Recalls and Alerts: April 12 – 14, 2019

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 ALERT / FOOD SAFETY RECALL: CDC reports 93 cases of Salmonella Carrau illnesses linked to consumption of pre-cut melons from Caito Foods, LLC. The company has recalled an extensive list of products. Please refer to the CDC Food Safety Alert and the Caito recall notice for additional details, including a complete list of affected products.

OUTBREAK ALERT: CDC reports 109 cases of E. coli O103 illnesses in 6 states. Preliminary epidemiological evidence points to ground beef as the source of the outbreak. No common distributor, supplier or brand of ground beef has been identified as yet.

Food Safety Recall: Denver Processing LLC recalls approximately 13,865 pounds of raw pork and beef products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection and outside inspection hours. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Uncle T Food recalls I’m Real brand Dehydrated Premium Mango (300g; All batch codes; UPC 8 850026 212138) due to improperly declared sulphites.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Lidl Nederland recalls Lidl Delicieux brand Maïsburger (Expiry dates 7-5-2019 and 8-5-2019) due to undeclared soy.

Allergy Alert (UK – England and Wales specific): Lidl recalls HealthyCo Proteinella Smooth Hazelnut and Cocoa Spread (400g; Best before 3 April 2020) due to undeclared hazelnuts, almonds and milk.

Allergy Alert (UK): Essential Trading recalls Essential Wholefoods Curry Powder Madras Hot (1kg and 500g; Best before between 04.01.2020 and 04.03.2021) due to undeclared mustard.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): AFSCA initiates a massive recall of cheeses manufactured by la fromagère de la Brie (France) and distributed in Belgium. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): FROM-UN recalls Jacquin brand Chèvre Pouligny St Pierre raw milk cheese (250g; Lots J90740112, J90740109, J90800104; Best before 04/05/2019 and 10/05/2019) due to E. coli O26 contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Finland): Lidl Finland recalls Culinea Chicken Nuggets (750g; Best before 14.11.2019) due to foreign matter (pieces of plastic) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Industry recalls cheeses manufactured by la fromagère de la Brie (France) and distributed in Germany. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Match Supermarkets recalls various STE brand cheesesmanufactured by Fromagere de la Brie due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Mora recalls Mora Kipkorn (5 x 60g; Lot code 9067) due to foreign matter (metal pieces) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Société Fromagèrie de la Brie recalls various cheeses due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products distributed in the Netherlands.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Washed Rind Pty Ltd recalls Washed Rind Pty Ltd Washed Mould Cheeses due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Cut melons from Caito Foods linked to multistate Salmonella outbreak

Caito Foods LLC (Caito) is recalling fresh cut watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe and fresh-cut mixed fruit containing one of these melons due to potential Salmonella contamination.

The cut fruit was produced at the company’s facility in Indianapolis, Indiana.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cut melons supplied by Caito are the likely source of a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Carrau infections that caused 93 illnesses in 9 states.

Twenty-three people have been hospitalized so far in the outbreak that began on March 4, 2019. The most recent reported illness was dated March 31, 2019. No deaths have been reported.

Confirmed cases of Salmonella Carrau associated with this outbreak have been reported in Alabama (1), Illinois (5), Indiana (18), Kentucky (16), Michigan (19), Minnesota (3), Missouri (3), Ohio (27), and Wisconsin (1).

Caito cut melon products were linked to the outbreak through epidemiological and traceback evidence.

The company has suspended production and distribution and is cooperating with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation.

According to CDC, most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps 12 to 72 hours after being exposed to the bacteria. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Children, seniors and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

This is the second time in less than a year that cut melons produced by Caito were associated with a Salmonella outbreak.

An outbreak of Salmonella Adelaide that sickened 77 people in 9 states between April 30, 2018 and July 2, 2018 was linked to cut melon products from Caito’s Indianapolis facility. Thirty-six people were hospitalized.

The following recalled products were packaged in clear, plastic clamshell containers, and were distributed in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Caito Foods Distribution (Plant identifier code SN01); States affected: IL, IN, KY, MI, MO, NY, OH, PA, NC; Clear Generic Label Distributed by Caito Foods; Best by/Use by 4/18/2019 and any date prior

