Tag: Salmonella

OUTBREAK UPDATE: Salmonella infections across Ontario linked to alfalfa sprouts

Alfalfa sprouts produced by Sunsprout Natural Foods of Brantford, Ontario have caused 37 people to be infected with Salmonella, according to a spokesperson with Ontario’s Ministry of Health.

Infections have been reported from 19 of Ontario’s 34 public health units, and the cases are scattered across the province.

Four people have been hospitalized.

Sunsprout has initiated a series of recalls since August 11th. The following recalled products were distributed only in Ontario:

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is verifying that industry is removing the recalled products from the marketplace.

Ontarians are encouraged to refer to the recall notice posted on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website and follow the advice provided.

a. Ontarians are reminded to check their fridges and freezers for the recalled product and if any is found, it is recommended that it be thrown out right away

b. Individuals are encouraged to visit Health Canada’s Food Safety and You website for additional resources/tips on food safety and safe food handling, particularly individuals at high risk for serious health effects from foodborne illness (young children, seniors, or people with weak immune systems)

c. It is important for Ontarians to remember, even when not eating out regularly, foods purchased and brought into the home can be contaminated and cause illness

i.    All fruits and vegetables should be washed

ii.   Clean counters and cutting boards

iii.  Keeping cold foods cold and hot foods hot

iv.   Cook foods to appropriate internal temperature

v.    Reduce cross contamination by keeping raw foods separate from ready to eat foods and foods that have already been washed and heated, washing hands regularly and cleaning food contact surfaces between use.

OUTBREAK ALERT: Salmonella illnesses linked to dried wood ear mushrooms

Forty-one people in 10 states have been infected with Salmonella Stanley after consuming imported dried wood ear mushrooms, according to a report just released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Four of the victims have been admitted to hospital.

Wood ear mushrooms are dried mushrooms, also commonly labelled or referred to as Kikurage, Dried Black Fungus, Dried Fungus, or Mu’er/Mu Er/Mu-Err, according to the Outbreak Investigation notice posted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Illnesses have been reported in Arizona (1), California (25), Connecticut (1), Georgia (1), Illinois (5), Louisiana (1), New Jersey (2), New York City (1), Pennsylvania (2), and Wisconsin (2).

As of now, there have been no illnesses reported in Canada.

The mushrooms implicated in this outbreak were imported by Wismettac Asian Foods, Inc. of Santa Fe Springs, CA and sold to restaurants in 32 states and at least 3 Canadian provinces. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has released a list of restaurants that were supplied with the suspect mushrooms.

CDPH has recovered Salmonella from a sample of the mushrooms obtained from one of the restaurants where outbreak victims from that state reported eating. The genetic sequence of the Salmonella is being analyzed in order to determine whether it is a match for the outbreak strain recovered from patients.

Wismettac Asian Foods has already initiated a recall of the implicated mushrooms in both the US and Canada.

Restaurants in the US should not prepare or serve the following product:

Shirakiku brand imported Dried Fungus (also known as Black Fungus or Kikurage), 5-lb bags:- UPC 00074410604035; All Lots with Item #60403 on the package; Product of China

Restaurants, hotels and institutions in Canada should not prepare or serve the following product:

Shirakiku brand Black Fungus (Kikurage), 2.27 kg:- UPC 0 74410 60403 5; All codes sold up to and including September 24, 2020; Product of China.

What consumers should know

Symptoms of Salmonella infections can include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, beginning from 6 hours to 6 days after being exposed to the bacteria, and typically lasting from 4 to 7 days. Children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are susceptible to experiencing more severe illness and, in some cases, may require hospital treatment.

Consumers in the US and Canada are urged to take the following actions if they begin to experience symptoms of Salmonella infection:

  • Talk to your healthcare provider.
  • Write down what you ate in the week before you started to get sick.
  • Report your illness to the health department.
  • Assist public health investigators by answering questions about your illness.

