Recalls and Alerts: March 13, 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.

United States

  • Food Recall Update: Price Chopper rescinds its earlier recall of all varieties of Home Style Gravy. Price Chopper recalls Price Chopper Home Style Beef Gravy (12 oz; UPC 41735-16509), because the product did not meet quality standards. All other varieties of Home Style Gravy are unaffected. 
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Staples, Incorporated (Framingham, MA) that an October/November 2011 inspection of the company’s Stockton, California facility documented serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Fong Kee Tofu Company, Inc. (San Francisco, CA) that a December 2011 inspection of the company’s food manufacturing facility documented serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Modern Products, Inc. (Mequon, WI) that an August/September 2011 inspection of the company’s facility revealed a failure to comply with the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for dietary supplements.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Creekside Springs, LLC (Salineville, OH) that a June/July 2011 inspection of the company’s bottled water processing facility determined that the company is processing bottled water which you label as spring, drinking, and distilled water in violation of the Processing and Bottling of Bottled Drinking Water Regulation.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall Update: New Food Classics expands its earlier recalls of beef products to include no name 12 Beef Burgers (1.36 kg; UPC 0 60383 37333 7; Lot Code of BB 2012 AL 22 EST 761) and no name Club Pack Beef Steakettes (2.27 kg; UPC 0 60383 01321 9; Lot Code of BB 2012 AL 22 EST 761), because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled products were distributed nationally by Loblaws. There has been one reported illness associated with the consumption of the New Food Classics products.

Europe

  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Spain): Lapis Lazuli España Optical Services S.L. recalls Eye See All In One Solution + Hyaluronate contact lens solution (Manufactured by Lapis Lazuli International NV; Lot 109077), due to reports of problems with irritation, red eye, and conjunctivitis.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0379): Excess amount of Ponceau 4R/cochineal red A in sugared almonds from Belgium; distributed to Belgium and the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0380): Methomyl in strawberries from Egypt; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0382): Deoxynivalenol in oats from Sweden; distributed to Denmark.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0384): Parasitic infestation with Anisakis of chilled monkfish from France; distributed to Italy.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Allergy Alert (Australia): Pacific Organics recalls GF Harvest Old Fashioned Rolled Oats, Gluten-Free (1.16 kg packet; Best before AUG 2012; Product of USA), due to non-compliant labelling. The recalled product was distributed in health food shops and bakeries in New South Wales.
  • Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Goodman Fielder New Zealand Ltd. recalls Deli Kitchen Sandwiches Gourmet Farmhouse Flavour (167g pre-packaged sandwiches; Best before 13/03/12 and 15/03/12), because one of the sandwich ingredients may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled sandwiches were sold in service stations and some corner stores and mini-marts throughout the North Island.

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: March 12, 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.

United States

  • Food Safety Recall: Price Chopper recalls Price Chopper Home Style Gravy (12 oz.; All varieties; UPC 41735-16508, 41735-16509, 41735-16511, 41735-16507, and 41735-16510), due to the presence of unidentified material in the jars.
  • Food Quality Recall: Bi-Lo recalls Southern Home Vegetable Juice (46-oz PET; UPC 6 07880 01793; all lot codes) and Southern Home Tomato Juice (46-oz PET; UPC 6 07880 01794; all lot codes), due to a quality issue.
  • Food Safety Alert Update: The Missouri Department of Agriculture has announced that state inspection has resumed at Alma Meats, after the business addressed violations identified in January 2012. A state inspector will be present at Alma each day during processing.
  • Dietary Supplement Withdrawal: C.B. Fleet Company, Inc. withdraws Lax Fiber Gummies Daily Fiber Supplement, 60-count (Lot Nos. 42414, 43136, 43831, 45189, 45656, 46425, 46885, 47353, 47771, 47949, 48260, 48742, 48994, 49206, 49793, 50301, 50587, 51491, 51966, and 53147), because Gummie dietary supplements of a different type are co-mingled with the fiber dietary supplement. The product was sold in VG’s Grocery, VG’s Fresh Market,  Spartan, Valu Land, Glen’s Markets, Glen’s Fresh Market, Family Fare Supermarkets, and D&W Fresh Market stores.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Farmer John’s Herbs recalls Farmer John’s Herbs brand “Mud Pie” Macaroon Cookie Mix (400g; All codes; UPC 7 73353 60077 6), due to the presence of undeclared sulphites. The recalled cookie mix was distributed through retailers in Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontario.
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Vita Health Products recalls Rexall Extra Strength Sinus Relief Daytime and Nightime Caplets “combo pack” (Lot #00058398B), due to a labeling error. Health Canada advises that the text printed on the back of the blister foil incorrectly identifies the nighttime caplets as the daytime caplets and the daytime caplets as nighttime caplets.
  • Unauthorized Health Product Alert: Health Canada advises that the unauthorized health product, “Power-X” has been removed from store shelves at the Chong Kun Dang Health store in Burnaby, BC after Health Canada’s testing identified undeclared thiodimethylsildenafil in the product. Consumers should be aware that the product may also be available for sale elsewhere.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Finland): Inex Partners Oy recalls Rainbow Suklaahippukakut/Chocolate chip cakes (350g; Best before 11/05/2012) because the product may contain pieces of plastic.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (UK): Moorfields Pharmaceuticals recalls Bevacizumab, prepared for intraocular use (Batch Nos. 003673, 003679, 003748, 003749, 003750, 003812, 003752, 003773, 003777, 003784, 003786, 003793, 003833, 003868(?), 003795, 003798, 003805, 003829, 003832, 003837, 003840, 003844, 003883, 003852 and 003861), after a small group of patients developed signs and symptoms consistent with a sterile endophthalmitis after receiving an intravitreal injection of Bevacizumab.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0375): Parasitic infestation with nematodes of canned cod liver from Poland; distributed to Bulgaria and Poland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0376): Glass fragments in chocolate chip cake from Denmark; distributed to Denmark and Finland.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.0377): Undeclared milk ingredient in dark chocolate and dark chocolate containing dried fruit from Spain; distributed to Portugal and Spain.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Chinese Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): The Department of Health alerts the public not to buy or consume the unregistered proprietary Chinese medicine Tong Ren Xiu Fu Kou Fu Yi Dao Su, as it may contain the undeclared and banned Western drugs phenformin and glibenclamide.
  • Outbreak Alert (India): Two children died of food poisoning in Ghazipur district and more than 30 others participants at a fair were admitted to a community health center, complaining of symptoms. Police are investigating food vendors that sold food during the fair.

