Recalls and Alerts: December 20-21, 2022

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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Chapter 6. Birth of a Pathogen

United States

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE: CDC reports 298 confirmed cases of Norovirus gastroenteritis linked to consumption of raw oysters from a single growing zone in Galveston Bay, Texas. Outbreak cases have been reported in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

Allergy Alert: Falcon Import and Export LLC recalls Alsultan Sweets branded Baklava (350g & 750g; Expiration dates 02/04/2023 & 01/19/2023, respectively) due to undeclared milk and wheat and recalls Alsultan Sweets branded Betefour (600g; Expiration date 02/04/2023) due to undeclared cashews, pistachios, and almonds.

Allergy Alert: Miso Brothers, Inc. dba Alpha Foods recalls various Meatless Breakfast Sandwiches and Burritos due to undeclared casein (milk protein). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products. The recalled products were distributed nationally throughout retail stores and shipped directly to consumers who purchased our products online.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Venetian Meat & Salami Co. Ltd. recalls Venetian Meats brand Finocchiona Salami Sweet Fennel (2 kg; Lot 242; Expiration date 2023.AU.09) due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recalled product was sold in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario.

Europe

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE (Norway, Netherlands and Sweden): Norway’s Institute of Public Health reports 72 confirmed cases of Salmonella Agona infections across the country. Twenty-four of the outbreak victims have been hospitalized. Sweden is reporting 31 cases that are part of the same outbreak and also advises that additional outbreak cases have been identified in the Netherlands. Based on patient interviews, the likely source of the outbreak appears to be cucumbers from a Spanish supplier. The implicated product is no longer available on the market.

Allergy Alert (Belgium): BMS Wijndepot recalls épice poisson / fish spice (50g; Lot 11682; Best before 06/2023) due to undeclared mustard.

Allergy Alert (Belgium): BMS Champetterke recalls Cocktail Spotvogel (Lots 221036, 221041, 221045, 222001, 222006, 222015, 222019, 222025, 222029, 222033, 222044, 222045, 222048, 222050) due to undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert (France): SOCIETE COOPERATIVE APPROVISIONNEMENT – SCAPMAREE LECLERC recalls PREMIER brand LANGOUSTINES CUITES / Cooked Langoustines (Lot 235351; Use by 26/12/2022) due to undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert (France): LDC SABLE LDC recalls SAVEURS FORESTIERES brand Cuissot de chevreuil avec crosse mariné / Venison leg with marinated butt (Lot 0092035081; Use by 24/12/2022 & 25/12/2022) due to undeclared gluten and lactose.

Allergy Alert (France): TOTOLA DeNeuville recalls DeNeuville brand PATE DE FRUITS MINI-PASTILLES ACIDULES / Sour fruit pastilles (175g & 320g; Lot 22828) due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert (France): BJORG ET COMPAGNIE recalls Bjorg brand Croustillant chocolat bio / Organic chocolate crisps (500g; Lot A1 12/10 15:29 up to A1 12/10 16:15; Best before 13/07/2023) due to undeclared almonds.

Allergy Alert (UK): Ella’s Kitchen recalls Ella’s Kitchen Banana Multigrain Baby Rice (125g; Batch code 27922; Best before 05 October 2023 and 06 October 2023) due to undeclared oats (gluten).

Food Safety Recall (Austria): Ardo Austria Frost GmbH recalls Nature’s Gold Letscho (500g; Best before 01.2024) due to foreign matter contamination (hard plastic pieces).

Food Safety Recall (Austria): Almondy recalls Almondy DAIM Mandeltorte Schoko-Krokant / Almond Cake with Daim (400g; Best before 18.11.2023) due to possible foreign matter contamination (metal).

Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Coop Danmark A/S recalls laksesalat med havreris / salmon salad with oatmeal (350g; All Use by dates from 20.12.2022 up to and including 26.12.2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Finland): IKEA recalls Almondy Almond cake with Daim (400g; Lot L2140; Best before 18.11.2023) due to possible foreign matter contamination (metal).

Food Safety Recall (France): LIDL recalls Deluxe brand Homard Américain précuit / Whole cooked lobster (350g; Best before 17/08/2024, 24/08/2024 & 25/08/2024) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SA ALFA INTERMARCHE recalls Steak Haché à la demande / Chopped steak (Lots 2247382594 & 2245378457) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): LA FERME D’ESTELLE recalls Ferme d’Estelle brand Jambon blanc à la coupe / White ham by the slice (Produced 01/12/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): THIRIEZ AGRO recalls Thiriez Selection brand Thon Fumé Entier / Smoked tuna (500g; Lots 22110409 & 22112509; Use by 03/01/2023 & 24/01/2023, respectively) and Thiriez Selection brand Thon Fumé Tranché / Sliced smoked tuna (100g; Lots 22112509 & 22110409; Use by 09/01/2023 & 19/12/2022, respectively) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Almondy AB recalls Almondy Almond cake with Daim (400g; Lot L2140; Best before 18.11.2023) due to possible foreign matter contamination (metal).

