Recalls and Alerts: June 16, 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: Big B Distributors, Inc. (Evansville, IN) recalls Moonlite Bar-B-Q Burgoo Soup (16-oz and 32-oz jars; Est. 1717; Case codes 2022141, 2022142, 2052171 or 2052172; produced on February 24, 2011 and May 27, 2011), because the product contains undeclared sodium caseinate, a milk protein. The recalled product was shipped to a distribution center in Kentucky for retail distribution.
  • Allergy Alert: Blount Seafood Corporation dba Blount Fine Foods (Fall River, MA) recalls Turkey Gravy (12 oz, 24 oz plastic and 32 oz sealed cups; packaged for Stop & Shop, Giant (AHOLD), Kings Supermarket, and Hannafords Brothers) and Poultry Gravy (12 oz., 16 oz sealed cups; packaged for Shaws, Hannaford Brothers Blount Fine Foods Poultry Gravy), due to the presence of undeclared hydrolyzed soy protein.
  • Food Safety Recall: Quesos CentroAmericano Corp (Freeport, NY) recalls Queso Fresco “Fresh Cheese” (5-pound foil tray packages; Plant No. 36-9845; Product lot code 05/31/11), after a routine sample tested by the New York State Food Laboratory was found to be contaminated with high levels of Staphylococcus aureus. The recalled Queso Fresco was distributed to stores, delis and restaurants on Long Island, NY.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: C.W. Hendrix Farms, Inc. (Boca Raton, FL) recalls 15,832 cartons of Fresh Cucumbers (Lot #4329 and 4314), after FDA lab analysis detected Salmonella. The recalled cucumbers were distributed in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and New Jersey, and were used in the following vegetable tray brands, which were recalled by Del Monte Fresh Produce, N.A. Inc. (Miami, FL and Canton, MA): Roche Bros. Pick of the Crop, Del Monte, Del Monte Quality, and CIBO Express Gourmet Markets. Please see the Enforcement Report for June 15, 2011 for details. These recalls are ongoing.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Le Culinaire (Saint-Cyprien, QC) recalls several terrines, due to the presence of undeclared soy protein.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (UK): Morrisons withdraws Morrisons The Best Fruit Muesli 500g (Best before end May 2012), due to the presence of undeclared nuts.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert (France): La société Seb recalls Steak Country brand frozen hamburger patties, sold at Lidl (1-kg boxes containing 10 x 100g patties; Lots 10/05/11, 11/05/11, and 12/05/11; Best if used by 10/05/12, 11/05/12 and 12/05/12), due to possible contamination with E. coli. Seven children, aged 20 months to 8 years, have been hospitalized with bloody diarrhea due to E. coli after consuming the hamburgers. At least three of the children are still being treated with dialysis. The hamburgers were produced using meat originating in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Le laboratoire D&A Pharma recalls Rocgel, 1.2g oral suspension of aluminium oxide (Lots H020 and H021), after certain packages are found to be out of specification for microbiological content.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: Germany reports 786 cases of HUS (including 25 deaths) and 2518 cases of non-HUS EHEC (with 13 deaths) in the outbreak of enterohemorrhagic E. coli O104:H4 has been traced to contaminated sprouts. Fifteen other countries – 13 European countries, the USA and Canada – also have reported cases, producing a total of 825 HUS and 2,587 non-HUS EHEC infections, and 39 deaths.
  • Water Safety Alert (UK): Dawlish town beach (south Devon) has been closed to swimmers after filing a routine water quality test.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (PRC): Ten people, including four government staff and six butchers, have been arrested in a case involving clenbuterol-tainted pork.
  • Food Safety Seizure/Recall (Taiwan): The Public Health Bureau of Taichung City has seized more than 80,000 nutritional supplement capsules made with imported ginger powder contaminated with DIPB, a toxic chemical. Distributors were order to remove the product from store shelves.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Water Safety Alert (Christchurch, NZ): The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is reminded food businesses in Christchurch that water used in coffee machines needs to be pre-boiled, due to recent earthquakes.

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.

