Allergy Alert: Dried Apricots Recalled in UK

December 31, 2008

The Health Store has recalled a batch of its own brand of Whole, Dried Apricots due to the presence of undeclared sulphites in the fruit, according to an Allergy Alert released by the UK Food Standards Agency.

The recalled The Health Store brand Whole, Dried Apricots are sold in 500g packages labeled with a Best before date of 13 June 2009 and Batch code 40 259.

While most individuals will not experience any adverse effects from eating this batch of apricots, people who are sensitive to sulphites may suffer severe – possibly life-threatening – allergy-like symptoms after consuming even a small quantity of the recalled apricots.

Consumers who purchased Batch code 40 259 of the Whole, Dried Apricots should check with the store for instructions.

Chicken Jerky Dog Treats: The Latest Word From FDA

December 30, 2008

As we wrote earlier this month, there appears to be a connection between kidney failure in dogs and consumption of chicken jerky dog treats made in China. The problem has been reported in Australia, where one brand of treats already has been recalled by The Kramar Pet Company as a precaution. The Kramar treats had been manufactured in China.

The US investigation into this mysterious kidney ailment has been in progress for more than a year. FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine issued a warning to consumers in 2007, and repeated the advisory earlier this month – shortly after the Australian recall was announced.

FDA posted a Consumer Update on its website on December 24th, entitled Caution to Dog Owners About Chicken Jerky Products. This update summarized the information contained in the agency's earlier 2007 and 2008 warnings, but provided no new information. Our curiosity was piqued, and we e-mailed the Center for Veterinary Medicine to ask some direct questions on the status and progress of the FDA investigation.

Earlier today, we received the following statement from FDA spokeswoman, Laura Alvey:

"FDA is actively investigating the matter and conducting analysis for multiple different chemical and microbiological contaminants. We have tested numerous samples of chicken jerky products for possible contaminants including melamine. 

The complaints received have been on various chicken jerky products but to date we have not detected any contaminants and therefore have not issued a recall or implicated any products. We are continuing to test and will notify the public if we find evidence of any contaminants."

What should we conclude from this statement?

• The problem is not linked to a single manufacturer or importer of chicken jerky dog treats.
  
• The problem is chronic and long-standing – not of short duration.
  
• The contaminant still has not been identified, but is probably NOT melamine.
  
• FDA is taking this problem seriously, and has not put it on the back-burner.
  

As for any possible recalls, FDA's hands are tied – understandably so. Before requesting a recall, the agency must have evidence that links a specific product and/or contaminant to the problem. Until FDA is able to pinpoint the source of the problem, it can do no more than issue generalized warnings to consumers – at it has done twice this month.

Until this mystery is solved, consumers can take certain actions to protect their dogs:

• Pay attention to the country of origin when purchasing dog treats.
  
• Only offer treats in very small quantities, and not as a substitute for a meal.
  
• Watch closely for any unusual behavior or symptoms.
  
• Report any adverse reactions to pet foods or treats to FDA.

We'll continue to watch for, and report, any new developments 

The Great Eggnog Debate - Round Two

December 29, 2008

Hidden amid the great holiday controversies – whose family to visit first, whether to make ham or turkey for Christmas dinner, should potato latkes be eaten with sour cream or apple sauce – is the annual debate over the safety of homemade eggnog.

At last, there is an answer – sort of.

We talked about this last year. USDA estimates that approximately one egg in 20,000 contains Salmonella, and recommends that consumers use pasteurized eggs in recipes that call for eggs and have no final cooking step. "But," several people asked us, "doesn't the alcohol in the eggnog kill all the Salmonella?"

This year, National Public Radio asked that question of a researcher at The Rockefeller University. Dr. Fischetti obliged NPR by whipping up a batch of homemade eggnog (with alcohol) and comparing its bacterial counts against the store-bought variety. He found that the eggnog made with raw eggs and 20% rum and bourbon contained far fewer bacteria than the alcohol-free store-bought eggnog.

Next, Dr. Fischetti upped the ante by adding Salmonella to the homemade eggnog, holding the concoction – presumably in the refrigerator – for 24 hours, and then checking for survivors. He found that at least some of the Salmonella survived. 

In commenting on this result, Dr. Fischetti pointed out that his lab spiked the eggnog with roughly 1,000 times as many Salmonella as was likely to be found in a contaminated egg. He added that more experiments would be needed to obtain a definitive answer.

As so often happens with a "quick-and-dirty" lab experiment, more questions were generated by this report than answers. For example,

• How much alcohol was in the eggnog?  Rum and bourbon vary in their alcohol content, and the disinfecting action of alcohol is concentration-dependent.
  
• How much of the Salmonella was killed? 10%? 50%? 90%?
  
• How was the Salmonella measured in the eggnog? – Lab methods vary greatly in their sensitivity.
  

Until someone decides to fund a more elaborate set of lab experiments, the safest bet still is to use pasteurized eggs in your homemade eggnog, and give Salmonella a holiday.

Chile's Other Food-Borne Disease Outbreak

December 27, 2008

While most of the attention is focused on Chile's cheese-related outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes, health investigators are also working to contain another – completely unrelated – outbreak, linked to consumption of raw or undercooked seafood.

In just two weeks, from December 8th to the 21st, Chile's Ministry of Health has received reports of 493 cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus gastroenteritis – 399 of them in the week of December 15th, alone. Most of the illnesses were clustered in just three regions, Maule (218), Bio Bio (137) and Los Lagos (118).

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a salt-loving bacterium that grows best in warm ocean waters, such as are found along the coastlines during summer months. The microbe dies off quickly when refrigerated or frozen, and also is killed readily by cooking. It finds its victims among those who enjoy raw or nearly raw shellfish.

Gastroenteritis outbreaks caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus are an annual summer event Chile, in spite of the Ministry of Health's efforts to educate the public about the hazards of consuming raw shellfish. The pathogen caused nearly 11,000 cases of gastroenteritis in the summer of 2004/05, 3,651 cases in 2005/06, 1,008 in 2006/07 and 3,643 cases in 2007/08.

Fortunately, Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections usually result in a relatively mild gastroenteritis. Of the most recent 493 victims, only two required hospitalization. Symptoms may include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headache, fever and chills, lasting just a few days.

The pathogen is not unique to Chile. Vibrio parahaemolyticus can be found in warm coastal waters in many parts of the world. It has long been a major cause of gastroenteritis in Japan, where raw and minimally cooked seafood is a dietary mainstay. Coastal regions of the United States also have a history of Vibrio parahaemolyticus outbreaks.

Minimizing the risk of being struck down by Vibrio parahaemolyticus gastroenteritis is simple. All that's needed is to forego raw seafood.

Cholera in Zimbabwe and Beyond: The Perfect Storm

December 26, 2008

According to the latest report from the World Health Organization, the current cholera epidemic has killed 1,518 Zimbabwean victims. As of December 25th, 26,497 confirmed cases of cholera have been recorded, with more to come. And these numbers already are out of date.

While international aid agencies appeal – successfully – for money and supplies to fight the epidemic, Mugabe continues to resist the international community's attempts to assist victims. According to Zimbabwe's president, the cholera epidemic is a plot hatched by the United Kingdom to overthrow the government.

As we've reported previously, the Zimbabwe epidemic has spilled into neighboring countries, especially South Africa. Botswana and Zambia are on alert for cholera flare-ups, while Zimbabwe's remaining neighbor – Mozambique – is struggling to contain its own outbreak, which has claimed 31 lives (out of 1,585 confirmed cases) so far.

Africa's cholera problems, unfortunately, extend well beyond Zimbabwe and its immediate neighbors. Look for poverty, war, and natural disasters, and you will find cholera. In addition to Zimbabwe and Mozambique, WHO's cholera "hot spots" include Angola (10,186 cases and 232 deaths), Democratic Republic of Congo (357 new cases and 1 death in a two week period), Ethiopia (3,804 cases of "acute watery diarrhea", with 23 deaths) and Kenya (1,400+ cases and 13 deaths).

Other African countries that have been – or are still – battling cholera outbreaks include Guinea Bissau (14, 201 cases and 224 deaths), Namibia (29 cases and 3 deaths), Togo (100 cases and 1 death), Uganda (66 cases in a camp set up to house Congolese refugees), Nigeria (10 deaths) and Malawi (30+ victims and at least 8 deaths).

A seasonal disease, cholera's appearances often coincide with the rainy season. During dry periods, it lingers in the background, causing occasional illnesses in places such as the Philippines and India, where a young visitor from Hong Kong recently became infected.

Zimbabwe's rainy season extends from November to March. The UN estimates that more than 5 million of its residents are in need of food aid. 

No sanitation, no food, a dysfunctional government, and a cholera epidemic – all with the rainy season just beginning. A perfect recipe for a perfect storm.

Smoked Salmon Mousse Recalled in Québec

December 25, 2008

The Québec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) advised consumers yesterday that several production batches of MOUSSE AU SAUMON FUMÉ SUMMERSWEET (Summersweet brand Smoked Salmon Mousse) was recalled by the producer after E. coli was detected in the product. 

The recalled smoked salmon mousse was produced and sold at La Petite Grange enr. (415, chemin Larocque, Salaberry-de Valleyfield, QC). All production batches labeled as having been packaged between December 9 and December 21, inclusive are covered by this recall.

E. coli is a normal inhabitant of the intestinal tracts of many animal species – including humans. While most strains are not hazardous to health, the presence of E. coli in a ready-to-eat food is viewed as an indicator of fecal contamination. And some strains of this species – notably, E. coli O157:H7 – can be especially hazardous to children and the elderly.

Due to the implications associated with E. coli contamination, consumers are advised not to eat the recalled product. Instead, it should be either discarded or returned to the store for a refund.

Sausage From "Show-Me" State Recalled

December 25, 2008

T. Piekutowski European Style Sausage (St. Louis, MO) has recalled approximately 750 pounds of sausage products after learning that USDA detected Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of the sausage as part of a routine monitoring program.

The recalled Krakow sausage products were produced on December 18 and sold at T. Piekutowski's retail counter in St. Louis on December 18 and 19. The sausage was wrapped in unmarked butcher paper at the time of sale. 

There have been no illnesses reported. Nevertheless, Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious – sometimes fatal – illness in susceptible individuals, including the elderly, pregnant women, young children and people with weakened immune systems.

Consumers who purchased the recalled sausage should return it to the retail counter for a refund. For more information about this recall, contact the Owner-Operator, Ted Piekutowski, at (314) 534-6256.

Allergy Alert: Fish Cake Sushi

December 24, 2008

KRC Food Trading Inc. (Los Angeles, CA) has recalled two production batches of Fish Cake Sushi due to the presence of undeclared eggs in the product.

The sushi, which was produced on December 19th and December 22nd, was distributed in coffee shops, bakeries, and Korean markets in Los Angeles, and in two retail stores owned by KRC.

Individuals who are allergic to egg may experience a severe – possibly life-threatening – allergic reaction after eating the Fish Cake Sushi. Consumers who purchased the item should either discard it or return it to the store for a refund.