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Lobetaler Bio-Molkerei recalls Qurt Vanille / Vanilla quark (200g; Best before 03.01.2023) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Iceland): Stjörnugrís recalls Grísahakk / Minced pork (Best before 24.12.2022 – 28.12.2022) due to foreign matter contamination (bone chips).

Food Safety Recall (Italy): E.Ga. S.r.l. recalls Il Tagliere del Re brand Salame Milano (350g; Lot L22D259; Best before 17/01/2023) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Birds Eye recalls Birds Eye Original 4 Beef Quarter Pounders with Onion (454g; Batch code L2343DB124; Best before March 2024) due to possible foreign matter contamination (small pieces of plastic).

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Allergy Alert (Israel): Motishef Ltd. recalls SHEMO brand Pesto spread (180g; All Use by dates up to and including 07/23/16) due to undeclared walnuts.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (Australia): Catalano’s Seafood Pty Ltd recalls Fresca Fish Co Spicy Sriracha Tempura Prawns (375g; Best before 08/03/2024) due to undeclared soy and gluten.

Allergy Alert (Australia): Future Bake Australia PTY LTD recalls Future Bake Plant Based & Gluten Free White Choc & Berry Cookie (Best before 26/07/2023) due to undeclared milk.

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Purely Natural Yoghurt recalls The Yoghurt Shop Caramel Crumble Yoghurt (190g; Best before 23/01/23) due to E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Australia): IKEA Pty Ltd recalls Almondy Almond Cake with Daim (400g; Best before 18.11.2023) due to possible foreign matter contamination (metal).

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Publicize inspection scores to reduce foodborne outbreaks – Opinion

Jurisdictions that require restaurants to post their inspection scores experience fewer foodborne disease outbreaks than those that do not.

This conclusion is the result of a pair of recent studies funded by the US Centers Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA).

Point-of-service vs. online disclosure

A survey of 790 government-run state and local food establishment inspection programs conducted in January-April 2000 found that mandatory display of inspection grades by restaurants and other food establishments was more effective than simple online disclosure.

15% fewer re-inspections
38% fewer illness complaints
55% fewer outbreaks
12% fewer Salmonella cases

Grading systems improved food safety

The survey also compared agencies that used a grading method versus those that did not. Grading the results of inspections, whether by a letter or numerical system, made a significant difference to performance.

37% fewer re-inspections
22% fewer complaints
61% fewer outbreaks
23% fewer cases of Salmonella

Knowledge is power

If you were offered the choice between two restaurants, one with a prominently posted “A” inspection grade and the other with an equally visible “B” or “C” grade, which would you choose?

If those grades were available only online at a local or state/provincial government website, would you bother to check?

Would you even know to look for the information?

Making the results of food safety inspections available AND VISIBLE puts power into the hands of consumers.

This, in turn, gives greater incentive to food establishments to maintain a top food safety rating.

The numbers don’t lie.

Applying the lessons

The US Food and Drug Administration conducts hundreds of inspections each year and has made a searchable inspection database available to the public on its website.

The CDC inspects all cruise ships that call at US ports and posts the results of those inspections on its website.

How many consumers even know that this information is available, much less know how to access it?

If cruise lines were required to post the results of their latest inspections on their websites, consumers could easily choose to avoid ships and/or cruise lines with a poor sanitation history.

Similarly, if food manufacturers were required to disclose the grade received on their most recent inspection, consumers could use that information when deciding which brand of product to buy.

Putting this information into the hands of consumers would put pressure on cruise lines and food manufacturers to strive for and maintain a high standard of cleanliness and food safety.

The bottom line

I have encountered complaints from individuals in the food industry who claimed that a recall notice posted on the FDA web site affected their company’s reputation and sales.

Some companies (I can think of two pet food companies in particular) even sued the FDA to prevent the release of a recall notice or a public alert about a contaminated food, claiming that such publicity had a negative affect on their sales in the past.

People care about the safety of the food they eat and the food they feed their families. But consumers must have easy access to current and accurate information in order to make informed decisions.

I look forward to the day when all government agencies responsible for overseeing food safety mandate point-of-service and point-of-sale disclosure of inspection results.

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Recalls and Alerts: December 17-19, 2022

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Chapter 6. Birth of a Pathogen

United States

OUTBREAK ALERT & RECALL (Horses – botulism): Manzanola Feeds recalls Top of the Rockies Alfalfa Cubes (~1-inch cubes) (50 lb bags; Lot codes 111222, 111322, 111422, 111522 and 111622) due to potential Clostridium botulinum contamination. There have been 45 horse deaths associated with this issue to date. The recalled product was distributed in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin, and may also have been distributed in other states.

Public Health Alert: FDA advises restaurants and retailers not to serve or sell and consumers not to eat product labeled as Sun Hong Foods, Inc. Enoki Mushrooms Sourced from China due to possible Listeria contamination.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Miso Brothers, Inc. dba Alpha Foods recalls alpha brand Plant-Based Breakfast Sandwich – Meatless Sausage (156g; Lot 020722MSS; Expiry date 02/07/2024; UPC 8 10070 35037 6) due to undeclared milk. The recalled product was sold nationwide.

