Tag: Food

US Shredded Cheese Recalls Multiply

On December 29, 2011, Miller’s Cheese Corp. (Brooklyn, NY) sent a recall notice to its customers. The notice began:

Dear Customer: 

For the first time in our 110-year history, a voluntary recall by the State of Wisconsin involves a packaging facility that handles only the shredding and packaging (not the actual cheese production) of some limited shredded Miller’s products. Although the test results for all of the Miller’s shredded cheese distributed in the market place tested negative for Listeria monocytogenes, the State of Wisconsin has requested a voluntary recall of all the products that were shredded in that plant from the time the listeria was found in another brand of cheese also packed in this plant.

That same day, World Cheese Company (New York, NY) also sent a recall notice to its customers. That notice began:

Dear Customer:

For the first time in our 75-year history, a voluntary recall by the State of Wisconsin involves a packaging facility that handles only the shredding and packaging (not the actual cheese production) of some limited shredded Haolam products. Although the test results for all of the Haolam’s shredded cheese distributed in the market place tested negative for Listeria monocytogenes, the State of Wisconsin has requested a voluntary recall of all the products that were shredded in that plant from the time the listeria was found in another brand of cheese also packed in this plant.

The initial recalls covered certain varieties of Miller’s and Haolam shredded cheeses; however, Alpine Slicing and Cheese Conversion Company (a Wisconsin company) soon chimed in with its own recall list, covering several brands of grated and shredded cheeses.

Following is a consolidated list of shredded and grated cheeses cheeses, all of which were recalled recently due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes:

Several retail supermarkets and grocery stores have alerted their customers to this recall, including:

  • Giant Food, LLC: Miller’s Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 7881236950), Miller’s Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 7881200910), Haloam Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 2663826200), Haolam Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 2663800264) and Haolam Shredded Pizza Cheese (UPC 2663826300)
  • Giant Eagle, Inc: Haloam Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 2663826200), Haolam Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 2663800264) and Haolam Shredded Mozzarella/Cheddar (UPC 2663826500)
  • Giant Food Stores: Miller’s Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 7881236950), Miller’s Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 7881200910), Haloam Cheddar Shredded Cheese (UPC 2663826200), Haolam Shredded Mozzarella Shredded Cheese (UPC 2663800264) and Haolam Regular Real Natural Pizza Shredded Mozzarella Muenster Cheese (UPC 2663826300)
  • Kroger, King Soopers, City Market & QFC: Miller Shredded Fancy Cheese (8 oz), Miller Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (8 oz.), Miller Shredded Muenster Cheese (8 oz), Miller Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (16 oz), and Miller Shredded Colored Cheddar Cheese (8 oz). Affected in Kroger stores located in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Knoxville, Tennessee, Texas and Louisiana, Central and Northwest Ohio and N. West Virginia panhandle, North Carolina, Virginia, Eastern WV, Eastern Kentucky, SE Ohio, Greater Memphis, TN, Arkansas, Mississippi and Western Kentucky; King Soopers, City Market and QFC stores.
  • Price Chopper: Miller’s Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 7881200910?), Miller’s Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 7881200910), Haolam Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 2663800264) and Haolam Shredded Pizza Cheese (2663826300).
  • Stop & Shop: Miller’s Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 7881236950), Miller’s Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 7881200910), Haloam Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 2663826200), Haolam Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 2663800264) and Haolam Shredded Pizza Cheese (UPC 2663826300)
The recalled cheeses were distributed as follows in California (added January 11, 2012):
  • Grumpy Goat Shredded Cheese: Windmill Farms (San Diego) and Sunflower Markets (Modesto)
  • Edelweiss Fondue Cheese: Sprouts Market (Chula Vista) and Sunflower Markets (Modesto and Roseville)
  • Miller Shredded Cheeses: AMM (Mission Viego), Cambridge Farms (N. Hollywood), Catering by Felicia (Poway), Elat Market (Los Angeles), Encino Kosher (Encino), Farmers Ranch (Van Nuys), Glatt Mart (Los Angeles), Jordan Market (Laguna Hills), Kitov Market (Los Angeles), Kosher Club (Los Angeles),  Le Market (N. Hollywood), Livonia (Los Angeles), Mr. Kosher (Encino), Pars Kosher Market (San Jose), Pico Glatt Kosher (Los Angeles), Royal Palate Foods (Inglewood), Santa Clarita Valley Prod (Valencia), Super Ranch Market (Mission Viego), Super Sal Encino (Encino), Valley Produce (Reseda), and Ventura (Tarzana)
  • World Cheese Co (Haolam) Shredded Cheeses: Ariel Glatt Market (Los Angeles), Baron’s – Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), Cambridge Farms (N. Hollywood), Elat Market (Los Angeles), Encino Kosher (Encino), Fields Market (West Hills), Glatt Mart (Los Angeles), Jordan Market (Laguna Hills), Kitov Market (Los Angeles), Kosher Bazar (Reseda), Kosher Club (Los Angeles), La Brea Kosher (Los Angeles), Le Market (N. Hollywood), Livonia (Los Angeles), Meir Produce (Los Angeles), Mr. Kosher (Encino), Nutrition Wise (Los Angeles), Orange County Kosher (Tustin), Pars Kosher Market (San Jose), Pico Glatt Kosher (Los Angeles), Royal Palate Foods (Inglewood), Shalom & Sons (Los Angeles), Shalom Pizza (Los Angeles), Super Sal Encino (Encino), Valley Produce (Reseda), Ventura (Tarzana), Vine Ripe Farmers Market (La Mesa), Western Kosher (Los Angeles), and Wholesome Choice Irvine (Irvine)

