Recalls and Alerts: November 11, 2011

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 Update: USDA posts retail distribution list for Broiled Chicken Livers that were recalled by Schreiber Processing Corporation after having been linked to Salmonella illnesses.
  • Food Safety Recall: United Natural Foods, Inc. recalls Gentes Foods Gordita Black Bean Tortillas (10-oz; UPC 618032102021; Date code 12 7 11), because the product has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Only those Tortillas shipped to the following stores are affected by this recall: Safeway #1110 (Salinas, CA), Safeway #2840 (Watsonville, CA), Pak N Save #3116 (S. San Francisco, CA) and Pak N Save #3125 (Emeryville, CA). The risk arises from lack of temperature control during the distribution process.
  • Food Safety Recall: Orval Kent Foods recalls Wegmans Mashed Sweet Potatoes (24-oz; Lot code of Use By Nov 18 11 DSA), because the product may contain plastic pieces of unknown origin. The recalled product was sold in the dairy department of Wegmans stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and Massachusetts between September 22nd and November 9th, 2011.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: Keime Incorporated recalls Virility Max dietary supplement (Lot 10090571), after lab analysis by FDA finds sulfoaildenafil (an analog of sildenafil) in the product. Sildenafil is an active ingredient of an FDA approved prescription drug for treating erectile dysfunction, and may cause serious adverse effects in some individuals.
  • Personal Care Product Safety Recall: Kimberly-Clark recalls Kotex Natural Balance* Security® Unscented Tampons Regular Absorbency (18-count Carton Lot Number AC129321X; 36-count Carton Lot Number AC129325X), because the tampons were manufactured with a raw material contaminated with Enterobacter sakazakii, which may cause vaginal infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs), pelvic inflammatory disease or infections that can be life-threatening. The recalled product was supplied to retail customers between October 29, 2011 and November 2, 2011 in specific Walmart stores in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas; specific Fry’s stores in Arizona; and specific Smith’s stores in Utah and Arizona.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Siprus Foods Inc recalls various Siprus brand and Fruit Farm brand fruit juices due to the presence of undeclared sulphites. Please refer to the recall notice for additional product identification details.
  • Food Safety Recall: Dan-D-Foods Ltd. recalls Dan-D-Organic 100% Organic Pitted Prunes (250g; EXP 2012APR14; LOT 11104) due to microbiological spoilage. The recalled product was distributed in Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: The New Brunswick Liquor Corporation, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario and the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission recall Woody’s Mexican Lime Alcoholic Vodka Beverage, in both single serve and four-pack format, because the product may contain glass fragments.
  • Public Health Alert: Saskatchewan health officials are reminding the public to be attentive to good hand hygiene in order to help prevent the person-to-person spread of Shigella. Since April 2011, Saskatchewan has recorded 48 cases of shigellosis – mostly in children – as compared to the usual annual rate of 10 to 15 cases. Most of the cases have been in central, northern and southeast parts of the province. No specific link to a single food item or event has been identified so far.

Europe

  • Outbreak Alert (UK): Health Protection Scotland urges the public to be aware of the symptoms of botulism as two members of the same family are hospitalized with an illness that is thought likely to be botulism. Both patients are in stable condition. Investigators are looking into possible sources of the two illnesses. Anyone who experiences blurred vision, difficulty swallowing and difficulty speaking should seek immediate medical attention.
  • Allergy Alert (Finland, Estonia, Lithuania): Inex Partners Oy reecalls Rainbow mixed dried fruits (500; Product of the Netherlands; Expiry 18.05.2012), because the product contains sulphites above the permitted limit. The product was sold in Finland, Estonia and Lithuania.
  • Allergy Alert (Denmark): Rieber & Son Denmark A/S recalls K-Salad Mayonnaise (400g plastic bottles; Lot L3017985; Best before 03.01.2012), due to the presence of undeclared mustard.
  • Allergy Alert (Denmark): Irma Odense City /Coop Denmark A/S recalls IRMA’s warm/hot liver paté (500g; All dates up to and including November 11, 2011), due to incorrect labeling.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Newdan Food Trading recalls Fresh Turkey Breast (900g; Package date 24/10-2011; Best before 05/11-2011), due to Salmonella contamination.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Eliza Chocolate Wholesale ApS recalls Chocolatier Nut Bar Milk Chocolate/Dark Chocolate (35g; Best before 17-04-2012), due to the presence of moth larvae.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Allergy Alert (New Zealand): Sanitarium Health & Wellbeing Company recalls Sanitarium So Good Rice Milk (1-litre carton; Best before 25 March 2012; Batch No. 31206), because the product contains undeclared traces of soy. The recalled product was sold in supermarkets throughout New Zealand.