Allergy Alert: Power Life Nutrition recalls Power Life by Tony Horton brand High Impact Plant Protein Chocolate Flavor (445g (15.7 oz); Lot #0914922; UPC 8 50010 86301 6) due to undeclared milk. The recalled product was sold online.

Allergy Alert: Gaspor (Saint-Jérôme, QC) recalls FEUILLETÉ D’EFFILOCHÉ DE PORCELET / Pulled piglet puff pastry (820g; Lots 4458.00, 4478.00, 4492.00 & 4510.00; Sold up to 16 December 2022) due to undeclared milk.

Food Safety Recall: Jan K. Overweel Limited recalls Igor brand Gorgonzola Dolce cheese (Lots 2774015 & 2775033; Best before 23/FE/01) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled product was sold British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories.

Europe

Allergy Alert (France): LES BIOLONISTES recalls ibo! brand Sève de fleur de cocotier cristallisée non raffinée dit “Sucre de coco” biologique / Unrefined crystallized coconut blossom sap called organic “coconut sugar” (250g; Lots 040-22-1 & 138-22-10) due to undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert (France): ARCHI’V recalls archiv brand Vinaigre de cidre avec sa mère / Apple cider vinegar with its mother (200 ml and 500 ml; Lot #31) due to undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert (France): NOVANDIE recalls Bonne Maman brand Riz au lait Vanille / Vanilla rice pudding (8 x 100g; Lot 08/01; Use by 08/01/2023) due to undeclared eggs and gluten.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): FIERS J&B NV recalls Fiers brand Filet américain de bœuf / Ground beef (variable weights; Lots 62171, 62187, 62076, 62303, 62279, 62372, 62431 & 62383; Use by 19/12/22, 20/12/22 & 21/12/22) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Albert Heijn recalls AH Speciaal Bakkersbrood Stevig Spelt / Spelt bread (whole and half loaves; Best before 16/12/2022) due to foreign matter contamination (small pieces of metal).

Food Safety Recall (France): CARREFOUR FRANCE recalls EXTRA CARREFOUR brand JAMBON CUIT SUPERIEUR AVEC COUENNE / Superior cooked ham with rind (2 slices – 80g; Lot 1127870; Use by 02/01/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): LES FERMIERS DE L’ARDECHE recalls Le Gaulois Professionnel brand CHAPON S/OS A/P S/ V / Sliced boneless capon (2.5 kg; Lot 0362011368; Use by 14/12/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): LES FERMIERS DE L’ARDECHE recalls Le Gaulois Professionnel brand CHAPON S/OS A/P 50-70 S/V / Sliced boneless capon (2.5 kg; Lot 0362011538; Use by 14/12/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): LES FERMIERS DE L’ARDECHE recalls Le Gaulois Professionnel brand SAUTE CHAPON 40-60 S/ V NC (2.5 kg; Lots 0362011291 & 0362011368; Use by 10/12/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): LES FERMIERS DE L’ARDECHE recalls Découpe de chapon brand CUISSES CHAPON 450-550 / Capon legs (4-pack; Lots 0362011290 & 0362011369; Use by 13/12/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): LES FERMIERS DE L’ARDECHE recalls Découpe de chapon brand Cuisses de chapon S/V x2 Halal / Halal Capon legs (2-pack; Lot 0362011290; Use by 13/12/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): LES FERMIERS DE L’ARDECHE recalls Cuisses de chapon nu / Unpackaged (bulk) capon legs (Lot 0362011292; Use by 08/12/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): AUCHAN RETAIL SERVICES AUCHAN recalls AUCHAN brand JAMBON SUPERIEUR DECOUENNE DEGRAISSE / Superior ham, rindless and defatted (4 slices; Lot 1129104; Use by 31/12/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Anklamer Fleisch- und Wurstwaren GmbH recalls Anklamer Meisterqualität Filetwurst / Filet sausage (100g; Lot #330825112201716; Best before 20.12.2022 to 27.12.2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): dennree recalls dennree Pfeffer, schwarz, ganz / Whole black peppercorns (65g; Best before 25.10.2025 and 08.11.2025) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Norway): EDELGARD AS recalls RIBBERULL SKIVET / Rib roll disc (80g; Batch #22481; Use by 07.01.2023) due to Listeria contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Norway): EDELGARD AS recalls SYLTE HÅNDLAGT SKIVET / Pickled hand-cut slice (100g; Batch #22434; Use by 15.01.2023) due to Listeria contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Sweden): Almondy recalls Almondy Mandeltårta / Almond cake (400g; Lot L2140; Best before 18.11.2023; Sold at IKEA stores) due to possible foreign matter contamination (piece of metal).

Food Safety Recall (UK): Almondy AB recalls Almondy Almond cake with Daim (400g; Lot L2140; Best before 18 November 2023) due to possible foreign matter contamination (piece of metal). The recalled product was sold in IKEA stores.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Allergy Alert (Hong Kong): Vendor recalls NATURE brand Square Bamboo Shoot (500g; Best before September 1, 2023; Sourced from China) due to undeclared sulphur dioxide.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Coles Supermarkets recalls multiple Coles spinach products due to potential contamination with unsafe plant material. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.