Recalls and Alerts: March 7–10, 2021

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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United States

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE: FDA advises consumers that the hispanic-style fresh and soft cheeses implicated in an ongoing outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes, which has killed one person and infected eleven, were distributed in the following states: AL, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, NE, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, and WI. Please refer to the FDA update for additional product information.

Food Safety Recall: Mediterranean Food Inc. recalls Alqosh Sesame Oil “Tahin” (2-lb plastic jar; Lot #16082020) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall: MG Foods recalls various turkey sandwiches due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were sold in vending machines and micro markets located in business locations in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia and at distributors located at the Charlotte Douglas Airport.

Pet Food Safety Recall (FDA Enforcement Report): On February 26, 2021, Visionary Pet Food recalled Visionary Keto Pet Foods, Enlightened Choice; Beef Recipe raw pet food (4-lb bags; Lot 6626, Use by 09/01/21; Manufactured by OCPP, Santa Margarita, CA ) after the Virginia Department of Agriculture found Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in the product. The product was supplied to Chewy.com, which was notified by telephone. There was no public announcement of the recall.

Europe

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: The Norwegian Institute of Public Health is investigating an outbreak of consisting of 12 confirmed and 8 suspect cases of Salmonella Enteritidis. The cases are spread across a large region of the country, and are thought to be food-related. The source of the infections has not yet been determined.

Food Safety Recall (France): E. Leclerc recalls BIO VILLAGE BÉBÉ brand Mon petit brassé abricot / Apricot baby food (4 x 100g; Lot #245511; Best before 08/02/2022) due to a possible stability defect.

Food Safety Recall (France): Danone recalls Gervita brand fraise Melba / strawberry yogurt (4 x 100g; Best before 02/04) due to possible foreign matter (pieces of metal) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Könecke Fleischwarenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG recalls Fuet Extra – Original spanische Rohwurst mit Edelschimmel, luftgetrocknet / Dry Spanish sausage (150g; Use by 07.03.2021 to 04.04.2021) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Danone recalls ACTIVIA VANILLA 0% FAT – No Added Sugar Yogurt (4x120g; Use By 02/04) and LIGHT & FREE PEACH PASSION FRUIT Greek Style Yogurt (4x115g Use By 31.03.21) due to possible foreign matter (pieces of metal) contamination.

Food Safety Recall Update (UK): SFC recalls SFC Chicken Poppets and Take-Home Boneless Bucket due to Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Danone recalls three yogurt products due to possible foreign matter (pieces of metal) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

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Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Allergy Alert (Israel): Better Chios Ltd. recalls Alanka un glazed biscuit roll, flavoured with milk chocolate (200g; Best before 10.10.2021) due to undeclared sesame.

Allergy Alert (Singapore): Phoon Huat Pte Ltd recalls Wilton Rainbow Chip Crunch Sprinkles (148g; All batches; Product of USA) due to undeclared milk.

Food Safety Recall (Israel): SHTI All Meat Industries Ltd. recalls Beef ground 100% (Use by 15/4/2021) and ground chicken 100% ground meat chicken (Use by 11/4/2021) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Le Couple Trading Corporation Pty Ltd recalls Preserved Chilli Beancurd (350g; Use By EXP 24.12.2022) due to Bacillus cereus contamination.

Recalls and Alerts: March 4—6, 2021

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United States

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE: FDA has released a partial list of retail establishments where Hispanic-style fresh and soft cheeses recalled by El Abuelito Cheese, Inc. may have been sold. The cheeses are implicated in a 4-state outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes illnesses under investigation by the CDC and the FDA.

Allergy Alert: Hu Products recalls Hu Chocolate Covered Hunks – Sour Goldenberries Product (4-oz bag; Lot #202891; Best by 08/2021; UPC 850180006510) due to undeclared almonds.

Food Safety Recall: KAREEM MART (Garden City, MI) recalls “Tahina” food treats (1lb, 2lb plastic jars and 10kg in metal cans; Expiry date 07-01-2022) due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recalled product was distributed in Mediterranean food stores in Michigan and Chicago, IL. Between April 2020 to October 2020.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Wilton Industries Canada Company recalls Wilton brand sprinkle products due to undeclared milk. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Europe

OUTBREAK ALERT (FRANCE): Santé Publique France is reporting an outbreak of 164 cases of Norovirus illnesses since mid-February across several regions of France. The illnesses appear to be linked to consumption of contaminated oysters.

Allergy Alert:

Food Safety Recall (Austria): FM Foods 2.0 recalls Planty of Burger (Batch codes 250920 and 260920; Best before 19.11.2021 & 20.11.2021, respectively) due to possible foreign matter (piece of metal) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Colruyt et Okay recall Boni Selection yaourt aux fruits 5 goûts / 5-flavour fruit yoghurt (125g; Best By 03/04/2021) due to possible foreign matter (metal pieces) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Aldi recalls Tupelo farm brand ROULADE DE DINDE / Turkey roll (700 G; Lot #RPS 27615; Best by 11/12/2021) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): SOUFFLET recalls Carrefour brand Riz basmati / Basmati rice (1kg bag; Best by 21/11/2022) due to elevated levels of mycotoxin (Ochratoxin A).

