Recalls and Alerts: October 26–27, 2023

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.

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TOXIC

From Factory To Food Bowl
PET FOOD IS A RISKY BUSINESS

Available from all major on-line retailers, including:

Enjoy the slideshow as you listen to a sample of TOXIC, narrated by the author.

“A complete and compelling account of the hidden and not-so-hidden ways the food we give our beloved pets can be contaminated.” – JoNel Aleccia, Health Reporter, Food & Nutrition, The Associated Press.

United States

Public Health Alert / Food Safety Recall: Future Seafoods, Inc. recalls all oysters from the harvest area PE9B harvested on 10/10/2023 and distributed to their customers from October 10th through October 16th, 2023 due to possible Salmonella and E. coli contamination.

Animal Feed Safety Recall: PURINA ANIMAL NUTRITION recalls Purina Bird Luvers Blend Wild Bird Food. A blend of Grains for Birds (40 lb; Lot 23191JSC; UPC 8 04273-01657 3) due to elevated aflatoxin.

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Canada

Allergy Alert: Les Produits Alimentaires Bouchard Inc. recalls Produits Alimentaires Bouchard brand Lac St-Jean Tourtiere (800g; Lot 276.23; Best before 23OC25; UPC 7 74048 00310 0) due to undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert: Boucherie J.C. Fortin inc. (Saint-Étienne-des-Grès, QC) recalls SAUCE A SPAGHETTI A LA VIANDE / Spaghetti meat sauce (All sizes and lots) due to undeclared sulphites, mustard, fish (anchovies) and soy.

Food Safety Recall: Marché D. Boutin St-Félicien inc. (Metro) (Saint-Félicien, QC) recalls La Boucanerie d’Henri brand Saumon fumé chaud artisanal / Artisanal hot-smoked salmon (Sold up to 25 October 2023) due to inadequate temperature control.

Food Safety Recall: Marché chez Mirlanda (Longueuil, QC) recalls Marinade Maison / Home-style marinade (All lots) due to risk of Clostridium botulinum growth.

Food Safety Recall: Poissonnerie Carleton (Carleton-sur-Mer, QC) recalls CHAUDRÉE DE FRUITS DE MER / Seafood chowder and CHAUDRÉE AU SAUMON FUME / Smoked salmon chowder (all lots) due to absence of mandatory storage temperature information on product labels.

Food Safety Recall: Industry recalls Various brands of caffeinated energy drinks due to caffeine content and labelling issues. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Boucherie J.C. Fortin inc. (Saint-Étienne-des-Grès, QC) recalls SAUCE A LA VIANDE DU PROPRIO / Meat sauce and SAUCE A SPAGHETTI A LA VIANDE / Spaghetti meat sauce (All sizes and lots) due to absence of mandatory storage temperature information on product labels.

Food Safety Recall: Les Fermes Valens inc. (Huntingdon, QC) recalls SALAMI GENOA (Best before 31.10.23) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

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Europe

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION (Norway): The Norwegian Institute of Public Health is investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Napoli that has infected seven individuals living in various parts of the country. The source of the outbreak has not yet been determined.

Allergy Alert (Finland): MeEat Food Tech Oy recalls MUU Nugget plant-based nuggets (200g; Use by 24.10.2023, 29.10.2023, 7.11.2023, 12.11.2023 & 19.11.2023) and MUU Nugget plant-based nuggets, frozen, wholesale (1 kg; Use by 26.6.2024 ja 15.8.2024) due to undeclared wheat (gluten).

Allergy Alert (Finland): Pouttu Oy recalls Pouttu Nopeat Rapeat Kanan fileepihvit / Quick crispy chicken fillet steaks (250g; Use by 26.10.2023 & 2.11.2023) and Pouttu Nopeat Rapeat Possun kinkkupihvit / Fast crispy pork ham steaks (250g; Use by 26.10.2023 & 2.11.2023) due to undeclared wheat (gluten).

Allergy Alert (France): LA VIE CLAIRE recalls COCKTAIL SPORTIF / Sport trail mix (Bulk; All lots sold since May 2023; Best before 31/12/ 2025) due to undeclared peanuts.

Allergy Alert (Ireland): Tesco recalls Tesco 20 Crispy Caramel Bites (20 pieces; All best-before dates up to and including 4 December 2023; Product of UK) due to undeclared egg.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Aldi recalls FLAT chips bolognese (250g; Best before 12-04-2024) due to undeclared mustard.

Allergy Alert (UK): Lidl GB recalls Deluxe Red Cabbage with Apple, Dried Cranberries & Spices (480g; All date and batch codes) due to inadequately declared milk.

