Tag: Salmonella Typhimurium

Recalls and Alerts: April 19-20, 2022

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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? Click on the TAINTED menu at the top of the page to read or listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.

Listen to an excerpt of the new audiobook edition right here

Chapter 6. Birth of a Pathogen

United States

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: FDA is investigating six (6) Adverse Event reports associated with Meal Replacement Drink. The agency has initiated sample collection and analysis, but has not released any additional details either regarding the nature of the Adverse Events or the suspect products.

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: FDA is investigating 231 Adverse Event reports associated with consumption of a dry cereal. The agency has initiated an on-site inspection of a manufacturing facility, but has not released any details regarding the nature of the Adverse Events, the facility under inspection, or the identity of the suspect product. However, the website iwaspoisoned.com has received more than 4,500 reports of illnesses associated with Lucky Charms breakfast cereal from consumers in the USA and in Canada.

Allergy Alert: Damascus Bakery OPCO LLC recalls Bantam Bagels Everybody’s Favorite Veggie Cream Cheese (Best by JUN/10/2023) due to undeclared egg.

Food Safety Recall: World Variety Produce, Inc. recalls Organic Marketside Zucchini (6oz / 170g clear overwrap tray, 2-ct; Case lot #38706503; UPC 6-81131-22105-4) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Soul Cedar Farm recalls Zesty Sweet Peppers, shelf-stable (8-ounce glass containers; All batches) due to potential for Clostridium botulinum contamination.

FDA Warning Letter: FDA issues Warning Letter to Langlinais’ Baking Company (Lafayette, LA), following a November 1 through 5, 2021 inspection that revealed serious violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and non-compliance with the preventive control’s provisions of the CGMP & PC rule.

FDA Warning Letter: FDA issues Warning Letter to Agroson’s LLC (Bronx, NY) following an August 20, 2021 through September 3, 2021 inspection that revealed non-compliance with the Foreign Supplier Verification Program rule. This was the third of three inspections of the firm carried out in 2021. Papayas imported from Mexico by Agroson’s were linked to an outbreak of Salmonella infections in 2019.

FDA Warning Letter: FDA issues Warning Letter to Pet Center, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA) following a September 21, 2021 through October 8, 2021 inspection that revealed violations of FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls requirements for animal food, including lack of a food safety plan and improper sanitation procedures. The facility manufactures pet treats.

FDA Warning Letter: FDA issues Warning Letter to Sunshine Mills, Inc (Tupelo, MS) following a July 19 through September 1, 2021 inspection conducted as a follow up to a regulatory meeting we held with the company’s CEO, members of the management team, and the firm’s general counsel on March 26, 2021. The Warning Letter cites evidence of significant violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals regulation.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Genesis Food recalls Genesis Food brand Organic Blue Poppy Seeds (25 kg; Lot #BIOBPS2019; Produced 11/2019; No UPC) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Agropur Coopérative recalls multiple flavours of Baskin Robbins, Best Buy and President’s Choice ice cream due to foreign matter contamination (pieces of plastic and metal). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Europe

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE (Multiple countries): ECDC reports 187 confirmed and probable cases of monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium infections in eleven EU member countries and the UK as of April 19, 2022. Cases have been documented in Austria (5 confirmed, 1 probable), Belgium (7 confirmed, 22 probable), Denmark (1 confirmed), France (37 confirmed), Germany (11 confirmed, 3 probable), Ireland (15 confirmed), Luxembourg (1 confirmed, 1 probable), Netherlands (2 confirmed), Norway (1 confirmed), Spain (1 confirmed, 2 probable) Sweden (4 confirmed), and the UK (73 confirmed). The infections have been linked to consumption of Kinder chocolate products manufactured in Belgium by Ferrero.

Allergy Alert (France): LA PIZZA DE MANOSQUE ECOMIAM  recalls LA PIZZA DE MANOSQUE brand Mini Pizza Jambon fromage / Ham-and-cheese mini pizza (pkg of 9; Lots 017/22, 018/22 & 166/21; Best before 31/07/2023 (first two lots) and 31/12/2023) due to undeclared wheat.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): PLUS Supermarkt recalls Uit de keuken van Plus Pasta Siciliana / Sicilian pasta (450g; Best before 27-4-2022) due to undeclared egg.

Food Safety Recall (France): TREGORDIS LECLERC recalls Coquille saint jacques / Scallops (Lot 094; Use by 16/04/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SALAISONS DE LA VERNEDE recalls SALAISONS DE LA VERNEDE PATE FOUR / Oven dough (Lots 11 & 14) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SALAISONS DE LA VERNEDE recalls SALAISONS DE LA VERNEDE brand MELSATS / Spiced egg-and-bread sausage (Lots 10 & 14) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SALAISONS DE LA VERNEDE recalls SALAISONS DE LA VERNEDE brand TRIPES (Lots 11, 12 & 14) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SUPERMARCHES MATCH recalls Blanquette de Cabillaud / Cod (800g; Use by 17/04/2022) due to foreign matter contamination (pieces of plastic).

