Tag: Health

Recalls and Alerts: March 1, 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

  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: Shaklee Corp (Pleasanton, CA) recalls Shakleebaby Multivitamin & Multimineral Powder for Infants and Toddlers (net wt. 4.2 oz / 120g; Lot Code AR1E01 and AR9K01; Expiry 10/12 and 4/11, respectively), because the recalled batches have an iodine level higher than that claimed on the label. The recalled supplement was manufactured by Arnet Pharmaceutical Corp (Davie, FL). This Class II recall of 8,882 bottles was announced by letters on January 24, 2012 and appeared in the February 29, 2012 FDA Weekly Enforcement Report. The products were distributed nationwide.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (UK): Nisa withdraws Nisa Heritage Blueberry Muffins (4-pack; Best before 20 April 2012), due to the presence of undeclared soy.
  • Allergy Alert (UK): Surya Foods Ltd. withdraws J.F. Mills Rich ‘n Moist Luxury White Cake Mix (500g; Lot 11272 00; Best before Sep 12) and J.F. Mills Rich ‘n Moist Luxury Yellow Cake Mix (500g; Lot 1251 UA; Best before Sep 12), due to the presence of undeclared wheat flour.
  • Allergy Alert (Belgium): Mannavita recalls Schock Sesam schoko krokant bars (35g; Lot I-0701; Best before 150412; Product of Germany), due to the presence of undeclared milk, which could cause problems for consumers who are either lactose-intolerant or allergic to milk.
  • Food Safety Recall (Finland): Lidl Finland Ky withdraws Harvin Pineapple Slices in pineapple juice (565g cans; Sold prior to 29/02/2012), because some batches have been found to contain tin levels in excess of the maximum permissible concentration.
  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): William Brandenburg recalls Timmendorfer ham Zwiebelmettwurst (2 x 100g; Best before 09.03.2012) and Master Class Ham Sausage Onion (200g; Best before 03.12.2012), due to contamination with shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). The recalled products were distributed in REWE and PENNY stores in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Schleswig-Holstein.
  • Food Safety Recall (Greece): Fatachi Farzan (Athens) recalls N & A Eastern Trading Ground Turmeric (100g packages; Lot #1115; Expiry date 26.02.2014), due to Salmonella contamination.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall (Spain): Tunaliment recalls Compy wet dog food (sold in cartons) after tests on the pet food confirmed excessive levels of Vitamin D in the product. The recall followed complaints from dog owners of vomiting and kidney problems. Mercadona supermarket chain has withdrawn carton-packaged Compy wet dog food from its shelves in 190 stores in Albacete, Almeria, Alicante and Murcia provinces.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Withdrawal (Denmark): Natupharma A/S withdraws Prosan Propolis Throat mixture (strong), Danisan Neck Mixture with Propolis, and Fitness Pharma Propolis Throat Mixture strong, packaged in 200 ml brown glass bottles, because the products contain parabens that are not permitted as preservatives in food supplements.
  • Outbreak Alert (Germany): Hamburg health authorities are reporting four confirmed cases of shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections – two of them in children. The serotype and the source of the infections is not yet known.
  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU #2012.0240): Norovirus in oysters from the Netherlands; distributed to Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU #2012.0257): Norovirus in oysters from Ireland, via France; distributed to Belgium, Denmark, French Polynesia, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation and Sweden.
  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU 2012.0264): Salmonella enteritidis in fresh eggs from Poland; distributed to Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iraq, the Netherlands and Poland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0302): Salmonella in chilled mixed minced meat from Denmark and Ireland; distributed to Sweden.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2012.0304): Benzethonium chloride in grapefruit seed extract from the USA; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0305): Salmonella in chilled sheep carcasses from Sweden; distributed to Sweden.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0306): Norovirus in oysters from Ireland, via the Netherlands; distributed to Denmark.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0307): Salmonella enteritidis in fresh chicken fillets from Lithuania; distributed to Latvia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0308): Parasitic infestation with Anisakis of chilled anglerfish from France; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0309): High count of Pseudomonas spp. in and high aerobic plate count for nile perch from Kenya; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0310): Prohibited substance nitrofuran nitrofurazone in salted sheep casings from Mongolia; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0311): Histamine in frozen yellow fin tuna from Indonesia, with raw material from Vietnam, via Belgium; distributed to Sweden.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0313): Dioxins in lamb liver from the Netherlands; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0314): Listeria monocytogenes in chilled smoked salmon from Poland; distributed to France.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU #2012.0257): Norovirus in oysters from Ireland, via France; distributed to Belgium, Denmark, French Polynesia, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation and Sweden.
  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU 2012.0264): Salmonella enteritidis in fresh eggs from Poland; distributed to Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iraq, the Netherlands and Poland.
  • Outbreak Alert (India): More than 50 children and a few adults developed symptoms of food poisoning thought to be linked to consuming ice cream from a make-shift stall outside the premises of the Subramanian Kovil temple at Kiliyalam in Kinanur-Karindalam village.

