Category: recalls

Cargill Beef Sickens 33 People

Ground beef supplied to Hannaford Supermarkets by Cargill Meat Solutions (Wyalusing, PA) has been linked to 33 cases of Salmonella Enteritidis infections in seven states.

Earlier today, Cargill recalled 29,339 pounds of fresh ground beef products (14-lb chub packages of “Grnd Beef Fine 85/15” packed 3 chubs to approximately 42-lb cases). The recalled product was produced on May 25, 2012 and shipped to distribution centers in Connecticut, Maine and New York for further distribution.

The recalled meat was repackaged into consumer-size packages and sold under different brand names. We know so far that Hannaford, a regional supermarket chain in the US Northeast, sold the repackaged ground beef in its stores in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont.

Illnesses were reported in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia and Vermont. Investigations by federal and state health and agriculture departments were able to tie five of the illnesses to Cargill’s ground beef epidemiologically and via traceback. Onset dates for those five illnesses ranged from June 6th to June 13th; two of the five victims were hospitalized.

Although the outbreak strain has not yet been recovered from an unopened package, the Vermont Department of Health found the strain in a sample of leftover product with no packaging information, according to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The “use by” date of the recalled ground beef has expired, however, consumers may still have some of this product in their freezers. If you purchased fresh ground beef in late May or early June from a supermarket in one of the affected states, please check your freezer for any remaining product.

Diamond Pet Foods Expands Recall

Diamond Pet Foods has expanded its earlier recalls to include all formulas and package sizes of the following brands of dry dog food manufactured in the Gaston, South Carolina facility between December 9, 2011 and April 7, 2012.

Recalled products show a “2” or “3” in the 9th digit of the production code, AND the letter “X” in the  10th or 11th digit. The products were distributed to Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Canada.

The affected brands include:

  • Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
  • Country Value
  • Diamond
  • Diamond Naturals
  • Premium Edge
  • Professional
  • 4Health
  • Taste of the Wild

Also recalled are the following Kirkland Signature dry dog and cat foods, bearing best before dates of December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013; production codes should include the number “3” in the 9th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit.

  • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Lamb, Rice & Vegetable Formula
  • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Formula
  • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Mature Dog Chicken, Rice & Egg Formula
  • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Dog Formulated with Chicken & Vegetables
  • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Maintenance Cat Chicken & Rice Formula Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Cat Formula
  • Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Salmon Meal & Sweet Potato Formula for Dogs

The affected Kirkland products were distributed in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

In addition, WellPet LLC has announced a recall of Wellness Complete Health® Super5Mix® Large Breed Puppy dry dog food (15lb and 30lb bags and 5-oz sample bags; Best by dates of JAN 9 2013 through JAN 11 2013), due to potential Salmonella contamination. The puppy food was manufactured for WellPet at Diamond’s Gaston production facility.

Salmonella-contaminated dry dog food manufactured at the Gaston plant has been linked to 14 confirmed cases of human Salmonella illness in 9 states.

CDC offers this advice to pet owners:

  • Consumers should check their homes for recalled dog food products and discard them promptly. Consumers with questions about recalled dog food may contact Diamond Pet Foods at telephone number (800) 442-0402 or visit http://www.diamondpetrecall.com.
  • Follow the tips listed on Salmonella from Dry Pet Food and Treats to help prevent an infection with Salmonella from handling dry pet food and treats.
  • People who think they might have become ill after contact with dry pet food or with an animal that has eaten dry pet food should consult their health care providers. Infants, older adults, and persons with impaired immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness.
  • People who think their animal might have become ill after eating dry pet food should consult their veterinary-care providers.
  • Read Additional Information for Pet Owners to learn the signs and symptoms of salmonellosis in dogs and cats, and to understand how to deal with possible Salmonella illness in your pet.

Also, be aware that dogs may be infected with Salmonella – and may shed the bacteria in their stool – without showing any outward symptoms of illness. If your pet has consumed a Diamond Pet Foods dry dog food, be especially careful to wash your hands after handling it, and supervise closely any interaction between children and your pet.

Two Salmonella Strains In Sushi Outbreak – 200 Ill

The outbreak of Salmonella illnesses traced to eating sushi containing contaminated raw yellowfin tuna known as Nakaochi scrape has grown to encompass 200 confirmed illnesses in 21 states and the District of Columbia. Vermont was the latest state to be added to the list.

There is no longer even the slightest shadow of a doubt that the scrape yellowfin – which resembles ground tuna – is the source of this outbreak. Both FDA and the state of Wisconsin have confirmed the Salmonella Bareilly outbreak strain in food samples.

Two days ago, Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection laboratory reported confirming the presence of the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bareilly in the recalled yellowfin tuna and in a spicy tuna roll made with the recalled tuna. The DNA fingerprinting of the Salmonella was carried out by the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, located at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Earlier today, FDA chimed in with its own announcement. FDA labs reported finding the Salmonella Bareilly outbreak strain in a sample of Nakaochi scrape yellowfin tuna obtained from a distributor of the raw fish product. The same sample contained a strain of Salmonella Nchanga that was indistinguishable from bacteria isolated from an additional cluster of 10 infections in 5 states. FDA also recovered Salmonella Bareilly from a sample of Nakaochi scrape yellowfin tuna obtained from a different distributor.

As a result of FDA’s lab findings, CDC has expanded its definition of the outbreak to include both Salmonella Bareilly and Salmonella Nchanga.

The raw tuna product was imported from India. On April 19th, FDA’s New Delhi office initiated a seafood (HACCP) inspection of the manufacturer’s facility (Moon Fishery Pvt Ltd, Aroor, India). The agency was informed that April 12, 2012 was the last day of tuna processing at the firm due to the seasonal nationwide ban on tuna harvest from the Indian Ocean. FDA has promised to post the inspection results once the report has been finalized.

CDC advises retailers and establishments not to serve raw recalled frozen raw yellowfin tuna product, known as Nakaochi Scrape, from Moon Marine USA Corporation. Establishments and retailers should check with their suppliers to confirm the source of the tuna product.

CDC offers the following Advice to Consumers

  • Do not eat the recalled frozen raw yellowfin tuna product, known as Nakaochi Scrape, from Moon Marine USA Corporation. This product is tuna backmeat that is scraped from the bones of tuna and may be used to make sushi, particularly “spicy tuna” sushi.
  • If you purchase “spicy tuna” or other sushi, sashimi, ceviche, or similar dishes that might contain Nakaochi Scrape tuna product from a restaurant or grocery store, check with the establishment to make sure that it does not contain raw recalled product from Moon Marine USA Corporation. When in doubt, don’t eat it.
  • Persons who think they might have become ill from eating possibly contaminated raw Nakaochi Scrape tuna product should consult their healthcare providers.
  • Infants, older adults, pregnant women, and persons with impaired immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness and should not eat raw or partially cooked fish or shellfish. If you are unsure of your risk, ask your healthcare provider.