 

 

Recalls and Alerts: September 20 – 23, 2020

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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United States

Allergy Alert: GHSW, LLC recalls Trader Joe’s Southwest Style Sweet Potato Sauté Bowl (21.5 oz; Best by 09/23/20, 09/24/20, 09/25/20, 09/26/20, and 09/28/20) due to undeclared milk and egg.

Allergy Alert: Homestead Creamery recalls Homestead Creamery chocolate ice cream (1 qt; Expiry date 5/13/2021) due to undeclared pecans.

Food Safety Recall: Wismettac Asian Foods, Inc. recalls Shirakiku brand imported Dried Fungus, also known as Black Fungus or Kikurage (5 lb; All Lots with Item #60403 on the package; UPC 00074410604035) due to potential Salmonella contamination.

Pet Food Safety Recall: Real Pet Food Company recalls Billy+Margot Wild Kangaroo and Superfoods Recipe (4 lb bags; Lot code V 07 Feb 2022) due to Salmonella contamination.

Canada

OUTBREAK ALERT (ONTARIO): Public Health Ontario is investigating an outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to alfalfa sprouts produced by Sunsprout Natural Foods. No details of the outbreak have been released. Please refer to the recall notices listed below.

Food Safety Recall: Kiosque La Vieille Cave recalls Pesto au basilic / basil pesto (110 ml & 250 ml; All product sold up to and including 21 September 2020) due to unsafe production and packaging conditions.

Food Safety Recall: Evergreen International Foodstuffs Ltd. recalls Evergreen International Foodstuffs Ltd. brand Manila clams (25 lb; Lot #21057; Harvested Sep 16, 2020; Processed Sep 17, 2020; Harvest location B.C. 17-20) due to possible presence of a marine biotoxin which causes Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning.

Food Safety Recall Update: Sunsprout Natural Foods recalls Sprouts Alive brand Micro – Greens Alfalfa (100g; UPC 0 69022 10030 3; All Best before dates up to and including BBOCT13) and Sunsprout brand Micro – Greens Alfalfa (100g; UPC 0 57621 13511 6; All Best before dates up to and including BBOCT13) due to potential Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Update): Sunsprout Natural Foods recalls Sunsprout brand Micro – Greens Alfalfa & Onion (100g; UPC 0 57621 13516 1; All best before dates up to and including BBOCT05) and Sunsprout brand Micro – Greens Alfalfa & Radish (100g; UPC 0 57621 13512 3; All best before dates up to and including BBOCT05)) due to potential Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall: Les Vergers Hillspring recalls Saumon fumé érable et rhum / Maple and rum-smoked salmon (variable weights; product sold up to and including 22 September 2020) because of improper storage temperature and lack of correct storage temperature labeling.

Europe

Allergy Alert (Belgium): Delhaize recalls Delhaize brand Pain de viande de poulet à la Flamande / Chicken meat loaf (Lot #892476; Best before 24/09/2020) due to undeclared wheat (gluten).

Allergy Alert (Finland): HKScan Finland Oy recalls HK Thaimaalainen Kanacurry / Thai Kana curry, ready-to-eat meal (290g; Lot #7409; Best before 23.9., 29.9., 30.9., 5.10., 8.10) due to undeclared raw carrots and peppers.

Allergy Alert (Ireland): Stockley’s recalls Stockley’s Fruit Sherbets (250g; Batch code 02555; Best before February 2022 and March 2022) due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert (Luxembourg): Delhaize recalls Delhaize brand Pain de viande de poulet à la Flamande / Chicken meat loaf (Lot #892476; Best before 24/09/2020) due to undeclared wheat (gluten).

Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Zwanenberg Food Group recalls KIPS Vega Paté (125 gram; Expiry date 19-11-2020) due to undeclared soy.

