Recalls and Alerts: May 10 – 12, 2019

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 ALERT: CDC reports 16 cases of foodborne illnesses in 5 states linked to oysters imported from Mexico. One US distributor has initiated a recall (see below).

Allergy Alert: Novartis recalls Promacta® 12.5 mg for oral suspension due to potential peanut contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for additional details on affected production lots.

Food Safety Recall: DiCarlo Seafood recalls raw oysters harvested from Estero El Cardon in Baja California Sur, Mexico. The recalled raw oysters, which have been linked to 16 cases of foodborne illnesses in 5 states, were distributed to three restaurants in Southern California.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Marché Al-Rehab recalls KHLEA (variable size; Best before up to and including 10 May 2019) because the product was manufactured under conditions that do not ensure safety.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Belgium): PEDON S.p.A recalls More Than Pasta brand Yellow Lentil Lasagna (250g; Lot #0587; Expiration date 23/02/2020) due to undeclared gluten.

Allergy Alert (Czech Republic): Z.P.H.U. “Vangusto” recalls Vangusto brand MANDARINKOVÉ MARSHMALLOW (Best before 12. 06. 2019) due to undeclared gluten.

Allergy Alert (Denmark): Biogan A / S recalls organic shelled hemp seeds (400g; Best before 1/12/2019, 30/3/2020 and 21/3/2020) due to undeclared spring barley.

Allergy Alert (Luxembourg): Delhaize recalls More Than Pasta brand Yellow Lentil Lasagna (250g; Lot #0587; Expiration date 23/02/2020) due to undeclared gluten.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Intersnack recalls POM-BÄR Original (90g; Lot codes L13024c 06:22 through L13024c 06:32; Best before 28-09-2019) due to undeclared lactose and gluten.

Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Prime Ocean A / S recalls Ocean King, Smoked sliced salmon (200g; Lot #C6E5; Best before 13.05.2019) due to incorrect ‘Best before’ dating. The recalled product was sold in Aldi stores.

Food Safety Recall (France): Magasins Match recalls FROMI brand Fromage Chaource AOP (250g; Lot #227078; Best Before 18/05/2019) due to E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): La Société FRANPRIX recalls Leader Price brand Sandwich Club thon crudités (145g; Best before 22/05/2019) due to foreign matter (white plastic) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Casino recalls Casino brand Sandwich Club thon crudités (145g; Best before 22/05/2019) due to foreign matter (white plastic) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): LINCET recalls Tradition Emotion, Cremier, Tradition brands of Chaource cheese (250g; Best before 18/05/2019, 20/05/2019, 23/05/2019) and Chaource cheese (500g; Best before 16/05/2019) due to shigatoxin-producing E. coli contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Pak’nSave Tamatea recalls Pak’nSave Tamatea brand NZ Beef Prime Mince (800-900g; Best before 05.05.19) due to foreign matter (small soft blue and black plastic pieces) contamination.

Recalls and Alerts: May 1 – 9, 2019

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United States

Public Health Alert: FDA Alerts the public to a possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination of l’Explorateur soft ripened cheese. This pasteurized, cow’s milk cheese was made by in St. Simeon, France and distributed throughout the U.S. The FDA advises consumers and retailers to not eat, sell, or serve cheese labeled as l’Explorateur. The sell by dates on the package include May 7, 2019 and May 14, 2019. Product lot codes are 7742-H 057 and 77432-H 064. Cheese labeled as such should be thrown away immediately.

Allergy Alert: Santa Fe Importers, Inc. recalls Lemonade CHICKEN THAI STYLE MEATBALL (Packaging date 04/24/2019; Case code 114-102130) due to undeclared soy.

Allergy Alert: ICCO Cheese Company, Inc. recalls Gia Russa Unseasoned Whole Grain Bread Crumbs and Gia Russa Italian Seasoned Whole Grain Bread Crumbs (10 oz; 08/21/2019, 09/21/2019, 10/04/2019, 11/09/2019, 11/12/2019, 12/05/2019) due to undeclared walnuts and pecans.

