Tag: Botulism

Recalls and Alerts: December 4, 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

  • Food Safety Recall: Cantina Foods (Buffalo, NY) recalls Beef and Cheese Pastellios (cartons containing four plastic bags with 6 x 4-oz pies per bag; sold from Oct 3, 2012 through Nov 20, 2012), because the item was produced without the benefit of federal inspection. In September 2012, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) carried out a food safety assessment that identified problems with the company’s Listeria monocytogenes control program. The recalled products were distributed to retail establishments in the Buffalo, NY area; individual pies may have been available from heat trays at convenience stores.
  • Food Safety Recall: The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC alerts its customers to a recall of Veggie Patch Ultimate Meatless Burger (9 oz; Sell by January 12, 2013; UPC 61012900211), due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Safety Recall: Gean Farm Inc. (Oxnard, CA) recalls Harry’s Berries Salsa Mild, Harry’s Berries Salsa Hot, and Dill Beans, due to possible botulism risk. The recalled products were sold at Certified Farmers Markets in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Golden Gate Soy Food, Inc. (San Francisco, CA) that a September 2012 inspection of the company’s food manufacturing facility found serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Sol Fish Traders (General Santos City, Philippines) that an evaluation of the firm’s HACCP plan and supporting documentation for processing of tuna products revealed that the firm has serious deviations from the requirements of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Blue Marine Seafoods Trading (General Santos City, Philippines) that an evaluation of the firm’s HACCP plan and supporting documentation for processing of Fresh Frozen Yellowfin Tuna Fillet Treated With Filtered (Tasteless) Smoke revealed that the firm has serious deviations from the requirements of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Ito En (USA) Inc. (Honolulu, HI) that a June-July 202 inspection of the company’s low-acid canned food facility found serious deviations from the low-acid canned food regulations.

Canada

  • Health Canada Enforcement Action: Health Canada has suspended the Establishment License of Chemi Pharmaceutical Inc. (Mississauga, ON) after uncovering falsified testing results during the course of an inspection. Companies that have had their testing done by Chemi are being asked to temporarily halt sales until the safety of those products can be confirmed. Health Canada has released a list of products and ingredients that are affected by this action.

Europe

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 20, 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 retail distribution of peanut butter products recalled due to Salmonella Bredeney, please consult the Trader Joe’s/Sunland Peanut Butter Recalls tab.

For current information on retail distribution of beef products containing Canadian beef recalled due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination please consult the Canada/USA Beef Recall tab.

