Category: Salmonella

Recalls and Alerts: September 18, 2012

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: Peterson Company recalls Ricotta Salata Frescolina brand Cheese, supplied by Forever Cheese of Long Island, NY (7-oz pieces; Manufacturer codes 7022, 7212, 7272 and 7432), because the cheese may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled cheese was sold by Peterson to distributors, retailers and restaurants in Washington and Oregon states between July 17 and September 10, 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall – Retail Distribution (Colorado): The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment advises consumers that Ricotta Salata Frescolina brand cheese (Production date code 441202; Lot #T9425), recalled by Forever Cheese Inc. (Long Island, NY) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination, was supplied to between July 12th and August 2nd to Colorado Whole Foods locations in Bel-Mar, Capitol Hill, Cherry Creek, Fort Collins, Highlands Ranch, Pearl Street, Southglenn, Superior, Tamarac and Washington Park.
  • Food Safety Recall: US Foods advises its customers that XL Foods of Canada recalled ground beef exported to the USA after USDA sampling found E. coli O157:H7 in the product. The recalled ground beef was supplied to several processors in the USA, including Morasch Meats (Portland, OR). Three US Foods distribution centers in the Pacific Region are affected by the recall.
  • Food Safety Recall: United Salad Co. recalls various products containing mangos recalled by Food Source Tomorrow, because the mangos may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product were distributed to retailers and supermarkets in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington from 09/01/12 to 09/17/12 under the Zupan’s, Mary’s Select, United Salad Co., Garden Highway (Plant code P-002) and Trader Joe’s (Plant code P-002) brands. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of affected products.
  • Food Safety Recall: Kroger recalls KRO Ground Beef 73%, 3#, 3 lb, because the product may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled ground beef was sold in Kroger stores located in Greater Cincinnati, including Northern Kentucky, Dayton, OH and South Eastern Indiana, Indiana (except SW IN, -Evansville-), Illinois, Eastern Missouri; Jay C, Food4Less and FoodsCo.
  • Food Safety Recall: Kroger recalls Tropical Fruit Cup SM IS, Tropical Fruit Cup LG IS, and Tropical Fruit Mixed Jumbo IS, because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled products were sold in Kroger stores located in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Knoxville, Tennessee, Greater Cincinnati, including Northern Kentucky, Dayton, OH and South Eastern Indiana, Central and Northwest Ohio and N. West Virginia panhandle, Michigan, Indiana (except SW IN, -Evansville-), Illinois, Eastern Missouri, Greater Louisville (including Indiana), Lexington, and Nashville, TN, North Carolina, Virginia, Eastern WV, Eastern Kentucky, SE Ohio, Greater Memphis, TN, Arkansas, Mississippi and Western Kentucky, Texas and Louisiana; Jay C, Dillons, Baker’s, Gerbes, Food4Less Fremont, King Soopers and City Market.
  • Food Safety Recall: Kroger recalls Garden Highway Mango Spears, 16 oz., because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product was sold in Kroger stores located in Greater Louisville (including Indiana), Lexington, and Nashville, TN.
  • Food Safety Recall: Kroger recalls Mangoes, 12 ct and Mangoes Large, 10 ct, because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled mangoes were sold in Kroger stores located in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Knoxville, Tennessee, Greater Cincinnati, including Northern Kentucky, Dayton, OH and South Eastern Indiana, Central and Northwest Ohio and N. West Virginia panhandle, Michigan, Indiana (except SW IN, -Evansville-), Illinois, Eastern Missouri, Greater Louisville (including Indiana), Lexington, and Nashville, TN, North Carolina, Virginia, Eastern WV, Eastern Kentucky, SE Ohio, Greater Memphis, TN, Arkansas, Mississippi and Western Kentucky, Texas and Louisiana; Jay C, Dillons, Baker’s, Gerbes, Food4Less Fremont, King Soopers, City Market, Food4Less and FoodsCo.
