Tag: Pet Health

Recalls and Alerts: May 7, 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

  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Apex Pet Foods recalls Apex Chicken and Rice Dog dry dog food (20-lb and 40-lb bags; Production code ACD0101B32; Best by date 24-Jan-2013), because the product, which was manufactured in Gaston, South Carolina for Apex by Diamond Pet Foods, may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product was distributed in South Carolina only.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Whole Foods Market advises its customers that Natural Balance Vegetarian Dog Food (5-lb bags; UPC 7 23633 80855 2; Lot code NBV1201; Best by Dec 9, 2012) has been recalled by Diamond Pet Foods and may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Canada

  • Outbreak Alert Update: According to CBC News, New Brunswick health officials have confirmed an outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 in 13 people in the province, including 11 confirmed cases in Miramichi and two in Bathurst. An additional eleven cases are still under investigation. Five people remain in hospital. The source of the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak is still undetermined.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Finland): HK Ruokatalo recalls HK Aitonakki/HK Real Sausage (500g and 850g packages; Best before 05/13/2012) due to the possible presence of undeclared cheese.
  • Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Metro – Makro recalls Horeca Select Darnes d’Espadon/Swordfish Steaks (1000g; Frozen; UPC 5 400151 041023; Lot #737302078370011; Expiry date 21/03/2013), due to an elevated level of heavy metals in the product.
  • Outbreak Alert (UK): A norovirus outbreak has been reported in four Plymouth hospital wards, including three wards at Derriford Hospital and one at Mount Gould. The four wards are closed to admissions due to the outbreak.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (China): Xinhua news agency reports that vegetable sellers in China have been caught spraying cabbages with a formaldehyde solution to keep them fresh in transit. The practice has become widespread in recent years. Formaldehyde is included in the list of illegal food additives published by China’s health ministry in 2008.
  • Chinese Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Hong Kong Medicine Manufactory recalls Germany Wintex Brand Herbal Sep Capsules, because the chromium level in the gelatin capsules is suspected to be in excess of the recommended 2ppm limit. Preliminary test results by the Government lab revealed a chromium level of 84ppm in a sample; more test results are pending.
  • Outbreak Alert (India): Two people are dead and 50 other hospitalized with symptoms of cholera in Kalamb town. Contaminated water is believed to be the source of the outbreak.
  • Outbreak Alert (Thailand): More than 8700 cases of diarrhea have been reported in Buriram Province during the first four months of 2012. Health officials are warning the public to eat cooked food, drink clean water and avoid food with swarming flies.
  • Outbreak Alert (India): Indore health officials report 318 confirmed cases of typhoid in the district between January 1st and April 28th, 2012.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert (Chile): Valparaiso health officials report an outbreak of food poisoning that affected 27 people at the Rosa Agustina Olmué resort. A potato salad (“potatoes with mayonnaise) is believed to be the source of the illnesses.
  • Outbreak Alert (Panama): More than 650 cases of diarrhea have been reported in Chiriqui province. Contaminated water is suspected to be the source.

