Tag: Food

Recalls and Alerts: May 4, 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: Old Fashioned Foods, Inc. recalls Old Fashioned Cheese Snack Spread – Pepper Jack, Old Fashioned Cheese Snack Spread – Jalapeno, and Old Fashioned Cheese Snack Spread – Nacho (8 oz; Best by dates April 17, 2012 through April 17, 2013), because milk was inadvertently omitted from the ingredient statement.
  • Food Safety Recall: Cleveland Beansprouts Co. (Cleveland, OH) recalls all Alfalfa Sprouts, because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The contamination was discovered by the Ohio Department of Agriculture while collecting and testing samples under the United States Department of Agriculture’s Microbiological Data Program.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: Buncombe County Department of Health reports that the bacteria found in tempeh produced by Smiling Hara is a match to the Salmonella Paratyphi B outbreak strain that has sickened 46 people, and hospitalized seven of them. Smiling Hara withdrew all of its products from restaurants and retail outlets on May 1st.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Régine Fine Chocolate recalls Régine Fine Chocolate brand Chocolate Licorice (10-count; UPC 8 76689 00002 6), due to the presence of undeclared sulphites. The recalled product was sold in Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall: Walmart Canada Corp recalls Great Value brand Polskie Ogorki Dill Pickles, Sweet Mixed Pickles, Baby Dill Pickles, Bread and Butter Pickles, and Garlic Dill Pickles (1L; All best before dates up to and including 13 DE 28), due to extraneous material (insect) contamination. The recalled pickles were sold nationally.
  • Food Recall: Costco Store #533 (Kingston, ON) recalls Kirkland Signature brand Pork Rib Chops, Pork Loin Centre Chops, Lamb Loin Chops Australian and Pork Side Ribs Breast Bone Off (various weights; Packed 12/AL/30), due to contamination with “non-harmful” unspecified extraneous material.
  • Food Safety Recall: Gort’s Gouda Cheese recalls Gort’s Gouda Heavy Cream (250mL, 500mL and 750mL; Best before April 20, 2012), due to unspecified microbiological contamination. The recalled product was sold in British Columbia.
  • Outbreak Alert (New Brunswick): New Brunswick Public Health is investigating 24 cases of bloody diarrhea suspected to be caused by E. coli; 20 of the cases are in Miramichi, 2 in Saint John and 2 in Bathurst. Several of the cases have been confirmed as E. coli o157:H7. The source has not yet been identified.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Prince Edward Island): PEI’s Chief Public Health Office continues to investigate an outbreak of gastrointestinal illnesses that has afflicted 205 people so far. The illnesses are associated with the consumption of a roast beef dinner prepared by volunteers as part of a fundraiser for Princetown United Church on Saturday, April 28th.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Sweden): Saltå Mill Ltd. recalls Buckwheat Flour (500g; Best before date 02 2013; Batch 47th), because the product, which is labeled gluten-free, contains gluten.
  • Food Safety Recall (Finland): Lunden Catering Ltd recalls Gourmet Quality Barberry Duckbreast, frozen (800g vacuum-pack; Best before and batch code 21/03/2014 280 312), due to Salmonella contamination. The product was supplied to cruise ships.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): DK Trading ApS recalls Chicken breast fillets and cuts thereof (eg strips) and marinated fillets and cuts (varying pack sizes; Labeled with stores own label; Expiry dates 22/4 – 30/4-2012), after Salmonella Newport is found in samples of the chicken breast fillet. The products have passed their expiration date, but may still be in consumers’ freezers.
  • Food Safety Recall (Greece): Carrefour SA Marinopoulos recalls certain yogurt desserts due to mold growth. Please refer to the recall notice for details.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0611): High level of alkalinity (pH 14; 3% active chlorite solution) in sparkling mineral water from France, via Belgium; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0612): Glass fragments in nut cream from Italy; distributed to Italy and Slovakia.
  • Pet Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0615): Salmonella spp. in dog chews from India; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0616): Mercury in swordfish steaks from Vietnam, via the Netherlands; distributed to Belgium.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Cosmetic Product Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Department of Health advises consumers not to buy or use Dokter Pemutih Special cosmetic cream, as it may contain excessive mercury that is dangerous to health.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Synmosa Biopharma (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd. recalls Noderin Tablets, 200mg, after one batch of the product fails the dissolution test.

