Tag: Health

Cheese Blamed For Australia Listeria Outbreak

Authorities in several Australian states are investigating an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes that has sickened eight people in New South Wales (3), Victoria (2), Queensland (1), Tasmania (1) and Western Australia (1). Three more cases are under investigation and may also be part of the outbreak. No other details have been released.

According to health warnings posted by the New South Wales and Victoria departments of health, the outbreak is linked to a number of Jindi and Wattle Valley brand soft cheeses sold at delicatessens and supermarkets throughout Australia. On December 19th, a recall notice for the following cheeses was posted on the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website:

  • Jindi Brie – 1 kg
  • Jindi Camembert – 1 kg
  • Jindi Food Service Brie – 1 kg
  • Wattle Valley Brie – 1 kg
  • Wattle Valley Camembert – 1 kg

All of the recalled cheeses carry a Best Before date of 21 December 2012. As these cheeses are commonly cut into smaller portions for sale to the public, the original identifying packaging may no longer be available.

Advice to Consumers

  • Consumers are advised to check the best before date of any Jindi or Wattle Valley soft cheeses and, if from the identified batch, they should discard it or return to the place of purchase for a full refund.
  • Consumers who have purchased a cut portion of camembert or brie from a supermarket or delicatessen who are unsure of the brand should discard it. If in doubt, THROW IT OUT.
  • Healthy people usually show only mild symptoms. However, in people at risk, early symptoms of listeriosis include fever, headache, tiredness and aches and pains. Listeria monocytogenes can cause miscarriages in pregnant women, stillbirths, and death in people with compromised immune systems. Anyone who experiences symptoms consistent with listeriosis and who consumed brie or camembert within 70 days prior to becoming ill should seek immediate medical attention.

Recalls and Alerts: December 21, 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: S&M International Inc. (Bayonne, NJ) recalls Yang Sheng cooked salted duck eggs (6 eggs/12.69-oz vacuum-pkg; UPC 6949682803568; Lot code YS12-02C), because the product was not processed in a manner to prevent growth of Clostridium botulinum. The recalled eggs were distributed between August to October 2012 to stores and markets located in New York City area, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Michigan.
  • Food Safety Recall/Allergy Alert: Bi-Lo advises its customers that the manufacturer has recalled Vanilla Cake Roll with Strawberry Filling (8 oz; UPC 0-10374-49983; Item code 638796; Produced from 7/26/2012 through 10/27/2012), due to ingredient mislabelling.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: P&J Trading recalls Slimdia Revolution Dietary Supplement (30 capsules/bottle; All lots), because the product contains the prescription drug sibutramine, an appetite suppressant, which is not declared on the label. The recalled product was distributed nationwide in US from March 2012 to December 2012.
  • FDA Enforcement Action: FDA announces that a Federal judge has signed a consent decree imposing requirements on Sunland Inc. The consent decree requires that Sunland retain an independent sanitation expert to develop a sanitation control program that the company must then implement. The requirements also include compliance with the cGMP regulations. In addition, for the peanut butter plant, the company must conduct environmental monitoring and testing to ensure that disease-causing organisms are not present in the facility or in its finished foods and must have comprehensive inspections conducted by an independent sanitation expert. The consent decree permits Sunland to receive, hold, and distribute raw, unshelled peanuts from its storage buildings because the raw, unshelled peanuts are bound for processing facilities that include a “kill step” to eliminate Salmonella and other pathogenic bacteria. Peanut butter products manufactured by Sunland were linked to an outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney that sickened 42 people in 20 states.

Canada

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) reminds the public not to consume puffer fish. The alert was released after CHP received a report of a suspected poisoning associated with consumption of this fish.

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: December 20, 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.

For current information on international and retail distribution of peanut butter products recalled due to Salmonella Bredeney, please consult the Trader Joe’s/Sunland Peanut Butter Recalls tab.

United States

  • Allergy Alert: Udi’s Healthy Foods, LLC recalls Udi’s Gluten Free Au Naturel Granola (12-oz bags; UPC 6 98997-80615-8; Best by 041913 12265 1), due to undeclared almonds. The recalled granola product was distributed through retail stores in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington beginning on or about September 24, 2012.
  • Allergy Alert Update: USDA releases retail distribution list for Mortadella recalled by Fiorucci Foods, Inc. (South Chesterfield, VA) due to undeclared pistachio nuts.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: The California Department of Public Health releases retail distribution list for smoked fish products recalled by True Taste Life LLC due to potential for growth of Clostridium botulinum. The recalled smoked fish were sold in La Brea Kosher Market, Pico Glatt Kosher Market, and Western Kosher Market in Los Angeles, and in Albertsons supermarket stores throughout Southern California.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Mylan Inc. recalls Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen Tablets, USP 10 mg/500 mg (Lots #3037841, 3040859, 3042573), due to the possibility that a small number of tablets from the affected lots may exceed the weight requirement and could exceed the label claim potency requirements for the ingredients hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Ka Wing Hong Ltd. recalls M brand Rice (454g; no date codes; UPC 6 98921 01212 9), due to undeclared wheat. The recalled rice was sold through retailers in British Columbia and Ontario.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Ireland): Iceland recalls Iceland Chicken Biryani (500g; Best before 03.10.2013), due to the presence of undeclared wheat, gluten, milk, mustard and prawns. Some of the packages were incorrectly filled with prawn curry.
  • Allergy Alert (UK): Iceland recalls Iceland Chicken Biryani (500g; Best before 3 October 2013), because a packaging error has resulted in some of this product being incorrectly filled with Prawn Curry, made with wheat (gluten), milk, mustard and shellfish (prawns) that are not mentioned on the label.
  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): Fidi Pus GmbH recalls Umami oysters (Bonton Products BV, Netherlands; Lots 12-11 and 3-12 from Tristell, Lot 29-11 from Woodstown), due to possible norovirus contamination.
  • Food Safety Recall (Germany): Thalheimer Bauernwurst Deuerlein Vertriebs GmbH recalls Liverwurst (300g screw-cap glass jars; Best before 20.01.2015), because the product may contain metallic particles. The recalled product was sold nationwide through retail grocery stores.
  • Food Safety Recall (UK): Liroy B.V. (Netherlands importer) recalls Koon Yick Way Kee – Rose Bean Curd Tofu (454g; Best before 30.12.14; Lot #023424; Product of China, via the Netherlands) and Koon Yick Wah Kee – Chilli Bean Curd Tofu (454g; Best before 30.12.14; Lot #023421; Product of China, via the Netherlands), due to contamination with Bacillus cereus and several varieties of yeast.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Alert (New Zealand): The New Zealand Herald reports that Auckland and Northland health authorities are warning the public not to collect or consume shellfish collected from Mohakatino (in Taranaki) north to Maunganui Bluff (north of Dargaville), including the Manukau and Kaipara Harbours, due to the risk of paralytic shellfish toxin. Shellfish from the Waitemata Harbour and North Shore beaches were safe at this stage.

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.