Category: Salmonella

Recalls and Alerts: June 10, 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

  • Outbreak Alert Update: CDC reports that the illness outbreak that affected 64 passengers and 3 crew members on board the Coral Princess cruise ship during its May 4-19 Alaska cruise was due to norovirus.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: An outbreak of Salmonella Altona that has sickened 39 people in 15 US states has been traced to chicks and ducklings purchased at agricultural outlets that were supplied by Mt. Healthy Hatchery, an Ohio-based company.
  • Outbreak Alert: The New Mexico Department of Health, New Mexico Environment Department and the City of Santa Fe are investigating an outbreak of gastroenteritis among 30 students and 4 staff members attending summer youth programs at Monica Roybal Center.
  • Outbreak Alert: Health officials in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia have reported a total of 13 cases of E. coli illness in what appears to be two separate outbreaks. The Virginia Department of Health has confirmed two cases of E. coli O157:H7 – a two-year old girl who died, and her 4-year old brother, who survived. Sullivan County reports one case of E. coli among the 11 Northern Tennessee cases, and advises that the cases in the Northern Tennessee region are not related to the German outbreak, and are NOT E. coli O157:H7.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Prairie Mushrooms recalls Premium brand Sliced Mushrooms With Gourmet Teriyaki Seasonings (12-oz pkg; all codes), due to the presence of undeclared soy and wheat. The recalled mushrooms were sold in retail stores in Alberta.
  • Allergy Alert: Le Goûtillon (Boucherville, QC) recalls several prepared entrées, that may contain undeclared soy, milk, eggs, mollusks or shellfish.
  • Allergy Alert: JFC International (Canada) Inc. recalls UCC Sumiyaki 3 in 1 Coffee Mix (170g; Code #J84205BB 2012.11.25) due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled product was sold in retail stores in Alberta and British Columbia.
  • Food Safety Recall: Latinamerican Foods Inc. – TIFCO recalls San Marcos brand Taco Sauce – Salsa (530mL; Code AS 279 T 0, PREF 10/05/11) and San Marcos brand Mexican Sauce – Pico de Gallo – Salsa (530mL; Code AS 51 A 1, PREF 02/20/2012), due to the presence of extraneous material (glass). The recalled products were sold in retail stores nationwide.
  • Food Safety Recall: La Panthère Verte (Montreal, QC) recalls Thai Tofu Curry and Vegetable Soup, sold refrigerated in unlabeled glass jars, because the safety of the products cannot be assured.
  • Food Safety Recall (Update): Canadian Food Inspection Agency advises consumers that recalled Simply Thick products may still be in the Canadian marketplace. Consumers are reminded not to purchase or use the recalled products.
  • Food Safety Recall: Tapio Tea Company recalls several fruit syrups, passionfruit jam and grape jelly, because the products may contain DEHP.
  • Food Safety Recall: Sweet Accessories Enterprises recalls Mango Drink Concentrate, Lychee Drink Concentrate, Sweet Yoghurt Drink Concentrate and Blueberry Drink Concentrate, because the products may contain DEHP.
  • Food Safety Recall: Canda Six Fortune Enterprise Co. Ltd. recalls Uni-President brand Guava Drink, Calamondin & Lemon Drink and Sugarcane Drink, because the products may contain DEHP. The beverages were sold in retain stores in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec.
  • Food Safety Recall: G.C. Galaxie Commerciale recalls various beverage syrups and Mint Conc. Juice, because the products may contain DEHP.
  • Food Recall: Quality Natural Foods Ltd. recalls Quality Brand Mughal E’ Azam and Quality Brand Nazrana mouth fresheners, because the products contain non-permitted food ingredients.
  • Food Recall: A. Lassonde Inc. recalls Oasis Classic 100% Juice Variety Pack (4 x 10 x 200mL; Code C20120320), due to non-hazardous microbiological spoilage.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (UK): Aldi Stores withdraws Greisinger Cheese Cabanossi Austrian air dried, hot smoked and seasoned sausages (300g; Batch code L1961; Best before 25 July 2011), because the product, which is labeled as dairy-free, contains cheese.
  • Allergy Alert (Ireland): Aldi Stores withdraws Greisinger Cheese Cabanossi Austrian air dried, hot smoked and seasoned sausages (300g; Batch code L1961; Best before 25 July 2011), because the product, which is labeled as dairy-free, contains cheese.
  • Food Safety Recall/Alert (Netherlands): Netherlands VWA warns consumers to discard Hamu brand beetroot sprouts, because they may be contaminated with an enterohemorrhagic strain of E. coli that is different from the German outbreak strain. Hamu B.V. has withdrawn the product from the market.
