Category: typhoid

Recalls and Alerts: June 15, 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 Update: USDA releases updated retail distribution list for Trader Joe’s Cranberry Apple Stuffed Chicken Breast products, recalled by Antonelli’s and Sons due to the presence of undeclared milk, soy and MSG. The recalled products were supplied to Trader Joe’s retail locations in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.
  • Food Safety Alert: FDA urges food distributors, retailers, and food service operators to remove from sale or service all fresh, frozen, canned, and processed oysters, clams, mussels, and whole and roe-on scallops (molluscan shellfish) from Korea that have entered the United States. This includes molluscan shellfish from Korea that entered the United States prior to May 1, 2012, when the FDA removed such products from the Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List (ICSSL), and that which may have inadvertently entered the country after that date. These products and any products made with them may have been exposed to human fecal waste and are potentially contaminated with norovirus.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Saladexpress (1995) Inc. recalls Saladexpress Garden Salad (340g; Best before 18 JUN 12) and Saladexpress American Blend (340g; Best before 18 JUN 12), due to extraneous material (metal) contamination. The recalled product was distributed to the warehouse level in Quebec.
  • Food Safety Recall: Erie Meat Products Limited recalls Golden Maple Extra Lean Ground Chicken (454g; Best before FEB 15/13) and Erie Meat Extra Lean Ground Chicken (454g; Best before FEB 15/13), due to extraneous material contamination. The recalled products were sold nationally.
  • Food Safety Recall: Distagro (Division of Metro Inc.) and Sobeys Inc. recall Popchips Sea Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips (85g; Code 13MA08), due to extraneous material (metal) contamination. The recalled products were sold in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec by Distagro and in British Columbia and Ontario by Sobeys.
  • Food Recall: Pepsico Beverages Canada recalls Gatorade Perform G Thirst Quencher – Orange (6 x 591 mL; code 1221TT1), due to a labeling issue. The recalled products were sold in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Denmark): Beauvais Foods A/S recalls Beauvais Beef Stroganoff (560g tin cans; Produced 18-11-2011/Best before October 2016, produced 14-12-2012/Best before October 2016, and produced 21-03-2012/Best before January 2017) and Beauvais Luxury Cocktail Sausages with skins (420g cans; Produced 26th October 2011 and 25th November 2011; Best before October 2016), due to the presence of undeclared soy in the cocktail sausages that are present in both recalled products.
  • Outbreak Alert (Belgium): Nineteen cases of E. coli O157 illnesses are reported in Limbourg. Three people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). All 19 illnesses are linked to the consumption of filet américain, a raw meat dish that is similar to steak tartare. Initial test results on samples of the filet américain and of sirloin from which it was prepared revealed the presence of E. coli O157. The contaminated meat was traced back to the cow from which it originated and the remaining meat was seized and will be destroyed.
  • Food Safety Alert (Italy): The Ministry of Health has extended for another 12 months a prohibition against the sale of eels from Lake Garda, due to contamination concerns.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0788): Aflatoxins in peanut paste from Côte d’Ivoire; distributed to Belgium.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0789): Salmonella Othmarschen in cumin powder from the United Kingdom; distributed to Denmark.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0794): Atropine and scopolamine in buckwheat flour from Slovenia; distributed to Slovenia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0795): Salmonella enteritidis in broiler leg meat from Lithuania; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0796): Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning toxins in razor clams from the United Kingdom; distributed to Spain and the United Kingdom.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2012.0797): Salmonella Agona in soybean meal from Italy, via Switzerland; distributed to Austria.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2012.0798): Unauthorized 1,3-dimethylamylamine in food supplement from the USA, via the Netherlands; distributed to Finland and Sweden.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0799): Aflatoxins in spice mix from India; distributed to Ireland.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.0800): Undeclared soya in chocolate biscuits from Italy; distributed to Iceland.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2012.0801): Salmonella Agona in soybean meal from Italy; distributed to Austria.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.0802): Undeclared mustard in curry sauce powder from Germany; distributed to Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0803): Mold infestation in yoghurt from Germany; distributed to Finland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0804): Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning toxins in razor clams from the United Kingdom; distributed to Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0805): Listeria monocytogenes in smoked bacon from Poland; distributed to Poland and Sweden.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0806): Listeria monocytogenes in smoked halibut from France; distributed to France, Germany and Luxembourg.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0807): Campylobacter jejuni in whole fresh chicken from Germany; distributed to Denmark.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0810): Unauthorized phenylbutazone in horse meat from the United Kingdom; distributed to France and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0813): Pieces of wood in ice creams from the United Kingdom; distributed to Ireland and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0814): Parasitic infestation with Anisakis of Atlantic mackerel from France; distributed to Italy.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2012.0815): Salmonella Mbandaka in soy bean meal from Germany and Switzerland; distributed to Finland.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2012.0817): Salmonella Group E in rape cake from Germany; distributed to Denmark and Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0820): Excessive Escherichia coli in chilled oysters from France; distributed to Belgium and France.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0804): Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning toxins in razor clams from the United Kingdom; distributed to Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.
  • Outbreak Alert (Zimbabwe): A total of 4,185 suspected cases of typhoid fever have been identified in Harare between October 25, 2011 and May 2, 2012. Fifty-two of the suspected cases were confirmed by blood or stool culture. Forty-three percent of the victims were hospitalized, and two people died. The outbreak is thought to be due to contaminated municipal drinking water.
  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection has received six reports of bacillary dystentery so far this month (June 1-14, 2012). Five of the six cases were determined to have been caused by Shigella sonnei infections. All five victims lived in Tuen Mun; three were hospitalized.
  • Food Safety Alert (Japan): The health ministry has decided to ban restaurants from serving raw beef liver, due to food poisoning concerns, according to a report in The Yomiuri Shimbun. The ban will go into effect on July 1st. Restaurant operators who ignore the ban could be sentenced to up to two years in prison or fined up to 2 million yen.
  • Food Safety Alert (China): The Beijing Food Safety Administration has accused a Beijing Wal-Mart store of selling sesame oil and squid with dangerous amounts of cancer-causing chemicals, according to a BBC report.
  • Food Safety Alert (Taiwan): Forty-seven percent (47%) of dried daikon slivers used in rick dumplings contain excessive levels of benzoic acid (a preservative), based on tests conducted by the New Taipei City health authorities, according to a report in The China Post.

