Category: recalls

K9 Natural recalls frozen raw dog food due to Listeria monocytogenes

K9 Natural Ltd. (K9) has recalled four batches of its Frozen Chicken Feast Raw Pet Food that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The recalled products were imported into the USA from New Zealand in June 2017, and were identified as follows:

  • K9 Natural Frozen Chicken Feast, 2.2-lb bags. Batch #170517; Expiration date 17NOV2018
  • K9 Natural Frozen Chicken Feast, 11-lb bags. Batch #150517; Expiration date 15NOV2018
  • K9 Natural Frozen Chicken Feast, 11-lb bags. Batch #160517; Expiration date 16NOV2018
  •  K9 Natural Frozen Chicken Feast, 11-lb bags. Batch #170517; Expiration date 17NOV2018

The 2.2-lb bags were shipped to distributors in Washington, California, Texas, and Colorado, and were distributed to pet specialty retail stores. The 11-lb bags were shipped to Pennsylvania in addition to the other four states and also were distributed to pet specialty retail stores.

According to a spokesperson for K9, the recall was initiated after the company was notified by the Colorado Department of Agriculture of a positive test result in a 2.2-lb bag obtained from a retailer.

Colorado is one of several states that samples pet foods and pet treats for pathogens on a regular basis, as part of its annual animal feed surveillance sampling plan, Food Safety News has learned.

While Colorado’s testing is not conducted in concert with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the state shares its results with the federal agency, according to a spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

K9 tests every batch of frozen raw product destined for the US market for Listeria monocytogenes, according to its spokesperson, and does not ship the product until it has received a ‘not-detect’ report. The testing is carried out for the company by an accredited independent laboratory.

The company also tests key raw materials for pathogens prior to purchase.

Upon learning of the Colorado test result, the company reviewed its records and also arranged for testing of a retained sample from the suspect production batch. Listeria monocytogenes was not detected in the retention sample.

Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogen that can cause illness both in pets and in humans. According to FDA, gastroenteritis caused by Listeria monocytogenes has a relatively short incubation period, from a few hours to 2 or 3 days. The severe, invasive form of the illness can have a very long incubation period, estimated to vary from 3 days to 3 months.

Although not all pets display symptoms when infected, those who do may have symptoms within a matter of a few hours, but possibly weeks after infection. Pets do not need to display symptoms to be able to pass Listeria monocytogenes onto their human companions. Once Listeria monocytogenes gets established in the pet’s gastrointestinal tract, the animal can shed the bacteria when it has a bowel movement, and the contamination will continue to spread.

In response to a request for comment, the K9 spokesperson said, “At K9 Natural the safety of our products, pets, and customers is paramount, and we have several steps throughout our manufacturing process to ensure product quality and cleanliness right from the farm to the retail store.”

To date, K9 is unaware of any pet or human illnesses associated with the recalled products.

The FDA encourages consumers to report complaints about pet food products electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling their state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators.

This story first appeared in Food Safety News and is reposted here with permission.

Evanger’s and Against the Grain Recall additional products

Initial recalls expanded to include 13 months’ production and a third product

Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food on March 4 announced a voluntary expansion of its earlier dog food recalls due to potential adulteration with pentobarbital.

The expansion of the company’s February 3rd recall of five production lots of Evanger’s Hunk of Beef canned dog food and its February 14th recall of one production lot of Against the Grain Pulled Beef canned dog food is being carried out ‘Out of an abundance of caution,’ according to today’s announcement.

Evanger’s first advised the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA) of its intention to expand the product recall on February 20,2017 and announced the planned recall in a letter to its distributors and retailers on February 28, 2017.

The recall encompasses all 12-oz. cans of the following hand-packed products manufactured between December 2015 and January 2017 and bearing expiration dates of December 2019 through January 2021. The numbers listed below represent the second half of the barcode for each product.

