Tag: E. coli O157:H7

Recalls and Alerts: December 30-31, 2021

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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.

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations? Click on the TAINTED menu at the top of the page to read a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital or print copy to your personal library.

United States

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: CDC reports an outbreak of thirteen E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in six states has been linked to Simple Truth and Nature’s Basket brands of Organic Power Greens salad mix containing organic spinach, mizuna, kale, and chard. The implicated products, which carry “Best if used by” dates through December 20, 2021, were sold at grocery stores and supermarkets, including Fred Meyer, QFC, and Giant Eagle.

Public Health Alert: FSIS issues a public health alert for an undetermined amount of imported meat and poultry products from China. A recall was not requested because FSIS has been unable to identify and contact the importers. The total amount of ineligible product is undetermined because the investigation is ongoing. Please refer to the public notice for a complete list of affected products.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Save-on-Foods recalls certain Save on Foods brand combo meals due to possible Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Germany): XOX Gebäck GmbH recalls XOX Biene Maja Kartoffelsnack / Potato snack (100g; Lots 214 & 215; Best before 28.07.2022 & 29.07.2022, respectively) due to undeclared wheat.

Food Safety Recall (France): SCAMARK E.LECLERC recalls BIO VILLAGE brand PETITS POIS DOUX TRES FINS SURGELES / Small green peas, frozen (600g; Lot 261250C with date stamp between 5h00 & 6h00 and Lot 261251B with date stamp between 6h00 & 11h00; Best before 30/09/2023) due to toxic foreign plant material (black nightshade) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Monoprix recalls MONOPRIX GOURMET brand REBLOCHON DE SAVOIE FERMIER AOP Cheese (450g and half round; Lots 17061221 & 17061221348; Use by 01/02/2022 and 04/01/2022, respectively) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): MAISON MER recalls Maison Mer – Côte Atlantique brand Langoustines cuites réfrigérées 16/20 / Cooked, refrigerated langoustines (1kg; Lot 3472100214911; Use by 23/12/2021) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SALAISONS DES ROYATS recalls Dried sausage products due to Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (France): ABCD NUTRITION recalls RAYON VRAC graines de lin brun BIO / Organic brown flax seeds (Lot 35803; Best before 06/09/2022) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): POCHAT FROMAGES recalls POCHAT FROMAGESGEDEON Reblochon Fermier cheese (Lot 32603821476; Use by 24/01/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): CHARCUTERIE PIERRAT recalls PIERRAT brand P’TITES KNACKS SUPERIEURES COCKTAIL / Cocktail sausages (Lot 493; Use by 07/01/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Fleischsalat- u. Mayonnaisenfabrikation Wolfgang Schmidt OHG recalls vogtländische Rindsknacker / Beef sausage (~250g; Best before 02.01.2022 & 16.01.2022) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Italy): EUROSPIN Italia recalls Pascoli italiani PECORICCO brand Formaggio primosale con olive rucola e peperoncino / Primosale cheese with rocket olives and chilli (Variable weights; Lot 66 33321; Best before 27.06.2022) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Food safety authorities recall certain Klaas + Pitsch Fleisch-und Wurstwaren brand Geräucherte Gourmet Gänsebrust / Smoked goose breast products due to Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): ABCD Nutrition recalls RAYON VRAC graines de lin brun BIO / Organic brown flax seeds (Lot 35803; Best before 06/09/2022) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): DekaMarkt and Dirk recall 1 De Beste Bio Rookworst / Organic smoked sausage (240g; Expiration dates from 29-12-2021 to 03-01-2022) due to foreign matter (metal contamination).

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Nerada Tea Pty Ltd recalls Nerada Detox Tea with added Probiotics (30g / pkg of 20 tea bags; Best before 04/11/22, 29/03/23 & 01/06/23) due to Salmonella contamination.

WISHING EVERYBODY
A HAPPY NEW YEAR
AND A HEALTHY AND FOOD-SAFE 2022

Recalls and Alerts: December 28-29, 2021

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Click on the image to start reading now.

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.

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations? Click on the TAINTED menu at the top of the page to read a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital or print copy to your personal library.

United States

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: FDA has opened a traceback investigation into an eleven-case outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses. No food source has been identified as yet.

Allergy Alert: Dianne’s Fine Desserts recalls Sienna® Chocolate Decadent Brownies (3.06 kg; Lot #6Z1L24) due to undeclared pecans.

Food Safety Recall: Relish Foods, Inc recalls Frozen Pacific Fusion Brand Tuna Steaks (10 oz; Production code R11G2821D22A D2091A; Best before July 2023) due to potential for elevated levels of histamine. The recalled products were distributed in Northern California and made for sale at Save Mart Supermarkets and Lucky Stores from October 6th, 2021 potentially up to December 27th, 2021. 

Food Safety Recall: Poppies International, Inc. recalls Delizza Choc Enrobed 30 ct (400g; Lots L1J5021 & L1K5021; Best before 06/09/2023; UPC 6 76670 00402 2), Delizza Cream Puffs 30 ct (375g; Lots L2N5021 & L2O5021; Best before 06/10/2023; UPC 6 76670 00107 6) and Delizza Cream Puffs 120 ct (1.5 kg; Lots L32E5021 & L32F5021; Best before 06/07/2023; UPC 6 76670 00800 6) due to possible foreign matter (small metal fragments) contamination.

Food Safety Recall Update: HAIFA SMOKED FISH recalls Turbot Cold Smoked (8-oz pkgs; Lots 97, 223, 246, 299 & 321) due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Jumbo recalls Jumbo Pastasaus spinazie room / Creamy spinach pasta sauce (275g; Best before 28-01-2022) due to undeclared eggs.