CANTALOUPE SPEARS, 16 oz. UPC 81851301294

HONEYDEW SPEARS, 16 oz. UPC 81851301300

MELON MIX, 10 oz. UPC 81851301331

FRUIT MIX, 10 oz. UPC 81851301348

HONEYDEW CHUNKS, 10 oz. UPC 81851301362

CANTALOUPE CHUNKS, 10 oz. UPC 81851301379

WATERMELON CHUNKS, 9.5 oz. UPC 81851301386

FRUIT BURST, 20 oz. UPC 81851301409

FRUIT MIX, 48 oz. UPC 81851301416

FRUIT MIX, 16 oz. UPC 81851301447

FRUIT SNACK TRAY, 32 oz. UPC 81851301454

FRUIT PARTY PLATTER, 64 oz. UPC 81851301461

MELON MIX SPEARS, 16 oz. UPC 81851301478

FRUIT BOWL, 64 oz. UPC 81851301485

WATERMELON SPEAR, 16 oz. UPC 81851301591

CANTALOUPE CHUNKS, 80 oz. UPC 81851301614

HONEYDEW CHUNKS, 80 oz. UPC 81851301621

FRUIT MIX, 80 oz. UPC 81851302079

WATERMELON CHUNKS, 80 oz. UPC 81851302147

FRUIT BURST, 10 oz. UPC 81851302215

CANTALOUPE CHUNKS, 6 oz. UPC 81851217441

FRUIT MIX CHUNK, 6 oz. UPC 81851222308

WATERMELON CHUNK, 6 oz. UPC 81851222360

FRUIT SALAD SEASONAL, 10 oz. UPC 81851223411

FRUIT SALAD SEASONAL, 20 oz. UPC 81851223442

FRUIT SALAD SEASONAL, 32 oz. UPC 81851223466

FRUIT SPEAR SEASONAL, 16 oz. UPC 81851272662

CANTALOUPE CHUNK, 6 oz. UPC 81851272716

CANTALOUPE CHUNK, 10 oz. UPC 81851272723

FRUIT BURST, 10 oz. UPC 81851272778

FRUIT MIX, 10 oz. UPC 81851272785

MELON MIX, 10 oz. UPC 81851272815

MIXED FRUIT CHUNK, 6 oz. UPC 81851272822

SEASONAL FRUIT SALAD, 10 oz. UPC 81851272914

SEASONAL FRUIT SALAD, 32 oz. UPC 81851272921

WATERMELON SPEAR, 16 oz. UPC 81851273010

WATERMELON CHUNK, 18 oz. UPC 81851273041

WATERMELON CHUNK, 6 oz. UPC 81851273058

WATERMELON CHUNK, 9.5 oz. UPC 81851273065

WATERMELON TRAY, 80 oz. UPC 81851302239

WATERMELON CHUNK, 18 oz. UPC 826766260317

Gordon Food Service (Plant identifier code SN01); States affected IN, MI, PA, WI, KY, OH; Clear Generic Label Distributed by Caito Foods; Best by/Use by 4/18/2019 and any date prior

WATERMELON CHUNKS, 5 oz. UPC 826766009800

CANTALOUPE CHUNKS, 5 oz. UPC 826766009817

FRUIT MIX, 4.5 oz. UPC 826766257676

WATERMELON CHUNK, 10 oz. UPC 826766260041

MELON MIX, 5 oz. UPC 826766009886

Kroger (Plant identifier code GHMW); States affected: IL, IN, KY, MI, OH, TN, WV; Clear Generic Label Distributed by Renaissance Food Group; Best by/Use by 4/14/2019 and any date prior

MELON MIX, 10 oz. UPC 826766139804

FRUIT TRAY SM, 26.75 oz. UPC 826766145386

HONEYDEW CHUNK, 10 oz. UPC 49022558632

WATERMELON SPEAR, 16 oz. UPC 826766139620

WATERMELON CHUNK, 10 oz. UPC 826766139859

CANTALOUPE CHUNK, 80 oz. UPC 826766896578

CANTALOUPE CHUNK, 10 oz. UPC 826766140008

CANTALOUPE CHUNK, 24 oz. UPC 826766140060

MELON MIX, 24 oz. UPC 826766140077

WATERMELON CHUNK, 24 oz. UPC 826766140084

WATERMELON CHUNK, 48 oz. UPC 826766140145

FRUIT SNACK TRAY, 40 oz. UPC 826766140152

FRUIT MEDLEY, 10 oz. UPC 826766140176

FRUIT MEDLEY, 24 oz. UPC 826766140244

FRUIT MEDLEY, 48 oz. UPC 826766140305

WATERMELON CHUNK, 80 oz. UPC 826766896011

WATERMELON SPEAR, 64 oz. UPC 826766181704

MIXED SPEARS, 16 oz. UPC 826766139606

MELON SPEAR TRIO, 16 oz. UPC 826766139590

FRU TRAY LG, 64.75 oz. UPC 826766185498

HONEYDEW CHUNK, 80 oz. UPC 826766898947

Kroger (Plant identifier code GHMW); States affected: IL, IN, KY, MI, OH, TN, WV; Clear Generic Label Distributed by Renaissance Food Group; Best by/Use by 4/18/2019 and any date prior

