Recalls and Alerts: December 29-31, 2022

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: FDA and CDC are investigating a multi-state outbreak of fifteen (15) Salmonella Typhimurium illnesses likely linked to consumption of Sun Sprouts brand raw alfalfa sprouts. Two people have been hospitalized. Confirmed cases were reported in Nebraska (8), Oklahoma (1) and South Dakota (6). The implicated alfalfa sprouts have been recalled (see recall notice, below).

Allergy Alert: Daiso California LLC recalls Tohato Nagewa Snack (27g & 73g; SKU #4901940112036 & 4901940112005) due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert: Garden of Light (dba Bakery On Main) recalls Topco/Full circle Organic Oat & Honey Granola (Best before 10/10/23; UPC 036800420397) and “Naturally Better” Organic Oats & Honey Granola (Best before 10/10/23; UPC 07880201130) due to undeclared almonds.

Food Safety Recall: Caesar’s Pasta, LLC recalls Orefresco and Caesar’s Pasta brands of Frozen manicotti, not ready-to-eat (10-lb bulk packs; Best by September 28, 2024) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled product was sold to various foodservice distributors, distributing to restaurants in the Philadelphia, PA; Harrisburg, PA; Southeastern NY State; Northeastern PA; and San Juan, PR markets, and did not enter retail commerce.

Food Safety Recall: SunSprout Enterprises recalls Sun Sprouts brand raw alfalfa sprouts (4-ounce clamshells and 2.5lb packages; Lots 4211, 5211, 3212, and 4212; Best by dates between 12/10/22 and 1/7/23) due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recalled product was directly distributed to five foodservice and grocery customers in Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa between late November and mid December 2022.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Company recalls Olivia & Leo Gourmet Treats brand Dark 55% Cacao Almond Bark (120g; Lot 2321; Best before 16 JL 2023; UPC 6 28634 07609 5) due to undeclared milk.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Denmark): Normal A/S recalls Milka Chips Ahoy (100g; All date codes) due to undeclared hazelnuts, milk, gluten and soy.

Allergy Alert (Denmark): Deli Drengene ApS recalls 16 Mini blinis (pack of 16 – 135g; Lots T1214A & T1216A; Best before 23/01/2023 & 25/01/2023, respectively) due to undeclared whole milk powder and cream.

Allergy Alert (UK): Iceland Foods recalls Mars Dessert Bar (600g; Best before 23 February 2024) due to undeclared peanut and egg.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Jumbo recalls Jumbo chou rouge aux pommes / Red cabbage with apple (750g; Lots 142329/10:14/BGL & 142329/18:24/BGL; Expiry date 30/11/2024) due to foreign matter contamination (small pieces of glass).

Food Safety Recall (France): NESTLE HEALTH SCIENCE FRANCE NHS recalls Clinutren Dessert HPHC+ 2KCal, vanilla flavour (4 x 200g; Lot 23230810C2; Best before 16/08/2023) due to a portion of the lot (Production time stamp 10H52 and 11H17) being out of specification.

Food Safety Recall (France): Multiple producers recall Oysters due to Norovirus contamination. Please refer to the Rappel Consommateur website for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (France): SILVE INTERMARCHE recalls Producteurs & Commerçants brand Huitres spéciales Marennes Oléron n°2 / Oysters (2.5 kg; Pack date 19/12/22) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): DPAP recalls Dom Petroff brand tartare de saumon fumé à la truffe noire / Smoked salmon tartare with black truffles (Sold from 22/11/2022 to 29/12/2022) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): prontá tavola Saucenmanufaktur recalls prontá tavola Basic Instinct Klassische Tomatensauce für jeden Einsatzbereich / Classic tomato sauce (350g; Best before 05.01.2024) due to foreign matter contamination (piece of glass).

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Voelkel GmbH Fruchtsäfte Gemüsesäfte recalls FÜR Kurkuma Ingwer Shot, demeter / Turmeric-Ginger shot (60 ml; Lot 94470; Best before 27.03.2024) due to foreign matter contamination (piece of glass).

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Auchan recalls Dom Petroff brand tartare de saumon fumé à la truffe noire / Smoked salmon tartare with black truffles (140g; Lots 2325, 2332, 2360, 2321 & 2361; Use by 12/12/2022, 19/12/2022, 16/01/2023, 16/01/2023 & 17/01/2023, respectively) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Jumbo Supermarkten recalls Jumbo Rode Kool met Appel Blokjes / Red cabbage with apple cubes (750g; Expiry date 30-11-2024) due to foreign matter contamination (small pieces of glass).

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FDA, CDC investigating Salmonella outbreak linked to sprouts

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and their state and local partners are investigating a three-state outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections.

To date, the outbreak has sickened fifteen people in Nebraska (8), South Dakota (6), and Oklahoma (1), according to information provided by the CDC. Two people have been hospitalized.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has reported sixteen illnesses among individuals who consumed SunSprouts alfalfa sprouts between December 4–13. Eight of these have been confirmed genetically to be part of this outbreak. Results are pending on seven other cases.