Allergy Alert (Germany): ENCINGER SK s.r.o. recalls K-Classic Schoko Rosinen in Vollmilchschokolade / Milk chocolate-covered raisins (200g; Lot #E06210705D; 23/07/2022; Product of Slovakia) due to undeclared peanuts.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Jumbo recalls Jumbo Pastasaus spinazie room / Creamy spinach pasta sauce (275g; Best before 28-01-2022) due to undeclared eggs.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Albert Heijn recalls AH Gingerbreadman koekjes / Gingerbread cookies (125g; Best before 01-02-2022) due to possible foreign matter (pieces of metal) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): BCT 500 recalls Rôti de porc farci / Stuffed pork roast (~800g; Lot #21355-8810; Use by 29/12/2021) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall Update (Germany): Klaas + Pitsch Fleisch- & Wurstwaren GmbH recalls multiple products due to potential Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Delhaize recalls Delhaize brand Queso de cabra cheese (Best before 03/01/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Albert Heijn recalls AH Gingerbreadman koekjes / Gingerbread cookies (125g; Best before 01-02-2022) due to possible foreign matter (pieces of metal) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Dekamarkt and Dirk recall 1 de Beste Luxe vis borrelschotel / Fish snack (Expiration dates up to and including 03-01-2022) due to potential for damaged package seals.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Allergy Alert (Israel): Amer Ahmad Ben Salim recalls Mixed Gurayba (500g; Expiration date 19.04.2022; Produced by Sweet Gida, Turkey) due to undeclared wheat (gluten), nuts (pistachios), sesame seeds, and soy.

Food Safety Recall (Israel): Delicatessen Artisanal Ltd. recalls Rosette sausage product, sliced (100g; Expiry dates 12.03.22 to 15.03.22 inclusive) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Pak’n Save Manukau recalls specific batches and flavours of Pams and Pak’n Save Hot Roasted Chickens (Sold on 29 December 2021) due to possible contamination by a cleaning agent. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Recalled salad mix blamed for Listeria monocytogenes outbreak

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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), together with state and local partners and the CDC, is investigating an outbreak of ten Listeria monocytogenes illnesses in eight states.

The onset dates for illnesses linked to the outbreak strain range from July 26, 2016 to October 19, 2021.

The outbreak strain is a genetic match for the Listeria monocytogenes recovered from Fresh Express Sweet Hearts salad mix by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARM) during the course of a routine sampling program.

The MDARM issued a Consumer Advisory on December 17, 2021.

In response to the Listeria monocytogenes finding and the outbreak investigation, Fresh Express, Inc. has recalled certain varieties of its branded and private label salad products produced at the company’s Streamwood, Illinois facility.

Fresh Express, Inc. is a division of Chiquita Brands.

Affected brands include: Fresh Express, Giant Eagle, Little Salad Bar, Market District, Marketside, O Organics, Signature Farms, Simply Nature Organic, Weis Fresh From the Field, and Wellsley Farms Organic.

The recall includes all Use-By Dates of fresh salad items with product codes Z324 through Z350. Please refer to the Fresh Express recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

The recalled products were distributed in Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

Some of the recalled products were also exported to Canada. Please refer to the CFIA recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were sold in Manitoba and Ontario and also may have been distributed in other provinces and territories. 

A Repeat Offender

Fresh Express, which has suspended production at its Streamwood facility, has been the source of more than one previous foodborne disease outbreak.

In 2018, more than 500 customers of MacDonald’s in fifteen states were infected with Cyclospora after consuming a packaged romaine lettuce/carrot mix supplied to the restaurant chain by Fresh Express. 

In December 2019, Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kits were identified as the source of an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in the United States and Canada.

And on October 20, 2020, the FDA issued a Warning Letter to the company as a result of the agency’s investigation into the source of yet another multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis that was traced back to bagged salad mixes produced at the Streamwood production plant.

On November 10, 2021, the FDA issued a Close-out Letter acknowledging the company’s corrective actions to the violations listed in the October 2020 Warning Letter.

What Retailers Need to Know

  • Stop serving or selling recalled produce, whether it is fresh or frozen. Produce stored at cold temperatures can be contaminated. Listeria monocytogenes can grow even at refrigerated temperatures.
  • Keep recalled produce away from other foods and from any equipment, utensils, and linens, among other things.
  • Determine if cross-contamination with other foods may have happened.
  • Determine the source of the produce, or the supplier if the source of the fresh/frozen produce is unknown.
  • Follow the instructions from the source or supplier on how to return or dispose of the recalled produce.
  • Your employees should wash their hands thoroughly after handling recalled produce.
  • Wash any clothing and linens that have may be contaminated.

What Consumers Need to Know

  • Mild symptoms may include a fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If the more severe form of listeriosis develops, symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. 
  • People infected with L. monocytogenes may start to see symptoms in a few hours or as long as two to three days after eating contaminated food. More severe forms of listeriosis may take anywhere from three days to three months to develop.
  • Consult your health care provider if you suspect that you or a family member has developed symptoms that resemble a L. monocytogenes infection.
  • Discard any of the recalled products or return them to the retailer for a refund.
  • Wash and sanitize any surfaces in your refrigerator or your kitchen that may have come into contact with one of the recalled products.
  • Canadian consumers should be on the alert for any recall notices issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. In the meantime, do not purchase, serve or eat any of the products listed on the US recall notice.

For more information, members of the public can contact the Fresh Express Consumer Response Center toll-free line at: 800-242-5472