United States

  • Allergy Alert: Whole Alternatives, LLC recalls Harris Teeter brand Dried Apricots (6 oz pkg; UPC 7203670494) and Harris Teeter brand Dried Golden Raisins (8 oz pkg; UPC 7203670490), because the products contain undeclared sulfur dioxide.
  • Food Safety Recall: Michael Gourmet Delicacies recalls Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon, Vacuum Packed (4-oz, 8-oz and 16-oz pkgs; Batch #1443) and Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon (4-oz trimmings in plastic container; Batch 1443; UPC 93573 81729), because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were sold in Whole Foods Markets stores in Florida during June 12, 2012 through November 16, 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall: Stanley’s Market Brands, LLC (Toledo, OH) recalls Stanley’s Market Fresh Kielbasa (Case code S0011; Package codes “30412,” “30512,” “30612,” “31012,” “31112,” “31312,” “31412,” “31812,” “32012,” “32112.”), Stanley’s Market Fresh Kielbasa (41-0z white freezer paper wrapped pkgs, each containing 4 links), Stanley’s Market Fresh Kielbasa (21-oz whote freezer paper wrapped pkgs; Case code S0071; Package codes 31012 or 21112; Produced Nov 5, 2012 and Nov 6, 2012), Stanley’s Market Fresh Kielbasa (bulk packages) and Stanley’s Market Smoked Fresh Kielbasa (6.6-lb vacuum sealed pkgs; Case code S0013; Package codes 31312 or 31012; Produced Nov 5, 2012 and Nov 6, 2012), because they may contain small (less than 5 mm sized) pieces of plastic.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Stuart’s Seafood Market, Ltd. (Amagansett, NY) that an October 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood producessing facility found serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation and  the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns HKH JVC LLC (Honolulu, HI) that an August 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility found serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Pacific Northwest Tofu, LLC (Portland, OR) that an August 2012 inspection of the company’s facility revealed serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Marine Foods Express, Ltd (Houston, TX) that an August 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood processing and importer establishment found serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Molinaro’s Fine Italian Foods Ltd. (Mississauga, ON) recalls Molinaro’s Supremo Dunn’s Famous Smoked Meat Pizza, frozen (507g/pkg of 3 pizzas; UPC 0 59949 09055 9; Best before/lot codes 13 MAR 14/258.12, 13 MAR 20/264.12, 13 MAR 21/265.12, 13 APR 02/276.12, 13 APR 03/277.12, 13 APR 04/278.12, 13 APR 12/286.12, 13 APR 19/293.12, 13 APR 22/296.12, 13 MAY 01/306.12, 13 MAY 08/313.12, 13 MAY 09/314.12, 13 MAY 15/320.12), because the product contains undeclared mustard. The recalled product was distributed nationally.
  • Allergy Alert: Beary Berry Honey Inc. recalls Beary Berry Honey Mandarin Sesame Dressing (250 ml; UPC 8 75294 00053 7; Code 2013.09.20), due to the presence of undeclared sesame seeds and soy. The recalled product was distributed in Alberta.
  • Allergy Alert: Coleman Group of Companies recalls Lee’s Luxury Mini Snowballs (200g; UPC 5 010082 142388; Code 28 DEC 2012 D), due to the presence of undeclared sulphites. The recalled product was distributed in Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • Food Safety Recall: Birtch Farms and Estate Winery (Woodstock, ON) recalls Birtch Farms and Estate Winery brand Pumpkin Butter (110 ml and 250 ml jars; All lot codes), because the product may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. The recalled product was distributed in Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall: Indigo Books & Music Inc. recalls Cocoa Cones White Confectionery Drop Cocoa Cone (178g; Best if used by August 2013; UPC 8 98137 00388 5) and Cocoa Cones White Confectionery Chocolate Flavored Chip Cocoa Cone (178g; Best if used by August 2013; UPC 8 98137 00200 0), due to the presence of unspecified “non-harmful” extraneous material. The recalled products were distributed nationally.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Ireland): Walkers/Pepsico withdraws Walkers Lights Variety 6-pack crisps (6 x 24g; Best before 12 January 2013 and 19 January 2013), due to the presence of undeclared milk, resulting from a labeling error.
  • Allergy Alert (UK): Raynor Foods Ltd. recalls Deli Creations Wensleydale Carrot Chutney Sandwich (Use by dates 20 November 2012, 21 November 2012, and 22 November 2012), due to the presence of undeclared egg.
  • Food Safety Recall (Italy): Nordiconad Soc. Coop recalls Mozzarella Letterie riunite Srl Carpinone (Lots 2172, 2175, 2176, 2178 and 2179), due to the presence of Aflatoxin M1 in excess of the permitted limit.
  • Food Safety Recall (Italy): Mitica Food srl recalls Salati Preziosi Pop corn (90g; Lot 370; Expiry 27/03/13), Break Pop corn (100g; Lot 383; Expiry 10/04/13), Deco Pop corn (100g; Lot 389; Expiry 17/04/13), Salati Preziosi Pop corn (40g; Lot 399; Expiry 24/04/13), Les Bon Snack Pop corn (100g; Lot 411; Expiry 08/05/13) and Pik Up Pop corn (125g; Lot 390; Expiry 17/04/13), due to the presence of Aflatoxin B1 in excess of the permitted limit.
  • Food Safety/Outbreak Notification (EU #2012.1604): Foodborne outbreak (Salmonella Bredeney) caused by peanut butter and peanut-based products from the United States; distributed to France, Italy, Norway and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1605): Excessive Escherichia coli in live mussels from Spain; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1606 & 2012.1607): Excessive benzoic acid in juice from Peru; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1608): Salmonella in frozen snails in butter from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, via Greece; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1609): Aflatoxins in maize grains from Spain; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1610): Mold in hazelnuts from Turkey; distributed to Ireland and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1611): Histamine in skipjack tuna from Thailand; distributed to Ireland.

