Tag: Salmonella Typhimurium

Recalls and Alerts – USA: January 4-12, 2013

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: ConAgra Foods (Omaha, NE) recalls Andy Capp’s Hot Fries flavor product (0.85-oz blue poly bags; Case UPC 20-0-26200-47169-7; Unit UPC 00-0-26200-47168-6; Batch code 5381232500; Sell by August 17, 2013), because the product may contain undeclared soy due to a packaging error. The recalled product was supplied to retail food distributors in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania for distribution to retail stores in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia.
  • Allergy Alert: Southwest Ice Cream Specialties recalls ShurFine “Creamery Select” Dulce de Leche Premium Ice Cream (1.75-qt/1.66L “scround” container; UPC 015400224840; Best by Nov 8, 2014; Plant code 48-3202-F). Due to a packaging error, the cartons contain undeclared wheat, soy, and pecans as a result of the Dulce de Leche cartons having been filled with ShurFine Praline Pecan ice cream.
  • Allergy Alert: Woodstock® (Providence, RI) recalls Woodstock All Natural Tamari Almonds (7.5 oz; Best by 10/24/13; Lot 12298), because the product contains undeclared soy due to mislabeling. The recalled product was supplied to retailers in Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and District of Columbia.
  • Allergy Alert: Somersault Snack Co., LLC (Sausalito, CA) recalls Somersaults Cinnamon Crunch products (All package sizes; All Sell-by dates of 8/30/2013 or earlier), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled product was distributed to retailers nationwide.
  • Allergy Alert: Island Delights, Inc. (Seville, OH) recalls Maple Coconut Haystacks (various sizes; Lot 13410400.02, 13410400.04, 13410400.08 and 13410402.00) Chocolate/Almond Coconut Haystacks (various sizes; Lot 13413100.02, 13413100.04, 13413100.08 and 13413102.00), Coffee Coconut Haystacks (various sizes; Lot 13411300.02, 13411300.04, and 13411300.08) and Almond Coconut Haystacks (various sizes; Lot 13413000.02, 13413000.04, 13413000.08 and 13413002.00), because the products contain undeclared milk. The recalled products were distributed to retail stores and through mail orders in Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall: Delifish expands its earlier recall to include the following cold smoked products relating to Julian dates 235 to 345, because of potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes: Food Service Cold Smoked Salmon Trim (1 lb.), Royal Fjord Smoked Toppers, (6-oz; UPC 810230000561), Royal Fjord Sliced Smoked Salmon Loin (12-14 oz), Cold smoked pieces (5 lb), Royal Fjord (5 oz. rounds; UPC 810230000127), New England Smoked Salmon (4 oz.; UPC 810230000066), Pacific Supreme (3-oz; UPC # 058138102448), Sam’s (20-oz; UPC# 073030805167), Icy Point (2 – 3-lb; NO UPC), Lassco Select Gourmet (8-oz; UPC # 072840017081), Bacon Lassco (3-oz; UPC #072840017036), Natural Trimming (5-lb; NO UPC), Trimming with preservatives (4-lb; NO UPC), Party Platter (6-oz; NO UPC), Nova Wheel (16-oz; UPC # 072840007273), Nova Lassco (4-oz; UPC #072840017050), Nathans (8-oz; UPC # 073030803699), Nathans (3-oz; UPC # 073030803682), and 3 Star (4-oz; UPC # 072840017517). The recalled product was possibly supplied to retail stores in California, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Massachusetts, Illinois, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington and Puerto Rico.
  • Food Safety Recall: GIANT Food Stores, LLC and MARTIN’S Food Markets alert their customers to the recall by Ocean Beauty Seafoods LLC of all Sell-By dates of the following products due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes: Nathan’s Nova Salmon (3 o.z.; UPC 7303080368), Nathan’s Nova Salmon (8 o.z.; UPC 7303080369), and Lassco Smoked Salmon (3 o.z.; UPC 7284001703).
  • Food Safety Recall: Sister Sara’s (Pleasanton, CA) recalls Sister Sara’s Good For You Soup (1-qt/32-oz glass jar), Sister Sara’s Bread and Butter Pickles (1-pt/16-oz glass jar), Sister Sara’s Pickled Beets (1-pt/16-oz glass jar) and Sister Sara’s Old Fashioned Dill Pickles (half-gallon/64-oz glass jar), due to possible Clostridium botulinum contamination as a result of having possibly been improperly produced. The recalled products were sold at the Pleasanton Farmers Market (Pleasanton, CA) and the Livermore Certified Farmers Market (Livermore, CA).
  • Pet Treat Safety Recall: Publix Super Markets recalls Publix Chicken Tenders Dog Chew Treats (3,5-oz bag; UPC 41415-18527), because the product may contain trace amounts of antibiotic residue. The recalled product was sold in Publix grocery stores in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee.
  • Pet Treat Safety Recall: Milo’s Kitchen® recalls Chicken Jerky Home-Style Dog Treats and Chicken Grillers Home-Style Dog Treats, after trace amounts of residual antibiotics were detected by the New York State Department of Agriculture in several lots of Milo’s Kitchen® Chicken Jerky. Both of the recalled products are sourced from the same chicken suppliers.
  • Pet Treat Safety Withdrawal: Nestlé Purina PetCare Company and its wholly owned subsidiary Waggin’ Train LLC withdraw Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch brand dog treats sold nationwide in the United States until further notice. The action was taken after the New York State Department of Agriculture detected trace amounts of antibiotic residue in samples of the chicken jerky treats.
  • Pet Treat Safety Recall: Wegmans alerts its customers to the recall by IMS Pet Industries of Cadet Gourmet Chicken Sausage (8 oz; UPC 7-68303-07461), due to test results that showed trace amounts of antibiotic residue in the treats.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Mobius Therapeutics, LLC (St. Louis, MO) recalls Mitosol® (mitomycin for solution) Kit for Ophthalmic Use (0.2mg/vial; Lot #M098260 and M086920; Expiration Date 08/2013), because one or more parts of the kit may contain be contaminated with a strain of yeast. The recalled products were distributed between 10/22/2012 and 12/14/2012 in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.
  • Outbreak Alert (Missouri): The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports several cases of diarrhea that may be due to Shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli. One person has been confirmed to be infected with E. coli O103. The illnesses were reported in the northwest part of Missouri and may be related to the consumption of locally produced unpasteurized dairy products.
  • Outbreak Alert (Cruise ships): The CDC is investigating outbreaks of gastroenteritis among passengers and crew members of the Emerald Princess (Princess Cruises; voyage dates Dec 17-27, 2012) and Queen Mary 2 (Cunard Line; voyage dates Dec 22, 2012 to Jan 3, 2013). The causative agent has not yet been determined in either case.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: CDC reports that 16 persons from seven states have been infected with Salmonella Typhimurium after coming into contact with pet hedgehogs purchased from multiple breeders in different states. Three people have been hospitalized. The outbreak, which began in December 2011, has affected people in Alabama (1), Indiana (1), Michigan (3), Minnesota (2), Ohio (2), Oregon (1) and Washington (6).