For more information about this recall, contact Ms. Joanna Kim of KRC at 1-213-388-8215, between the hours of 7:00 am and 7:00 pm, PST.

Wisconsin Producer Recalls Salmonella-Contaminated Sprouts

December 23, 2008

Sunrise Farms, Inc. (Neenah, WI) has recalled alfalfa sprouts and certain sprout mixes after the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection detected Salmonella in a sample of the Company's alfalfa sprouts.

The recall includes 4-ounce packages of Sunrise Farms brand Alfalfa Sprouts, Spicy Sprouts, Crunchy Sprouts and Onion Sprouts. These items were sold in retail grocery stores in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Other varieties of Sunrise Farms sprouts are unaffected by the recall.

Sunrise is asking customers to discard any recalled sprouts that they may still have on hand, and to submit their purchase receipt for a credit.

Sporadic contamination of sprouts by Salmonella and E. coli is an ongoing problem in the industry, and one that can be difficult to avoid completely. According to information posted on its web site, Sunrise maintains a comprehensive food safety program, including: screening of batches of seeds for sprouting, a seed sanitation program, HACCP and Good Manufacturing Practices programs, and third-party audit, verification and testing. Nevertheless, Salmonella managed to find its way into a batch of sprouts.

Infections caused by Salmonella produce symptoms of gastroenteritis – diarrhea, stomach pains, a low-grade fever, and – less often – nausea and vomiting. Salmonella infections usually are self-limiting; however, young children and the elderly may suffer severe dehydration as a result of gastroenteritis, requiring fluid and electrolyte replacement. In rare cases, an infection with Salmonella will lead to the development of a chronic arthritis condition, such as Reiter's Syndrome (a form of arthritis). 

Chile's Listeria Outbreak(s)

December 22, 2008

Chile, with a population of approximately 16.5 million, has recorded 138 lab-confirmed cases of listeriosis so far this year, including 5 deaths.

Fifty-six of the victims were infected with a single outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes. That same strain was recovered from samples of Brie Lescure cheese obtained from the refrigerators of two patients.

Chilean government investigators visited the manufacturing facility and reported on December 1st having recovered the outbreak strain from 24 cheese samples. The government immediately prohibited the distribution and sale of all dairy products made at the facility, including all varieties of Chevrita, Las Pircas and Lescure brands of Brie and Camembert cheeses.

Investigations are continuing into the origin of the contamination. Milk used in the production of the cheeses apparently has been ruled out as the source of the Listeria monocytogenes. Suspicion is falling on environmental contamination in the production facility.

The demographics of this outbreak are somewhat different from the recent major outbreak in Canada. The Canadian list of victims was skewed toward the elderly – much of the meat that was the source of the pathogen was distributed to nursing homes and seniors residents. The hardest-hit demographic group – 43% of the victims – in Chile consists of pregnant women. Not surprisingly, there are also a number of newborns and young infants who have been infected – 15% of the outbreak victims.

While the source of this present outbreak seems to have been identified, officials are still puzzling over the unusually large number of confirmed cases of listeriosis reported so far this year – more than five times as many as in either 2006 or 2007. 

The attorney for Chevrita, the manufacturer of the contaminated cheese, was quick to point out that the additional cases are, in his opinion, a clear indication that the problem of Listeria monocytogenes contamination is industry-wide and not specific to his client's production facility. 

Now that the implicated cheese is off the market, the number of new outbreak-related cases should start to diminish. But the long incubation period associated with Listeria monocytogenes means that it will be a couple of months before the Chilean Ministry of Health will be able to close the books on this outbreak.

The China Syndrome: International Recalls and Alerts

Updated December 22, 2008

As a convenience to readers, we have developed a list of international melamine-related recalls and alerts on milk products from China. 

The information is organized alphabetically by country or entity (e.g., European Union). We'll be adding to the list as we find additional items. Please check back.

Argentina

On October 2nd, Argentina banned the sale of 48 milk-containing products from China, including items such as White Rabbit candies and Lotte Koala biscuits. The government issued a warning to consumers to avoid the products, and instructed retailers to remove them from store shelves. 

Australia

Food Standards Australia advises that Australia does not import infant formula products from China. FSA also has confirmed that no dairy products have been imported from China since April 2007. The government is warning caregivers to not use any infant formula from China that may have been imported into Australia by travelers returning from a visit to that country.

Seven food items made in China have now been withdrawn from sale in Australia due to the presence of melamine traces. They include White Rabbit candies, Cadbury chocolate eclairs, Lotte Koala biscuits, Kirin milk tea, Orion Tiramisu Italian Cake, Dali Yuan brand First Milk (vanilla flavour), Boxer Lovers Body Pen Set (body paint), Munchy's Mini Crackers Cheese Cream, Danco Waffles, Four Seas Premium Cake (3 flavours), and Mengniu Monmilk (two flavours). In addition, a consumer-level recall notice has been issued by the Australian government for Kirin milk tea.

Brazil

The country has banned all Chinese food imports indefinitely. 

Brunei

The Brunei Darussalam Ministry of Health has issued a full recall of milk products from China. Stores have been instructed to removed the products from their shelves. Consumers who purchased the Chinese milk products have been asked to turn the items over to the store, to the importer, or to the ministry of health. Brunei also has initiated a ban on the importation of dairy products from China.

Burundi

Burundi has banned the sale of all milk products from China. The two Chinese companies that sell milk products to Burundi both have been implicated in the melamine contamination scandal.

Canada

Six melamine-related recalls have been announced: Nissin Cha Cha Dessert (a dairy-based product that contains Yili milk), Mr. Brown 3-in-1 instant coffee (a non-dairy product in which New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore government labs found melamine), White Rabbit candies, Lotte brand March Koala cookies, OK OK Kaiser brand pretzels

and Mengniu strawberry flavour sour milk beverage.

CFIA also has conducted a retail survey of 300 stores across Canada and has not found any infant formula imported from China. The agency continues to warn Canadians against purchasing Chinese-manufactured infant formula over the Internet. In addition, Canada has established an enhanced Border Lookout for products containing milk ingredients from China.

The Canadian government has extended its Border Lookout to include dairy ingredients and soybean meal from China intended for use as animal feed. Importers will be required to provide the CFIA, at the time of importation, with test results from an accredited Canadian laboratory to prove that the imported material does not contain detectable levels of melamine or cyanuric acid. The new policy specifies the lab methods that are to be used. Importers who do not meet this requirement will have their products detained at the border pending CFIA testing. 

Chile

The Chilean government issued a "do not consume" warning on milk products imported from China in late September and seized some products pending a more complete investigation. 

European Union

The EU imposed a ban on milk products from China in 2002. Nevertheless, the EU Commission has asked the EU Food Safety Authority to assess the risk to residents of EU member countries. The possibility exists that some milk products might have been used in the manufacture of biscuits or other food products, or that small amounts of milk products might have been imported privately from China (e.g., by returning travelers). EU member states have been asked to test all foods imported from China that contain more than 15% milk. 

The EU instituted a partial ban on soya-based food products from China after a French company reported finding melamine in a shipment of "organic" soymeal (see below). The importation from China of soy-based foods meant for infants and young children has been banned unconditionally. All other soya-containing products from China will require testing at the time of import. Melamine testing also has been instituted on shipments of ammonium bicarbonate intended for food and feed, and on food and feed that contains soy or soya-products from China. NEW Dec 22

 

The Czech Republic has ordered its public health officers to visit Asian restaurants throughout the country in order to ensure that they are not serving milk from China, or other products that may contain a dairy ingredient from China. 

France – a member of the EU – has taken its own precautions by carrying out retail market checks, especially in Asian ethnic markets. It has taken the additional precaution of requiring that any food product containing a dairy ingredient that originated in China should be withdrawn from the market. France has found White Rabbit candies and Koala biscuits in retail stores and has ordered these items recalled, as they contain in excess of 2.5 ppm melamine. Terrena, a French farming co-op, reported that it had found 75 ppm of melamine in a shipment of 293 metric tonnes of "organic" soymeal that it had imported from China. The soymeal was used to produce feed for organic poultry. Tests carried out on the poultry that were fed the melamine-contaminated feed did not detect any melamine in the flesh of the birds.

The Netherlands reports having detected melamine in Koala brand cookies and has ordered the products be removed from store shelves. Based on the Netherlands findings, the UK Food Standards Agency has announced that all date codes of four Koala varieties have been withdrawn from sale.

The UK, also a member of the European Union, has issued a news release assuring its citizens that none of the affected milk products were imported into the country, and that the Food Standards Agency is actively monitoring the situation. The Tesco supermarket chain in the UK has removed White Rabbit Creamy Candies from its stores. 

The UK Food Standards Agency also has alerted consumers to the withdrawal of several imported "novelty" items from retail sale, due to melamine contamination, including three chocolate items, four edible "body spread" items, and other miscellaneous confectionery products. 

The UK has consolidated all of its melamine alert information onto a single web page, which is updated regularly.

Gabon

This African country has banned the importation of milk products from China.

Hong Kong

A complete ban on melamine in foods has been announced and will be "gazetted" today. In order to allow for accidental trace migration of melamine into foodstuffs, Hong Kong has set limits of 1 ppm (1 mg/Kg) for foods intended for children under 36 months, and for lactating or pregnant women. The maximum level of melamine permitted in all other foods will be 2.5 ppm (2.5 mg/Kg). The new law puts the onus on industry to ensure that no melamine has been added to foods, and sets penalties of 6 months in jail and a $50,000 fine for transgressors.

Hong Kong has been systematically screening dairy imports from mainland China for melamine and has posted detailed results – including levels of melamine detected – daily. Two new items – Heinz DHA+AA Vegetable Formula Cereal and Silang House of Steamed Potato Wasabi Crackers – were added to the list of melamine-contaminated foods on September 26th.

The Centre for Food Safety has detected 16 ppm of melamine in a 454g package of White Rabbit Creamy Candies with an expiry date of November 20, 2009, and has instructed retailers to stop selling the products. 

The Centre for Food Safety has detected melamine in three different flavors of Lotte Koala biscuits. The agency has advised stores to withdraw the products, and the importer of this made-in-China biscuit has initiated a recall. 

The Centre for Food Safety has announced a recall of Lipton milk tea powders after Unilever's internal tests detected melamine. 

The Centre for Food Safety has found melamine at a level of 8.5 ppm in a sample of EDO Pack Almond Cacao Biscuit Sticks. CFS has requested retailers to stop carrying the product and has asked the agent to withdraw it.

The Centre for Food Safety has found melamine at a level of 12ppm in a sample of muscat flavor Doraemon Chocolate Gummy, and has requested that the product be withdrawn from the market. The sample was drawn from a 50g package with an expire date of August 19, 2009.

The Centre for Food Safety has found excessive melamine levels in two varieties of Munchy's Mini Crackers and in a sample of  strawberry flavour cream malt biscuits. All three items were imported from the Chinese mainland, and have been withdrawn from sale.

