Recalls and Alerts: August 21, 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

  • Outbreak Alert (New York): Food Safety News reports that Livingston County (New York) health officials are investigating seven cases of E. coli; four people were hospitalized. The source of the infections is unknown.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Wing Kee Foodstuff Company (San Francisco, CA) that a June 2011 inspection of the company’s facilities found a serious violation of the seafood HACCP regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Old Fashioned Foods, Inc. (Mayville, WI) that an April/May 2012 inspection of the company’s low-acid and acidified food manufacturing facility found significant deviations from the Low-Acid Canned Foods regulations and from the Acidified Foods regulations.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Santos Incorporated (San Leandro, CA) that a March 2012 inspection of the company’s facility found serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Centrum Valley Farms, LLP (Clarion, IA) that an April/May 2012 inspection of the company’s shell egg production faciliity found serious violations of the Prevention of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) in Shell Eggs During Production, Storage, and Transportation regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Parrillo Performance (Fairfield, OH) that a February 2012 inspection of the company’s dietary supplement manufacturing and re-packaging facility revealed a failure to comply with the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for dietary supplements.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns East Asia Noodle Co., Inc. (Philadelphia, PA) that a May 2012 inspection of the company’s processing facility found significant deviations from the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations for food manufacturers.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Petruzzi Pizza Mfg., Inc. (Hazleton, PA) that a May 2012 inspection of the company’s processing facility found significant deviations from the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations for food manufacturers.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Diamond Head Seafood Wholesale, Inc. (Honolulu, HI) that a June 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility found serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns The Crab Lady’s Market (Little Deer Isle, ME) that a July 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility found serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns New Day Fisheries, Inc. (Port Townsend, WA) that a June 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility found serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Curry’s Bakery, Inc. dba Pastry Perfection (Garden City, ID) that a June 2012 inspection of the company’s food manufacturing facility found serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Philippine Cinmic Industrial Corp (General Santos City, Philippines) that a review of documentation submitted by the company found serious deviations from the Seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Nicho Produce Company, Inc. (Edinburg, TX) that a December 2011 inspection of the company’s produce processing facility carried out in response to recalls of “Cut Above” brand shredded bagged lettuce and spinach products associated with Listeria monocytogenes findings in two samples, documented the presence of L. monocytogenes on direct food-contact surfaces at the facility in addition to serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Food.
  • Consumer Advisory: Lucky Supermarkets advises its customers that the company DOES NOT CARRY Tanimura & Antle Farms Field Fresh Wrapped Single Head Romaine Lettuce, which was recalled by Tanimura & Antle due to potential E. coli O157:H7 contamination.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: La Branche d’Olivier (Verdun, QC) recalls La Branche d’Olivier Rubbed Basil (90g; UPC 200001 802003), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled Rubbed Basil was Sold from La Branche d’Olivier, 4342 Wellington, Verdun, Quebec, up to and including May 25, 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall: Champ’s Mushrooms (Aldergrove, BC) recalls Champ’s Mushrooms brand Sliced Crimini Mushrooms (Product of Canada; 227g/8-oz pkgs; Packed on date PO 10AUG2012; UPC 6 78286 88877 5), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled mushrooms were distributed in British Columbia.
  • Outbreak Alert (Nova Scotia): Barfblog reports that 26 cases of apparent norovirus-like illness have been reported among patrons and workers at The Bicycle Thief restaurant in Halifax.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection reports that a total of 122 outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis and norovirus have been recorded so far in 2012, the highest number since 2007. Fifty-two out of 65 institutional outbreak for which lab confirmation was obtained were associated with norovirus.