FRUIT SALAD SEASONAL, 80 oz. UPC 826766898985

Kroger (Plant identifier code GHMW); States affected: IL, IN, KY, MI, OH, TN, WV; Boar’s Head Private Label; Best by/Use by 4/13/2019 and any date prior

SNACKER ITALIAN SALAMI, 4.75 oz. UPC 826766951246

SpartanNash Distribution (Plant identifier code SN01); States affected: MI, IN, IL; Open Acres; Best by/Use by 4/18/2019 and any date prior

CANTALOUPE SPEAR, 16 oz. UPC 884853630856

FRUIT BURST, 10 oz. UPC 884853630887

MELON MIX, 10 oz. UPC 884853630894

FRUIT MIX, 10 oz. UPC 884853630900

HONEYDEW CHUNK, 10 oz. UPC 884853630924

CANTALOUPE CHUNK, 10 oz. UPC 884853630931

WATERMELON CHUNK, 9.5 oz. UPC 884853630948

FRUIT BURST, 20 oz. UPC 884853630955

FRUIT MIX, 48 oz. UPC 884853630962

MELON MIX, 16 oz. UPC 884853630986

FRUIT MIX, 16 oz. UPC 884853630993

FRUIT TRAY, 32 oz. UPC 884853631006

FRUIT PARTY PLATTER, 64 oz. UPC 884853631013

WATERMELON SPEAR, 16 oz. UPC 884853631068

WATERMELON SPEAR, 28 oz. UPC 884853630672

FRUIT BOWL, 64 oz. UPC 884853631235

Target (Plant identifier code GHMW); States affected: IL; Garden Highway Label; Best by/Use by 4/18/2019 and any date prior

FRUIT BURST, 50 oz. UPC 826766951796

FRUIT BURST, 10 oz. UPC 826766951079

Target (Plant identifier code GHMW); States affected: IL; Garden Highway Label; Best by/Use by 4/19/2019 and any date prior

WATERMELON CHUNK, 9.5 oz. UPC 826766951031

FRUIT SNACK TRAY, 32 oz. UPC 826766951789

CANTALOUPE CHUNK, 10 oz. UPC 826766951048

MELON MIX, 20 oz. UPC 826766950898

CANTALOUPE SPEAR, 16 oz. UPC 826766951109

WATERMELON SPEAR, 16 oz. UPC 826766951093

CANTALOUPE CHUNK, 20 oz. UPC 826766951758

Trader Joes (Plant identifier code P-003); States affected: IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, WI; Trader Joes; Best by/Use by 4/19/2019 and any date prior

CANTALOUPE SLICE, 16 oz; UPC 95266

Walmart (Plant identifier code GHMW); States affected: IA, IL, IN, MO, OH, MI; Freshness Guaranteed; Best by/Use by 4/19/2019 and any date prior

CANTALOUPE SPEAR, 10 oz. UPC 681131180146

SEASONAL TRIO, 32 oz. UPC 681131180696

WATERMELON SPEAR, 32 oz. UPC 681131180689

SEASONAL BLEND, 10 oz. UPC 681131180481

SEASONAL BLEND, 16 oz. UPC 681131180498

WATERMELON SPEAR, 10 oz. UPC 681131180672

WATERMELON SPEAR, 16 oz. UPC 681131180665

FRUIT BOWL, 40 oz. UPC 681131180238

CANTALOUPE SPEAR, 16 oz. UPC 681131180153

WATERMELON CHUNK, 40 oz. UPC 681131180658

SEASONAL BLEND, 32 oz. UPC 681131180504

FRUIT TRAY, 48 oz. UPC 681131180207

Amazon/Whole Foods (Plant identifier code GHMW); States affected: IL, WI; Whole Foods Market Label; Best by/Use by 4/18/2019 and any date prior

WATERMELON CHUNKS, 9.5 oz. UPC 826766810956

CANTALOUPE CHUNKS, 10 oz. UPC 826766811045

WATERMELON SPEARS, 16 oz. UPC 826766810970

MELON COMBO, 20 oz. UPC 826766811205

FRUIT TRAY SMALL, 36 oz. UPC 826766811274

Lax testing practices resulted in vitamin D overdoses in Hill’s and Sunshine Mills pet food

This story by Phyllis Entis first appeared in Food Safety News and is reposted here with permission.

Toxic levels of vitamin D in Hill’s Pet Nutrition (Hill’s) canned pet foods and Sunshine Mills (Sunshine) dry pet foods could have been prevented, had both companies followed their own food safety plans.

