Category: Yersinia enterocolitica

Recalls and Alerts: September 20, 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

  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Insight Pharmaceuticals recalls Nostrilla 12-Hour Nasal Decongestant (Batch/Lot 11G075), due to the potential presence of a microbial contaminant that exceeds product specifications and may result in infection in individuals with a compromised immune system or those with chronic lung conditions.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns The Cherry Company, Ltd (Honolulu, HI) that a July 2011 inspection revealed a serious violation of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Paramount Muffins, LLC (Newark, NJ) that a May/June 2011 inspection of the company’s manufacturing facility revealed serious violations of FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Postres de Aqui, Inc. (San Juan, PR) that a March/April 2011 inspection of the company’s food product manufacturing facility revealed that the firm’s products are not labeled in accordance with the Food Labelling regulation.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Metro Ontario Inc. (Etobicoke, ON) recalls unwrapped, unlabeled cantaloupes sold from Food Basics, 2452 Sheppard Ave. E., North York, Ontario on September 12, 2011, because the cantaloupes may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (UK): Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd. recalls Sainsbury’s Freefrom Pure Oats, 450g (Best before July, August, and September 2012), after testing finds low levels of undeclared wheat gluten in some packets.
  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Delhaize Belgique recalls Delhaize brand Frozen Cocktail Shrimp (500g; 51/60 size; Product of China; Lot #1072365; Best before 23/05/2013), due to the presence of antibiotic residues in excess of permitted limits.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark); Jensen & Köppen ApS recalls United Parsley (120g; Lot 1209; Product of Italy), due to Salmonella contamination.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1271): Salmonella in paan leaves (betel) from India; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1272): Yersinia enterocolitica in chilled chicken wings from Germany; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1273): Listeria monocytogenes in smoked salmon from Germany; distributed to Austria.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1274): Salmonella in paan leaves from Bangladesh; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1276): Mercury in chilled swordfish from Malta; distributed to Malta.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1277): Nitrofuran in frozen shrimps from China; distributed to Belgium and Luxembourg.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1278): Erucic acid in lemon pickle from India; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1279): Mercury in chilled swordfish from Malta; distributed to Malta.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1282): Listeria monocytogenes in smoked salmon from Denmark, with raw material from Norway; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1283): Cadmium in dried shark fins from Vietnam; distributed to France.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2011.1284): Undeclared gluten, egg and wheat in beef stroganoff from France; distributed to Ireland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1285): Mold growth in, and altered organoleptic characteristics of, strawberry yoghurt from Germany; distributed to Austria and Germany.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Food Safety ordered the temporary closure of the fish portion of PARKnSHOP Superstore (Tsuen Wan, New Territories), after Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor serotype Ogawa was found in a water sample taken from a fish tank inside the shop.
  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating a suspected food poisoning outbreak involving 29 students and staff from a primary school in Sham Shui Po.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Australia): Analysis carried out by the Therapeutic Goods Administration has confirmed the presence of sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra) in Black Ant Capsules. This product has not been approved for sale in Australia, but can be purchased over the Internet.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Australia): Analysis carried out by the Therapeutic Goods Administration has confirmed the presence of sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra) in Qing Tian Zhu tablets. This product has not been approved for sale in Australia, but can be purchased over the Internet.

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: August 27, 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: Triple B Corporation (Anchorage, AK) recalls Signature Café Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad (12-oz plastic container; Use by 08/25/11 through 08/30/2011), because the individual packets of Caesar salad dressing contain undeclared egg. The recalled salads were distributed to Safeway stores in Alaska.
  • Allergy Alert: So Ono Food Products (Honolulu, HI) recalls Signature Café Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad (12-oz plastic container; Use by dates of 08/26/11 through 09/02/2011), because the individual packets of Caesar salad dressing contain undeclared egg. The recalled salads were distributed to Safeway stores in Hawaii.
  • Allergy Alert: Taylor Farms (Tracy, CA) recalls Taylor Farms Caesar Pasta Layered Salad with Chicken (7-oz pkgs; Sell by dates through Sept. 3, 2011), Signature Café Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad (12-oz. plastic tray; Sell by dates through Sept 3, 2011), and Signature Café Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Kits (6.25-lb cases) because the products contain undeclared egg. The recalled Signature Café salads kits were distributed nationwide; the 12-oz. Signature Café salads were distributed in California. The Taylor Farms Caesar pasta layered salads with chicken were distributed in Oregon, California and Washington.
  • Allergy Alert: Safeway recalls Signature Café Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad, supplied by Taylor Farms, So Ono Food Products, and Triple B Corporation, because the included packet of salad dressing contains undeclared egg. Please see the above allergy alerts for details on affected Use by dates. The recalled Signature Café Caesar Salads were sold at all Safeway and Safeway-owned stores, including Carrs, Dominicks, Genuardi’s Pak ‘N Save, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, and Vons. At least one illness has been reported.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: Sewickley Patch reports that the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Allegheny County Health Department are advising consumers and retailers to discard all ice cream purchased from Brunton Dairy in Independence Township, after Yersinia enterocolitica was recovered from an unopened container of the dairy’s ice cream. Sixteen cases of Yersinia enterocolitica have been linked to bottled milk and ice cream from the dairy, which suspended production the last week of July.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Scotian Isle Baked Goods recalls Scotian Isle, Remark Fresh Markets, and Sunripe brands of meat pies, due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled meat pies were distributed in Ontario. Please navigate to the recall notice for a detailed list of affected products.
  • Allergy Alert: Circle K Central Kitchen recalls Circle K brand sandwiches and subs (Best before 28AU11), due to the presence of undeclared egg. The recalled products were distributed in Newfoundland and Labrador.

