Recalls and Alerts: October 4-5, 2022

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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Chapter 6. Birth of a Pathogen

United States

CONSUMER ADVISORY (Michigan): The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is advising consumers not to eat any Kuntry Gardens produce or products containing produce from Kuntry Gardens of Homer, MI, as it may be contaminated with raw, untreated human waste. During a routine produce safety inspection, MDARD staff identified that Kuntry Gardens was using raw, untreated human waste on the fields where produce was grown for sale to local grocery stores and direct sale. Please refer to the Michigan advisory for a list of locations where the products were sold.

Food Safety Recall: Swiss American recalls St Louis Brie products after being alerted by the manufacturer Old Europe Cheese, Inc. that the products could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Gaton’s Foods Dairy recalls Nature’s Best brand Light Mozzarella (800g; Batch code 22116; Best before 2023/01/20; UPC 6 80852 00184 6), Zavat Chalav brand Light Mozzarella Thins (150g; Batch code 22116; Best before 23/01/20; UPC 6 80852 91089 6) and Zavat Chalav brand Shredded Light Mozzarella (800g; Batch code 22116; Best before 2023/01/21; UPC 6 8085 291044 5) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled products were sold in Ontario and Quebec and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories.

Food Safety Recall: Poisson d’Or (Québec, QC) recalls Pâte de homard / Lobster paste (Sold up to 4 October, 2022) because the manner of preparation and packaging does not ensure safety for consumption.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Luxembourg): Authorities recall To Øl x Omnipollo brand Brewtrance (Lot 24F281B; Best before 08/10/2031) due to undeclared hazelnuts.

Food Safety Recall (France): PAVAR SUPER U recalls GUASCH brand Jambon sec de l’Oncle sans os / Boneless dry ham (Lot T21274; Best by 30/06/2023) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): BOURGOGNE SALAISONS Porc71 recalls PORC 71 brand galantine de porc / Pork galatine (Lot 1251; Use by 30/10/2022) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): BOURGOGNE SALAISONS Porc71 recalls PORC71 brand Ballotine de volaille en demi / Poultry ballotine (Lot 1251; Use by 28/10/2022) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): DELPEYRAT DSAS recalls 2 Tranches de saumon fumé / Smoked salmon, 2 slices (70g; Lot F2650011; Use by 23/10/2022) and Toast de saumon fumé / Smoked salmon toast (80g; Lot F2650482; Use by 23/10/2022) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): FRABOUCHERIE Henri Boucher Hazebrouck Avenue Jacob recalls Fabriquée sur place brand Chair porc et bœuf / Pork and beef ground meat for sausages (Sold 01/10/2022 between 8H30 and 11H) due to foreign matter contamination (plastic or metal).

Food Safety Recall (France): FRABOUCHERIE Henri Boucher Hazebrouck Avenue Jacob recalls Fabriqué sur place brand Filet américain / raw beef spread ((Sold 01/10/2022 between 8H30 and 11H) due to foreign matter contamination (plastic or metal).

Food Safety Recall (France): LIDL recalls Pavé de thon qualité sashimi / Sashimi-quality tuna steak (120g; Lot 9222690077; Use by 10/10/2022) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Italy): Laboratorio Gastronomico Due A.A. srl recalls Gli Allegri Sapori brand tramezzino salmone e maionese / Salmon and mayonnaise sandwich (140g; Lot 22952 1 and 22952 2; Use by 10-10-2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Italy): PROSCIUTTIFICIO SAN MICHELE SRL recalls SUPERMERCATI IPERAL S.p.A brand PORCHETTA DI ARICCIA / Boneless pork roast (90g; Lot V233557; Best before 14-10-2022) due to non-conformance to microbiological standards.

Food Safety Recall Update (Spain): Manufacturer updates prior recall of liver sausages to include additional brands due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Australia and New Zealand

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION (New Zealand): New Zealand Food Safety is investigating 12 cases of Hepatitis A virus infections linked to consumption of frozen berries. Seven people are hospitalized. So far, 8 of the 12 cases are linked by genetic sequencing and are a genetic match to a virus which caused illness in Sweden in 2020 and 2021. Those illnesses had a possible link to frozen berries from Serbia.