Allergy Alert: Conagra Brands, Inc. recalls approximately 2,094,186 pounds of frozen entrees due to undeclared milk. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Tyson Foods, Inc. recalls approximately 11,829,517 pounds of frozen, ready-to-eat chicken strip products due to foreign matter (pieces of metal) contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Mecox Bay Dairy, LLC recalls Mecox Sunrise washed-rind Tomme style cheese due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Canada

OUTBREAK ALERT (UPDATE): PHAC reports having now received reports of 76 confirmed cases of Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses in 7 provinces: British Columbia (27), Alberta (13), Saskatchewan (10), Manitoba (10), Ontario (13), Quebec (2), and Newfoundland and Labrador (1). Three people have died. The outbreak has been linked to Celebrate brand profiteroles and mini-eclairs imported from Thailand.

Allergy Alert: Yamnuska Backcountry Kitchen recalls Yamnuska Backcountry Kitchen Vegetarian Chili (454g; No codes; No UPC) and Yamnuska Backcountry Kitchen Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie (454g; No codes; No UPC) due to undeclared soy.

Allergy Alert: Elman’s Food Products Ltd. recalls Elman’s brand Dressing (454g; All date codes; UPC 0 59392 90004 7) due to undeclared sesame, wheat and gluten.

Allergy Alert: Vogel’s Fine Meats & Sausages recalls Vogel’s Fine Meats & Sausages brand Krainer Sausages (Best before JUN 20 2019) and Vogel’s Fine Meats & Sausages brand Fine Bratwurst (Best before JUN 18 2019) due to undeclared mustard.

Food Safety Recall: Loblaw Companies Limited recalls certain President’s Choice brand and PC Black Label brand sauces due to potential foreign matter (glass pieces) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: FeedingChange Canada recalls Feeding Change brand Young Thai Coconut Meat (454g; All Best By dates from MAY 25 2020 up to and including JUN 26 2020; UPC 0 91037 12927 7) due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recalled product was distributed through retailers in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Possibly National, Saskatchewan, Yukon.

Food Safety Recall: Toppits Foods Ltd. recalls Toppits brand Cooked Salmon Pieces, Cooked, Boneless, Skinless – Pink (4.5 kg; Product codes 8186, 8200, 8248, 8261, 8263; UPC 10068689124629) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall: DOM International Limited recalls DOM RESERVE brand Atlantic Salmon Strips (Hot Smoked) Cracked Black Pepper (150g; Product code 002451; Various Best before dates; UPC 7 72945 11150 8) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Golden Pearl Mushrooms Ltd. recalls GPM brand Pea Shoots (100g, 230g, 455g; Product code 11021) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Boulangerie Malraux – Alimentation CBCL recalls Spaghetti sauce (500mL and 1L; Best before 29 June 2019) due to incorrect storage temperature.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Belgium): C DU BELGE SPRL recalls NOUGAT CARAMEL BEURRE SALE SACHET (130g; All best before dates) due to undeclared wheat (gluten).

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Gadus nv recalls products containing shrimp due to presence of undeclared shellfish. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (France): Gastronome Professionnels recalls Gastronome Professionnels brand Cordon Bleu de Poulet (1.5 Kg; Lot 10791759 – Best before 11/05/2019 and Lot 10991759 – Best before 13/05/2019) due to undeclared soy.

Allergy Alert (Italy): ASIANTRADE SRL recalls NUVOLE DI DRAGO – PRAWN CRACKERS (227g; All lots and date codes) due to undeclared shellfish.

Allergy Alert (Luxembourg): Delhaize recalls Delhaize brand Dim Sum crevettes frites panées (±220g; Lots 80920011, 80910011, 80900011, 80910111, 80700011, 80860011, 80850011, 80840011, 80920011, 80800011, 80830011, 80840011, 80820011; Best before 30/04/2019 – 12/05/2019) due to undeclared shellfish.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Vomar Voordeelmarkt B.V. recalls various products due to undeclared allergens. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (Sweden): ICA recalls ICA Oumph Tikka Masala (380g; All best before dates) due to undeclared celery.

