Tag: mycotoxins

Recalls and Alerts: January 10 – 13, 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.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations? Go to TAINTED to download the first couple of chapters of my new book.

United States

OUTBREAK ALERT: FDA has opened an investigation into an outbreak of Salmonella Miami, associated with an unknown food. Forty-eight outbreak cases have been reported so far.

Pet Food Recall and Pet Health Alert: Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. expands its earlier recall of pet food to include to include more than 1000 production lots of dog and cat pet food products made with corn products and manufactured in the company’s Chickasha Operations Facility, because those products may contain aflatoxin levels which exceed acceptable limits. At least 70 pets have died and an additional 80 or more have fallen ill after consuming certain of these products. Please refer to the recall notice for details on how to identify the recalled products. Additional information also is available in eFoodAlert’s Breaking News story, posted on January 11, 2021.

Food Safety Recall: Weis Markets recalls Weis Quality Cookies and Cream Ice Cream (48 oz; Sell by 10/28/21; UPC 041497-01253) and Klein’s Vanilla Dairy Ice Cream (3 gal; Code stamp 0302) due to possible foreign matter (metal filling equipment parts) contamination.

Food Safety Recall: EVR Foods, INC recalls Lavva brand Blueberry Plant-Based Yogurt (5.3 oz; Expiration date 2/21/21) due to potential mold contamination.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Piller’s Fine Foods recalls Piller’s brand Oven Roasted Turkey Breast (375g; Best Before 2021 JA 27; EST 550; UPC 0 69401 07546 8) due to foreign matter (pieces of plastic) contamination.

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Europe

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Dufrais recalls Dufrais brand Boulettes rôtie maison / Homemade roassted meatballs (100-120g/piece; Lots 090 1010 007, 090 1010 008, 090 1010 009; Use by 12/01/2021) due to possible foreign matter (pieces of glass) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Carrefour recalls Carrefour brand Riz basmati / Basmati rice (1kg bag; Lot code / Best before date 01/07/2022) due to mycotoxin (ochratoxin A) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Iceland): Kólus ehf recalls Sambo brand Risa Þristur – lakkrís- og súkkulaðistangir með karamellufyllingu / licorice and chocolate bars with caramel filling (50g; Lots L350 & L357; Best before 16.11.21 & 08.01.22) due to a packaging defect.

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Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Allergy Alert (Israel): Meitav (G. SH.) Food Industries Limited Partnership alerts the public to the presence of undeclared egg in four flavoured syrup products. Please refer to the notice for a list of affected products. The company points out that the products are safe for consumers who do not have sensitivity to egg.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Woolworths recalls Woolworths Coleslaw (110g, 250g, 400g & 800g; All Use By dates from 12 Jan up to and including 21 Jan) due to potential Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Bellarine Smokehouse recalls Smoked Barramundi Pâté and Smoked Salmon Pâté (150g; Use By 050221 & 060221) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

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Recalls and Alerts: January 7 – 9, 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.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations? Go to TAINTED to download the first couple of chapters of my new book.

United States

Allergy Alert: FSIS issues public health alert for HyVee mealtime CHICKEN ENCHILADAS (64.4 oz; Lot #21003; Best If Used By 01/10/2021) due to undeclared soy.

Canada

Allergy Alert Update: Minhas Sask Ventures Inc. recalls Minhas Craven brand Pina Colada alcoholic beverage (1.75L; UPC 0 62811 11100 9; All batch codes where milk is not declared on the label) due to undeclared milk.

Food Safety Recall: Monaghan Mushrooms Ltd. recalls Belle Grove brand Whole White Mushrooms (227g; Best Before 15 Jan; UPC 8 87462 00000 3) because they may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum.

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Europe

Allergy Alert (Germany): Ciloglu Handels GmbH recalls FINDIKLI PESTIL (12 x 300g; Expiry 12.02.2021, 20.04.2021, 01.07.2021 14.08.2021, 07.10.2021, 07.11.2021) due to undeclared peanuts.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Hoogvliet recalls Hoogvliet boterhamworst / luncheon meat (Best before 16-01-2021) due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert (UK): Premier Selection Sweets recalls The Premier Selection Choc Nibs (All pack sizes; All Best Before dates up to and including 17 December 2021) due to undeclared hazelnuts.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Industry recalls Ciloglu brand Watermelon seeds, roasted & salted (200g; Lot #NTX591477; Best before 28/09/2021) due to elevated levels of aflatoxin B1 et ochratoxin A.

Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Midsona Danmark A/S recalls Urtekram Lakridsrod / Licorice root (Best before 23.09.2022) due to elevated levels of ochratoxin A.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Edeka AG Hamburg recalls EDEKA Bio Heidelbeere in Birne / Organic blueberry in pear (190g glass jar; Best before 28.07.2022) due to foreign matter (pieces of glass) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Iceland): Aðföng recalls La Pasta di Alessandra brand Tortellini con ripieno di carne / Tortellini with meat filling (1000g; Best before 16-10-2021) and La Pasta di Alessandra brand Tortellini con ripieno di formaggio / Tortellini with cheese filling (1000g; Best before 16-10-2021) due to presence of mold.

