Cheese Blamed For Australia Listeria Outbreak

Authorities in several Australian states are investigating an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes that has sickened eight people in New South Wales (3), Victoria (2), Queensland (1), Tasmania (1) and Western Australia (1). Three more cases are under investigation and may also be part of the outbreak. No other details have been released.

According to health warnings posted by the New South Wales and Victoria departments of health, the outbreak is linked to a number of Jindi and Wattle Valley brand soft cheeses sold at delicatessens and supermarkets throughout Australia. On December 19th, a recall notice for the following cheeses was posted on the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website:

Jindi Brie – 1 kg
Jindi Camembert – 1 kg
Jindi Food Service Brie – 1 kg
Wattle Valley Brie – 1 kg
Wattle Valley Camembert – 1 kg

All of the recalled cheeses carry a Best Before date of 21 December 2012. As these cheeses are commonly cut into smaller portions for sale to the public, the original identifying packaging may no longer be available.

Advice to Consumers

Consumers are advised to check the best before date of any Jindi or Wattle Valley soft cheeses and, if from the identified batch, they should discard it or return to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Consumers who have purchased a cut portion of camembert or brie from a supermarket or delicatessen who are unsure of the brand should discard it. If in doubt, THROW IT OUT.
Healthy people usually show only mild symptoms. However, in people at risk, early symptoms of listeriosis include fever, headache, tiredness and aches and pains. Listeria monocytogenes can cause miscarriages in pregnant women, stillbirths, and death in people with compromised immune systems. Anyone who experiences symptoms consistent with listeriosis and who consumed brie or camembert within 70 days prior to becoming ill should seek immediate medical attention.

Pet Treat Company Refuses FDA Recall Request

FDA is warning pet owners and caretakers that Nature’s Deli Chicken Jerky Dog Treats (3-lb pkgs; Lot code BESTBY061913DEN; Product of USA) should not be fed to pets, because the treats may be contaminated with Salmonella. The contaminated product was sold at Costco stores in the Denver, Colorado area. Costco is cooperating with FDA, and has removed all of the implicated product from store shelves. The retailer also will contact customers who may have purchased the product.

The FDA warning follows three prior recalls of pet treats initiated by Kasel Associates Inc. (Denver, CO), issued in September and October 2012. Kasel has refused to recall the batch that is the subject of FDA’s most recent warning, even though the Colorado Department of Agriculture found Salmonella in a sample of the product.

Kasel appears to have an ongoing Salmonella contamination problem.

In September 2012, the company recalled Boots & Barkley American Beef 5-inch Bully Sticks after Colorado found Salmonella in four production lots;
In October 2012, Kasel recalled Nature’s Deli Chicken Jerky Dog Treats (one lot code) after FDA detected Salmonella during what the recall notice described as a routine testing program; and
In October 2012, the company recalled one production lot each of Boots & Barkley Roasted American Pig Ears and Boots & Barkley American Variety Pack Dog Treats after Colorado again found Salmonella in a sample of the treats.

When FDA carried out its follow-up inspection of Kasel’s manufacturing facility after the first (September 2012) recall, the agency found “certain finished dog treat products and 34 out of 72 environmental samples positive for Salmonella.”

If Kasel was manufacturing “human” food instead of pet treats, I suspect that a far more extensive product recall would have followed the FDA inspection findings. It was only last spring that Diamond Pet Foods’ dry dog food products were implicated in an outbreak of human salmonellosis. People – including children – handle these products and do not always wash their hands after doing so. Will it take another pet-related disease outbreak for pet food companies and FDA to recognize that Salmonella–contaminated pet food and pet treats present a health risk to pet owners and pet caretakers, and not just to pets?

Why is Kasel being allowed to get away with supplying products that were manufactured in a Salmonella-contaminated environment?

Ranbaxy Recalls Generic Lipitor (Atorvastatin)

Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc. has initiated a recall of certain batches and strengths of Atorvastatin calcium tablets – the company’s generic version of Lipitor. The recall only affect products distributed in the United States.

The recall notice posted on Ranbaxy’s web site reads as follows:

Atorvastatin Recall

Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc. is conducting a voluntary recall only in the U.S. healthcare system for select batches and strengths of Atorvastatin calcium tablets. The recall is in connection with its 10mg 20mg and 40mg dosage strengths, packaged in 90’s and 500 count bottles, and only with respect to certain select lot numbers. The recall does not affect or relate to the 80mg strength or any other Ranbaxy Product in any other market.

The recall is being conducted in the U.S. at the retail level for such select batches that may contain a foreign substance (small glass particles approximately less than 1mm in size). Ranbaxy is proactively recalling the drug product lots out of an abundance of caution, and in keeping the safety of our customers in mind. This recall is being conducted with the full knowledge of the U.S. FDA. The recall is limited to the U.S. market only and affects specific lots numbers and strengths of this molecule manufactured by Ranbaxy only for sale in the U.S.

Atorvastatin calcium tablets or any other product containing this molecule distributed outside the US is not affected in any way by this recall. The activities taking place in the U.S. will not affect Ranbaxy’s ability to continue to supply product in any other markets.

Individuals who have been prescribed atorvastatin calcium in the 10mg, 20mg or 40mg dosage strengths should refer to the list of recalled products supplied by Ranbaxy, and should contact their pharmacist for additional instructions.

Three of Ranbaxy’s manufacturing facilities have been operating under a consent decree of permanent injunction, filed by the US Department of Justice in January 2012. The consent decree addressed “…outstanding current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) and data integrity issues at Ranbaxy’s Paonta Sahib, Batamandi and Dewas, India facilities as well as CGMP issues at Ranbaxy Inc.’s wholly owned subsidiary Ohm Laboratories facility located in Gloversville, N.Y.” When queried by eFoodAlert today about this recall, Sarah Clark-Lynn of FDA’s Office of Public Affairs responded with the following statement:

First, let me say that consumers in this country expect and deserve safe, effective, and high quality medications. The FDA is working with the company to address their quality issues.

Product from the affected lots of atorvastatin (see Ranbaxy’s website for the lot numbers) may have been dispensed to patients and may have already been consumed. Patients concerned about the product they have on hand should contact their pharmacist and consult with their physician.

The FDA is currently working with other manufacturers to address any potential shortage as a result of the ongoing recall. We will continue to monitor this situation.

The Ranbaxy facilities involved in manufacturing atorvastatin were not the same facilities whose conduct gave rise to the consent decree. Nonetheless, the consent decree provides the FDA with additional tools to address violations for other Ranbaxy facilities.

The evaluation of this quality issue is ongoing.