Tracing the source

Epidemiological evidence collected by the CDC and its state partners identified alfalfa sprouts as a likely source of this outbreak.

Two outbreak victims specifically reported having purchased SunSprouts alfalfa sprouts at their local grocery stores. Others reported having consumed alfalfa sprouts at local restaurants.

A traceback investigation carried out by the FDA identified SunSprouts brand alfalfa sprouts grown by CW Sprouts Inc., doing business as (DBA) SunSprout Enterprises of Fremont, NE as the probable source of the outbreak.

The company has recalled four batches of alfalfa sprouts, identified as Lots ##4211, 5211, 3212, and 4212.

The recalled SunSprouts brand alfalfa sprouts were packaged in 4-ounce clamshells and 2.5 lb packages with best sold by dates between 12/10/2022 and 1/7/2023. The sprouts were supplied directly to restaurants and grocery stores in Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa.

Inspection history

According to the FDA’s Inspection Database, CW Sprouts, Inc. has been inspected on at least seven occasions since 2009. Although some of its earlier inspections were classified “Voluntary Action Indicated,” there are no posted citations listed for the past ten years.

The most recent FDA inspection was completed in August 2021.

What you need to know

Consumers, restaurants, and retailers

Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled SunSprouts brand alfalfa sprouts.
Check your refrigerators for recalled SunSprouts brand alfalfa sprouts with best by dates between 12/10/2022 and 1/7/2023, and discard these items.
If you purchased or used recalled alfalfa sprouts, use extra vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces that may have come in contact with these products, to reduce the risk of cross contamination.
If you or someone in your household ate SunSprouts alfalfa sprouts and have symptoms of salmonellosis, contact your healthcare provider.

Suppliers and Distributors

Do not use, ship or sell recalled alfalfa sprouts grown by SunSprout Enterprises.
Do not use any comingled and potentially cross-contaminated product if there has been potential cross-contamination or mixing of recalled alfalfa sprouts with products from other sources, and use extra vigilance in cleaning any surfaces and storage areas that may have come into contact with recalled alfalfa sprouts.

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Recalls and Alerts: December 27-28, 2022

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United States

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: The FDA is investigating a possible multistate Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak that has sickened 15 people, including 12 in Nebraska. The outbreak is thought to be associated with consumption of raw alfalfa sprouts.

FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Big Olaf Creamery LLC that an inspection of the company’s ready-to-eat (RTE) ice cream manufacturing facility revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in multiple environmental swab samples and finished product samples, and other infractions of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventative Controls for Human Food regulation. Products manufactured in this facility were found to be the source of a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes illnesses earlier this year.

FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Bainbridge Beverage West, LLC that an inspection of the company’s juice manufacturing facility revealed significant violations of the FDA’s juice HACCP regulations and the Juice HACCP Hazards and Controls Guidance. The company did not respond to the list of Inspectional Observations (Form 483) supplied to company management at the close of the inspection.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Jan K. Overweel Limited recalls Igor brand Gorgonzola mild ripened blue-veined cheese (150g; Lot 27716006; Best before 23/FE/01; UPC 8 021398 256802) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Jan Linders supermarkten recalls Jan Linders appeltjesbrood / Apple bread (480g; Best before 03-01-2023) due to undeclared almonds.

Allergy Alert (Spain): AESAN updates list of dark chocolate products recalled due to undeclared almonds. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): FIERS J&B NV recalls Fiers brand Filet américain de bœuf / Ground beef (variable weights; Lots 62692, 62758, 62672, 62575, 62574, 62757, 62825, 62854, 62901 & 62893; Use by 25/12/22, 26/12/22 & 27/12/22) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): UGO INTERMARCHE Labarthe sur Lèze recalls Viande hachée pour moussaka / Ground meat for moussaka (Sold 22/11/2022 to 26/11/2022) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): GERTWILLER DISTRIBUTION SUPER U recalls HENNART brand CELTIC FERMIER AU LAIT CRU / Farm cheese from raw milk (~200g; Lot 243101; Use by 14/12/2022) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SAS VERMADIS E.LECLERC recalls Eclair au Saumon / Salmon eclair (Produced 16/12/22) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Iceland): Costco recalls Sanders brand Milk Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels (1.02 kg; Best before dates up to and including 27.02.2024) due to possible foreign matter contamination (plastic).

Food Safety Recall (Italy): Gigi il salumificio s.r.l. recalls strutto vasetto / lard (250g jar; Lot 544; Best before 20-06-2023) due to possible foreign matter contamination (plastic).

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Jumbo Supermarkten recalls Jumbo Rode Kool met Appel Blokjes / Red cabbage with apple cubes (750g; Batch codes 142329/10:14/BGL & 142329/18:24/BGL; Sold 2-12-2022 to 28-12-2022) due to foreign matter contamination (glass).

Chapter 6. Birth of a Pathogen