According to information obtained by Food Safety News in response to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, Hill’s identified Vitamin Premix as a ‘high risk’ chemical hazard and required that the ingredient “…be analyzed and be within acceptable limits prior to unloading … into the manufacturing facility.”

The company was unable to provide analytical test results for Vitamin Premixes during a February 2019 inspection.

The inspection was undertaken by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in response to the January 31, 2019 Hill’s recall of canned pet foods due to excess levels of vitamin D.

Tests conducted on a retained sample of the premix revealed a level of vitamin D that was roughly 30 times the target range for this ingredient. As of February 11, 2019, the company acknowledged having received 85 consumer complaints reporting pet deaths.

The number of complaints received by the company has increased substantially since that date, according to information supplied to FDA by Hill’s in response to FDA’s inspection observations.

FDA declined to comment on the number of pet deaths. According to an agency spokesperson, FDA is still in the process of verifying details of the complaints it has received, and considers it would be “…premature to release a number until the cases have been vetted to ensure they are all related to recalled product and are indeed cases of vitamin D toxicity.”

Hill’s cited a manufacturing error on the part of its vitamin premix supplier as the cause for the excessive vitamin D levels in its canned pet foods. The company is reevaluating and strengthening its specifications, including requiring a Certificate of Analysis for each incoming shipment of vitamin and trace mineral premixes.

In December 2018, FDA issued an alert to pet owners regarding a series of dry dog food recalls for excessive vitamin D levels. As reported by Food Safety News, FDA received a total of six dog illness reports associated with the recalled products.

The dry dog foods were manufactured by Sunshine Mills and sold under several brand names.

An ordering error by a Sunshine employee caused the wrong Vitamin D ingredient to be shipped to the company.

According to FDA, Sunshine did not follow its own written procedures for receiving ingredients. The company neither obtained a Certificate of Analysis for the ingredient, nor conducted its own testing to determine whether the Vitamin D it received was the correct concentration for use in dog food.

The error resulted in a level of Vitamin D in the finished dog foods of as much as 70 times the target amount.

Sunshine was notified on October 23, 2018 about a consumer complaint reporting an ill dog that had eaten one of the company’s dry dog foods. Sunshine investigated the complaint and concluded on November 2nd that it was valid.

FDA requires validated complaints to be reported within 24 hours; however, Sunshine did not submit a ‘reportable food report’ to FDA until six days later, on November 8, 2018.

Although the sources of elevated vitamin D were different in these two situations, the course of events was similar.

Both Hill’s and Sunshine took delivery of an ingredient that was substantially higher in vitamin D than specified for the purpose.
Both Hill’s and Sunshine had written procedures in place for receiving raw materials, and these procedures mandated testing for vitamin D concentration.
Neither Hill’s nor Sunshine carried out the lab analysis mandated in their written procedures.
Neither Hill’s nor Sunshine required a Certificate of Analysis for their Vitamin D ingredient or premixes.
Had Hill’s and Sunshine followed their own written procedures, the incorrect vitamin D ingredient concentration would have been found before the ingredient was used.

FDA’s investigation into Hill’s is ongoing, according to an agency spokesperson.

FDA offers the following information regarding vitamin D toxicity to pet owners and veterinarians.

If your pet is having symptoms of vitamin D toxicity, contact a veterinarian immediately. Provide a full diet history to your veterinarian. You may find it helpful to take a picture of the pet food label, including the lot number.
Don’t feed the recalled products to your pets or any other animal. Contact the company listed on the package for further instructions or throw the products away in a way that children, pets and wildlife cannot access them.
Consumers can report suspected illness to the FDA electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling your state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators. It’s most helpful if you can work with your veterinarian to submit your pet’s medical records as part of your report. For an explanation of the information and level of detail that would be helpful to include in a complaint to the FDA, please see How to Report a Pet Food Complaint.
The FDA encourages veterinarians treating vitamin D toxicity to ask their clients for a diet history. We also welcome case reports, especially those confirmed through diagnostics. You can submit these reports electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling your state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators. For an explanation of the information and level of detail that would be helpful to include in a complaint to the FDA, please see How to Report a Pet Food Complaint.
Veterinarians should also be aware that vitamin D toxicity may present as hypercalcemia, similar to dogs that have consumed rodenticide. In these cases, FDA suggests that veterinarians confirm diet history to verify whether the dog has been eating any of the recalled products.

For a comprehensive list of Hill’s Pet Nutrition canned pet foods recalled due to excessive Vitamin D, please visit Hill’s Pet Nutrition recalls: Country-by-country breakdown on eFoodAlert