Allergy Alert (UK): Stockley’s recalls Stockley’s Fruit Sherbets (250g; Batch code 0255; Best before February 2022 and March 2022) due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert (UK): Worthenshaws Ltd recalls Kirsty’s Classic Beef Lasagne (250g; All Use by dates between 2 September to 19 October 2020) due to undeclared oats.

Food Safety Recall Update (Belgium): Eurokip recalls Kok O’Rell brand VIANDE VOLAILLE HACHÉE ASSAISONNÉE / Seasoned ground poultry meat (500g; Lot #134110; Best by 23/09/2020) and Quality Fresh Meat brand HACHE DE POULET / Ground chicken (500g; Lot #02038260; Best by 24/09/2020) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Picard recalls Picard brand Framboises entières surgelées / Whole frozen raspberries (1 kg; Lot #EC072-1-20; Best before end 12/2021) due to Norovirus contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Netto recalls NETTO brand Haché bolognaise Tendre & Moelleux / Tender and soft ground meat (400g; Lot 102590044; Best before 23/09/2020) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Intermarché recalls Jean Rozé brand Tendre & Moelleux bolognaise / Tender and soft ground meat (400g; Lot 102590044; Best before 23/09/2020) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): La Société CASTELLI FRANCE SA recalls Castelli France brand Gorgonzola AOP cheese (150g; Lot #P231005; Best before 02/10/2020; Product of Italy) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): La Société CASTELLI FRANCE SA recalls Auchan brand Gorgonzola cheese (150g; Lot  #P230003; Best before 01/10/2020; Product of Italy) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Cora recalls Cora brand Gorgonzola AOP cheese (150g; Lot #P 230005; Best before 01/10/2020; Product of Italy) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Picard recalls Picard brand Framboises entières surgelées / Whole frozen raspberries (1 kg; Lot #EC072-1-20; Best before end 12/2021) due to Norovirus contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Iceland): Industry recalls Holta, Kjörfugl and Króna chicken (whole birds, breasts, legs and pieces; Traceability number 001-20-33-1-02) due to potential Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Coastguard Seafoods recalls Coastguard Seafoods Smoked Salmon (Batch 208; Use by 31.09.2020) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall Update (Ireland): Faughan Foods recalls Glensallagh Roast Chicken Pieces (240g; Batch codes P3629 and P4629; Best before 02 October 2020) and Glensallagh Tikka Style Chicken Pieces (240g; Batch codes P3629 and P4629; Best before 02 October 2020) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Dunnes Stores recalls Dunnes Stores My Family Favourites Cooked Chicken Pieces (240g; All batch codes and Best before dates) and Dunnes Stores My Family Favourites Cooked Chicken Tikka Pieces (240g; All batch codes and Best before dates) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Italy): Polar Salmon Hjerting Lak A/S recalls Salmone Selvaggio Sockeye affumicato / Smoked sockeye salmon (100 g; Lot #19152282; Best before 16/10/2020) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Auchan recalls Auchan brand Gorgonzola cheese (150g; Lot  #P230003; Best before 01/10/2020; Product of Italy) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Romania): Carrefour Romania S.A. recalls CIOLAN DEZOSAT AFUMAT VID (Lots 3108-0 & 2108-1; Best before 05.10.2020 & 06.10.2020) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (UK – Northern Ireland): Dunnes Stores recalls Dunnes Stores My Family Favourites Cooked Chicken Pieces (240g; All batch codes and Best before dates) and Dunnes Stores My Family Favourites Cooked Chicken Tikka Pieces (240g; All batch codes and Best before dates) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall Update (UK – Northern Ireland): Faughan Foods recalls Glensallagh Roast Chicken Pieces (240g; Batch codes P3629 and P4629; Best before 02 October 2020) and Glensallagh Tikka Style Chicken Pieces (240g; Batch codes P3629 and P4629; Best before 02 October 2020) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Pak’n Save Manukau recalls Pams brand Sage and Onion Stuffed Hot Roast Chicken, Medium (Purchase date 19 September 2020) due to foreign matter (metal piece) contamination.