Tag: Food

Recalls and Alerts: August 22, 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: JFC International Inc. (Los Angeles, CA) recalls JFC Furikake-Seto Fumi (1.7 oz; Lot code best before 04.05.2014; UPC 0 11152 41464), due to the presence of undeclared egg yolk, soybeans and wheat. The recalled product is distributed nationwide through retail stores, including QFC, and/or on-line web stores.
  • Allergy Alert: Optima Distributors Ltd (Ridgewood, NY) recalls Del Campo brand Dried Potato (14 oz plastic bag; Product of Peru; Date code S 2012; UPC 8-91728-00021-8), due to the presence of undeclared sulfites. The recalled product was distributed in the New York City metro area.
  • Food Safety Recall: Kroger informs its customers that Spence & Co. Smoked Salmon Trim (8-oz pkg) has been recalled by the manufacturer due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled product was sold in Kroger stores located in Greater Cincinnati, including Northern Kentucky, Dayton, OH and South Eastern Indiana; King Soopers and City Market stores.
  • Food Safety Recall: American Licorice Co. (Union City, CA) recalls Red Vines Black Licorice Twists Candy (1 lb/453g pkg; All code dates) due to unacceptable levels of lead. The recalled candy was sold throughout California.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: California Department of Public Health releases California retail distribution list for Tanimura & Antle Romaine Lettuce, recalled due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled Romaine Lettuce was sold in Wal-Mart stores throughout California, Safeway stores in Northern California, and Pak ‘N Save stores in Emeryville, Madera, Oakland, San Leandro, and South San Francisco.
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action: FDA initiates seizure of various food products in the warehouse owned by San Francisco Herb & Natural Food Company, after agency inspectors find significant insanitary conditions, including live and dead rodents in and around food products and apparent rodent nesting materials in food.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert: FDA warns consumers about the potential health risks of Reumofan Plus and Reumofan Plus Premium, marketed as natural dietary supplements for treating a variety of conditions. These products contain the active pharmaceutical ingredients dexamethasone, diclofenac sodium, and/or methocarbamol, none of which are listed on the product labels. The products are manufactured in Mexico by Riger Naturals and sold in the US in some retail outlets, at flea markets and on various internet sites.
  • Food Safety Alert: USDA suspends Central Valley Meat for humane handling violations, effectively halting slaughter operations.
  • Food Withdrawal: Suncore Products, LLC withdraws WhoNu?® Vanilla Wafers (Use by dates prior to February 9, 2013) after receiving reports of off-odor and off-flavor.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Raphaville International Ltd. recalls Erom Dr. Hwang’s Black Soy and Rice Drink (16 x 190 mL; All codes; UPC 8 809111 699712), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled product was sold in Ontario.
  • Allergy Alert: TWI Foods, Inc. (Mississauga, ON) recalls Crispy Just Baked brand Almond Cookies, Coconut Cookies, and Pistachio Cookies (800g and 1.135 kg/2.5 lb pkgs; all codes), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled products were distributed nationally.
  • Food Safety Recall: Alpha Meat Packers Ltd. recalls Alpha Meat Packers Ltd. Veal Cutlets Tenderized (various kg; Code 177363) and Veal for Scalopini (various kg; Code 177425), due to contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled veal products were distributed to hotels, restaurants and institutions in Quebec.
  • Food Safety Recall: Sakellis Foods recalls Sakellis Foods Basil Leaves (2 lb; Sold on or after July 25, 2012), due to Salmonella contamination. The recalled basil leaves were distributed to hotels, restaurants and institutions in Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall: Dollarama Inc. recalls Peppermint Mints, Sour Fruit Mints, and Wintergreen Mints (43g; All codes) due to the presence of extraneous material (metal). The recalled products were sold nationally.
  • Food Safety Recall: Fine Choice Foods Ltd recalls Western Family Vegetable Spring Rolls 6 Pieces (340g; Best before Aug 25 2012 L 3045) and Sum-mi 18 Crispy Vegetable Spring Rolls (1 kg; Best before Aug 22 2012 L 3045), due to the presence of extraneous material (metal). The recalled products were sold nationally.
  • Food Safety Recall: WN Pharmaceuticals Ltd. recalls Webber Naturals Organic Chianutra Chia Seeds (450 g; various lot numbers/expiration dates), due to the presence of insect contamination. The recalled product was sold in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: Tanimura & Antle brand Romaine Lettuce (product of USA; UPC 0 27918 20314 9), recalled by the producer after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency found E. coli o157:H7 in a sample, was distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Yukon by The Grocery People Ltd.  and by Martin’s Produce Sales Ltd.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis at a residential child care centre in Wan Chai district. Four staff members and 17 babies are suffering from vomiting and diarrhea. Two of the babies were admitted to Queen Mary hospital.

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.