Food Safety Recall (France): CROIXDIS E.LECLERC recalls Merguez à griller / Sausage for grilling (Lot 2022-109) due to possible foreign matter contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SALAISONS DE LA VERNEDE recalls BOUDINS LANGUES BOUDINS OIGNONS BOUDINS BRASSES BOUDINS / blood sausages (Lots 10, 12 & 14) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SAINT-HERBLAIN DISTRIBUTION E.LECLERC  recalls Leclerc brand Taboulé poulet / Chicken Tabbouleh (Use by 14/04/2022) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): AUCHAN RETAIL SERVICES AUCHAN CITY TOURCOING  recalls ROTI DE PORC ORLOFF / Pork roast (Sold between 4 and 15 April) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Italy): Industry recalls multiple Kinder brand chocolate products due to possible Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the individual recall notices for complete details.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Allergy Alert (Israel): Emek Hefer Beehive recalls multiple honey products due to undeclared traces of milk protein. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (Israel): Ein Harod Agriculture recalls multiple honey products due to undeclared traces of milk protein. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Hongkong Ehigo E.commerce Co Ltd recalls Kinder Happy Moments Mini Mix (162g; Best before July 7, 2022, and July 8, 2022; Product of Belgium) due to possible Salmonella contamination. The product was intended for re-export to the Mainland.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (Australia): Woolworths recalls Macro Certified Organic Unsweetened Coconut Milk (1 L; Date marking 03/04/2023) and Macro Certified Organic Naturally Sweet Rice Milk (1 L; Date marking 29/03/2023) due to undeclared milk.

Ferrero suspends chocolate production in Arlon, expands recall

Ferrero has announced a suspension of operations at its Arlon, Belgium, production facility according to a statement released today (April 8, 2022).

The halt in production was initiated as a result of the Belgian food safety authority (AFSCA) having suspended Ferrero’s manufacturing authorization.

In addition, the company has extended its recall to include “the entire production of Kinder Surprise, Kinder Mini Eggs, Kinder Surprise Maxi 100g and Kinder Schokobons made in Arlon.”

Kinder chocolate products manufactured in the Arlon production plant have been linked to an outbreak of monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium in the United Kingdom (UK) and several member countries of the European Union (EU).

As of April 8, 2022, according to the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC), outbreak cases have been confirmed in France (25), Germany (6), Ireland (10), Luxembourg (1), Netherlands (2), Norway (1), Sweden (4), and the United Kingdom (65).

Additional probable outbreak cases are under investigation in Belgium (26) and Germany (2), for a total of 142 confirmed and probable cases.

The first outbreak case was recognized in the UK on January 7, 2002, and the first report of cases in EU countries was on February 17th.

The reported illnesses have occured mainly in children under ten years of age.

Recalls

Consumers in the UK were first alerted to the problem on April 2, 2022, when the Food Standards Agency posted a recall notice for certain batches of Ferrero’s Kinder Surprise chocolate novelty products.

Since that date, Kinder chocolate products have been recalled in multiple countries within the EU, as well in Canada, the United States, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

With this most recent expansion of Ferraro’s recall, the number and scope of recall notices can be expected to increase.

Ferrero Confectionery Indonesia issued an April 7th press release advising that the Kinder chocolate products sold in Indonesia were manufactured in India and are not affected by the recalls.

Ferrero’s actions

Ferrero admitted in its April 7th recall update that the company knew about a Salmonella problem as long ago as December 15, 2021.

An internal investigation determined the origin of the contamination to be “…a filter at the outlet of two raw material tanks.”

The affected products and materials were put on hold, the filter was removed, and the company increased what the news release described as its “…already high level of controls on semi-finished and finished products.”

It is unclear from the news release whether the initial finding was in an environmental sample or a finished product. Nor did the company reveal whether or not production was shut down for thorough cleaning and sanitizing after the Salmonella finding.

In its April 8th update, Ferrero acknowledged “… internal inefficiencies, creating delays in retrieving and sharing information in a timely manner.”

The Arlon facility, which accounts for 7% of the total volume of Kinder products, will remain closed pending completion of the investigation. The plant will only re-open once certified by the authorities, according to the company.

You can find additional background information on a prior Salmonella outbreak associated with chocolate novelty products in Chapter 15 of TAINTED. From Farm Gate to Dinner Plate, Fifty Years of Food Safety Failures. Order the digital or audiobook editions from your favorite on-line retailer, or purchase the paperback or hardcover edition from Amazon.

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“Reads like a true crime novel” – Food Safety News

Recalls and Alerts: January 13-14, 2022

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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? Click on the TAINTED menu at the top of the page to read a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital or print copy to your personal library.