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: February 28, 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: London Meat Company (New York, NY) recalls Milano’s Country Breakfast Sausage (80 sausage links/5-lb box; EST 8777; Made to order through Feb 21, 2012), due to the presence of undeclared monosodium glutamate. The recalled products were made-to-order for restaurants and caterers in the New York City area.
  • Allergy Alert: Price Chopper recalls Price Chopper Streusel Pies (5-inch and 8-inch sizes; Apple, Cherry, Blueberry and Peach (8-inch only) pies), because the products contain undeclared eggs.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: USDA releases retail distribution list for various meat and poultry products recalled by AA Meat Products Corporation because they may have been produced without the benefit of federal inspection.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Donut Factory, LLC (Seattle, WA) that a November 2011 inspection of the company’s bakery revealed serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods, including evidence of rodent excreta pellets, rodent hairs and live flies.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Mirrotek International, LLC (Passaic, NJ) that a September 2011 inspection of the company’s acidified food processing facility revealed significant violations of federal regulations relating to the processing of acidified food products.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Wa Hen Dou Fu Soy Sauce Corporation (Sacramento, CA) that environmental sampling carried out during a September 2011 inspection of the company’s soy manufacturing facility revealed the presence of Salmonella species Poly B in the facility, including on a direct food-contact surface. Inspectors also documented serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Food (CGMP) regulation for foods.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Corneau et Cantin Ltée (Saguenay, QC) recalls several ready-to-eat products, including various pâtés and tourtières, due to the presence of undeclared egg and milk. Please refer to the recall notice for more details.
  • Food Safety Recall: Super C (14000, boulevard Henri-Bourassa, Québec, QC) recalls semi-lean and lean ground beef (packaged 25 Februar 2012), because the products may contain particles of metal.
  • Food Safety Recall: Charcuterie La Tour Eiffel Inc. recalls Chef Georges Maître Charcutier Homestyle Cooked Ham (approx. 2.7 kg; Codes 0281, 0282, 0283 and 0284), due to the presence of unspecific microbiological contamination. The recalled cooked ham was distributed in Quebec.

Europe

  • Pet Food Safety Withdrawal (Spain): Mercadona supermarket chain has removed boxed Compy wet dog food from its stores in Almeria, Alicante and Murcia provinces, for fear that the dog food was causing kidney problems in dogs. The supermarket has taken this precautionary measure pending the outcome of lab tests on the food and the packaging material.
  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU #2012.0221): Norovirus in oysters from Ireland, via France; distributed to Belgium, Hong Kong, Italy, Norway, Spain and Thailand.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU #2012.0221): Norovirus in oysters from Ireland, via France; distributed to Belgium, Hong Kong, Italy, Norway, Spain and Thailand.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Tegel Foods Ltd. (Auckland) recalls several Tegel Foods frozen pre-cooked chicken products (All recalled products bear a 5-digit lot identifier number starting with the number 2; sold on or after 1 January 2012), because the products are undercooked. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of recalled items.