The Centre for Food Safety has found excessive melamine levels in a sample of Julie's Wheat Crackers. According to the Hong Kong government lab, the 350g pack of crackers, labeled with an expiry date of August 9, 2009, was contaminated with 5.8 ppm melamine.

A package of a third variety of Munchy crackers – Munchy's The Original Sugar Crackers – was reported by the Centre for Food Safety to contain 4 ppm melamine. CFS has asked that the product be withdrawn from sale. A restaurant-made cake, "Mai-lai" sponge cake, was withdrawn from sale after CFS detected excessive melamine. The agency is testing the ingredients that were used in the cake.

Select extra large fresh brown eggs with an expiry date of October 25, 2008, and Croley Foods Blueberry Cream Sandwich Sunflower Crackers (270g 10-pack) with an expiry date of December 5, 2008 were found to contain excessive melamine, and have been withdrawn from the market. 

An egg imported from China's Hubei Province was sampled at a Hong Kong restaurant and found to contain excessive melamine. The Centre for Food Safety has asked local tradesmen to stop selling eggs produced on October 10, 2008 and identified with batch number 4200/D0701808223. Another batch of eggs – from Jilin province – was reported on December 2nd to contain excessive melamine. The importer was notified and asked to stop selling the eggs; CFS is following up with bakeries that purchased eggs from the contaminated shipment.

Indonesia

The Indonesian government has banned the sale of milk imported from China, and has advised consumers to avoid foods that contain dairy ingredients from China. The country's Food and Drug Monitoring Agency is conducting systematic tests on Chinese dairy products.

Japan

Marudai Food Co. (Osaka) has announced a voluntary recall of five products that were manufactured at the factory of its Chinese subsidiary, and which contain milk as an ingredient. The products are identified as: Matcha Azuki Mirukuman, Cream Panda, Gratin Crepe Corn, Kakuni Pao, and Mocchiri Nikuman.

The Japanese health ministry has instructed food importers to determine which of the products that they import contain milk from Sanlu, Yili, Mengniu or Bright Dairy & Food Co. – the four largest Chinese dairy producers implicated in the melamine adulteration scheme.

The Osaka city government has found melamine in a chocolate product – "Chocolate Pillows" – imported from China by NS International Co., of Osaka. The city government has directed the importer to recall all "Chocolate Pillows" packages with an expiry date of April 14, 2009. 

Mitsui & Co has recalled egg powder imported from the PRC after finding that the powder contained low levels of melamine. Mitsui supplied some of the egg powder to Q.P. Egg Corp., a mayonnaise producer. Mitsui tested the imported egg powder after being informed by its supplier, Dalian Hanovo Foods, that melamine had been found in its egg powder and in poultry feed. Separately, the Japanese Health Ministry announced that melamine had been found in frozen fried chicken from China. The contaminated chicken was caught before it reached the retail market. 

Malaysia

The Malaysian government has instructed retailers and wholesalers to remove from sale all foods made using milk from China. The ban includes White Rabbit Creamy Candies, as well as biscuits and chocolates that contain milk powder imported from China. The government has initiated a random sampling of the withdrawn products from melamine testing, and has indicated that the order will remain in force until the melamine contamination issue is resolved in China. Malaysia has confiscated 866 food products suspected of containing melamine.

Malaysia announced that they were on the alert for melamine-contaminated vegetable products from China, after South Korea apparently detected melamine in some vegetables. No additional details were offered. 

The Malaysian government is warning consumers not to buy unlabeled biscuits, as these may be contaminated with melamine. The government detected melamine in two brands of biscuits – Khong Guan and Khian Guan – and ordered their withdrawal from the market. But some shopkeepers decided, instead, to break open the packages and sell the biscuits unlabeled. According to the government, the source of the melamine was ammonium bicarbonate (a chemical leavening agent used in baking) imported from China. 

Malaysia is investigating Munchy Food Industries as a result of the Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety having detected melamine in two flavors of Munchy's Mini Crackers. The CEO of Munchy claims that the company does not use any dairy ingredients from China in its products.

Myanmar (Burma)

The government of Myanmar has detected melamine in 9 of 16 brands of milk powder imported from China. The melamine-contaminated brands include Star Milk Powder (20g), Star (450g), Crown, Happy Baby Toys, Dulac (Dumex) Step 1 Infant Formula, Mandalay (raw milk powder), Two Cows Shi Lin (whole sweet milk powder), Rainbow and Enfagrow. Supermarkets and wholesale markets in the former national capital, Yangon, have removed the adulterated milk from sale, and Myanmar has banned future importation of these brands.

New Zealand

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority has been conducting random tests of Chinese-made dairy products for the presence of melamine. 

NZFSA is advising consumers to avoid consuming White Rabbit Creamy Candies, after finding 180 ppm of melamine in a sample of the product. The candies are sold through Asian retail stores, supermarkets and dairies. Anyone who has purchased the candies should either dispose of them or return them to the retailer for a refund. Parents of children who have eaten these candies may want to consult their medical practitioner.

The Warehouse has withdrawn four Chinese-made products from store shelves. The confectionery and biscuit products have been removed as a precautionary measure, pending receipt of test results.

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority has posted an expanded explanation of its current risk management approach to the melamine contamination issue. The agency also reports having completed testing on 116 samples of dairy products, covering all major manufacturers. All but four of the samples were negative for melamine. Four samples of lactoferrin were contaminated with "trace" amounts of the chemical.

Melamine at a concentration of 3.3 ppm has been detected in "Wahaha AD Milk Drink", an imported food from China. The importer has been contacted and has voluntarily withdrawn the product from sale. 

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority announced that four Chinese-made food products have been withdrawn due to excessive levels of melamine: Lotte Koala strawberry and chocolate biscuits, Q-show biscuits, and 220 mL bottles of Wahaha AD milk drink.

Philippines

The government of the Philippines has banned the importation and sale of baby formula and other milk products from China, and the Bureau of Food and Drugs has called upon citizens to report to the government any Chinese milk products that they encounter in the marketplace. The government has detected melamine in two milk brands from China so far – Mengniu and Yili. Both of these brands have been implicated in the Chinese melamine milk adulteration scandal. 

Republic of Ireland

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has announced a recall of White Rabbit Creamy Candy from China, after learning of the New Zealand test results. The candy is available for sale in some Asian and Chinese specialty stores. 

Russia

The country's Chief Sanitary Officer has announced a ban on imports of all Chinese food products that contain milk or milk derivatives. Foods containing powdered milk from China have been found in the Khabarovsk region of far eastern Russia and have been withdrawn from sale. These items had been imported from China before the ban went into effect.

Russia continues to identify milk-containing products from China and remove them from sale. On October 7th, the government found and withdrew two (metric) tonnes of Golden Milk, a vegetable-based dairy substitute containing 10% milk powder. Consumers are advised to avoid using this made-in-China milk substitute pending lab test results. Itar-Tass reported October 11th that Russian authorities had found and ordered withdrawn 63Kg of milk powder from China in three rural communities in the Altai Republic. 

Singapore

Singapore has suspended the sale and import of all milk-containing products from China, after finding melamine in a Yili yogurt bar, Dutch Lady Strawberry Milk, and White Rabbit Creamy Candy. The ban covers milk, ice cream, yogurt, chocolate, biscuits, candy, and any other products that contain milk from China as an ingredient. 

Since its initial release of test results, Singapore reports having found excessive amounts of melamine in six additional biscuits: Baby Looney Tunes Cream Filled Biscuits Assorted Family Pack, C & OK Vigour 888 Egg & Milk, Khong Guan Mini Burger Biscuit Bulk Pack, Liluo Fruit P.D. Almond Flavour, Potter Potato Chips Pizza and Tom & Jerry Cheese Balls. This brings to 22 the total number of melamine-contaminated products from China that have been detected by Singapore authorities.

Singapore has lifted a ban on "Julie's" brand biscuits – manufactured in Malaysia – after inspecting the factories. The action is contingent on each consignment being accompanied by a health certificate and lab report.

Singapore has lifted its suspension of milk and milk-based products imported from China. Products manufactured on or after December 18, as long as the manufacturers have complied with agreed-to conditions. NEW Dec 22

South Africa

The South Africa Department of Health has issued an order to detain all Chinese food products that contain milk or any other dairy component, including whey, lactose or casein. 

South Korea (Republic of Korea)

The Korean Food and Drug Administration is expanding its melamine surveillance to include all dairy products and ingredients imported from China. The program, which at first was limited to imported products that contained a dairy ingredient, has been widened to include item such as whey, casein, powdered milk and condensed milk.

Separately, South Korea has reported finding traces of melamine in fish feed made from squid caught domestically and in China.

South Korea has detected melamine in a total of 10 products so far. Most recently, the Korean Food and Drug Administration detected very low levels of the chemical in two Mars products – Snickers Peanut Funsize and M&Ms chocolate milk – Nestlé's KitKat wafers, and a biscuit made by Lotte Confectionery Co. Nestlé did not respond immediately to the finding; Mars Korea and Lotte both indicated that they would withdraw the contaminated products from sale. 

Sweden

Chocolate pies manufactured by Master Kong Dingyi International Food Corporation (Tianjin, China) – later found to contain melamine – were imported into Sweden by a Stockholm wholesaler. The pies arrived in Sweden at the end of June 2008 and are believed to have already been consumed. No official recall notice has been issued. 

Taiwan

All tainted milk products from the People's Republic of China have been banned from sale in Taiwan. In addition, Taiwan has detected melamine in several products that contain non-dairy vegetable proteins. The tainted non-dairy items were Mr Brown products imported by King Car Company. Taiwan is the only country, so far to report finding melamine in non-dairy protein-containing products from mainland China.

The Taiwan Department of Health has instructed all distributors and retailers to remove from sale "... all food and beverages using Chinese-made milk powder, cream and vegetable protein." All of the withdrawn foods will be subjected to testing for melamine contamination. Foods that meet government standards will be allowed back onto store shelves. 

Taiwan also has ordered a recall of melamine-contaminated lactoferrin imported from New Zealand. 

The government of Taiwan has tested Nestlé milk powders from China and has found low levels of melamine (0.3 to 0.85 ppm) in some of the samples. While the Taiwan health ministry acknowledges that these very low levels do not pose any significant health threat, the government has requested – and Nestlé has agreed to – a recall.

Taiwan also has ordered the withdrawal of frozen octopus balls imported from China, pending testing for melamine contamination.

Taiwan is attempting to trace 200 tonnes of ammonium bicarbonate – a chemical leavening agent used in baking and some other food applications – that was reported to be contaminated with melamine. The bicarbonate was imported from China by Sesoda Corp., and sold to food processors and bakeries. Hunya Foods Co. has recalled all of its products that were manufactured with the ammonium bicarbonate imported by Sesoda.

Peacock brand biscuits, manufactured by Kuai Kuai Co., Ltd., were discovered to contain low levels of melamine and withdrawn from sale. The biscuits, which contained some melamine-contaminate leavening agent, were sold in convenience stores, and in Carrefour, Geant and RT-marts retail outlets.

