Category: Shigella

Recalls and Alerts: October 31, 2011

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 Update: The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is testing 34 specimens from the Saint Louis County outbreak of E. coli illnesses. Twenty-four of the specimens have been confirmed to contain shiga toxin; toxin testing of the remaining 10 specimens is in progress. All 34 of the specimens are being tested to determine the identity of the E. coli strain. Investigators from the local, state and federal CDC are working to determine the source of the outbreak. In addition, the Illinois Department of Public Health is investigating a case of shiga toxin-producing E. coli illness in St. Clair County that may be linked to the Missouri outbreak.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The E. coli outbreak linked to the North Carolina State Fair now comprises 24 cases – 8 confirmed and 16 under investigation – in seven counties: Wake (11), Sampson (7), Cleveland (1), Durham (1), Johnston (1), Orange (1) and Wilson (2). Investigations are still underway to determine how the victims became infected.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Deep Canada Inc. recalls Deep Methia Mango Pickle in Oil (740g; Mfg 06/11; Batch #11168; Best before 05/2013) due to the presence of glass particles. The recalled product was distributed in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario.

Europe

  • Food Safety Withdrawal (Ireland): All batches and container sizes of Gaudiano Organic Olives Stuffed With Almonds have been withdrawn from sale after a jar of these olives was found to contain botulinum toxin by Finnish health authorities. Russell Gallery (Co. Clare) imported 90 jars of Gaudiano Organic Olives Stuffed With Almonds in 2010. All remaining jars have been removed from sale. No cases of botulism linked to the withdrawn product have been reported in Ireland.
  • Food Safety Withdrawal (UK): All batches of Gaudiano Organic Olives Stuffed with Almonds have been withdrawn from sale across Europe.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): No. Søby Meat Wholesale A/S recalls Boiled salted meat (Package date 7/10-2011; Best before dates 21/11-2011 and 12/12-2011), after Listeria is found in a sample of the meat. The recalled meat was sold to Hotel kitchens, caterers, restaurants and catering businesses west of the Great Belt.
  • Food Safety Recall (Italy): Società Cooperativa Agricola G.M.G. a r.l. dei F.lli Gaudiano recalls all batch codes and jar sizes of Olive Bio Con Mandorle Bio Gaudiano/Bio Gaudiano Organic Olives Stuffed With Almonds after Finnish authorities found botulinum toxin in a jar of these olives following the hospitalization of two people and the death of one of them. Italian health authorities have mandated the suspension of operations at the company, and have seized all existing inventory of processed vegetables. Further investigations are underway.
  • Food Safety Withdrawal (Denmark): Uhrenholt A/S withdraws Emborg Havarti aged cheese (200g; Best before 21-12-2011), after microscopic cracks were observed in the overwrap on the package. The fractured packaging could result in mold growth.
  • Food Withdrawal (Finland): Mars Ireland recalls Twix® Xtra Chocolate Biscuit Bars, 75g (several batch codes – please refer to recall notice for details), because the products were not labeled in Finnish and Swedish. The withdrawn products will be relabelled with Finnish and Swedish language labels and returned to retailers for sale.
  • Outbreak Alert (Norway): Norway Public Health and Norway Food Safety Authority are investigating an outbreak of 45 confirmed cases of shigellosis – 42 in Tromsø and 3 in Østfold. Thirty-six of the patients reported having consumed pesto, and an additional three patients consumed fresh basil, which is one of the ingredients in pesto. Several new cases have been reported since last Friday and are under investigation. Among the pesto ingredients being tested by the Food Safety Authority is basil from Israel.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1526): Listeria monocytogenes in salted smoked trout from Spain; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1527): Mercury in chilled scorpion fish from Algeria; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1528): Mercury in vacuum packed swordfish from France; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1529): Salmonella spp. in paan leaves from Bangladesh; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1532): Sulfathiazole in honey from Bulgaria; distributed to Italy.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Recall: Charlie’s Trading Co. Ltd recalls 330 ml bottles of Phoenix Organics Ginger Beer (best before 22/08/12; batch PR08220811), Creaming Soda (best before 22/08/12; batch PR08220811), Cola Cluster 4-pack (best before 22/08/12; batch PR08220811), Cola (best before 22/08/12; batch PR08220811), Lemonade (best before 22/08/12; batch PR08220811), Orange Fizz (best before 23/08/12; batch PR08230811), Sparkling Apple (best before 23/08/12; batch PR08230811) and Sparkling Blood Orange (best before 23/08/12; batch PR08230811), due to inadequate pasteurization of some bottles, causing fermentation and an increased risk of product shattering. The recalled non-alcoholic beverages were sold in cafés, supermarkets, petrol stations and corner stores throughout New Zealand, and were exported to Australia, Korea, Japan and the Pacific Islands.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): ChiTree (VIC) recalls ChiTree Apricot Kernels (1kg vacuum-sealed clear plastic bag; all packages), because of potentially toxic levels of naturally occurring hydrocyanic acid. The recalled product was sold in Health Food stores across Australia, and through the company website.
  • Food Safety Recall (New Zealand and Australia): Charlie’s Trading Co. Ltd recalls 330 ml bottles of Phoenix Organics Ginger Beer (best before 22/08/12; batch PR08220811), Creaming Soda (best before 22/08/12; batch PR08220811), Cola Cluster 4-pack (best before 22/08/12; batch PR08220811), Cola (best before 22/08/12; batch PR08220811), Lemonade (best before 22/08/12; batch PR08220811), Orange Fizz (best before 23/08/12; batch PR08230811), Sparkling Apple (best before 23/08/12; batch PR08230811) and Sparkling Blood Orange (best before 23/08/12; batch PR08230811), due to inadequate pasteurization of some bottles, causing fermentation and an increased risk of product shattering. The recalled non-alcoholic beverages were sold in cafés, supermarkets, petrol stations and corner stores throughout New Zealand, and were exported to Australia, Korea, Japan and the Pacific Islands.