  • Food Safety Recall: Food Lion advises its customers that cantaloupes (PLU #4050; Sold from Sept 5th to Sept 13th) supplied by DFI Marketing Inc. have been recalled due to potential Salmonella contamination. The recalled cantaloupes were sold in Food Lion stores in North Carolina and Virginia.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: Body Basics Inc. recalls ACTRA-Sx 500 Dietary Supplement Capsules (Lot 008-A; Expiration December 2013), because the product was found to contain undeclared Sildenafil Citrate. Sildenafil is the active ingredient used in an FDA-approved prescription drug to treat Erectile Dysfunction.
  • Drug Product Safety Alert: FDA warns consumers not to use Intestinomicina, a drug product manufactured in El Salvador and marketed as a treatment for infectious diarrhea and acute gastrointestinal infections, because the product contains chloramphenicol, a prescription drug that was formally withdrawn from the US market in July 2012 due to the risk of serious and life-threatening injuries.
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Safety Caution: FDA warns parents, caregivers and health care professionals that infants of any age may face an increased risk of developing a life-threatening condition called necrotizing enterocolitis if fed a thickening product called SimplyThick. Since May 2011, FDA has identified 22 infants who developed the condition after being fed the product. Seven of the infants died. SimplyThick is a brand of thickening agent—available to consumers and medical centers—used to help manage swallowing difficulties.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Parthenon Food Importers Ltd. expands its earlier recall of Kydon brand Tahini (Product of Greece; 500 ml; UPC 6 90651 77450 6; Best before date 16-10-2013) to include additional distribution information. The recalled product was distributed in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba, and may also have been distributed in other provinces or territories.
  • Allergy Alert: Canada Safeway Limited (Calgary, AB) recalls Safeway SELECT Szechuan Chicken (345g; UPC 0 58200 10333 5; Code date 2013 FE 01) due to the presence of undeclared fish and shrimp, and Safeway SELECT Red Thai Curry Chicken (355g; UPC 0 58200 10331 1; Code date 2013 FE 01) due to the presence of undeclared sesame seed. The recalled products were distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario, and may also have been distributed in other provinces.
  • Allergy Alert: La petite chocolatière inc (Repentigny, QC) recalls several varieties of pies, pâtés and tourtières (All products sold up to and including 17 September 2012), due to the presence of undeclared egg. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of affected products.
  • Food Safety Recall: Le Fromage au Village Inc. recalls Le cru du clocher Raw Milk Cheddar Cheese (200g; UPC 73536000013; 25 février 2012) and Cru du clocher regulier Raw Milk Cheddar (1.15 kg; no UPC; 25 février 2012), due to Listeria contamination. The recalled cheeses were sold in Quebec.
  • Food Safety Recall: Ponderosa Mushrooms & Specialty Foods (Port Coquitlam, BC) recalls Ponderosa Mushrooms brand Sliced Lobster Mushrooms (100g/3.5-oz pkgs; UPC 8 87588 60302 7; Code 12255103), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product was sold at Urban Fare, 177 Davie Street, Vancouver, BC.
  • Food Safety Recall: XL Foods Inc. (Edmonton, AB) recalls ground beef and ground beef products sold at Loblaws Inc., Extra Foods, No Frills, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, Shop Easy, SuperValu, Superstore, Westfair, Your Independent Grocer, Sobeys, Foodland, IGA, Metro, Super C and Entrepot de Viandes, and supplied to food service establishments, after E. coli O157:H7 was found in a sample of the beef. The recalled products were distributed nationwide. Please refer to the XL Foods List of Recalled Products for a list of products, retailers, date codes, and geographic distribution.
