Recalls and Alerts: February 9 – 14, 2018

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.

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

United States

Allergy Alert: Wegmans recalls Lotte Kancho Choco Biscuit (UPC 880106214481) due to undeclared peanuts.

Allergy Alert: Lunds & Byerlys recalls L&B Israeli Couscous and L&B White Quinoa (both with Best by date of 2/11/19) due to undeclared wheat.

Allergy Alert: Saker ShopRites, Inc. recalls approximately 19,757 pounds of pork and chicken empanadas due to undeclared egg. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were shipped to retail locations in New Jersey.

Allergy Alert: Weis Markets recalls pre-made Penne Pasta with Asiago Sauce and Grilled Chicken single serving meal due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert: East Eagle Food Trading Inc. recalls vegetable drink (450ml clear plastic bottle; Lot #20170513; UPC  6932496800748) due to undeclared milk. The recalled product was distributed in New York State in retail stores.

Pet Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert: Arrow Reliance Inc. (d.b.a. Darwin’s Natural Pet Foods) recalls ZooLogics Duck with Vegetable Meals for Dogs (Lot #41957) and ZooLogics Chicken with Vegetable Meals for Dogs (Lot #41567), after FDA confirms the presence of Salmonella in the products. This is the latest in a series of unpublicized recalls by the company. FDA is aware of six incidents of pets that became ill after eating a Darwin’s Natural meal, including one kitten that died as a result of a systemic Salmonella infection. The latest recall was triggered by a consumer complaint involving a dog that suffered from diarrhea over a nine month period as a result of a Salmonella infection.

Pet Food Safety Recall: Redbarn Pet Products, LLC recalls Redbarn’s 7-inch Bully Stick three pack (2.4-oz package; Expiry date code 112120ABC; UPC 7 85184 25105 8) after the Colorado Department of Agriculture found Salmonella in a sample of the product obtained at a retail location.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Canda Six Fortune Enterprise Co. Ltd. recalls Paldo brand Seaweed Snack products (see recall notice for complete list of Paldo products) and Lotte brand Kancho Choco Biscuit due to undeclared peanuts. The recalled products were distributed to retailers across Canada.

Allergy Alert: K.J. Foods Inc. recalls KJ Sweet & Sour Chicken with Rice (450g; UPC 6 28568 61004 4) and KJ Sesame Chicken with Rice (450g; UPC 6 28568 61002 0) due to undeclared milk. The recalled products were distributed to retailers in Ontario.

Food Safety Recall: Charcuterie Varsovie inc. (Montreal, QC) recalls Smoked Atlantic Salmon, Sturgeon, and Smoked Mackerel (all products sold up to and including 13 February 2018) because these items were not prepared and processed in a manner that would ensure they were safe to eat.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Carrefour recalls CAR BIO TORTILLA CHILI (125g; Lot #37332; Best by 28/06/2018) and CARREFOUR BIO TORTILLA CHIPS (125g; Lot #37332; Best by 28/06/2018) due to undeclared gluten.

Allergy Alert (Denmark): Amvrosia recalls Moussaka (380g) due to undeclared soybean oil, milk, wheat and eggs.

Allergy Alert (Germany): CLAUS Reformwaren Service Team GmbH recalls PURAL – Bio Mais-Chips Natur Family (200g; Best by 11.06.2018) due to undeclared gluten.

Allergy Alert (Germany): FZ Organic Food recalls various Trafo brand Tortilla Chips due to undeclared gluten. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (Germany): MAYKA Naturbackwaren GmbH recalls MAYKA Mais-Chips Paprika (125g; Best before 28.08.2018) due to undeclared gluten.

Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Lidl Danmark K/S recalls Sondey Digestive Biscuits (400g; Best before 11.2018) due to possible presence of small, hard pieces of plastic.

Food Safety Recall (France): Layers recalls Layers Dried Figs (500g; Lot #090020881-11-362) due to elevated aflatoxin.

Food Safety Recall (Finland): Lidl Suomi Ky recalls Sondey Digestive Biscuits (400g; Best before 11.2018) due to possible presence of small, hard pieces of plastic.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Wewalka GmbH Nfg. KG recalls chef select Blätterteig / Puff Pastry (275g; Best before 08.03.2018; Product of Austria) because the product may contain metal fragments.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): CULTIMER FRANCE – MOULE D’ARMOR recalls various Normandy Oysters due to possible Norovirus contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Handelsgesellschaft mbH recalls RM Import Juicy Dates (400g; Best before 10.06.2018 and 28.01.2018) due to possible Hepatitis A contamination. The recalled dates may be associated with several cases of Hepatitis A infections in Denmark.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Quorn recalls Chilled Quorn Tikka Masala with Basmati Rice (400g; Use by 1 March 2018, 2 March 2018 and 3 March 2018) because the product may contain pieces of flexible rubber.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Quorn recalls Chilled Quorn Tikka Masala with Basmati Rice (400g; Use by 1 March 2018, 2 March 2018 and 3 March 2018) because the product may contain pieces of flexible rubber.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Food Safety Recall (Israel): Shamli recalls Shamli Bulgarian meatballs (1 kg; Best by 11.3.2018) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (Australia): Jasper and Myrtle extend their earlier recall to include Jasper + Myrtle bean to bar handmade dark chocolate PNG 66%, PNG 80%, Peru 66%, Nunu Black Opal, Wakame & Rock Salt,  Spice Rum, Espresso, Brandy and Orange, Ginger and Coconut 70G (All best before dates) due to undeclared milk, tree nuts, sesame and seaweed.

