The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) are alerting consumers to potential Salmonella contamination in certain batches of Kinder Surprise chocolates, according to a joint news release by the two agencies.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), in cooperation with partners in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, have documented an unspecified number of Salmonella cases across the UK that appear to be associated with the novelty item.
A number of the reported cases are in young children, according to the FSA.
Ferrero has recalled Kinder Surprise 20g and Kinder Surprise 20g x3 with best before dates between 11th July 2022 and 7th October 2022.
The recalled products were manufactured in a single factory in Belgium and were distributed in the UK and in the Republic of Ireland.
A Kinder Surprise consists of a hollow milk-chocolate egg surrounding a plastic capsule, which contains a small toy.
The FSA is advising consumers not to eat any of the products listed in the FSA alert, and urges parents and guardians of children to check if any products already in their home are affected by this recall.
The UKHSA offers the following advice to the public:
“Symptoms of salmonellosis typically resolve themselves within a few days. However, symptoms can be more severe, especially in young children and those with weakened immune systems. Anybody with concerns that they have symptoms of salmonellosis should contact their GP or call NHS 111. Salmonella can be spread from person to person, so anyone affected should adhere to good hygiene practice such as washing hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and avoiding handling food for others where possible, if you have symptoms.”
You can find additional background information on a prior Salmonella outbreak associated with chocolate novelty products in Chapter 15 of TAINTED. From Farm Gate to Dinner Plate, Fifty Years of Food Safety Failures. Order the digital or audiobook editions from your favorite on-line retailer, or purchase the paperback or hardcover edition from Amazon.
“Reads like a true crime novel” – Food Safety News
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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Allergy Alert: Giant Eagle, Inc. recalls Happy Face Cookies (Pack of 4; sell by dates through 04/01/22) due to undeclared milk. The recalled cookies were sold in two Ohio Giant Eagle supermarkets in Geneva and Ashtabula.
Food Safety Alert: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is advising consumers to avoid purchasing or eating Ocean Mist Farms brand Romaine Hearts / Coeurs de laitue Romaine (22oz; Lot 22RHDM2L; Harvest date MAR 10; grown in Coachella, CA; sourced from Ocean Mist Farms of Castroville, CA) due to Cyclospora contamination.
Canada
OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: The Public Health Agency of Canada is investigating an outbreak of 279 cases of norovirus and gastrointestinal illness linked to the consumption of oysters from British Columbia. Cases have been reported in B.C. (262), Alberta (1), Saskatchewan (1), and Ontario (15). This investigation has led to multiple recalls of oysters. See the most recent recall notice, below.
Food Safety Recall: Daily Fresh Shellfish Inc. recalls certain Daily Fresh Shellfish Inc. brand Oysters due to possible Norovirus contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products. These oysters may be linked to an outbreak of foodborne disease.
Food Safety Recall: Gastronomia Roberto recalls ARRABIATA SAUCE TOMATE PIQUANTE / Spicy tomato sauce (1 L; Sold up to 31 March 2022) due to potential food safety hazard.
Europe
Allergy Alert (Belgium): Carrefour recalls Carrefour brand SAUCE AMERICAINE (300 ml; Lot DE 22 BNP; Best before 14/02/2023) due to undeclared celery.
Allergy Alert (Belgium): Tayaba group /AYAM FOOD recalls AL Hussein brand Boulgour fin rouge / Fine red bulgur (800g carton; Best before 31/10/2020) due to undeclared wheat.
Allergy Alert (Belgium): AFSCA orders recall of Xoai Say Deo – Dried Mango (Lot TO8D21; Best before 30/11/2022) due to undeclared sulphites.
Allergy Alert (Belgium): GELATERIA JOHN JOHN recalls John John brand Glace Cookies / Cookie ice cream (480 ml; All lot and date codes) due to undeclared eggs and hazelnuts.
Allergy Alert (Germany): WSF Fischfeinkost GmbH recalls NADLER Garnelen Salat mit Cocktail-Creme / Shrimp salad with cocktail cream (125g; Lot #L443; Best before 22.04.2022) due to undeclared shrimp, cream, sodium metabisulphite, fish, soy, celery, sesame and gluten.
Allergy Alert (Ireland): FSAI reports that Xoài Sấy Dẻo Dried Mango (75g; Batch code TO8D21; Best before 30/11/2022) contains undeclared sulphites.
Allergy Alert (Italy): Laboratoire PYC SAS recalls TISANOREICA GIANLUCA MECH brand Preparato alimentare tipo zuppa al gusto verdure / Vegetable flavoured soup (4 x 34g; Lot 21S3-03388; Best before 01/2024) due to undeclared milk.
Allergy Alert (Italy): Laboratoire PYC SAS recalls TISANOREICA GIANLUCA MECH brand KIT INTENSIVA, ContenetePreparato alimentare tipo zuppa al gusto verdure / Vegetable flavoured soupkit (4 x 34g; Lot 220207; Best before 06/2023) due to undeclared milk.
Allergy Alert (Italy): Laboratoire PYC SAS recalls TISANOREICA GIANLUCA MECH brand KIT INTENSIVA, ContenetePreparato alimentare tipo zuppa al gusto verdure / Vegetable flavoured soupkit (4 x 34g; Lot 220214, 220221; Best before 10/2023) due to undeclared milk.
Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Albert Heijn recalls AH Excellent paastartelettes / Easter Tartlettes (Best before 07-04-2022) due to undeclared almonds and pistachios.