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Bega Dairy and Drinks Pty. Ltd. recalls four flavours of Dare Iced Coffee (750mL) due to foreign matter contamination (pieces of plastic). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Foodstuffs Own Brands Ltd recalls Pams brand Mixed Berries, Two Berry Mix, Smoothie Berry Mix, and Raspberries (All batches and dates) as a precaution due to a possible link of Hepatitis A associated with frozen berries sourced from Serbia. The New Zealand Food Safety investigation into the source of Hepatitis A contamination is ongoing.

Recalls and Alerts: September 29-30, 2022

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Chapter 6. Birth of a Pathogen

United States

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: FDA, CDC and state agencies are cooperating to investigate a 6-state outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes illnesses linked to brie and camembert cheeses from Old Europe Cheese, Inc. Six people have become ill and five of them were hospitalized. FDA recovered the outbreak strain from an environmental sample collected during an inspection of the manufacturing facility.

Allergy Alert: Diana’s Bananas LLC recalls Milk Chocolate Banana Babies dipped frozen bananas (10.5 oz; Best if used by C 08 05 23; UPC 7-43490-00010-4) due to undeclared peanuts.

Allergy Alert: Whole Foods Market recalls Zerto Fontal cheese (Sell by 9/21/2022 – 10/20/2022; UPC 20565300000) due to undeclared egg protein. The recalled product was sold in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.

Food Safety Recall: Old Europe Cheese, Inc. recalls all Old Europe Cheese Brie and Camembert products with best by dates through 12/14/2022 due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled products were distributed nationwide and in Mexico from August 01, 2022 through September 28, 2022.

Food Safety Recall: The Chai Box recalls Chai Concentrate Mix (16 oz & 64 oz; UPC 7 93611 81925 2 & 7 93611 81926 9, respectively) and Unsweetened Chai Concentrate Mix (16 oz & 64 oz; UPC 793611819252 & 793611819269, respectively) due to potential under-processing which may lead to Clostridium botulinum contamination.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Denmark): To Øl A/S recalls To Øl x Omnipollo – Brewtrance / Two Beers x Omnipollo (Lot 24F281B; Best before 08.10.2031) due to undeclared nuts.

Allergy Alert (Finland): Huhtahyvät Oy recalls Huhtahyvät Linssipihvi / Lentil patty (200g; Date codes 4.10.2022, 11.10.2022 ja 17.10.2022) due to undeclared wheat.

Allergy Alert (Italy): Poggio del Farro recalls Carrefour bio brand Barretta di fiocchi di farro e farro soffiato con mirtilli rossi, granella di nocciola e cannella / Bar of spelt flakes and puffed spelt with cranberries, chopped hazelnuts and cinnamon (5 x 25g; Lot 1812; Best before 28/02/23) due to undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert (UK): John West recalls John West On The Go Indian Tuna Rice Salad (220g; Best before June 2025) due to undeclared soy and wheat (gluten).

Food Safety Recall (France): SCHIEVER DISTRIBUTION bi1 Saint Bénigne recalls Galantine de porc pistache / Pork galatine with pistachio (Lot 1251; Use by 10/10/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): PURE SALMON FRANCE recalls La petite Fabrique brand Truite Fumé / Smoked trout (4 slices (120g) & 6 slices (180g; Lots 335 2284, 343 2292, 351 2302 & 365 2504; Use by 16/09/2022, 20/09/2022, 21/09/2022 & 07/10/2022, respectively) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SOCIETE CASTELORIENNE DE DISTRIBUTION E.LECLERC recalls LECLERC Montval Sur Loir brand Chair à saucisse / Minced sausage filling (Sold 17, 19 & 20 September 2022) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Metten Fleischwaren GmbH & Co. KG recalls Dicke Sauerländer Bockwurst / Thick bockwurst sausage (5 x 80g can; Lot L-2228008 with time stamp from 5:15 to 5:25; Best before 25.08.2023) due to a processing error.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Wertkreis Gütersloh GmbH recalls Kiebitzhof brand Zimtsterne / Cinnamon stars (150g; Lot 2343; Best before 28.02.2023) due to mold contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Iceland): Manufacturers recall Mjólkursamsölunni MS Villisveppaostur / Wild mushroom cheese (150 gr; Best before 01.03.2023, 08.03.2023 and 18.03.2023) and Aðföng Íslandssósur Rjómasveppasósa / Creamy mushroom sauce (500 ml; Best before16.10.2022) due to foreign matter contamination in an ingredient.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): The Organic Crave Company recalls Crave Chips variant Cheese verpakkingen / Cheese flavoured Crave chips (Lot 20220508D; Use by 08-05-2023) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Spain): Manufacturer recalls CHACINAS EL BOSQUE brand LIVER SAUSAGES MORCILLA (Batch 120922; Best by 03/12/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Sweden): HKScan recalls Bullens pilsnerkorv / Pilsner sausage (240g; Best before August 2025) due to a processing error.

