Category: Salmonella

Recalls and Alerts: August 27, 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.

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United States

  • Allergy Alert: Cucina Fresca Gourmet Foods recalls Cucina Fresca Smoked Tomato Sauce (24-oz glass jars; Lot 11002A or 11002B; UPC 8-84337-00522-4), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recall product was sold at Pacific Northwest Whole Foods and Quality Food Center locations in Oregon and Washington states from the end of June 2012 on.
  • Food Safety Recall: Fresh Express Incorporated (Salinas, CA) recalls Hearts of Romaine Salad (10-oz; Product code beginning with G222; Use by date August 23, 2012), due to a possible health risk from Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product, which is now expired, was distributed predominantly in eastern and southeastern states, including in stores belonging to Food City, and Publix.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Samantha Lynn Inc. recalls Reumofan Plus Tablets (30 tablets/bottle; lots may include the numbers 99515 ex096 and expires: 2016), after the undeclared drugs methocarbamol and diclofenac were found in the product. The recalled tablets were sold between Feb 2012 and June 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert: The California Department of Public Health is leading an investigation into approximately 90 confirmed cases of Salmonella Braenderup in the USA. The outbreak strain is identical to the strain responsible for 22 cases of salmonellosis in Canada. California has confirmed 73 cases in that state; an additional 6 cases are reported by Washington state. Two-thirds of the California cases reported having consumed mangoes. Splendid Products LLC and Charlie’s Produce have voluntarily recalled/withdrawn Daniella mangoes (PLU 4959), which were implicated in the Canadian outbreak.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Cappadocia Import Export Turkish Bazaar Ltd. recalls Cappadocia Import Export Ltd. Whole Pitted Sundried Malatya Apricots (350g; Expiry May 30, 2013), due to the presence of undeclared sulphites. The recalled product was sold in Alberta.
  • Allergy Alert: Dong Phuong Oriental Market Ltd. recalls QK brand Jackfruit Freeze Dried, Sapota Freeze Dried, Durian Freeze Dried, Jackfruit Chips, Mixed Fruit Chips, and Mixed Fruits Freeze Dried (Exp. 28/13/2013), due to the presence of undeclared sulphites. The recalled products were sold in Alberta and Manitoba.
  • Food Safety Recall: Fresh Start Foods recalls GFS Sliced Mangoes (6 lb; no codes), due to Salmonella contamination. The recalled fruit was distributed to hotels, restaurants and institutions in Albert and Manitoba.

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.

California Investigating Salmonella Braenderup Outbreak

The California Department of Public Health has taken the lead in the investigation of approximately 90 cases of Salmonella Braenderup infections in the USA. Seventy-three of those cases are within California.

All of the cases involve the same outbreak strain of Salmonella Braenderup that has caused at least 22 cases of salmonellosis in Canada. The Canadian cases are linked to consumption of Daniella brand Mangoes, imported from Mexico. About two-thirds of the California outbreak victims reported mango consumption, although specific mango brands or sources have not yet been identified in the US outbreak.

On August 24th, North American Produce Sales (Vancouver, BC) – the Canadian importer of the implicated mangoes – recalled all Daniella brand Mangoes sold at retail stores in Canada from July 12th to August 14, 2012. And earlier today, both Stop & Shop and Giant Foods LLC alerted their customers that Splendid Products (Burlingame, CA) has voluntarily recalled these mangoes.

Neither the California Department of Public Health nor the CDC is prepared to list the other states that have reported outbreak cases at this time. CDC spokesperson Lola Russell told eFoodAlert by email that the outbreak is “under investigation.”

Canadian Salmonella Outbreak Prompts Mexican Mango Recall

An outbreak of Salmonella Braenderup infections in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta has prompted recalls of Daniella Mangoes in both Canada and the United States.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has confirmed 22 cases of mango-linked Salmonella Braenderup – 17 in British Columbia and 5 in Alberta. The PHAC is continuing its investigation and has promised a weekly update to its table of confirmed cases.

North American Produce Sales (Vancouver, BC), the importer of the implicated mangoes, recalled Daniella brand Mangoes (Product of Mexico, labeled with a sticker bearing PLU #4959) on August 24th in response to the outbreak. The recalled mangoes were sold at “…various retail stores between July 12 and August 14, 2012…” according to the recall notice, and are believed to have been distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon. The names of Canadian retailers of the recalled mangoes have not been released.

The Stop & Shop and Giant Food LLC supermarket chains (including both Giant Food and Martin’s stores) announced this morning that Splendid Products – the US supplier of Daniella brand Mangoes – has initiated a voluntary recall of all Daniella mangoes (PLU #4959) sold between July 12 and August 24, 2012. Information on other possible retail distribution of the mangoes in the USA is not yet available.

eFoodAlert’s Advice to Consumers

  • Check the mangoes that you purchased, and discard any that are labelled with the Daniella brand and a sticker bearing PLU #4959, regardless of where the mangoes were purchased.
  • Always wash the outside of a mango carefully and thoroughly before slicing through the skin.
  • If you or a family member consumed mangoes during the July 12th to August 24th – either alone or as part of a fruit salad – and who developed symptoms of Salmonella gastroenteritis within a week after having eaten the fruit should consult a health care professional.