Recalls and Alerts: April 9-11, 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.

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

International recall of Ferrero’s Kinder chocolate products

Ferrero has expanded its international recall of Kinder Surprise chocolate novelty products, linked to a multi-country outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium illnesses. Click on the country link to navigate to the most recent recall notice for that jurisdiction.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Global Reach Confections & More Inc. recalls Verstegen brand “Mix Voor Nasi & Bami Goreng” (30g; Batch code 1005943233; Expiry date 31-12-2024) due to Salmonella contamination.

Europe

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION (UK): The UK Health Security Agency is investigating a higher than usual number of cases of hepatitis in children in England. There are approximately 60 cases under investigation in children under 10 years of age. A similar investigation is underway in Scotland. In the cases under investigation the common viruses that cause hepatitis have not been detected.

Allergy Alert (Italy): Centro Latte Bressanone Soc. Agr. Coop. recalls Mozzarella Vivibene Selex Bocconcini “senza lattosio” / Lactose-free mozzarella (125g; Lots 94, 95 (03.05) – 96, 97 (05.05); Best before 03.05 and 05.05) due to undeclared lactose.

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Albert Heijn recalls AH Krenten rozijnbrood / Currant raisin bread (5 slices/pkg; Best before April 16, 2022) due to undeclared nuts, barley, oats and rye.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Smartmat NV recalls Foodbag One Meal Box Plat de riz avec bœuf mariné et poivron / rice dish with marinated beef and bell pepper (Use by 10/04/2022 and 11/04/2022) and Lanières de bœuf marinées à la thaïlandaise / Thai-style marinated beef strips (Lots 220404 and 220405; Use by 11/04/2022 and 12/04/2022) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): SA FROMAGERIE PIERRE JACQUIN ET FILS recalls JACQUIN brand Selles sur cher AOP Fermier cheese (Multiple lot codes and Best before dates) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Tesco recalls Tesco Free From Digestive Biscuits (160g; Best before end March 2023) due to possible foreign matter contamination (small pieces of metal).

Food Safety Recall (UK): Tesco recalls Tesco Free From Digestive Biscuits (160g; Best before end March 2023) due to possible foreign matter contamination (small pieces of metal).

Recalls and Alerts: April 7-8, 2022

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

Listen to an excerpt of the new audiobook edition right here

Chapter 6. Birth of a Pathogen

International recall of Ferrero’s Kinder chocolate products

United States

Allergy Alert: Tova Industries, LLC recalls Carbquik Mug Cake Double Chocolate Chunk (6 individual servings/pouch; Pouch lot #02212071B; Sell by July/26/2022; UPC 11283 14926 3) due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert: Van Law Food Products Inc recalls Whole Foods Market 365 Organic Creamy Caesar Dressing (12-oz bottles; Best by 11/17/22; UPC 99482-49028) due to undeclared soy and wheat.

Canada

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE: PHAC reports 328 cases of norovirus and gastrointestinal illness linked to consumption of British Columbia oysters as of April 8, 2022. Outbreak cases have been confirmed in British Columbia (293), Alberta (3), Saskatchewan (1), Manitoba (15) and Ontario (16).

Food Safety Recall: Épices Kay inc (Montréal, QC) recalls CHIKTAY (500 ml; Sold up to 6 April 2022) due to absence of mandatory storage temperature labeling.

Europe

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE (France): Santé Publique France reports 50 confirmed cases of haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) secondary to shigatoxin-producing E. coli infections linked to consumption of Buitoni Fraîch’Up frozen pizza. Forty-eight of the fifty HUS victims are children, two of whom have died. The two adult HUS patients are both more than 90 years of age. An additional 25 cases are under investigation.

Allergy Alert (Belgium): AFSCA orders recall of Marmara brand Kuru Kayisi dried apricots (Lot 340075314/1-11-247; Best before 30/09/2022) due to undeclared sulphites.

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Spar recalls Cordon-bleus au chorizo (Sold from 29/3/2022 to 4/4/2022, inclusive) due to undeclared gluten and soy.

Allergy Alert (Finland): Atria Suomi Oy recalls Atria Ateriasalaatti Kana-Texmex / Chicken salad (270g; Best before 15.4.2022) due to undeclared wheat.

Allergy Alert (France): SILVE INTERMARCHE recalls REGAIN BIO brand Graines toastées pour salade/ Toasted seeds for salad (120g; Lot No. beginning with 20222101; Best before 08/08/2022) due to undeclared sesame.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Albert Heijn recalls AH brand gourmetschotel / Gourmet dish (550g; Expiration dates 07/04/2022, 09/04/2022, 11/04/2022, 14/04/2022 & 16/04/2022) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): AFSCA orders recall of multiple VERSTEGEN brand spice products due to possible Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (France): FROMAGERIE DE LIVAROT recalls multiple brands and varieties of cheeses made from raw milk due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the Rappel Conso site for specifics.

Food Safety Recall (France): SILVE INTERMARCHE recalls Top Budget brand Sucre Morceaux / Sugar cubes (1 kg; Lot 0202 O 2 059 – time 0:00 à 23:59) due to possible foreign matter contamination (pieces of glass).

Food Safety Recall (France): MAURER TEMPE ALSACE recalls MAURER brand Jambon cru fumé d’alsace supérieur demi / Alsace superior raw, smoked ham (Lot 22059; Use by 13/06/2022) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Tesco recalls Tesco Free From Digestive Biscuits (160g; Best before end Mar 2023; Product of UK) due to possible foreign matter contamination (small metal pieces).

Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Albert Heijn recalls AH brand gourmetschotel / Gourmet dish (550g; Expiration dates 07/04/2022, 09/04/2022, 11/04/2022, 14/04/2022 & 16/04/2022) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Norway): Industry recalls Alburj Halwa, extra pistachio (400g; Best before 06/2022) and Alburj Halwa, pistachio (400g; Best before 04/2022) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Interdragon International Trading Co. Ltd and Asia Oriental Market Ltd recall XZL Milk Fruit Jelly School Bag (600g; Best before 1 September 2022 up to and including 30 September 2022) due to potential choking hazard.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (Australia): Coles Supermarkets Pty Ltd recalls Coles Organic Unsweetened Coconut Milk (1 L; Best before31/3/23) due to undeclaredd 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.