Category: Salmonella

Wisconsin Ag Lab Finds Salmonella Bareilly In Recalled Tuna

Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection lab has recovered Salmonella from a sample of recalled tuna and from a spicy tuna roll made with the recalled tuna. The state’s Laboratory of Hygiene confirmed that the Salmonella found in both of these samples matches the DNA fingerprint of the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bareilly that has sickened more than 160 people in 20 states and the District of Columbia.

Moon Marine USA Corporation recalled 58,828 lbs of Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA – a frozen raw yellowfin tuna product – on April 13th after epidemiological and traceback investigations carried out by federal, state and local authorities linked the product to a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Bareilly illnesses. The raw tuna product, which resembles ground tuna, was imported into the USA from India. FDA also issued two Import Alerts (#16-81 and #16-133) authorizing the detention without physical examination of fresh and frozen tuna from Moon Fishery India Pvt Ltd, the producer of the contaminated tuna meat.

The recalled product was not distributed for retail sale to consumers, but may have been used to make sushi, sashimi, ceviche and similar dishes available in restaurants and grocery stores. While the company name and “Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA were printed on boxes of product supplied to distributors, the tuna may not be readily identifiable by consumers as being from implicated lots.

News of the Salmonella Bareilly outbreak first broke on April 3rd. As of the CDC’s last update (April 20th), 26 people are known to have been hospitalized out of the 160 confirmed case patients. Reported onset dates for illnesses range from January 28th to April 10th. The youngest outbreak victim is 4 years of age; the oldest is 78 years old. Two-thirds of the confirmed case patients are female.

Confirmed cases of Salmonella Bareilly illnesses have been reported mainly from the eastern half of the continental USA; the westernmost cases are in Texas. Wisconsin has confirmed 15 cases in three counties, including Milwaukee (6 cases), Washington (2 cases) and Waukesha (7 cases). Three Wisconsin residents were hospitalized; all 15 have recovered from their illnesses.

FDA has this advice for consumers:

  • Because raw seafood is not fully cooked to assure that pathogens are destroyed, it is not considered as “safe” as cooked seafood. The handling of raw seafood can also affect the safety of the product. Because the tuna may have been broken into unmarked sublots and may not be readily identifiable, consumers should take precautions in choosing to eat raw Nakaochi Scrape and be sure that it is not from the implicated lots.
  • If you purchase “spicy tuna” or other sushi, sashimi, ceviche, or similar dishes that might contain Nakaochi Scrape 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, also known as MMI. When in doubt, don’t eat it.
  • Consumers who think they might have become ill from eating possibly contaminated raw Nakaochi Scrape should consult their health care providers.

Recalls and Alerts: April 24, 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

  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Big O’ Smokehouse, Inc. (Caledonia, MI) that a January 2012 inspection of the company’s food and seafood processing facility revealed that you have serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Kelley’s Katch (Savannah, TN) that a February 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Pescaderia La Marinera del 23 SA de CV (Puerto Juarez, Cancun, Mexico) that a September 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility found serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • Food Safety Advisory (California): The California Department of Public Health advises that the annual quarantine of all sport-harvested mussel species along the California coast begins May 1, 2012. The quarantine, which is intended to protect the public from paralytic shellfish poisoning and domoic acid poisoning, applies to all species of mussels harvested along the California coast, as well as all bays and estuaries.
  • Food Safety Advisory: USDA reports having detected a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a dairy cow from central California. The animal was never presented for slaughter for human consumption, and there is no risk to the food supply or human health, according to USDA. BSE (“mad cow disease”) is not transmitted in milk.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Marché du Campanile inc, dba L’Intermarché recalls Saucisse Italienne Forte, Saucisse Italienne Douce and Boudin de Sang de Porc, due to the presence of undeclared wheat. The company also recalls Saucisse merguez due to the presence of undeclared soy, wheat and modified dairy products. The recalled foods were sold in variable weight formats on or before April 23, 2012.
  • Allergy Alert: Commerce Caneast Inc. and Transhing Investment Inc. (QC) recall Koh-Kae Peanuts with Thai Tom Yum Spicy Flavour Coated (230g; all lot codes; UPC 8 852023 666549), due to the presence of a chemical additive and undeclared shellfish/crustacean. The recalled product was sold in Quebec.
  • Allergy Alert: Benfield Inc. recalls Plain Soy Beverage (Unknown brand – Chinese characters only; 2L; Best before May 16/2012 and May 20/2012; UPC 6 27843 16403 6), due to the presence of undeclared sesame seeds. The recalled product was sold in Ontario.
  • Health Hazard Alert/Outbreak Alert Update: Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns the public not to consume whole fesikh mullet, cut up fesikh mullet in oil, and whole fesikh shad (Various count and weight packages; sold from Lotus Catering and Fine Food, 1960 Lawrence Ave. E, Toronto, ON, on or before April 17, 2012) because they may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Three cases of botulism have been reported in Peel Region, where victims shared a common meal at a gathering on April 16th. The meal included prepared salted mullet (fesikh), which is consumed primarily during an Egyptian holiday marking the start of spring.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Food Safety reports that one sample of balsamic vinaigrette imported from the USA and another sample of sports drink powder imported from Japan were found to contain plasticisers, Di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP) and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) respectively. CFS advises the public to stop consuming the affected products and has instructed the trade to stop selling them. Please refer to the CFS Press Release for details on both affected products.