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 website.

*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: December 27, 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: Multiexport Foods, Inc. (Miami, FL) recalls Twin Pack Cold Smoked Salmon (12 oz pkgs; Lot-Sublot-Batch Nos. 931-59733-2, 933-59753-1, 933-59754-2, 875-701413-1 & 890-701413-1) and Paramount Reserve Cold Smoked Salmon (1.25 lb pack; Lot-Sublot-Batch Nos. 870-701342-1, 873-701342-1, 870-701344-1, 873-701360-1, 870-701364-1, 873-701364-1, 900-701344-1, 873-701344-1, 873-701360-1, 886-701413-1, 900-701413-1, 873-701344-1 & 870-701360-1), because of possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were distributed between November 12th to December 21, 2012 to retail outlets (Sam’s Club) that could be in the following states Alabama, Arkansas, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado,  Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Montana, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia. The recall was initiated after a recent routine lab test that carried out on a shipment that was not distributed showed that the finished product contained Listeria monocytogenes. The company is recalling all related product that may potentially be affected.

Europe

  • Food Safety Recall (Scotland, UK): Argyll Smokery recalls Argyll Smokery Smoked Prawns (125g; Batch code 5P1212; Use by 2 January 2013), due to a risk of Clostridium botulinum. Testing on a sample found that the salt level within the product is below the level needed to prevent growth of Clostridium botulinum.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (Taiwan): The China Post reports that Taiwan’s customs officers seized and destroyed more than 2 tons of Chinese mitten crabs, because the crabs were found to contain the toxic chemical leucomalachite green.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Outbreak Alert Update (Australia): The outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium Phage Type 3 has grown to 39 cases – including 31 confirmed cases – from six states and territories. Case patients range in age from 3 to 76 years; seven have been hospitalized. The most recent patient reported becoming ill on October 20, 2012. The outbreak was linked to consumption of raw almonds; the implicated almonds were recalled in October.

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.