Allergy Alert (Sweden): Coop recalls Tex Mex Mix with Taco Chips (295g) due to undeclared traces of nuts in the taco chips.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Carrefour recalls Viande de cheval fumée / Smoked horse meat (135g; Best before 22-05-2019) due to foreign matter (pieces of glass) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): l’Hypermarché Carrefour de Soignies recalls various ground meat products due to possible foreign matter (pieces of plastic) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Albert Heijn recalls Little Willies brand vegetarian sausages (160g; Best before 10/04/2019 – 07/05/2019) due to foreign matter (small plastic pieces) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Match recalls Fromi brand Fromage de Champagne Chaource AOP Trademo (250 g; Lot #227 078; Best before 18/05/2019) due to shigatoxin-producing E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Skare Meat Packers K/S recalls Chopped beef 8-12% (500g; Best before 09.05.2019) due to foreign matter (blue plastic) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Pursana recalls Pursana brand Powdered Royal Mix d’Herbes, Légumes et Algues (200g; Lot 1803139; Best before 30/09/2021) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): La société Renaud Saveur recalls Renaud Saveur brand Petit salé en gelée (Sold between 25/04/2019 and 07/05/2019) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): La Société Fromagère ALPINE recalls La Fromagerie Alpine brand Duo Saint Marcellin – Saint Félicien products (Lots L032 – lot L116) due to E. coli O26 contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): La société Fromageries de l’Etoile recalls Auchan MMM! brand Brochettes de fromage frais & Saumon fumé (Lot 70988449; Best before 25/05/2019) due to Listeria contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Industry recalls Tournon brand Sainte Maure de Touraine au lait cru (250g; Lot Y 19100; Best before 09/06/2019) due to E. coli O26 contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Industry recalls Saveurs de nos régions (LIDL) brand Sainte Maure de Touraine au lait cru (250g; Lot Y 19100; Best before 09/06/2019) due to E. coli O26 contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Industry recalls ZOLOTOI VEK brand Halva (Lot 20.08.2019) due to foreign matter (metal wire) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): La société EURIAL recalls Valcrest brand Sainte Maure de Touraine AOP au lait cru (250g; Lot Lot Y 19100; Best before 09/06/2019) due to E. coli O26 contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): La société EURIAL recalls Itinéraire des saveurs (Intermarché – Netto) brand Sainte Maure de Touraine AOP au lait cru (250g; Lot Y 19100; Best before 09/06/2019) due to E. coli O26 contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): PROLAIDIS recalls Pierre de Seillac brand Plateau de 5 fromages La Cave du Gourmet (Best before 30/03/2019 to 05/05/2019) due to E. coli O26 contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Francia Mozzarella GmbH recalls Kase Primo Sale mit schwarzem Pfeffer / Sheep cheese with black pepper (Lot 070319Y; Best before 06.08.2019) due to shigatoxin-producing E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): SFW Schildauer Fleisch- und Wurstwaren GmbH recalls Schildauer brand Räucherlende / Smoked loin (150g; Lot #191601; Best before 09.05.2019) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Manufacturer recalls Lackmann Tuschonka Konskaya Canned Horse Meat (400g; best before 08.07.2019; Product of Germany) due to uncertainty as to traceability of the meat.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Fromagerie Alpine recalls various Saint-Marcellin unpasteurised cheeses (80g pack size) due to possible E. coli O26 contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Tesco recalls Tesco Finest St Félicien Du Dauphiné Unpasteurised Cheese (180 g; All use by dates; Product of France) due to possible shigatoxin-producing E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Italy): Fromagerie Alpine recalls BISU’ formaggio morbido a latte crudo (180g; Lot 19066, 19087, 19102; Various dates) due to E. coli O26 contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Match recalls Fromi brand Fromage de Champagne Chaource AOP Trademo (250 g; Lot #227 078; Best before 18/05/2019) due to shigatoxin-producing E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Yona Specerijen recalls Ground Turmeric (85g; Expiry 26-02-2022) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Holland & Barrett recalls Purasana Chlorella powder (Batch #CB045I17/12; Best before 30/12/2020) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Jumbo recalls Jumbo Chef’s tip lamb chops (Best before 3-5-2019) due to possible shigatoxin-producting E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): De Vegetarische Slager recalls The Vegetarian Butcher Little Willies Lincolnshire Style Sausages (160g; All Use By dates between 10-4-2019 and 07-05-2019) due to foreign matter (plastic pieces) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Fromagerie Alpine recalls St. Marcellin cheese (80g; Best before dates 29-04-19, 06-05-19, 13-05-19, 20-05-19, 27-05-19, 03-06-19) due to E. coli O26 contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): La societé Fromagerie Alpine recalls St. Marcellin cheese (80g; Best before 29-04-19, 06-05-19, 13-05-19, 20-05-19, 27-05-19, 03-06-19) and Saint-Félicien cheese (180g; Best before 29-04-19, 06-05-19, 13-05-19, 20-05-19, 27-05-19, 03-06-19) due to E. coli O26 contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Sweden): Fromagerie Alpine recalls Fromagerie Alpine, Xavier David, Pierre Seillac brands of Saint-Marcellin, Saint-Felicien cheeses due to E. coli O26 contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for additional details and affected lot codes.

