Prompt Prose: Transported

“Pardonnez-moi?”

I turned at the sound of her soft, yet insistent, voice. “Mais qu’est ce que vous faites dans mon laboratoire?”

Yikes! I’d done it again. Meditated my way to another out-of-body experience during my morning tai-chi exercises. It was getting to be a habit. But, today, I had outdone myself. Not only had I traveled through time, I had crossed the Atlantic in the process. And landed in the lab – almost in the lap – of my heroine.

“Excusez-moi, Mme Curie,” I stammered. Fortunately, she saw my linguistic distress and asked again – this time in heavily accented English, “What are you doing in my laboratory? And, why are you dressed in those strange clothes? Answer me, or I shall call the gendarmes.”

Quickly, I explained that I was meditating and had no idea how I had landed in her lab, in Paris, on the very day that she and Pierre had succeeded in purifying radium.

“I am not certain that I understand,” she said, frowning in her puzzlement. “But as you are already here, would you like to see my laboratory?”

“Enchantée,” I replied, as I followed her. The lab quite resembled the set from the 1943 black-and-white film about the Curies. I was amazed at how well MGM had nailed all the details. Even the little crucible of radium was sitting on its stand, glowing proudly as though it had done something wonderful all on its own.

Suddenly, there was a crash and the sound of loud hammering. “Qu’est ce que c’est?” I exclaimed, shocked back into French.

“Just the construction workers starting up next door,” my husband replied as he walked out onto the deck. “Aren’t you done with that tai-chi stuff yet? It’s almost time for breakfast.”

“And, by the way, when did you learn to speak French?”

I heaved a sigh, whispered an “au revoir” to Marie, and went inside to dress.

©2012 Phyllis Entis. All rights reserved.

A Note of Explanation: This prompt (Marie Curie + tai-chi) was the result of a random draw. Each member of the group wrote the name of a famous person on one slip of paper and an activity on a separate slip. The papers were placed into two envelopes, after which each of us drew a name from one envelope and an activity from the other. The challenge was to write a coherent story that included both the famous person and the activity.

Recalls and Alerts: November 30, 2012

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.

For current information on international and retail distribution of peanut butter products recalled due to Salmonella Bredeney, please consult the Trader Joe’s/Sunland Peanut Butter Recalls tab.

United States

  • Allergy Alert: Tri City Cheese and Meats (Kawkawlin, MI) recalls Troll Smokehouse Fully Cooked Jalapeño Vienna sausage products ( 1- and 2.5-lb Cryovac bags; Est 32015; Sell by 12/17/12 through 01/03/13), because they contain undeclared monosodium glutamate (MSG). The recalled product was distributed to retail establishments in Michigan.
  • Food Safety Recall: Veggie Patch recalls Veggie Patch Ultimate Meatless Burgers (9 oz; UPC 61012900211; Sell by date January 12, 2013), because of possible contamination by Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product was sold at Stop & Shop, Giant Food Stores, Martin’s, and Giant of Maryland stores.
  • Food Safety Recall: Food City advises its customers that Hillshire Lil Smokies (12-14 oz) have been recalled. No additional information was provided by the retailer.
  • Outbreak Alert Final Update: CDC reports that the Salmonella Bredeney outbreak associated with contaminated peanut butter manufactured by Sunland, Inc. (Portales, NM) appears to be over. In total, 42 people were infected with the outbreak strain in 20 states. Ten people were hospitalized. FDA has suspended the company’s food facility registration, prohibiting Sunland from introducing food into commerce in the USA.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Pure Indulgent Foods Inc. recalls Flats by Pure Apricot Pecan Unique Savory Baked Crackers (170g; Code 5/30 13; UPC 8 73376 00303 2), because the product contains undeclared sulphites. The recalled product was sold through retailers in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall: ERAA Supermarket Inc. recalls ERAA Jaggery Lump Brown Sugar (900g; Batch 06/12; Best before AUG 2013; UPC 8 901792 100911 and 8 901792 101321), due to contamination with unspecified extraneous material. The recalled product was sold through retailers in Ontario.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Ireland): Food Safety Authority of Ireland warns consumers that Kupiec corn flour “gluten free” (400g; Product of Poland; Batch B184 PL; Best before 31/01/2013) was found to contain undeclared gluten. The product, which is known in Polish as Maka Kukurydziana, has been sold in stores across Ireland, mainly those selling Eastern European foods.
  • Food Safety Recall (France): SARL Fontanilles recalls Charcuterie Fontanilles brand of meat-based canned deli products (Expiry 2016), due to lack of product stability. The recalled products were sold in the département of Tarn after May 23, 2012. Please refer to the recall notice for a list of retailers that carried the recalled products.
  • Food Safety Recall (Switzerland): La fromagerie Moléson recalls Le Capriglânois soft curd goat cheese, made from raw milk (80g; Lot # L224703 / L224935 / L225166 / L225436 / L226154; Expiry dates 6.12.2012 / 7.12.2012 / 10.12.2012 / 11.12.2012 / 14.12.2012), after Listeria monocytogenes was found in the product.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Norway): The number of illnesses due to Salmonella Mikawasima has risen to 12 cases in nine counties, including Oslo (1 patient) Akershus (1), Vestfold (1), Aust-Agder (1), Vest-Agder (3) Telemark (1), Oppland (1 ), Hordaland (2) and Nordland (1). All of the affected individuals are adults, most of them aged 20 – 50 years. Norway’s Public Health Institute is continuing its investigation into the source of the outbreak.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1658): Listeria monocytogenes in gorgonzola and mascarpone cheese cake from Italy; distributed to Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1659): Sulfathiazole and sulfadimidine in forest honey from Poland; distributed to Slovakia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1660): Mercury in frozen slices of swordfish from Spain; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1661): Mercury in frozen sword fish from Spain; distributed to Germany and Italy.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Delin (Australia) Trading Pty Ltd. recalls Favor Swallow Bean Sauce (350g glass jar; Best before 18/09/14; Product of China) due to contamination with Bacillus cereus. The recalled product was sold in some Asian supermarkets in Victoria only.
  • Outbreak Alert (New Zealand): The New Zealand Herald reports that a ward has been closed at Hawke’s Bay Hospital due to an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhea among staff and patients. Visitors have been urged to stay away.

