Category: Salmonella

Recalls and Alerts: October 21, 2011

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.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

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.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.

Recalls and Alerts: October 20, 2011

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.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

United States

  • Allergy Alert: General Mills recalls Chocolate flavor Fiber One 90-Calorie Chewy Bars (5-count boxes; Better If Used By 19MAY2012BV), because a packaging error may have resulted in the presence of undeclared peanuts.
  • Food Safety Recall: Larry Schultz Organic Farm recalls Lunds & Byerly’s Organic, Kowalski’s Organic, and Larry Schultz Organic Farm brands of organic shell eggs due to possible contamination with Salmonella Entertitidis. The eggs are linked epidemiologically to six cases of Salmonella Enteritidis in Minnesota. The recalled eggs were distributed to restaurants, grocery stores, food wholesalers and foodservice companies in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Please refer to the recall notice for a list of grocery stores where the eggs were sold.
  • Food Safety Recall: Taylor Farms Retail Inc. recalls various salad blends after a random test by the Washington Department of Agriculture finds Salmonella in a sample of packaged spinach. The recalled products include: 10-oz bags of Fresh Selections Hearts of Romaine, Leafy Romaine, Field of Greens and Romaine Blend (Best by 10-18-11); HEB Spring Mix (5-oz bag; Best by 10-20-11), Marketside Fresh Spinach (10-oz bag; Guaranteed Delicious by 10-21-11), Caesar Salad Kit (14.6-oz bag; Guaranteed Delicious by 10-19-11), Asian Salad Kit (15-oz bag; Guaranteed Delicious by 10-19-11), Southwest Salad Kit (15-oz bag; Guaranteed Delicious by 10-19-11), Premium Romaine (9-oz bag; Guaranteed Delicious by 10-19-11), and Premium Romaine Family (18-oz bag; Guaranteed Delicious by 10-19-11), and Taylor Farms Field Greens (8-oz bag; Best If Used By 10-20-11). The recalled salad blends were distributed in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Puerto Rico, and sold in various supermarkets, including HEB, Walmart, and the following Kroger stores: Fred Meyer, King Soopers, City Market, Food4Less, FoodsCo, Ralphs, Fry’s and QFC stores.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: ITFC Importers & Distributors recalls (no English brand name) Classic Marshmallow (500g) and Sweets Cherry (200g), due to the presence of unspecified chemical additives. The brand name is shown in Ukranian only on the package.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert: Sandwell Foods recalls Halal World lamb sausages, Halal World beef sausages, Halal World Spicy lamb burgers and Halal World Spicy beef burgers (Use by 21 October 2011), due to the possible presence of undeclared wheat gluten, soy, sulphites, celery and mustard as a result of incorrect labeling.
  • Food Safety Recall (France): Carrefour recalls Rillettes de Canard/Minced Duck Spread (180g; Lot #096C1 and E096E2; Best if used by 06/04/2015), due to the possible presence of glass particles.
  • Outbreak Alert (Estonia): An outbreak of hepatitis A infections has been detected in Viljandi County, Estonia. Between August 4th and October 3rd, 66 cases have been confirmed in the county. The modes of transmission are thought to be environmental exposure and person-to-person transmission. A case-control study is in the planning stages to identify possible common risk factors.

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.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.

Organic Eggs Spread Salmonella

Free-range Organic table eggs from Larry Schultz Organic Farm (Owatonna, MN) are believed to be the source of six cases of Salmonella Enteritidis infections in residents of the seven-county Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, according to a joint news statement released today by the Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

All six patients were infected with the same strain of Salmonella Enteritidis. They became ill between August 12th and September 24th. Three of the patients were hospitalized, but have since recovered. A seventh case is under investigation, according to Trisha Robinson, Senior Epidemiologist with the Minnesota Department of Health.

Five of the six confirmed outbreak patients reported eating eggs from the Larry Schultz farm. Environmental testing carried out by the Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of Salmonella Enteritidis at the farm. Genetic profiling (PFGE) results for the Salmonella recovered from the farm environment are pending.

The Larry Schultz Organic Farm is a small producer, with fewer than 3,000 laying hens, according to FDA’s Sebastian Cianci. As a small producer, it is not subject to the FDA’s Egg Safety Rule and, therefore, was not on the FDA’s inspection schedule (the Egg Assignment List).

The eggs, which are sold under the three different brand labels – Larry Schultz Organic Farm, Lunds & Byerly’s, and Kowalski’s Organic Egg – have been recalled by the producer. The recalled eggs were packed in bulk and in 6-, 12-, and 18-egg cartons, and were distributed to restaurants, grocery stores, food wholesalers and foodservice companies in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.

All eggs bearing the statements “On or Before Julian date 286 EXP NOV 12” or “286 NOV12” are included in the recall. Egg cartons bearing Plant Number 0630 or a “Sell by” date are not affected. The Department of Agriculture has provided a list of all grocery stores where the recalled eggs were sold.

There are some lessons to be drawn from this incident.

  • Just because laying hens are free-range, this doesn’t mean that the environment, the hens and the eggs are Salmonella-free.
  • Just because the conditions are organic, this doesn’t mean that the environment, the hens and the eggs are Salmonella-free.
  • Just because a producing farm has fewer than 3,000 laying hens, this doesn’t mean that the environment, the hens and the eggs are Salmonella-free.

Finally, just because FDA has in place an Egg Safety Rule and a Food Safety Modernization Act, this doesn’t mean that US consumers can assume that their food supply is free from Salmonella and other pathogens.