Tag: Salmonella

Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter ‘Likely Source’ of Salmonella Outbreak

Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter is a “likely source” of 29 cases of Salmonella Bredeney infections in 18 states, according to CDC. Four people have been hospitalized.

The earliest reported onset date was June 11, 2012; the most recent illness emerged on September 2nd. Most of the illnesses developed during July and August.

Illnesses that occurred after August 29, 2012 might not have been reported yet, due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the cause of the illness is confirmed and reported. Three-fourths (76%) of the confirmed outbreak victims are children under 18 years of age; nearly two-thirds are male.

CDC has not released a list of affected states; however, some of the states have issued their own Alerts. These include:

The link between this outbreak and the peanut butter is based on patient interviews. Fourteen out of fourteen outbreak victims who were interviewed reported shopping at Trader Joe’s across the USA; twelve of the 14 (86%) reported eating Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt in the week before becoming ill.

Although the outbreak strain has not yet been found in a sample of the implicated peanut butter, Trader Joe’s has removed all Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt (16-oz plastic jars; SKU #97111) from sale in its stores, and has recalled all code dates of the peanut butter. The product was sold in Trader Joe’s stores nationwide and over the internet.

CDC has issued the following Advice to Consumers, Retailers and Others:

Contaminated Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter may make people sick.

  • Based on available information, CDC recommends that consumers do not eat recalled Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt and dispose of any remaining jars of this peanut butter product in the home or return the jars to any Trader Joe’s grocery store.
    • This is especially important for children under the age of 5 years, older adults, and people with weak immune systems.
  • Persons who think they might have become ill from eating possibly contaminated Trader Joe’s peanut butter should consult their health care providers.
    • Symptoms include:
      • Diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection.
      • The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment.
      • See Signs and Symptoms for more information.

Contaminated Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter may still be in consumers’ homes or available for sale on the internet.

  • Consumers who recently purchased recalled Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt are advised not to eat it and dispose of any remaining jars of this peanut butter or return the jars to the any Trader Joe’s grocery store.
  • Trader Joe’s has encouraged consumers to return the product to any Trader Joe’s grocery store for a full refund.
  • Retailers and food service operators should not sell or serve recalled Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt.
  • This product may still be available for sale from internet retailers.

What to do if you have Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter in your home:

  • Dispose of the product immediately or return it to any Trader Joe’s grocery store.
  • Even if some of the peanut butter has been eaten without anyone becoming ill, the rest of the peanut butter should be disposed of or returned.
  • If consumers choose to discard Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt, the product should be disposed of in a closed plastic bag and placed in a sealed trash can. This will prevent people or animals from eating it.

Recalls and Alerts: September 22, 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

  • Allergy Alert: Makowski’s Real Sausage Co. (Chicago, IL) recalls Real Sausage Co. Cooked White Bratwurst 4-1 and Real Sausage Co. Cooked White Bratwurst 3-1 (10 lb pkgs; Est 68744; Julian dates 17812, 18812, 25112, 25712 or 26512), because the product contains undeclared milk. The recalled sausage products were manufactured on June 25, July 5, Sept 6, Sept 12 and Sept 20, 2012 and shipped to foodservice distributors for hotel, restaurant and other institutional use throughout Illinois.
  • Food Safety Recall: Fresh Express Incorporated recalls Leafy Green Romaine Salad (9 oz pkg; Use-by date September 16; Product code I246A5BMG), after Listeria monocytogenes was found by USDA as part of a random sampling testing program. The recalled product was distributed primarily in the Midwest and Eastern states.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Kasel Associated Industries (Denver, CO) recalls Boots & Barkley American Beef 5-inch Bully Sticks (6 ct in clear plastic bag; UPC 647263899189; ALL LOT CODES), after the Colorado Department of Agriculture found Salmonella in the following four lots: BESTBY20APR2014DEN, BESTBY01JUN2014DEN, BESTBY23JUN2014DEN, and BESTBY23SEP2014DEN. Production and distribution has been suspended while FDA and the company investigate the source of the contamination. The recalled product was sold from April through September 2012 at Target stores across the USA.
  • Food Safety Recall: Safeway recalls Ground Beef Products (Sell by dates of 09-07-12 to 09-23-12) sold in Oregon, Washington and Montana, because the products include trimmings from beef that was the subject of XL Food Inc.’s recall and may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Please consult the Canada/USA Ground Beef Recall page for a complete list of recalled products, including retail distribution information.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert: Trader Joe’s recalls Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter (16 oz plastic jar; SKU 97111; All code dates), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. CDC reports 29 cases of Salmonella Bredeney infections in 18 states, including 4 people who were hospitalized. Fourteen out of the 14 case patients who were interviewed reported having shopped at Trader Joe’s locations; 12 of the 14 reported eating Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt in the week before becoming ill. The investigation is continuing. The peanut butter is sold at Trader Joe’s stores nationwide and on the internet.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall Update: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has expanded its Health Hazard Alert regarding ground beef products containing meat from XL Foods to include additional products and retailers. The ground beef products encompassed by the Alert may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Please refer to the Canada/USA Ground Beef Recall page for a current list of recalled products, including retail distribution.

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.

Recalls and Alerts: September 20, 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: GHSW, LLC (Houston, TX) recalls expired products that contain cut mangoes sourced by Food Source from Agricola Daniella (Code dates from 9/7/12 to 9/15/12), because the mangoes may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled products were shipped to retail distribution centers August 29 – September 5, 2012, and sold through retailers in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas under the Garden Highway and Signature Café brands, and as generic products. Please refer to the Salmonella Braenderup – Mango tab for a list of recalled products and retail distribution information.
  • Food Safety Alert: Forever Cheese has decided to stop importing and selling all products manufactured by Fattorie Chiarappa Srl (Conversano, Italy), effective immediately, including Ricotta Salata Frescolina, Marte brand Roasted Ricotta and Hard Ricotta Salata. Forever Cheese has taken the action due to possible contamination of Marte brand Frescolina Ricotta Salata cheese with Listeria monocytogenes. Fattorie Chiarappa Srl was placed on Import Alert by FDA on September 13, 2012.
  • Food Safety Recall: Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. Inc. recalls fresh-cut mangoes (32-oz clear plastic bowls; Best by 9/18/12 and 9/22/12; lot codes 05252101 and 03256100, respectively), because the product contains mangoes from Agricola Daniella and may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product was distributed to retailers in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee and Washington.
  • Outbreak Alert: CDC reports that a total of 196 persons in 31 states have been infected with Salmonella Sandiego, Salmonella Pomona and Salmonella Poona since August 3, 2011 as a result of exposure to small pet turtles or their environments.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: The Poultry Place (Saint Jacobs, ON) recalls Krispy Chicken Wings (2 lb; Best before up to and including 13MR11), due to the presence of undeclared egg, and Marinated Chicken Wings (2 lb & 3 lb; Best before up to and including 13MR11), due to the presence of undeclared wheat. The recalled products were distributed in Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall: XL Foods expands its earlier recall of ground beef products to include additional products supplied to Sobeys/IGA, Presto, Club Entrepot and CO-OP, because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Please refer to the Canada/USA Ground Beef Recall tab for a detailed list of recalled products and affected retailers.

Europe

Australia and New Zealand

  • Allergy Alert (New Zealand): Blue River Dairy LP recalls Milk Maid’s Vanilla Sheep Milk Ice-Cream (850ml tubs) after discovering that the product has been incorrectly labeled. The label states that the product is Allergy Tolerant, Lactose & Dairy Friendly, which could be incorrectly interpreted to mean that the product is lactose and dairy free.

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.