Tag: Health

Recalls and Alerts: February 6, 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:  Allied Imports Inc. (Brooklyn, NY) recalls Dried Potato (12-oz/340g plastic bag; UPC 6 43719 12507 9; Product of China; No lot/date codes), due to the presence high levels of undeclared sulfites. The product was distributed in the immediate New York City area.
  • Medical/Surgical Kit Safety Recall Update: North American Rescue, LLC (Greer, SC) recalls NAR Surgical Crichothyroidotomy Kit – Crickit® – due to the potential contamination with the bacterium Elizabethkingia meningoseptica of the povidone iodine prep pads, manufactured by Triad Group. This is a follow up to the recall initiated on May 5, 2011 by North American Rescue. The Crickit® Kit also may be found inside the NAR Medic Trauma Pack Kit, available in 4 colors. The recalled kits were distributed from 4/30/09 to 4/22/11 in the USA, Switzerland, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Austria, Norway, England, Estonia, Japan, South Africa and Canada.
  • Outbreak Alert (Cruise Ship): 142 passengers and 8 crew members on board the P & O Cruises ship Aurora developed norovirus gastroenteritis while on a voyage that  began on January 4, 2012 and terminated in San Francisco on January 26, 2012.
  • Outbreak Alert (Cruise Ship): 248 passengers and 11 crew members on board the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line ship Voyager of the Seas developed symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea while on a voyage that began on January 28, 2012 and terminated in New Orleans on February 4th. The causative agent has not yet been identified.
  • Outbreak Alert (Cruise Ship): 364 (or more) passengers and 32 crew members on board the Princess Cruises ship Crown Princess developed symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea while on a voyage that began on January 28, 2012 and terminated in Ft. Lauderdale on February 4th. The causative agent has not yet been identified.
  • Outbreak Alert (Update): The Pierre, South Dakota outbreak linked to the Pierre-Mitchell high school boys’ basketball game held on January 31st was due to Clostridium perfringens food poisoning, according to a news release issued today by the South Dakota Department of Health. Questionnaires completed voluntarily by outbreak victims strongly implicated tacos as the source of the illnesses that struck approximately 50 people.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Veggie Favour Food Store recalls Veggie Favour brand Veggie Large Shrimp Style Soy Product (300g; No lot/date codes), due to the presence of undeclared wheat. The recalled product was sold in British Columbia.
  • Food Safety Recall: Milford Bay Trout Farm Inc. (Bracebridge, ON) recalls Milford Bay Trout Farm Inc. Smoked Trout Filet (variable weight vacuum packages; Best before February 9, 2012 and February 10, 2012; Lot code 30644-1), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled smoked trout filets were distributed in Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall: Livno Meats (Hornby, ON) recalls Livno Meats Dry Sausage (200g vacuum package; Batch #4; Packed on DE/11/28 OR packed in plastic bag per customer order and sold from December 28, 2011 through January 21, 2012), due to possible contamination with Salmonella. The recalled sausage was sold only from the Livno Meats retail store in Hornby, ON.
  • Medical/Surgical Kit Safety Recall Update: North American Rescue, LLC (Greer, SC) recalls NAR Surgical Crichothyroidotomy Kit – Crickit® – due to the potential contamination with the bacterium Elizabethkingia meningoseptica of the povidone iodine prep pads, manufactured by Triad Group. This is a follow up to the recall initiated on May 5, 2011 by North American Rescue. The Crickit® Kit also may be found inside the NAR Medic Trauma Pack Kit, available in 4 colors. The recalled kits were distributed from 4/30/09 to 4/22/11 in the USA, Switzerland, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Austria, Norway, England, Estonia, Japan, South Africa and Canada.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: Abond Corporation (Lachine, QC) recalls Honey Bunny Infant Terry Bib with Pocket (Manufactured in China; Style #BB52; UPC 773299000524), because the front pocket and the back lining of the bib contain phthalates in excess of the allowable limit.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: Tech4Kids Inc. (Mississauga, ON) recalls Splat Shot – Marvel Spider Sense Spiderman, Splat Ball – Marvel Spider Sense Spiderman, and Splat Shot Disc – Marvel Spider Sense Spiderman, because the product contains the toxic substance, bronopol. The recalled toys were manufactured by JS Vision Ltd./Miracle Toys Ltd, Kowloon, Hong Kong and sold in Canada from November 2010 to January 2012.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Culina Foods bvba recalls Dress It Up Mustard/Dill Dressing (Expiration dates 17/02/2012, 09/04/2012 and 21/05/2012), because a production error occurred which may result in fermentation in the bottle, causing the bottle cap to blow off.