Several samples of protein powder from two mainland China suppliers were found to contain melamine and have been withdrawn by the importing companies. As a result of this latest melamine finding, Taiwan has banned the importation of all protein powder from mainland China. 

Tanzania

Tanzania has banned the importation of Chinese milk products.

Thailand

Bangkok Post has reported that the Thai Food and Drug Administration has asked retailers to suspend the sale of several biscuits and candies, which might contain dairy products from China, in order to give the agency some time to conduct tests for melamine. The list of products includes Oreo wafer sticks, Dove milk chocolate bars, M&M chocolate candies, Snickers caramel peanut bars and nougat, Mentos yoghurt candies, and Mao Huad coffee and oatmeal crackers. 

The Thai Food and Drug Administration reported that all ten brands of dairy products imported into Thailand from China were free from melamine contamination.

The bakery company S&P Syndicate PCL has withdrawn Milk Cookies S&P from its 280 outlets nationwide as a precaution after it was advised that the Swiss government had found melamine in a sample of the cookies. The bakery advised Thai media that the cookies contained milk powder from Australia – not from China – and that the company would be submitting samples to the Thai government for melamine tests. 

The Thai FDA reports having found "very high levels" of melamine (92.82 ppm) in a domestic brand of condensed milk. Mali brand unsweetened condensed milk, a product of Thai Dairy Industry Co. Ltd., is manufactured with ingredients imported from several countries, including Belgium, Switzerland, Australia, Germany and India. The Reuters press report does not indicate whether any ingredients were imported directly from China. 

United States

FDA has advised consumers that infant formulas approved for sale in the United States do not contain any ingredients from China. The agency, in cooperation with state health agencies, has visited more than 1,000 Asian ethnic food markets to check for the presence of Chinese-made infant formulas. So far, none have been found. The FDA strongly advises consumers not to purchase Chinese-made infant formula over the Internet or from any other sources.

In 2007, the United States instituted an Import Alert allowing for automatic detention of vegetable protein products from China after melamine-laced wheat gluten used in in the manufacture of pet foods was fingered as the cause of widespread poisoning of dogs and cats. That Import Alert is still in force.

FDA has issued recall notices for White Rabbit Candy, imported from China by QFCO, Inc., for Mr. Brown 3-in-1 Instant Coffee and Milk Tea and for Fresh and Crispy Jacobina Biscuits, distributed by Everlasting Distributors (Bayonne, NJ). The California Department of Public Health has posted a list of retail outlets in the state that carry White Rabbit candies. FDA also has announced a recall of several flavors of Blue Cat Flavor Drinks after the agency's own tests detected melamine in the product in excess of 2.5 ppm. 

FDA announced a recall of two varieties of Yili brand milk drinks after the agency detected melamine in samples of both drinks. 

FDA advised consumers on October 17th that Lotte USA, Inc. had recalled all varieties of Koala March brand biscuits from the US market on September 29th.

Walgreen's recalled 173 teddy bears with chocolate bars. The chocolate was determined to contain more than 2.5 ppm of melamine.

FDA advised consumers of recalls of Wonderfarm Biscuits and G&J Gourmet Market cocoa products, samples of which were determined to contain more than 2.5 ppm melamine.

NEW DEC 22

Other US states continue to remind consumers to avoid White Rabbit Candy. Connecticut and Wisconsin, in particular, have announced finding the candies in stores located in several communities in those states. And the Minnesota Department of Agriculture announced that several samples of Wonderfarm brand "Successful" biscuits contained excessive levels of melamine.

The state of Connecticut reported on November 28th that it had found excessive amounts of melamine in Topaz Wafer Rolls with Hazelnut Chocolate-Flavored Cream Filling (production lot #L832 99D). The wafer rolls were distributed by National Brands (Valley Stream, NY) and sold in Ocean State Job Lot stores. The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection is working to obtain retail distribution information from National Brands, and is continuing to cooperate with FDA on the melamine investigation.

Uruguay

An indefinite ban on all dairy imports from China was announced October 2nd. 

Vietnam

The government of Vietnam ordered importers to recall and destroy 18 dairy-containing products from China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand after finding traces of melamine in samples of those products. The Ministry of Health did not name all of the implicated products, but noted that most of the recalled items were made in China, including five varieties of Yili milk. Vietnam has instituted a requirement that milk products be tested for melamine before being allowed into the country. 

Smoked Goose Recalled In Belgium

December 22, 2008

The Belgian Food Safety Agency (AFSCA) is advising the public that one production lot of Greußener brand Smoked Goose Filets (ready-to-eat) may be contaminated with Salmonella, and has been recalled.

The recall notice was issued as a result of an advisory received through Europe's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). Other countries, therefore, may also be involved.

The recalled item is described as:

Greußener brand Filets d'oie fumés, 80g: Lot No. L8329319, Expiration date 05 janvier 09

The smoked goose filets were sold through the Match, Cora and Nopri supermarket chains, in addition to other retail food stores.

AFSCA is urging customers not to consume this recalled item. It should be returned to the store where it was purchased.

Stilton Cheese Recall Expands

December 21, 2008

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has expanded its December 10th Health Hazard Alert on Cropwell Bishop Creamery Finest Blue Stilton Cheese to include all package sizes and Best Before date codes.

One Canadian case of Listeria monocytogenes illness has been traced to this cheese.

The cheese, a product of the United Kingdom, was sold in Costco Canada stores nationwide, and in other retail stores. The cheese also was distributed to food service operations, including hotels, restaurants, cafeterias and other institutional kitchens. 

In some cases, the cheese has been repackaged for retail sale. Before purchasing repackaged Blue Stilton cheese, check with the retailer to determine its origin.

The importer has initiated a voluntary recall, which is being monitored by CFIA. Consumers who purchased the recalled cheese should return it to the store for a refund.

NOTE: There has been no announced recall of this cheese in the UK as yet.

Genoa-Style Sausage Recalled in Québec

December 21, 2008

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public in the province of Québec that Nostrano brand Genoa Mild Sausage may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and has been recalled by the manufacturer.

The Health Hazard Alert was issued late yesterday, on the heels of a recall of approximately one pound of a different Nostrano product – Sopressata sausage – in the United States.

The recalled sausage is sold in 325g packages, labeled with a Best before date of 09 JL 09 (same Best before date as the sausage recalled in the US), and codes 91009 and 1017. The product was distributed only in the province of Québec.

Consumers who purchased the recalled sausage should return it to the store for a refund. For more information about this recall, please contact Guy-Bernard Tené of Nostrano Inc., at 514-271-4688, ext. 235.

Food Safety: Perpetual Policy Orphan

December 21, 2008

President-elect Obama has introduced his Cabinet nominees and major staff appointments, and has left Chicago for a two-week rest – admittedly well-earned – in Hawaii with his family.

We have met the new President's foreign policy team, his economic team, his energy/climate change team, his trade & commerce team, and the rest of the people who will be sitting around the Cabinet table.

We have been introduced to the incoming President's Energy Czarina, his Chief Science & Technology Advisor, and his Director of the new White House Office on Health Care Reform.

We can deduce – to some extent – from these appointments the new policy directions in which President-elect Obama hopes to lead the United States. But on one issue that affects the health of every US resident, the incoming President has remained silent.

There is no one at the Cabinet table to speak for food safety.

The responsibility for ensuring the microbiological and chemical safety of our food supply is shared among several federal departments, most prominently the Department of Health & Human Services and the Department of Agriculture. In each case, food safety is a Cinderella praying for her fairy godmother to save her from the ashes.

Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, the current FDA Commissioner, has already announced that he will resign effective Inauguration Day. His replacement will have a full plate replenishing an agency that has been bleeding expertise for the last eight years and more. The FDA's food safety enforcement activities represent only a small part of the agency's overall mandate.

The newly nominated Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, is a proponent of bioethanol, and was governor of an agricultural state. We haven't received a single hint of his attitude toward the food safety side of USDA – again only a small part of the department's mandate.

Food safety, once more, will be the orphan of US government policy – unless President-elect Obama gives this vital area a seat at the Cabinet table. There is precedent for this move.

Former President Clinton established a President's Council on Food Safety to review, and recommend improvements to, the country's food safety policies. The Council's recommendations, for the most part, have been gathering dust for the last eight years.

Please, Mr. President-elect. Give food safety policy a strong voice in your administration. Give those of us who care about food safety "Change We Can Believe In."

Getting Rid of Melamine: Farm to Factory to Fork

December 21, 2008

While consumers can take certain steps to reduce melamine migration in their own kitchens, most incidental – as opposed to deliberate – addition of melamine to food probably takes place on the farm, in processing plants, and in food service kitchens.

Down On the Farm

Cyromazine is an EPA-approved pesticide, used to control insect populations on field crops destined both for human food and for animal feed. EPA has established residue limits for cyromazine in a variety of fruits, legumes and vegetables, including corn, lettuce, beans, mangoes and tomatoes. 

The limits range from a low of 0.2 ppm in dried onion bulbs to as much as 10 ppm in cabbages and turnip greens for human consumption. Radish (roots or greens) and corn destined for animal feed must have no more than 0.5 ppm cyromazine.

Why should we care about cyromazine? Because plants and animals metabolize cyromazine – producing melamine as a result. 

This metabolic process is well known to EPA and to the international regulatory community. Until recently, however, the possible accumulation of small amounts of melamine in plant or animal tissue was treated as insignificant. 

The use of cyromazine – and other chemically related pesticides – on crops is not the only way in which melamine can enter our food supply on an industrial scale. 

Sanitizer Insanity

It is an axiom of good food handling practice in processing plants and food service kitchens. Every surface, utensil, dish, cup, or pair of gloved hands that comes into direct contact with food must be sanitized periodically to avoid transferring bacteria or viruses onto the food.

This is a sound principle. Unfortunately, one of the sanitizers approved by EPA for food contact surfaces is the melamine derivative, trichloromelamine (TCM). When dissolved in water, TCM breaks down to release chlorine – an effective sanitizing agent – and melamine.

According to H&S Chemical Company, TCM is used in a number of different applications, including:

• "third sink" sanitizer in bars and restaurants
  
• hard surface disinfectant in food service areas
  
• sanitizer/disinfectant in the brewing industry
  
• by the US Army as a disinfectant for fruit and vegetable wash
  

Other "advantages" of TCM touted by Leedah, Inc., an Atlanta-based importer and distributor of chemicals, are:

• no need to rinse off
  
• safe for use in child care centers
  
• direct and indirect food-contact sanitizer
  
• non-toxic and biodegradable
  

JohnsonDiversey, offers TCM in pre-packaged pouches for the food service industry. BeerClean® sanitizer pouches are marketed for use as a final glassware rinse in bars. Sani-Sure® pouches are promoted as a "last tank" sanitizing rinse for dish ware and utensils.

The Bottom Line

Until the lethal twin melamine poisoning incidents of 2007 (pet food) and 2008 (adulterated milk), toxicology experts around the world considered melamine to be of minimal health concern. That attitude, clearly, is changing. And so must our tolerance of melamine traces on our tableware, on our utensils, and on food contact surfaces – and in our food!