United States

Allergy Alert: Lily’s Sweets recalls Lily’s Peppermint Flavor Baking Chips (7-oz pouch; Multiple lot codes; UPC 8-10003-46159-9) due to undeclared soy. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected lot codes.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Bistak Enterprises Inc. and Bistak Groceries Inc. recall various food products due to possible Salmonella contamination as a result of rodent infestation. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Bistak Enterprises Inc. and Bistak Groceries Inc.  recall additional food products due to possible Salmonella contamination as a result of rodent infestation. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: La boulangerie Wakefield (Wakefield, QC) recalls PEPPERETTE spicy sausages (Sold up to 7 January 2022) due to improper display temperature which could result in the product being unsafe to consume.

Europe

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION (NORWAY): The Norwegian Institute of Public Health is investigating an outbreak of 16 cases of Salmonella Blockley in Viken (3), Vestland (2), Trøndelag (5), Nordland (2), Troms og Finnmark (3), and Rogaland (1). Twelve of the 16 victims have been hospitalized. The source of the infections is currently under investigation.

Allergy Alert (Belgium): AFSCA mandates recall of Super Q brand Kan Mian Dried steamed noodles (200g; Best before 14-03-2023) due to undeclared soy.

Allergy Alert (Ireland): Aldi recalls Moser Roth, The Collection, Milk, White & Dark chocolates (160g; All batches and all best-before dates) due to undeclared egg.

Food Safety Recall Update (Belgium): Makro recalls three prepared fish meals due to possible foreign matter (pieces of metal) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall Update (Belgium): Revi Food recalls several prepared meals due to possible foreign matter (pieces of metal) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Jumbo recalls Jumbo snacksalade quinoa noten / Quinoa & nut salad snack (200g; Best before 17-01-2022) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): UPFRESH recalls three prepared meals due to possible foreign matter (pieces of metal) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (France): SILVE INTERMARCHE recalls Pâturages Les P’tits Prods brand DESSERTS LACTES SAVEUR CHOCOLAT / Chocolate-flavour dairy dessert 4-pack (4 x 85g; Lot #12129951; Best before 28/10/2022) due to possible foreign matter (metal particles) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): LE PAIN DE BELLEDONNE recalls Belladonne brand BRIOCHE DES ROIS PEPITES CHOC / King’s brioche with chocolate chips (Lot 20211224; Use by 28/01/2022) due to foreign matter (plastic) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Carrefour recalls Carrefour Le Marché Jambon Cuit, 2 tranches / Cooked ham, 2 slices (100g; Lot #1041939; Use by 26/01/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): TIVOLI DISTRIBUTION INTERMARCHE recalls STEACK HACHE A LA DEMANDE / Ground steak, to order (Use by 08/01/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Orkla Foods Danmark recalls Den Gamle Fabrik brand Fruchtaufstrich Orange / Orange fruit spread (600g; Lot #2399318; Best before 21.02.2023) due to foreign matter (glass splinters) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Natsu Foods GmbH & Co. KG recalls Natsu Salat “Quinoa Nuts”, vegan / Vegan quinoa nuts salad (200g; Use by 16.01.22) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Revi Food recalls Revi Food brand Cassolette de Limandes, écrevisses & Pommes duchesses / Dabs, crayfish and Duchess potato casserole (Lots 90142527, 90142276, 90142545, 90142534, 90142541, 90142533, 90142543, 90142539, 90142544, 90142546, 90142542, 90142537, 90142538, 90142535, 90142547, 90142540, 90142548, & 90142536; Use by 13/01/2022 & 15/01/2022) due to possible foreign matter (pieces of metal) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Jumbo recalls Jumbo snacksalade quinoa noten / Quinoa nut salad (200g; Use by 17-01-2022) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Yoplait UK recalls Yoplait Frubes Strawberry, Red Berry and Peach Variety 9-Pack (9 x 37g; Batch code 9218195; Use by 9 February 2022; Only Use-by dates followed by the letter “C” are affected) due to foreign matter (small pieces of metal) contamination.

Pet Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Kivo Petfood BV recalls Kivo Kip Compleet frozen raw pet food (500g & 1000g; Lot #210917; Best before 03-2023), Kivo Kip- Vis Compleet frozen raw pet food (500g & 1000g; Lot #210917; Best before 03-2023) and Kivo Pens-Kip mix frozen raw pet food (500g & 1000g; Lot #210917; Best before 03-2023) due to possible Salmonella Typhimurium contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (Australia): Fresh Food Enterprises recalls IQ Bar Chocolate Sea Salt (45g; Best before June 10 2022), IQ Bar Peanut Butter Chip (45g; Best before June 11 2022) and IQ Bar Almond Butter Chip (45g; Best before Apr 14 2022) due to undeclared milk.