  • Food Safety Recall (Sweden): ICA recalls ICA Minced Beef (1600g and 2500g; Product of Ireland; Use by dates of February 6 and 7 and of February 5 and 6, respectively), after routine testing discovered Salmonella in the products.
  • Food Safety Recall (Switzerland): Migros recalls five Cornatur Quorn brand products, because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were available for sale since January 2012. Please refer to the recall notice for full details.
  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): Dr. August Oetker KG Foods recalls Chopped Hazelnuts (100g; Best before 01/2013; Batch #1:13-L002-L003), due to contamination with metal filament fragments.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Spain): Ferrer Farma, S.A. recalls Etoposido Ferrer Farma 20mg/ml Solution for Injection (1 vial of 200mg/10mL; Lot 96883306; Expiry 01/2014; Manufactured by EBEWE Pharma GmbH NFg. KG of Austria), because of a defect in the capsule seal in certain vials.
  • Medical/Surgical Kit Safety Recall Update: North American Rescue, LLC (Greer, SC) recalls NAR Surgical Crichothyroidotomy Kit – Crickit® – due to the potential contamination with the bacterium Elizabethkingia meningoseptica of the povidone iodine prep pads, manufactured by Triad Group. This is a follow up to the recall initiated on May 5, 2011 by North American Rescue. The Crickit® Kit also may be found inside the NAR Medic Trauma Pack Kit, available in 4 colors. The recalled kits were distributed from 4/30/09 to 4/22/11 in the USA, Switzerland, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Austria, Norway, England, Estonia, Japan, South Africa and Canada.
  • Outbreak Alert (Russia): Fifteen young gymnasts returning from a sporting event in Bratsk (Irkutsk region) developed food poisoning symptoms during their journey. The children were hospitalized for observation.
  • Food Safety Notification/Outbreak Alert (EU #2012.0178): Foodborne outbreak suspected to be caused by watermelon from Brazil; distributed to Ireland and the United Kingdom.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.0186): Hazelnut traces in chocolate paste from Belgium; distributed to Belgium and the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0187): Aflatoxins in organic broken white rice from Pakistan; distributed to Belgium.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Food Safety urges the public not to consume Shinshu Enokitake Gold-Needle Mushrooms (100g and 200g; Production date February 1 and 2, 2012; Produced by JA Kitashinshu Miyuki, Nagano Prefecture, Japan), because the products may contain glass fragments.
  • Chinese Herbal Medicine Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Department of Health warns the public to stop using Flos Campsis, purchased from Cheong Kee Medicine Co in Yen Chow Street, Sham Shui Po, because the product may be mislabeled.
  • Illegal Health Product Safety Alert (Singapore): The Singapore Health Sciences Authority alters the public to a series of serious adverse health events related to the consumption of illegal sexual enhancement health products.
  • Medical/Surgical Kit Safety Recall Update: North American Rescue, LLC (Greer, SC) recalls NAR Surgical Crichothyroidotomy Kit – Crickit® – due to the potential contamination with the bacterium Elizabethkingia meningoseptica of the povidone iodine prep pads, manufactured by Triad Group. This is a follow up to the recall initiated on May 5, 2011 by North American Rescue. The Crickit® Kit also may be found inside the NAR Medic Trauma Pack Kit, available in 4 colors. The recalled kits were distributed from 4/30/09 to 4/22/11 in the USA, Switzerland, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Austria, Norway, England, Estonia, Japan, South Africa and Canada.
  • Outbreak Alert (Algeria): Seventy-four cases of hepatitis A have been confirmed during January 2012 in Constantine. Most of the victims are school children.
  • Outbreak Alert (Congo DR): Twenty-three cholera cases, including two deaths, have been reported in Kasindi-Lubiriya since the beginning of 2012.
  • Outbreak Alert (India): More than 70 people were rushed to hospital with symptoms of food poisoning after attending a wedding function in Shamli town (Prabhudhnanag). All are reported to be in stable condition.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Outbreak Alert (Australia): Queensland Health is warning the public about an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis, a highly contagious parasitic disease that is a cause of acute diarrhea, especially in young children. Fifty-one lab-confirmed cases have been reported in the past month; in a typical year, fewer than 20 cases are seen.
  • Boil Water Alert (Australia): Residents along some parts of the New South Wales Central Coast have been advised to boil their drinking water after E. coli was found in the water supply.