  • Food Safety Recall: Costco Canada recalls Kirkland Signature Lean Ground Beef (Costco Item #21927), Kirkland Signature Lean Ground Beef Patties (Costco Item #52733) and Kirkland Signature Ground Beef Tubes (Costco Item #97420), due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination. The recalled products were sold by Costco Wholesale warehouses across Canada from August 30, 2012 to September 15, 2012.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: Grand Fortune Import (Surrey, BC) recalls Shell Magic Children’s Jewellery, manufactured in China and sold at various stores across western Canada from 2005 to September 2012, due to elevated levels of lead and cadmium.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Belgium): Delhaize Belgique recalls Allergo brand Pain de mie (350g; Lot #12194; Expiry 10/01/2013), because the product, which is marketed as “peanut-free” contains traces of peanut.
  • Allergy Alert (Germany): Ysco NV recalls Appassionato currant sorbet (1 L; Expiry 11-2013; Lot #L1126BB; Product of Belgium), due to the presence of undeclared milk.
  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Flavori NV recalls Flavori brand Ground Black Pepper (100g, 200g, 500g & 1 kg bags; Lot #L18071206 and 21081201) and Flavori brand Madras Curry (100g, 200g, 500g, & 1 kg bags; Lot #L/M 08121103 and L/M 07121103), after Salmonella was found by one of the company’s Dutch clients in samples of both products.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Flensted Snitgrønt A/S recalls Hummus (1 kg foodservice cups; Item #50266; Production date 5/9-2012; Best before 26/9-2012) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
  • Food Safety Recall (Finland): Kreyenhop & Klugen recalls Red Chili Powder for Kimchi (Product of China; Packaged in Korea; Batch #8723; Best before 05/23/2013), because the product contains the banned color Sudan 4.
  • Food Safety Recall (Italy, Spain, Portugal): Spain’s Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition alerts the public to the recall of the following cheese products due to contamination by Listeria monocytogenes: El sabor de la casa Queso fresco (400g; Lot 12267 & 12291; Best before 13/10/2012 & 20/10/2012, respectively), Queso costeño nativo (450g; Lots 12245 & 12287; Best before 30/10/2012 & 20/11/2012, respectively) and Queso fresco latino Estilo tradicional (325g; Lot #12296; Best before 27/10/2012). The recalled cheeses were manufactured in Portugal and distributed mainly in specialty shops in Andalucía, Aragón, Asturias, Islas Baleares, Cataluña, Castilla-La Mancha, Cantabria, Castilla y León, País Vasco, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, La Rioja, Valencia, as well as in Italy and Portugal.
  • Food Safety Withdrawal (Ireland): Britvic Ireland withdraws Still Ballygowan (750ml; Batch code L2222; Best before End August 2013), due to off odor. This is an expansion of an earlier product withdrawal.
  • Safety Alert (EU): Authorities in Belgium, Germany and Italy are warning the public not to consume various spirit brands, including Lassky Tuzemak, Tuzemak, Svestkova Vodka, Vodka Lunar Hanacka Vodka, Merunka, and Borovicka, because the products may be contaminated with methanol. A number of cases of methanol poisoning have been reported in the Czech Republic and Slovakia; 19 people are dead.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Straetmans SA recalls Natures Dog Food brand Duck Complet Bouef Foie Poulet Zero Gluten frozen dog food (1 kg; Lot #D0612; Expiry 27/12/13), due to contamination with Salmonella enteritidis.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.1324): Undeclared soy in marshmallows from Belgium; distributed to Belgium and France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1326): Insect infestation in durum wheat pasta from Italy; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1327): Monocrotophos in grapes from Spain; distributed to Spain.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1328): Dead insects in snow peas from France; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1329): Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning toxins in cockles in brine from Portugal; distributed to Spain.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Sanofi-Aventis Hong Kong Limited recalls Typhim VI Typhoid Vaccine, due to out-of-specification test results regarding the antigen content.
  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis at a kindergarten in Tin Shui Wai involving 20 pupils between the ages of 2 and 5.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Australia): Aspen Pharma Pty Ltd. recalls Serenace 0.5mg tablets containing haloperidol (Batch #BJ431; Expiry February 2014) after some of the tablets were found to be contaminated with Penicillium mold.