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: November 10, 2011

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: United Natural Foods, Inc. recalls FoodMatch, Inc. Divina Olives Stuffed with Feta Cheese (4 oz; UPC 63172352780; Best Used By: 11 JAN 2012), FoodMatch, Inc. Divina Olives Stuffed with Blue Cheese(4 oz; UPC 63172352790; Best Used By: 11 JAN 2012, 15 DEC 2011, and 30 DEC 2011) and Tabatchnick Yankee Bean Soup (15 oz; UPC 07126229491; Best If Used By 05 04 14; sold at Safeway store in Corte Madera, CA only), because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum due to a lack of temperature control during the distribution process. Affected Tabatchnick Yankee Bean Soup was distributed through Carrs, Safeway, Pavilion and Vons stores in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada, South Dakota, Colorado and Wyoming. Feta-stuffed Divina olives were sold in certain Safeway stores in South Dakota (Spearfish, store #0583), Wyoming (Lander, store #2761), and Colorado (Colorado Springs, store #1577; Boulder, store #1615; Falcon, store #1644; Conifer, store #2792; Longmont, store #2910)
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The North Carolina Division of Public Health and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs have traced the source of the recent outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illness in that state to the Kelley Building at the North Carolina State Fair. The Kelley Building is a permanent structure which housed sheep, goats and pigs for the fair’s livestock shows. As of November 9th, 12 confirmed and 16 suspect cases were reported in 8 North Carolina counties: Wake (13), Sampson (6), Cleveland (1), Durham (2), Johnston (1), Lenoir (1), Orange (2) and Wilson (2).

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Chocolat Lamontagne Inc. recalls Bite-Size Orange Flavour 73% Dark Chocolates (142g; Product #3335 & 3337), Assorted Chocolate Bite-Size (200g; Product #3333) and Assorted Dark Chocolate Bite-Size (200g; Product #3338), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled products were distributed nationally between October 4th and November 4th, and were sold through catalogues for fund-raising activities at daycares, schools, clubs and associations.
  • Food Safety Alert: Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns the public not to consume Woody’s Mexican Lime Alcoholic Vodka Beverage (330mL, BB014/06/13, hh:mm S16516136; 330mL, BB 22/08/13, hh:mm S23516851; 4 x 330mL, BB014/06/13, hh:mm S16516136l3; 4 x 330 mL, BB 22/08/13, hh:mm S23516851), because the product may contain harmful glass particles. The recalled beverages were distributed in Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario, and may have been distributed to other provinces and territories.

Europe

  • Food Recall (Denmark): Løgismose Dairy A/S recalls Løgismose Organic Skyr, 0.2% natural (350g; Best before 26.11.2011, 30.11.2011 and 01.12.2011), due to yeast fermentation. The recalled skyr was sold in Netto stores across Denmark and in the Løgismore retail store Nordre Toldbod, Copenhagen.
  • Food Recall (Denmark): CO-RO FOOD A/S recalls Sunfresh Tropical (500ml; Best before 13-03-2012; Batch code 10010), due to product fermentation.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (France): Pfizer recalls Zithromax tablets, 250mg (Batch A10029; Expiry March 2014) and Azithromycin tablets, 250mg (Batch A10018; Expiry March 2014), following the observation of plastic particles from raw material containers, which may have contaminated some tablets.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2011.1609): Salmonella infantis in feed material from France; distributed to France, Italy and South Africa.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1612): Salmonella in chilled morning glory from Vietnam; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1614): Mercury in dried mushrooms from Poland; distributed to Poland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1615): Insect larvae in roasted, unshelled peanuts from China, via Slovakia; distributed to the Czech Republic.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1616): Salmonella in la lot from Vietnam; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1617): Benzo(a)pyrene in smoked dried crayfish from unknown origin, via the United Kingdom; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1618): Mercury in chilled swordfish from France; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1619): Salmonella spp. in dry sausage from France; distributed to France, Lithuania, Portugal and Slovenia.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2011.1609): Salmonella infantis in feed material from France; distributed to France, Italy and South Africa.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Allergy Alert (Australia and New Zealand): The Sanitarium Health & Wellbeing Company recalls Sanitarium So Good Rice Milk (1-liter UHT block pack; Batch code 31206; Best before 25 Mar 2012), due to the presence of undeclared soy. The recalled beverage was exported to New Zealand and was sold in Australia in Coles Supermarkets nationally, IGA Supermarkets (WA, VIC, NSW, and QLD) and Franklins (NSW).