Food Safety Recall (Belgium): La Ferme Champignol recalls three dairy products due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
Food Safety Recall (Belgium): TADAL recalls Kerem brand Figues séchées / Dried figs (250g; Lot 21003123; Best before 25/11/2022) due to ochratoxin contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Products and Brands Group recalls Organix Cheese & Onion Dragon Claws Chips (60g / 4 x 15g; Lot L1403; Best before 06/06/2022) due to possible mycotoxin contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Germany): Fa. Kosebate GmbH recalls Alburj – Halva mit extra Pistazien / Halvah with extra pistachios and Alburj – Halva mit Pistazien / Halvah with pistachios (400g & 800g; Production dates 01.01.2021-31.03.2022) due to Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Centra recalls Centra Hot Smoked BBQ Salmon (200g; Use by 01/04/2022; Product of Norway) because the packages contain raw salmon darnes, which require cooking.
Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Products and Brands Group recalls Organix Cheese & Onion Dragon Claws Chips (60g / 4 x 15g; Lot L1403; Best before 06/06/2022) due to possible mycotoxin contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Skopos recalls AB (Alfa-Beta) brand Manouri Grecque AOP Cheese (200g; Best before 03/06/2022) due to shigatoxin producing E. coli contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Spain): Manufacturer recalls Vicente Lopez PIG’S HEAD I – COOKED AND FRIED PORK MEAT (200g; Batch nos. 22501 and 22502; Expiry date April 15, 2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (UK): Village Quality Products recalls Al Burj Halwa Pistachio (400g & 800g; Production date 07 February 2021) due to Salmonella contamination.
Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
Allergy Alert Update (Israel): Holy Cocoa expands earlier recall to include additional products due to undeclared milk. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
Australia and New Zealand
Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): George Weston Foods (NZ) Ltd recalls Ploughmans Bakery brand Country Grains Bread (750g; Best before 02APR22 and 03APR22) due to foreign matter contamination (plastic).
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified five different strains of Cronobacter sakazakiiin environmental samples collected during an inspection of Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis, Michigan production plant.
In a March 31, 2022, update to its outbreak investigation report, the FDA stated that four of the strains were recovered from samples taken by the agency’s team of inspectors. The fifth strain was from a sample collected by the firm.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has completed a whole genome sequencing (WGS) of the Cronobacter sakazakii cultures obtained from two of the four infected infants.
Neither of the clinical cultures matched any of the five strains found in Abbott’s production environment.
Outbreak and recall
The FDA’s investigation of Abbott’s manufacturing facility was triggered by four reports of infants who had become infected with Cronobacter sakazakii after having been fed a powdered infant formula manufactured by Abbott Nutrition.
The first report was received by the FDA on September 6, 2021. The most recent illness began on January 4, 2022.
Two of the four infected infants have died.
According to the FDA, Cronobacter sakazakii infection “may have contributed” to their deaths.
Cronobacter sakazakii is a cause of necrotizing enterocolitis and meningitis in newborns, and is often fatal. In older babies, children and adults, this opportunistic pathogen can cause respiratory infections and sepsis.
Symptoms in newborns include fever, rapid heart rate, seizures and other neurological abnormalities.
The investigation
The FDA’s in-depth inspection of the Abbott’s manufacturing plant began on January 31, 2022 and was completed on March 18th.
The Inspectional Observations report (FDA Form 483) issued at the end of the inspection listed eight pages of infractions and deficiencies.
One of the most serious observations related to the maintenance of the company’s spray-drying equipment.
On reviewing the company’s own documentation, the FDA inspection team noted “a history of internal deterioration [of the dryers] dating back to September 2018.“
According to the records of the most recent dryer inspections, carried out in August 2021, two different dryers showed six instances each of cracks, pits, and/or damage in the main chamber.
A further example of improper maintenance was documented by three separate work orders during the course of a year for repair of a “water event” at the same inlet to a spray-dryer. The work orders were issued on February 1, 2021, November 4, 2021, and January 21, 2022.
History repeats
A parallel can be drawn between the dryer maintenance issues at Abbott and a similar situation in Australia in the 1970s.
In 1977, powdered infant formula manufactured by three different companies was determined to be the source of a number of Salmonella Bredeney infections in the state of Victoria, Australia.
All three companies obtained their powdered milk from the same manufacturer.
When inspectors visited the powdered milk supplier’s manufacturing plant, they discovered that the interior of the cone-shaped base of the spray dryer had developed several cracks.
The company tried to repair the cracks by welding them shut. When the welds failed, the company continued to use the spray dryer, but simply discarded the powder that collected in the base of the drying chamber.
Environmental samples from the interior of the spray-dryer determined that its fiberglass insulation material had become saturated with Salmonella.
Abbott responds
In an update posted on the company’s website, Abbott responded to the FDA’s report by reassuring consumers of its cooperation with the FDA, while at the same time emphasizing that the strains of Cronobacter sakazakii found in the production environment did not match those recovered from the infected infants.
Abbott has “already begun implementing corrective actions and enhancements at the facility, leveraging new technology and strengthening our processes, to give parents and customers renewed confidence in the quality of manufacturing at our Sturgis plant when we restart operations there,”according to the company’s statement.
Who to contact for more information
If you want to check if your powdered formula is part of the recall, you can enter the product lot code on the bottom of your package on the company’s website.
If your infant is experiencing symptoms related to Cronobacter infection, such as poor feeding, irritability, temperature changes, jaundice, grunting breaths, or abnormal body movements, contact your health care provider to report their symptoms and receive immediate care.
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