Recalls and Alerts: January 3, 2013

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: Gilster-Mary Lee Corp. (Chester, IL) recalls Food Club brand Chocolate Chunk Brownie Mix (12 x 14.25-oz cartons/case; Best by NOV 28 13 D02; UPC 36800-13486), because the product contains undeclared walnuts. The recalled Brownie Mix was distributed to an Abingdon, VA warehouse on December 5, 2012.

Canada

  • Outbreak Alert (New Brunswick): The province’s Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health is investigating five confirmed cases of E. coli O157, including two reported in the Saint John region and three in the Fredericton region. All five victims were seen in hospital emergency rooms; one person was admitted to hospital. It is not yet known whether all five cases have a common source, or whether they may be linked to several recent cases in neighboring Nova Scotia.
  • Outbreak Alert (British Columbia): An outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis prompted the shut-down of an entire floor of Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminister; one ward is expected to reopen today, according to CBC. A ward at Vancouver General Hospital remains “under containment” due to a separate outbreak of norovirus infections.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium): The recent recall of Koon Yick Wah Kee brand fermented bean curd products due to contamination with Bacillus cereus has been extended to include all of the following: Tofu in sesame oil (450g glass jar; Best before 30/12/2014, 30/06/2014 and 30/09/2014) and Tofu in sesame oil and peppers (450g glass jar; Best before 30/12/2014, 30/06/2014 and 30/09/2014). The recalled products were sold in Asian specialty stores from August 2012 to December 2012, inclusive.
  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): Fromagerie de Jussac (France) recalls an extensive list of cheeses made from cow’s milk, goat milk and sheep milk (packaging includes 200g and 3 x 60g sizes), due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed product list.
  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU #2012.1774): Listeria monocytogenes in various Fromagerie de Jussac cheeses from France; distributed to Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and Vietnam.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2013.0002): Presence of poisonous mushrooms in dried black morels from the Czech Republic; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2013.0004): Carbendazim in oranges from South Africa; distributed to France.
  • Pet Food Safety Notification (EU #2013.0007): Salmonella in dried pet food for dogs from India; distributed to Germany and Luxembourg.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2013.0008): Ethephon in cherry tomatoes from Italy; distributed to Germany.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Chinese Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Hang Lung Trading Co. recalls the Chinese herbal medicine known as Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii (Batch #210035; Imported from Mainland), because it was found to be contaminated by solanaceous alkaloids.
  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU #2012.1774): Listeria monocytogenes in various Fromagerie de Jussac cheeses from France; distributed to Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and Vietnam.

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 website.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.

Recalls and Alerts: January 2, 2013

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: Einstein Bros. recalls Einstein Bros. Darn Good Atlantic Smoked Salmon (4 oz pkg; UPC 099892315200; Lots #249 through 291), due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product was distributed only in Georgia and Illinois.
  • Food Safety Recall: Ingles Markets Inc. recalls Santa Barbara Sun Dried Olives (5 oz; Item #735809; Code 0611C03W), because the jars may have broken seals and some molding.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Raca Enterprises, Inc., dba Life Cycle Herbal Products (El Monte, CA) that an August 2012 inspection of the company’s dietary supplement manufacturing facility found serious violations of FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) in Manufacturing, Packaging, Labeling, or Holding Operations for Dietary Supplements regulation, and that subsequent actions by the company to address these violations were found by FDA to be inadequate.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns AloeScience Labs, Inc. (Garland, TX) that a February-March 2012 inspection of the company’s facility found number of violations of the dietary supplement Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall Update (Germany): Pilzversand Zollner extends its earlier recall of Dried Morels (100g; Best before 31.12.2014) to include all sales since April 2012, because of contamination with poisonous mushroom (Frühjahrslorchel). The recalled morels were sold on eBay.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (UK): The Health Protection Agency reports that there have been 3,877 lab-confirmed cases of norovirus so far this season, an increase of 72% over the same period last year. During the two weeks ending December 30, 2012, there were 29 hospital outbreaks, down from 70 outbreaks during the previous fortnight. A total of 590 norovirus outbreaks have been recorded so farm this season.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2013.0001): Salmonella bongori in lollo rosso lettuce from Germany; distributed to Denmark.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Recall (Israel): Shamir Salads 2006 Ltd. recalls Hill Home-style Egg Salad (250g; Expiry date 22.01.13), due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The problem was identified as a result of routine monitoring activities carried out by the Central District Health Department.
  • Food Safety Recall (Israel): ערבה מזון בע”מ recalls White Goat brand Goat Butter (100g glass jar; Expiry date 4/24/2013), after routine testing by the Ashkelon District Health Office finds E. coli bacteria in a sample of the product.
  • Proprietary Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Fung Wah (Hong Kong) Company (operated by Honour Essence Trading Limited) recalls the Chinese proprietary medicine known as Canelim Capsule (Batch #1010110; Manufactured in Mainland China), due to excessive lead.

