021; Use by 14/08/2021) due to possible foreign matter (small piece of glass) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): CRUSTA C recalls Crevettes entières cuites réfrigérées calibre 20/30 / Whole cooked refrigerated shrimp, 20/30 size (2 kg; Lot #9211650230; Use by 24/06/2021) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SAINT PIERRE U express Die recalls Merguez sausages (Lot #1 11250207; Use by 21/05/2021) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SAINT PIERRE U express Die recalls Chipolatas sausages (Lot #4 171130; Use by 21/05/2021) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): EARL GOUPIL recalls Ferme de la Heurtaudière brand beurre / butter (250g; Lot #04.07.21; Use by 04/07/2021) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): EURL YASAR BOUCHERIE YASAR recalls FABRICATION MAISON brand SAUCISSE DE VOLAILLE CRUE / Raw poultry sausages (Lots 9351115800, F1096001 and Batch/21/0321) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): FINIMAINE SUPER U recalls FOURNISSEUR HOMARD ATLANTIQUE brand LONGE DE THON ALBACORE / Albacore tuna filet (Lot 39; Use by 12/06/2021) due to histamine contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): ETABLISSEMENTS NEAU recalls Pierre Neau brand Saumon irlandais fumé bio / Organic Irish smoked salmon (2 slices/pkg and 4 slices/pkg; Lot #111310026; Use by 12/06/2021 and 15/06/2021) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): NATURALIA FRANCE recalls NATURALIA brand SALADE DE LENTILLES CORAIL, RAISINS ET SARRASIN GRILLE / Coral, lentil, raisins and grilled buckwheat salad (200g; Lot #A21159; Use by 26/06/2021) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): LA FROMAGERIE DU QUERCY recalls LA FROMAGERIE DU QUERCY brand ROCAMADOUR AOP cheese (3 x 35g; Lot 131-1; Best before 24/06/2021) due to possible E. coli O26 contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): LEVIGNAL INTERMARCHE recalls fabrication maison brand Merguez sausage (Lot BF 1939202341/AG 50494; Use by 15/06/2021) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Food Safety Authority of Ireland announces recall of HELIO Sezam łuskany / Shelled sesame seeds (200g; Batch code 65112; Best before 30/09/2022) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Delhaize recalls Bijin sushi (204g; All Best before dates up to and including 25/06/2021) and Ichiban sushi (373g; All Best before dates up to and including 25/06/2021) due to possible foreign matter (pieces of glass) contamination.

Pet Food Safety Recall (UK-Wales specific): Happy Hounds Wales Ltd recalls certain types of frozen raw dog food due to Salmonella contamination.