Tag: Salmonella Bredeney

FDA Confirms Salmonella Outbreak Strain At Sunland Facility

FDA announced today (October 13th) that it has confirmed a genetic match between the strain of Salmonella Bredeney that has sickened 35 persons and the strain that the agency recovered from Sunland Inc.‘s nut butter production environment in Portales, New Mexico.

In addition, FDA recovered Salmonella from the environment of a separate building where peanuts are processed, and from raw peanuts sampled in that building. Yesterday, Sunland expanded its previous recalls yet again to include raw and roasted shelled and in-shell peanuts. The company has ceased production and distribution of all products from both its nut butter facility and its peanut processing facility.

CDC first reported the outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney illnesses on September 22nd. At that time, epidemiological evidence pointed to Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt as the likely source of the outbreak. Subsequent tests carried out by the Washington State Department of Agriculture recovered the outbreak strain from an opened jar of Trader Joe’s Valencia Cream Peanut Butter collected from the home of an outbreak victim.Trader Joe’s peanut and other nut butter products are manufactured by Sunland, Inc.

As of October 5th, 35 outbreak illnesses were confirmed in 19 states; eight people hospitalized; no deaths. Illness onset dates range from June 14, 2012 to September 18, 2012. Illnesses were reported by Arizona (1), California (5), Connecticut (3), Illinois (1), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (3), Maryland (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (2), Nevada (1), New Jersey (2), New York (1), North Carolina (1), Pennsylvania (2), Rhode Island (1), Texas (5), Virginia (1), and Washington (2).

Here’s what FDA had to say today:

The FDA announced that on October 12, Sunland Inc. expanded its ongoing recall to include raw and roasted shelled and in-shell peanuts sold in quantities from 2 ounces to 50 pounds which are within their current shelf life or have no stated expiration date.

Since late September, the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local public health officials have been investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney infections linked to a peanut butter made by Sunland Inc. As part of the continuing investigation, the FDA has been inspecting the Sunland Inc. production facilities, including a building in which peanuts are processed and a separate building in which nut butters are made. FDA testing has found the presence of Salmonella in raw peanuts from the peanut processing facility. Environmental samples taken from this building also show the presence of Salmonella. Environmental samples are samples taken from various surfaces in the production or manufacturing facility that would likely harbor bacteria.

Additionally, FDA analysis has confirmed that environmental samples showing the presence of Salmonella in Sunland’s nut butter facility have a DNA fingerprint that is the same as the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bredeney.

Sunland Inc. reports that it has ceased the production and distribution of all products from both its nut butter facility and its peanut processing facility.

Sunland raw and roasted peanuts available to retail customers are distributed primarily under the company’s own label and were distributed primarily to produce houses and nationally to numerous large supermarket, grocery and retail chains. The products also were available for purchase on the internet.

A list of all products being recalled by Sunland Inc. can be found in the company’s recall announcement.

Consumers should not eat the recalled products. This is especially important for children under the age of 5 years, elderly adults, and people with weak immune systems.

The latest recall expansion already is triggering an additional series of secondary and tertiary recalls as Sunland’s customers scramble to pull foods containing the recalled peanuts and nut butters off the market. eFoodAlert’s Trader Joe’s/Sunland Peanut Butter Recall page will be updated to reflect the additional recalls.

Recalls and Alerts: October 8, 2012 – Part A (USA)