Recalls and Alerts: June 14, 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: Price Chopper recalls Price Chopper Dark Chocolate Candy Bar, 2.25 oz., because the product contains undeclared raspberry filling.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns the Kellogg Company that a February 2011 inspection of the company’s August, Georgia cookie manufacturing facility revealed the presence of a persistent strain of Listeria monocytogenes and a number of significant violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for food manufacturers.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Gloria’s Pantry that a January/February 2011 inspection of the company’s food manufacturing facility revealed serious violations of FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food (CGMP) regulations. In addition, an environmental sample collected during the inspection found Listeria monocytogenes on a direct food contact surface.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited that a November 2010 inspection of the company’s active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facility in Morelos, Mexico identified significant deviations from Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) for the manufacture of APIs.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Rolf’s Patisserie (Lincolnwood, IL) that a December 2010 through February 2011 inspection of the company’s food manufacturing facility revealed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus in the facility and the raw material tolling used in finished baked goods, in addition to FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for manufacturing, packing, or holding human food.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Euro International Foods, Inc. that a February/March 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 regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Columbine Specialty Products Inc. (Denver, CO) that a December 2010 inspection of the company’s manufacturing facility revealed serious violations of FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) in Manufacturing, Packaging, Labeling, or Holding Operations for Dietary Supplements.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Prostar, Inc. (Farmington, CT) that a November 2010 inspection of the company’s facility revealed a number of violations of Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations in Manufacturing, Packaging, Labeling, or Holding Operations for Dietary Supplements.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Nutro Laboratories, a div of NBTY, Inc. (South Plainfield, NJ) that an October 2010 inspection of the company’s dietary supplement manufacturing facility revealed violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) and FDA regulations pertaining to dietary supplements.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Newport Lobster Company, Inc. (Middletown, RI) that a November/December 2010 inspection of the company’s seafood processing establishment revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation, and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Vita Pure, Inc. (Roselle, NJ) that a September 2010 inspection of the company’s facility revealed a number of serious violations of 21 CFR 111, Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) in Manufacturing, Packaging, Labeling, or Holding Operations for Dietary Supplements.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Foremost Foods International, Inc. (Pomona, CA) that an October/November 2010 inspection of the company’s seafood importer establishment revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns California Delights, Inc. (Newman, CA) that an August 2010 inspection of the company’s facility revealed significant violations of FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food (CGMP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Empresas Y-Nuina, Inc. (Canóvanas, PR) that a June/July 2010 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 foods.
  • Outbreak Alert: As of June 7th, 81 cases of Shigella have been reported in Northern Kentucky, according to the Northern Kentucky Health Department.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The outbreak or outbreaks of E. coli illness that have been reported in Virginia and Northeast Tennessee involve E. coli O103, E. coli O169 and E. coli O157:H7.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Gagan Foods International Limited recalls Gagan Gulabjamun – Traditional Indian Sweet, 1-Kg, due to the presence of undeclared wheat and/or gluten.
  • Allergy Alert: PTI Foods recalls Ghar Se Apple Murabba, 800g (Code PTF09224), due to the presence of undeclared sulphites.
  • Allergy Alert: Kuo Hua Trading Company Ltd. (Markham, ON) recalls Farm House Pie brand Multi-Layer Black Sesame Pie (480g; all lot codes), due to the presence of undeclared peanuts.
  • Allergy Alert: JFP International (Canada) Inc., (Mississauga, ON) recalls UCC brand Sumiyaki 3 in 1 Coffee Mix (170g; Product of Taiwan; all codes), because the product contains undeclared milk.
  • Food Safety Alert (Tampering): The Toronto Police Service  warns that a two-inch sewing needle was found piercing into the spine of a package of Andy Boy Romaine lettuce hearts, purchased from the No Frills store in the Golden Mile Plaza, 1880 Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Finland): Midsona Finland Oy recalls Naturdiet Drink mix, wild strawberry and vanilla, because the product contains undeclared peanuts and sesame seed traces.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Seamaiden A/S recalls Seafood Mix Marinaramix (Best before 08/2012; product of Vietnam), because Salmonella was detected in the product.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Scan-Food recalls Salt-marinated (1.2%) frozen chicken (Product of Brazil; Best before 24.08.12), because Salmonella was detected in a sample of the product.
  • Food Recall (Denmark): Løgismose Dairy A/S recalls Løgismose Organic Drinking Yogurt, blackberry and vanilla (Best before 12.7.2011), because the beverage is contaminated with yeast.
  • Food Withdrawal (Denmark): Coop Trading A/S withdraws Änglamark Pine nuts (70g; all date codes), because they can cause temporary loss or change of taste.
  • Outbreak Alert (UK): An outbreak of norovirus has struck about 200 tourists and staff at the Bognor Regis holiday camp in Butlins, West Sussex.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0772): Oxamyl in galia melons from Morocco; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0773): Glass fragments in red wine in glass bottles from Germany; distributed to Germany and Greece.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alerts (Hong Kong): The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) has instructed the trade to stop the use and sale of “iceflake” supplied by a local frozen confection factory, after the product was found to contain DEHP. In addition, CFS has alerted the public that Uni-President Asparagus Juice (Manufactured by Uni-President Enterprises Corp; Expiry date August 1, 2011) may contain DINP, and should not be consumed.
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (Abu Dhabi): Inspectors have detained 33 vehicles for violating rules and regulations governing the transportation of food items.
  • Food Safety Recall (PRC): Authorities in Guangdong Province have recalled and/or seized green tea powder manufactured by Jiangmen Goody’s Food Co., Ltd., after DEHP was found in samples of the product.

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.

