Tag: Salmonella

Recalls and Alerts: August 2-3, 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 a new outbreak of six Cyclospora illnesses. No source has been identified as yet.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Advantage Health Matters Inc. recalls multiple Organic Traditions brand dark chocolate covered nut products due to undeclared milk, cashew, almonds, and/or hazelnuts. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert: Vicentina Fine Italian Foods recalls multiple Vicentina Fine Foods Gourmet brand lasagna products (All units sold up to and including July 29, 2022) due to undeclared egg. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Mannas épicerie africaine (Québec, QC) recalls ANGUILLE DE MER FUMÉE / Smoked sea eel (Sold up to 2 August 2022) due to possible food safety hazard.

Europe

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION (Belgium): Forty-five people sick due to drinking water Chateau in Sint Hubert according to RASFF notification 2022.4522.

Allergy Alert (Belgium): L’AFSCA orders recall of Bestore Dried Mango (108g; Best before 08/07/2022) due to undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert Update (Belgium): Albert Heijn recalls Albert Heijn brand empanadas pulled pork (Best before 05-08-2022 and 13-08-2022) due to undeclared milk and eggs.

Allergy Alert (Germany): Fossa Eugenia BV recalls Petersilie Glatt / Smooth parsley (40g; Lot L3006 EH 10) due to undeclared celery.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Dekamarkt and Dirk recall 1 de Beste Notenmelange gezouten / Salted mixed nuts (150g; Lot 22-403358; Expiry date 17-02-2023) due to undeclared peanuts.

Allergy Alert Update (Netherlands): Albert Heijn recalls AH brand empanadas pulled pork (Best before 05-08-2022 and 13-08-2022) due to undeclared milk and eggs.

Food Safety Recall (France): BISCHWIDIS SUPER-U recalls GENDARMES / Dry sausages (Sold in bulk from 21/07/2022 to 25/07/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): AUCHAN recalls Cuisse de poulet sans Os mariné Andalouse / Boneless marinated chicken thighs (Sold between 06/07/22 and 11/07/22) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SCAMARK E.LECLERC recalls multiple P’TIT DELI brand snack products due to foreign matter contamination (metal particles). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (France): Les Fermiers Occitans recalls Secret d’éleveurs brand Foie gras mi-cuit / Semi-preserved foie gras (400g; Lot 21286085; Use by 06/01/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): MAISON MILHAU recalls Maison Milhau brand Pâté de tête / Pork head pâté (200g; Lot 208201; Use by 05/09/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): LE FUMOIR prod’fish recalls prod’fish brand Saumon fumé Norvège prétranché / Sliced Norwegian smoked salmon (Lot 716158; Use by 09/08/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): PESSAC DISTRIBUTION E.Leclerc recalls Tradilège brand Jambon cuit supérieur / Superior cooked ham (Lot 22607676 22.43; Use by 26/08/2022) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): EKO Konzervipari Kft. recalls Beste Ernte Sonnenmais jung und zart / Young, tender sun corn (330g; Expiry 06.08.2025) due to foreign matter contamination (glass particles).

Food Safety Recall (Germany): Mühlenladen Birgitt Harder recalls Weizenmehl Hardermühle Strass Type 405 / Wheat flour Type 405 (2.5 kg; Best before 25. April 2023) due to shigatoxin-producing E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Germany): WBZ Nord GmbH recalls Tahin Halva in Kunststoffschale mit Schnappranddeckel / Tahini halvah (300g; Lot L04M21; Expiry 11/2023) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Italy): Gran Giuzza spa recalls Fonte Valle Reale brand Acqua Minerale Naturale Oligominerale / Natural mineral water (1.5 L; Lots 10LB2202A – 08LB2208A; Best before 20/01/2024 – 26/01/2024) due to Staphylococcus aureus contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Food Safety Authority orders recall of Luxlait brand Brie Bio / Organic brie (Lot 634442; Use by 11/09/2022) due to E. coli contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Sweden): Fiskexporten Varberg AB recalls Varbergs brand Dromsill / Herring (250g; Lot L22153; Best before 2023-01-28) due to possible foreign matter contamination (piece of glass).

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Allergy Alert (Singapore): Nautilus Vintage Asia Pte. Ltd. recalls NIO Cocktails “Mai Tai” (All batches; Product of Italy) due to undeclared almonds.

Raw pet food company sues to block FDA public health alert

Arrow Reliance Inc. (d.b.a. Darwin’s Natural Pet Products) has filed suit in US federal court in an attempt to prevent the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from issuing a Public Health Alert about possible Salmonella contamination in a cat food product.

Darwin’s, which is based in Tukwila, Washington, filed the their request for a temporary restraining order on July 29, 2022, in the US District Court, Western District of Washington (Case 2:22-cv-01057).

Screen Shot 2022-08-01 at 1.58.32 PMThe lawsuit contends that the FDA “wrongfully” threatened to issue the Public Health Alert if the company refused to issue a recall of its adult cat food.

The FDA’s request for a product recall apparently arose after kittens tested positive for Salmonella.

When contacted by eFoodAlert, a spokesperson for the FDA stated that the agency does not comment on pending litigation.