Allergy Alert (UK): Tesco recalls Tesco 20 Crispy Caramel Bites (20 pieces; All best-before dates up to and including 4 December 2023) due to undeclared egg.

Food Safety Recall (Austria): Lieferanten Fischer Brot GmbH and HOFER KG recall ZURÜCK ZUM URSPRUNG Nur-Kornbrot geschnitten / Whole grain sliced bread (350g; Best before 03.11.2023) due to foreign matter contamination (hard plastic pieces).

Food Safety Recall (France): SCEA FERME DE LA PRAIRIE recalls La Ferme de la Prairie brand Faisselles, petits ronds frais, frais salés, frais cendrés, Selles sur Cher AOP, pyramides, bûches, bûchettes / Goat cheeses (Various formats and production dates) due to shiga toxin-producing E. coli contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (France): CELNAT recalls Celnat brand Graines de chanvre / Hemp seeds (250g; Lot 20523; Best before 24/10/2024) due to foreign matter contamination (small pieces of glass).

Food Safety Recall (France): CELNAT recalls Celnat brand Mix Graines Protéines / Protein seed mix (250g; Lot 24223; Best before 30/11/2024) due to foreign matter contamination (small pieces of glass).

Food Safety Recall (France): DANONE PRODUITS FRAIS FRANCE recalls ACTIVIA brand Activia Brassé Nature / Stirred unflavoured yoghurt (8 x 125g; Lot 09/11 278 B1X 10:40 à 12:25; Use by 09/11/2023) due to manufacturing defect.

Food Safety Recall (France): SOLMAR Super U Olemps recalls PATE CAMPAGNE ECHALOTTE / Country pâté with shallots (Lot 10:08 0227728000; Use by 29/11/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Hungary): METRO kereskedelmi Kft. recalls Morbier A.O.P sajt / cheese (~138 kg; Use by 2023.11.19 & 2023.11.12) due to E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): DANONE recalls ACTIVIA brand Activia Brassé Nature / Stirred unflavoured yoghurt (8 x 125g; Lot 09/11 278 B1X 10:40 à 12:25; Use by 09/11/2023) due to manufacturing defect.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Tempo Foods recalls Fresh Milk – Full cream (2 L; Use by 31/10/2023 & 02/11/2023) Fresh Milk – Light 2.5% (2 L; Use by 31/10/2023 & 02/11/2023) and Fresh Milk – Skim 0% (2L; Use by 31/10/2023) due to E. coli contamination.

TAINTED formats 3 — “Reads like a true crime novel” – Food Safety News

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Recalls and Alerts: October 24–25, 2023

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

TOXIC

From Factory To Food Bowl
PET FOOD IS A RISKY BUSINESS

Available from all major on-line retailers, including:

Enjoy the slideshow as you listen to a sample of TOXIC, narrated by the author.

United States

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: FDA and CDC are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Thompson illnesses linked to consumption of Gill Onions branded fresh diced onion products. Fifteen people have been hospitalized and 73 confirmed cases have been reported from twenty-two states. Please see the recall notice, below.

Food Safety Recall: Gills Onions recalls select lots of Gills Onions branded fresh diced onions products due to possible Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

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Canada

Allergy Alert: Lavergne Meat and Deli recalls Lavergne Meat and Deli brand Breakfast sausages (Variable weights; UPC 0 204407 008212; All codes between June 21 2023 and October 4 2023) and unbranded Breakfast sausages (pork & beef) (5 lbs & 10 lbs; All codes between June 21 2023 and October 4 2023) due to undeclared milk.

Food Safety Recall: Îlot bistro et marché (Grande-Rivière, QC) recalls Sauce Ragù (500 ml; Sold up to October 19, 2023) due to a risk of Clostridium botulinum growth.

Food Safety Recall: Lian Teng Produces Inc. recalls Lian Teng brand Champignon Énoki / Enoki mushrooms (200g; Code 692501; UPC 4 892742 010425) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

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Europe

Allergy Alert (Belgium): MIA TRADING INTL. SA recalls BRINDOLIVE brand CITRONS CONFITS / Candied lemons (All package sizes, lot codes and date codes) due to undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert (France): Industry recalls Due Vittorie brand Vinaigre balsamique de Modène IGP / Modena balsamic vinegar (250 ml; Best before 05/07/2027) due to undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert (France): SOCIETE AUBRET recalls Belle France brand Saucisson cuit à l’ail nature supérieur / Cooked garlic sausage (250g; Lot 7066591; Use by 05/12/2023) due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Udea recalls Vetara Groentebouillon navul / Vegetable stock refill (200g; Lot 174375; Best before 27-03-2025) due to undeclared celery.

