Category: Staphylococcus

Recalls and Alerts: July 7, 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: Cass-Clay Creamery (Fargo, ND) recalls all date codes for Hombacher’s Peppermint Bon Bon Light (half-gallon/1.89 liter), Schroeder Peppermint Bon Bon (1.75 quart/1.65 liter) and SunnyBrook Peppermint Bon Bon Light (half gallon/1.89 liter), because they may contain undeclared eggs. The recalled products were distributed in Iowa, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
  • Allergy Alert: Arctic Zero Inc. (Escondido, CA) recalls for relabelling Arctic Zero frozen desserts (2 fl. oz. bars and 1 pt tubs) due to the presence of undeclared milk.
  • Food Safety Recall: Pacific International Marketing recalls bulk Romaine Lettuce (Banded with a red twist tie marked Safeway; Code 12EASROM182 marked on the bulk RPC) due to potential Salmonella, following the finding of a positive Salmonella test taken at the field level. The recalled bulk Romaine Lettuce was sold in bulk produce bins from July 2, 2012 through July 4, 2012 at Vons and Pavilions stores in California and Nevada. The source of the contamination is unknown.
  • Food Safety Recall: Buona Vita, Inc. (Bridgeton, NJ) recalls 324,770 pounds of various frozen, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products sold under the Cupino, Mama Isabella, Buona vita, Inc., Vincent Giordano, Dirusso’s, Silver Lake, Argenta Pride, Whitsons Food Service, M&R Frosted Food Co., Orefresco, Pullpen, Napoli, Whorle’s, and Buonamici brands (Est number P-954 or Est. 954; produced May 3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th, and 9th, 2012 ), due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of recalled products. The products were sold to distribution facilities nationwide. The contamination was discovered through microbiological testing by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
  • Animal Feed Safety Recall: PMI Nutrition International expands its earlier recall to include the following products: Mazuri® Primate Maintenance Biscuit (25#; Formula 5MA2; Lot #APR11123), Mazuri® Mouse Breeder 9F (50#; Formula 5M68; Lot #APR20122), and Mazuri® Primate Basix (25#; Formula 5NAA; Lot #APR20123). These products may contain an elevated vitamin D level, which can be harmful to animals if fed for an extended time. The recalled products were distributed nationwide on or after April 12, 2012.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Fromagerie Boivin recalls Fromage râpé 30% Cheddar 70% Pizza mozzarella/Grated cheese, 30% Cheddar 70% pizza mozzarella (500g, 1kg, 2kg sizes; Best before 25 July 2012), Cheddar râpé/Grated cheddar (500g, 1kg, 2kg, 2.5kg sizes; Best before 25 July 2012), Fromage cheddar en meule/Cheddar cheese wheel (175g; Best before 20 July 2012) and Cheddar Boivin Écono-pack, fromage cheddar en meule (variable weights; Code 3959 or 3950; Best before 20 July 2012), because the products may be contaminated with Staphylococcus toxin. The recalled cheeses were packaged by Fromagerie Boivin using cheese produced by Fromagerie St-Fidèle, and were distributed in the Saguenay-Lac St-jean and Côte-Nord region.
  • Food Safety Recall: Thomas Bros. Farm Market (London, ON) recalls Fresh Shelled Peas, sold from Thomas Bros. Farm Market (5856 Colonel Talbot Road, London Ontario) on June 27, 2012, because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Sweden): Axfood recalls Garant Hamburgare 4-pack, Garant Hamburgare 10-pack, Garant Hamburgare 4-pack Barbeque (Expiry 10-07-2012) and Garant Grillbricka (Expiry 09-07-2012) Burgers, after Salmonella was found in a sample during routine examination. The recalled burgers were sold in Willys, Hemköp, Prisextra and Tempo stores.