Gourmet Cocoa Products Recalled - May Contain Melamine

December 20, 2008

A Canadian company, Dorsey Marketing Inc. (Ville St. Laurent, QC) has recalled several cocoa products after FDA detected melamine in a few samples.

The cocoa products were imported into the United States by Dorsey, and distributed through Big Lot stores (during the weeks of September 22 and September 29) and Shopko stores (during the week of October 10) nationwide.

The following items have been recalled:

• G&J Hot Cocoa Stuffer, Item 120144 (UPC 061361201444): sold in small green and blue boxes with backer card, candy cane and marshmallows
  
• G&J His and Hers Hot Cocoa Set,  Item 120129 (UPC 489702201296): sold with 2 ceramic mugs in a brown box
  
• G&J French Vanilla Cocoa, Item 120126 (UPC 061361201260): sold in small green bag with whisk attached
  
• G&J Double Chocolate Cocoa, Item 120126 (UPC 061361201260): sold in small green bag with whisk attached
  

The country of origin of these products was not identified in the recall notice.

US Recall of Canadian-Made Sausage

December 20, 2008

Consumers in Boardman, OH can relax, now that USDA has protected them from APPROXIMATELY ONE POUND of Canadian-made sausage in which the agency detected Listeria monocytogenes.

USDA announced today that DeNiro Cheese (Youngstown, OH) is recalling approximately one pound of Sopressata sausage products. The sausage, which was imported from Canada, was sold at:

Lariccia's Italian Market Place, 7438 Southern Blvd., Boardman, OH

The recall notice describes the sausage – manufactured on October 9 – as follows:

• 12-ounce approximate weight packages of "Nostrano SOPRESSATA MILD SAUSAGE, PRODUCT OF CANADA." Each package bears a use-by date of "07/09/09" and a product code of "91009" as well as "CANADA 476A" inside the Canadian mark of inspection.
  

USDA claims that there have been no reported illnesses associated with this recall, and that the Listeria monocytogenes contamination was found as a result of a routine testing program.

The individuals who purchased these two (?) lonely packages of sausage should either discard the uneaten portions or return them to Lariccia's for a refund.

It's fairly safe to assume that a Canadian recall – of a somewhat larger quantity – will follow within a couple of weeks, as long as the USDA communicates with its Canadian cousin.

Getting Rid of Melamine: What Consumers Need To Know

December 20, 2008

Melamine-based plastic tableware, trays and utensils are very popular amongst families with young children, and in cafeterias and other food service establishments. They resist breakage, are dishwasher-safe, and come in a wide variety of patterns and colors. But with repeated use, the plastic dish-ware develops cracks and scratches. And it can "bleed" melamine into food.

Melamine migration into food from plastic tableware was documented more than 20 years ago. While migration takes place over the entire usable life of the plastic, it is enhanced as the tableware ages from repeated exposure to elevated temperatures, such as in a dishwasher or from hot beverages. Exposure to mild acids – fruit juices or tomato-based sauces, for example – also increase the risk of migration.

There are several things that consumers and food service establishments can do to minimize the potential for melamine migration.

• Discard tableware that is scratched, crazed, discolored or otherwise appears worn.
  
• Avoid using melamine tableware for acidic beverages, hot soups, or hot beverages – especially acidic hot beverages such as coffee.
  
• Never use abrasive cleansers or scouring pads when cleaning melamine tableware or utensils.
  

Parents of young children should consider alternative break-resistant tableware for their infants and toddlers. One option might be Corelle, a laminated glass tableware that is lightweight, heat-resistant and break-resistant.

Tableware, though, is not the only possible source of melamine in the home. A convenient cleaning sponge – the Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser® – is composed of melamine foam. The sponge is marketed as a "... powerful multi-purpose cleaning pad..." that can remove crayon marks from walls, encrusted dirt from counters and stove tops, and miscellaneous grime from wherever it may be found. But in doing so, it leaves behind minuscule amounts of melamine.

Given the tendency of children and pets to explore their world by tasting it, a Magic Eraser® is not the safest choice of cleaning pad for a family with young children. 

Melamine has other applications; it is an effective flame-retardant, and a sound insulator, for example. Those uses, however, are unlikely to bring the chemical into direct contact with food. 

A far greater risk is posed by the application of government-approved pesticides and sanitizers to crops and food processing equipment, which will be the subject of tomorrow's column.

Allergy Alert: Nationwide Recall of Seasoned Coating Mix

Updated December 19, 2008

(Original article posted December 7, 2008)

Louisiana Fish Fry Products (Baton Rouge, LA) has recalled its Chicken & Fish Bake Seasoned Coating Mix due to the presence of undeclared buttermilk.

The 6-ounce packages of coating mix, labeled with Best Before dates of Jan 1, 2008 through Sept. 25, 2011, were available nationally in retail stores – including Brookshire's food stores, Food City and supermarkets in The Kroger Company family of stores – and also by mail order. Other national and regional supermarket chains may also carry this product. Updated Dec 19

While no illnesses have been reported, an individual who is allergic to milk proteins may experience a severe reaction after consuming a food that contains buttermilk, a cultured milk product. Consumers – especially those who believe themselves to be allergic to milk – are urged to return the product to the store for a full refund.

For more information, contact the Company directly at 1-800-356-2905, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, CST.

Chicken Jerky Dog Treats: An FDA Update

December 19, 2008

Last week, we reported on a mysterious kidney ailment occurring in Australian dogs, which appeared to be linked to Kramar brand chicken jerky dog treats. Kramar announced a precautionary recall of the treats, even though no one has yet been able to determine the exact cause of the ailment.

The chicken jerky treats were manufactured in China.

In our report, we mentioned that a similar problem had arisen in the United States in 2007, and that FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine had issued a warning to pet owners. As in the Australian situation, the treats were imported from China, and the contaminant that triggered the kidney symptoms could not be found.

Today, the Center for Veterinary Medicine has issued a new Preliminary Animal Health Notification on this same problem. According to CVM, the agency has continued to receive complaints about pet illnesses linked to chicken jerky treats. Unfortunately, CVM appears to be no closer to solving the mystery. 

CVM has issued this new warning to alert pet owners who choose to give these treats to their dogs to watch for the development of any of the following symptoms, which may appear hours or days after a dog has eaten these treats. Small dogs appear to be especially susceptible.

• decreased appetite (dog may continue to eat the treat but refuse usual food)
  
• decreased activity level
  
• vomiting
  
• diarrhea - sometimes with blood
  
• increased water consumption and/or increased urination
  

A dog that displays any of these symptoms after having eaten chicken jerky treats should be seen by a veterinarian if the symptoms are severe or if they persist longer than 24 hours. 

FDA is continuing its investigation into possible chemical or microbiological contaminants in the chicken jerky treats. The agency urges dog owners and veterinarians to report any pet food- associated illnesses to the FDA Consumer Coordinator in their state.

Turkey Salami Recalled - Undeclared Salmonella

December 19, 2008

Aytac Halal Foods Ltd. has recalled a batch of pre-packaged, sliced turkey salami due to the presence of Salmonella in the ready-to-eat product, according to a Food Alert issued today by

the UK Food Standards Agency.

The Company has described the recalled item as follows:

Aytac Sliced Turkey Salami, 200g package: Use by date of 12 January 2009, Lot No. 330156

No other Aytac products are affected by this recall.

Consumers should check the in-store product recall notices to find out how to proceed in the event that they have purchased the recalled item.

New Zealand Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Flour

December 19, 2008

New Zealand may have found the source of the Salmonella that has sickened at least 40 consumers since mid-October. 

Preliminary test results on flour samples taken from the homes of two outbreak victims indicate that the flour was contaminated with Salmonella Typhimurium phage type 42 – the same type that caused the illnesses. 

Lab investigations are on-going, but epidemiological evidence also is casting suspicion on the flour. Outbreak victims were more likely than the control group to have eaten uncooked flour – raw cookie dough, for example.

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority has advised the manufacturer of their findings, and the company has initiated a voluntary recall of the following brands of flour with Best before dates between June and July 2009:

Champion, Edmonds, Homelife and Pam's brand plain flours

While finding Salmonella in flour is not common, this is not the first occasion that Salmonella-contaminated flour has been reported. Australian researchers found Salmonella in two out of 650 samples in 2003. And FDA researchers – nearly 30 years ago – detected Salmonella in samples of soy and rye flours.

Salmonella is readily destroyed by temperatures reached during baking. Consumers, therefore, need not worry about having eaten cakes, breads or cookies made using the suspect flour.

But it's never a good idea for anyone – especially children – to eat raw dough. If the flour doesn't get you, the raw eggs might.

Mariposa Meat Recall Expands: 3rd Time A Charm?

December 19, 2008

As we predicted yesterday, Mariposa Meats (Mississauga, ON) has expanded its recall of Old Style brand meat products to include all "Best Before" date codes of the following items:

• Smoked Pork Loin Chops, 175 g (UPC #6 28292 80045 2)
  
• Thin Sliced Chicken Breast, 350 g (UPC #6 28292 50002 4)
  
• Thin Sliced Honey Ham, 450 g (UPC #6 28292 50001 7)
  
• Thin Sliced Roast Beef, 375 g (UPC #6 28292 50003 1)
  
• Thin Sliced Pastrami, 375 g (UPC #6 28292 50004 8)
  
• Thin Sliced Summer Sausage, 350 g (UPC #6 28292 50006 2)
  

Mariposa has recalled these meat products because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The meats were distributed only within the province of Ontario.

Listeria monocytogenes usually causes no more than mild gastrointestinal or flu-like symptoms in otherwise healthy adults. But it can produce severe – sometimes life-threatening – illnesses in the elderly, young children, and individuals with weakened immune systems. A pregnant woman who develop a Listeria monocytogenes infection is at risk of passing the infection along to her unborn child, resulting in premature delivery, stillbirth, or the birth of a seriously ill baby.

If you begin to experience symptoms consistent with Listeria monocytogenes infection, and believe that you may have consumed one of the recalled meats, seek immediate medical attention. Consumers should return recalled meat to the store for a refund.

Getting Rid of Melamine: Not Just China's Problem

December 19, 2008

Anyone who thinks that we've heard the last of melamine is sorely mistaken. 

During the first week of December, member countries of the European Union reported three instances of melamine contamination:

• Germany found 275.3 ppm in ammonium bicarbonate baking agent from China
  
• Germany also reported 6.3 ppm in a dog treat – fish cookies with cheese – from China
  
• Slovenia detected 162 ppm in milk products, and uncovered an attempt to illegally import milk and animal products into the country from China
  

Two more melamine-contaminated products – ammonium bicarbonate (81 and 128 ppm) and rice protein concentrate (21,000 ppm) – were reported the following week.

On December 5th, the World Health Organization's expert panel recommended a "Tolerable Daily Intake" for melamine of 0.2 mg per Kg of body weight – a 60% reduction in the previous recommended intake limit of 0.5 mg/Kg on which governments had based their interim maximum allowable levels for melamine in food. 