Latin America and the Caribbean

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.

One Rotten Egg Spoils The Salads

On January 26th, Michael Foods alerted its customers in the food service sector to a Class I recall of three lot codes of Papetti’s Brand hard-cooked eggs (sold in 25-lb tubs; Lot codes 1362W, 1363W, and 1364W; Use by dates of February 11th, 12th and 13th), after product testing revealed possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

The recalled eggs were supplied to foodservice distributors such as US Foods and Sysco. Even though the recall bore the highest risk classification (Class I) – and even though Michael Foods’ facility is under FDA jurisdiction – notice of the recall did not appear on the FDA Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts web page. The public became aware of this recall on January 27th, when 18th Street Deli Inc recalled 118 pounds of Julienne salad products containing eggs that were included in the Michael Foods recall.

As has happened so often in recent years, the initial recall soon was expanded to include additional lot codes. On February 1st, Michael Foods announced the recall of hard-cooked eggs sold under six brand names (Columbia Valley Farms, GFS, Glenview Farms, Papetti’s, Silverbrook, and Wholesome Farms). The recall covered all 10- and 25-pound pails of hard-cooked eggs packed in brine bearing lot codes 1 LOT 1350W through 1 LOT 2025W (“1” refers to the production line impacted by the recall; “W” identifies the eggs as coming from the Wakefield, NE production plant), and expiration dates ranging from 1/30/201 to 3/10/2012.

The eggs covered in the expanded recall, according to Michael Foods, were supplied to food distributors and manufacturers located in 34 states (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI, and WV); none of the eggs were sold directly to retailers or consumers.

The company explained that the recall was expanded after “…a thorough investigation which indicated a specific repair project that took place in the packaging room as the likely source of the contamination.” In other words, once again, a company manufactured and has shipped a ready-to-eat product before ensuring that the production environment was microbiologically secure.

As a result of this “wing and a prayer” approach to food safety, several companies have been faced with initiating precautionary recalls. I certainly hope that Michael Foods’ liability insurer has deep enough pockets to cover the cost of all of these secondary recalls.

Most of the retail-level recalls triggered by the distribution of contaminated hard-cooked eggs affect ready-to-eat salads and sandwiches. I have posted a separate page listing the recalled items announced so far, including information on their retail distribution. I shall be updating the recall list as I learn of additional items.

If you have purchased a salad or sandwich mentioned in any of these recalls, please discard it or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. Listeria monocytogenes can be a deadly illness, especially for the elderly, the very young, people with reduced immunity and pregnant women. Do not take a chance with your health or with the health of your family members.