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: May 3, 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: Figi’s Inc. (Marshfield, WI) recalls Lemon Bar Bliss (1# tins; No expiration date codes) due to the presence of undeclared almonds. The recalled product was distributed in Missouri, Pennsylvania, New York, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Virginia, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, California, Louisiana, Oregon, and Utah by UPS mail directly to purchasers or recipients.
  • Food Safety Recall: H-E-B recalls 19 Asian Ready-to-Eat entrées and meals (4-oz, 8-oz, 12-oz, and 24-oz black containers with clear lid, single serve sizes and to-go containers; all products sold prior to 5/3/12) due to possible undercooking of chicken in those meals. Please refer to the recall notice for a detailed list of affected products. The recalled items were sold in 40 stores in Texas, including one Houston store. They were available at the Grab ‘N Go section in H-E-B Delis.
  • Outbreak Alert: CDC reports an outbreak of 14 cases of Salmonella Infantis infections in nine states. The infections are linked to contaminated dry dog food produced by Diamond Pet Foods at their Gaston, South Carolina manufacturing facility.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: Church & Dwight Co. Inc. recalls Spinbrush® Recharageable SONIC toothbrushes (Lot # ranges DD9310 to 9365 or DD0002 to 0122; distributed between February 2010 and October 2011 in the USA and Canada), because the charging battery may overheat with localized melting and sparking, possibly causing fire, shock or burns.

Canada

  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: Church & Dwight Co. Inc. recalls Spinbrush® Recharageable SONIC toothbrushes (Lot # ranges DD9310 to 9365 or DD0002 to 0122; distributed between February 2010 and October 2011 in the USA and Canada), because the charging battery may overheat with localized melting and sparking, possibly causing fire, shock or burns.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Ireland): PepsiCo recalls Tropicana Kids Orange Juice Drink – Orange and a Splash of Water (4 x 200ml; illegible coding), because they contain water instead of orange juice drink. The water is not of a satisfactory microbial quality and should not be consumed.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): The Danish Gærfabrikker A / S recalls Maltese Cross Baker’s Yeast (50g; Package date 10/4-2012; Best before 15/5-2012), due to mold growth.
  • Food Safety Recall (Greece): Market In supermarkets recalls Daily-Toasted Unsweetened Croutons (Manufactured in Poland by Daily Orange SA; 285g; Batch #08.02.2013), because the product was manufactured with the illegal use of prepared egg yolk powder and is contaminated with Salmonella.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall (France): The Directorate for Competition, Consumption and Repression of Fraud advises the public of the recall of POWERtabs Dietary Supplement for Men (10- and 20-capsule packages, with Best before date of 2013-12 and 2-capsule blister-pack, with Best before date of 2015-01), because the products contain the undeclared and unauthorized pharmaceutical substance dithio desmethyl carbodenafil.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0593): Omethoate in okra from Thailand; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0594): Parasitic infestation with Anisakis of frozen mackerel from Ireland; distributed to Slovakia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0596): Listeria monocytogenes in smoked salmon from Poland; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0597): Plastic fragments in cinnamon sugar from Austria; distributed to the Czech Republic.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0598): Parasitic infestation with Anisakis of smoked salmon from France; distributed to Italy.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.0599): Undeclared gluten in crispy puffed corn from Poland; distributed to the Czech Republic.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0600): Mycobacterium tuberculosis suspected in chilled raw milk from Germany; distributed to Austria and Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0602): Fenitrothion in wheat from Brazil; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0604): Aflatoxins in corn dough from Ghana; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0605): Staphylococcus saprophyticus in oyster sauce from China, via Poland; distributed to the Czech Republic.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0607): Escherichia coli and Salmonella Javiana in fresh basil leaf from Vietnam; distributed to Norway.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0608): Presence of coliforms in orange juice drink from the United Kingdom; distributed to Ireland and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0609): High Escherichia coli count in chilled cocksomb mint from Vietnam; distributed to Norway.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0610): High Escherichia coli count in chilled houttuynia from Vietnam; distributed to Norway.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): LHF Ltd. recalls Lisa’s Organic Hummus Roasted Garlic (200g tub; Best before 11/05/12), due to contamination with Listeria. The recalled product was sold in supermarkets and some specialty stores throughout the South Island, and in two specialist organic stores in the Auckland region.
  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Euro Spices Pty Ltd. recalls Ground Coriander and other spice mixes (Product of India; Best before December 2015; Please refer to recall notice for a complete list of products and package sizes), due to Salmonella contamination. The recalled products were sold in fruit and vegetable shops and independent supermarkets in New South Wales.