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 12, 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 Update: Publix Supermarkets recalls Shell On Oysters harvested from Area 1642 in Apalachicola Bay, FL between March 21 and April 6th, because the raw oysters have been linked to eight confirmed and one possible case of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O75 infection (cholera).
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action: FDA seeks permanent injunction against American Mercantile Corp., Ingredients Corporation of America, and Damon S. Arney, owner and president of the companies. According to FDA’s complaint, the companies – which deal in a variety of products, including spices, herbs and sauces – and their owner “…violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by preparing, packing and holding food under insanitary conditions where it may have become contaminated with filth.”
  • Food Recall: Tri-City Cheese and Meats (Kawkawlin, MI) recalls Troll Smokehouse Kippered Beef Original Flavor (1-lb and 5-oz. pkgs; Sell by June 9, 2011 through Sept. 2, 2011) because the ingredient label does not mention sodium nitrate.
  • Water Contact Health Advisory (Oregon): The Oregon Department of Health has issued public health advisories were issued Thursday due to higher-than-normal levels of bacteria in ocean waters at Nye Beach in Lincoln County and Sunset Bay State Park Beach in Coos County.
  • Outbreak Alert (Michigan): An increase in the number of Norovirus illnesses has been reported across Kalamazoo County, with cases recorded in nursing homes, schools and in the community. Spring Arbor University postponed its commencement for one week and canceled all nonacademic activities after more than 170 students fell ill with norovirus or “norolike” virus.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Alimentarus Import Export Inc. (Montreal, QC) recalls Dar Al Assala brand Piment doux moulu (Mild ground paprika; Imported from Morocco; Lot code PD17-F278; Best before 05/10/2012). because the  product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product was sold to various retail stores in Quebec in 5-kg bags.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (UK): Lidl recalls St. Maarten Classic Belgian Cheese Slices (200g; Imported from Belgium; all date codes), because the cheese may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled cheese was manufactured by Belgomilk and is part of a larger recall.
  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Delhaize Belgique recalls Delhaize brand Nazareth Sliced Cheese (180g; all dates), Delhaize brand Belgo-Français Cheese Platter (400g; Best if used by dates prior to 18/04/2011 and 02/05/2011), Nazareth Brick Cheese (250g; all dates), and Brugge Kaas Cheese Platter (450g; Best if used before 13/04/2011) because the cheeses, which were produced by Belgomilk scrl, may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): The Colruyt Group recalls a number of Grimbergen, Affligem, Nazareth, Bruges d’Or and Kievit Light cheeses (all dates) produced by Belgomilk scrl, because the cheeses may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled cheeses were available for sale in Colruyt, Collivery, OKay and Spar stores.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall (Sweden): The National Food Administration warns consumers that the dietary supplement Redux Retinalin 500mg has been found to contain unacceptably high levels of the B vitamin, nicotinic acid. Several reports of adverse reactions have been received.
  • Outbreak Alert (Norway): Bagged salad mix containing radicchio rosso (Italian chicory) was flagged as the probable source of an outbreak of 21 cases of Yersinia enterocolitica O:9 illnesses between February and April 2011. The implicated DOLE brand salad mixes were recalled from the market by Bama.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2011.0623): Dioxins in complementary feed for calves from France; distributed to Switzerland.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2011.0624): Undeclared milk ingredient in vegetable product resembling Edam cheese from Belgium; distributed to Cyprus.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0626): Parasitic infestation with Anisakis of chilled catfish fillets from Iceland; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0627): Salmonella in cardamon seed from Guatemala; distributed to Sweden.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Alert (Philippines): The public is warned not to use glutathione IV as a skin whitening agent, as its use is unsafe and may result in serious health consequences, including kidney failure.
  • Outbreak Alert (Guam): A total of 274 school children – most of them from Marcial Sablan Elementary School in Agat – were either sent home or taken to hospital with symptoms of food poisoning after consuming breakfast at the school. Other affected schools were Harry S. Truman Elementary, Southern High, Oceanview Middle, and J.P. Torres Alternative School. The implicated meal consisted of an egg sandwich, milk and a slice of fresh melon, and was supplied by King’s Restaurant. A sample of the breakfast meal was taken for testing.
  • Outbreak Alert (India): A cholera outbreak has been reported from five villages in the Sonitpur district of Assam; 245 people have been diagnosed with the illness so far. Officials suspect contaminated water as the source of the outbreak.
  • Outbreak Alert (Singapore): An air-con maintenance technician has died of food poisoning a couple of days after eating fish ball noodles from a food stand near the Joo Koon MRT station.
  • Food Safety Labeling Infractions (PRC): Staff members of a Shanghai location of the Carrefour supermarket chain were found replacing changing production dates on meat to extend the apparent shelf life of the products. Separately, the Spanish-based supermarket chain, Dia, was found selling expired dairy 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.