Food Safety Recall (UK): PASCO Food Ltd recalls PASCO Delhi Tikka Masala Cooking Sauce and PASCO Rajestani Jalfrezi Cooking Sauce (350g; Multiple batch codes and Best before dates) due to a production fault which has shortened the shelf life of the product, making them unsafe to eat.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (Australia): ALDI recalls Sprinters Crinkle Cut Multi Pack Chips (Best before 01JAN23) due to foreign matter contamination (plastic pieces).

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Genobile Saba Australia recalls Premium Salami Pizza, Premium Margherita Pizza, Premium Garlic Pizza and Premium Pomodoro Pizza (Batch codes 9424, 9508, 9426, and 9425, respectively; Use by 11/10/23) due to an incorrect Use by date (should be 11/10/22).

US Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to cheeses

Six cases of Listeria monocytogenes have been linked to brie and camembert cheeses manufactured in by Old Europe Cheese, Inc. of Benton Harbor, Michigan.

Outbreak cases were reported to the CDC by California, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, and Texas.

Five of the six outbreak victims were hospitalized. There have been no deaths.

Four of the five patients for whom information was available reported having consumed brie or camembert cheese before becoming ill.

Old Europe Cheese has announced a voluntary recall of all Brie and Camembert products with best by dates through 12/14/2022. The recalled products were distributed across the United States and in Mexico from August 01, 2022 through September 28, 2022.

The recalled cheeses were packaged and sold under a variety of brand names, including: Reny Picot, Black Bear, Block & Barrel, Charmant, Cobblestone, Culinary Tour, Fredericks, Fresh Thyme, Glenview Farms, Good & Gather, Heinen’s, Joan of Arc, La Bonne Vie, Lidl Preferred Selection, Life in Provence, Matrie’d, Market 32, Metropolitan, Prestige, Primo Taglio, Red Apple Cheese, St. Randeaux, Taste of Inspiration, St. Rocco, and Trader Joe.

Please refer to the Old Europe Cheese recall notice for a complete list of recalled products, which are believed to have been sold at Albertsons, Safeway, Meijer, Harding’s, Shaw’s, Price Chopper, Market Basket, Raley’s, Save Mart, Giant Foods, Stop & Shop, Fresh Thyme, Lidl, Sprouts, Athenian Foods, and Whole Foods.

The company cautions that other retailers may have sold the recalled cheeses. If you have purchased a brie or camembert cheese, please refer to the recall list and discard any cheese that appears on that list.

The FDA, with the assistance of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, carried out an intensive inspection of the Old Europe Cheese facility in Benton Harbor.

The investigation included collecting and analyzing 120 environmental and finished product samples.

One of the environmental samples yielded a culture of Listeria monocytogenes that matched the outbreak strain.

Advice from FDA to consumers, restaurants and retailers

Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve recalled products and should throw them away; this includes Best By Dates ranging from September 28, 2022 to December 14, 2022, and all flavors and quantities.
Retailers may have repackaged bulk Old Europe Cheese items into smaller containers and sold this repackaged product to consumers. This repackaged product may not bear the original labeling and product information. If you are unsure where your Brie or Camembert cheese is from, ask your retailer or throw it away.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have these symptoms after eating Old Europe Cheese Inc. or Reny Picot brand Brie and Camembert products:
- Pregnant people typically experience only fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, Listeria infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
- People who are not pregnant may experience headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, in addition to fever and muscle aches.
Follow FDA’s safe handling and cleaning advice and use extra vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with these products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination, including retailers who repackaged bulk recalled cheese. Listeria can survive in refrigerated temperatures and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.

Old Europe Cheese has set up a telephone line to answer any questions about this recall. The number is 269-925-5003 ext 335 and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am-12:30pm and 2:00pm-4:00pm ET

Learn more about a variety of food safety issues in TAINTED. From Farm Gate to Dinner Plate, Fifty Years of Food Safety Failures, now available in digital, print and audiobook editions.