  • Evanger’s Hunk of Beef: 20109
  • Evanger’s Braised Beef: 20107
  • Against the Grain Pulled Beef: 80001

The recalled products were distributed online and through independent boutique pet stores nationwide.

FDA initiated an investigation of Evanger’s manufacturing facilities in early last January, after receiving word that a dog had died and four other dogs had been sickened following ingesting food from a can of Evanger’s Hunk of Beef.

Lab testing revealed the presence of pentobarbital, a euthanasia agent, in the stomach contents of the dead dog, in the remnants of food from the opened can, and in food from unopened cans of the same production lot of Hunk of Beef obtained from the owner of the dogs and from the retailer. Additional lab testing, carried out by FDA, detected pentobarbital in a can of Against the Grain Pulled Beef canned dog food.

Against the Grain Pulled Beef is manufactured by Evanger’s.

In an advisory to consumers, released on February 17 and updated on March 3, FDA reported that a bill of lading from Evanger’s supplier, which the pet food manufacturer had claimed was “USDA approved”, referred to “Inedible Hand Deboned Beef – For Pet Food Use Only. Not Fit For Human Consumption.”

Investigation of a certificate number displayed on the bill of lading determined that it referred to an export certification number that had been issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS). The certification, according to a spokesperson with USDA-APHIS, had expired in the mid 2000s.

FDA has received ten additional complaints from consumers who believe their dogs have been affected adversely after consuming by Evanger’s Hunk of Beef dog food. Five of the complaints mention symptoms that are consistent with possible pentobarbital poisoning. The agency is following up on four of the complaints, which provided veterinary and product lot number identification.

FDA continues to encourage consumers to report problems with Evanger’s products through the Safety Reporting Portal or by contacting a Consumer Complaint Coordinator. Empty cans or partially used cans of food to facilitate collection of specific lot number information may be retained.  Additional information is available on the FDA web page, “How to Report a Pet Food Complaint.“

This article first appeared on Food Safety News and is reposted here with permission.

Recalls and Alerts: February 23 – 25, 2017

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.

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United States

Allergy Alert: Kusher LLC (Fife, WA) recalls various Kusher brand cookies (Best before February 2017 and up to August 10, 2017) due to undeclared milk and egg. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of products.

Food Safety Recall: Lakeview Cheese and Bashas’ Family of Stores recalls various types of Colby cheese due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were distributed by Las Vegas-based Lakeview Cheese to Bashas’ Family of Stores, and sold in Bashas’ and Food City supermarkets’ Arizona meat departments under the grocery brands’ private label. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of recalled items.

Food Recall: WinCo Foods and Buehler’s Fresh Foods recall Two Bite Pecan Mini Tarts (9.2 oz; All lot codes), manufactured by Give and Go Prepared Foods (Ontario, Canada) because the product may contain dried weevil larvae.

Public Health Alert: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns that certain PREMO brand meat and poultry wraps produced by JLM Manufacturing (Shelby Township, MI)  may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. A recall was not requested because it is believed that all products have been consumed and are past their “Best by” dates. Please refer to the FSIS notice for details.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Poissonnerie du Marché (Laval, QC) recalls Taramosalata Dip (all product sold up to and including February 22, 2017) due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert: Amira Enterprises Inc. recalls Ziyad brand Soup Starter Soup Based – Jameed (1 kg) and Ziyad & Chef’s Soup Starter Soup Base – Jameed & Premium Rice (1.91 kg) due to undeclared milk. The recalled products were distributed to retailers in Alberta, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec.

Allergy Alert: Hen Long Market Oriental Food Co. Ltd. recalls various Happy brand pudding products due to undeclared milk. Please refer to the recall notice for details.

Allergy Alert: GraceKennedy (Ontario) Inc. recalls Butterkist Artificially Flavoured Butter Cookies and Butterkist Artificially Flavoured Coconut Cookies (150g; all codes) due to undeclared milk. The recalled cookies were distributed to retailers in Ontario.