  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Maerlu (Hamu) International BV recalls beet root sprouts imported from the Netherlands (106 units of 50g; Expiry date 11-06-2011), after E. coli – unrelated to the German outbreak strain – was found in a sample of the sprouts.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Gravenstein Poultry ApS recalls fresh organic chickens (Raised in Hungary and cut/wrapped in Austria), because the chickens are contaminated with Salmonella.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2011.0750): Salmonella Havana in feather meal from the United Kingdom; distributed to Finland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0751): Salmonella infantis in organic chicken from Austria, via Germany; distributed to Denmark.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0752): Suspicion of shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli in sprouts mixture from Germany; distributed to Germany.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2011.0753): Salmonella Liverpool in soybean meal from Germany/Switzerland; distributed to Finland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0754): Salmonella in coriander powder from the United Kingdom, with raw material from India; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0755): Escherichia coli O103 and Escherichia coli O157 in beef carcass from Belgium; distributed to Belgium and France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0756): Unauthorized sucralose sweetener E955 in almond biscuits from Belgium; distributed to Greece.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0758): Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli in beetroot sprouts from the Netherlands; distributed to Germany and Belgium.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0759): Mercury in chilled swordfish loins from Chile; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0760): Methiocarb in cherries from Israel; distributed to Cyprus.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0761): Carbendazim in pak wan vegetables from Vietnam; distributed to Germany.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alerts (Hong Kong): The Centre for Food Safety CFS prohibits the import and sale of all batches of fruit syrup produced by Jin Zhuan Lifesciences Enterprise Co. Ltd, Taiwan, and has ordered the importer to recall related products. Additionally, has ordered the recall of Jin Ji Wang Food Co. Ltd. Peach Concentrated Juice (Product of Taiwan; all batches and sizes). and has prohibited the future import of this product. These actions were undertaken after DEHP was detected in samples of the products.
  • Food Safety Recall (Singapore): The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore has ordered the recall, and suspended import, of the following products that failed tests for DEHP: Possmei brand fruit juice concentrates; Signwin brand pudding powder, fruit jam and jelly; Chen En Food Product Enterprise Co. fruit juice concentrates; Feng Sheng Food Company fruit juice concentrates; Jin Guo Wan brand fruit juice concentrates; Sunlight brand beverages; and Tachungho brand fruit juice concentrates.
  • Food Safety Recall (Japan): Japan recalls dried tea from a Shizuoka tea factory, after radiation above the legal limit was detected in a sample.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Hong Kong): GlaxoSmithKline Limited recalls Augmentin powder for syrup antibiotic for pediatric patients (Manufactured in France), after the plasticizer Diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) was detected in the product.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Parmalat Food Products Pty Ltd. recalls Pura Milk full cream milk (1 L plastic bottle; Date 15 JUN), due to the possible presence of a food-grade sanitizer, resulting in a metallic taste. The recalled milk was sold in IGA, Foodworks, service stations, hospitals and corner stores in metro and regional areas of New South Wales and ACT.
  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Greens General Foods Pty Ltd. recalls Black & Gold Fruity Rings Cereal (300g; 7 Feb 2012, 8 Feb 2012), Coles Frooty Rings Cereal (300g; All dates up to and including 18 May 2012), and Woolworths Homebrand Fruity Rings Cereal (585g; All dates from 12 Jan 2012 to 19 May 2012, inclusive), because the products may contain fine wire pieces.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Australia):  The Therapeutic Goods Administration advises consumers that Pink Lady for Women capsules, which are sold over the internet and claim to be 100% herbal in origin, actually contain therapeutic quantities of tadalafil, the active ingredient in Cialis, a prescription only medicine. Consumers are advised to cease using the product and discard any unused capsules.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Australia): The Therapeutics Goods Administration advises consumers that St. Nirvana Herbal Slimming Capsules in Bottles and Blister Packs, which are sold over the internet and claim to be 100% herbal in origin, actually contain therapeutic quantities of sibutramine and phenolphthalein, and can cause serious side effects. Consumers are advised to cease using the product and discard any unused capsules.