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: May 6, 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: FunFresh Foods, Inc. (San Clemente, CA) recalls FunFresh Foods™ World Berries™ Organic “Cacao Nibs” (6-oz pouch; UPC 632474929022; Use by date 04/14; Lot code 161104), because the product may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled product was distributed from April 12th through 17th (2012) to health and natural food retail stores in AK, AR, AZ, CA, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NM, OH, OK, OR, SC, SC, TN, TX, WA, WI, and WV.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Diamond Pet Foods expands its dry pet food recall, because products manufactured at its Gaston, South Carolina production facility may be contaminated with Salmonella. Please see the Diamond Pet Foods, Etc. Recalls – 2012 page for details on the recalled products.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Natural Balance recalls several products manufactured on its behalf by Diamond Pet Foods, because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. Please see the Diamond Pet Foods, Etc. Recalls – 2012 page for details on the recalled products.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Canidae Pet Foods recalls several products manufactured on its behalf by Diamond Pet Foods, because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. Please see the Diamond Pet Foods, Etc. Recalls – 2012 page for details on the recalled products. The recalled products were distributed in Florida, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee. Further distribution to other pet foods channels may have occurred.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: WellPet LLC recalls Wellness Complete Health® Super5Mix® Large Breed Puppy dry dog food (15-lb and 30-lb bags and 5-oz sample bags; Best by dates of JAN 9 2013 through JAN 11 2013), because the product, which was manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods, may be contaminated with Salmonella.
  • Outbreak Alert: WRAL reports that the Nash County Health Department is investigating several reports of gastroenteritis that it says might be associated with Ribeye’s Steakhouse off N.C. Highway 64 in Nashville. One person has been hospitalized.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Fromagerie Bergeron Inc. (Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly, QC) recalls  Brins de Gouda cheese (100g, 180g, 230g, 260g, 300g and 500g; Lot 12-0687; Best before 2012 MA 18) and Le Populaire cheese (335g; Lot 12-687; Best before 2012 AU 03), because they may contain harmful pieces of metal wire. The recalled products were distributed in Quebec.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: Costco Canada advises its customers that Jascor Housewares has recalled Twist ‘n Sparkle home beverage carbonation systems (Costco item # 295585, model # ISITNSB10, Costco item # 295556, model # ISITNSS10 and Costco item # 295582, model # ISICO240), because certain clear plastic bottles develop micro-cracks around the four grooves at the base of the bottle with repeated use. Once the cracks form, the bottles can burst under pressure.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Diamond Pet Foods has announced an expanded recall of dry pet food manufactured at its Gaston, South Carolina facility. Some of the recalled products were distributed to Canada. Please see the Diamond Pet Foods, Etc. Recalls – 2012 page for details on the recalled products.

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.

Diamond Pet Foods Expands Recall

Diamond Pet Foods has expanded its earlier recalls to include all formulas and package sizes of the following brands of dry dog food manufactured in the Gaston, South Carolina facility between December 9, 2011 and April 7, 2012.

Recalled products show a “2” or “3” in the 9th digit of the production code, AND the letter “X” in the  10th or 11th digit. The products were distributed to Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Canada.

The affected brands include:

  • Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
  • Country Value
  • Diamond
  • Diamond Naturals
  • Premium Edge
  • Professional
  • 4Health
  • Taste of the Wild

Also recalled are the following Kirkland Signature dry dog and cat foods, bearing best before dates of December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013; production codes should include the number “3” in the 9th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit.

  • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Lamb, Rice & Vegetable Formula
  • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Formula
  • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Mature Dog Chicken, Rice & Egg Formula
  • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Dog Formulated with Chicken & Vegetables
  • Kirkland Signature Super Premium Maintenance Cat Chicken & Rice Formula Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Cat Formula
  • Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Salmon Meal & Sweet Potato Formula for Dogs

The affected Kirkland products were distributed in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

In addition, WellPet LLC has announced a recall of Wellness Complete Health® Super5Mix® Large Breed Puppy dry dog food (15lb and 30lb bags and 5-oz sample bags; Best by dates of JAN 9 2013 through JAN 11 2013), due to potential Salmonella contamination. The puppy food was manufactured for WellPet at Diamond’s Gaston production facility.

Salmonella-contaminated dry dog food manufactured at the Gaston plant has been linked to 14 confirmed cases of human Salmonella illness in 9 states.

CDC offers this advice to pet owners:

  • Consumers should check their homes for recalled dog food products and discard them promptly. Consumers with questions about recalled dog food may contact Diamond Pet Foods at telephone number (800) 442-0402 or visit http://www.diamondpetrecall.com.
  • Follow the tips listed on Salmonella from Dry Pet Food and Treats to help prevent an infection with Salmonella from handling dry pet food and treats.
  • People who think they might have become ill after contact with dry pet food or with an animal that has eaten dry pet food should consult their health care providers. Infants, older adults, and persons with impaired immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness.
  • People who think their animal might have become ill after eating dry pet food should consult their veterinary-care providers.
  • Read Additional Information for Pet Owners to learn the signs and symptoms of salmonellosis in dogs and cats, and to understand how to deal with possible Salmonella illness in your pet.

Also, be aware that dogs may be infected with Salmonella – and may shed the bacteria in their stool – without showing any outward symptoms of illness. If your pet has consumed a Diamond Pet Foods dry dog food, be especially careful to wash your hands after handling it, and supervise closely any interaction between children and your pet.