Tag: Food

Recalls and Alerts: July 24, 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: Mount Franklin Foods, LLC recalls Sunrise Indian Corn Candy (16-oz plastic tus; Best by MAR 26 2013; Lot #2321811; UPC 0-76500-16651-5) due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled product was distributed in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Florida through Albertson’s LLC retail stores between 7/3/2012 and 7/5/2012.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: USDA releases updated Retail Distribution List for frozen, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products recalled by Buona Vita, Inc. due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: USDA releases updated Retail Distribution List for supplementary recall of frozen, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products by Buona Vita, Inc, due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: USDA releases updated Retail Distribution List for ground beef products recalled by Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation due to potential Salmonella Enteritidis contamination. The recalled products have been linked to 33 confirmed cases of salmonellosis in 7 states.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: CRM Laboratories recalls X-ROCK 3-Day Pill for Men and Z-Rock All Natural Male Supplement (all codes of both products), after the products were determined by FDA to contain the undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients sildenafil and hydroxythiohomosildenafil.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: E. coli O157:H7 has claimed the life of a 73-year old man from the Germantown area who became infected as a result of consuming food at a picnic at Neff’s Lawn Care in Germantown, Ohio. At least 75 people have become ill, including 14 who were hospitalized. The 73-year old was one of three outbreak victims who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) as a result of their infections. The other two HUS victims – a four-year old girl and a 14-year old boy – both remain in serious condition. The outbreak is still under investigation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns P.T. Super Saku Bali (Indonesia) that a March 2012 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility found serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Best Express Foods, Inc. (Williamston, MI) that an August/September 2011 inspection of the company’s food manufacturing facility revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in 26 environmental swab samples, in addition to significant violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulation for foods.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Melinda’s Biscotti recalls Melinda’s Biscotti Gluten Free Almond Dark Chocolate Biscotti (60-65g and 260g; All codes), due to the presence of undeclared milk, and Melinda’s Biscotti Lemon Blueberry White Chocolate Biscotti (50g; All codes), due to the presence of milk and tree nuts. The recalled products were sold in British Columbia.
  • Allergy Alert: Canada Bread Co. Ltd. recalls Dempster’s Signature 100% Whole Wheat Bread (600g and 3 x 600g; Code 2203; Best before dates between JL 20 and AU 02, B1A), due to the presence of undeclared oats and barley. The recalled products were sold in British Columbia.
  • Food Safety Recall: Nature’s Emporium (Newmarket, ON) recalls Baby Move Prune Concentrate with Prebiotics (120mL glass bottles; UPC 729609019878; All codes up to and including Lot #12179), due to possible contamination with Salmonella. The recalled product was sold at Nature’s Emporium, 16655 Yonge Street, Newmarket, Ontario from January 2012 to July 2012.
  • Food Safety Advisory: Health Canada reminds Canadians that raw or undercooked sprouts should not be eaten by young children, older adults, pregnant women or those with weakened immune systems.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Reitan Distribution A/S recalls White Cheddar Cheese (200g pieces; Product of Holland; Produced 25-06-2012; Best before 05-11-2012; Batch No. 4338867/57208), due to growth of mold on some of the cheeses. The recalled cheese was sold at Løvbjerg Supermarkets and REMA 100 stores across Denmark.
  • Food Safety Recall (UK): Prompt Thai 2000 (Wholesale) recalls all date codes of Lady’s Choice Ham Spread (470ml jar), Lady’s Choice Bacon Spread (470ml jar), Lady’s Choice Tuna Spread (470ml jar), Lady’s Choice Sandwich Spread (470ml jar), Knorr Crab & Corn Real Chinese Soup (55g sachet), Knorr Pork & Mushroom Real Chinese Soup (55g sachet), and Knorr Nido Oriental Style Real Chinese Soup (60g sachet), because the products contain meat, egg and dairy ingredients that do not have the necessary import approvals.
  • Outbreak Alert (Finland): The source of a Salmonella Agona outbreak that sickened 30 people who attended a private function at a Helsinki restaurant has not been determined. The final results of the outbreak investigation will be complete next month.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1053): Histamine in chilled tuna loins from Spain; distributed to Italy.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (Abu Dhabi): The Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority has charged 18 companies in the Western Region for food safety violations, issued warnings against 7 others, and destroyed 728 Kg of food items during an inspection campaign in Al Ruwais and Ghayathi.
  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating two suspected food poisoning outbreaks involving seven people, all of whom at at a single Kowloon City restaurant on July 20th.