Recalls and Alerts: January 2, 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.

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United States

  • Allergy Alert: Shamrock Foods (Phoenix, AZ) recalls approximately 7,500 pounds of marinated beef and marinated chicken products because the marinated beef product contains undeclared soybeans, wheat, and sulfites, and the marinated chicken product contains undeclared wheat, milk and sulfites. The recalled products were produced from Dec. 1, 2011 through Dec. 29, 2011, and shipped to food service institutions in Arizona.
  • Food Safety Recall/Alert: The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) warns consumers to avoid consumption of certain Fromagerie Marie Kade brand cheese and milk products because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The cheeses were recalled by the Canadian manufacturer (3903052 Canada Inc., Boisbriand, Quebec) after consumption of one of the cheeses was linked to a single case of listeriosis in Canada. The affected cheeses were distributed to Cedar Market (Norwood, MA) and Bahnan’s (Worcester, MA) and include the following items: Akawi Cheese (Best Before 08 MAR 2012), Baladi Cheese (Best Before 08 FEB 2012), Shinglish Cheese (Best Before 07 NOV 2012), Tresse Cheese (Best Before 10 NOV 2012), Vachekaval Cheese (Best Before 10 MAR 2012), Halloom (Best Before 01 MAY 2012), and Moujadale (Best Before 04 MAY 2012).
  • Food Safety Recall: Green Valley Food Corp expands its earlier recall of sprout products to include additional products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The company expanded its recall after testing of several random samples yielded Listeria monocytogenes. The recall includes Let’s Grow Healthy Together, Green Valley Food Corp and Broccosprouts brands of products. Please refer to the recall notice for complete details.
  • Food Safety Recall: Miller’s Cheese Corp recalls several Miller’s Shredded Cheese and Haolam Shredded Cheese products, due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled cheeses were sold in Stop & Shop and Giant Food stores.
  • Food Safety Recall: The Kroger Company advises its customers that Wrapped Iceberg Lettuce (24 ct) has been recalled from affected Smith’s stores in North Carolina, Virginia, Eastern WV, Eastern Kentucky, and SE Ohio, due to potential contamination with Salmonella.
  • Personal Care Product Safety Recall: HimalayaUSA® recalls Organique by Himalaya Nourishing Night Cream (Batch #S691001 and #S691002), due to contamination with Staphylococcus aureus and fungus.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Safie Specialty Foods Company, Inc. recalls Sweet Pickled Beets (1L jars; Best before Aug 18, 2013 or later), after a consumer finds glass in the product. The recalled products were sold between August 18 and December 30, 2011 in Costco Wholesale warehouses in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Finland): Lidl Finland Ky recalls Harvin brand Pineapple slices (565g; Code L2312A1324 – 31.12.2013), because the product contains tin in excess of the allowable limit.
  • Outbreak Alert (UK): Two wards at Wrexham Maelor Hospital have been closed to new admissions due to an outbreak of norovirus at the hospital.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): SA Sprouts recalls all sprout varieties (all Use By dates up to and including 06 01 12), due to contamination with E. coli. The recalled sprouts were sold at Foodlands, IGA and Fruit and vegetable stores in South Australia.