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket’s recall web site.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.

Recalls and Alerts: November 29, 2012

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.

For current information on international and retail distribution of peanut butter products recalled due to Salmonella Bredeney, please consult the Trader Joe’s/Sunland Peanut Butter Recalls tab.

United States

  • Allergy Alert: Sukhi’s Gourmet Indian Foods recalls Sukhi’s Red Curry Vegetables (UPC 7-67226-02901-6; Lot code 3390113612; Use-by date 5/14/2013), due to the presence of undeclared shrimp. The recalled product was shipped to distributers in California, Texas, Minnesota and Georgia, between the dates of 5/21/2012 and 10/15/2013.
  • Food Safety Alert: The Arkansas Department of Health alerts the public that stolen ham products sold out of a truck on Chicot Road (Little Rock, AR) may not be safe to eat. Consumers should destroy any ham that was bought from the truck since proper handling to ensure the food is safe to eat cannot be verified.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: M&M Meat Shops Ltd. (Kitchener ON) recalls M&M Meat Shops brand Marinated Barbecue Chicken Kabob (142g/5-oz pkg), because the product contains undeclared mustard and gluten. The recalled kabobs were distributed nationally through M&M Meat Shops retail stores.
  • Allergy Alert: Lennie Ciglen Distribution Inc. (Toronto, ON) recalls all lot codes of Cleo’s Peanut Butter Cups (43g; UPC 8 99033 00204 0), Mahalo Candy Bar (57g; UPC 8 99033 00203 3), SNAP! Candy Bar (50g; UPC 8 99033 00205 7), Buccaneer Candy Bar (57g; UPC 8 99033 00202 6), Jokerz Candy Bar (60g; UPC 8 99033 00200 2) and Twilight Candy Bar (60g; UPC 8 99033 00201 9), because the products contain undeclared milk. The recalled Dairy-free Vegan Candy Bars were produced in the USA. The products are known to have been distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and may have been distributed nationally.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Israel): The Jerusalem Post reports that Israel’s Ministry of Health has warned consumers that EZbetic, which is registered as a “natural” food supplement, contains the medication glibornuride, which is used to treat type II diabetes. Use of this product is liable to cause a dangerous and rapid drop in blood sugar. The product is sold mostly door-to-door and via the Internet, especially in the northern part of the country.

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket’s recall web site.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.