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.

Why I STILL Don’t Eat Sushi

Four years ago last month, I wrote an article titled “Why I Don’t Eat Sushi Or Sashimi” after ten patrons of a restaurant in Kisai, Japan were diagnosed with cholera contracted as a result of having eaten contaminated sashimi.

I was taken to task by a reader who pointed out that FDA and the European Union require that fish used for sushi and sashimi be frozen before consumption in order to kill parasites. “So while there might be issues in Japan and other places,” my reader opined, “the EU and USA are relatively safe places to eat sashimi and sushi.”

In response to this comment, I explained that freezing the fish does not provide any protection against food poisoning bacteria such as Salmonella, unsanitary handling practices, cross-contamination or poor temperature control.

I suggest that the 258 victims of this year’s Salmonella Bareilly/Salmonella Nchanga outbreak would agree that eating raw sushi may be a risky business – especially when the sushi contains Nakaochi Scrape.

Today’s update from CDC revealed that the Salmonella outbreak now covers 24 states, including California, where the importer of the contaminated tuna is located. Thirty-two out of 258 outbreak victims have been hospitalized.

Sushi Case Count Map As of May 2, 2012 (source CDC)

Victims of this outbreak range in age from 4 to 86 years (median age of 30). More than half (57%) of the confirmed case patients are female. Illness onset dates range between January 28th and April 20th.

The Epi curve (a bar chart showing illness onset dates) clearly indicates that additional cases are likely to be reported. The shaded area in this chart indicates the time frame within which additional cases may have developed, but have not yet been confirmed or reported to CDC.

Confirmed infections by date of illness onset as of May 2, 2012 (source CDC)

While this outbreak plays out, CDC continues to offer the following advice:

CDC’s Advice to Consumers

  • Do not eat the recalled frozen raw yellowfin tuna product, known as Nakaochi Scrape, from Moon Marine USA Corporation. This product is tuna backmeat that is scraped from the bones of tuna and may be used to make sushi, particularly “spicy tuna” sushi.
  • If you purchase “spicy tuna” or other sushi, sashimi, ceviche, or similar dishes that might contain Nakaochi Scrape tuna product from a restaurant or grocery store, check with the establishment to make sure that it does not contain raw recalled product from Moon Marine USA Corporation. When in doubt, don’t eat it.
  • Persons who think they might have become ill from eating possibly contaminated raw Nakaochi Scrape tuna product should consult their healthcare providers.
  • Infants, older adults, pregnant women, and persons with impaired immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness and should not eat raw or partially cooked fish or shellfish. If you are unsure of your risk, ask your healthcare provider.

CDC’s Advice to Retailers and Establishments

  • Do not serve raw recalled frozen raw yellowfin tuna product, known as Nakaochi Scrape, from Moon Marine USA Corporation. If you do not know the source of your raw scraped yellowfin tuna product, check with your supplier.

CDC and FDA have been close-mouthed, as usual, regarding the retail distribution of the Nakaochi Scrape tuna product that is behind this Salmonella outbreak. California, though, has published a list of restaurants and sushi bars that are known to have been supplied with the implicated tuna.