Food Safety Recall (France): E. Leclerc recalls Les Croisés brand Pointe de brie / Brie wedge (200g; Best before 07/04/2021) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Les coquillages de la Baie d’Isigny recalls Les coquillages de la Baie d’Isigny brand Moules de pêche / Mussels (sold from 26/02/2021 to 01/03/2021, inclusive) due to E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Adalat Berlin recalls getrocknete Minzblätter / Dried mint leaves (carton containing 7 x 180g packages; Expiry date 24.09.2022) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Iceland): Aðföng recalls SFC Boneless Bucket chicken pieces, frozen (650g; Lot #L19720; Best before 28-11-2021; Product of Poland) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall Update (Ireland): SFC recalls The Original SFC Chicken Poppets (190g; Best before 24.09.2021 and 31.10.2021) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Cactus recalls Mons Fromager Affineur brand Barriquet fromage de chèvre / goat cheese (400g; Lots 130121, 140121, 260122; Best before 23/03/21) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Colruyt recalls Boni Selection yaourt aux fruits 5 goûts / 5-flavour fruit yoghurt (125g; Best By 03/04/2021) due to possible foreign matter (metal pieces) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Aldi recalls Tupelo farm brand ROULADE DE DINDE / Turkey roll (700 G; Lot #RPS 27615; Best by 11/12/2021) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Co-op recalls British 12 Beef Meatballs (350g; Use by 05 March 2021) due to possible foreign matter (pieces of plastic) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Lidl GB recalls Crownfield Wholegrain Wheat Bixies 36 (720g; Best before 10 January 2022, 11 January 2022, and 12 January 2022) due to possible foreign matter (pieces of plastic) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Co-op recalls Co-op Irresistible Carrot Cake (Best before 14 March 2021) and Co-op Irresistible Coffee and Walnut Cake (Best before 20 March 2021) due to possible foreign matter (pieces of glass) contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Kenilworth Dairies recalls Kenilworth Dairies Full Cream Milk (3L, 2L and 1L; Best before BB 15/03/21) due to E. coli contamination.

Animal Rights Group Claims Credit for Bravo Packing Pet Food Recall

Animal Outlook, an animal rights advocacy organization, claims to have been the catalyst for the recall of Ground Beef and Performance Dog raw pet foods announced on March 3, 2021 by Bravo Packing, Inc., Carney’s Point, New Jersey.

Animal Outlook is a national non-profit organization based in Washington, DC. The name of the organization was changed from “Compassion over Killing” to “Animal Outlook” in 2020.

The pet food recall, which encompassed all Ground Beef and Performance Dog frozen raw pet foods (sold in 2-pound and 5-pound plastic sleeves), was initiated after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in samples of Performance Dog and in a sample of Ground Beef.

Bravo Packing, Inc. is not affiliated with Bravo Pet Foods, a manufacturer of frozen and freeze-dried raw pet foods and pet treats based in Manchester, Connecticut.

According to a news release dated March 4, 2021, Animal Outlook notified the FDA in December 2020 that the organization had recovered Salmonella from a sample of Performance Dog Diet raw dog food. The sample had been obtained two months earlier from a California distributor of Bravo Packing’s products.

The FDA declined to comment on the Animal Outlook news release. However, a spokesperson for the agency pointed out that it is the FDA’s practice to reinspect facilities that have been the subject of previous enforcement actions, such as Warning Letters.

Bravo Packing has a history of contaminated pet food issues and regulatory infractions.

In September 2018, Bravo Packing recalled all Performance Dog products after the FDA found Salmonella in a sample of the product during the course of an inspection.

In July/August 2019, the FDA carried out another inspection of the manufacturing facility, during which the agency found Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in samples of two different products.

In September 2019, after the company did not respond to the agency’s repeated requests for documentation relating to distribution and recall of the contaminated products, the FDA issued a consumer advisory, cautioning pet owners not to feed Performance Dog raw food products to their pets.

In March 2020, in a follow-up to the July/August 2019 inspection, the FDA issued a formal Warning Letter to the president of Bravo Packing, Inc., citing multiple serious violations of Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals regulations.

The current investigation is still active, and information on what new or repeat violations the FDA may have found is not yet available.

What Consumers Need to Know

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Pets exposed to contaminated food can be infected without showing symptoms.
People who think their pets have become ill after consuming contaminated pet food should first contact their veterinarians.
Veterinarians who wish to have pets tested for Salmonella may do so through the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN) if the pet is from a household with a person infected with Salmonella.
The FDA also encourages consumers to report complaints about pet food products electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal. This information helps FDA further protect human and animal health.