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: April 23, 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: Old Style Sausage (Denver, CO) recalls Old Style Sausage Bratwurst German Brand Sausage, Colorado Rocky Brat Amber Beer Bratwurst, Old Style Sausage Boulder Porter Bratwurst, Rocky Brat 1 Colorado Rocky Bratwurst, Old Style Sausage Rocky Brat II Colorado Rocky Bratwurst, Old Style Sausage Rocky Brats III Colorado Rocky Bratwurst, Colorado Rocky Brat Pork & Elk Bratwurst, and Colorado Rocky Brat Pork & Buffalo Bratwurst (12-lb cases; Est 8126; Produced prior to April 18, 2012; No packaging date or code), because the products contain undeclared egg. The recalled products were supplied to restaurants in Colorado.
  • Food Safety Recall: Albie’s Foods (Gaylord, MI) recalls Albie’s Pizza Calzone (pkgs containing 48 4.5-oz pieces; Produced April 10, 2012; Est 10100), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product was shipped to institutions in Indiana and Michigan.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: XROCK INDUSTRIES (Fort Lauderdale, FL) recalls X-ROCK for Men (One capsule blister card, sold individually; All lot numbers; All expiry dates; UPC 0030950792) after analytical tests conducted by FDA reveal the presence of sildenafil and hydroxythiohomosildenafil. Sildenafil is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in an FDA-approved drug used to treat erectile dysfunction, and may cause serious side effects in some individuals.
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (Hawaii): The Hawai’i State Department of Health embargoes approximately 28 acres of fresh basil produced by FAT Law’s Farm, Inc. due to the presence of methomyl, an unapproved pesticide.
  • Food Safety Alert (Tennessee): Tennessee Agriculture and Health officials are warning the public in and around Nashville that a truck load of potatoes destined for a landfill after being exposed to smoke and fire retardant was discovered missing and possibly distributed to unsuspecting area residents. Consumers should not accept or eat potatoes that were not purchased from a reputable source or retail outlet.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Kub Bakery Ltd. recalls Kub Bread brand Pumpernickel Bread (454g; UPC 0 72467 00116 6), due to the presence of undeclared soy. The recalled bread was sold in Manitoba.
  • Allergy Alert: Overwaitea Food Group LP recalls All Butter Croissants (6-ct; UPC 062639 418908; Packed on dates up to Apr.13.12), Mini Croissants (12-ct; UPC 062639 419066; Packed on dates up to Apr.13.12), Dessert Croissants (2-ct; UPC 062639 414436; Packed on dates up to Apr.14.12), Fresh Oven Quality Croissants (4=ct; UPC 062639 413118; Packed on dates up to Apr.13.12), Butter Croissants (8-ct; UPC 062639 412692; Packed on dates up to Apr.13.12) and Croissants (12-ct; UPC 062639 411237; Packed on dates up to Apr.13.12), due to the presence of undeclared egg. The recalled croissants were sold in Alberta and British Columbia.
  • Allergy Alert: Qualifirst Foods Ltd. recalls Nicole’s Divine Crackers – Dilly Dillingham (142g; Lot 11-143; UPC 7 32843 74494 9), due to the presence of undeclared gluten. The recalled product was sold nationally.
  • Allergy Alert: Uncle T Food Ltd. recalls (Japanese characters only) Noodles (135g; All codes; UPC 4 902881 048651), due to the presence of undeclared egg. The recalled product was sold in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall: The Berwick Meadowbrook Meat Market (Berwick, NS) recalls Fully Cooked Boneless Hams (Best before dates of April 1 and April 3), because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled hams were sold at the Meadowbrook Meat Market retail store in Berwick and at Alderney Landing Farm Market in Dartmouth. There also was limited wholesale distribution of the recalled hams in mainland Nova Scotia.
  • Health Hazard/Outbreak Alert: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns the public not to consume Whole Fesikh Mullet and Cut Up Fesikh Mullet In Oil  (variable count and weight packages; no code or date information; sold from Lotus Catering and Find Food, 1960 Lawrence Ave. E., Toronto, Ontario on or before April 17, 2012), because the products may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. There have been three reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product. Fesikh is a salted and cured fish product. The implicated whole and cut up fesikh was sold in Ontario. The province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Arlene King is strongly advising the public to avoid consuming these products.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: Costco Canada recalls certain articles of Children’s Jewellery sold from April 2nd to April 20th, 2012, because a component of the closure rings of these articles of jewellery have an unacceptable level of cadmium. Please refer to the recall notice for a list of affected products.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Belgium): Café-Tasse SA recalls Café-Tasse brand Chocolat fin Artisanal, Noir/Fine Artisan Dark Chocolate (45g; Lot 11 303249; Expiry 15/04/2012), due to the presence of undeclared milk.
  • Food Safety Recall (Greece): Luncheon Mit Evros SA recalls Franka Luncheon Thrace Frankfurter Sausages (380g vacuum packs; Expiry 6/28/2012), after government testing found Listeria monocytogenes in a sample.
  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): Al Durra Food Products (Syria) recalls Durra Sesame Tahini due to Salmonella contamination.
  • Food Safety Recall (Italy): FinPesca Srl recalls Merluzzo Nordico/Northern Cod (EAN 2112070/211570; Lot 2/35987) after parasites were reported in a sample of fish from the same batch.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall (France): French health authorities have ordered the recall of POWERtabs Dietary Supplement for Men (10 capsules/bottle, expiring 2013-12; 20 capsules/bottle, expiring 2013-12; and 2-capsule packages, expiring 2015-01), because these products contain undeclared and unauthorized dithio desmethyl carbodenafil, an active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Latin America and the Caribbean

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.