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.

Recalls and Alerts: June 7, 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

  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: MGA Entertainment (Van Nuys, CA) recalls Bratz Makeup Design Sketch Book (produced between November 5, 2010 and February 25, 2011), because the product has the potential to be contaminated with Staphylococcus warneri and Staphylococcus intermedius. Finished product testing determined that the eye shadow portion of the product contains elevated levels of bacteria.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: EKSuccess Brands recalls American Girl Crafts™ Pearly Beads & Ribbon Bracelets Kits (Product of China), because the surface coating on some of the beads contains excessive levels of lead. The recalled kits were sold at Michaels Stores and other retailers nationwide from September 2009 through June 2011.
  • FDA Enforcement Action: U.S Marshals, at the request of FDA, have seized probiotic products from UAS Laboratories, Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN) because the company markets the probiotics as drugs. The seized products include DDS Acidophilus, DDS Plus, Probioplus DDS, DDS Junior, and Cran-Gyn DDS, in capsule, powder, and tablet forms.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Nature Pure LLC (West Mansfield, OH) that environmental swab samples taken during a February 2011 inspection of the company’s shell egg production facility were found to be positive for Salmonella Enteritidis. During the initial inspection and a follow-up inspection on February 28 through March 2nd revealed violations of the Prevention of Salmonella Enteritidis in Shell Eggs During Production, Storage, and Transportation regulation (shell egg regulation).
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Lumen Soy Foods, LLC (Spring Lake, MI) that a February/March 2011 inspection of the company’s soy protein meatless meat products processing facility revealed serious violations of FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Cerebral Health, LLC that a February 2011 inspection of the company’s dietary supplement facility revealed that the company failed to comply with the requirements for Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for Dietary Supplements, causing your products to be adulterated.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Jensen Tuna, Inc. (Houma, LA) that a January/February 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Jonlly Fruits, Inc (Bayamón, PR) that a September/October 2010 inspection of the company’s fruit juice and fruit juice beverage processing facility revealed serious violations of the juice Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Sunrise Orchards, Inc. (Goshen, IN) that an October 2010 inspection of the company’s juice processing facility revealed serious violations of the juice Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation and the Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) regulation for food.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Brothers Bakery Inc. recalls a number of Brother Bakery brand baked goods (Best before dates up to and including June 12, 2011). Some of the recalled items are mislabeled; others contain undeclared milk, egg or sulphites. The recalled baked goods were distributed to retail stores in New Brunswick.
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Tanta Pharmaceuticals Inc. recalls all lots of Junior Strength Acetaminophen Tablets (160mg) and Children’s Strength Acetaminophen Tablets (80 mg), due to reports that the Child Resistant Packaging is faulty. Please navigate to the Health Canada recall notice for details on brands and distribution information.
  • Food Safety Recall (Expanded): Tree of Life Canada (Surrey, BC) recalls King James brand Blue Stilton Cheese, 8-kg size units (Product of England; all lot codes and best before dates), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The cheese is mostly cut and sold at retail/deli counters in random weight packages, and has been distributed nationally.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Norway): Mel Kvelde AS recalls wheat bran (Batch #122011) after the mycotoxin DON was detected in the production batch. The recalled wheat bran was sold only to bakeries and was not available in retail stores.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Gravenstein Poultry Ltd. recalls Gravenstein Poultry organic chicken (Best before date 01.06.2011), because samples of the poultry were found to contain multi-drug resistant Salmonella.
  • Outbreak Alert (Russia): Eleven children, ages 3 to 12, from a children’s home in Kirov have been hospitalized with an acute enteric infection. All of the children are in satisfactory condition.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Germany): As of June 6, Germany has reported 642 cases of HUS (15 deaths), and 1,683 cases of non-HUS EHEC infections (7 deaths), for a total of 2,325 cases (22 deaths) within Germany. Twelve other European countries have reported a total of 31 HUS cases (1 death) and 73 cases of non-HUS EHEC.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2011.0744): Undeclared Brazil nut in nut and raisin mix from Germany; distributed to the Czech Republic.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2011.0747): Undeclared sulphite in sliced mushrooms in brine from the Czech Republic; distributed to Slovakia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0748): Parasitic infestation with Anisakis of anchovy from Croatia; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0749): Formetanate in peppers from Turkey; distributed to Austria.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Advisory (Hong Kong): The Centre for Food Safety calls on the food trade to immediately stop the use and sale of 23 kinds of fruit syrup and juice (Annex), which were produced in Taiwan and might have been contaminated with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticiser.
  • Food Safety Enforcement (Abu Dhabi): Abu Dhabi’s Food Control Authority has ordered the closure of the Hamdan Street branch of Chilis restaurant, after an inspection of the premises found several violations of food safety regulations.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Withdrawal (Australia): Two-litre and 3-litre Coles brand milk (Expiry June 18) and Dairy Farmer two-litre and three-litre milk (Expiry June 19) has been withdrawn from store shelves due to a problem with the homogenization process. This is not a safety issue.