FDA, state investigate Darwin’s pet food after illnesses, death

The Food and Drug Administration and the Washington State Department of Agriculture are investigating what FDA describes as a “pattern of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes contamination in raw pet foods manufactured by Arrow Reliance Inc.”

FDA has received a total of six complaints of illness in animals who were fed the raw pet foods, including the death of one kitten. Salmonella recovered from the kitten was indistinguishable from the Salmonella found in a closed package of Darwin’s food from the same lot that was fed to the animal, according to the agency.

People who handle contaminated pet food and anything it touches, including counter tops, utensils and pet bowls, are at risk of contracting infections from pathogens such as Salmonella. Infected pets, which don’t always show symptoms, can transfer Salmonella infection to people.

In addition to the reports of sick pets, FDA reports it is aware of at least three animals that were reported to have been injured by bone shards in Darwin’s pet food.

Arrow Reliance Inc., doing business as Darwin’s Natural Pet Food, issued the latest in a series of recall notices on Saturday.

The company notified its customers of the recall by emails sent only to those customers who purchased the recalled products. No public recall notice was issued, company officials told the FDA, because they only sell products online through direct-to-customer sales.

Included in the Saturday recall were:

  • ZooLogics Chicken Meals for Dogs, 2-pound, with the lot number 41567, and  manufacture date of Nov. 2, 2017; and
  • ZooLogics Duck Meals for Dogs, 2-pound, lot number 41957, and manufacture date of Nov 16, 2017.

Since October 2016, the company has recalled a total of nine batches of its Natural Selections and Zoologics brands of Meals for Dogs and Meals for Cats, including four batches of its Natural Selections brand of Meals for Dogs recalled on Dec. 4, 2017.

Shortly after the December 2017 recall, one of Darwin’s customers learned that her German Shepherd, Blitz, had become infected with Salmonella. Judy, who asked that her last name not be published, registered a formal complaint with FDA.

Follow-up testing of Blitz by FDA’s Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network confirmed that the dog was infected with Salmonella. In addition, lab analysis of closed packages of Darwin’s pet food obtained by FDA from Judy on Jan. 24 found Salmonella in the product.

“Darwin’s told me it was safe to feed Blitz the (ZooLogics) food because it wasn’t on the recall list they were dealing with back in November/December. Now, three to four months later, they tell me that the same food they assured is safe to eat now has Salmonella,” Judy told Food Safety News.

FDA has conducted two inspections of Darwin’s manufacturing facility since mid-2016. The first was completed on June 30, 2016, and the second on May 31, 2017, according to information received in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Both inspections were classified “No Action Indicated.”

Darwin’s first series of product recalls encompassed three lots of Meals for Dogs manufactured on July 20, July 21 and July 25 in 2016, less than one month following the June 2016 inspection. The company next recalled one batch of Meals for Cats, manufactured on June 1, 2017, one day after the completion of the 2017 FDA inspection.

Based on information received in response to the FOIA request, it does not appear that FDA conducted an inspection following the Meals for Cats recall.

FDA advice to consumers
Consumers should not feed their pets recalled lots of raw pet food manufactured by Arrow Reliance Inc. Consumers who purchased this raw pet food should throw it away. People who think they or their pets have become ill from exposure to contaminated raw pet food should talk to their health care providers or veterinarians.

Consumers who had the recalled Darwin’s products in their homes should clean their refrigerator and clean and disinfect all bowls, utensils, food prep surfaces, pet bedding, toys, floors, and any other surfaces that the food or pet may have had contact with.

Animals can shed the bacteria when they have bowel movements, so it’s particularly important to clean up animal feces in yards or parks where people or other animals may become exposed.

Pet owners who opt to feed their pets a raw diet should consult FDA’s “Tips to Prevent Foodborne Illness from Raw Pet Food.”

Salmonella infection symptoms in people can include diarrhea that lasts for more than three days, or is accompanied by high fever, blood in the stool, or so much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down and you pass very little urine.

People who think their pets have become ill after consuming contaminated raw pet food should contact their veterinarians. Veterinarians who wish to have dogs tested for Salmonella may do so through the Vet-LIRN Network if the pet is from a household with a person infected with Salmonella.

The FDA encourages consumers to report complaints about this and other pet food products electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling their state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators.