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

  • Allergy Alert: Nestle Prepared Foods Company, dba Buitoni North America recalls Buitoni® spinach & Portobello Mushroom All Natural Ravioli (18 oz/510g bags; UPC 24842-99186; Production code 225451757; Best before OCT 2013), because the product may contain Shrimp and Lobster ravioli due to a packaging error; the mislabelled products potentially contain undeclared shrimp and lobster. The recalled product was sold exclusively at Target stores.
  • Allergy Alert: Stefano Foods, Inc. (Charlotte, NC) recalls Quesadilla Chick Ins (12/24 oz; Case code F2829; Use by 03/31/2013), because the product contains undeclared isolated soy protein. The recalled product was produced on August 3, 2012 and shipped to a distributor in Georgia for further distribution to retail locations.
  • Allergy Alert: Baensch Food Products Co. recalls Ma Baensch Marinated Herring in Wine Sauce (24-oz glass jar; UPC 71444910220; Best If Used By 06NOV12; Lot Code 158), because the product may contain undeclared milk. The recalled product was distributed to select retail stores in Wisconsin and Rockford, Ill. beginning on June 6, 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall: Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese recalls Kentucky Rose bleu cheese (8 oz wedge, 3.5 lb or 7.0 lb wedge or 15 lb wheel, vacuum packed; Lot #120531), Kentucky Bleu, bleu cheese (8 oz wheel or 1.5 lb wheel, waxed, hand wrapped; Lot #120531 & 120612), Awe-Brie, brie cheese (8 oz wheel or 1.5 lb wheel, hand wrapped; Lot #120614, 120629 & 120716), and Tomme de Nena, tomme cheese (8 oz wedge, 3.5 lb or 7.0 lb wedge or 14 lb wheel, vacuum packed; Lot #120614 & 120716), because the cheese may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled cheeses were sold to farmers markets, restaurants, distributors and retailers in Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia between August 22nd and September 25, 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall: Krasnyi Oktyabr (Brooklyn, NY) recalls Beer Set Dried Rudd (7 oz/200g vacuum packed bag; Best before 10.22.12; Product of Russia), because the fish was not properly eviscerated prior to processing and may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum spores. The recalled product was sold to one retail store on June 14.
  • Food Safety Recall: Gretchen’s Shoebox Express expands its earlier recall of Protein Bistro Boxes to include Starbucks Protein Bistro Bars (6.8 oz; UPC 762111881502; Enjoy By 09/28/12, 09/30/12 – 10/06/12) in response to the expanded peanut butter recall announced by Sunland, Inc. due to potential Salmonella contamination.
  • Food Safety Recall: Stewart Brothers (Decatur, IL) recalls ground beef products (Code 255 or 256; Establishment #447), because the products were made from beef trim that may be contaminated with E. coli. The recalled products were produced on Sept. 12 and distributed to local restaurants.
  • Food Safety Recall: Talenti Gelato recalls Talenti Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Gelato (1 pt/473 ml; UPC 1 86852  00094 5; Best by 3/21/13 through 3/26/14)  because the peanut butter used in the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product was distributed to retail stores nationwide between September 2011 and September 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall: Kilwins Quality Confections, Inc. (Petoskey, MI) recalls Kilwins Sugar Free (S/F) Peanut Butter Fudge (7 oz pkgs; Bar code 000648; Lot #67936, 67105, 66959, 66413, 66248, 65123, 63124, 62693, 62612, 61658, 61621), because the product contains peanut butter that may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product was sold in Kilwins retail stores in Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: Trader Joe’s recalls the following products (All code dates up to and including 24SEPT13) due to potential contamination with Salmonella: Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter (sku 97111), Valencia Peanut Butter with Roasted Flaxseeds (sku 98927), Almond Butter with Roasted Flaxseeds (sku 94079), Organic Creamy Valencia Peanut Butter (sku 81955), Organic Crunchy Valencia Peanut Butter (sku 81953), Organic Creamy Unsalted Valencia Peanut Butter (sku 91587), and Organic Crunchy Unsalted Valencia Peanut Butter (sku 91581). This is an expansion of an earlier recall.
  • Food Safety Recall: Kraft Foods Group, Inc. recalls Kraft String Cheese – Jalapeño Variety (12 oz bag with 12 individual 1 oz snacks; Best by 23 NOV 2012; UPC 2100002977), because a thin layer of plastic film from the package may remain adhered to the product and cause a possible choking hazard. The affected product was distributed across the USA.
  • Food Safety Recall: Kellogg Company recalls Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats® Bite-Size cereal (24 oz; Lot 4/1/13KB through 9/21/13KB; UPC 38000-31834), due to possible contamination with flexible metal mesh fragments.
  • Food Safety Recall: Chattanooga Bakery, Inc. recalls additional MoonPie® Crunch Peanut Butter (Code dates 10/29/12, 12/10/12, 01/07/13 and 01/29/13), because they contain peanut butter recalled by Sunland, Inc. due to potential Salmonella contamination.
  • Food Safety Recall: Haggen Northwest Fresh and TOP Food & Drug recall All Natural Black Licorice (UPC 0-41364-08481) due to potential for elevated levels of lead.
  • Food Safety Recall: Foppen (Netherlands) recalls Foppen Norwegian Smoked Salmon Slices (12 oz) and Kirkland Signature Norwegian Imported Smoked Salmon (2 x 12 oz), due to potential contamination with Salmonella. The recalled products were manufactured in Greece by Foppen (a Dutch company) and sold at Costco.
  • Food Recall: Bi-Lo advises its customers that the manufacturer has recalled Activia Light Peach Yogurt (4 packs of 4-oz cups; UPC 0-36632-02366; Item code 268011; Lot #NOV 07 2012 MZ, NOV 09 2012 MZ and NOV 10 2012 MZ).
  • Public Health Alert Update: USDA/FSIS expands its earlier Public Health Alert to include all beef and beef products produced on August 24, 27, 28, 29 and September 5 by XL Foods, Inc. (Canadian Est. 038), Brooks, Alberta, Canada, because the beef may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. FSIS has not released a list of affected products, but has posted a retail distribution list.
  • Food Safety Recall / Outbreak Alert Update: Sunland, Inc. expands its earlier recall to include all products manufactured in its Peanut Butter Plant after March 1, 2010. The expanded recall covers all previously identified Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, Cashew Butter, and Tahini products as well as Roasted Blanched Peanut Products. New product categories being added to the list are several varieties of flavored butters and spreads, including Thai Ginger Butter, Chocolate Butter and Banana Butter. The expanded recall is in response to the recovery of Salmonella from an opened jar of Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Peanut Butter collected from a case-patient’s home during the ongoing investigation of a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney infections. As of October 5, 2012, a total of 35 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bredeney had been reported from 19 states.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Kasel Associated Industries (Denver, CO) recalls Nature’s Deli Chicken Jerky Dog Treats (2.5 lb clear plastic bag; UPC 647263800208; Best By 091913 DEN), after FDA found Salmonella in a sample of this batch as part of a routine testing program. The recalled treats were distributed to 57 Sam’s Club locations in Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Premium Nutritional Products, Inc. recalls ZuPreem® Medium/Large and Large FruitBlend™ With Natural Fruit Flavors maintenance formula bird foods (Expiry dates 11/30/13 or 11/13; Lot #598405052 or 598405072), because the products may contain higher-than recommended levels of calcium.
  • Outbreak Alert: The Alabama Department of Public Health is investigating a Salmonella outbreak – possibly food-borne – among staff and students at Fayetteville High School. Thirty-five people are reported ill and six have been hospitalized. One clinical sample tested positive for Salmonella. Additional test results are pending.