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.

Recalls and Alerts: June 4, 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

  • Food Safety Recall: Walnut Cheese Company, d.b.a. Avanti Foods (Walnut, IL) recalls mozzarella cheese products manufactured on April 21, 2011 because the products may contain beta-lactam antibiotic residues. A review of the cheese plant’s drug residue screening log indicated that one load of raw milk was not tested for antibiotic residues. The recalled products were sold at grocery stores, pizzerias and convenience stores across Illinois.
  • Food Safety Recall: Simply Thick, LLC recalls SimplyThick® thickening gel products manufactured at a food processing plant in Stone Mountain Georgia since June 1, 2009. The plant is currently owned and operated by Thermo Pac, LLC. The recall was triggered after an FDA inspection of the Thermo Pac plant, which determined that the company failed to file with FDA a scheduled process designed to ensure that harmful bacteria of possibly public health significance are destroyed during the manufacturing process.  The recalled SimplyThick® products were distributed across the USA and Canada.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Bravo! LLC recalls Bravo! Pig Ears Chews (50-ct. bulk Oven-roasted Pig Ears; Product Code 75-121; Lot #12-06-10), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled Bravo! Pig Ears were distributed to retailers on the East and West Coasts between January 1 and February 28, 2011.
  • Food Safety Alert: Pacific Cheese has placed a “hold” on 26 million pounds of shredded and block cheese while it conducts an investigation into possible foreign materials in the products. Hilmar Cheese Co., the original producer of the cheeses supplied to Pacific Cheese has identified the possibility that some plastic mesh may have become shredded and mixed in with the cheese from several vats. No recall has been issued as of June 3rd.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Churchill Medical Systems (A Vygon Company) recalls certain lots of 5 hospital-use convenience kits containing Skin-Prep Wipes that were affected by an April 2011 recall initiated by Smith & Nephew. The affected kits were shipped to distributors and hospitals between September 3, 2010 and March 11, 2011.
  • FDA Enforcement Action: At the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S Marshals seized elderberry juice products that have been distributed by Wyldewood Cellars Inc. (Peck, KS), because the products are unapproved and misbranded drugs.

 Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Jasmine Mediterranean Foods Ltd. (Vancouver, BC) recalls Jasmine Foods Tahini (375 ml, 500 ml and 750 ml; Best before 30 Sep 2011) because the product contains undeclared peanuts. The recalled product was distributed in British Columbia. One adverse reaction has been reported.
  • Allergy Alert: Uncle T Food (Richmond, BC) recalls North flavored Pastry brand Black Sesame flavored Pastry (480g packages; all lot codes), because the product contains undeclared peanuts. The recalled pastry was distributed in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.
  • Allergy Alert: Gagan Foods Interntional Ltd. (Delta, BC) recalls all lot codes of Haldirams Nagpur Rasgulla, Gagan Punjabi Wadi Spicy Lentil Chunks, Gagan Aam Papad Candy, and Gagan Coconut Slice, due to the presence of undeclared wheat and/or sulphites. The recalled products were distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
  • Food Safety Recall: Sweet Accessories Enterprises recalls Mango, Lychee, Sweet Yoghurt, and Blueberry drink concentrates, because the products may contain DEHP. The recalled drink concentrates were distributed to hotels, restaurants and institutions  in British Columbia.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: Tree of Life Canada (Surrey, BC) recalls all lot codes and best before dates of King James Blue Stilton Cheese, 2-kg and 4-kg sizes, because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product was imported from the United Kingdom and distributed across Canada.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Taro Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. recalls Docusate Sodium Capsules USP (100 mg; Lot #31040225) due to possible contamination with Cronobacter (Enterobacter) sakazakii – a bacterium that is a rare cause of serious or life-threatening infections, particularly in premature infants and other vulnerable individuals.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Advisory (PRC): China has suspended imports of 812 products that may be contaminated with DEHP. The list of affected products includes beverages, food and additives.
  • Food Safety Advisory (Taiwan): Bakeries in Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, Yunlin, Tainan and Kaohsiung have been found to be using ingredients that may be contaminated with DEHP.
  • Food Safety Advisory (Taiwan): The Department of Health has barred the importation by New Zealand Beef of nearly 100 tons of U.S. beef after finding the banned drug ractopamine in samples of the beef.

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.