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: May 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

  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Apex Pet Foods recalls Apex Chicken and Rice Dog dry dog food (20-lb and 40-lb bags; Production code ACD0101B32; Best by date 24-Jan-2013), because the product, which was manufactured in Gaston, South Carolina for Apex by Diamond Pet Foods, may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product was distributed in South Carolina only.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Whole Foods Market advises its customers that Natural Balance Vegetarian Dog Food (5-lb bags; UPC 7 23633 80855 2; Lot code NBV1201; Best by Dec 9, 2012) has been recalled by Diamond Pet Foods and may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Canada

  • Outbreak Alert Update: According to CBC News, New Brunswick health officials have confirmed an outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 in 13 people in the province, including 11 confirmed cases in Miramichi and two in Bathurst. An additional eleven cases are still under investigation. Five people remain in hospital. The source of the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak is still undetermined.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Finland): HK Ruokatalo recalls HK Aitonakki/HK Real Sausage (500g and 850g packages; Best before 05/13/2012) due to the possible presence of undeclared cheese.
  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Metro – Makro recalls Horeca Select Darnes d’Espadon/Swordfish Steaks (1000g; Frozen; UPC 5 400151 041023; Lot #737302078370011; Expiry date 21/03/2013), due to an elevated level of heavy metals in the product.
  • Outbreak Alert (UK): A norovirus outbreak has been reported in four Plymouth hospital wards, including three wards at Derriford Hospital and one at Mount Gould. The four wards are closed to admissions due to the outbreak.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (China): Xinhua news agency reports that vegetable sellers in China have been caught spraying cabbages with a formaldehyde solution to keep them fresh in transit. The practice has become widespread in recent years. Formaldehyde is included in the list of illegal food additives published by China’s health ministry in 2008.
  • Chinese Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Hong Kong Medicine Manufactory recalls Germany Wintex Brand Herbal Sep Capsules, because the chromium level in the gelatin capsules is suspected to be in excess of the recommended 2ppm limit. Preliminary test results by the Government lab revealed a chromium level of 84ppm in a sample; more test results are pending.
  • Outbreak Alert (India): Two people are dead and 50 other hospitalized with symptoms of cholera in Kalamb town. Contaminated water is believed to be the source of the outbreak.
  • Outbreak Alert (Thailand): More than 8700 cases of diarrhea have been reported in Buriram Province during the first four months of 2012. Health officials are warning the public to eat cooked food, drink clean water and avoid food with swarming flies.
  • Outbreak Alert (India): Indore health officials report 318 confirmed cases of typhoid in the district between January 1st and April 28th, 2012.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert (Chile): Valparaiso health officials report an outbreak of food poisoning that affected 27 people at the Rosa Agustina Olmué resort. A potato salad (“potatoes with mayonnaise) is believed to be the source of the illnesses.
  • Outbreak Alert (Panama): More than 650 cases of diarrhea have been reported in Chiriqui province. Contaminated water is suspected to be the source.