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: August 20, 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: Tanimura & Antle Inc. recalls Tanimura & Antle Field Fresh Wrapped Single Head Romaine lettuce (Best buy date of 08 19 12; UPC 0-27918-20314-9) after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency finds E. coli O157:H7 in a single random sample. The recalled lettuce was distributed throughout the USA, Puerto Rico and Canada starting on August 2nd, and was available at retail locations Aug 2-19, 2012. The product was shipped to consignees in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington. Wegmans and Publix have both announced that none of the recalled romaine was sold in their stores.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: Costco advises its customers that Real Mex Foods, LLC has recalled El Torito Chicken Caesar Salad Kit  (UPC 5889724203; Sell by dates 082312, 083012, 090612, 091412), after being notified that the cilantro used in the Cilantro Pepita Dressing may have been contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product was sold in Costco Wholesale locations.
  • Food Safety Alert (California): The California Department of Public Health advises 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 Ventura County, due to the presence of the neurotoxin domoic acid in some of the species.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: CDC reports that 163 people in 26 states were infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Newport and Salmonella Lille as a result of contact with infected chicks and ducklings from Mt. Healthy Hatchery in Ohio. Two deaths have been reported; 33 people have been hospitalized. This outbreak began in March, 2012 and is still in progress.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Supermarché Akhavan (Montreal, QC) recalls Basilic/Basil (variable weights; sold from Feb 1, 2012 to August 10, 2012 inclusive), because the basil may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled basil was supplied by Shah Trading Co. Ltd.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: Canadian distributors are recalling Tanimura & Antle brand Romaine Lettuce (Product of USA; Plastic package containing 1 head of lettuce; UPC 0 27918 20314 9), due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled lettuce was sold at retail from August 8, 2012 through August 17, 2012 in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Nunavut, Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Urtekram Int A/S recalls Organic Sage (50g plastic bag; Batch No. 0187966, 0186831, 0185149 and 0183665), Organic Sage (1kg; Best before 21/5-2014), Italian seasoning-organic (45g black metal can; Batch No. 0188862, 0188532, 0185743 and 0184742), and Lene H. Italian Mix-organic (30g glass bottle with black screw cap; Batch No. 0183169; Best before 26/10-2013), due to Salmonella contamination.
  • Outbreak Alert (UK): BBC reports that a potential outbreak of E. coli in Orkney is being investigated. Two cases are being treated in hospital; three others are under investigation. The source of the infections is not yet known.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1186): Unsuitable organoleptic characteristics of organic semi-skimmed milk from Belgium; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1187): Ochratoxin A in liquorice root from Poland; distributed to the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Poland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1189): Unauthorized cefalexin in frozen black tiger shrimps from Vietnam; notified by Switzerland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1190): Parasitic infestation of monkfish from France; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1191): Mercury in frozen swordfish slices and fillets from Spain; distributed to Italy, Portugal and Spain.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1192): Excessive doxycycline in chilled chicken breast from Slovakia, with raw material from Poland; distributed to Slovakia.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Department of Health alerts the public not to buy or consume a slimming product bearing the name “Sheng Yuan Fang” printed in Chinese on its green capsules, as it may contain undeclared and banned drug ingredients sibutramine and phenolphthalein.
  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating a suspected food poisoning outbreak involving 13 people who dined at a restaurant in Yau Tsim Mong District on August 11th.
  • Outbreak Alert (Sierra Leone):  BBC reports that an outbreak of cholera has infected more than 10,000 people in Sierra Leone and has killed at least 176 since January. Six thousand cases were reported in the past five weeks, and 100 people have died in the capital city of Freetown in the last month.

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.

Salmonella Outbreak In 20 States Linked to Cantaloupe – Update

UPDATED August 17, 2012 @8:55pm with information released by CDC

Cantaloupes from Southwestern Indiana are believed to be the source of a Salmonella typhimurium outbreak that has sickened 141 people in 20 states. Thirty-one people have been hospitalized, and Kentucky has reported two outbreak-associated deaths.

The Minnesota Department of Health reports that an unnamed farm in southwestern Indiana has initiated a “voluntary market withdrawal” and has stopped harvest of cantaloupes, after receiving notification that cantaloupes grown on the farm tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella.

FDA reports that outbreak illnesses occurred in Alabama (7), Arkansas (3), California (2), Georgia (1), Illinois (17), Indiana (13), Iowa (7), Kentucky (50), Michigan (6), Minnesota (3), Missouri (9), Mississippi (2), New Jersey (1), North Carolina (3), Ohio (3), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (3), Tennessee (6), Texas (1), and Wisconsin (2).

According to Charles Kendell with the Kentucky Department for Public Health, there were 137 reports of Salmonella in the state during July – twice the usual number for this time of year. Approximately 61% of confirmed cases reported exposure to cantaloupe and/or watermelon. Lab testing of clinical specimens from outbreak victims confirmed three different genetic strains of Salmonella typhimurium.

Tennessee’s six confirmed cases were scattered among several counties; three of the six victims in that state were hospitalized. The three Minnesota victims included one child and two adults over 70 years of age. No Minnesotans were hospitalized, and all three have recovered.

CDC reports that outbreak victims range in age from less than 1 to 92 years, with a median age of 49 years old. Illness onset dates are between July 7, 2012 to August 4, 2012. Nearly one-half (48%) of the people for whom information was available reported being hospitalized.

The pale blue shaded area in the Date of Illness Onset chart, provided by CDC, represents the time period within which illnesses may have occurred that have not yet been reported or confirmed by health authorities. THIS OUTBREAK IS FAR FROM OVER.

FDA offers the following advice to consumers:

  • Consumers who are buying or have recently bought cantaloupe should ask their retailer if the cantaloupe was grown in southwestern Indiana.
  • Throw away any cantaloupe from southwestern Indiana.
  • Do not try to wash the harmful bacteria off the cantaloupe as contamination may be both on the inside and outside of the cantaloupe. Cutting, slicing and dicing may also transfer harmful bacteria from the fruit’s surface to the fruit’s flesh.
  • WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT!
  • Anyone who consumed cantaloupe and experiences any symptoms of Salmonella infection should consult a health care provider.