Allergy Alert (Spain): Hero brand Only garden vegetables with chicken and rice 100% Eco. (190g; Lots L 138889SSF:001-1, L 138889SSF:002-1 & L 138889SSF:003-1; Expiration date 06.09.2025) contains undeclared celery.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): VDS FOOD SA ET VDS FOOD BXL SA recall VDS Food brand haché campagne préparé frais / Country-style fresh ground meat (±1 kg; Lot 17102023; Use by 24/10/2023), VDS Food brand haché de porc préparé frais / Fresh ground pork (±1 kg; Lot 17102023; Use by 24/10/2023), and VDS Food brand / haché mélange bœuf/porc preparé frais / Fresh mixed ground beef and pork (± 1 kg, Lots 17102023 & 19102023; Use by 24/10/2023) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Euro Délices Distribution recalls Ambrosi brand Gorgonzola DOP BIO / Organic Gorgonzola cheese (170g; Lot 194ARR; Use by 09/12/2023) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Finland): Lidl recalls Alesto brand roasted, peeled and salted pistachios (70g; Batch ID 30035 230825001; Best before 21 May 2024) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): BONNETERRE ET COMPAGNIE recalls Bonneterre brand Gorgonzola A.O.P. cheese (150g; Use by 26/11/2023, 03/12/2023 & 09/12/2023) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): DE ROCHE ROUSSE recalls Ferme de Roche rousse brand Bleu du Vercors Sassenage cheese (Lot 23/09; Best before 23/11/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): CRUSTA C recalls Crevettes cuites réfrigérées sauvages sous atmosphère / Refrigerated, cooked wild shrimp (2 kg; Lots 9232860051, 9232890117, 9232900080, 9232920079, 9232930058; Use by dates between 23/10/2023 and 30/10/2023) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Iceland): Costco Copenhagen recalls Candia brand Just Milk Skimmed (Batch nos. 23221 & 23237; Best before 5.2.2024 & 21.2.2024; Product of France) and Candia brand Just Milk Semi Skimmed (Batch nos. 23209, 23210 & 23220; Best before 24.1.2024, 25.1.2024 & 4.2.2024; Product of France) due to product quality issues.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Candia recalls SILHOUETTE brand Lait écrémé / skimmed milk and Viva brand Lait 1%MG / 1% part-skimmed milk ((1L and 6 x 1L; Lots 23198 to 23249; Best before dates from 21/11/2023 to 17/05/2024) due to product quality issues.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Auchan recalls Crevettes cuites calibre 8/10 / Cooked shrimp (Sold from 14/10/23 to 23/10/23) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Spain): Industrias Cárnicas recalls various Industrias Cárnicas Sierra Nevada SL. brand meat products due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.oo

Food Safety Recall (Sweden): Lidl Sverige recalls Matriket brand Lingonbröd, Linfröbröd och Fullkornsbröd / Lingonberry bread, Linseed bread, and Whole Grain bread (500g, 550g & 700g, respectively; Best before 10/31/2023) due to foreign matter contamination (pieces of plastic).

Food Safety Recall (Sweden): Axfood recalls Garant Grovt bröd Lingon, Garant Grovt bröd Vital and Garant Fullkornsgott osötat / Coarse Lingon bread, Coarse Vital bread and Whole grain unsweetened bread (500g, 500g & 700g, respectively; Best before 31.10.2023) due to foreign matter contamination (pieces of plastic).

Food Safety Recall (UK): Sainsbury’s recalls Taste the Difference Spanish Chorizo Iberico Ring (200g; All Use-by dates from 23 November 2023 up to and including 16 January 2024) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (New Zealand): Fat Kiwi Café Ltd recalls Fat Kiwi Cafe brand Chicken Stroganoff (Batch markings 129, 115, 102, 89, 65, 48, 32, 20 & 8) due to undeclared fish.

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations?

Click on the link to listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.

Chapter 6. Birth of a Pathogen

TAINTED is available in digital format from all major on-line retailers. Press the button to go directly to your preferred digital bookstore.

Amazon

Apple

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Smashwords

Chapters/Indigo

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Pre-cooked lobster with a side order of Listeria

Greenhead Lobster Products LLC‘s (Greenhead) ready-to-eat (RTE) seafood processing facility in Bucksport, Maine, suffers from a chronic environmental contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, according to information extracted from US Food and Drug Administration’s website.

The persistent presence of the pathogen in the production environment has been known to the company and the FDA for at least the last two years.

First inspection: 2020

The FDA first visited the Bucksport facility in December 2020, issuing a list of adverse Inspectional Observations (FDA Form 483) upon completion of the inspection.

