Tag: honeydew

Recalls and Alerts: June 1–2, 2021

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.

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United States

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: CDC is investigating an outbreak of seventeen Salmonella Enteritidis infections in six states. Eight people have been hospitalized. Based on patient interviews and lab testing results, the infection appear to be linked to consumption of raw frozen breaded stuffed chicken products. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a Public Health Alert, cautioning consumers to safely prepare and cook these frozen, raw poultry products to a temperature of 165 F, and to use a meat thermometer to verify the correct temperature has been reached.

Food Safety Recall: Sun Hong, Inc recalls Seafood Mushroom (5.3 oz / 150g pkgs; All packages; Product of China) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Banner Smoked Fish, Inc. recalls multiple Smoked Fish products due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Canada

Food Safety Recall Update: Produits Africa recalls three Mbambi sauces that were manufactured and/or packaged under conditions that may render the products unsafe to consume. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: G.B. La Référence recalls Piment Shito / Shito pepper (250 ml; Units sold up to and including 28 May 2021) because the label does not bear the mandator “Garder Réfrigéré” (Keep refrigerated) instruction.

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Europe

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION (Multiple countries): Salmonella Braenderup infections in multiple European countries are believed linked to consumption of honeydew, cantaloupe and galia melons imported from Costa Rica, Honduras or Brazil. More than 200 people in more than ten countries have become infected. With the exception of a single Canadian report, all of the illnesses have been reported by countries in Europe. Please follow the live link to read the complete story.

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE (Sweden): Sweden Public Health reports 36 confirmed cases of Salmonella Braenderup infections during the period 4 April to 15 May 2021. These cases are part of the multinational outbreak mentioned above.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Unilever recalls Zwan brand Plat à l’Italienne / Italian dish (425g; Lot code L0339A2M28; Expiration date 31-12-2023) because, due to an error at the manufacturing plant, a number of cans in the batch were not sterilized and are unsafe to consume.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Vleesgroothandel Vandenbroucke Pascal recalls various lamb products (Lot #2021; Use by 01/06/2021 (plain, ground) and 16/06/2021 (other products)) due to shigatoxin-producting E. coli contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Finland): Lidl Suomi recalls Delicorner Eat away Kana-hummussalaatti / Chicken hummus salad (375g; Best before dates from June 1 to June 5, 2021) due to possible foreign matter (broken glass) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Carrefour recalls Carrefour brand Riz Basmati / Basmati rice (1 kg; Lot L HH; Best before 05/02/2023) due to aflatoxin contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): DE LA VIEILLE RUE recalls multiple FERME DE LA VIEILLE RUE fresh cheeses (500g; Lot #18052021; Use by 08/ 06/2021) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete llist of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (France): LAITERIE DE VERNEUIL – COOPERATIVE TOURAINE-BERRY recalls VERNEUIL brand LE LAIT ENTIER que je préfère / Whole milk, UHT-sterilized (1 L; Lot 130 (11:27:00 à 11:39:00); Best before 07/09/2021) due to a sterility defect.

Food Safety Recall (France): DUTEL BEATRICE MAISON DUTEL recalls DUTEL / La Bourgeoterie brand TEURGOULE MAISON AU LAIT BIO / Homemade slow-baked rice pudding with organic milk (310g; Manufacturing date 27/07/2020) due to inadequate sterilization.

Food Safety Recall (France): Comte de Bellou recalls Comte de Bellou brand Jambon Fumé / Smoked ham (Lot 22921130; Use by between 26/06/2021 and 12/07/2021, and between 07/06/2021 and 15/06/2021) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Aldi recalls EPICURILLADES brand 20 KNACKS – SAUCISSES DE STRASBOURG / Strasbourg sausages (700g; Lots 12340809 18:xx; 12340809 19:xx; 12340809 20:xx; 12340809 21:xx; Best before 07/06/2021) due to possible foreign matter (small metal pieces) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Iceland): Ketó Kompaníið recalls four flavours of Ketó Kompaníið brand Kökudeigsís ice cream due to microbial contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Aldi Ireland recalls Roosters Breaded Chicken Goujons (320g; Batch codes 20300B and 20323B; Best before October 2021 and November 2021) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Unilever recalls Zwan brand Plat à l’Italienne / Italian dish (425g; Lot code L0339A2M28; Expiration date 31-12-2023) because, due to an error at the manufacturing plant, a number of cans in the batch were not sterilized and are unsafe to consume.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): PALACIOS recalls Auchan brand Chorizo extra fort (225g; Lot #143303; Use by 14/09/2021) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Sweden): Salico recalls Green Deli Hummus & kyckling / Hummus and chicken (Best before dates between 2021-05-31 and 2021-06-05) due to possible foreign matter (broken glass) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Switzerland): Pure Natural Food SA recalls “back to roots” Tiger Nut Flour (360g; Best before 30.08.2021) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Aldi recalls Roosters Breaded Chicken Goujons (320g; Batch codes 20300B and 20323B; Best before October 2021 and November 2021) due to Salmonella contamination.

