Category: Salmonella

Recalls and Alerts: May 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

  • Allergy Alert: August Foods Inc. (Downington, PA) recalls Saffron Road Lamb Koftis entrées (11-oz cartons; Est 34624; Sell by dates of June 15, 2012; July 19, 2012; July 20, 2012; Oct. 5, 2012; May 1, 2013; and May 3, 2013), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled entrées were shipped to distribution centers in Illinois and Pennsylvania.
  • Food Safety Recall: Rock Springs Dairy (Bradford, TN) recalls Whole Creamline Milk (Glass 1-quart or 1/2 Gallon Bottles; Expiration dates 5/25/12 – 6/1/12; Plant #47-170), due to incomplete pasteurization. The recalled milk is believed to have been distributed to approximately 17 stores in West Tennessee.
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Recall: McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of McNEIL-PPC Inc. recalls IMODIUM® Multi-Symptoms Relief, 18 Caplets (Lot #CMF023), due to a packaging issue. The product is being recalled at the wholesale level only, and not from consumers or from store shelves, as there are no safety concerns related to the recall.
  • Outbreak Alert (North Carolina): The Wilkes County Health Department is investigating a confirmed case of hepatitis A involving a Dixie Donuts location just west of Wilkesboro. County health officials are advising people who may have consumed food or drinks from Dixie Donuts at 2830 West NC Highway 268 in Wilkesboro during the times when this employee was working (May 8th and 9th from 7:00AM–1:00PM and May 10th and 12th from 2:00PM–8:00PM) to contact Wilkes County Health Department for a vaccine or shot that could prevent them from getting sick. The Health Department will offer a walk-in clinic for the vaccine on May 18th from 2-6 pm and on May 19th from 9-12 noon.

Europe

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: May 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: Bakery El Monte Sinai Corp. (Hempstead, NY) recalls Rainbow Cake (10-oz Styrofoam tray; Code date 7/8/12; UPC 5273500209), due to the presence of undeclared eggs. The recalled product was sold in Nassau, Suffolk, and New York counties in New York State.
  • Food Safety Recall: Raj Foods LLC (Houston, TX) recalls Raj Foods Halal Beef Samosa(s) (12 x 1-oz beef samosas per bag; Produced between Aug 9th and 23rd, 2011; Est 44163), because a meat ingredient used in the product may have been produced in a facility that is not federally inspected.
  • Food Safety Recall (via FDA Enforcement Report): Papayas & More LLC (Hidalgo, TX) recalls Papayas Delicious Fruit (Produce of Mexico; Lot #CH347; Codes 6909014, 6909914, and 6909318), because the papayas tested positive for Salmonella. The recalled fruit was produced by Empaque de Frutas Chulavista S.A. de C.V. (Tecoman, Mexico) and was distributed only to New York state. The recall was announced by letter on April 14, 2012.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The Salmonella Bareilly outbreak attributed to a contaminated raw scraped tuna product imported from India has grown to 316 persons from 26 states and the District of Columbia. Thirty-seven of the outbreak victims have been hospitalized.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (South Carolina): The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has been unable to conclusively link a recent outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 and hemolytic uremic syndrome to a Spartanburg Mexican-style restaurant. Health officials identified the restaurant as the El Mexicano, and revealed that the facility scored an “A” rating on its two most recent inspections. The investigation is continuing.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Folie en Vrac (Montréal, QC) recalls Folie en Vrac salads and ready-to-eat dishes, due to the presence of undeclared pistachios and cashew nuts.
  • Outbreak Alert (Ontario): The Thunder Bay District Health Unit confirmed 89 cases of people suffering symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting and nausea after visiting This Old Barn on Oliver Road. A dozen were admitted to hospital. The health unit found E. coli in the well water used by the restaurant, according to a CBC report.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Delica recalls Grand-Mère Pâté (340g; Lot 138 919; Best before 7/6-2012; Product of Belgium) after bits of chicken bones were found in the pâté. The recalled product was distributed in Netto stores across Denmark.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating a confirmed case of E. coli O157:H7 infection in a one-year old girl who experienced bloody diarrhea. There was no recent travel history.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Medical Device Safety Recall (Australia): Endeavour Industries Pty Ltd. recalls Endeavour Industries brand Quad (4 X Point) Walking Stick, because the product was manufactured using a grade or gauge of aluminum tube which is inadequate. Bending of the adjustable handle has been reported in some cases at less than the recommended user weight, and the product has faild government static loading (strength) testing.

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 Confirmed In Two Dogs Fed Recalled Pet Food

Two dogs can be added to the list of clinically confirmed infections in the Diamond Pet Foods Salmonella Infantis outbreak, according to FDA’s Laura Alvey, Deputy Director, Communications Staff at the agency’s Center for Veterinary Medicine.

Both dogs lived in the same house as an outbreak victim, and were fed one of the recalled dry dog food products. At last report (May 11, 2012), there are 15 outbreak-related confirmed human cases of Salmonella infections in the USA and one Canadian case. Five people have been hospitalized.

Outbreak cases have occurred in nine states, including Alabama (1), Connecticut (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (3), North Carolina (3), New Jersey (1), Ohio (2), Pennsylvania (2), and Virginia (1). The Canadian outbreak victim is from the Province of Québec.

Once the outbreak investigation confirmed a link between the illnesses and samples of dry dog food manufactured in Diamond Pet Foods’ Gaston (South Carolina) production plant, the company voluntarily shut down the facility “to clean and implement additional procedures,” according to Alvey.

FDA inspected the facility while production was halted. The agency posted its Investigational Observation report (483 report) on the FDA website yesterday. Finished product samples were tested as part of the inspection process; FDA found Salmonella in a sample of puppy food, which was then recalled by the company.

The investigation is still “open and pending,” Alvey added in her email to me earlier today, which limits the information that FDA can release to the public at this time. One important piece of missing information is the scope of international distribution of the recalled pet food products. So far, Diamond Pet Foods has not responded to my email request for a list of affected countries outside of the USA and Canada.

Here are some things consumers in Canada, the USA and elsewhere can do to protect themselves, their families, and their pets from becoming statistics in this outbreak:

  • Check your supply of pet food to see whether it is affected by the recall. If it is on the recall list, either throw it away or return the unused portion to the retailer. Do not assume that your pet food is safe if your state or country was not mentioned on the recall distribution list.
  • If you have handled one of the recalled products and you develop symptoms of Salmonella (stomach ache, diarrhea, etc), seek immediate medical attention and mention the possible link to pet food.
  • If your dog or cat was fed one of the recalled products and develops symptoms of gastrointestinal illness (vomiting or diarrhea), seek immediate veterinary attention. Ask your veterinarian to test your pet for Salmonella. The FDA urges veterinarians and consumers to report cases of animal illness associated with pet foods to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator in their state, or electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal. Additional information can be found on the CDC and FDA web sites .
  • Review the FDA Tips for Preventing Foodborne Illness Associated with Pet Food and Pet Treats, and follow its recommendations to keep your family and your pets safe.
  • Monitor eFoodAlert’s Diamond Pet Foods, Etc. Recalls – 2012 page. It will be updated as more information becomes available.

Above all, be aware that dogs may be infected with Salmonella – and may shed the bacteria in their stool – without showing any outward symptoms of illness. If your pet has consumed a Diamond Pet Foods dry dog food, be especially careful to wash your hands after handling the animal, and supervise closely any interaction between children and your pet.