 

This article first appeared on Food Safety News and is reposted here with permission.

Recalls and Alerts: February 6 – 8, 2018

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.

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

United States

Allergy Alert: Weis Markets recalls Weis Quality Dried Beef Party Rye dip due to undeclared egg and milk. Please refer to the recall notice for distribution information.

Food Safety Alert: New York Department of Agriculture warns the public not to consume unpasteurized raw milk from the David Phippen Farm, which does business as Breese Hollow Dairy, due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Meijer recalls select Meijer branded Greek and Low-fat yogurt due to the potential risk of small glass particles in the products. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected items, which were sold in Meijer stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin.

Food Safety Recall: Olymel S.E.C./ L.P. (Alberta, Canada) recalls approximately 4,618 pounds of raw intact pork products because the products were imported from Canada and not presented for import re-inspection upon entry into the United States. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were shipped to retail and restaurant locations in Oregon and Washington and exported to a Department of Defense Commissary in Japan.

Food Safety Recall: Guymon Extracts Inc. recalls Pork Soup with Rendered Pork Fat (from bone) fully cooked pork product (2.2 lb. – 10 polybag pillows packed in paper cartons; Lot code 010218-1; Product code 61306; Best before Dec. 22, 2019) due to a processing deviation that may have allowed potential spore-forming pathogen growth including Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium perfringens. The recalled product was shipped to distribution centers and further distributed in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Texas and Washington.

Pet Food Safety Recall: Smokehouse Pet Products, Inc. recalls Smokehouse Beefy Munchies (4 oz pkg; Lot #449294; Best by 10/25/19; UPC 78565857957) due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recalled product was sold in Washington, Michigan, North Carolina and Colorado through distributors selling to various retailers.

Pet Food Safety Recall: Raws for Paws recalls Ground Turkey Pet Food (1-lb and 5-lb chubs; Case codes 9900008, 9900009, 9900014, and 9900015) after testing by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) revealed the presence of Salmonella in some packages of Turkey Pet Food. The recalled product was distributed throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa directly to consumers and through online mail orders.

Canada

Food Safety Recall (Update): Sawler Gardens Ltd. recalls Sawler Turnip Sticks (340g; Product code 18 FE 11; UPC 6 21063 36600 3) and Compliments brand Baby Cut Turnip Sticks (340g; Product code 18 FE 11; UPC 0 68820 12504 4) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled products were distributed to retailers in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, and may have been sold nationwide.

Food Safety Recall: K.J. Foods Inc. recalls KJ brand Sweet & Sour Chicken with Rice (450g; All units sold up to and including February 7, 2018; UPC 6 28568 61004 4) and KJ brand Sesame Chicken with Rice (450g; All units sold up to and including February 7, 2018; UPC 6 28568 61002 0) due to incorrect cooking instructions. If followed, these instructions may not eliminate harmful bacteria that may be present in the products. The recalled items were supplied to retailers in Ontario.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Snack Food Poco Loco NV recalls various flavors of Tortilla Chips due to undeclared gluten. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Colruyt, Bio-Planet and Collect&Go recall Boni Selection Bio Tortilla Rolls à la tomate (Best by 29/5/2018) due to undeclared gluten.

Allergy Alert (Finland): Deliciest Oy recalls Frozen Vegan Dumplings with Broccoli (400g) due to undeclared egg.

Allergy Alert (Ireland): Food Safety Authority of Ireland reports the recall of various flavors and pack sizes of Trafo Tortilla Chips due to undeclared gluten. Please refer to the recall notice for additional details.

Allergy Alert (Sweden): Axfood recalls Dazzley Chocolate Lenses Milk Chocolate due to undeclared peanut, almond and hazelnut.

Allergy Alert (Sweden): Coop recalls Coop Änglamark tortillachips with mild chili flavor due to undeclared gluten.

Allergy Alert (Sweden): ICA recalls ICA I love eco Organic tortilla chips (125g; best before 2018-06-12) due to undeclared wheat and gluten.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Hamfelder Hof Bauernmeierei GmbH & Co. KG recalls Bezeichnung Cultured Butter from Bioland-Rahm (250g) because the butter may contain small pieces of rubber.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Döbelner Spezialitäten GmbH recalls Döbelner Bockwurst in natural casing (5 pieces; Best before 23.10.2019) due to possible presence of glass particles.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Geflügelhof Ertl KG recalls Quality class A Weight class M Chicken Eggs (Laying date 23.01.2018; Best before date 20.02.2018) due to the shells being contaminated with Campylobacter coli.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Johnston Mooney & O’Brien recalls various Bread Products due to possible presence of small metal pieces. Please refer to the recall notice for complete details on the affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Sweden): Hellströms Goda recalls Hellströms sausage (Batch #2018-01-30 1) due to Listeria contamination.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Muscle Food recalls certain meat products supplied by DB Foods Ltd due to incorrect use-by dates. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.