Tag: Food

Recalls and Alerts: August 18, 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: Pure Hothouse Foods Inc. recalls 1402 cases and 8,412 individual units of Meijer Brand Grillers Mushroom with Rosemary Grilling Trays (Use by August 11th – August 26th 2012; UPC 7-08820-85464-2), Meijer Brand Grillers Steak Topper Grilling Trays (Use by August 11th – August 26th 2012; UPC 7-08820-85468-0), and Meijer Brand Grillers Asparagus Blend Grilling Trays (Use by August 11th – August 26th 2012; UPC 7-08820-85353-9), because they contain whole or sliced mushrooms which may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were produced and distributed from Pure Hothouse Foods Inc. in Leamington, Ontario, Canada to Meijer stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Canadian distributors are recalling Tanimura & Antle brand Romaine Lettuce (plastic package containing 1 head of lettuce; Product of USA; UPC 0 27918 20314 9), because the lettuce may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled product was sold at retail from August 8, 2012 through August 17, 2012 in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Nunavut and Yukon.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Philippines): Pfizer Consumer Healthcare recalls Carbocisteine (Loviscol) 50 mg/mL Oral Drops Syrup (Lot #11LID6, Exp Aug-14, 15mL; Lot #11LID8 & 11LID9, Exp Oct-14, 15mL; Lot #12LIDIA, Exp Dec-14, 15 mL; Lot #12LIDIB (samples only), Exp Dec-14, 5mL; Lot #12LID2, Exp Jan-15, 15mL), due to incorrect concentration declaration of the claim reflected in the formulation for both the carton and bottle labels of the product.
  • Outbreak Alert (Japan): Six people are dead, and 93 others are ill as a result of an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in Sapporo. The outbreak victims were infected after consuming pickled Chinese cabbage manufactured by the Sapporo-based company, Iwai Shokuhin. Many of the illnesses were reported at elderly care facilities in and around Sapporo.

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 website.

*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 Outbreak In 20 States Linked to Cantaloupe – Update

UPDATED August 17, 2012 @8:55pm with information released by CDC

Cantaloupes from Southwestern Indiana are believed to be the source of a Salmonella typhimurium outbreak that has sickened 141 people in 20 states. Thirty-one people have been hospitalized, and Kentucky has reported two outbreak-associated deaths.

The Minnesota Department of Health reports that an unnamed farm in southwestern Indiana has initiated a “voluntary market withdrawal” and has stopped harvest of cantaloupes, after receiving notification that cantaloupes grown on the farm tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella.

FDA reports that outbreak illnesses occurred in Alabama (7), Arkansas (3), California (2), Georgia (1), Illinois (17), Indiana (13), Iowa (7), Kentucky (50), Michigan (6), Minnesota (3), Missouri (9), Mississippi (2), New Jersey (1), North Carolina (3), Ohio (3), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (3), Tennessee (6), Texas (1), and Wisconsin (2).

According to Charles Kendell with the Kentucky Department for Public Health, there were 137 reports of Salmonella in the state during July – twice the usual number for this time of year. Approximately 61% of confirmed cases reported exposure to cantaloupe and/or watermelon. Lab testing of clinical specimens from outbreak victims confirmed three different genetic strains of Salmonella typhimurium.

Tennessee’s six confirmed cases were scattered among several counties; three of the six victims in that state were hospitalized. The three Minnesota victims included one child and two adults over 70 years of age. No Minnesotans were hospitalized, and all three have recovered.

CDC reports that outbreak victims range in age from less than 1 to 92 years, with a median age of 49 years old. Illness onset dates are between July 7, 2012 to August 4, 2012. Nearly one-half (48%) of the people for whom information was available reported being hospitalized.

The pale blue shaded area in the Date of Illness Onset chart, provided by CDC, represents the time period within which illnesses may have occurred that have not yet been reported or confirmed by health authorities. THIS OUTBREAK IS FAR FROM OVER.

FDA offers the following advice to consumers:

  • Consumers who are buying or have recently bought cantaloupe should ask their retailer if the cantaloupe was grown in southwestern Indiana.
  • Throw away any cantaloupe from southwestern Indiana.
  • Do not try to wash the harmful bacteria off the cantaloupe as contamination may be both on the inside and outside of the cantaloupe. Cutting, slicing and dicing may also transfer harmful bacteria from the fruit’s surface to the fruit’s flesh.
  • WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT!
  • Anyone who consumed cantaloupe and experiences any symptoms of Salmonella infection should consult a health care provider.

Recalls and Alerts: August 17, 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: Bi-Lo recalls Southern Home® Cranberry Nut Antioxidant Blend Trail Mix (16-oz bag; UPC 0788003039; Best by March 12, 2013), due to the presence of undeclared soy lecithin. The recalled product was sold in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
  • Food Safety Recall: Real Mex Foods (Vernon, CA) recalls El Torito Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Kits (36-oz trays and 18-lb cases containing 8 x 36-oz trays; Est P-4140; Sell by 08/23/12, 08/30/12, 09/06/12 and 09/14/12; Item #24203), because the dressing contains cilantro that was recalled by Fresco Green Farms Inc. due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recalled products were produced between July 23rd and August 6th and distributed to Costco stores in California and in the Reno, Nevada area.
  • Food Recall: On-Cor Frozen Foods (Geneva, IL) recalls On-Cor Gravy & 6 Salisbury Steaks made with chicken, pork and beef, Family Size (28-oz packages; Best by Jul 09 2013, 1912 11:__ EST 1044G), because frozen boneless rib-shaped patties with barbecue sauce may have been mispackaged and labeled as Salisbury steak products. The recalled item was distributed to retail establishments in Iowa.
  • Outbreak Alert (Washington State): Thirty cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections have been reported this summer, according to the state’s Department of Health. Commercial growing ares in Totten Inlet near Olympia, North Bay, and Dabob Bay in north Hood Canal have been closed for the rest of the summer due to the presence of Vibrio in the shellfish growing areas.
  • Outbreak Alert: CDC and several state departments of health are investigative an outbreak of Salmonella typhimurium that has killed two people and sickened 141 people nationwide. Illnesses are reported in Kentucky (50), Indiana (14), Tennessee (6), Minnesota (3) and Ohio (3); other states have yet to confirm illnesses. The outbreak has been linked to cantaloupe grown in Southwestern Indiana.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Pure Hothouse Foods Inc. (Leamington, ON) recalls Pure Flavor brand Freshly Cut Grillers (14-oz/400g trays; Upse by August 11, 2012 through August 26, 2012; Premium Medley, Asparagus Blend, Rustic Blend, and Steak Topper varieties), because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were distributed in Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall: Christan Mark recalls Venetian Gold Leeks (6g; Code 161/11; UPC 7 73643 10103 7) due to extraneous material (insect) contamination. The recalled product was sold nationwide.

Europe

Australia and New Zealand

  • Herbal Supplement Safety Advisory (Australia): The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) advises consumers that MMC Maxman IV Erection enhancer capsules pose a serious health risk and should not be taken. TGA lab tests have detected the presence of the prescription substance sildenafil in the product. Commercial supply of this product is illegal, as the product has not been assessed by TGA for quality, safety or efficacy, and the place of manufacture is not approved by TGA.

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.