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 16, 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: Dole Fresh Vegetables recalls DOLE® Seven Lettuces Salad (UPC 71430 01057; Product codes 0577N089112A and 0577N089112B; Use by date April 11, 2012) after New York State detected Salmonella in a random sample of the salad. The recalled product was sold in Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin, including in Price Chopper and the Kroger family of supermarkets (specifically, Kroger stores located in Greater Cincinnati, including Northern Kentucky, Dayton, OH and South Eastern Indiana, Central and Northwest Ohio and N. West Virginia panhandle, Indiana (except SW IN, -Evansville-), Illinois, Eastern Missouri, Michigan, Greater Louisville (including Indiana), Lexington, and Nashville, TN; Jay C, Dillons, Baker’s, Gerbes, Food4Less and FoodsCo stores).
  • Pet Food Safety Update: Diamond Pet Foods has suspended delivery of all products made at its Gaston, SC facility, according to WMBF News. The announcement came one week after the company recalled Diamond Natural Lamb Meal and Rice dry dog food due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Danish Supermarket recalls Sara Lee Pizzakit, includes pizza dough and tomato sauce (600g; Best before 10th May 2012), due to contamination with small plastic pieces.
  • Food Safety Alert (Italy): The Regione Autonoma Valle d’Aosta alerts consumers that Reblochon cheese was recalled in France by the producer, after Brucella was found in cattle in the region where the cheese was produced. While the recalled Reblochon cheese was not exported, travelers to France may have purchased the cheese and brought it back with them to Italy. This cheese should be discarded.
  • Food Safety Recall (Italy): DICO Italia Spa recalls Ultra-High Temperature part-skim milk produced by DE BY 723 EG Molkerei Gropper Gmbh (Expiry date 15.04.2012), because the milk may be implicated in a foodborne illness.
  • Food Safety Recalls (Germany): Several producers/distributors of shell eggs have recalled their eggs due to exposure to dioxin-like PCBs. In some cases, the levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs exceeded the allowable maximum levels.
  • Outbreak Alert (Russia): Outbreaks of gastroenteritis have been reported in children attending two kindergartens in Kaliningrad. In the last week, 209 residents of the city developed acute intestinal infections; more than half of the victims were children less than 14 years old.
  • Outbreak Alert (Ireland): Three hospital patients contracted Listeria infections while in hospital. The Listeria infection contributed to the death of one of the three patients – described by the hospital’s Director of Nursing as a “frail, elderly patient who had other illnesses.”
  • Outbreak Alert (UK): Fifty guests at a diamond wedding celebration in Wolverhampton at the end of March became infected with Norovirus. Investigations found that the virus did not originate either with the venue or with its caterers.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0536): Unauthorized formic acid in chilled white sour cabbage in salty brine from Poland; distributed to the Czech Republic.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2012.0537): Salmonella spp. in cotton seeds from Mozambique; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0538): Insect infestation in cheese burger from Germany; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0539): Parasitic infestation with Anisakis of chilled hake from Croatia; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0540): Dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in organic “bio” eggs from Germany; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0541): Brucella in raw cow milk cheese from France; distributed to France.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Alert (China): The State Food and Drug Administration has suspended the sale of 13 drugs that may have been made with capsules that contain industrial gelatin instead of edible gelatin. Industrial gelatin contains a higher concentration of chromium than edible gelatin.
  • Food Safety News (China): China’s State Food and Drug Administration will conduct a food safety review of primary and secondary schools and kindergartens across China to screen for safety hazards. The initiative was prompted by a recent string of food poisoning incidents in schools, including three outbreaks in Yunnan province schools since March.
  • Food Safety News (Abu Dhabi): The Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority logged a total of 472 food safety complaints in the first quarter of 2012. This is an increase of 153% over the same period last year.
  • Outbreak Alert (India): At least one man is dead and ten other people developed symptoms of food poisoning over the past three days in the Thousand Lights area of Chennai. One eatery and a guest house have been closed down, according to the Times of India.
  • Outbreak Alert (Zambia): The Times of Zambia reports 15 new cases of typhoid in the Kabwe District, making a total of 174 cases in the current outbreak.
  • Outbreak Alert (Ghana): The cholera death toll in Accra has risen to 19 people; 1,200 cases have been recorded in Ghana’s capital city. New cases of cholera also have been reported in the Eastern Region of the country.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Burmese Medicines Safety Alert (Australia): The Therapeutics Goods Administration and the governments of Queensland and of New South Wales warn consumers not to purchase or use Burmese traditional powders, often used for digestion and strength in babies. Samples of these powders, recently purchased in Sydney, have been found to contain dangerously high levels of arsenic.
  • Outbreak Alert (Australia): At least 36 out of more than 200 workers on a gas production platform have fallen victim to an outbreak of Salmonella gastroenteritis in the past two weeks. Workers are calling for their barge to be returned to port for decontamination. The outbreak is believed to have originated from the consumption of improperly prepared meat, according to a report in The Age.

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.