Category: Salmonella

Recalls and Alerts: August 17, 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

  • Allergy Alert: Bi-Lo recalls Southern Home® Cranberry Nut Antioxidant Blend Trail Mix (16-oz bag; UPC 0788003039; Best by March 12, 2013), due to the presence of undeclared soy lecithin. The recalled product was sold in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
  • Food Safety Recall: Real Mex Foods (Vernon, CA) recalls El Torito Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Kits (36-oz trays and 18-lb cases containing 8 x 36-oz trays; Est P-4140; Sell by 08/23/12, 08/30/12, 09/06/12 and 09/14/12; Item #24203), because the dressing contains cilantro that was recalled by Fresco Green Farms Inc. due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recalled products were produced between July 23rd and August 6th and distributed to Costco stores in California and in the Reno, Nevada area.
  • Food Recall: On-Cor Frozen Foods (Geneva, IL) recalls On-Cor Gravy & 6 Salisbury Steaks made with chicken, pork and beef, Family Size (28-oz packages; Best by Jul 09 2013, 1912 11:__ EST 1044G), because frozen boneless rib-shaped patties with barbecue sauce may have been mispackaged and labeled as Salisbury steak products. The recalled item was distributed to retail establishments in Iowa.
  • Outbreak Alert (Washington State): Thirty cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections have been reported this summer, according to the state’s Department of Health. Commercial growing ares in Totten Inlet near Olympia, North Bay, and Dabob Bay in north Hood Canal have been closed for the rest of the summer due to the presence of Vibrio in the shellfish growing areas.
  • Outbreak Alert: CDC and several state departments of health are investigative an outbreak of Salmonella typhimurium that has killed two people and sickened 141 people nationwide. Illnesses are reported in Kentucky (50), Indiana (14), Tennessee (6), Minnesota (3) and Ohio (3); other states have yet to confirm illnesses. The outbreak has been linked to cantaloupe grown in Southwestern Indiana.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Pure Hothouse Foods Inc. (Leamington, ON) recalls Pure Flavor brand Freshly Cut Grillers (14-oz/400g trays; Upse by August 11, 2012 through August 26, 2012; Premium Medley, Asparagus Blend, Rustic Blend, and Steak Topper varieties), because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were distributed in Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall: Christan Mark recalls Venetian Gold Leeks (6g; Code 161/11; UPC 7 73643 10103 7) due to extraneous material (insect) contamination. The recalled product was sold nationwide.

Europe

Australia and New Zealand

  • Herbal Supplement Safety Advisory (Australia): The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) advises consumers that MMC Maxman IV Erection enhancer capsules pose a serious health risk and should not be taken. TGA lab tests have detected the presence of the prescription substance sildenafil in the product. Commercial supply of this product is illegal, as the product has not been assessed by TGA for quality, safety or efficacy, and the place of manufacture is not approved by TGA.

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.

Indiana Cantaloupes Behind Kentucky Salmonella Outbreak

Cantaloupes grown in Southwestern Indiana and distributed in Kentucky are the likely source of an outbreak of Salmonella infections that has sickened 50 people in Kentucky. Two deaths are associated with the outbreak.

The implicated cantaloupes carry the same strain of Salmonella that was recovered from outbreak victims. FDA is working to trace the source and distribution of the contaminated melons.

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.

Indiana also has experienced outbreak-related cases of Salmonella, Kendell added.

A CDC-led investigation is continuing into additional outbreak clusters that may also be linked to consumption of cantaloupe or watermelon. When asked for information on the outbreak, CDC spokesperson Lola Russell replied that the agency hoped to be in a position to share information later today.

Recalls and Alerts: August 16, 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 Update: USDA releases retail distribution information for beef products recalled by Dale T. Smith and Sons Meat Packing due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination.
  • Food Safety Recall: Blount Fine Foods (Fall River, MA) recalls Wegmans Food Markets Chicken and Dumpling Soup (16-oz cups; Use by August 24, 2012) Wegmans Food Markets Italian Wedding Style Soup with Meatballs (16-oz cups; Use by September 3, 2012), Wegmans Food Markets Gazpacho Soup (16-oz cups; Use by September 2, 2012), Wegmans Food Markets Tomato Basil with Orzo Soup (16-oz cups; Use by September 3, 2012), Wegmans Food Markets Caribbean Black Bean Soup (16-oz cups; Use by September 3, 2012) and Wegmans Food Markets Lobster Bisque (16-oz cups; Use by September 3, 2012), because the products may contain fragments of plastic. The recalled soups were packaged on June 3, 2012 and sent to distribution centers in Pennsylvania and New York for redistribution to Wegmans stores in Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
  • Food Safety Recall: Johnsonville Sausage LLC (Sheboygan Falls, WI) recalls Johnsonville Turkey Sausage with Cheddar Cheese (13.5-oz vacuum pkgs; Produced May 22, 2012; Best by 08/20/2012), because they may contain pieces of gloves. The recalled product was distributed to retail establishments nationwide.
  • Food Safety Recall: Kroger recalls cut cantaloupe and various items containing cut cantaloupe (please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of products), due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were sold in Kroger stores in Greater Memphis (TN), Arkansas, Mississippi and Western Kentucky.
  • Outbreak Alert (Idaho): Southeastern Idaho Public Health warns the public that an employee of Tom’s Gyro (150 N. 3rd Ave., Pocatello, ID) has been confirmed to have been infected with hepatitis A virus. Individuals who patronized Tom’s Gyro during the period of August 2nd to August 14th may have been exposed to the virus. People who are not immune to hepatitis A and who consumed food or beverages at Tom’s Gyro between August 2nd and August 14th should receive hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin immediately, according to public health officials.
  • Outbreak Alert (Kentucky): Kentucky health officials are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella illness that has sickened 44  individuals across the state, according to Marler Blog.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall Update: Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns the public, not to consume or serve Dried Basil (various weights; no UPC) sold from Cananut retail locations in Montreal, St-Leonard, Pierrefonds, and Laval, Quebec, because the dried basil may be contaminated with Salmonella.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: The Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food alerts the public not to consume Basilic Sec/Dried Basil sold  in bulk bins between February 1, 2012 and August 10, 2012 inclusive from Marché Adonis Montreal retail locations in Brossard (Quartier Dix30) and Montreal (Boul. des Sources, Place Vertu and Sauvé) and from Persil et compagnie, inc., Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac (variable weight packages; sold between February 1, 2012 and August 8, 2012 inclusive), because the basil may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Europe

  • Food Safety Alert (Ireland): The Food Safety Authority of Ireland warns locals and visitors in the West and South West Coast to avoid gathering and consuming wild shellfish growing on the seashore, after more than ten people in Galway, May and Sligo became ill with suspected shellfish poisoning. The reports are thought to be linked to algal blooms.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Investigation (Taiwan): The China Post reports that the Council of Agriculture has convened an investigation into Guanxin Good Goat’s Milk Co. for allegedly manufacturing dairy products using expired milk powder.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Medical Device Safety Recall (Australia): The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announces a recall of all lots of L-Gel Ultrasound Transmission Gel manufactured between June 2011 and May 2012 (250ml and 5L bottles; Manufactured by Shanghai Shenfeng, China), after the TGA found bacterial contamination (Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) cepacia, Stenotrophomonas (Pseudomonas) maltophilia, and Raoultella (Klebsiella) planticolla) in Lot numbers 2011 06 17 to 2012 04 09 of the Gel.

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.