Recalls and Alerts: October 8-10, 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

Europe

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION (Sweden): The Swedish Food Agency and the Public Health Agency are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections, which has sickened 19 people since mid-September. Cases have been reported from eleven different regions of the country. The source of the outbreak has not yet been identified, but is suspected to be a food with wide distribution in Sweden.

Allergy Alert (Belgium): AFSCA recalls Chtoura Garden brand Cooked Fava Beans (475g; Lot 29; Use by 31/01/2025) due to undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert (UK): P&B (Foods) Limited recalls multiple package sizes, batch codes, and Best Before dates of Heera Rewdi and Heera Sweet Makhana due to undeclared sesame and sulphites, respectively. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert (UK): itsu (grocery) recalls chilled itsu noodle’soup veg gyoza & greens (230g; All Use By dates up to and including 15 October 2022) due to the possibility of undeclared crustaceans.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): CARREFOUR recalls Vin blanc DOMAINE LALANDE Chardonnay 2021 / White wine (75 cl; Lot L22230A2) due to possible foreign matter contamination (pieces of glass).

Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Coronet Cake Company recalls REMA1000 Julens æbleskiver med kardemomme / Christmas apple slices with cardamom (560g; Best before 16.08.2024) due to presence of insects (mealybugs/weevils).

Food Safety Recall (France): GROUPE BIGARD SOCOPA VIANDES recalls SOCOPA brand saucisses précuites au beaufort / Pre-cooked beaufort sausages (4-pack (320g); Lot 26186921; Use by dates between 20/10/2022 and 27/10/2022) due to possible foreign matter contamination (small pieces of metal).

Food Safety Recall (France): M.A. BROCHETTE recalls M.A Brochette brand Brochettes de poulet filet marinées curry indien / Indian-style chicken skewers marinated with curry (20 pieces; Lot 064113; Use by 07/10/2022) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): COMPAGNIE MONTAGNE NOIRE recalls MONTAGNE NOIRE brand JAMBON SERRANO 4TR 100 G TRADICOUPE / Serrano ham, traditional cut (100g (4 slices); Lot 210153538; Best before 21/12/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Italy): Melandri Gaudenzio SRL recalls VIVI VERDE COOP brand SEMI DI SESAMO BIOLOGICI / Organic sesame seeds (250g; Lot 138/22; Best before 05/2023) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Italy): Creperie Jarnoux recalls Bernard Jarnoux Crepier brand 6 Pancakes al cioccolato / Chocolate pancakes (150g; Lot 256; Best before 11.10.2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Socopa Viandes recalls SOCOPA brand saucisses précuites au beaufort / Pre-cooked beaufort sausages (4-pack (320g); Lot 26186921; Use by dates between 20/10/2022 and 27/10/2022) due to possible foreign matter contamination (small pieces of metal).

Food Safety Recall (UK): Tesco recalls Tesco Active Strawberry Flavoured Whey Protein (500g; Best before 31 May 2024 (Batch code 1049765 13) and 31 August 2024 (Batch codes 1050673 09, 1050673 10 and 1050673 11) and Tesco Active Chocolate Fudge Flavoured Whey Protein (500g; Batch codes 1049767 10 and 1049767 11; Best before 31 May 2024) due to possible foreign matter contamination (small pieces of metal).

Food Safety Recall (UK): Superdrug recalls Slenderplan Tropical Smoothie Meal Replacement Shake (208g (8 x 26g) sachets; Batch codes 1050400 20 & 1050400 23; Best before 31 May 2023) due to possible foreign matter contamination (small pieces of metal).

Recalls and Alerts: October 6-7, 2022

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Chapter 6. Birth of a Pathogen

United States

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: FDA and CDC are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O121:H19 illnesses linked to frozen falafel. The outbreak has affected 20 individuals in 6 states, including Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Five people have been hospitalized. The illnesses have been linked to Earth Grown brand frozen falafel purchased from ALDI. The manufacturer has recalled the implicated products and ALDI has removed remaining products from its store shelves. Please refer to the recall notice below.

Allergy Alert: Bakkavor USA recalls 32-ounce Meal Simple Tomato Basil Soup (Best by 12/2/2022) due to undeclared milk. The recalled product was sold at H-E-B stores in Texas.

Allergy Alert: Flowers Foods, Inc. recalls various Tastykake^® and Mrs. Freshley’s^® glazed pies due to undeclared soy. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were sold in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Food Safety Recall: Cuisine Innovations Unlimited, LLC recalls Earth Grown Vegan Traditional Falafel and Garlic & Herb Falafel (Lot numbers 1472, 1481, 1531, 1532, 1541, 1552, 1561, 1581, 1601, 1611, 1612, 1661, 1682, 1732, 1752, 1762, 1782, 1802, and 1812; shipped to stores after June 24, 2021) due to possible shigatoxin-producing E. coli contamination. These products have been linked epidemiologically to an outbreak of 20 illnesses in six states (see outbreak notice, above).

Food Safety Recall: Cut Fruit Express recalls Caribou Coffee Fruit and Cheese Plate (6.2 oz; Use by 9/30/2022, 10/2/2022, 10/4/2022, 10/7/2022 and 10/9/2022) due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Dépanneur du Parc (Roberval, QC) recalls LANIÈRE DE POULET PANÉES / Breaded chicken strips (650g; Sold up to 6 October 2022) due to absence of cooking instructions and lack of labeling to indicate this is a raw product.

