Category: recalls

CooperVision Recalls Avaira® Toric Contact Lenses

In what can only be described as a stealth recall, CooperVision has recalled “limited lots” of its Avaira Toric contact lenses. In its August 19, 2011 news release, the company described the scope and reason for the recall as follows:

“This recall is limited solely to specific lots of Avaira Toric, and no other CooperVision product is involved in this recall.

The recall was initiated because of the unintended presence of a residue on certain lenses. The residue was identified after investigating a small number of complaints of temporary hazy vision. The manufacturing issue has been identified and a resolution is in process. It is anticipated Avaira Toric shipments will resume shortly, and inventory will return to normal levels by December 1, 2011.”

A list of affected lots was not included with the recall notice; instead, consumers are invited to enter the lot number from their product package on the Avaira® Toric recall web page. As far as the FDA website is concerned, as of today (August 23rd), the recall still does not exist.

What is especially curious about this recall is that the Hong Kong Department of Health (DOH) has advised the public that Coopervision Hong Kong has recalled all of the Avaira Toric and BioComfort XO Toric contact lenses distributed in Hong Kong. In addition, the Hong Kong DOH press release advises that Avaira Toric lenses have been recalled in the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy and Spain.

The CooperVision web site gives no information regarding in which countries the recalled contact lenses were sold. Nor have ANY of the countries mentioned in the Hong Kong press release alerted consumers to this recall.

Have the FDA, Health Canada and all of the other affected national regulatory agencies turned a blind eye to this safety recall? Or are they asleep at the switch?

Members of the public who wear Avaira Toric or BioComfort XO Toric contact lenses should consult their optometrists. Pronto.

Cargill Recalls 36 Million Pounds of Ground Turkey

Cargill has announced an immediate recall of fresh and frozen ground turkey meat produced at its Springdale, Arkansas production facility from February 20, 2011 through August 2nd.

The turkey meat, which may be contaminated with Salmonella Heidelberg, is being recalled as a result of Cargill’s “...internal investigation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) information that became available on Aug. 1, 2011, as well as an ongoing USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) investigation into multiple illnesses from Salmonella Heidelberg.”

Cargill’s recall announcement continues as follows:

Additionally, Cargill has suspended production of ground turkey products at its Springdale, Ark., turkey processing facility until it is able to determine the source of the Salmonella Heidelberg and take corrective actions. Other turkey products produced at Springdale are not part of the recall. Cargill owns four turkey processing facilities in the U.S. and no products from the other three are involved in the recall.

“While facts continue to be gathered, and currently there is no conclusive answer regarding the source of Salmonella Heidelberg contamination, given our concern for what has happened, and our desire to do what is right for our consumers and customers, we are voluntarily removing our ground turkey products from the marketplace,” said Steve Willardsen, president of Cargill’s turkey processing business. “Additionally, we have suspended ground turkey production at our Arkansas facility until the source can be pinpointed and actions to address it are taken. Public health and the safety of consumers cannot be compromised. It is regrettable that people may have become ill from eating one of our ground turkey products and, for anyone who did, we are truly sorry. We go to great lengths to ensure the food we produce is safe and we fully understand that people expect to be able to consume safe food, each serving, every time.”

“Suspending production until we can determine the source of the Salmonella Heidelberg at our Arkansas facility, and take corrective action, is the right thing to do,” stated Willardsen. “We are closely examining every aspect of our production process and have identified enhancements to our procedures in our efforts to ensure safe food. Eliminating food borne illness is always our goal.”

 Here is a complete list of the recalled products, as provided by Cargill:

The products involved are Ground Turkey. All packages include Est. P-963 on the label. Products are listed below:

Ground Turkey Chubs – Use or Freeze by Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11

  • 10 lbs. Chubs of Honeysuckle White Fresh Natural Lean Ground Turkey with Natural Flavorings
  • 10 lbs. Chubs of Unbranded Ground Turkey w/ Natural Flavoring 2 Pack
  • 80 oz. (5 lbs.) chubs of Riverside Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring
  • 10 lb. Chub of Natural Lean Ground Turkey with Natural Flavorings
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Fresh Lean HEB Ground Turkey 93/7
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Fresh HEB Ground Turkey 85/15
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White 93/7 Fresh Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring
  • 4-1 Pound Packages of Honeysuckle White Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring Value Pack
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Fresh Ground Turkey
  • 48 oz. (3 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Fresh Ground Turkey

85% Ground Turkey – Use or Freeze by Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11

  • 19.2 oz. (1.2 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey
  • 19.2 oz. (1.2 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White Taco Seasoned Ground Turkey Colored with Paprika
  • 20 oz. (1 lb. 4 oz.) trays of Safeway Fresh Ground Turkey with Natural Flavorings * 15% Fat
  • 19.2 oz. (1 lb. 3.2 oz.) trays of Kroger Ground Turkey Fresh 85/15
  • 48.0 oz. (3 lb.) trays of Kroger Ground Turkey Fresh 85/15
  • 48.0 oz. (3 lbs.) trays of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey Family Pack
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey
  • 19.2 oz. (1.2 lbs.) trays of Honeysuckle White Seasoned Italian Style Ground Turkey with Natural Flavorings
  • 20 oz. (1.25 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey (NOTE: Sold in Texas only at Randall’s and Tom Thumb, Use or Freeze by 03/12/11 through 05/05/11)

93% Ground Turkey – Use or Freeze by Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11

  • 19.2 oz. (1.20 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 93/7 Lean Ground Turkey
  • 48 oz. (3.0 lbs.) trays of Honeysuckle White 93/7 Lean Ground Turkey Family Pack
  • 19.2 oz. (1.2 lb.) trays of Fit & Active Lean Ground Turkey 93/07
  • 19.2 oz. (1.2 lbs.) trays of Giant Eagle Ground Turkey Fresh & Premium Lean
  • 19.2 oz. (1 lb 3.2 oz.) trays of Kroger Ground Turkey Fresh Lean 93/7
  • 20 oz. (1.25 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 93/7 Lean Ground Turkey

Ground Patties

  • 16.0 oz. (1 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White Ground Turkey Patties
  • Use or Freeze by Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) trays of Kroger Ground Seasoned Turkey Patties Fresh 85/15
  • Use or Freeze by Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11
  • 16.0 oz. (1 lb.) trays of Shady Brook Farms Ground Turkey Burgers with Natural Flavoring
  • NOTE: ONLY THE FOLLOWING USE OR FREEZE BY DATES ARE AFFECTED: 07/09/11, 07/10/11, 07/11/11, 07/15/11, 07/16/11, 07/21/11, 07/22/11, 07/24/11, 08/01/11 AND 08/04/11

Frozen Ground Turkey – Production Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/2/11

  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring
  • 16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Spartan Ground Turkey
  • 48 oz. (3 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey
  • 40 lb. Bulk Packed Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring For Food Service Use Only
I expect the supermarket recall notices to begin appearing tomorrow.

Cargill To Recall Ground Turkey

Associated Press and Bill Marler are reporting that Cargill Value Added Meats – Retail (Springdale, AR) will announce a recall of 35,709,675 pounds – that is, 17,855 tons – of fresh, ground turkey meat before the day is out.

The recalled turkey meat may be linked to an outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg that has sickened 77 people across the US since the beginning of March. One person – a resident of Sacramento County, California – has died and 38% of the outbreak victims for whom the information is available were hospitalized. Cases have been reported from 26 states so far; the outbreak is on-going and nation-wide.

I have just instructed my 80-something-year-old Aunt Anne to toss out her ground turkey meatloaf. She’s also tossing the recipe.