Recalls and Alerts: April 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.

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: Fatima Brothers (Maspeth, NY) recalls Shad Javantri/Whole Mace (uncoded 3.5-oz plastic bag), due to the presence of undeclared sulfites and FD&C Yellow #5, and unauthorized Rhodamine B and Malachite Green dyes. The recalled product was sold in New York City.
  • Allergy Alert: Café-Tasse S.A. recalls Café-Tasse Noir (Dark) Belgian Chocolate Bar (1.58-oz/45g bar; UPC 54000219 505504; Expiry 15-September 2013), because it may contain traces of milk. The recalled product was sold in retail stores in Virginia, Massachusetts, Washington and California from January 2012 through mid-April 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall: Alfa Sprouts Inc. (Honeoye Falls, NY) recalls Springwater Sprouts brand Organic Alfalfa Sprouts (4-oz containers; Sell by 4/28/2012; UPC 688267047411 and  042891000523) and Clover Sprouts (3# Bulk containers; Production code P93), due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The Clover Sprouts were sold to institutional accounts in Upstate New York. The Alfalfa Sprouts were sold in New York State, including in Tops Friendly Market stores and in the Wegmans store located in Penfield, NY.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Diamond Pet Foods expands an earlier recall of dry dog food to include the following additional product, after one bag of the product tested positive for Salmonella: Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula – dry dog food (35-lb bag, Production code CLF0102B31XCW, Best by 27/JAN/2013 and 28/JAN/2013; 35-lb bag, Production code CLF0102B32XWR, Best by 23/JAN/2013; and 6-lb bag, Production code CLF0102B3XALW, Best by 28/JAN/2013).
  • Animal Feed Safety Recall: Feed Solutions recalls DuMOR® Poultry Layer 16% Crumbles (Item #0046445; Formula #60Y9; Lot #2MAR15OKC1), because the feed was incorrectly packed and shipped in DuMOR® Poultry Grower/Finisher bags. The recalled feed was produced for Tractor Supply Company and distributed to 12 stores in north and west Texas between March 22 and April 12, 2012.
  • Outbreak Alert (North Carolina): The Buncombe County Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of 27 possible cases of Salmonella Paratyphi B infections. All cases appear to have been associated with residence or travel to Buncombe County since February 28, 2012. The source of the contamination has not yet been confirmed.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Boucherie hongroise (1984) inc. (Montreal, QC) recalls Saucisse Csabai/Csabai sausage (sold either refrigerated or at room temperature up to and including April 24, 2012), because the product was not manufactured under conditions that would ensure microbiological safety.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (France): La Société Chevallier recalls all lots of Neufchâtel-Coeurs-bondes-briquettes cheeses due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled cheeses were sold between March 21, 2012 and April 27, 2012 in cheese departments of the following retailers: Simply à Ferrieres en Bray, Simply à Formerie, Carrefour Mont St. Aignan, and Primevère au Havre.
  • Food Safety Recall (Greece): Anelixi Ltd recalls Grzanki Tradycyjne/Natural flavor croutons and Grzanki Ziolowe/Garlic & Onion croutons (Manufactured by Mamut Sp. z.o.o. ul, Poland), after Polish authorities found Salmonella in illegally manufactured egg powder used to manufacture the croutons. Please refer to the recall notice for a list of affected lot and date codes.
  • Food Safety Alert (UK): The Food Standards Agency warns people who may have bought any of Le Campagnard, Gaaston or Pernet Mugnier Christian brands of reblochon cheese in France to discard them. The French authorities have issued an alert about potential contamination with the bacteria that causes brucellosis. The affected cheeses were sold from February to April 2012 in 450g packs.
  • Veterinary Medicine Safety Recall (Spain): Novartis Sanidad Animal, S.L. recalls Milbemax Chewable Tablets for Small Dogs and Puppies (Lots #33637, 33650, 33664 and 34021), because of out-of-specification results for the concentration of the active ingredient, Milbemicina oxima.
  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU #2012.0454): Sodium nitrite marketed as sorbitol from the United Kingdom; distributed to Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Consumer Product Safety Recall (Australia): Solaire Pty Ltd recalls Solaire Teeth-Whitener with 16% Hydrogen Peroxide (THP16%), because the product contains hydrogen peroxide in excess of the safe limit of 6% weight/weight. The product was sold nationally in beauty salons and tanning salons.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall (Australia): Solaire Pty Ltd recalls Solaire Teeth-Whitener Carbamide Peroxide 44% (TCP44%), because the product contains carbamide peroxide in excess of the safe limit of 18% weight/weight. The product was sold nationally in beauty salons and tanning salons.

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.

Two Salmonella Strains In Sushi Outbreak – 200 Ill

The outbreak of Salmonella illnesses traced to eating sushi containing contaminated raw yellowfin tuna known as Nakaochi scrape has grown to encompass 200 confirmed illnesses in 21 states and the District of Columbia. Vermont was the latest state to be added to the list.

There is no longer even the slightest shadow of a doubt that the scrape yellowfin – which resembles ground tuna – is the source of this outbreak. Both FDA and the state of Wisconsin have confirmed the Salmonella Bareilly outbreak strain in food samples.