The background

logo-Darwins-pet-foodDarwin’s is the producer and distributor of a range of raw food products for dogs and cats.

The company was founded in 2002 by Gary Tashjian, who began producing frozen raw pet foods in his own kitchen.

In time, Tashjian moved his manufacturing operations into a facility in Tukwila, WA, just outside of Seattle.

In June 2016, the FDA received a consumer complaint about foreign objects in the company’s products. In response, the FDA and representatives from the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) paid a visit to the Tukwila facility.

During the course of their visit, the FDA and state investigators noted several objectionable conditions in the production plant. They also reviewed the company’s consumer complaint log, including four complaints that mentioned Salmonella.

As part of their follow-up, WSDA inspectors sampled two of the finished raw pet food products for lab analysis. One of those samples was found to contained Salmonella.

In response, the company destroyed its inventory of the contaminated production lot. As none of the product had been shipped, there was no need for a recall.

In December 2017, following a spate of product recalls due variously to Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, and/or E. coli O28 in multiple product samples, the FDA returned to Darwin’s plant to conduct an intensive investigation that lasted until late January 2018.

During the course of its investigation, the FDA became aware of at least six customer complaints about sick pets, including one dead kitten.

On April 2, 2018, the FDA issued a formal Warning Letter, notifying the company of its findings and giving the company fifteen business days in which to respond with a written description of corrective actions.

The company was reinspected in 2018/19, during which time Darwin’s management refused to supply the FDA investigation team with records pertaining to the production, sanitation, environmental testing and distribution of finished product lots using the same protein ingredients as two samples that were identified positive for the presence of Salmonella.

FDA inspected Darwin’s again in June 2021. This time, the company cooperated fully with the inspectors, who noted a few observations of concern. These were corrected by company management before the inspection was completed, and no formal list of Inspectional Observations was issued.

The current situation

At the moment, there is no information available beyond what has been included in the company’s request for a temporary restraining order.

If the request is not granted, the FDA will be free to release additional details, including a Public Health Alert, if it chooses to do so.

In the interim, any consumer who suspects that a Darwin’s product may have caused his dog or cat to become ill should file a formal complaint with the FDA, using the agency’s pet food complaint portal.

For additional information on safety issues surrounding the feeding of raw pet food to companion animals, check out the FDA website

Learn more about a variety of food safety issues in TAINTED. From Farm Gate to Dinner Plate, Fifty Years of Food Safety Failures, now available in digital, print and audiobook editions.

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

Recalls and Alerts: July 30 – August 1, 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: The Wisconsin Department of Health is investigating at least six cases of Salmonella infections linked to shelled peas sold at Wisconsin Farmers Markets and Farm Stands. The implicated shelled peas were produced by Green Barn Farm Market of Ripon, Wisconsin. Anyone who purchased shelled (loose) peas from Green Barn Farm Market or Green Valley Acres Farm since July 1, 2022, is advised to not eat them and to throw them away, even if the peas have been frozen.

Allergy Alert: Conagra Brands, Inc. recalls P.F. CHANG’S HOME MENU BEEF & BROCCOLI (22-oz plastic bag; Lot 5006 2146 2012; Best by MAY 21 2023) due to undeclared egg.

Allergy Alert: H-E-B recalls H-E-B Creamy Creations Light Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream (1/2 gal; Best by 06 Jan 23; UPC 4122048399) due to undeclared wheat.

Food Safety Recall: Rachael’s Food Corporation recalls approximately 2,246 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry wrap products due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Super C (Beloeil, QC) recalls  BŒUF HACHÉ MAIGRE and BŒUF HACHÉ MI-MAIGRE / Ground beef, lean and Ground beef, semi-lean (Pack date 26.JL.2022) due to possible foreign matter contamination (pieces of metal).

Europe

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE (Denmark): The Statens Serum Institut is investigating 18 reports of Salmonella Enteritidis infections received between 31 March 2022 and 15 July 2022. The source of the outbreak has not yet been identified.

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Albert Heijn recalls Albert Heijn brand empanadas pulled pork (Best before 13-08-2022) due to undeclared milk and eggs.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Albert Heijn recalls AH brand Tapas Empanadas pulled pork (Best before 13-08-2022) due to undeclared milk and eggs.

Food Safety Recall (France): SODIPORC recalls MAITRE COCHON brand GRILLON CHARENTAIS (180g; Lot 22140140; Use by 01/06/ 2025) due to foreign matter contamination (glass).

Food Safety Recall (France): ETABLISSEMENT PUBLIC LOCAL D’ENSEIGNEMENT ET DE FORMATION PROFESSIONNELLE AGRICOLES DU VALENTIN exploitation agricole – EPLEFPA LE VALENTIN recalls Le Valentin brand Lait cru bio / Organic raw milk (All lots) due to Salmonella contamination.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Food Safety Recall Update (Israel): Telefrost recalls frozen broccoli florets (1 kg; Expiration date 01/01/2024) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (New Zealand): Gluten Free Holdings Ltd recalls Pavillion brand 2 Beef & Gravy Pies (360g; Lot 16797; Date code 13 SEP 23) due to undeclared milk.