Recalls and Alerts: May 15 – 17, 2019

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 ALERT / FOOD SAFETY RECALL: FDA, CDC, and state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Concord illnesses linked to “Karawan Tahini and Halva” brand tahini imported from Israel. Brodt Zenatti Holding LLC has recalled all products, including those imported prior to December 2018 and until the final shipment April 2019.

OUTBREAK ALERT: CDC is investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Braenderup and Salmonella Montevideo infections linked to contact with backyard poultry. As of May 16, 52 cases have been reported from 21 states. Five outbreak victims required hospitalization.

Allergy Alert: Caito Foods LLC recalls approximately 1,767 pounds of salad with chicken products due to undeclared soy. Pleae refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert: Coolhaus recalls Dairy Free Horchata Frozen Dessert Sandwich (5.8 oz single serve package; Best by dates 06182020, 08012020, 08252020, 10082020 or 10262020; UPC 0085191600365) due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert: US TRADING COMPANY recalls GLOBAL PRIDE RATTAN SHOOT IN BRINE (24 oz; Lot code/Expiry date 18/09/20; UPC 8855273023148) due to undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert: GHSW, LLC recalls select salads, wraps and salad bar trays sold at two Whole Foods Markets 365 in Texas and at Whole Foods Markets in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas due to undeclared soy. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Canada

Food Safety Recall (Update): DOM International Limited recalls Dom Reserve brand Atlantic Salmon Strips (Hot Smoked) Cracked Black Pepper (150g; Product codes 001996, 002176, 002325, 002371, 02533; All Best Before dates; UPC 7 72945 11150 8) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall: City Bread Co. Ltd. recalls City Bread brand Rye Breads – Original Cut and Thick Cut (various sizes; Best Before: MA 14 or MA 15) due to foreign matter (pieces of plastic) contamination. The recalled products were sold in Manitoba.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Belgium): PEDON S.p.A recalls More Than Pasta brand Yellow Lentil spaghetti (250g; Lot 0587; Best before 23/03/2020) and More Than Pasta brand Yellow Lentil Lasagna (250g; Lot 0587; Best before 23/03/2020) due to undeclared gluten.

Allergy Alert (Ireland): Tony’s Kitchen recalls eight seasoning products due to various undeclared allergens. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (UK): Tony’s Kitchen recalls eight seasoning products due to various undeclared allergens. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (UK): The Jordans & Ryvita Company recalls Dorset Cereals Simply Oat Granola (550g; Batch code 24 02 2020 GCP9116; Best before 24 February 2020) due to undeclared almonds, cashew nuts and hazelnuts.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Delhaize recalls Filet de canard cuit fumé (90g; Lot #912001; Best before 09/06/2019) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Industry recalls Holland & Barrett good stuff lucky liquorice root (100g; Batch code 130567; Best before end January 2020) due to Ochratoxin A contamination.

Food and Pet Food Safety Recall (UK – England specific): Birmingham Halal Abattoir (UK 4496) recalls sheep and lamb meat and pet food products because they may contain meat that is unfit for human and pet consumption. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Another year, another Salmonella outbreak linked to backyard poultry flocks

Twenty-one people have been hospitalized with Salmonella contracted through contact with backyard poultry flocks since February 2018, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released today.

States reporting *Salmonella* illnesses linked to backyard poultry.

As of June 1st, 124 illnesses have been reported from 36 states. Nearly one-third of the outbreak victims are children of 5 years of age or younger.

The Salmonella outbreak has been linked to contact with live poultry – mainly chicks and duckings – in backyard flocks. The birds were obtained from multiple sources.

Several types of Salmonella have been found in outbreak victims, including: Salmonella Seftenberg, Salmonella Montevideo, Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Indiana, and Salmonella Litchfield.

Since 2000, contact with backyard poultry has been responsible for 4,794 documented Salmonella illnesses in 70 separate outbreaks. Seven people died in these outbreaks, and 894 required hospitalization. Ten outbreaks occurred in 2017 alone, sickening more than 1100 individuals in 48 states, killing one, and sending 249 of them to hospital.

Keeping backyard flocks has become increasing popular in recent years, with more and more cities amending their by-laws to permit residents to do so. According to a 2017 article in the Los Angeles Times, more than 1% of US households now keep chickens.