After the WHO report was issued, Canada reduced its maximum allowable limit for melamine in infant formula and sole source nutrition products to 0.5 ppm from 1.0 ppm. Other governments, as far as we can tell, have not yet followed suit.

"Trace" amounts of melamine are turning up in foods – even infant formulas – that never came within sight of China's borders. For example, low levels – 0.25 ppm or less – of melamine and cyanuric acid (a related compound) showed up recently in infant formulas manufactured in the United States. 

These findings are not due to deliberate adulteration, as was the case in China. Rather, melamine finds its way into foods via several routes:

• migration from plastic food-contact surfaces;
  
• migration from cleaning sponges;
  
• residual melamine from food sanitizing solutions used in processing plants; and
  
• metabolism of cyromazine and certain other pesticides by plants and animals.
  

The 2007 contaminated pet food incident opened our eyes to the danger posed by the combined ingestion of melamine and cyanuric acid – both previously thought to be very low health risks. This year's tragedy in China has made all of us aware of the prevalence of melamine in our food.

There are actions that we consumers can take to reduce the risk of melamine migration into our food, especially food that we feed our children. Eliminating melamine from our food supply, however, will require the concerted action of farmers, food processors and regulators.

Check back tomorrow for more on how melamine finds its way into your family's food.

The China Syndrome: Melamine-Contaminated Biscuits Recalled in USA

December 18, 2008

One month after the Minnesota Department of Agriculture first notified FDA of melamine contamination in Wonderfarm biscuits, the Vietnam company that manufactured the biscuits finally consented to their recall from the US market.

According to a News Release issued today by FDA (but dated December 9), Interfood Shareholding Company (Vietnam) has recalled all production lots and date codes of the following varieties of biscuits, sold in 800g red metal tins:

• Wonderfarm "Successful" Assorted Biscuits (UPC:8935001262091)
  
• Wonderfarm "Royal Flavour" Assorted Biscuits (UPC:8935001263098)
  
• Wonderfarm "Lovely Melody" Assorted Biscuits (UPC: 8935001263296)
  
• Wonderfarm "Daily Life" Assorted Biscuits (UPC: 8935001264200)
  

All four varieties were determined by FDA or the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to contain excessive concentrations of melamine.

The manufacturer advises that the biscuits were distributed in multiple US states, and sold to distributors who, in turn, sold the biscuits to retail stores.

Consumers who purchased these biscuits should return them to the store for a refund. They should most definitely not be offered to children.

Hipp Baby Food Botulism Recall: Update

December 18, 2008

We reported a week ago that the Scandinavian distributor of Hipp Organic Baby Food had recalled Lot #L35655 (use by date of 1.12.08) of Hipp Fruit Purée with Bananas and Peaches* due to the possibility that the product contained Clostridium botulinum.

The recall, which was announced on December 8th, covered product that had been distributed in Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Today, Danish doctors, microbiologists and epidemiologists issued a preliminary report on the botulism investigation.

The incident began when a Danish woman noticed that her 4.5-month old was ailing. Five days earlier, the mother had fed her little girl – who was still being breast-fed but was also receiving some supplementary food – three spoonfuls of Hipp banana/peach purée. She noticed at the time that the jar of fruit purée had an unusual smell, and the product appeared to be fermenting.

By the time the baby girl was admitted to hospital, she was constipated, passive, and suckled weakly. She also exhibited weak muscle tone, and an abdominal X-ray revealed a paralytic ileus (i.e., absence of normal intestinal motion). Despite receiving treatment to counteract her symptoms, the baby became progressively worse over a period of eight days, while doctors tried to diagnose her illness. Finally, suspecting infant botulism, her doctors drew a blood sample to check for neurotoxin (by injecting the patient's serum into mice), and cultured a fecal sample for spores of Clostridium botulinum.

No Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin or spores were recovered from the fecal sample, but the baby's serum proved to contain neurotoxin. Doctors administered botulism immune globulin to the baby, and she has responded to the treatment.

Researchers are still trying to determine whether the baby became ill as a result of ingesting Clostridium botulinum spores – as happens from time to time when babies are fed contaminated honey – or whether the jar of fruit purée contained pre-formed neurotoxin. 

In addition to the Hipp purée, the mother also had fed her baby a home-made gruel in the days before she became ill. The gruel contained organic corn, buckwheat flour, whole meal with rice and millet, and grapeseed oil. She denied feeding any honey to her baby. 

Unfortunately, the suspect jar of fruit purée had been thrown out. Tests carried out on 11 other jars of baby food, four samples of gruel ingredients and a sample of oil have not detected any pre-formed neurotoxin. The lab now is trying to determine whether any of the samples contain spores of Clostridium botulinum.

While it has been determined beyond any doubt that the 4.5-month old baby suffered from botulism, she remains the only reported victim. Investigators don't know – and may never be able to determine – the source of the Clostridium botulinum spores or pre-formed toxin that made her ill.

Nevertheless, as soon as the Hipp fruit purée was identified as a possible source of Clostridium botulinum, the distributor issued its precautionary recall notice. The recall caught the attention of food safety agencies in several countries outside of Scandinavia. Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong all alerted their citizens to the recall, in case individuals had purchased the purée while traveling in Europe and carried it back home with them.

Whether or not Hipp fruit purée proves to have been the source of the problem, this incident is a reminder that one should NEVER use a food that appears to be "off" in any way. Tasting a food – commercial or home-made – that looks or smells odd is a guaranteed recipe for disaster.

*Original report indicated that the fruit purée contained "Bananas and Apricots"

More UK Nuts Recalled

December 18, 2008

A second UK company, JLM Global Foods Ltd., has issued a recall notice for Salmonella-contaminated nuts, according to a Food Alert posted by the UK Food Standards Agency today.

The Company has recalled:

Snack 'n' Time Mixed Nuts, 340g: Best before end August 2009, Batch code 08316 C

JLM is asking that customers contact the Company's Customer Relations Team by telephone at 01325 485484 to arrange a refund.

Salmonella-Contaminated Brazil Nuts Recalled

December 18, 2008

Imperial Snack Foods Ltd. has recalled a batch of its own brand of Brazil nuts, according to a Food Alert issued today by the UK Food Standards Agency. The company issued its recall after Salmonella was found in the nuts.

Imperial Snack Foods has described the recalled product as follows:

Imperial Brazil nuts, 200g package: Best before 17 November 2009, Batch code 8320 K

Even a few Salmonella organisms may cause infection and gastrointestinal illness in some cases. Under no circumstances should anyone eat these nuts. If you – or family members – have consumed the recalled item and begin to experience symptoms of Salmonella gastroenteritis, please seek medical attention.

Consumers should return these nuts to the store for a full refund.

Mariposa Recalls Additional Meat

December 18, 2008

Mariposa Meats, which recalled a single production batch of Old Style Pastrami a few days ago, has added two more products to its recall list, according to a Health Hazard Alert released last night by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The following items, which may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, are included in the latest recall:

• Smoked Pork Loin Chops, 175g: Best Before 09JA23, UPC 6 28292 80045 2
  
• Thin Sliced Chicken Breast, 350g: Best Before 09JA16, UPC 6 28292 50002 4
  

The recalled items were sold only in the province of Ontario.

The pastrami that was recalled over the weekend was identified as Best before 09JA15. All in, the three recalled items were processed during a 9-day period. There may be more recalls to come.

Anyone who purchased the recalled items should return them to the store for a refund. To obtain additional information on this recall, consumers should call Mariposa Meats directly at 905-855-8111.

Allergy Alert: Kashi Golean Energy Shake

UPDATED December 17, 2008

(Original article posted December 13, 2008)

On December 13th, Kashi Company (La Jolla, CA), a subsidiary of Kellogg's, recalled Kashi GOLEAN brand Powder Chocolate Energy Shake Mix, 14.8-ounce size, due to the presence of undeclared whey caseinate, a milk ingredient. FDA alerted consumers to the December 13th recall on December 15th.

The recalled containers of mix are identified with a date stamp between JAN 17 2009 and NOV 15 2009, and UPC #18627 71000, and were distributed to grocery stores, health food stores, pharmacies and on-line retailers across the United States.

The following retailers have published recall notices on their web sites: (updated Dec 17)

• The Kroger Company: Kroger stores in AL, AR, IN, KY, LA, MI, MO, MS, NC, OH, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV; KingSoopers; Smiths; Ralphs; QFC; Frys; FredMeyer; Dillon; Food 4 Less; and Peyton's (Northern, Southeast, Buckeye, and Fountain-all stores)
  
• Price Chopper
• Wegmans Food Markets
  
• Whole Foods Market

Individuals who are allergic to milk protein may experience a severe allergic reaction as a result of consuming this energy shake. Consumers who purchased the product should either discard it or return it to the store for a refund.

For more information on the recall, contact the Kashi Company Consumer Response desk at 1-877-747-2467.

Rubber Bits in Australian Potato Chips

December 17, 2008

The Smith's Snackfood Company (Chatsworth, NSW) has recalled packages of Smith's Classic Crinkle Cut Potato Chips Salt and Vinegar, after discovering pieces of rubber in some packages. The Company warns that the rubber could present a choking hazard.

The recall encompasses the following packages of Potato Chips, which were produced at Smith's Queensland plant and distributed throughout Australia:

• Salt and Vinegar Multipack Box 15pack; Best Before 12 Feb 09; Lot code GD
  
• Salt and Vinegar 50g/100g/175g/200g; Best Before 12 Feb 09; Lot code GC
  

No other Smith's products are affected by this recall.

The recalled items have been on the market for approximately four weeks. They are sold via Coles and Woolworths Metcash, in corner stores, service stations and schools, and in vending machines.

Smith's asks its customers to return the recalled items to the place of purchase for a full refund. Customers who purchased the chips from a vending machine should call the Company, toll-free, at 1800 555 107 between the hours of 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, Eastern Summer Time.

Old Style Pastrami Recalled In Ontario

Updated December 16, 2008

(Original article posted December 14, 2008)

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency today advised consumers in the province of Ontario that a single production batch of Old Style brand Pastrami is being recalled by the manufacturer, Mariposa Meats (Mississauga, ON), due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

The recalled pastrami is sold in 375 g packages bearing UPC #6 28292 50004 8, and can be identified by the date code 09JA15 (January 15, 2009). The item was distributed only in Ontario, according to the manufacturer. (Updated Dec 16 per revised CFIA notice)

No illnesses have been reported, but we would remind our readers that Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious – occasionally fatal – infections in susceptible individuals, including the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems. 

Anyone who purchased a package of the recalled batch of Old Style brand Pastrami should either discard it or return it to the store for a refund.

More Uneviscerated Fish Recalled: Botulism Risk

December 15, 2008

The New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets has alerted consumers to a nationwide recall of Freshness Choice brand Steam Mackerel due to the risk that the fish may be contaminated with spores of Clostridium botulinum.