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: October 29, 2011

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: Gardenburger, LLC (Clearfield, UT) recalls Eating Right™ Soy Protein Burgers (4-count, 10-oz carton; UPC 79893 80071; Lot codes NOV 17 12 WT A and NOV 17 12 WT B), because the burgers may contain undeclared milk, due to a packaging error. The recalled frozen burgers were distributed by Lucerne Foods (Pleasanton, CA) and sold in Safeway, Carrs, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Pak ‘N’ Save, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Vons, and Pavilions retail stores nationwide.
  • Food Safety Alert: Pennsylvania’s Departments of Agriculture and Health advise consumers and retailers to immediately discard milk purchased from Brunton Dairy (Aliquippa, Beaver County, PA), as a sample of pasteurized, homogenized fat-free milk from the dairy was found to be contaminated with Yersinia enterocolitica. The alert refers to milk with a Sell-by date of Oct 25 or later. Production at the Dairy has been suspended pending the completion of additional testing.
  • Food Recall: Food City reports that the manufacturer has recalled Kern’s 8′ No Sugar Added Cherry Pie and Kern’s 8′ No Sugar Added Blueberry Pie. No details are indicated.
  • Outbreak Alert: The North Carolina Division of Public Health is investigating 26 cases of E. coli in Wake (14), Sampson (6), Durham (1), Franklin (1), Johnston (1), Orange (1) and Wilson (1) counties. Ten of the cases are confirmed, and 16 are still under investigation. Five people – 4 children and 1 adult – are hospitalized. Twenty-three of the 26 outbreak victims attended the State Fair earlier this month.

Canada

  • Food Withdrawal: Madrona Specialty Foods withdraws Hannah’s Naturals Halloween Cookies (Costco Item #321233; Best before 2012 JA 13), because some of the cookies have developed mold growth. The Halloween Cookies were sold at Costco Wholesale stores in Western Canada between September 14th and October 8th, 2011.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Italy): Bio Gaudiano recalls Organic Olive alle mandorle/Almond-Stuffed Olives (314ml glass jars; all batch codes), due to the risk of Clostridium botulinum contamination and potential development of botulinum toxin.
  • Outbreak Alert (Norway): The Food Safety Authority has received a report from the Department of Public Health of three cases of shigellosis in Østfold. The agencies are cooperating to determine whether these cases may be linked to a number of cases reported in Tromsø earlier in October.

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: October 11, 2011

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: Nestlé Prepared Foods Company recalls Lean Cuisine® Dinnertime Selects™ Chicken Fettuccini (Production code 1253595911G; Best before October 2012), because a small quantity of LEAN CUISINE Dinnertime Selects Lemon Garlic Shrimp product was inadvertently placed into packaging for LEAN CUISINE Dinnertime Selects Chicken Fettuccini and possibly shipped to grocers in Alaska, Florida, Idaho, Oregon and Washington State.
  • Food Safety Recall: Commercial Meat Co (Los Angeles, CA) recalls approximately 377,775 pounds of ground beef products (Produced between Sept 7 and Oct 6, 2011; 5,10,15,20,30,40,50 and 60 lb. cases of bulk ground beef, 5,10 and 20 lb. cases of ground beef patties, 10,15,20,30,40 and 50 lb. cases of ground beef taco, and 5,10,15,20,25,30,40,50 and 60 lb. cases of ground beef chili), because the ground beef products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled ground beef products were distributed to restaurants in California and Nevada, as well as one Federal establishment in California for further processing.
  • FDA Enforcement Action: US Marshals seize food products held at the food storage and processing facility of Dominguez Foods of Washington, Inc. (Zillah, WA) following an FDA inspection of the facility that found evidence of widespread and active rodent and insect infestation in the facility’s warehouse and processing area.
  • Food Quality Recall: Giant Eagle-Prepared Foods recalls Chili (Sell by 11-09-2011; Lot #2455840), Soup – chili only (12-, 16- and 24-oz; Sell by 11-09-2011; SP2455840) and Giant Eagle Chili With Beans Cup (Sell by 11-04-2011; Lot #SP2455840), because the products do not meet quality standards.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Reposteria Aymat, Inc. (San Juan, PR) that a May 2011 inspection of the company’s food manufacturing facility revealed serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Food (CGMP) regulations.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Botanic Oil Innovations, Inc. (Spooner, WI) that an April 2011 inspection of the company’s facility revealed serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for dietary supplements.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns 24/7 Seafood Distributor Corp. (Hialeah, FL) that a May 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation, and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulation for food.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Advantage Foods, LLC (Largo, FL) that an April/May 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood processing and importer establishment revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation, and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Proprietary Chinese Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Ocean Pharmaceutical (HK) Limited recalls Cardiotium, a proprietary Chinese medicine, after the Department of Health finds two undeclared western drugs in the product.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (New Zealand): Medsafe recalls all batches of Get Stiff and Maxi Mize products for erectile dysfunction, because the products contain undeclared prescription medicines.

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.