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.

Mexico Denies Link To Mango Outbreak – Update

“En México, no hay evidencia de la bacteria Salmonella Braenderup detectada en EU y Canadá”

– Government of Mexico, September 14, 2012

UPDATE: September 19, 2012. Today, FDA released the following statement:

FDA will continue to collaborate with and share information with Mexican and Canadian health and agricultural officials regarding this investigation.

Several ill persons have demonstrated food histories strongly linked to mangos from Agricola Daniella. FDA worked with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health to understand the epidemiology implicating mangos. FDA testing has detected Salmonella in samples taken from mangos at three distribution centers. The presence of Salmonella in closed boxes of mangos suggests that the contamination occurred with the producer. FDA and the Canadian health officials have worked together to determine that the outbreak in Canada is linked to Agricola Daniella.

After analyzing all of 14 samples taken from the production and packaging areas of Agricola Daniella, Mexico has concluded that there is no evidence of the Salmonella Braenderup outbreak strain that has sickened 142 people in the USA and Canada. Furthermore, a review of the genetic fingerprints of Salmonella circulating in Mexico this year, has led Mexican authorities to conclude that there is no information to link the outbreaks in the U.S. and Canada with any Mexican product.

The full text of Mexico’s statement follows:

En México no hay evidencia de la bacteria Salmonella Braenderup detectada en EU y Canadá

México, D.F., 14 de septiembre de 2012

Comunicado Conjunto

El Gobierno Federal concluyó la investigación para contribuir al esclarecimiento de las alertas de importación emitidas por Canadá y los Estados Unidos de América (EUA) a la empresa empacadora Daniella Mangos, por la posible presencia de Salmonella Braenderup, y después del exhaustivo trabajo de las agencias de sanidad y epidemiología, no se encontró contaminación en las instalaciones de la empresa mexicana por la cepa causante del brote en los vecinos países del norte.

A través de la Comisión Federal para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios (COFEPRIS), la Dirección General de Epidemiología (DGE), el Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos (InDRE) y el Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASICA), el Gobierno Federal estableció la estrategia para colaborar en la investigación diagnóstica iniciada por Canadá y EUA en torno a un brote de Salmonella Braenderup, detectado en esos países.

Con la cooperación incondicional de la empacadora Daniella se desarrolló la investigación en sus áreas de producción y empaque, a fin de identificar la presencia de la cepa de Salmonella Braenderup reportada por las autoridades de EUA y Canadá. Se tomaron 14 muestras por duplicado que analizaron el SENASICA y la COFEPRIS y en ninguna se encontró evidencia de la bacteria.

A partir de la vigilancia rutinaria que lleva a cabo el sector salud, el InDRE realizó estudios de electroforesis por campos pulsados (PFEG, por sus siglas en inglés), para la identificación de la huella genética de la bacteria en las cepas de Salmonella circulando en todo el país en el presente año. Este estudio concluyó que la cepa de Salmonella causante de los brotes en EUA y Canadá es diferente de cualquier cepa que circula en México.

En conclusión, los estudios realizados por las autoridades mexicanas demuestran que no se cuenta con información que permita asociar los brotes en USA y Canadá con ningún producto mexicano.

Las autoridades mexicanas se encuentran en espera de que sus pares de Canadá y EUA presenten la evidencia científica de sus declaraciones y se reiteran atentas para continuar colaborando en la investigación en curso.

And the English translation (by Phyllis Entis, with an assist from Google Translate):

There is no evidence in Mexico of the Salmonella Braenderup bacteria detected in the USA and Canada

Mexico, D.F., 14 September 2012

Joint Statement

The Federal Government has conducted research into the possible presence of Salmonella Braenderup at the Daniella Mango packing house to help clarify the Import Alerts issued by Canada and the United States of America. After exhaustive work carried out by health and epidemiology agencies, no contamination was found at the premises of the Mexican company by the strain causing the outbreak in neighboring northern countries.

Through the Federal Commission for Protection against Health Risks (COFEPRIS), the General Directorate of Epidemiology (DGE), the Institute of Epidemiological Diagnosis and Reference (InDRE) and the National Health Service, Food Safety and Quality (SENASICA) the Federal Government established the strategy to assist in the diagnostic investigation initiated by Canada and the U.S. about a Braenderup Salmonella outbreak detected in those countries.

With the full cooperation of the packer, an investigation of their production and packaging areas was carried out to identify the presence of Salmonella strain Braenderup reported by authorities in the U.S. and Canada. Fourteen samples were analyzed in duplicate by SENASICA and COFEPRIS, and no evidence of the bacteria was found.