The recall was initiated after State inspectors discovered that the fish was not eviscerated before processing. Sale of uneviscerated, processed fish is not permitted in New York State, due to the possibility that spores of Clostridium botulinum may be present in the viscera.

The recalled Steam Mackerel, which is packed in 8-ounce plastic bags that are not labeled with any code or date, was imported from Vietnam and distributed nationwide in the United States.

The following importers have issued recall notices:

• Siam Trading Inc. (Brooklyn, NY)
  
• Gulf Coast Sea Trade Inc. (El Monte, CA)
  

Under favorable growth conditions, Clostridium botulinum produces a powerful neurotoxin that can cause severe paralysis - even death. The microbe grows without altering the appearance, smell or taste of the food. DO NOT taste the fish to determine whether or not it is "OK". Consumers who purchased this fish should return it to the store for a refund.

Cambrooke Foods Recalls Imitation Cream Cheese

UPDATED December 15, 2008

(Original article posted December 13, 2008)

Cambrooke Foods LLC (Framingham, MA) has recalled three varieties of imitation cream cheese and has withdrawn its Low Protein Peanut Butter™ after Listeria monocytogenes was detected by the company in a sample of the cream cheese. 

The pathogen was found during routine testing carried out by the Company in a new sample of Imitation Cream Cheese before it was shipped to customers. Cambrooke is working with FDA to determine the source of the contamination, and has suspended production and distribution of the products until the investigation is complete.

All date codes of following items, sold both in the United States and Canada, are included in this product recall notice: (updated Dec 14 to include link to newly released FDA recall notice)

• Cheddar Wizard Low Protein Imitation Cream Cheese (SKU 10310; 8 oz. jar)
  
• Herb & Garlic Low Protein Imitation Cream Cheese (SKU 10308; 8 oz. jar)
  
• Plain Low Protein Imitation Cream Cheese (SKU 10306; 8 oz. jar)
  

Cambrooke also has withdrawn all outstanding stock of the following imitation peanut butter product from the market as an additional precaution, since it was produced on the same machinery as the imitation cream cheese:

• Low Protein Peanot Butter™ (SKU 10809; 16 oz. jar)
  

Consumers in the United States and Canada who purchased any of these recalled/withdrawn products since May 2008 should discard any of the recalled food remaining in their possession. 

For more information on this recall, contact Cambrooke Foods by telephone, toll-free at 1-866-456-9776, ext. 1015, or email the company at safetyfirst@cambrookefoods.com.

Cambrooke Foods offers a full product range of low-protein foods to fulfill the nutritional needs of patients who suffer from genetic errors of protein metabolism, such as phenylketonuria. The Company sells its products on-line to customers in the United States and Canada. Added Dec 15

Cambrooke products are sold in The Specialty Food Shop of the Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto, ON) and may be available in other similar shops. Added Dec 15

Mysterious Corned Beef Recall in New Zealand

December 15, 2008

It's not often that a food recall is announced without a specific reason being given, but the New Zealand Food Safety Authority has just done so.

A Verkerk Ltd. (Christchurch, NZ) has initiated a recall of 120-gram Corned Beef packets (Best Before 05 Feb 2009) "pending a microbiological test result." The corned beef was sold in Arrowtown through Arrowtown Night and Day Food store and in Blenheim through the Fresh Choice Springlands.

A Verkerk is asking customers to return the corned beef to the retailer for a full refund, and to seek medical advice if they are concerned about their health. 

The New Zealand authorities have been scratching their collective heads over the source of a Salmonella Typhimurium (phage type 42) outbreak. The Ministry of Health announced last Thursday that the outbreak had grown to 40 cases reported from 10 different health districts. The hardest hit district appears to be Canterbury, where Christchurch is located.

Coincidence?

Dioxin-Contaminated Pork From Ireland: Update #5

Some Irish Pork Back In Shops

UPDATED December 13, 2008

(Original article posted December 11, 2008)

The Irish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, together with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, announced yesterday that controls are now in place that allow the following Irish pork products to be reintroduced to the marketplace. Products approved for sale will carry a special label.

• Pork and pork products processed from pigs slaughtered prior to September 1st.
  
• Pork and pork products processed from pigs slaughtered after December 7th.
  
• Pork and pork products processed from pigs that did not originate from any of the herds that had been exposed to dioxin-contaminated feed.
  

The UK Food Standards Agency has determined that no Northern Ireland pork was exposed to the contaminated feed. Retailers, manufacturers and caterers may offer Irish pork to consumers once more, as long as they are able to trace the origin of the pork to an unaffected farm. Composite pork products – containing 20% or less Irish pork – may be sold. Pork from Irish pigs slaughtered between September 1st and December 7th will be tested for dioxin and approved for sale if the meat is compliant with EU standards for dioxin in pork.

Belgium has announced five additional recalls of food products that consist of, or contain more than 1%, Irish pork meat. These are:

• SPAR brand smoked bacon, 125g
  
• CARREFOUR brand Saxe Flinterdun shredded filet
  
• ZWAN brand "Frank" sausages, package of 6
  
• FRESH CONCEPT brand mortedella, distributed by Carrefour, Cora, Delfood (Louis Delhaize, Louis l'épicier), Match & Smatch, Alvo, Spar & Eurospar, Carrefour Express, GB Carrefour, GB Express, GB Contact and GB Partner NEW Dec 13
• MATCH and SMATCH brands of pork sausage and chorizo NEW Dec 13

Romania is tracking approximately 120 tons of dioxin-contaminated Irish pork that entered the country since September 1st. The suspect pork entered Romania from several countries, including Hungary, Belgium, Poland and France. 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has advised consumers that it has no record of pork products or animal feed from the Republic of Ireland having been imported into Canada. Neither FDA nor USDA have made a corresponding announcement.

The dioxin incident appears to be well in hand. The Republic of Ireland and the European Food Safety Agency acted quickly to contain the situation and evaluate the risk to consumers. 

The investigation into how dioxin entered the animal feed is continuing, and we'll report on the progress as information becomes available.

Allergy Alert: Wheat Protein In Salami

December 13, 2008

The Québec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) is alerting consumers to the possible presence of undeclared wheat protein in three varieties of salami that were manufactured and sold in the province.

All production lots of the following varieties of Khaled brand salami (225g and 375g package sizes) have been recalled:

• Salami nature (plain salami)
  
• Salami avec olives (salami with olives)
  
• Salami épicé (spicy salami)
  

The recalled items were produced and packaged by Les Viandes Soleil (5552 rue Grande-Allée, Longueuil, QC), and were available for sale at the producer's location at at certain retailers in the province.

Individuals who are allergic to wheat proteins may experience a severe allergic reaction upon consuming the recalled salami. In addition, people who are intolerant of gluten or who suffer from celiac disease should avoid consuming these products.

Flavored Olive Oil Recalled In Québec

December 13, 2008

The Québec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) is warning consumers that Plaisirs Divins brand Basil-Flavoured Olive Oil presents a risk of Clostridium botulinum and has been recalled.

All batch codes of Huile d'olive aromatisée au basilic de marque "Plaisirs Divins" – sold in 250mL glass jars – have been recalled. The recall was initiated after it was learned that the product was displayed for sale without refrigeration.

The product was sold at Plaisirs Divins, 218 chemin du Lac La Motte, La Motte, QC as well as at other retail outlets.

Clostridium botulinum, when allowed to grow in a food product, produces a dangerous neurotoxin. Even very small quantities of this toxin can cause serious – sometimes fatal – symptoms. Under no circumstances should anyone taste even a minute quantity of the recalled olive oil.

For more information on this recall, consumers can contact the province at 1-800-463-5023.

Imported, Cured Fish Recalled in USA: Clostridium botulinum

December 12, 2008

FDA has warned retailers and food service operators that they should not offer for sale ungutted, salt-cured alewives, or gaspereaux fish, that were imported from New Brunswick, Canada. The ungutted fish may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, and should not be consumed.

The fish were produced by Michel & Charles LeBlanc Fisheries, Ltd., Cap-Pelé, New Brunswick, imported into the United States, and shipped to the following four Florida distributors:

• Quirch Foods Inc.
  
• Den-Mar Exports LLC
  
• Dolphin Fisheries Inc.
  
• Labrador & Son Food Products Inc.
  

The fish were packed in 30-pound, white plastic pails with green plastic lids. The pails are labeled with the producers name, and the phrase "Product of Canada." Some of the fish may have been removed from the pails and repacked or sold loose.

FDA considers that ungutted fish that are more than five inches long and are salted, dried or smoked, represent a risk to consumers. These products are treated by FDA as adulterated, and are not permitted to be sold in the United States.

The US government took this position as a result of several cases of botulism that were traced to uneviscerated fish in the 1980s and again in 1992.

The agency urges consumers who have purchased this type of fish to contact the retailer in order to determine the origin of the fish. If there is any doubt, consumers should either return the fish to  the retailer or discard it.

Irish Pork Crosses Atlantic Ocean

Updated December 12, 2008

(Original article posted December 11, 2008)

USDA has announce three separate recalls of pork and pork products that were derived from Irish pigs slaughtered or processed between September 1st and December 7th and may be contaminated with dioxin.

Tommy Moloney's Inc. (Long Island City, NY)

The company is recalling 4,041 pounds of bacon, due to the risk of dioxin contamination. The bacon was made using pork produced in the Republic of Ireland between September 1st and December 7th.

The recalled item is described as follows:

• 8-ounce packages of "Tommy Moloney's Traditional Irish Breakfast Bacon, Made from imported Irish Pork." The label bears the establishment number "EST. 33789" inside the U.S. mark of inspection as well as a "sell by" date between "Dec. 15, 2008" and "Jan. 31, 2009."
  

The recalled products were distributed in California, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Virginia.

For more information about this recall, consumers are invited to contact Tommy Moloney's President, Bill Colbert, at (718) 326-2100.

The following retailers have announced a recall of the Tommy Moloney's bacon:

• Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC (stores throughout MA, CT, RI, ME, NH, NY, NJ): all codes of Tommy Moloney's Irish Breakfast Bacon, 8 oz. packages, UPC #08-52487-00109 bearing a "sell by" date between December 15, 2008 and January 31, 2009 NEW Dec 12
  

Rupari Food Services (Deerfield Beach, FL)

Rupari has recalled approximately 41,020 pounds of fresh pork products, which were imported from Ireland and have been shipped to restaurants in California. The recalled products are described as follows:

• 44-pound approximate weight boxes of "ROSDERRA MEATS, ROSCREA, Pork Loin Back Ribs, KEEP FROZEN." The shipping label bears the Irish establishment number "EST NO. 355."
  

For more information about this recall, contact Rupari's manager, Robert Mintz, at (954) 480-6320.

Dawn International (Acton, MA)

The company has recalled 33,880 pounds of fresh pork products, which were imported from Ireland and shipped to distribution centers in Florida.

The recalled product is described as follows:

• 30-pound cartons of "DAWN PORK & BACON, PORK LOIN BACK RIBS, PRODUCT OF REPUBLIC OF IRELAND." The shipping label bears the Irish mark of inspection "IRELAND 332 EC."
  

