Category: pet food

Recalls and Alerts: February 1 – 3, 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? Go to TAINTED to download the first couple of chapters of my new book.

United States

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: CDC is investigating a deadly outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in Arkansas (6), New York (1), Oklahoma (5), Virginia (2) and Washington (2). One person has died in Washington state, and nine have been hospitalized in this five-state outbreak, which appears to have begun on December 23, 2020. Three of the outbreak victims have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. CDC has not yet established what food(s) might be behind these infections. The outbreak strain has previous been associated with various sources, including romaine lettuce, recreational water and ground beef.

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE: FDA continues to investigate the source of two Salmonella outbreaks, including an outbreak of seven Salmonella Potsdam illnesses and 60 Salmonella Miami illnesses. No specific food products have been linked to the illnesses as yet.

Public Health Alert: USDA issues a public health alert because raw beef product (~2-lb trays; Packed dates JAN 28 2021 through JAN 31 2021) produced by Greater Omaha Packing Co. Inc., an Omaha, Neb. establishment, may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. 

Food Safety Recall: Williams Valley Family Farm LLC recalls raw (unpasteurized) milk (1/2 gal and 1 gal sizes; Best By 2/08 through 2/17) due to shigatoxin-producing E. coli contamination.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Aurpal Inc. recalls Rougié brand Duck Foie Gras (80g; Lot 620307002; Expiry 2022MA03) due to undeclared milk.

Food Safety Recall: Les 400 Pieds de champignon inc. recalls Sauce crémeuse aux champignons sans lactose / Lactose-free creamy mushroom sauce (Large; Production dates up to and including 29 January 2021) and Sauce spaghetti aux champignons / Spaghetti sauce with mushrooms (Large; No date indicated) because the items were manufactured and packaged under conditions that may render them unsafe to consume.

Food Safety Recall: Solstice Ciderworks recalls Solstice Ciderworks brand Ciders due to leaking cans. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of recalled products.

Food Safety Recall: Sobeys Inc. recalls Panache brand Sweet Onion Poppy Seed Dressing (350 ml; Best before 2021 OC 16 and 2021 OC 30; UPC 6 23682 1222 9) due to spoilage.

Food Safety Recall: Service traiteur Mi Dunu recalls two pepper products because the items were manufactured and packaged under conditions that may render them unsafe to consume. Please refer to the recall notice for a list of the affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Marché d’alimentation Vallée (Marché Richelieu) recalls Poulet désossé cuit maison / Home-style cooked deboned chicken (500 ml glass jars; Sold up to and including 3 February 2021) due to lack of “Keep refrigerated” label instruction.

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Europe

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Colruyt recalls New York Bakery Original Bagel (4 x 85 g; Best before 03/02/2021) due to undeclared sesame seeds.

Allergy Alert (UK): Waitrose recalls Waitrose brand Patisserie Carrot Cake Muffin 2S (Best before 05 February 2021) due to undeclared walnuts.

Allergy Alert (UK): Pasta Evangelists recalls Fresh Basil Pesto (140g; Use by 03 February 2021) due to undeclared pistachios.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Biofresh Belgium recalls Your Organic Nature brand Jus de pommes concentré / Concentrated apple juice (750 ml; Best before 09.2022) due to foreign matter (pieces of glass) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Banin bread recalls Banin brand breads (All breads produced from 22.01.2021 to 27.01.2021) because the products were manufactured under unsanitary conditions.

Food Safety Recall (France): LA TOQUE ANGEVINE recalls Auchan brand Pizza 3 fromages BIO  / Organic 3-cheese pizza (380g; Use by 14/02/2021) due to possible Listeria contamination.

Pet Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Maxi Zoo recalls Multifit kyllingehals til hunde / Chicken necks for dogs (200g; Batch #261020; Best before 28.04.2022) due to Salmonella contamination.

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Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Allergy Alert Update (Israel): Hashahar Haole Company recalls Hashahar Haole brand Hazelnut spread with cocoa (350g; All expiry dates up to and including 6.7.22) due to undeclared sesame.

Food Safety Recall Update (Israel): Meir Bagel Co. recalls Classic Grissini Crumbs (200g; Batches 29420 and 29520; Sell by 20/10/2021 and 21/10/2021) due to foreign matter (small plastic chips) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Israel): Delicious Artisanеl Company Ltd. recalls Chorizo Sausage Stick (Expiry dates 4/06/21 – 13/06/21 inclusive), Rosette Sausage Stick (Expiry dates 4/06/21 – 13/06/21 inclusive) and French Sausage Stick (Expiry dates 4/06/21 – 13/06/21 inclusive) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Israel): Hod Maadan Shem Haorez Textboss Ltd. recalls New York corned beef brand smoked, sliced and spiced beef breast (Expiry date 13.02.2021) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Delmaine Fine Foods Ltd recalls Delmaine Fine Foods brand Cocktail Onions (400g glass jar; Batch no. 2010041; Best before  03/10/2023) due to foreign matter (pieces of glass) contamination.