Salmonella Victim Bought Cantaloupe at Wal-Mart

Two Mississippi residents are among the 141 victims of this year’s cantaloupe-linked Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak. Only one of the Mississippians reported having consumed cantaloupe prior to becoming ill, according to Jim Newkirk of the Mississippi State Department of Health’s Office of Communications.

And that person purchased whole cantaloupe from Wal-Mart.

Bloomberg news reported on August 18th that Wal-Mart had withdrawn Indiana cantaloupes from its stores.

Neither of the two Mississippi outbreak victims was hospitalized, and no additional cases are currently under investigation in that state. The confirmed cases were reported from Rankin and Itawamba counties. Rankin County is east of Jackson, in the center of the state; Itawamba County is in Mississippi’s northeast corner.

As of August 17th, CDC reported that 141 outbreak cases of Salmonella Typhimurium had been documented in 20 US states. The agency expects to update those numbers later this week, according to CDC spokesperson Lola Russell.

While all of the 141 outbreak victims were infected with the same strain of Salmonella Typhimurium, only 75% (18 of 24) of those interviewed reported having consumed cantaloupe before becoming ill. Neither California victim was exposed to cantaloupe – or to other melons – and neither travelled to the hardest hit states (Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois). Only two of Iowa’s seven outbreak victims ate cantaloupe.

Ronald Owens of the California Department of Public Health offered this explanation when contacted by eFoodAlert:

It is not uncommon in these outbreak investigations to occasionally identify people who were infected by a similar strain of bacteria to the outbreak strain but who are considered “background” cases that are not related to an outbreak. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are about 10-15 background cases with this particular strain pattern that are detected each month.

This illustrates the difficulty faced by epidemiologists and public health officials in detecting and defining a foodborne disease outbreak that is caused by a relatively common genetic strain of bacteria. It’s far easier to recognize a needle in a haystack than to distinguish between two pieces of hay. In these circumstances, CDC defines an outbreak case as one that is a genetic match to the outbreak strain and falls within the outbreak timeframe.

Neither CDC nor FDA is yet prepared to identify the southwestern Indiana farm that is believed to be the source of the contaminated cantaloupes. No public recall has been announced.

CDC’s Advice to Consumers, Retailers and Others (as of August 17, 2012)

Contaminated cantaloupe may still be in grocery stores and in consumers’ homes.

  • Consumers who recently purchased cantaloupes grown in southwestern Indiana are advised not to eat them and discard any remaining cantaloupe.
    • Based on the available information, consumers can continue to purchase and eat cantaloupes that did not originate in southwestern Indiana.
    • Many cantaloupes have the growing area identified with a sticker on the fruit. If no sticker is present, consumers should inquire about the source. When in doubt, throw it out.
    • Consumers who are buying or have recently bought cantaloupe should ask their retailer if the cantaloupe was grown in southwestern Indiana.
  • Cantaloupes should be disposed of in a closed plastic bag placed in a sealed trash can. This will prevent people or animals from eating them.
  • Dispose of any cantaloupes that you think may be contaminated. Washing them will not completely eliminate the contamination. Cutting, slicing and dicing may also transfer harmful bacteria from the fruit’s surface to the fruit’s flesh.
  • Retailers and food service operators should not sell or serve cantaloupe from southwestern Indiana.
  • Persons who think they might have become ill from eating possibly contaminated cantaloupes should consult their health care providers.

Nicho Produce Company – Stealth Recall Revisited

In December 2011, USDA tested samples of “Cut Above” brand shredded bagged lettuce and spinach from Nicho Produce Company, Inc. (Edinburg, TX). And found Listeria monocytogenes.

These positive test results prompted the company to initiate a recall of the affected production lots. If you don’t remember this recall, you’re not alone. There was no press release issued. It was announced by letter.

The positive test results also triggered an inspection of Nicho’s processing facility by FDA. According to a Warning Letter issued on May 21, 2012 and posted earlier today on the FDA website, 12 out of the 72 environmental samples taken during the inspection yielded Listeria monocytogenes – including on direct food-contact surfaces. The strains recovered from the processing facility matched the strains found by USDA in the spinach and lettuce samples.

Nicho issued a second recall notice on December 19th, at the end of FDA’s inspection. Once again, the recall was announced only by letter. I learned about the recalls in mid-February, – TWO MONTHS AFTER THEY WERE “ANNOUNCED” – courtesy of FDA’s Weekly Enforcement Report for February 15, 2012. As I posted on February 19th, the Nicho Produce “A Cut Above” recall encompassed 33 different items, distributed in Texas.

This is an egregious example of a Class I recall that SHOULD have been announced to the public. It should not have taken two months for FDA to release information about the recall. I realize that the recall affected produce that was distributed only in one state. But the extent of distribution should not have been a deciding factor. Residents of Texas deserve to know when a contaminated food has been circulating in their midst. As do the rest of us.

It’s time to put an end to stealth recalls.