Australia and New Zealand

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: March 11, 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.

United States

  • Allergy Alert: Publix Super Markets recalls Publix Beef Stew Seasoning Mix (1.45 oz; UPC 41415-03608; Best by DEC 09 13 H), after receiving notification from McCormick & Company, Inc. that the product may be mispacked with brown gravy and may contain undeclared milk. The recalled seasoning mix was distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina.
  • Outbreak Alert (New York): Nassau County Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness that has affected “hundreds” of students at Barnum Woods Elementary School. Norovirus is suspected.
  • Outbreak Alert (Illinois): Norovirus is the suspected cause of an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness at Westfield Community School in Algonquin. About 55% of the elementary school and more than 40% of the middle school students have been kept home from school. Eleven teachers reported symptoms.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Sobey’s Québec inc. recalls Esc Poitrine Poulet Asperge, Roti de Porc Cuit, and Terrine Sanglier Moisson, due to the presence of undeclared soy, wheat and/or fish. The recalled products were sold at certain IGA and IGA Extra grocery stores in variable weight formats and also packaged at the store up to and including March 7, 2012.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (France): Chablis Gourmets recalls Chablis Andouillettes Roulaide Chablisienne (approx. 300g slice; vacuum-packed; Lot #10.06; sold from 15/02/2012 through 09/03/2012), due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product was sold in “self-service” departments of warehouse stores in the Bourgogne and Champagne Ardenne regions. Stores in the following cities and towns sold this product: Brienon (Yonne ), Chablis (Yonne) Auxerre (Yonne) Vermenton (Yonne) Joigny (Yonne), Migennes (Yonne), Avallon (Yonne), Villeneuve sur Yonne (yonne), Arc/ Tille (Côte d’or), Perrigny (Côte d’or), Dijon (Côte d’or), Fontaine les Dijon (Côte d’or), Auxonne (Côte d’or), Chalon-sur-Saône (Saône et Loire), Montceau les Mines (Saône et Loire), Torcy (Saône et Loire), Troyes (Aube), et Chaumont (Haute Marne).
  • Food Safety Withdrawal (Poland): Polish health authorities have ordered the withdrawal from the market of more than 230,000 kilograms (500,000 pounds) of pickles, bread and other food suspected of containing industrial salt, according to an Associated Press report.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall (France): French authorities announce the recall of Dekang Liquid for Electronic Cigarettes (Pineapple and Desert Ship varieties) and Halo Liquid for Electronic Cigarettes (Tribeca, Coolmist and Prime 15 varieties), due to excessive levels of nicotine.
  • Outbreak Alert (UK): Friarswood Primary School (Newcastle) remains closed while students and staff are tested for possible E. coli infections, after three cases of E. coli were confirmed this week. An additional 10 possible cases have been identified.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0351): Dead insects in frozen spinach from France, via Italy; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0353): Unauthorized azorubine in nectar pomegranate from Greece, with raw material from Turkey; distributed to Greece.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0355): Escherichia coli in fresh mussels from Tunisia; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0358): Suspicion of fraud in relation to horse meat from Hungary; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0359): Aflatoxins in corn flour from Pakistan; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.0363): Undeclared peanut in Lituanica brand marchmallow vanilla from Poland; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2012.0364): Salmonella spp. in meat meal from France; distributed to Italy.
  • Pet Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0366): Mercury in cat food with tuna from Thailand; distributed to Italy.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2012.0367): Excessive Enterobacteriaceae in salmon meal from Norway; distributed to Belgium.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.0368): Lactoprotein and undeclared lactose in infant formula (non-milk rice porridge) from Turkey; distributed to the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.0369): Undeclared gluten in cake mixes from Jamaica; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0370): Mercury in defrosted mako from Spain; distributed to Italy.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.0371): Allergic reaction caused by, and unauthorized benzoic acid in, rose jam from Syria; distributed to Cyprus.

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.