Food Safety Recall (Sweden): Fromageriet recalls Xavier David and La Tradition Du Bon Fromage brands St Marcellin cheese (manufactured in France) due to E. coli O26 contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Sweden): HKScan recalls BBQ sausage (960g; Best before 190530), Barbecue sausage (640; Best before 190530) and Grill sausage Cheese & bacon (best-before 190530) due to possible Listeria contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Sweden): Fromagerie Alpine recalls Saint-Marcellin and Xavier David Saint-Marcellin cheeses (80g; All batches from 1/2 2019 – 26/4 2019) due to E. coli O26 contamination.

Food Safety Recall (UK): The Vegetarian Butcher recalls The Vegetarian Butcher Little Willies Lincolnshire Style Sausages (160g; All Use By dates between 22 April 2019 and 15 May 2019) due to foreign matter (plastic pieces) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Fromagerie Alpine recalls Saint Félicien raw cow’s milk cheese (180g; All lot numbers from 032 to 116; All date codes) and Saint Marcellin raw cow’s milk cheese (80g; All lot numbers from 032 to 116; All date codes) because the products might contain E. coli.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Food Safety Recall (Hong Kong): The Dairy Farm Company Limited recalls Tyson fully cooked Crispy Chicken Strips (25 oz; Use by November 5, 2019; Product of USA) and Tyson fully cooked Buffalo Style Chicken Strips (25 oz; Use by October 15, 2019, and October 31, 2019; Product of USA) due to foreign matter (metal pieces) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Singapore): Importer recalls Xavier David Saint Marcellin raw milk cheese (Best before 13/3/2019, 10/4/2019, 8/5/2019; Product of France) due to E. coli O26 contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (Australia): Ingham’s recalls Ingham’s Turkey Breast Roast (Best before 01/10/2020) due to undeclared milk

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Port Stephens Eggs recalls Port Stephens Eggs Country Fresh Eggs Just Free to Range Eggs and Port Stephens Eggs 12 Free Range Eggs Jumbo (Egg stamp NSW 219; Up to and including Best Before 8 Jun 19) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Bettalife Distributors Pty Ltd recalls three varieties of Mountain Mist Eclairs and Profiteroles (Best before 01/02/20; Product of Thailand) due to Salmonella Enteritidis contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for additional details on the affected products.

Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): New World Dannevirke recalls specific batches of its New World Dannevirke brand NZ Beef Prime Mince, NZ Beef Premium Mince and NZ Pork Mince due to possible foreign matter (pieces of plastic) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for complete details on the affected product.

JBS knowingly distributed pentobarbital-adulterated products

This story by Phyllis Entis first appeared in Food Safety News and is reposted here with permission.

JBS Souderton Inc. continued to distribute pentobarbital-adulterated products to customers even after receiving formal notification of pentobarbital contamination, according to a warning letter issued on April 23 by the Food and Drug Administration.