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: September 29, 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 retail distribution of peanut butter products recalled due to Salmonella Bredeney, please consult the Trader Joe’s/Sunland Peanut Butter Recalls tab.

For current information on retail distribution of beef products containing Canadian beef recalled due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination please consult the Canada/USA Beef Recall tab.

United States

  • Allergy Alert: Foster Farms (Demopolis, AL) recalls Foster Farms Honey Crunchy Corn Dogs (2.67-lb, 16-ct pkgs; Est P-7322; Use by July 2, 2013; Time stamp between 06:30 and 08:30), because of misbranding and the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled products were distributed to Kroger, Walmart and Food Lion stores in the Southeastern USA.
  • Food Safety Recall: Whole Foods Market recalls Bulk Sweets Mix containing Peanut Butter Power Chews (Bulk, PLU 9663), sold in the El Segundo, California store and Treasure Trove Mix (Bulk, PLU 6922), sold in several Florida stores, because the products contain peanut butter that may be contaminated with Salmonella.
  • Food Safety Recall: Fairytale Brownies recalls Peanut Butter Sprites, Peanut Butter Brownies, and Peanut Butter Cookies (manufactured on or after August 15, 2012), because the products contain peanut butter that may be contaminated with Salmonella. Please refer to the recall notice for additional details.
  • Food Safety Recall: Walmart alerts its customers to the recall of ground beef and ground beef products due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products sold in Walmart and Sam’s Club stores.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: XL Foods Inc. (Est 38) expands its earlier recalls to include additional raw beef and beef products manufactured on August 24, 27, 28, 29 and September 5, 2012, due to potential contamination with E. coli O157:H7. Please refer to the recall notice for product and distribution details.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Bønnelykken A/S recalls Simply Fresh brand Salad with Salmon (Packaged in the Netherlands; Best before 1/10, 2/10, 3/10 and 4/10-2012), because the smoked salmon is thought to be contaminated with Salmonella.
  • Food Safety Recall (France): Société Andouille ASSELOT recalls Andouille Asselot brand Andouilles de Vire (Lot #2612, 3012, 3112), after Salmonella was detected in the product. The recalled sausages were sold directly at the Asselot store in Vire (14500), in retail stores in the Normandie region or in Carrefour, Leclerc and Intermarché stores in Vire, either as packaged product or “by the slice.”
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Germany): The food borne disease outbreak in Germany has sickened at least 8,365 individuals, including mostly children, teenagers and support staff at 342 schools and child care facilities. Twenty-three people have been hospitalized. Cases are reported from Brandenburg (97 facilities; 2,415 illnesses; 14 hospitalized), Berlin (82 facilities; 2,213 illnesses; 3 hospitalized), Sachsen (118 facilities; 2,800 illnesses; 2 hospitalized), Sachsen-Anhalt (6 facilities; 50 illnesses; none hospitalized) and Thüringen (39 facilities, 887 illnesses; 4 hospitalized). The identity of the pathogen has not yet been determined. Nearly all of the affected facilities in Brandenburg, Berlin and Thüringen were supplied with food from a common 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.