Sportmix Pet Food aflatoxin recall now international in scope – Updated January 26, 2021

Aflatoxin-contaminated pet foods may have been exported to as many as thirty-five (35) countries, according to an update on the Midwestern Pet Foods aflatoxin investigation released today by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Damage Done

The FDA is now aware of more than 110 dogs that died and more than 210 pets that became sick after having eaten a Sportmix pet food.

Although the vast majority of the case reports involve dogs, the FDA has received a couple of reports of sick cats, according to an agency spokesperson.

Not all of these cases have been officially confirmed as aflatoxin poisoning through laboratory testing or veterinary record review, according to the FDA.

Reports submitted only to the pet food manufacturer are not shared with FDA and are not a part of this count. 

The Recall

On January 11, 2021, Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. expanded an earlier recall to encompass “all pet foods containing corn and manufactured in the company’s Oklahoma plant, and having an expiration date on or before July 9, 2022.”

The list of recalled products includes multiple lot numbers of the following items:

  • Pro Pac Adult Mini Chunk
  • Pro Pac Performance Puppy
  • Splash Fat Cat 32%
  • Nunn Better Maintenance
  • Sportstrail 50
  • Sportmix Original Cat 15
  • Sportmix Original Cat 31
  • Sportmix Maintenance 44
  • Sportmix Maintenance 50
  • Sportmix High Protein 50
  • Sportmix Energy Plus 44
  • Sportmix Energy Plus 50
  • Sportmix Stamina 44
  • Sportmix Stamina 50
  • Sportmix Bite Size 40
  • Sportmix Bite Size 44
  • Sportmix High Energy 44
  • Sportmix High Energy 50
  • Sportmix Premium Puppy 16.5
  • Sportmix Premium Puppy 33

According to the recall notice, the affected products were distributed nationally to online distributors and retail stores nationwide. 

The FDA has since determined that one or more of the recalled products may have been exported to the following countries: Bahrain, Barbados, Chile, Costa Rica, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Polynesia, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Singapore, Taiwan, Trinidad, Ukraine, UAE, Uruguay, and Vietnam.

The State of the States

Several state departments of agriculture are aiding the FDA in its response to the aflatoxin contamination by monitoring the effectiveness of the recall at the retail level and by testing samples of Midwestern’s products.

Several states, including Arkansas, Kansas and New Mexico and Washington, are in the process of analyzing multiple Midwestern Pet Foods samples for the presence of aflatoxin.

As of the end of last week, New Mexico had tested twelve samples, eleven of which were negative for aflatoxin. A sample of Sportmix Original Cat Food (Lot: EXP 04/29/22/05/L3/B167 14:21) contained 46 parts per billion (ppb) of aflatoxin, according to a Department of Agriculture spokesperson.

Kansas has completed testing on three samples, according to a spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Two of the samples did not contain aflatoxin; however, a third sample contained, on average, ~80 ppb, which is approximately four times the FDA’s 20 ppb action level for aflatoxin in pet food.

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What Pet Owners Should Do

If your pet has symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning, contact a veterinarian immediately. Even pets without symptoms may have suffered liver damage, so you may want to contact your veterinarian if your pet has eaten any of the recalled products. Provide a full diet history to your veterinarian. You may find it helpful to take a picture of the pet food label, including the lot number.

Don’t feed the recalled products to your pets or any other animal. Contact the company listed on the package for further instructions or throw the products away in a way that children, pets and wildlife cannot access them. Sanitize pet food bowls, scoops, and storage containers using bleach, rinsing well afterwards with water, and drying thoroughly.

There is no evidence to suggest that pet owners who handle products containing aflatoxin are at risk of aflatoxin poisoning. However, pet owners should always wash their hands after handling any pet food.

You can report suspected illness to the FDA electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling your state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators. It’s most helpful if you can work with your veterinarian to submit your pet’s medical records as part of your report. For an explanation of the information and level of detail that would be helpful to include in a complaint to the FDA, please see How to Report a Pet Food Complaint.

What Veterinarians Should Do

The FDA urges veterinarians treating aflatoxin poisoning to ask their clients for a diet history. We also welcome case reports, especially those confirmed through diagnostic testing. You can submit these reports electronically through the FDA Safety Reporting Portal or by calling your state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators. For an explanation of the information and level of detail that would be helpful to include in a complaint to the FDA, please see How to Report a Pet Food Complaint.

Lawsuits Filed

At least two class action suits already have been filed against Midwestern Pet Foods by pet owners, alleging their dogs were poisoned by the company’s products.

Recalls and Alerts: January 21 – 23, 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? Go to TAINTED to download the first couple of chapters of my new book.

