Category: Salmonella

Recalls and Alerts: September 11, 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: BUI Natural Tofu (Portland, OR) recalls BUI Shrimp Salad Roll (Expiration dates from 9/2 through 9/13) and BUI Vegetarian Salad Roll (Expiration dates from 9/2 through 9/13), because the products contain undeclared soy and wheat. The recalled Salad Rolls were distributed to retail stores in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area.
  • Food Safety Recall: Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation (Springdale, AR) recalls 185,000 pounds of ground turkey products (Est. #P-963; Produced on August 23, 24, 30 and 31, 2011), because the turkey meat may be contaminated with an antibiotic-resistant strain of Salmonella Heidelberg that was responsible for an outbreak of salmonellosis earlier this year.
  • Food Safety Alert: FDA warns consumers not to eat tapenade or spreadable dried tomato paste manufactured by the French company La Ruche and sold under the brand names Les délices de Marie-Claire, Terre de Mistral, and Les secrets d’Anaïs, because these products may contain botulinum toxin. Eight cases of botulism have been confirmed in France to be linked to the consumption of one of these products, and lab analyses have confirmed the presence of Clostridium botulinum and/or its toxin in several samples. French authorities have ordered the company to cease production and recall all outstanding products. While FDA has no indication that La Ruche products were imported into the USA, returning tourists may have purchased them in France as souvenirs or gifts.
  • Outbreak Alert: A multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections – including one death – in Colorado (9 cases), Texas (2 cases) and Nebraska (1 case) has been linked – based on preliminary results – to the consumption of cantaloupe. All nine of the Colorado victims report having eaten cantaloupe. The source of the cantaloupe has not yet been identified. Confirmed Colorado cases are in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer and Weld counties. The victims range in age from the 30s to the 90s. The average age is 84. The majority are female.
  • Outbreak Alert (California): Monterey County health officials advise the public not to consume raw or undercooked oysters, after receiving several reports of Vibrio parahaemolyticus illnesses in individuals who consumed raw oysters served or purchased in Monterey County.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Tulipa Crossanteria & Salao de Cha recalls its Strawberry Pie (700g), Apple Pie (700g), Lemon Pie (700g), Rosquilhas Portuguese Biscuits (224g) and Macaroon Coconut (400g), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The Macaroon Coconut also contains undeclared sulphites. The recalled products were sold in Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: Johnvince Foods (Downsview, ON) expands its earlier recall and alert to include additional walnut products that were repackaged by retailers using bulk walnuts imported from the USA by Johnvince in 25-lb cardboard cases bearing Lot code W1866 and the name Anderson and Sons Shelling, Vina, California. These raw walnut products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Please navigate to the CFIA notice for a list of the additional recalled products, all of which were sold in Ontario.

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: September 9, 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: Best Food Cash & Carry Inc. (Maspeth, NY) recalls Raisin Golden brand Deer Raisin Golden, 14-oz pkg, due to the presence of undeclared sulfites. The recalled raisins werer distributed in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
  • Allergy Alert: US Nutrition recalls SM Balanced B-50 Tab, because the product may contain undeclared wheat. The recalled product was sold in Giant Eagle stores, and may also be carried by other retailers.
  • Cosmetic Product Safety Alert: The Texas Department of State Health Services warns the public that at least 18 mercury poisoning cases in South Texas appear to be linked to the use of Crema Aguamary, a cosmetic produced in Mexico and not approved for use in the USA.
  • Food Safety News: USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has discontinued the testing of E. coli O157:H7 in certain ready-to-eat products. Sampling resources previously directed to the ready-to-eat product testing will be diverted to increase testing for E. coli O157:H7 in raw products.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Uncle T Food Ltd. (Richmond, BC) recalls Sweet Potato Shape Snack (200g and 55g) and Turbinate Shape Snack (200g and 50g), because the products contain undeclared peanuts. The recalled snacks were imported from Korea and distributed in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. One illness has been reported.
  • Allergy Alert: Uncle T Food Ltd. (Richmond, BC) recalls Korean Snack (Gosoa), 55g, because the product contains undeclared peanuts. The recalled snack was imported from Korea and distributed in BC, Alberta and Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall: Johnvince Foods (Downsview, ON) expands its earlier recall of bulk walnuts, prepackaged nuts and snack products to include additional items. The recalled nut products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. For a complete list of recalled brands and products, please navigate to the CFIA recall notices dated 2011-09-01, 2011-09-06, 2011-09-07, and 2011-09-08, and to the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food notice dated 7 sept. 2011.

Europe

Australia and New Zealand

  • Allergy Alert (Australia): Woolworths Supermarkets Ltd. recalls Macro Whole Foods Markets Gluten Free Choc Brownie Mix (400g cardboard box; All best before dates up to and including 20 DEC 12 B), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled brownie mix was sold in Woolworths, Safeway and Thomas Dux supermarkets throughout Australia.
  • Herbal Supplement Safety Advisory (Australia): The Therapeutic Goods Administration warns Australian consumers that Maxidus capsules, sold over the internet, have been found to contain sulfohydroxyhomosildenafil, a derivative of Sildenafil, the active ingredient in the approved Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd product Viagra, which is indicated for the treatment of male erectile dysfunction.