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: November 8, 2011

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: Whittington’s Jerky, Inc. (Johnson City, TX) recalls Whittington’s Original Beef Jerky (2-oz & 4-oz pkgs; Est 21257; Produced Oct 31, 2011) after routine USDA testing revealed Salmonella in a sample. The recalled Jerky was distributed to convenience stores in West Texas and also sold at the company’s retail operation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Frank Harter & Sons (Cincinnati, OH) that a July/July 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Alabama Sunshine, Inc. (Fayette, AL) that a July 2011 inspection of the company’s facility revealed significant deviations from the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and from regulations relating to the processing of acidified foods, causing the companies acidified products to be adulterated and in violation of the Act, in that they were prepared, packed or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have been rendered injurious to health.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Onorato & Company, Inc. (South San Francisco, CA) that an August 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation, Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 123, and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Fremont Farms L.C. (Oskaloosa, IA) that a June 2011 inspection of the company’s shell egg production facility revealed serious violations of the Prevention of Salmonella Enteritidis in Shell Eggs During Production, Storage, and Transportation regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Bacalao Brothers, Inc. dba New England Fish Market (Jensen Beach, FL) that a July 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation, Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 123, and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports 30 confirmed E. coli O157:H7 cases connected to the St. Louis area outbreak. None of the 55 food samples tested so far have yielded E. coli. The source of the outbreak remains unknown.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The North Carolina Division of Public Health reports twelve confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 connected to the North Carolina State Fair outbreak; 16 cases remain under investigation. The 28 cases were reported from the following counties: Wake (13), Sampson (6), Cleveland (1), Durham (2), Johnston (1), Lenoir (1), Orange (2) and Wilson (2).

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Grant Chocolatier recalls Grant Chocolatier Dark Chocolate Hallowe’en Figures (variable weight; no codes) due to the presence of undeclared milk.
  • Allergy Alert: Salle Châtelaine (Saint-Hyacinthe, QC) recalls Lasagna and Spaghetti Sauce (all lots), due to the presence of undeclared soy (both products) and wheat (spaghetti sauce only).
  • Food Safety Recall: Cie 2 Ameriks Inc. recalls Gogo Quinoa Multigrains Crunchy Muesli (300g; Code L130546; UPC 8 96899 00017 3), due to the presence of insect fragments.

Europe

  • Food Withdrawal (Finland): Unilever withdraws Viennatta Choco Nut ice cream cake (350g/650ml; Best before 01.056.2013; Batch code L1166CU020 and L1166DC020), because the products are missing Finnish and Swedish labels.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Denmark): An outbreak of 40 illnesses was traced to imported datterino tomatoes contaminated with Salmonella Strathcona, a serotype that was not previously detected in Denmark. The tomatoes were imported from southern Italy and sold primarily by the Rema 1000 supermarket chain. The source of the outbreak was determined by patient interviews and a review of electronic purchase records from the supermarket chain.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong ex. Thailand): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating a food poisoning outbreak involving 19 members of a tour group who visited Phuket, Thailand from November 1 to 5. One of the 19 people was hospitalized after returning to Hong Kong.
  • Outbreak Alert (Taiwan ex. Thailand): The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control has confirmed shigellosis in three travelers returning from Thailand. All three became ill after consuming raw fish during their stay in Thailand.

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.