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: July 23, 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/Outbreak Alert: Cargill Meat Solutions (Wyalusing, PA) recalls 29,339 pounds of Grnd Beef Fine 85/15 (3 x 14-lb chubs per case; Est 9400; Produced May 25, 2012), because the ground beef has been linked to a 33-case, seven-state outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections. The chubs were shipped to distribution centers in Connecticut, Maine and New York for further distribution and were repackaged into consumer-size packages for sale under different retail brand names. At least a portion of the recalled meat was consigned to Hannaford Supermarkets, and sold in their stores in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont.
  • Food Safety Recall: Hannaford Supermarkets recalls Ground Beef (Sell by dates of May 29 through June 16, 2012), because the meat may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis. The ground beef is implicated in a 7-state outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses and has been recalled by Cargill Meat Solutions.
  • Outbreak Alert: Forty people who at a turkey dinner at the Denver Rescue Mission were taken to hospital after becoming “violently ill” an hour after their dinner, according to the Denver Post.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: Dayton & Montgomery County Public Health has now identified at least 75 individuals who became ill with E. coli O157:H7 (including 18 with lab-confirmed infections) after eating food at a picnic at Neff’s Lawn Care in Germantown, Ohio. Fourteen people have been hospitalized, including three in serious condition who are suffering from hemolytic uremic syndrome. Two secondary cases (person-to-person transmission) have been reported. The source of the infections is still undetermined.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): Milupa GmbH recalls Pre Aptamil formula (800g; Expiry 01/11/2014; Production time between 02.14 and 05.00), due to contamination with Cronobacter sakazakii.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Danish Supermarket recalls E ‘Bindstouw Sausage (500g; Product of Poland; Package date 16.07.2012; Best before 17.08.2012), due to the presence of excessive numbers of bacteria.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Plant Riet ApS recalls Plantedrik Nr. 4 og Plantedrik nr. 5 fra Planteriet ApS (250ml plastic bottle; Best before 24th July 2012), due to mold growth in some bottles.
  • Outbreak Alert (Scotland): Fifty-seven people became ill with norovirus after taking part in an open water swimming event at Strathclyde Loch, according to Wishaw Press. Some of the victims tested positive for norovirus. The loch has been closed to water sports and boating as a result of the outbreak.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.1038): Chlorpyriphos in cauliflower from Poland; distributed to Lithuania.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2012.1041, 2012.1042, 2012.1043): Unauthorized 1,3 dimethylamylamine in food supplement from the USA; distributed to Ireland.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (Abu Dhabi): Inspectors of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority ordered the destruction of 77 kilograms of food products found unfit for consumption in Al Ain during a comprehensive inspection campaign in Ain.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (Argentina): The National Health and Food Quality Service seized more than 50kg of pork that was being smuggled into Argentina from Paraguay at the Posadas-Encarnación International Bridge. The contraband was hidden under passenger seats. The federal agency is proceeding to denature and destroy the seized pork.

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.

Cargill Beef Sickens 33 People

Ground beef supplied to Hannaford Supermarkets by Cargill Meat Solutions (Wyalusing, PA) has been linked to 33 cases of Salmonella Enteritidis infections in seven states.

Earlier today, Cargill recalled 29,339 pounds of fresh ground beef products (14-lb chub packages of “Grnd Beef Fine 85/15” packed 3 chubs to approximately 42-lb cases). The recalled product was produced on May 25, 2012 and shipped to distribution centers in Connecticut, Maine and New York for further distribution.

The recalled meat was repackaged into consumer-size packages and sold under different brand names. We know so far that Hannaford, a regional supermarket chain in the US Northeast, sold the repackaged ground beef in its stores in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont.

Illnesses were reported in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia and Vermont. Investigations by federal and state health and agriculture departments were able to tie five of the illnesses to Cargill’s ground beef epidemiologically and via traceback. Onset dates for those five illnesses ranged from June 6th to June 13th; two of the five victims were hospitalized.

Although the outbreak strain has not yet been recovered from an unopened package, the Vermont Department of Health found the strain in a sample of leftover product with no packaging information, according to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The “use by” date of the recalled ground beef has expired, however, consumers may still have some of this product in their freezers. If you purchased fresh ground beef in late May or early June from a supermarket in one of the affected states, please check your freezer for any remaining product.