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.

United States

• Food Safety Recall: Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market Inc. recalls f&e™ brand fresh bagged Washed Spinach (12 oz; Enjoy by date of OCT 16), after FDA tests confirmed one bag of the spinach to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled spinach was sold in Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market stores in California, Nevada and Arizona.
• Food Safety Recall: American Egg Products (Blackshear, GA) recalls 5-lb cartons of frozen egg product (Lot #272-1; Plant #P 1105), because they may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled frozen egg product was distributed to Georgia and Florida, and sold to three distributors and/or further food manufacturers.
• FDA Enforcement Action: U.S. Marshals, acting at the request of the FDA, seized various food products stored in a warehouse owned by Chetak Chicago LLC, in Streamwood, Ill., on October 17, 2011. FDA initiated the seizure after finding extensive evidence of unsanitary conditions throughout the warehouse during a recent inspection. These conditions included live rodent and birds, rodent carcasses, gnawed product packaging, significant amounts of rodent fecal matter, rodent urine stains, and rodent nesting material.
• FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Beyer Lightning Fish Co. Inc. (Bronx, NY) that a September/October 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 Health Advances USA, Inc. (Chula Vista, CA) that a May 2011 inspection of the company’s facilities revealed serious violations of FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for dietary supplements. Supplements manufactured at the facility include: Pentrexcilina Citricilina, Duro Neuro Extra Forte, Angin, Angin Xtra Forte, Delgadex, Desin-Flanex 850, Super Sleeper, Super Complejo B, Colesstol 200, Delgadex, Radiaxina, and M-Stane.
• FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Old Point Packing, Inc. (Newport News, VA) that a June 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 Jansen’s Sweet Sinsations, Inc. (Mason, OH) that a June 2011 inspection of the company’s facility revealed improper labeling  and a significant violation of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulation .

Canada

• Allergy Alert: Costco Canada advises its customers that Handi Foods Ltd (Weston, ON) has recalled Handi brand 100 calories Multigrain Bagels (Fresh or frozen; all lot codes and best before dates), due to the presence of sunflower seeds that were not declared on the French label. The recalled bagels were sold in Costco stores in Ontario and Quebec.
• Allergy Alert: Comptoir B.M. (Granby, QC) recalls prepared sandwiches, entrées, wraps and brownies, (see recall notice for list of products), due to the presence of undeclared eggs, soy, milk, wheat and/or sulfites.
• Allergy Alert: Puresource Inc. recalls NOW Brewer’s Yeast (10 grain) Tablets (200 tablets/bottle; Lots #1401411, 1365681 and 1343111), due to the presence of undeclared milk.
• Food Recall: Loblaw Companies Ltd. recalls No Name Potato and Bacon Perogies (1kg; Lot code 2012 OC 06), due to unspecified “non-harmful” extraneous material contamination.

Europe

• Allergy Alert (UK): Dorset Cereals withdraws Dorset Cereals Gingerbread Hearty Porridge (420g; Best before April 2012 and May 2012), because the product contains undeclared wheat.
• Food Safety Recall (UK): Aunt Bessie’s Ltd recalls Aunt Bessie’s Scrumptious Bramley Apple Crumble family size (500g; Best before End of January 2013), because there may be small pieces of plastic on the top surface of the crumble. The product was sold only in Farmfoods stores after 21 October 2011.
• Food Safety Recall (Germany): Landfleischerei Dörnfeld GmbH recalls coarsely minced pork/matured Rohwursterzeugnis sausages (140g; produced during the 41st Calendar week), after Salmonella Agona is found in a sample. The sausages were sold only through company-owned stores and vehicles in Saalfeld-Rudolstadt.
• Food Safety Recall (Germany): Lichtenberger Fleisch- und Wurstproduktion GmbH recalls Fresh Ham and Onion Sausage (330g pkgs; Lot #L 390 434; Best before 10/23/2011), after microbial contaminants are found in a sample.
• Food Safety Withdrawal (UK): Gaudiano Organic Olives Stuffed with Almonds (Product of Italy; 314ml glass jars; Best before date of 09/2012) have been withdrawn from sale in the UK after two people in Helsinki, Finland who consumed the product were diagnosed with botulism. Forty jars from the implicated batch were distributed to Greencity Wholefoods of Glasgow in September 2010, and were resold to a number of smaller retailers and caterers. None of the affected batch remains on store shelves, but some consumers may still have the product in their pantries. Anyone who purchased this product should discard it.
• Outbreak Alert (Finland/Italy): Italian health authorities have suspended all operations at Società Cooperativa Agricola G.M.G. a r.l. dei F.lli Gaudiano, S.P. 65 – 71042 Cerignola after being advised of two cases of botulism associated with – and the finding of botulinum toxin in – Gaudiano Organic Olives Stuffed with Almonds (Batch H2510X), and have seized various canned vegetables produced by the company. Investigations are underway to determine the source of the contamination. Consumers are advised not to eat the product.
• Cosmetic Product Safety Alert (Netherlands): Health authorities have ordered the removal of two hair gels from sale, because they contain high levels of dioxane, which is prohibited in cosmetic products in the EU.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1491): Listeria monocytogenes in cheese from France; distributed to Belgium, France, Germany and Italy.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1492): Salmonella spp. in paan leaves from India; distributed to the United Kingdom.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1493): Salmonella in fenugreek leaves from India, via the United Kingdom; distributed to Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, and Spain.
• Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2011.1494): Undeclared gluten in pork and apricot coarse paté from Belgium; distributed to Gibraltar and the United Kingdom.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1495): Salmonella spp. in paan leaves from Thailand; distributed to the United Kingdom.
• Consumer Product Safety Notification (EU #2011.1498): Migration of bisphenol A from plastic nursing bottles from Germany; distributed to the Czech Republic.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1499): Nitrofuran furazolidone in frozen raw shrimps from China; distributed to Sweden.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1500): Excessive sulphite in frozen shrimps from Tunisia; distributed to Italy.

• Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Department of Health warns the public not to buy or consume SlimEasy Herbs Capsules, because the product contains the banned drug ingredients sibutramine and phenolphthalein.

Australia and New Zealand

• Allergy Alert (Australia): Kerry Pinnacle Pty Ltd. recalls Choc Cherry Slice and Choc Chip Flapjack Slice (500g plastic flo wrap – 12 Pack; multiple best before dates), due to the presence of undeclared egg and sulphites. The recalled product was sold in Coles Supermarkets in NSW, VIC, QLD and TAS between 17 October and 25 October 2011.

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.

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.

United States

• Allergy Alert: Murray Biscuit Company, LLC recalls Murray Sugar Free® Chocolate Chip cookies (5.5-oz pkgs; Best if used by APR1712 EA6), because the product may contain undeclared pecans. The recalled cookies were shipped to retail customers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee.
• Allergy Alert: Kuck’s Turkey Farm (St. Mary’s, OH) recalls Amish Heritage Rotisserie Seasonings Turkey Breast (7- and 8-lb pkgs; Sell by dates from 10/09/11 to 11/28/11), because the products contain undeclared wheat and soy.
• Food Safety Recall: Church Brothers, LLC recalls Bagged Clipped Spinach (2.5-lb bags; Best by 10/23/2011; Manufacturer Code A279 47166), after one bag tested positive for Salmonella during a random USDA sampling program. The recalled spinach was processed on October 6, 2011 and shipped to Super King Markets in Los Angeles, CA.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1479): Botulinum toxin in Gaudiano organic olives with almonds in glass jars from Italy; distributed to Finland, Germany and the USA.
• OTC Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Insight Pharmaceuticals, LLC (Langhorne, PA) recalls Nostrilla Nasal Decongestant nasal spray (1/2 oz plastic bottle; UPC Code 6373673005; Lot #11G075; Expiry date 05/2014), due to possible contamination with Burkholderia cepacia, an opportunistic pathogen that may cause serious infection in individuals with a compromised immune system or chronic lung infection. The recalled nasal spray was distributed nationwide through retail outlets and pharmacies.

Canada

• Allergy Alert: Gestion J.F. Lefebre inc., dba IGA Extra (Granby, QC) recalls GM Roul Imp Poulet due to the presence of undeclared milk protein and sesame oil, and Hamburger Steak MM due to the presence of undeclared sulfites. The recalled products bear the label “Marché IGA Gaouette.”
• Food Safety Recall: Fumoir Grizzly Inc. recalls Grizzly Smoked Coho Salmon (Flakes), 1kg (Code #20890115), due to Salmonella contamination. The recalled smoked salmon product was distributed to hotels, restaurants and institutional customers in Québec.
• Food Safety Recall: Loblaw Companies Ltd. recalls Butterball Seasoned Young Turkey with Giblets (5-7kg; Lot codes beginning 251175 and 251178) and Butterball Seasoned Young Stuffed Turkey with Giblets (5-7kg; Lot codes beginning 251175 and 251178), due to microbiological spoilage. The recalled products were sold in Loblaw banner stores in Ontario.
• Food Safety Alert: The City of Toronto Public Health department ordered the closure of Pusateri’s Fine Foods’ Avenue Rd. store due to “poor sanitation and pest infestation” after a complaint led to an inspection of the store. The store will remain closed for cleaning, and will only be permitted to reopen after a successful reinspection.