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.

FDA, CDC Clear Mead Johnson In Infant Illnesses, Deaths

“There is currently no evidence that indicates the Cronobacter infections in these infants are related.”

– Joint Statement by FDA and CDC, December 30. 2011

Although an investigation into four cases of Cronobacter sakazakii infections – one each in Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma and Florida – is ongoing, FDA reported yesterday that the Cronobacter sakazakii strain that killed a Missouri newborn and the strain that infected an Illinois baby are genetically different from each other. Bacterial cultures from the Florida and Oklahoma babies were not available for testing.

FDA labs also have NOT found Cronobacter sakazakii in any unopened containers of Mead Johnson Nutrition’s Enfamil powdered infant formula or nursery water (used to reconstitute the formula), confirming the company’s own lab findings. Following is a portion of the FDA/CDC Joint Statement:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health departments continue to investigate four recent cases of Cronobacter infection in infants in four states: Florida, Illinois, Missouri, and Oklahoma. There is currently no evidence that indicates the Cronobacter infections in these infants are related.

Based on test results to date, there is no need for a recall of infant formula and parents may continue to use powdered infant formula, following the manufacturer’s directions on the printed label.

The ongoing investigation includes laboratory testing of various types and brands of powdered infant formula, nursery water and, when available, clinical samples from the infants. The investigation also includes the inspection of manufacturing facilities for infant formula and nursery water.

The following results have been confirmed from completed laboratory tests, although additional lab results are pending release:

  • CDC’s laboratory conducted DNA fingerprinting of the bacteria from two recent cases of Cronobacter infection in infants (Missouri and Illinois). The results show that the Cronobacter bacteria differ genetically, suggesting that they are not related. (Bacteria from cases in Oklahoma and Florida are not available for analysis.)
  • CDC laboratory tests of samples provided by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services found Cronobacter bacteria in an opened container of infant formula, an opened bottle of nursery water and prepared infant formula. It is unclear how the contamination occurred.
  • The FDA tested factory sealed containers of powdered infant formula and nursery water with the same lot numbers as the opened containers collected from Missouri and no Cronobacter bacteria were found.

The FDA has inspected the facilities that manufactured the infant formula and the nursery water that tested positive for Cronobacter bacteria. Those manufacturers have programs that test their products before they are distributed. The lots in question were tested and found negative for Cronobacter. There is currently no evidence to conclude that the infant formula or nursery water was contaminated during manufacturing or shipping.

The FDA, CDC and state agencies continue to investigate the cause of the infections using epidemiological and laboratory methods. Currently CDC and FDA laboratories are testing infant formula, water and other environmental samples related to the ill infants from Illinois and Oklahoma; the results are pending. Additional steps include: completion of inspections of manufacturers, additional laboratory testing of samples, and additional DNA fingerprinting investigation.

Last week, following single reports of Cronobacter illness in infants in Missouri and Illinois, CDC asked public health officials around the country to look for other cases of Cronobacter infection among infants. This generated reports to CDC of two additional cases, one in Oklahoma and the fourth recent case in Florida. The illnesses in these infants occurred in late November and early December. The infants in Missouri and Florida, tragically, died as a result of their infection, while the infants in Illinois and Oklahoma have survived.

Cronobacter is a very rare cause of a severe infection in young infants, and usually occurs in the first days or weeks of life. Typically CDC is informed of about 4-6 cases of Cronobacter a year. With recent increased awareness, CDC has been informed of a total of 12 cases in 2011.

Cronobacter causes severe bacterial sepsis or meningitis in infants, which often starts with fever, and usually includes poor feeding, crying or listlessness. Cronobacter illness is diagnosed by a laboratory culture.