Recalls and Alerts: February 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: Nest Collective™ recalls Revolution Foods brand Jammy Sammy™ Strawberry Jam & Peanut Butter Flavor Snack Size Sandwich Bars (5-count carton; Best by 06/28/12, because peanut was not declared as an ingredient on the inner wrappers. The recalled cartons are sold online and at retail stores across the USA.
  • Food Safety Recall: Greencore, USA – Cincinnati recalls Take Away Café Egg Salad Sandwiches (7.66 oz; Sell by 1/25/12 through 2/7/12) and Quick Café Egg Salad Wedge (5.68 oz; Enjoy by date of 1/22/12 through 2/4/12), because the sandwiches contain eggs manufactured by Michael Foods Inc that are the subject of a recall due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The sandwiches were distributed to retailers in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.
  • Food Safety Recall: F&S Produce Company Inc (Deerfield, NJ) recalls Fresh Garden Highway Spinach Salad with Bacon (10-oz plastic container; All Sell by dates through 2/8/12) and Fresh Garden Highway Cobb Salad (10.75-oz plastic container; All Sell by dates through 2/8/12), because the salads contain eggs manufactured by Michael Foods Inc that are the subject of a recall due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled salads were shipped to a warehouse in Pennsylvania for distribution to retail locations.
  • Food Safety Recall: Delhaize America recalls all Food Lion brand and Hannaford brand potato salads sold at Bloom, Bottom Dollar Food, Food Lion, Reid’s and Sweetbay grocery stores (Use By dates of March 12, 13, 14 or 15), as well as Allison’s Gourmet Kitchens Potato Salad (Bulk sales from full service deli cases at Bloom, Food Lion, Reid’s and Sweetbay stores), because the salads contain eggs manufactured by Michael Foods Inc that are the subject of a recall due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Safety Recall: GH Foods CA, LLC (Sacramento, CA) recalls DeLish brand Egg Salad on HoneyWheat Sandwich (8.5 oz; UPC 0 49022-51925 1; Enjoy By date 1/17/12 through 2/5/12) and DeLish brand Tuna Salad on Multigrain Bread Sandwich (8.5 oz; UPC 0 49022 51928 2; Enjoy by date 1/22/12 through 2/5/12), because the salads contain eggs manufactured by Michael Foods Inc that are the subject of a recall due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Safety Recall: The Kroger Company recalls Fresh Garden Highway Cobb Salad (7.5 oz; Kroger stores in Texas and Louisiana), Deli Egg Salad Sandwich w/White Bread (6 oz; Dillons, Baker’s, Gerbes and Food4Less Fremont stores) and various Allison’s Gourmet prepared salads (Dillons, Baker’s Gerbes and Food4Less Fremont stores), because the salads contain eggs manufactured by Michael Foods Inc that are the subject of a recall due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: Healthy People Co. recalls the following dietary supplements, after FDA lab analysis confirmed the presence of Sibutramine and Tadalafil in the products: Mince Belle Dietary Supplement (HPCMB/10-026, HPCMB/10-027, HPCMB/10-029, HPCMB/10-020, HPCMB/10-021; UPC7503013203305), PERFECT Men Dietary Supplement (HPCPM/002; UPC7503013203190), EVERLAX Dietary Supplement (HPCEX/074, HPCEX/076, HPCEX/072; UPC7503013203046), EVER Slim Dietary Supplement (HPCES-079, HPCES-070, HPCES-071; UPC7503013203053), Herbal Drink Acai-man Mangosteen Dietary Supplement (HPJAC/004: UPC7503013203015), EVER SLIM Shake Mix Dietary Supplement Strawberry (HPESSF/168: UPC7503013203084), and EVER SLIM Shake Mix Dietary Supplement Chocolate (HPESSC/061: UPC7503013203077).

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Kuo Hua Trading Company Ltd. (Markham, ON) recalls Mic’s brand Sesame Brown Rice Wafer (190g package; Product of Taiwan; Exp. 21.11.2012), due to the presence of undeclared peanuts. The recalled product was distributed in Ontario and British Columbia.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: Dollarama LP/S.E.C. (Montreal, QC) recalls Baby Bibs (Manufactured in China; Item No. 19-1900392 and 19-3018618), because the bibs’ lining contains a phthalate, specifically DEHP (Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate), which exceeds the allowable limit.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Alternative Treatment Product Safety Alert (Australia): The Therapeutic Goods Administration advises consumers not to purchase or use unproven products that claim to cure or treat cancer. Specifically, the recent use of Black Salve (also known as Cansema or Bloodroot) has resulted in serious harm to the skin of three Australian consumers who used the unproven product to treat various skin conditions. Black Salve has not been formally assessed by the TGA and is not included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Food Safety Alert (Colombia): The Ministry of Health advises the public that two Jones’ Seasoning Blends – Jones’ Mock Salt Original and Jones’ Mock Salt Spicy Southwest Blend – were recalled by the manufacturer due to possible contamination with Salmonella. The recalled products were sold internationally over the internet between July 1, 2011 and December 14, 2011.

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.