Europe

• Allergy Alert (UK): Greencore recalls Beverley Manor Vanilla Cheesecake (450g; Use by dates up to and including 29 October 2011), due to the presence of undeclared egg. The recalled product was sold through Morrisons stores.
• Allergy Alert (UK): Wm Morrison Supermarkets recalls Duc D’Ardennes Pork and Apricot Coarse Paté (170g; all date codes), due to the presence of undeclared wheat gluten.
• Cosmetic Product Safety Recall (Spain): AEMPS orders the termination of marketing and production of Dermalit Jabón Liquido Dermoprotector (liquid soap), due to bacterial contamination (possible Klebsiella pneumoniae). The product was marketed by Gold Internacional SA and manufactured by Silver Industrial S.L., an unauthorized manufacturer.
• Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Spain): Astellas Pharma, S.A. recalls ADVAGRAF 0,5MG 30 CÁPSULAS DURAS DE LIBERACIÓN PROLONGADA/Advagraf 0.5mg, 30 extended release capsules (Expiry 31/03/2012), because the product is out of specification, and could deliver an amount of active ingredient in excess of the specified maximum value.
• Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert (Finland): Two members of a Southern Finland family are suffering from botulism after consuming Gaudiano Organic Olives with Almonds (Product of Italy; packed in 314ml glass jars; Best before 09/2012). Lab tests have confirmed the presence of botulinum toxin in the product, and Kespro (the importer) has recalled the product. The recalled Italian olives were imported into Finland as early as September 2010 and sold to K-food stores, KCM Big Apple (Espoo), KCM Jumbo (Vantaa) and KSM South Centre (Rovaniemi), and to a few restaurants.
• Outbreak Alert (UK): Thirty school-age children in Sandown (the Isle of Wight) have developed Campylobacter symptoms over the past two weeks, triggering a public health investigation. The source of the outbreak has not been confirmed.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1456): Mercury in fish slices from Spain; distributed to Italy.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1459): Benzo(a)pyrene in pumpkin oil from Slovenia; distributed to Slovenia.
• Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2011.1462): Undeclared sulphite in candied kiwi from China; distributed to the Czech Republic.
• Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2011.1463): Salmonella infantis in soybean meal from Argentina, via Singapore; distributed to Denmark and Germany.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1464): Benzo(a)pyrene in sprats in oil from Latvia; distributed to Germany.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1465): Mites in frozen mushrooms from Slovenia; distributed to Italy.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1466): Listeria monocytogenes in smoked salmon from Poland, via Germany; distributed to Italy.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1468): Salmonella in raw sausage spread with onions from Germany; distributed to Germany.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1469): Metal fragments in fresh chanterelles from Lithuania; distributed to Germany.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1470): High level of acrylamide in potato crisps from the Czech Republic; distributed to Poland.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1471): Listeria monocytogenes in smoked salmon from Poland; distributed to Italy.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1472): Listeria monocytogenes in smoked salmon from Germany; distributed to Italy.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1473): Glass fragments in milk chocolate bar from Romania; distributed to Germany.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1476): Phosmet in apples from France; distributed to Sweden.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1478): Salmonella Newport in chilled turkey breasts from Germany; distributed to Denmark.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1479): Botulinum toxin in Gaudiano organic olives with almonds in glass jars from Italy; distributed to Finland, Germany and the USA.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1481): Salmonella spp. in paan leaves from Bangladesh; distributed to the United Kingdom.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1484): Oxamyl in cucumbers from Bulgaria, via the Czech Republic; distributed to Slovakia.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1485): Listeria monocytogenes in chilled smoked salmon from Poland; distributed to France.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1486): Salmonella enteritidis in frozen duck breasts from the Netherlands; distributed to Iceland.
• Pet Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1488): Salmonella Mbandaka and Salmonella typhimurium in deep frozen pet food from Belgium and the Netherlands; distributed to Belgium.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1489): Listeria monocytogenes in chilled gorgonzola from Italy; distributed to France.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1490): Metal pieces in mini Mortadella salami from Italy; distributed to the United Kingdom.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Hind Wing Co. Ltd. recalls Algikey Inj 3% (Manufactured in Spain by Farma Mediterrania), due to carbonization of the liquid content during sealing of the ampoules.
• Outbreak Alert (India): Food poisoning is suspected in an outbreak of illness that has killed eight people and sickened 25 in Dera Halwana village (Karnal). The source of the outbreak is under investigation.

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.