Tag: Health

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Unnamed Restaurant Chain

A Mexican-style restaurant chain has been linked to an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections that affected 68 people in 10 US states between October 13th and December 1st, 2011. Thirty-one percent of the confirmed outbreak victims were hospitalized.

CDC has declined to identify the chain, which it refers to simply as Restaurant Chain A in its first – and final – report on this outbreak.

According to CDC, the outbreak affected consumers in Texas (43 confirmed reports), Oklahoma (16), Kansas (2), Iowa (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New Mexico (1), Ohio (1) and Tennessee. Victims range in age from less than one year to 79 years old, with a median age of 25. Slightly more than one-half (54%) of the victims were female. There were no deaths.

An investigation carried out by CDC, FDA and state public health officials determined that eating at Restaurant Chain A (described as a Mexican-style fast food restaurant) was significantly associated with illness. Sixty-two percent (62%) of outbreak victims reported eating at the implicated chain in the week before becoming ill; only 17% of well people ate at that chain in the week before being interviewed.

Although no single food or ingredient was associated with the illnesses, 90% of outbreak victims reported eating lettuce, 94% ate ground beef, 77% ate cheese and 35% ate tomatoes. After reviewing the handling and cooking processes used by the restaurant chain, CDC concluded that ground beef was not the likely source of this outbreak.

For now, CDC has the following advice to share:

  • At this time, there is no specific advice to consumers.
  • Consumers are not warned to avoid any specific foods or restaurants.
  • If a food source is identified for this outbreak and if there is evidence of continued risk of infection, public health officials will advise the public and take the necessary steps to avoid risk of additional illnesses.
  • To facilitate successful traceback efforts and outbreak investigations, retail establishments should maintain detailed records of food suppliers and distributors.

Or, in a word, NOTHING!

Recalls and Alerts: January 19, 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: Leasa Industries Co. (Miami, FL) recalls LEASA Living Alfalfa Sprouts (6-oz clear plastic container; Expiration date 2/1/12), because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled Alfalfa Sprouts were distributed in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi through retail stores and food service companies on 1/4/12, 1/5/12, 1/6/12, 1/7/12 and 1/8/12.
  • Food Safety Recall: Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. recalls LEASA Broccoli Sprouts (4-oz), LEASA Gourmet Sprouts (6-oz), LEASA Spicy Sprouts (6-oz), and LEASA Onion Sprouts (6-oz), after LEASA recalls all LEASA Living Alfalfa Sprouts due to potential Salmonella contamination. The recalled LEASA sprouts were sold between January 7, 2012 and January 18, 2012 and have expiration dates between February 1, 2012 and March 15, 2012, and were sold in Winn-Dixie stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
  • Contact Lens Recall: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. (Jacksonville, FL) recalls 1-DAY ACUVUE MOIST Brand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM (FDA Recall #Z-0734-2012; External carton Lot No. B00BVTN; Internal package Lot No.B00BSBH), due to a lot being mixed. The recalled contact lenses were distributed across the USA and internationally.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Loblaw Companies Limited recalls several President’s Choice Organics Infant Cereals (227g packages; all codes), because the products may have an unpleasant rancid odor or taste. The recalled cereals include: Mixed Grains with Apple (add water 8+baby, Oat cereal (add breast milk or infant formula) 6+baby, Oat Cereal (add water) 6+baby, Rice Cereal with Banana (add water) 7+baby, Rice Cereal (add breast milk or infant formula) 6+baby, Rice Cereal (add water) 6+baby, Wheat Cereal (add water) 6+baby, and Wheat Cereal with Mixed Fruit (add water) 7+baby.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Vickmans Laboratories Ltd. recalls Diurex Tablets (Lot #110738), after a plastic fragment was found embedded in a single tablet.
  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating a norovirus outbreak at a seniors’ home in Kwun Tong. The outbreak has affected 46 residents and 20 staff members.
  • Food Safety Notification/Outbreak Alert (EU #2012.0094): Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak caused by dried milk formula from Belgium; distributed to Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville, Haiti, Mozambique and the Russian Federation.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Food Safety Notification/Outbreak Alert (EU #2012.0094): Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak caused by dried milk formula from Belgium; distributed to Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville, Haiti, Mozambique and the Russian Federation.

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: January 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: Price Chopper recalls Price Chopper Coyote Joe’s Taco Cheese (16-oz; Expiration April 21, 2012), due to the potential presence of plastic fragments.
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action: The Missouri Department of Agriculture has temporarily halted custom exempt processing operations at B & C Processing (Linn, MO) due to unsanitary practices. The exemption will remain suspended until completion of a satisfactory inspection.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: California Innovations Inc. (Toronto, Canada) recalls Expandable Insulated Lunch Box with Freezer Gel Pack, because gel that contains diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol can leak out of damaged freezer gel packs, posing a poisoning hazard if ingested. The company has received two separate reports of a dog chewing and ingesting gel from the gel pack. One of the two dogs died; the other has recovered. The recalled Lunch Boxes were manufactured in China and sold at Costco Wholesale Clubs, Leon Korol and Cost U Less stores between May 2007 and September 2008.
  • Food Safety Recall: Frisia Dairy & Creamery LLC (Tenino, WA) recalls retail raw milk products due to contamination with a toxin-producting E. coli, according to a report from My Fox Spokane.
  • Food Recall: Bi-Lo recalls La Feria Sabor Flour Tortillas (8-inch; 10-count; Item code 330640; Lot codes March 12 through March 25) and La Comadre Flour Tortillas (8-inch; 10-count; Item code 333230; Lot codes March 12 through March 25) for unspecified quality issues.
  • Outbreak Alert: Fifty-eight employees of a Zappos warehouse in Shepherdsville, Kentucky developed gastroenteritis after consuming catered food at work. Clinical specimens yielded cultures of Bacillus cereus.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Tasty Enterprises recalls its own brand of Honeydew Powder, Papaya Powder, Pineapple Powder, Lychee Powder, Coffee 2 in 1 Powder, Almond Powder, Coconut Powder, Peach Powder and Green Tea Powder (1kg; no lot codes; no UPC), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled products were distributed to hotels, restaurants and institutions in Ontario.
  • Allergy Alert: Dynamic Chocolates Inc. recalls House of Brussels Chocolates Hedgehogs – Filled with Creamy Hazelnut Truffle (4 x 230g; All codes; UPC 0 65082 05274 3), due to the presence of undeclared tree nuts. The recalled chocolates were distributed through retailers nationally.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (UK): UK Snacks Ltd. recalls Giants ‘Just Fruit’ Mixed Dried Fruit (300g; Batch code D228; Best before end July 2012), due to the presence of undeclared sulphites.
  • Allergy Alert (Ireland): Food Safety Authority of Ireland warns that Uno Pol Tarnow, Paleczki Kukurydziane”/‘Sweet Corn Fingers’ Crisps (70g; Best before date 31/03/2012; Batch 2012.03.31) may be unsafe for consumers who are allergic to gluten, because the specified batch contains undeclared gluten.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Defco A/S recalls Silk Cut Beef Pastrami/ Oksepastrami (80g; Package Date 09.01.2012; Best before 01.02.2012), after the remains of an aluminum clip were found in the product.
  • Food Safety Withdrawal (Denmark): Jan Import A/S withdraws Sun Island Pine Medium Pine Nuts (1kg; Best before 16.02.13/Lot #9604-1 and 9604-2; Best before 02.05.13/Lot #9813-1 and 9813-2), because the nuts may cause a temporary loss or change of taste in some consumers.

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.