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.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.

Recalls and Alerts: December 31, 2012

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: Procesadora de Productos Marinos Delifish S.A. recalls Black Bear of the Black Forest Smoked Salmon (1 lb.; UPC 810230000493; Lots 249 thru 291), Food Service Cold Smoked Salmon Trim (1 lb.; Lots 249 thru 291), Einstein Darn Good (4 oz Retail package; UPC 099892315200, Lots 249 thru 291), Food Service Whole Smoked Side (3-5 lb.; Lots 249 thru 291), Silver Source Smoked Salmon Foodservice (2-3 lb. smoked fillet; Lots 249 thru 291), Royal Fjord Smoked Toppers (6oz; UPC 810230000561; Lots 249 thru 291), Royal Fjord Sliced Smoked Salmon Loin (12-14 oz.; Item # 42925; Lots 249 thru 291) and HEB smoked salmon (4 oz.; UPC 041220630417; Lots 249 thru 291), after Listeria monocytogenes is found in “a few” of the recalled batches. The recalled product, which was produced by Marine Harvest Chile S.A. for Delifish S.A. and distributed by Marine Harvest USA, LLC (Miami, FL), may have been sold in California, Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico.
  • Animal Feed Safety Recall: ADM Alliance Nutrition, Inc. recalls MoorMan’s® ShowTec® 18 Elite Lamb DC (Product #80939MPS; Lots BF23512, BF27812, and BF29312), because the product has high levels of copper. The recalled sheep feed was shipped between Aug 24, 2012 and Nov 21, 2012 to distributors and customers in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
  • Outbreak Alert (Illinois): CBS reports that more than approximately 140 prisoners at Stateville Correctional Center have been infected with norovirus gastroenteritis. The source of the outbreak is under investigation.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Kinnikinnick Foods Inc. (Edmonton, AB) recalls Kinnikinnick Foods Pie Crusts (2 x 8″ pie crusts per 290g pkg; UPC 6 20133 00600 9; Best before 2013NO20, 2013NO21, 2013DE11, 2013DE14), due to undeclared egg. The recalled product was distributed in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, but may have been distributed nationally.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): Pilzversand Zollner recalls Dried Morels (100g; Best before 31.12.2014), because the product is contaminated with toxic mushrooms. The recalled Dried Morels were sold on eBay from between early October 2012 and December 23, 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Fromagerie de Jussac recalls a range of cheeses made from cow’s milk, goat milk and sheep milk, due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled cheeses were sold between October 31, 2012 and December 26, 2012 under the following brands: Brique de Jussac, Brique du Forez, Brique d’Auvergne, Brique de la Besse, Brique de Pays (mixed goat and cow’s milk), and Gerbizon.
  • Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Dupont Belgium and Fromagerie de Jussac (France) recall Jussac brand Brique lait de vache (250g), Brique lait de brebis (200g), Brique lait de chèvre (200g), Mini briques panachées and Gerbizon cheeses, due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. All of the recalled products carry Best before dates between 28/12/12 and 19/02/13, inclusive and were sold in EMTÉ, Jumbo, and wholesale Gligro supermarkets, and in cheese shops. No related illnesses have been reported in the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Recall (Switzerland): Fromagerie de Jussac recalls Briques de Jussac (3 x 60g, brebis, chèvre, vache; Best before dates 09.01.2013, 12.01.2013, 23.01.2013; Item #2125.063.000), due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled cheeses were sold in Migros stores in Genève, Vaud, Neuchâtel-Fribourg and Valais.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Philippines): Pascual Laboratories recalls CALCHEWS Chocolate Flavor (Lot #382BWA & 382BWB; Expiry date 8/2014), due to contamination with Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus.
  • Food Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Food Safety advises the public not to consume Shui Kou Preserved Chili Bean Curd (350g/bottle; Best before December 30, 2013; Product of Guangdong Province, China), due to contamination with high levels of Bacillus cereus.
  • Cosmetic Products Safety Alert (Philippines): The Philippines FDA advises the public that several unapproved cosmetic products containing levels of mercury above the allowable limit have entered the Philippine market . These products should be avoided. Please refer to the Update for a list of implicated products.
  • Outbreak Alert (Japan): The fatal norovirus epidemic at Yokohama Denentoshi Hospital has grown to 112 cases, according to The Japan Times. As of today, 82 patients and 30 staff members have been infected. Four elderly bed-ridden patients have died as a result of the infectious gastroenteritis outbreak.

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.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.