Any young infant with these symptoms should be in the care of a physician. There is no need to test a child that is not sick. If a Cronobacter infection is diagnosed by a laboratory culture, CDC encourages clinicians and laboratories to inform their local or state health departments.

Cronobacter bacteria is found in the environment and in hospitals and homes. It can also multiply in powdered infant formula after the powder is mixed with water.

Mead Johnson responded to the news with the following statement:

Mead Johnson Nutrition (NYSE: MJN) was notified today by the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that health inspectors have completed their testing on all formula samples collected from the company. These tests confirmed that the Mead Johnson products were safe, and no presence of Cronobacter was detected. This is consistent with two rounds of testing conducted by Mead Johnson.

“We’re pleased with the FDA and CDC testing, which should reassure consumers, healthcare professionals and retailers everywhere about the safety and quality of our products. These tests also reinforce the rigor of our quality processes throughout our operations”

Mead Johnson has been informed that all samples collected from the company – and related to health investigations in Missouri and Illinois – have been found safe. Mead Johnson emphasizes these are the only incidents that led to tests on its products.

All Mead Johnson infant formulas, including Enfamil PREMIUM® Newborn, undergo approximately 2,300 quality checks and safety tests to ensure that they meet or exceed our own rigorous standards, and those set by the World Health Organization, the FDA and other regulatory bodies before they are made available to consumers.

“We’re pleased with the FDA and CDC testing, which should reassure consumers, healthcare professionals and retailers everywhere about the safety and quality of our products. These tests also reinforce the rigor of our quality processes throughout our operations,” said Tim Brown, senior vice president and general manager for North America. “We remain committed to our mission to nourish the world’s children for the best start in life.”

As a result of the FDA and CDC tests – as well as our own – Mead Johnson said parents can continue using Enfamil and other Mead Johnson products with confidence.

FDA investigations are continuing into the possible sources of the Cronobacter sakazakii strains that killed the Florida and Missouri babies and infected the infants in Illinois and Oklahoma. These include additional lab tests on infant formula from various manufacturers, nursery water samples and environmental samples. The agency also is carrying out inspections of the manufacturing facilities.

FDA and CDC offer the following recommendations for safe preparation and use of powdered infant formulas, especially for premature infants and infants under 6 weeks of age:

  • Formula preparation. In most cases, it’s safe to mix formula using ordinary cold tap water that’s brought to a boil and then boiled for one minute and cooled. According to the World Health Organization, studies suggest that mixing powdered formula with water at a temperature of at least 70 degree C—158 degrees F—creates a high probability that the formula will not contain Cronobacter sakazakii. Remember that formula made with hot water needs to be cooled quickly to body temperature—about 98 degrees F—if it is being fed to the baby immediately. Prepare only enough formula for one feeding at a time
  • Cleaning. Wash your hands and all feeding equipment thoroughly with soap and water before preparing the formula,
  • Bottles and nipples. Consider sterilizing bottles and nipples before first use.  After that, you can clean them in the dishwasher or wash them by hand with soapy water.
  • Bottled water. If you use non-sterile bottled water for formula preparation, you should follow the same directions as described for tap water above. Some companies sell bottled water that is marketed for infants and for use in mixing with infant formula. This bottled water is required to meet general FDA quality requirements for bottled water. If the bottled water is not sterile, the label must also indicate this. Water that is marketed by the manufacturer as sterile and for infants must meet FDA’s general requirements for commercial sterility.
  • “Use by” date. This is the date after which a package or container of infant formula should not be fed to infants. It indicates that the manufacturer guarantees the nutrient content and the general acceptability of the quality of the formula up to that date. FDA regulations require this date on each container of infant formula.
  • Storage. Manufacturers must include instructions on infant formula packaging for before and after the container is opened. They must also include information on the storage and disposal of prepared formula.
  • Homemade formula. FDA does not regulate or recommend recipes for these. Errors in selecting and combining ingredients for homemade formula can have serious consequences affecting the nutrition and overall well-being of the infant.
  • Formula changes. Always look for any changes in formula color, smell, or taste. If you buy formula by the case, make sure the lot numbers and “use by” dates on the containers and boxes match. Also, check containers for damage, and call the manufacturer’s toll-free number with any concerns or questions. You may also contact FDA.