Two days ago, Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection laboratory reported confirming the presence of the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bareilly in the recalled yellowfin tuna and in a spicy tuna roll made with the recalled tuna. The DNA fingerprinting of the Salmonella was carried out by the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, located at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Earlier today, FDA chimed in with its own announcement. FDA labs reported finding the Salmonella Bareilly outbreak strain in a sample of Nakaochi scrape yellowfin tuna obtained from a distributor of the raw fish product. The same sample contained a strain of Salmonella Nchanga that was indistinguishable from bacteria isolated from an additional cluster of 10 infections in 5 states. FDA also recovered Salmonella Bareilly from a sample of Nakaochi scrape yellowfin tuna obtained from a different distributor.

As a result of FDA’s lab findings, CDC has expanded its definition of the outbreak to include both Salmonella Bareilly and Salmonella Nchanga.

The raw tuna product was imported from India. On April 19th, FDA’s New Delhi office initiated a seafood (HACCP) inspection of the manufacturer’s facility (Moon Fishery Pvt Ltd, Aroor, India). The agency was informed that April 12, 2012 was the last day of tuna processing at the firm due to the seasonal nationwide ban on tuna harvest from the Indian Ocean. FDA has promised to post the inspection results once the report has been finalized.

CDC advises retailers and establishments not to serve raw recalled frozen raw yellowfin tuna product, known as Nakaochi Scrape, from Moon Marine USA Corporation. Establishments and retailers should check with their suppliers to confirm the source of the tuna product.

CDC offers the following Advice to Consumers

  • Do not eat the recalled frozen raw yellowfin tuna product, known as Nakaochi Scrape, from Moon Marine USA Corporation. This product is tuna backmeat that is scraped from the bones of tuna and may be used to make sushi, particularly “spicy tuna” sushi.
  • If you purchase “spicy tuna” or other sushi, sashimi, ceviche, or similar dishes that might contain Nakaochi Scrape tuna product from a restaurant or grocery store, check with the establishment to make sure that it does not contain raw recalled product from Moon Marine USA Corporation. When in doubt, don’t eat it.
  • Persons who think they might have become ill from eating possibly contaminated raw Nakaochi Scrape tuna product should consult their healthcare providers.
  • Infants, older adults, pregnant women, and persons with impaired immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness and should not eat raw or partially cooked fish or shellfish. If you are unsure of your risk, ask your healthcare provider.

Recalls and Alerts: April 26, 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: Reser’s Fine Foods, Inc. (Beaverton, OR) recalls Mrs. Weaver’s Pimento Spread (7 oz; Use by Aug/05/12; Plant ID & Time 20 HH:MM; UPC 71117.00003), because the spread may have been packaged into containers marked Ham Salad. The Ham Salad label does not list milk as an ingredient. The recalled spread was distributed in AR, AZ, FL, LA, MS, OK, TX, and WA between April 11, 2012 and April 17, 2012.
  • Allergy Alert: Krispak, Inc. (Grand Rapids, MI) recalls GFS® Hostess Candy Mix (8-48 oz packages; Code date 088 12), because some of the cases of Candy Mix were inadvertently put into GFS® Chocolate Sprinkles packages, which do not declare the ingredients wheat, milk and egg, all of which may be present in the Candy Mix. The affected product wasdistributed between April 5th and 19th to Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee Gordon Food Service Marketplace Stores.
  • Food Safety Recall: LA Star Seafood Co. Inc. (Los Angeles, CA) recalls Vobla Dry fish and Vobla Smoked fish (20-lb bulk boxes; no lot numbers or expiry dates), because the fish were improperly eviscerated and, therefore, have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. The recalled products were distributed and sold at: Arbat Store, Utah; European Importing, Russian Import, and M and M Market, Northern California; Golden Farms Market, Karabagh Market, and Tashkent Market, Southern California; Global Importing, Oregon; Solomon’s Groceries and Europa, Colorado between February 28th and April 23rd, 2012.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Diamond Pet Foods recalls Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Dog Food (“certain lots” – to be updated) after lab tests conducted by the Ohio Department of Agriculture found Salmonella in a sample of the pet food
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: American Regent recalls Epinephrine Injection, USP, 1:1000 (1mL ampules; Lot #1395; Expiry July 2012), due to the presence of discoloration and small visible particles in some ampules. The recalled product was wholesalers and distributors nationwide. Hospitals, Retail Pharmacies, Clinics, Physician Offices, and other healthcare facilities and providers are instructed to stop using the recalled batch of product and immediately quarantine any outstanding supply of Lot #1395 for return.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Le Grand Marché Col-Fax inc (Laval, QC) recalls a number of pastries and prepared foods (sold up to and including 23 April 2012), due to the presence of undeclared soy and/or sulfites. Please refer to the recall notice for a list of affected products.
  • Allergy Alert: Transhing Investment Inc. (QC) recalls Koh-Kae Peanuts with Thai Tom Yum Spicy Flavour Coated (230g; All codes; UPC 8 852023 666549) due to the presence of chemical additives and undeclared shellfish and milk. The recalled product was sold in Ontario and Quebec.
  • Allergy Alert: Bramic Sales recalls Koh-Kae Peanuts Tom Yum Flavour Coated (240g; All codes; UPC 8 852023 666549), due to the presence of chemical additives and undeclared shellfish. The recalled product was sold in Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0586): Listeria monocytogenes in raw milk sheep cheese coated with herbs from France; distributed to Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France and Germany.

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.