Food Safety Recall (Iceland): Ölgerðin Egill Skallagrímsson ehf. recalls Egils brand Malt og appelsín / Malt and orange (0.5 L; Lot #02L20307015730; Best before 02.08.21) due to foreign matter (pieces of glass) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Cully & Sully recalls Cully & Sully Thai Chicken Soup (400g; Use by 16.01.21 (Batches 1, 2, & 3) and 22.01.21 (Batches 1, 2, 3, & 4) due to foreign matter (red plastic packaging) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Switzerland): Migros recalls various salad products due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Switzerland): Lidl recalls Mischsalat / Mixed salad (320g; Use by 08.01.2021 and 09.01.21) due to possible Listeria contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Switzerland): Denner recalls various salad products due to possible Listeria contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Switzerland): Aldi Suisse AG recalls various salad products due to possible Listeria contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Sainsbury’s recalls Plant Pioneers 6 Caramelised Onion Shroomdogs (300g; Use by 06 January 2021 and 07 January 2021) due to possible foreign matter (pieces of metal) contamination.

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Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (Australia): El Cielo recalls White Corn Tortillas Light Flavour 14cm (260g; Use By 040221) due to undeclared gluten.

PetSmart and other stealthy pet food recalls

Not all food-safety recalls are announced via a corporate news release and posted on-line. 

In some cases, news of a recall is shared only by telephone, email, letter or some other private means.

Nevertheless, all recalls that come under the jurisdiction of the FDA eventually find their way into the FDA’s Weekly Enforcement Report.

A survey of Enforcement Reports for 2020, conducted last week by eFoodAlert, turned up several recalls for which no public notice was issued.

The Smaller Fry

Boesl Packing Company recalled one batch of K9 Kraving Dog Food Beef and Vegetable Raw Dog Food due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recall was initiated on July 22, 2019 and classified six months later as a Class I recall on January 23, 2020. The product was shipped to one customer in North Carolina. The customer was notified by telephone.

G & C Raw, LLC recalled one batch of G&C Raw Ground Turkey due to possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes. The recall was initiated on May 20, 2019 and was eventually classified as a Class I recall on January 23, 2020. The recalled items were distributed only in Michigan and consignees were notified by email.

Grassland Beef recalled two varieties of Dr. Siegel’s S. A. F. E. Petfood, Ground Beef due to possible presence of E. coli O157:H7. The recall was initiated on October 20, 2020 and Classified as a Class I recall on November 23, 2020. The recalled products were shipped directly to consumers nationwide and to one retail location in Florida.

Stella & Chewy’s, LLC recalled one batch of Stella & Chewy’s Raw Blend, Kibble + Wholesome Grains Red Meat Recipe, with Pumpkin & Quinoa due to potential Salmonella contamination. The recall was initiated on October 14, 2020 and classified as a Class I recall on October 28, 2020. The product was distributed in four states and consignees were notified by telephone.

Available Now

Texas Tripe recalled multiple products in which Listeria monocytogenes and/or Salmonella were detected. The recalls were initiated in July 2019 and classified as Class I on January 23, 2020. FDA was sufficiently disturbed at the magnitude of the problem and the lack of a public recall notice to issue its own caution to pet owners on August 14, 2019.

Woody’s Pet Food Deli recalled one batch of Raw Chicken, Homemade Cat and Dog Food, with supplements, due to Salmonella contamination. The recall was initiated on August 30, 2019 and classified as Class I on January 23, 2020. Product was distributed in Minnesota and Colorado, and customers were notified by telephone.

The Major Leagues

The J.M. Smucker Company recalled several cat food products in December 2019, and one additional product on July 2, 2020, due to excessive levels of choline chloride. 

The public recall notice for the 2019 recall stated only that the recall was due to “ingredients believed to not meet the Company’s quality and safety standards.” 

Only the July 2020 recall advised the public that an excessive level of choline chloride was behind the recalls.

PetSmart Inc. recalled Authority Savory Blends Turkey Formula Cat Food and Authority Savory Blends Chicken Formula Cat Food (all lot codes) on November 11, 2020, due to elevated levels of the mycotoxin, Zearalenone. The products were distributed nationwide.

According to a spokesperson for the FDA, there is no established action level for Zearalenone in pet foods or animal feeds, and no adverse events relating to the recalled products have been reported to the agency. The PetSmart recall was classified as Class II, since Zearalenone is not considered to be as significant a health risk as certain other mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin.

The Bottom Line

Stealth recalls are not limited to veterinary products, pet treats and pet foods. Some recalls of human food also never enter the public spotlight, for a variety of reasons.

To keep up to date on all FDA-overseen recalls, whether publicized or not, check the FDA’s Weekly Enforcement Report page, which is updated every Wednesday.