Allergy Alert: Merlin Trading Co. recalls Yanjinpuzi Dried Tofu products due to undeclared fish. Please refer to the recall notice for details.

Food Safety Recall: IFC Seafood Inc. recalls Irresistibles brand Giant Scallops (300g; Code Oct 10 2018; Lot 164105 16284) due to metal pieces in the product. The recalled product was distributed to retailers in Ontario and Quebec.

Food Safety Recall: Les Placements GT7 Inc. – Marché du Coin – Super Sagamie (Saguenay, QC) recalls Spaghetti Sauce (800 mL and 1 L glass jars; sold up to and including February 22, 2017) due to potential underprocessing that may render the product unsafe.

Food Safety Recall: Pâtisserie La Bonne Fournée (Matane, QC) recalls Cipaille (500 mL and 1 L; sold up to and including February 22, 2017) because the product is missing the required label instruction indicating that it must be refrigerated.

Food Safety Recall: Les Pâtes Cortina Inc. (Quebec, QC) recalls Sauce à la Viande/Meat Sauce (500 mL and 1L; Lots 08/02/2017 and 15/02/2017; Exp. 25/03/2017 and 01/04/2017) due to potential underprocessing that may render the product unsafe.

Public Health Notice Update – Norovirus: The Public Health Agency of Canada advises Canadians that a total of 267 clinical cases of gastrointestinal illness linked to oysters have been reported in British Columbia (179), Alberta (40) and Ontario (48). Testing of several cases has confirmed the presence of Norovirus infection. All individuals who became ill reported having eaten oysters.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Denmark): Dan Viet (Odense) recalls Kokoscreme Royal Thai i dåse (400 mL; Expiry 11-06-2019) and Lotusrod i lage (Net wt. 200g; Expiry 31-12-2018) due to undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert (UK): Waitrose recalls Frozen 2 Breaded Haddock Fillets (300g; Batch no L7 038 N; Pack size 2; Best before end February 2018) due to undeclared mustard and milk.

Food Safety Recall (Czech Republic): Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority warns the public not to consume Grandma Beauty Seven Herbs bagged tea with Echinacea (Batch L09111630 C; Best before 09 11 18; Manufactured by Mokate SA, Ustron, Poland) because the presence of alkaloids and scopolamine renders the tea unfit for human consumption.

Food Recall (Denmark): Danish Crown Oldenburg GmbH recalls ground beef sold in Aldi (400g net weight; Printed expiry date 03/28/2017; Lot no. ID2002) due to an incorrect expiry date.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Steigerwald Mineralbrunnen GmbH recalls various mineral waters and sweetened beverages after a foreign body was found in some bottles. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Martin Amberger Kartoffelverarbeitung Dolli-Werk GmbH & Co. KG recalls Dolli and Feldmühle potato salad products (Best before dates 26.2.2017, 13.03.2017 and 16.3.2017) due to an error in the use of metal detection equipment.

Food Safety Alert (Germany): The North Rhine-Westphalian Department of Consumer Protection warns against the consumption of “Diamond Vodka” after laboratory tests reveal that the product contains 15 grams of methanol per liter, exceeding the permitted limit by 400 times. A criminal investigation is in progress.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese recalls Wicklow Blue Cheese (Batch codes 16334C and 17018A; Use by dates 23.02.2017 and 11.04.2017) due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Food Safety Recall (Israel): Tnuva recalls Cdi Yogurt (3-liter, 3%, 4% and 6.5% fat; Expiry dates 25/02/17 to 04/02/17) due to the presence of plastic residues in the products.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (Australia): Ottovo International Trading P/L recalls Wheat Pop Sesame Flavour Popped Wheat Snack (400g plastic bag; Best before 25-10-2017; Imported from China) due to undeclared peanut. The product was distributed through Chinese grocery stores in NSW and ACT.

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
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.