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.

Del Monte vs. The Food Cops: Your Verdict Is In

The polls are closed on eFoodAlert’s inaugural survey, and your verdict is in. Sincere thanks to everyone who took the time to vote, and especially to those of you who posted your comments on both sides of the issue.

The first question dealt with the suit filed by Del Monte Fresh Produce against FDA, seeking to lift FDA’s Import Alert detention order against cantaloupes from a farm in Guatemala. These cantaloupes were linked epidemiologically to an outbreak of 20 cases of Salmonella Panama illnesses earlier this year.

I asked, “If you were on the jury, what would be your verdict?“

  • 79% (57/72) voted in favor of FDA
  • 14% (10/72) supported Del Monte Fresh Produce
  • 7% (5/72) chose “Don’t know”

The second question went to the heart of an ongoing controversy on what constitutes sufficient evidence to trigger a recall. In this case, the outbreak strain was never recovered from Del Monte’s cantaloupes. Nevertheless, epidemiological and traceback evidence was strong.

I asked, “Should FDA have to find the outbreak bug in a food sample before requesting a recall?”

  • 72% (52/72) voted “No”
  • 22% (16/72) voted “Yes”
  • 6% (4/72) chose “Don’t know”

This outbreak and recall was odd right from the start. The chronology tells the story:

In case you missed it, the cantaloupes that Del Monte Fresh Produce recalled WERE NOT EVEN IN THE COUNTRY during the bulk of the outbreak. In fact, by the time the outbreak was detected, the cantaloupes that were thought to be contaminated with the outbreak strain had passed their expiration date and were no longer available for sale.

I commented on the date discrepancy in my original March 23rd posting on this outbreak. And I had a long conversation on the topic with Dr. William Keene, Senior Epidemiologist with Oregon Public Health, who was instrumental in this outbreak investigation. This is what I found out (and reported in a follow-up article on March 30th):

Costco receives only about 6% of the cantaloupes grown on Del Monte’s Asuncion Mita farm. The rest of the crop is shipped to numerous other wholesalers and retailers – most, but not all, of them in the USA. The farm comprises some 15 cantaloupe fields, which are planted and harvested in series to ensure a continuous supply of melons. The last of the 15 fields to be harvested has been shut down since early March.

I asked Bill Keene about the rationale behind the recall. He said that the situation presented quite a dilemma, both to public health officials and to Del Monte. By the time the outbreak was identified and a probable source determined – which happened rather quickly, thanks to the relative rarity of Salmonella Panama and the Oregon illness cluster – the implicated melons had passed their usable shelf life. There was no point in recalling fruit that was no longer edible.

Why, then, did Del Monte recall the cantaloupes that were sold in Costco stores in several states beginning on March 10th? According to Keene, it was unclear whether the outbreak was a “one-off” problem relating to a small quantity of melons from one portion of a single field or whether it was a continuing situation. Del Monte Fresh Produce, therefore, decided on the recall.

And why was the recall limited to cantaloupes shipped to Costco in seven states? Because, except for the Maryland case, all of the illnesses were clustered within that group of states and were linked to cantaloupes purchased from Costco stores. It did not seem logical to recall the entire remaining production from the Asuncion Mita farm for what appeared to be a limited contamination problem.

This begs the question as to whether the recall was justified at all. Therefore, while I would ordinarily support recalling a food product implicated by epidemiological evidence and traceback investigation, in this specific instance, I do not believe that the Del Monte Fresh Produce recall was appropriate. I was uneasy with the rationale then, and I’m uneasy with it now.

As for the Import Alert, “It’s a puzzlement,” as Yul Brynner sang in “The King and I.” Here’s why:

  1. As far as I know, FDA never found Salmonella Panama (or any other Salmonella) in a sample of cantaloupe from the Asuncion Mita farm. If they had, this would have been stated as a justification in the Import Alert.
  2. According to the statements made in Del Monte Fresh Produce’s Court Filing, FDA never inspected the Asuncion Mita farm (either before or after the outbreak), and has no direct evidence of breaches of Good Agricultural Practices at that farm. Why would FDA not have inspected the farm that was implicated in this outbreak?
  3. Del Monte Fresh Produce arranged for a third-party expert audit of the Asuncion Mita farm and the operations of the packing house that handled the cantaloupes from that farm – Productos Agricolas de Oriente S.A. – in April 2011. If, as the company claims, the operations at the farm and the packing house were such that they “…meet and/or exceed current guidelines required to maintain a high level of food safety and regulatory compliance such that only wholesome food is shipped,” why was an Import Alert imposed, and why has it not been lifted?

I’m not in possession of the full story; only the direct participants know everything that has been going on. Nevertheless, based on the information available to me at this time, I believe that Del Monte Fresh Produce is justified in filing suit against FDA to have the Import Alert set aside.

But, that’s as far as I would go. I do NOT agree with Del Monte Fresh Produce’s plan to file suit against the Oregon Public Health Division and its Senior Epidemiologist, Dr. William Keene. Public health officials must be allowed to use their best professional judgement without fear of litigation or reprisal. Any errors of judgement – and there will be errors – should be on the side of public safety.