Recalls and Alerts: May 19, 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

  • Food Safety Recall: Schratter Foods Inc. (Fairfield, NJ) recalls Quenby Hall Blue Stilton Cheese, imported by ANCO Fine Cheese (Product of UK; Lots 019 through 034, with expiration dates of 6/15/2011 through 6/29/2011), after Listeria monocytogenes is found in the bulk cheese during routine testing. The product is imported in bulk (round half 8.5-9.6 lbs) and is sold nationally in retail stores in random weight wedge cuts.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Nikolaos Fine Foods Limited recalls Zarky’s, Woodward Meat Purveyors, Savory Secret Gold Coast, and Nikolaos brands of uncooked and par-fry seasoned breaded chicken breast fillets, due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled chicken products were distributed in Ontario for retail sale and to hotel/restaurant/institutional clients.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (UK): Asda recalls Asda Japanese Style Spicy Rice Cracker Mix (Best before: up to and including 01/11/2011), Asda Spicy Wasabi Mix (Best before: up to and including 13/09/2011) and Asda Japanese Style Baked Rice Cracker Mix (Best before: up to and including 06/02/2012), because the products may contain small pieces of glass.
  • Food Safety Alert (Italy): The Ministry of Health has banned the retail sale for human consumption of eels fished from Lake Garda, because the eels are contaminated with dioxin. The ban will be in effect for the next 12 months while additional testing is undertaken.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Dencon Foods A/S recalls Chicken Kebabs (Product of Hungary; Lot #0046-10; Best before 15/4/2012) after Swedish authorities find Salmonella in a sample of the product.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Hilton Foods Denmark A/S recalls Your Choice Minced Beef 3-7% (450g packages; Best Before 23.05.2011; Lots #400036304A and #400036207A), after Salmonella is found in the raw beef. The recalled minced beef was sold in Kvickly, Superbrugsen and Dagli supermarkets throughout Denmark.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Dana Seafood International Ltd. recalls Instant Noodles (400g net wt; Product of China; Imported by Hao Trading ApS; Best by dec/2013), because the product was imported illegally.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall (Finland): VIP Vescor Ltd. recalls Nutritional Balance Lamb & Rice Growth dog food (Product of Belgium; 1 kg pack, OW 320; 3 kg pack, OW 221; 15 kg pack, OW 222, OW 291, OW 312 and OW 356), because the product is suspected of causing behavioral products in dogs. Analytical results suggest unusually large quantities of nitrogen compounds in the dog food. The recalled products were sold from October 2010 onwards.
  • Medical Device Supplies Safety Recall (France): Roche Diagnostics France recalls ACCU-CHEK glucose test strips (Lot 470049), because the strips can overestimate the glucose concentration in 5% of cases.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0661): Glass fragments in snack mix from the Netherlands; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0663): Aflatoxins in groundnuts in shell from China; distributed to Italy.
  • Outbreak Alert (UK): Six wards in Southampton General Hospital have been shut in an effort to stop the spread of a viral gastroenteritis outbreak. Individuals who have suffered diarrhea or other illness within the last 72 hours are being warned to stay away from Southampton’s teaching hospitals. The public is asked to make only essential visits.
  • Outbreak Alert (Russia): An outbreak of Salmonella gastroenteritis has been reported among workers at a gold mine in Chukchi. The local dining hall is suspected to be the source of the infections.
  • Outbreak Alert (Ukraine): Twelve children, aged 2 1/2 to 5 years, who attend a kindergarten in Odessa have been hospitalized with acute gastroenterocolitis, the day after they shared a meal that consisted of preserved fish and milk porridge. Others are reported to be ill, but are being treated at home.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (Vietnam): The Department of Animal Health reports that 97% of Vietnam’s 30,000 slaughterhouses were operating without the necessary paperwork and in residential areas rather than abattoirs.
  • Food Safety Alert (Vietnam): The Ho Chi Minh City Veterinary Bureau reports that more than 10% of the meat sold in the city every day is from illegal slaughtering houses and is unsafe.
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (Abu Dhabi): Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority has closed down the United Families for Catering and Food Stuff outlet in Al Ruwais due to repeated non-compliance with food safety regulations. The unlicensed outlet was operating in a makeshift building in a group of labor camps in the desert.
  • Outbreak Alert (Nigeria): Contaminated drinking water is blamed for an outbreak of gastroenteritis, which has killed two people in Gurara (Niger state) and hospitalized 10 others.
  • Outbreak Alert (Singapore): Meals supplied by Mum’s Kitchen Catering has been blamed for food poisoning outbreaks in three Singapore preschools – Pat’s Schoolhouse, Children’s Place, and Learning Vision’s Raffles Place branch. The outbreak has affected 235 children and 12 teachers so far. Thirty-four people have been hospitalized, according to the Ministry of Health, and 14 of those have been discharged. The caterer’s operating license of has been suspended since Thursday, May 12th.
  • Outbreak Alert (Mauritania): Seven people, including three children developed food poisoning after sharing sweets from a bakery. Rotten eggs used in the preparation of the desserts are thought to be the source of the contamination.
  • Outbreak Alert (India): More than 250 people in Ahmedabad developed Staphylococcus aureus food poisoning after attending a wedding feast held at Dalal Hall on May 17th. The source of the outbreak is thought to be either mango juice, paste or paneer (fresh cheese) added to vegetable stews.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert (Brazil): Seventeen children who attend Lima City School in Camarigibe were hospitalized with severe stomach pain, diarrhea and vomiting on May 13th after eating lunch at the school. The school has been closed pending completion of an investigation in to the incident.

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.