Food Safety Recall: Marché Mon Village (Montréal, QC) recalls various spices, nuts, and dried fruits (Sold up to 6 October 2022) because the products were not preserved in a way that would ensure their safety.

Food Safety Recall: Aristo Cuisine recalls Circle K / Couche Tard brand Chicken Salad Club Sandwich (white) (255g; Best before 08-OCT-2022; UPC 8 74111 00969 2) and Circle K / Couche Tard brand Ham Salad Club Sandwich (white) (265g; Best before 08-OCT-2022; UPC 8 74111 00970 8) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled products were sold in Quebec and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories.

Food Safety Recall Update: Gaton’s Foods Dairy recalls certain Nature’s Best brand and Zavat Chalav brand cheddar and mozzarella cheese products due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were sold in Ontario and Quebec and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories.

Food Safety Recall: Bright Cheese & Butter Mfg. Company Limited recalls Low-Fat Mozzarella Cheese (20 kg; Vat #22116) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled product was sold only in Québec.

Food Safety Recall: Le Verger à Ti-Paul Inc. recalls Le Verger à Ti-Paul brand Ciders due to lead contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products, which were sold in Québec.

Europe

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION (Denmark): Danish health and food safety authorities are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium cases that has infected 14 people in Denmark between August 15, 2022, and September 16, 2022. The source of the outbreak is under investigation.

Allergy Alert (Denmark): P. Taabbel A/S recalls Navito Indbagt laks med spinat og ostesovs / Baked salmon with spinach and cheese sauce (250g; Best before 04.07.2023) due to undeclared shellfish.

Allergy Alert (Ireland): FSAI warns consumers that To Øl X Omnipollo Brewtrance beer (375 ml; Batch #24F281B; Best before 08/10/2031) contains undeclared hazelnuts.

Allergy Alert (Luxembourg): Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Authority orders recall of Chtoura Garden brand Cooked Fava Beans (475g; Lot #29; Best before 31/01/2025) due to undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert (Sweden): Järvsö Kebab AB recalls färdiggrillade kebabstrimlor / pre-grilled kebab strips (300g; Best before 2022-09-11) due to undeclared soy.

Allergy Alert (UK – England and Scotland): Lidl GB recalls Select and Go Sushi Box Salmon and Shrimp (330g; All use by dates up to and including 11 October 2022) due to undeclared crustaceans, fish, mustard, sesame, soya, egg, wheat (gluten), milk, and sulphites.

Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Danish Crown Foods A/S recalls Den Gode Frikadelle brand Minifrikadeller / Fried mini-meatballs (800g; Lot 12.10.22; Best before 12.10.2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Layenberger Nutrition Group GmbH recalls several varieties of Layenberger Fit+Feelgood Slim Shake (396g) due to possible foreign matter contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Romania): Producătorul Pak Rampart d.o.o. recalls Tastino Napolitane cu 72% cremă cu aromă de alune de pădure / Napolitan wafers with hazelnut flavoured cream (800g; All use by dates) due to Salmonella Typhimurium contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (Australia): United Foods (VIC) Pty. Ltd recalls United Foods brand Italian Soup Mix (Best before 14/05/2023) due to undeclared barley (gluten).

Good news for fans of Ferrero chocolates

On September 16, 2022, Belgium’s food safety authority (AFSCA) issued a final authorization for production for Ferraro’s manufacturing facility, located at Arlon.

The Arlon plant produces Kinder Surprise and other novelty chocolate products, and has been operating under a conditional authorization since June.

What happened?

On April 2, 2022, the UK Food Standards Agency alerted consumers to potential Salmonella contamination in certain batches of Kinder Surprise chocolates.

On April 8th, Belgium announced its decision to withdraw Ferrero’s authorization to manufacture food products at its Arlon plant, where the Kinder Surprise chocolates were made.

The decision, according to AFSCA, was due to the presence of Salmonella in the plant’s environment, the agency’s dissatisfaction with the lack of transparency on the part of the company regarding its Salmonella problem, and reports of Salmonella illnesses associated with the products from that plant.

In response to the AFSCA action, Ferrero expanded its initial recall to encompass all products manufactured in the Arlon facility. In doing so, the company also acknowledged that it had been aware of a Salmonella contamination problem in its production plant since December 15, 2021.

According to the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC), as of July 15th, 401 confirmed (n=399) and probable (n=2) cases of monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium had been reported in 13 EU member countries and the UK. An additional 54 cases were reported in Canada (n=4), Switzerland (n=49), and United States (n=1).

Specific chocolate products from a Belgian chocolate factory were identified as likely vehicles of infection in the ECDC report, although the agency did not mention the company by name.

A new beginning

Following extensive cleaning, testing, and updates to product safety protocols, trainings, and sampling in the plant, conducted by Ferrero in concert with the AFSCA, the Belgian agency granted Ferrero conditional authorisation to restart its production lines on June 17, 2022.

After three months of probationary production, the authorization has now been finalized.

In announcing the authorization, Ferrero expressed its gratitude with AFSCA’s close collaboration and its assistance, and promised to do better going forward.

“We have learned a lot during this period and have quickly put these learnings into practice,” the company said in its news release. “The granting of our production licence means everything is in place for our factory to produce with confidence and we will continue to do everything we can to prevent this from happening again.”

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. Available in digital, print, and audiobook editions.