The warning letter to JBS Souderton Inc., which does business as MOPAC, was sent more than one year after pentobarbital was first discovered in beef tallow from the company’s Souderton, PA, facility.

Pentobarbital is a barbiturate used by veterinarians to euthanize animals, including companion animals, horses and cattle. According to the FDA, pet foods containing even a trace amount of pentobarbital are considered adulterated. It is against federal law to release “adulterated” products into the stream of commerce.

JBS was the supplier of beef tallow to Big Heart Pet Brands Inc. and to Champion PetFoods, among others.

Big Heart is a wholly owned subsidiary of The J.M. Smucker Company Inc. Champion is a Canadian pet food company whose U.S. production facility is in Auburn, KY. It manufactures Acana and Orijen brands of dry dog food.

In February 2018, a media outlet reported having found pentobarbital in several samples of Gravy Train canned, wet dog food. Smucker initiated a product withdrawal of the implicated products pending the outcome of its internal investigation.

Concurrently, FDA alerted pet owners about the possible presence of pentobarbital in the several dog food brands, including Gravy Train, Kibbles ’N Bits, Ol’ Roy and Skippy.

Smucker converted its withdrawal into a full-blown recall once company officials had confirmation of the presence of pentobarbital in its finished product and in samples of beef tallow supplied by JBS.

As part of its investigation into the Big Heart, FDA and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture conducted a joint inspection of JBS beginning March 13, 2018.

According to the warning letter, FDA found pentobarbital in four out of nine samples collected at the JBS facility. Upon further analysis, three of the samples were found to contain pentobarbital at levels ranging from 61.8 +/-19 to 277 +/-70 nanograms per gram (ng/g), well above the minimum detection concentration of 4 ng/g.

The four pentobarbital-contaminated products were delivered to customers from November 2017 through March 2018.

Samples collected from JBS and from its customers’ facilities and analyzed by Pennsylvania officials found levels of pentobarbital as high as 680 ng/g.

The list of Inspectional “Observations” in the FDA’s Form 483, provided to JBS management on Oct. 17, 2018, contained two items:

JBS did not visually verify loads of raw materials with what the hauler stated that they brought in. This led to tallow, manufactured at [the JBS] facility, to be adulterated with pentobarbital.
JBS did not have an effective system for evaluating incoming raw materials to ensure that these ingredients are suitable for use in human products and animal feeds.

JBS officials informed the FDA on April 17, 2018, that the company had completed cleaning all of its conveyances, conduits, cookers and centrifuges, and some of its storage tanks to remove any pentobarbital-contaminated product. In a May 30, 2018, letter, JBS management indicated the company would complete the cleaning process within an additional 30 days.

The company officials also reported having identified and talked with all of its suppliers that may have presented a risk for entry of euthanized animals into the rendering plant, and obtained a guarantee from each supplier that they would not provide euthanized animals. JBS also indicated it would continue to conduct random tests of tallow products for pentobarbital.

On July 27, 2018, the FDA took a follow-up sample from one of the JBS storage tanks. Upon analysis, the sample was found to contain trace amounts of pentobarbital.

On Aug. 8, 2018, the FDA inquired what actions JBS planned to take in response to the pentobarbital finding.

The company declined to recall the product. Instead, JBS offered to ask animal food producing customers that received animal food products to remove any products deemed positive for pentobarbital and to have their tanks cleaned.

JBS described its product withdrawals and attempted withdrawals of pentobarbital-contaminated product from its customers in a Nov. 26, 2018, letter to the FDA.

In its warning letter, the FDA noted that it was unable to asses the effectiveness of the corrective actions in the absence of a voluntary recall or other documentation demonstrating all contaminated products were removed from the marketplace.

As reported by Food Safety News in November 2018, Champion PetFoods retrieved pet foods the contaminated tallow from its third-party distributors. The company declined to initiate a retail-level recall, even though some of the product had reached the store/consumer level. The refusal was based on laboratory test results on retained samples of those finished products that did not reveal pentobarbital.

JBS was given fifteen working days to notify the FDA in writing of the specific steps it has taken to correct the violations listed in the warning letter, or to provide a time frame within which the corrections will be completed.