All too often, apparently healthy baby chicks and ducklings carry Salmonella. Children are especially drawn to these animals, which are small enough for tiny hands to hold. Unfortunately, a toddler or young child is all too likely to neglect to wash his or her hands after cuddling a feathered pet, and is especially susceptible to becoming infected with Salmonella as a result.

CDC offers the following advice for staying healthy while enjoying the benefits of a backyard flock:

Always wash your hands with soap and water right after touching live poultry or anything in the area where they live and roam.
- Adults should supervise handwashing by young children.
- Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available.
Don’t let live poultry inside the house, especially in areas where food or drink is prepared, served, or stored.
Set aside a pair of shoes to wear while taking care of poultry and keep those shoes outside of the house.
Don’t let children younger than 5 years, adults older than 65, or people with weakened immune systems from conditions such as cancer treatment, HIV/AIDS or organ transplants, handle or touch chicks, ducklings, or other live poultry.
Don’t eat or drink in the area where the birds live or roam.
Don’t kiss your birds or snuggle them and then touch your face or mouth.
Stay outdoors when cleaning any equipment or materials used to raise or care for live poultry, such as cages or feed or water containers.
Buy birds from hatcheries that participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Poultry Improvement Plan (USDA-NPIP). This program is intended to reduce the incidence of Salmonella in baby poultry in the hatchery, which helps prevent the spread of illness among poultry and people.

Recalls and Alerts: January 22 – 23, 2018

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United States

Outbreak Alert: The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and other state and local health departments, is investigating a recent cluster of Salmonella ser. Montevideo infections. Two cases have been identified in Illinois residents. People in Illinois reported becoming ill on December 20 and 26, 2017. Based on a review of produce, suppliers, and items consumed, investigators believe the most likely source of the infection is sprouts from multiple Jimmy John’s locations.

Allergy Alert: Perdue Foods LLC recalls CHEF REDI HOMESTYLE CHICKEN TENDER FRITTER, RTC – LARGE (10-lb. boxes containing two 5 lb. plastic bags; Case code 7374) due to undeclared egg. The recalled product was shipped to food service locations in Florida, Maryland and Washington D.C.

Allergy Alert: Sun Noodle recalls Tonkotsu Ramen (Lot code 3117332) due to undeclared sardines. The recalled product was shipped primarily to Asian food distributors in the New Jersey, Georgia, Illinois, Texas, and New York areas, and then on to retail stores.

Allergy Alert: Productos Pacheco Inc recalls various bakery products due to undeclared wheat, soy, eggs, milk and/or artificial colors. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were distributed in supermarkets in Puerto Rico from December 14, 2017 to January 3, 2018.

Allergy Alert: Wegmans recalls various ready-to-cook meat & seafood items due to undeclared soy lecithin or wheat. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert: Wienke’s Market (Algoma, WI) recalls all lines of jams and jellies due to undeclared butter.

Food Safety Recall: National Frozen Foods Corporation recalls “a limited selection of IQF Not-Ready-To Eat vegetable products” after receiving a report from a downstream customer that Listeria monocytogenes was found in a sample of one of the products. The recall was reported on the US Foods and Department of Defense Commissary Agency websites. Please refer to the DoD Commissary Agency announcement for a list of recalled products available for sale at Agency stores.

Food Safety Recall: C J Health and Wellness dba Jayeon Herb & Acu (Buena Park, CA) recalls all liquid herbal teas (100 ml single- serving flexible pouches) due to possible Clostridium botulinum contamination. The recalled products were distributed to certain retailers in California.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Boucherie Atlantique Ltée (Montreal, QC) recalls Homestyle Smoked Salmon (All lots sold up to and including January 22, 2018), because the item was produced under conditions that do not ensure product safety.

Europe

Allergy Alert (UK): Morrisons recalls Morrisons Eat Smart COUNTED Honey & Mustard Dressing (250 ml; Batch code L7306; Best by end November 2018) due to undeclared egg and mustard.

Food Safety Recall (Finland): SOK recalls Rainbow Sweet Corn (450g; Best before dates 06.01.2019 – 09.06.2019) due to excessive levels of Listeria bacteria.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Mars Ireland recalls Galaxy Smooth Milk bar (42g; Batch code 720B1SLO00; Best before 13.05.2018) and Maltesers Fun Size bag (Batch code 720A1SLO00; Best before 13.05.2018) due to possible presence of Salmonella.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Food Safety Recall (Israel): Delicatessen HaGalil recalls Magenat Hagalil Frozen Ground Beef (500g; Best before February 19, 2018) due to possible Salmonella contamination.