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.

From The Mailbag: Botulism and Vacuum-Packed Fish

I received an email a couple of weeks ago from Pamela in Canada, who asked the following question:

“I live in Canada, in Toronto, and I’ve noticed that there have been two or maybe even three separate and apparently unrelated incidents here involving botulism in vacuum-packed fish in gourmet grocery stores. I think that at least in some cases, this is fish from other suppliers that the stores have simply repackaged. From my limited knowledge I also understand that botulism can flourish in an anaerobic environment – like that of a vacuum bag?? Which leads me to wonder….. Are vacuum bags safe? What’s going on here?”

I was reminded of Pamela’s question yesterday, courtesy of the latest food safety alert from FDA. Euphoria Fancy Food Inc. (Brooklyn, NY) is recalling Dried Bream (7.5-oz vacuum packed plastic bags; Product of Russia; No batch or date codes; UPC 7 930042 250954), which was found by the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets to not have been properly eviscerated prior to processing.

Several US states – including New York – have banned the sale of uneviscerated preserved fish, because the spores of Clostridium botulinum are more likely to be concentrated in the viscera than in any other part of the fish. New York State monitors for this hazard on a routine basis and issues an alert whenever it finds that uneviscerated or incompletely eviscerated fish are offered for sale. The state has posted three such alerts so far this year.

The hazard is not just academic. In April 2012, three people in the Greater Toronto (Ontario, Canada) area developed botulism after eating a traditional uneviscerated, salted and cured fish (fesikh) at a catered event. The fesikh was supplied by Lotus Catering and Fine Food in Toronto.

Fesikh is a traditional dish served as part of Egypt’s spring celebration, according to an article in the Egypt Independent. “The best fesikh,” the owner of a fish shop in Old Cairo told the reporter, “is made of grey mullet fish from either Bardawil Lake, or from Kafr al-Sheikh Governorate, and then left out in containers until distended. When it is sufficiently putrefied, salt is added and the fish are left to pickle for at least 40 days.”

Not all dried, smoked or preserved foods are encouraged to putrefy as part of their recipe. But, allowing the contents of the intestinal tract to remain inside the fish during its drying, salting, smoking or pickling steps is not a safe practice, even without the putrefaction step.

In addition to the fesikh health hazard alert, there have been two recalls of vacuum packaged fish in Canada in 2012 – both in Toronto. McEwan Gourmet Grocery Store recalled two brands of Smoked Salmon in April, and Pusateri’s Fine Foods recalled several different products in June. Unfortunately, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency did not explain why it thought that these products were potentially contaminated with Clostridium botulinum.

Pamela is correct – Clostridium botulinum loves a vacuum. Manufacturers who use vacuum-packaging as a means of extending the shelf life of a product must pay special attention to the processing and to the ingredients used to prevent this pathogen from growing. Nevertheless, the risk of contracting botulism from a correctly preserved and processed vacuum-packaged food is extremely low. Nor must a food be vacuum-packed in order to be the source of a botulism incident.

In 1978, a Colorado restaurant wrapped potatoes in foil, baked them, and allowed them to cool – still foil-wrapped – overnight without refrigeration. The next day, the potatoes were cut up to make potato salad. Twelve people developed botulism symptoms; seven of them were hospitalized. The temperature/time combination used to bake the potatoes was not enough to kill the Clostridium botulinum spores, and the ambient temperature cooling period allowed the microbe to germinate, grow, and produce its toxin in the tightly wrapped potatoes.

The bottom line is that food must be processed, stored and handled in a safe manner regardless of whether or not it is vacuum-packed. Or, as I recently told Food Safety News

Food safety is a farm-to-table responsibility, whether the table is in a family’s kitchen, a seniors’ residence dining hall, a school cafeteria or a five-star restaurant.