According to the agency’s inspection citations database, the FDA investigators cited four violations, including:

Failure to implement the monitoring procedures listed in the company’s HACCP plan;
Failure of the HACCP plan to list the food safety hazards that are reasonably likely to occur;
Failure to monitor the sanitation conditions and practices with sufficient frequency to assure conformance with Current Good Manufacturing Practices including prevention of cross-contamination from insanitary objects; and
A corrective action plan not in accordance with regulatory requirements to ensure that a potentially hazardous product is not entered into commerce.

Second inspection: 2021

After giving Greenhead a grace period of several months to bring its food safety programs into compliance, the FDA performed a follow-up inspection in September-October 2021.

During the 2021 inspection, FDA investigators conducted extensive environmental sampling of the facilities production areas, including food-contact surfaces, and found Listeria monocytogenes in a floor drain.

Upon reviewing the company’s environmental monitoring records, the agency noted the presence of thirteen (13) recurring L. monocytogenes positive swabs between May 2021 and August 2021 from the RTE (ready-to-eat) processing room, including eleven (11) swabs collected from food-contact surfaces.

Although the company’s records indicated that the relevant areas were cleaned and sanitized following each positive finding, Greenhead did not conduct any root cause analysis to establish and eliminate the source or sources of the contamination.

Recall #1

On October 2, 2021, while the FDA inspection was still in progress, Greenhead initiated a voluntary product recall, encompassing 5,749 lbs. of frozen cooked lobster meat. The recall cited a “…potential for contamination … noted after a routine sampling program by the company revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.”

Once again, the FDA issued a Form 483 upon completion of the inspection, this time classifying the situation as “Official Action Indicated.”

Warning Letter

On January 24, 2022, after exchanges of communcations regarding the company’s plans for correcting the various deviations, the FDA issued a formal Warning Letter, giving Greenhead a deadline to respond to all outstanding issues.

The Warning Letter reiterated the list of observations included in the Form 483, providing examples to support each item. These included:

Ongoing serious concerns with the company’s HACCP plan
Ongoing concerns about the company’s inability to control Listeria monocytogenes in the production environment
Significant deviations from requirements of the Seafood HACCP plan
Insufficient monitoring of sanitation conditions and practices during processing
Inadequate control of the hazard of Clostridium botulinum in high pressure processed (HPP) lobster products.

Third inspection: 2022

In July 2022, the FDA returned to Bucksport yet again to follow up on Greenhead’s response to the Warning Letter.

And yet again, the company’s performance was found wanting.

The Form 483 issued upon completion of the July 2022 inspection listed four main concerns:

Greenhead’s HACCP plan did not list the food safety hazards that were reasonably likely to occur
The HACCP plan listed a critical limit that failed to ensure control of one or more hazards
The company did not take corrective action to prevent potentially hazardous product from entering into commerce, and did not correct the cause of the deviation
The company was not monitoring sanitation conditions and practices with sufficient frequency to ensure compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices.

At the close of inspection, company management agreed to make the necessary corrections and the FDA classified the results of the inspection as “Voluntary Action Indicated.”

Fourth inspection: 2023?

Recall #2

Just over one year later, on October 20, 2023, Greenhead announced another voluntary product recall, this time encompassing “…all frozen and refrigerated cooked lobster meat products produced from May 9, 2023, through October 19, 2023.”

The reason given for the recall was the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the production environment.

Although the environment was contaminated, the pathogen was not found in finished products, and there were no illnesses associated with the recalled products.

The recall encompassed eleven ready-to-eat, refrigerated or frozen lobster products. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of affected products.

The recall notice made no reference to the FDA. Nor has the FDA posted information on a 2023 inspection in its Inspection Citations database.

Nevertheless, past experience suggests that another follow-up inspection is either still in progress or has been completed recently.

What next for Greenhead Lobster Products?

Although constituted as a regulatory agency, the FDA has a history and a philosophy of giving the food companies it regulates multiple chances to self-correct.

Sometimes, this works well. Other times, it does not.

Greenhead has now been inspected on at least three (and possibly four) separate occasions, and its HACCP and sanitation programs were found wanting each time.

The FDA has the power to demand compliance (via a Warning Letter), to mandate recalls (when circumstances demand), and even to shut down a facility by suspending its registration.

Except for the issuance of a Warning Letter, the agency rarely makes use of these regulatory powers.

Will Greenhead prove to be one of those rare occasions, or will the FDA sit on its hands until one or more illnesses are linked to the company’s products?

Stay tuned.

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations?

Click on the link to listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.

Chapter 6. Birth of a Pathogen