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: July 5, 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 (California): California Department of Public Health advises that Cream Top Chocolate Milk (8-oz, 1-qt and half-gallon; Code date 7-11-2012), which was recalled by Dairy Goddess (Lemoore, CA) due to lack of proper pasteurization, was sold at the San Luis Obispo Downtown Farmers’ Market, the Cambria Farmers’ Market, the Sunset Strip Farmers’ Market – West Hollywood, and the Clovis Farmers’ Market.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Bedford Laboratories recalls Bedford Leucovorin Calcium Injection, 500mg SDV (Lot #/Expiration date 2017620‐1/31/2013 and 2038374‐2/28/2013) and NOVA PLUS® Leucovorin Calcium Injection, 500mg SDV (Lot #/Expiration date 2038374A-2/28/2013), due to the discovery of visible crystalline particulate matter in a small number of vials.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Alert: FDA has issued instructions to companies to stop manufacturing and distributing certain unapproved drugs containing oxycodone.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert (Re-release): The Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns people with allergies to wheat and sensitivities to gluten not to consume Healthy Times brand Brown Rice Cereal for Baby (Product of USA; 6-oz/170g pkgs; UPC 0 48685 02188 0; Lot 14211 & 17011; Use by 01 MAY 2013 and 30 MAY 2013, respectively, because this product contains undeclared wheat or gluten. This alert was first issued on July 26, 2011; however, affected product may still be in the marketplace.
  • Food Safety Recall: Fromagerie St-Fidèle Inc. (La Malbaie, QC) recalls St-Fidèle brand Cheddar Cheese (variable weight pkg containing cheese curds; Code 3959, made on 12JUN19 or 12JUN20; Best before 12JUL19 or 12JUL20), Cheddar Cheese (variable weight pkg containing BBQ-flavoured cheese curds; Code 3959; Made on 12JUN19 or 12JUN20; Best before 12JUL19 or 12JUL20), and Cheddar Cheese Curd (85g, 200g, 400g, and 2.5kg; Code 3959, made on 12JUN20; Best before 12JUL20), because the products may be contaminated with Staphylococcus toxin. The recalled products were distributed in Quebec.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Dille & Kamille recalls Breckland Orchard brand Pear & Elderflower Lemonade and Breckland Orchard brand Blackcurrant & Raspberry Lemonade, because the pressure inside the bottles is too strong and may result in spontaneous breakage.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Lactalis Denmark recalls Cheese Factory White Cheddar Cheese (400g; Best before 06-11-2012; Product of England), due to mold growth on some of the cheeses.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Mammen Dairy A/S recalls Urtekram brand Danbo 45+ Cheese, Danbo Middle Aged 45+ Cheese and Samso 30+ Cheese (net wt 550g; Best before dates 19-08-2012 and 20-08-2012), due to mold growth on some of the cheeses.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Arla Foods amba, Braband Dairy recalls Mejse Yoghurt, 1.5% fat with peach melba (1 liter; Best before 25.07.2012), due to the presence of undesirable bacteria in the product.
  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): Aschara Meat Market GmbH recalls Teewurst sausage (100g, unpackaged and unlabeled, with ends tied with silver and blue metal clips), after Salmonella Derby is found in an official sample. The recalled product was sold from June 22nd to July 2nd.
  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): H. Birkenstock Dairy GmbH recalls Birkenstock Mainzer Cheese (200g; Best before 08/03/2012), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Supplement Safety Alert (Ireland): Food Safety Authority of Ireland warns the public that food supplements containing the illegal stimulant DMAA have been imported into Ireland from the USA and are being sold online. Products containing DMAA are unauthorized medicines and are prohibited in Ireland.
  • Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Nutricia Baby Food recalls Bambix Bears Biscuits for Babies six months and older, due to a choking hazard, as the biscuits do not soften quickly enough in a baby’s mouth.
  • Food Safety Alert (UK): The UK Food Standards Agency advises the public to consider avoiding drinking bottled water described or labelled as Zam Zam water, because tests have shown that Zam Zam water sold in the UK may contain high levels of arsenic or nitrates.
  • Topical Product Safety Recall (Spain): The Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products alerts the public that Clear N Smooth Skin Toning Cream has been recalled, because it contains the unauthorized active pharmaceutical agent hydroquinone, 2%.
  • Food Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2012.0924): Unauthorized 1,3 dimethylamylamine in food supplement from Canada; distributed to Finland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0925): Defective packaging of fruit juice from the United Kingdom; distributed to Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0926): Excessive propylene glycol in muffins from Spain; distributed to Denmark.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0927): Aflatoxins in groundnuts from Nicaragua; distributed to Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0928): Shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 in chilled beef from Belgium; distributed to Belgium and Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0929): Salmonella Oranienburg in galacto oligosaccharide from South Korea via the USA; distributed to Belgium, Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0930): Campylobacter jejuni in fresh whole chicken from Germany; distributed to Denmark.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2012.0932): Salmonella anatum in roasted soy beans from Belgium; distributed to Belgium and Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0933): Mold infestation in cheddar cheese from the United Kingdom; distributed to Denmark.

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.

Profiling Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the oldest recognized sources of foodborne illness, and is the cause of what was once called “ptomaine poisoning.”

Some history

Staphylococcus aureus food poisoning has been studied since 1894. In 1914, an investigator deliberately drank milk that had been contaminated with a culture of the microbe in order to confirm its effect. Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin first was detected in food in 1930.

What is Staphylococcus aureus, and where is its natural habitat?

Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive spherical bacterium (coccus) that grows in grape-like clusters. It is a common inhabitant of the skin, the nostrils, and around the perineal area of humans and many domesticated animals.

How is Staphylococcus aureus transmitted? What is the incubation period of the illness?

Staphylococcus aureus produces a heat-stable toxin (enterotoxin) when given the opportunity to grow under certain conditions of moisture, temperature, pH, and oxygen levels. When a person eats food containing enterotoxin, he or she will develop symptoms within 1-6 hours, depending on the amount of toxin present and the susceptibility of the victim.

What are the symptoms of Staphylococcus aureus food poisoning?

Food poisoning symptoms caused by staphylococcal enterotoxin develop suddenly and typically consist of nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps. Diarrhea and fever can also occur, but are less common.

What is the prognosis of Staphylococcus aureus food poisoning?

Symptoms of staphylococcal food poisoning typically are self-limiting and last 24-48 hours.

What foods carry Staphylococcus aureus?

Many foods of animal origin, including dairy products, may contain low numbers of Staphylococcus aureus; however, this microbe is more often introduced into food by human carriers through lapses in hygiene. If a contaminated food is held at improper temperature, Staphylococcus aureus will multiply and may produce sufficient enterotoxin to cause symptoms.

How can people protect themselves from Staphylococcus aureus?

First, by paying attention to food recall announcements and immediately discarding any recalled food or returning it to the store. Secondly, by not allowing any food to stand for extended periods of time at room temperature. Food that is not to be eaten immediately should be refrigerated or frozen promptly. A frozen, cooked food should be thawed in the refrigerator, and not at room temperature.

For more information on Staphylococcus aureus and other food-borne pathogens, visit the CDC website or read Food Safety: Old Habits, New Perspectives.