Contaminated Almonds Sicken 37 In Australia

Thirty-seven people in six Australian states have suffered from salmonellosis after consuming raw almonds contaminated with Salmonella Typhimurium, according to a report issued over the weekend by Australia’s Department of Health and Aging (ADHA).

The youngest outbreak victim was one year old, the oldest was 76. Five people required a hospital stay. The most recent reported illness onset date was October 6, 2012.

Epidemiologic data, traceback investigations and lab results implicated raw almonds supplied by Select Harvests Limited (Thomastown, Victoria).

Australians first learned of the outbreak on October 23rd, when Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) released the following statement:

“Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today urged consumers to check their pantries for raw almonds that might be contaminated with Salmonella.

FSANZ Deputy Chief Executive Officer Melanie Fisher said state, territory and federal government authorities were investigating an outbreak of Salmonella gastroenteritis associated with some batches of raw almonds.

 “There have been two recalls associated with this outbreak, one conducted nationally by Woolworths and one in southeast Queensland by Flannerys ,” Ms Fisher said.

The products recalled were supplied by Select Harvests and sold as Woolworths Almond Kernels (with best before dates of 05/02/13; 06/04/13; 07/04/13; 12/04/13) and as Flannerys Own Almonds in 500gm and 1kg zip-lock sealed pouch (with best before dates between 02/07/13 and 05/10/13).

Ms Fisher said consumers should check the brand of almonds in their pantry and if the product had been recalled they should either dispose of any remaining product or return packets to the place of purchase for a full refund. If consumers have almonds in their pantry and are unsure of the source then they should consider disposing of the product.

“The food recalls were notified earlier this month but we want to ensure consumers are carefully checking their pantries as packaged raw almonds are often bought to use later,” she said.

Raw almonds can be identified by the brown skin on the outside of the almond. Roasted almonds (which also have brown skin but will be labelled as ‘roasted’), and processed almonds e.g. blanched almonds, almond slivers and processed product containing almonds, are not affected by these recalls.

Twenty-seven confirmed or suspected cases of salmonellosis linked to the recalled products have been reported in six states and territories.

Symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhoea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days and most people recover within a few days. However for very young children (under five years of age), older people and people with weak immune systems, salmonellosis can be much more serious.

If you think you or your family might have become ill from eating raw almonds, you should consult your doctor.”

Neither federal agency has identified the six states that reported outbreak-associated cases of Salmonella Typhimurium. On October 27th, the Western Australia Department of Health released its own consumer alert and reported that ‘…at least three Western Australians...”  were affected by the outbreak.

Australian federal health officials have known about this outbreak for at least a month. On October 4th, Woolworths Ltd. recalled Woolworths Almond Kernels (Best before 05/02/13, 06/04/13, 07/04/13 and 12/04/13) due to Salmonella contamination. Six days later, Nnylonit Pty Ltd, trading as Flannerys Natural & Organic Supermarket, recalled Flannerys Own Almonds (All Best before dates between 2/07/2013 to 5/10/13), due to Salmonella contamination. Both of these companies obtained their almonds from Select Harvests Limited.

Select Harvests issued its own recall notice on October 5th. The notice made no mention of the outbreak, but simply reported that the “…voluntary recall was initiated after laboratory testing identified the potential presence of Salmonella in [some] almonds supplied to Woolworths.” The company updated its recall announcement on October 23rd, reporting that “… extensive testing has been conducted which indicates that the source of potential contamination is isolated to some almonds from one farm. Additional precautionary and voluntary recalls of some products to a number of small, independent, customers have been made.” Once again, no mention of any illnesses.

This is not the first time that raw almonds have been implicated in an outbreak of salmonellosis. In 2003-2004, raw almonds supplied by Paramount Farms (Lost Hills, CA) were linked to at least 29 cases of Salmonella Enteritidis in 12 US states and one Canadian province. Paramount’s almonds were sold under the Kirkland Signature (Costco), Trader Joe’s and Sunkist labels. The raw nuts also were exported to France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

As a result of that outbreak, the Almond Board of California worked with USDA to develop and institute an industry-wide almond pasteurization program in the USA. As of September 2007, all almonds must be pasteurized before being sold to consumers in North America. Select Harvests, according to its October 23rd Announcement has ordered pasteurizing equipment, which it hopes will be operational in the New Year.

Advice to Consumers

  • Check the brand of almonds in your pantry and, if the product has been recalled, either dispose of any remaining product or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.
  • If in doubt, throw it out.
  • Symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, fever and cramps, most commonly developing 12-72 hours after eating contaminated food. If you think that you or a family member has become ill from eating raw almonds, consult your doctor.