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Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Allergy Alert (Israel): TTG Food Ltd. recalls multiple products due to undeclared allergens. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Israel): Alrozana International Trade Ltd. recalls tahini products due to Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Large Salmonella outbreak linked to melons

By Joe Whitworth on June 1, 2021

Cantaloupe melon

Melons have been linked to a Salmonella Braenderup outbreak that has affected 200 people in more than 10 countries.

Patients have been reported in Denmark, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Canada and Switzerland. Illnesses started in late March.

Czech Republic and Spain have also recorded recent Salmonella Braenderup infections but it is not yet clear if they belong to this outbreak.

Three melon types from 3 countries implicated

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) reported that the source is thought to be whole honeydew, cantaloupe and galia melons from Costa Rica, Honduras or Brazil.

dreamstime_galia-melon-produce-fruit-656x372
Galia melon

Most UK retailers are believed to have stocked the affected melons bought on or before May 28 but they have now been removed from sale.

In the UK, 52 people fell sick between March 29 and April 28. In total, 33 females and 19 males aged 0 to 88 years old are affected.

Public Health England, Food Standards Scotland and other UK health protection and food safety agencies are part of the ongoing investigation.

One person is ill in Canada with symptom onset of March 8. The 53-year old male has no history of travel.

Consumers can identify the country of origin from a sticker on the fruit. If people are not sure about where the galia, cantaloupe or honeydew melon came from they are advised not to eat it.

Tina Potter, head of incidents for the Food Standards Agency, said: “As a precaution we are advising people not to eat these melons and to dispose of them. It is important that consumers wash their hands and any surfaces that have been in contact with the melons thoroughly. This will help avoid the risk of cross contamination and the risk of illness.”

Country specific situations

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is supporting an international outbreak investigation.

“This is a rapidly evolving international outbreak with more than 200 cases of Salmonella Braenderup. There is a predominance of women among the cases. Given the extent of cases within but also outside of the EU, it is likely to be a food item with a wide geographical distribution.”

The International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) has been following the multi-national outbreak since May 10.

dreamstime_honeydew-melon-produce-fruit-656x372
Honeydew melon

Denmark identified 27 people with Salmonella Braenderup infections between March 26 and April 28. Nineteen are female and eight male, ranging from 1 to 90 years of age. They are geographically spread and have not travelled outside of the country.

Norway has five cases between April 13 and 26 in a nursing home. Four are female aged from 77 to 93 years old and three are a confirmed match with the outbreak strain.

Sweden has 36 patients between April 4 and May 15 with 29 females and seven males aged 0 to 95 years old.

Belgium has 42 infections with four confirmed between March 23 and May 5. Thirty are female with those sick ranging from 1 to 97 years old.

Thirteen patients live in the Netherlands. Six are female, three are male with an age range of 4 to 84 years old.

Five people are sick in Finland with three confirmed between April 13 and May 2. Three are females and two are males aged 44 to 75 years old.

One man is affected in France.

There are four patients in Ireland since March 30.

Germany has 49 cases of which 13 are confirmed since March 30 with 23 females and 12 males sick. The age range of those affected is from 1 to 79 years old.

In the Czech Republic, four cases have been reported between March 22 and April 29. They are three females and one male aged 1 to 40 years old.

Two cases in Spain from February 28 and April 9 are in infants, 2 and 5 months old.

Switzerland has 15 cases with 12 confirmed between March 24 and May 7. Twelve are females and three males from 7 months to 87 years of age.

This report by Joe Whitworth first appeared in Food Safety News and is reposted here with permission.