InDRE has reviewed the pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) data gathered during routine monitoring by the health sector to identify the genetic fingerprint of the bacteria Salmonella strains circulating in around the country this year. This study concluded that the Salmonella strain causing outbreaks in the U.S. and Canada is different from any strain circulating in Mexico.

In conclusion, the studies conducted by Mexican authorities show that there is no information to link the outbreaks in the U.S. and Canada with any Mexican product.

Mexican authorities are waiting for their peers in Canada and the U.S. to present evidence supporting their statements and have reiterated their intention to continue cooperating in the ongoing investigation.

Did anyone else hear the “SO THERE!” in that final paragraph?

In its September 13th update on the mango investigation, FDA was very careful to avoid stating what strain (or strains) of Salmonella it had found in mangos from Agricola Daniella, simply reporting that the agency had found Salmonella in “several samples of mangoes” from the producer. Chances are, this reticence is due to the time required to complete serotyping and genetic profiling on the Salmonella strains that FDA found.

Why the apparent difference between the FDA findings and the Mexican report?

There are several factors that are in play, including:

  1. Mexico was careful to restrict its protestation to the Salmonella Braenderup outbreak strain. The Mexican statement said nothing about whether or not other strains of Salmonella were found during its investigation.
  2. Mexico only examined 14 samples. We don’t know whether these were mangoes, samples from the packing house environment, or samples of water used to wash the mangos. Fourteen samples are not enough to do a thorough evaluation of the level of contamination in any production facility or packing house.
  3. The lab method used to analyze the samples can have a significant bearing on the chances of finding Salmonella.

The Mexican position does not surprise me, especially as it is very similar to the position taken by Mexico in the wake of last year’s Salmonella Agona outbreak that was linked to papayas from Mexico.

When FDA issued its Import Alert on Mexican papayas, the Mexican government issued a statement that said, in part (in translation),

“It should be noted that recent reports of outbreaks of “Salmonella” in the U.S., allegedly linked to Mexican papaya, cannot be linked with certainty to those papayas inspected [by FDA] in Mexico during the May to August 2011 investigation period.”

It would appear that very little has changed in the last year.

Recalls and Alerts: September 15, 2012

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: Hannaford Bros Co. alerts its customers to the recall of cantaloupes by DFI Marketing due to possible Salmonella contamination. The cantaloupes in question were sold between September 5-13, 2012; if stickered, the label on the item will read PLU 4050. Customers are requested to dispose of the cantaloupe and return the sticker to the store for a full refund.
  • Food Safety Alert (California): The California Department of Public Health is advising consumers not to eat recreationally harvested mussels and clams, commercially or recreationally caught anchovy and sardines, or the internal organs of commercially or recreationally caught crab and lobster taken from the northern Channel Islands located offshore of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Dangerous levels of the nerve toxin domoic acid have been detected in some of these species and may be present in the other species not yet tested. Domoic acid is a naturally occurring toxin that can cause illness or death in humans.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Tout Prêt Express inc. (Mascouche, QC) recalls all Tarte aux bleuets à l’ancienne maison (850g), Tarte aux quatre fruits – garniture maison (500g), Tarte aux pommes – garniture maison (850g) and Tartes aux framboises – garniture maison (500g)/Homestyle blueberry pie, four-fruit pie, apple pie and raspberry pie, due to the presence of undeclared egg.
  • Allergy Alert: Parthenon Food Importers Ltd. recalls Kydon brand Tahini (Product of Greece; 500ml container; UPC 6 90651 77450 6; Best before 16-10-2013), due to the presence of undeclared peanuts. The recalled product was distributed in British Columbia.

Europe

  • Food Safety Alert (Czech Republic): BBC reports that the Czech government has banned the sale of all spirits containing more than 20% alcohol after a spate of methanol poisoning that has claimed 19 lives. The poisonings were blamed on bootleg vodka and rum tainted with the deadly alcohol compound. About 30 people are being treated in hospital for methanol poisoning. Norway has donated an antidote called fomepizole to aid the Czech victims.

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.