United States

Allergy Alert: Door County Coffee & Tea Co recalls French Vanilla Flavored Cappuccino Single Serve Cups (5.1 oz; Lot codes 1C092220-2 & 1C120220-A; Expiry dates 9/22/2022 & 12/2/2022, respectively) due to undeclared milk and soy.

Allergy Alert: Frito-Lay recalls Ruffles Original Potato Chips, “Party Size” (13 1/2 oz; Both “Guaranteed Fresh” date and price of 23 MAR 2021 5.29 And the Manufacturing Code 225335014
73  03:xx with xx = 00 through 13) due to undeclared milk.

Food Safety Recall: Publix Super Markets, Inc. recalls select Publix Steam In Bag products prepared in-store due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination of the butternut squash ingredient. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Bob Evans Farms, Inc.  recalls Bob Evans Italian Sausage (1-lb chubs; Lot #0352; Use/Frz By JAN 31 21) due to possible foreign matter (thin blue rubber) contamination.

Food Safety Recall: House-Autry Mills, Inc. recalls House-Autry Tartar Sauce (9 oz; Best by BB 08182021, BB 08232021, BB 09162021, BB 09172021, BB 09182021 and BB 09212021) due to spoilage.

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Canada

Allergy Alert: Waisee Trading Co. Ltd. recalls Taidian Xiaolong Bun (15-count; UPC 858093700017; All units) due to undeclared oyster and wheat.

Allergy Alert: Hinnawi Bros. Bagel & Café recalls Bagels sésame végétalien (Best before dates up to and including 18 March 2021) and Bagels Nature végétalien (Best before dates up to and including 18 March 2021) due to undeclared egg.

Food Safety Recall: Clover Leaf Seafoods Corp. recalls Clover Leaf brand Sardines Boneless Fillets – Garlic & Chive in Oil (106g; Batch codes 0170CBXP 2025 JN 18 & 0204CBXP 2025 JL 22; UPC 0 61362 46008 6) and Sardines Boneless Fillets – Smoked Jalapeño in Oil (106g; Batch codes 0171CBXP 2025 JN 19, 0218CBXP 2025 AU 05 & 0307CBXS 2025 NO 02; UPC 0 61362 46009 3) because they may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum. 

Food Safety Recall: Paillard de l’Auvergne recalls certain soups packed in glass jars due to lack of the required “Garder réfrigéré” label instruction. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Brasserie Artisanale Le Trou du Diable recalls two products packed in glass jars due to lack of the required “Garder réfrigéré” label instruction. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Service – Création Milorya recalls SAUCE À LA VIANDE / Meat sauce (1L glass jars; All product sold up to and including 22 January 2021) due to improper manufacturing and/or packing conditions that may render the product unsafe to consume and also due to lack of proper ingredient labeling.

Food Safety Recall: Messara Imports recalls Farma Elassonas brand P.D.O Kefalograviera cheese (Variable weight; Lot #260420; Expiry date 10/26/2021; UPC starts with 2 726905) due to E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall: St. Francis Herb Farm Inc. recalls St. Francis Herb Farm 52 Fields brand Coconut Oil and Ghee (370g; Lot #0530120; Best before MA2022FE; UPC 8 17695 00206 2) due to mold and bacteria.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Iceland): Múlakaffi recalls Hjónabakki, þorramatur fyrir tvo / dry food for two (Best before 17.01.2021 & 23.01.2021) due to undeclared egg and mustard.

Food Safety Recall (France): Fromagerie du Val d’Ormèze recalls Fromagerie du Val d’Ormèze brand Frais de brebis / fresh sheep’s milk cheese (120g; Lot 212006; Expiry dates 11/02/2021, 14/02/2021 & 16/02/2021) and Fromagerie du Val d’Ormèze brand Râpé de brebis bio / Grated sheep’s milk cheese (90g; Lot 212006; Expiry dates 14/02/2021, 15/02/2021, 17/02/2021 & 18/02/2021) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): EDEKA Handelsgesellschaft Südwest mbH recalls Linz items and pastries with hazelnuts due to possible foreign matter (pieces of wire) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Sternenbäck GmbH recalls various baked goods due to possible foreign matter (screw and washer) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Several retailers recall chilled and frozen seafood products due to possible Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Pet Food Safety Recall (Iceland): Pak ehf. recalls Sportmix original cat food kattafóðri frá Midwestern pet food / Sportmix brand origial cat food (6.8 kg / 15 lbs; Batch no. 07092021L3 05; All expiry dates up to and including 07.09.22; Product of Midwestern Pet Food, USA) due to elevated levels of aflatoxin.

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Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall / Allergy Alert (New Zealand): NZ Food Manufacturing Ltd recalls Hai Chuan Heng brand and HiLife brand products (all batches, all dates and all packaging sizes) due to lack of process control and presence of undeclared crustacea, gluten, sesame, soy and sulphites.