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: February 27, 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.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Veggie Favour Food Store recalls Veggie Favour Super Mushroom Ball – Vegan style soy product (300g; undeclared milk), Veggie Favour Veggie Half of Kidney style soy product (300g; undeclared milk), Veggie Favour Vegan Black Pepper Mini Burger style – soy product (280g; undeclared milk and wheat), Veggie Favour Vegan Half Chicken Style – soy product (180g; undeclared milk), and Veggie Favour Vegan Black Pepper Chicken – soy product (290g; undeclared egg and wheat), due to presence of undeclared allergens. The recalled products were distributed in British Columbia.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (UK): Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc recalls Morrisons Whole Nut Milk Chocolate (200g; Best before 16 June 2012), because the product may be contaminated with small pieces of metal.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Kewa fisk Danmark ApS recalls #2 size Oysters (Product of Ireland; Lot No. A5805, A5793, and A5796; Expiry dates 20/2-2012, 24/2-2012 and 25/2-2012, respectively), after norovirus was detected in all three batches.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): COOP Danmark A/S recalls COOP brand Broken Rye Kernels (1kg; Expiry 12/7-2012), after ergot – a fungus that can produce alkaloid toxins – was found in the product.
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (Russia): Russia extends its ban on cheese supplies from the Ukrainian firms Bashtansky, Lozovsky and Khmelnytskyi cheese-making plants and Bel Shostka Ukrainy firm, due to their failure to meet Russian food standards.
  • Outbreak Alert (Italy): Three children who attend the nursery of the parish Centro per la famiglia di Cassinone a Seriate were diagnosed with Salmonella infections after developing symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. The three victims were treated in hospital with antibiotic and rehydration therapy, and are expected to be discharged in a few days.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Denmark): The Food & Drug Administration warns consumers against using the dietary supplement Ginseng Kianpi Arrow, as the product contains the root of the potentially toxic plant Polygomum multiflorum Thunb. Roden. The product is marketed from foreign websites, and via the Danish website http://www.bodymuscle.dk – a website that is registered in India and hosted in Ukraine.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall (Italy): Ditta Bennet (Tortona, AL) withdraws Splat-Shot Ben 10 Ultimate Alien, Splat Shot Bakugan Battle Brawlers and Splat Shot Spider Sense Spiderman (Product of China; Imported by  Startrade s.r.l.), because the liquid present in the toys contains a total microbial population in excess of numbers permitted by the Draft Microbiological Safety of Toys.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0287): Aflatoxins in ground nutmeg from Germany with raw material from the Netherlands; distributed to Austria, Germany and Norway.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0288): Shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli in Ermitage Morbier cheese from France; distributed to Germany.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2012.0289): Unauthorized sibutramine in green coffee food supplement from the USA, via Hong Kong; distributed to Slovenia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0290): Unauthorized propyl p-hydroxybenzoate in liquid sweetener from Spain; distributed to Spain and Portugal.
  • Pet Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0291): Excessive Enterobacteriaceae count in dog chews from Colombia; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0292): Aflatoxins in rice snack from India; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0293 & 2012.0294): Mold-infested barley groats from Slovakia; distributed to Poland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0295): Salmonella in tumeric from unknown origin; distributed to Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Romania.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0296): Parasitic infestation with Anisakis of chilled swordfish from Spain; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0297): Histamine in frozen skinless tuna steaks from Vietnam, via the Netherlands; distributed to Norway.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0300): Mold-infested chicken meat from France; distributed to Ireland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0301): Escherichia coli in mussels from Italy; distributed to Austria and Italy.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Australia and New Zealand

  • Allergy Alert (Australia): Wing Chun Company recalls Wing Chun Chinese Style Pork Sausage (375g vacuum package; Use by 23 JAN 2013 or earlier), due to the presence of undeclared soy. The recalled product was distributed in NSW, ACT, VIC, QLD and WA.
  • Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Delmaine Fine Foods Ltd. (Auckland) recalls Delmaine Pitted Cherries (680g jars; Batch VERE11-00028; Best before BBE: 15.07.2014; Jar numbers 1728 to 2592; and 9504 to 12096), because the product may contain glass fragments.

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.