Consumers seeking additional information are requested to contact the Irish Embassy representative, Dr. Clare Thorp, at (202) 716-2369.

USDA considers the health risk associated with these recalled product to be low, and has classified the recalls as Class II. The agency, therefore, will not be posting retail distribution lists.

Zimbabwe Cholera Epidemic Over - Not!

December 12, 2008

Robert Mugabe, fearing that the United States and the United Kingdom would use Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic as an excuse to topple his dysfunctional regime, has found an easy way out. He has simply declared that the epidemic has ended.

Sorry, Mr. President. It's not that simple.

One thing that world leaders and non-government organizations can agree on is that Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic is far from over, and that Mugabe and his government are not capable of reversing the total collapse of infrastructure that their policies precipitated. Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, summarized that consensus, in a statement reported on December 8th. 

"This government," said Annan, "has not demonstrated the ability to lead the country out of its current crisis."

The World Health Organization reported on Wednesday that 775 people have died as a result of cholera in Zimbabwe since August. At least 16,141 suspected cases have been reported. WHO fears that the total number of cases could surpass 60,000 before the epidemic is contained.

Zimbabwe's problem also has become the problem of its neighbors, especially South Africa, Mozambique and Botswana. South Africa already has reported more than 600 cases of cholera in its norther border area near the Limpopo River. The South African government has declared one district – Vhembe – a disaster zone.

Zambia – Zimbabwe's northern neighbor – has set up a cholera screening process for people trying to cross the border into Zambia at Victoria Falls. Several people already have been turned back, and Zambian border officials have confiscated potentially contaminated food that individuals were trying to bring across the border with them. So far, the quasi-embargo appears to be working.

Regardless of what the world community thinks of Mugabe's regime, international aid agencies, governments and NGOs have been pitching in with supplies, money and trained workers to help the people of Zimbabwe. The International Committee of the Red Cross, and WHO have been on the job for weeks. The United States, through USAID, announced yesterday that it would contribute an additional US$6.2 million in aid, bringing its total contribution to Zimbabwe cholera relief to more than US$10.8 million. USAID also is sending a Disaster Assistance Response Team to Zimbabwe.

South Africa, too, is cooperating in relief efforts. And other African countries are making their own contributions. Tanzania, for example, has donated US$60,000 in medical supplies to Zimbabwe.

Doubtless, once this cholera epidemic has been contained, Robert Mugabe will claim the credit. But this is no time to play politics. Last March, when Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar, the government put itself ahead of the population. This time, the health needs of the people must take priority over the political future of their President.

Clostridium botulinum In Hipp's Baby Food?

December 11, 2008

Norway's Food Safety Authority is warning consumers that some jars of Hipp baby food fruit purée may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum.

The warning was issued following an illness outbreak in Denmark. The Danish Food Safety Authority is in the process of testing samples of the suspect food.

NFSA is recommending that consumers discard jars of Hipp fruit purée with bananas and apricots identified by L35655, with a use-by date of 31.12.08. The importer has agreed to withdraw the product from the Norwegian retail market.

Hipp is a brand of organic baby foods manufactured in Germany and sold in many countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. International sales and marketing is carried out through the company's UK office.

In a reaction to the Norwegian announcement, Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety has alerted its citizens to the potential problem and has asked retailers to withdraw the product. Hong Kong has requested additional information from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

Results of the Danish lab tests should be available within a few days.

Allergy Alert: Sainsbury's Withdraws "Freefrom" Products

December 11, 2008

Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd. has withdrawn four of its own brand Freefrom beef, chicken and pork meat products due to the presence of trace amounts of undeclared milk protein in samples of the products, according to the UK Food Standards Agency.

All date codes of the following items have been withdrawn from sale:

• Sainsbury's Freefrom 16 pork chipolatas, 400g - frozen
  
• Sainsbury's Freefrom chicken steaks x 4, 380g - frozen
  
• Sainsbury's Freefrom chicken nuggets x 20, 425g - frozen
  
• Sainsbury's Freefrom beef burgers, 227g - frozen
  

Individuals who suffer from an allergy to milk protein should not consume these products, as a severe allergic reaction may ensue. Customers are urged to return these products to a Sainsbury's customer service desk for a full refund.

Stilton Cheese Recalled In Canada

December 11, 2008

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a Health Hazard Alert to Canadian consumers, advising that Cropwell Bishop Creamery Finest Blue Stilton Cheese may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The warning covers all sizes of Cropwell Bishop Creamery Finest Blue Stilton Cheese bearing a Best Before date of 08/DE/12. The cheese was sold in Costco Canada Wholesale stores across the country. CFIA is working with the importer to expedite the recall.

No illnesses have been reported in conjunction with this recall notice. Nevertheless, Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious – sometimes fatal – illnesses in susceptible individuals, especially the elderly, young children, immune-compromised individuals and pregnant women.

Consumers who purchased the recalled cheese should return it to the store for a refund.

Allergy Alert: Chocolate-Coated Raisins, Peanuts Recalled

December 11, 2008

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency alerted Canadian consumers today to the presence of undeclared milk in two additional SunRidge Farms products. This action follows last Friday's recall of SunRidge Farms Organic Dark Chocolate Almonds due to the presence of undeclared milk in the chocolate coating.

The newly recalled items are described as follows:

• SunRidge Farms Organic Dark Chocolate Peanuts, 200g (UPC 6 28997 06959 8)
  
• SunRidge Farms Organic Dark Chocolate Raisins, 215g (UPC 6 28997 06961 1)
  

The products were imported from the United States by DMR Food Corporation (Vaughan, ON), which has initiated a voluntary nationwide recall of all lot and date codes of the two items.

While no illnesses have been reported, individuals who are allergic to milk proteins may suffer a severe allergic reaction if they consume one of these products. Consumers who purchased these items should return them to the store for a refund.

Even though the SunRidge products have not been recalled in the United States, consumers in the United States who are allergic to milk proteins should also be on the look-out for these US-made products.

Chicken Jerky Dog Treats Recalled In Australia

December 10, 2008

The Australian Veterinary Association has warned pet owners and veterinarians to watch for dogs exhibiting signs of acquired Fanconi-like syndrome after KraMar announced that it was withdrawing its Supa Naturals Chicken breasts strips from the Australian market. 

The dog treats were imported from China.

The withdrawal comes as a result of an unusually high number of dogs being reported as suffering from symptoms consistent with this relatively uncommon syndrome. University of Sydney researchers have pointed an epidemiological finger linking the problem to the consumption of the chicken treat.

While KraMar has withdrawn the implicated product, the company was careful to point out that there is no direct scientific evidence linking the chicken treats to the problem. KraMar routinely tests these products for the presence of melamine, Salmonella and E. coli.

Fanconi's syndrome, most often an inherited disease, is characterized by elevated levels of glucose in urine, but not in blood. The high glucose level is an indicator of damage to the kidney's ability to reabsorb nutrients and electrolytes back into the body. 

Non-hereditary Fanconi-like symptoms can be triggered – at least in humans – by a number of factors, including exposure to heavy metals or other chemicals, vitamin D deficiency, or multiple myeloma, among others. While the definition of a "heavy metal" is somewhat arbitrary, this category of chemical elements includes arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium and zinc.

The situation in Australia is eerily reminiscent of a similar incident that took place last year in the United States. In September 2007, FDA warned consumers that as many as 95 dogs might have been sickened – some fatally – as a result of having been fed chicken jerky treats imported from China. Extensive chemical and microbiological testing carried out by the agency failed to reveal anything unusual. At least some of the dogs exhibited symptoms consistent with Fanconi-like syndrome. But FDA never was able to tie down a cause for the illnesses.

KraMar has told ABC News that it is considering moving the production of their Supa Naturals Chicken treat to Australia. Meanwhile dog owners should be watchful for symptoms such as excessive drinking and urination, lethargy and vomiting, and should contact their veterinarian immediately should these symptoms appear.

For more information about the precautionary recall, consumers can contact KraMar by email at customerservice@kramar.com.au or by telephone at 02 4648 8500.

Dioxin-Contaminated Pork From Ireland: Update #4

What's Being Done?

December 10, 2008

As the Republic of Ireland continues its investigation into dioxin contamination, its international customers are taking their own actions to protect local consumers. Following is a summary of what has been learned in the past 24 hours, and what is being done.

Republic of Ireland

After learning that dioxin-contaminated feed had been supplied to 45 cattle farms in the Irish Republic, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF) put a hold on cattle from all 45 farms and began to test each herd for non-dioxin like PCBs – a test used as a preliminary screen for dioxin. Eight of the first 11 herds tested were completely clean. The other three herds were contaminated with low levels of non-dioxin like PCBs – far lower than the quantities found in samples of pork. 

DAFF is continuing to screen the remaining 34 herds of cattle, but is optimistic that most will prove to be cleared. And the Chief Veterinary Officer is scheduled to meet with his EU colleagues today to brief them on the status of Irish beef and live cattle, and assure them of its safety.

Investigators may have a handle on how dioxins entered the animal feed. The Irish EPA has determined that the oil used in a burner to generate heat in order to process waste food into animal feed was "inappropriate" and not approved for that use. Millstream Recycling, the feed processor, insists that it purchased its oil only from "legitimate sources" in the Republic of Ireland. 

The search for the source of the offending oil seems to be leading to a company in County Tyrone, which stores or incinerates waste oil from electricity transformers under license. It's unclear, as yet, how that oil might have found its way to Millstream Recycling – or how dioxins generated by heating the oil might have traveled into the animal feed.

The United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland)

Nine cattle farms in Northern Ireland were supplied with feed from Millstream Recycling. The UK Food Standards Agency is conducting tests on the affected herds. Pending results of those tests – and of the concurrent tests being carried out by the Republic of Ireland – FSA has put a hold on livestock and carcasses from the affected herds in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

FSA also has posted a list of meat processors in Ireland and Northern Ireland that received potentially contaminated pork. Investigations are still underway to determine which of the Northern Ireland processors received the contaminated pork. And, as part of its recall of Irish pork products, FSA has provided consumers with a list of UK companies (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) that received pork from one or more of the listed meat processors.

Russia

The government has announced a ban on pork and pork products from Ireland as a result of the dioxin contamination. It's unknown how much of the meat has entered Russia.

People's Republic of China

The importation of all pork products and animal feeds from the Republic of Ireland has been suspended. The government has alerted its inspectors to recall the more than 2,000 tons of Irish pork that was imported into China since September 1st.

Sweden

After being alerted to the dioxin contamination problem, Findus, a Swedish food company, announced its own recall of food products that might contain Irish pork. Servera, a food wholesaler and customer of Findus, determined that it may have supplied recalled Findus products to as many as 152 of its customers, including several schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Servera is in the process of tracking the affected products – Swedish meatballs and "Biff Lindstrom – to their destinations.

Belgium

Champion has announced a recall of ready-to-eat hamburgers that contain Irish pork. A press release will follow. Belgium is monitoring the situation regarding possible dioxin contamination of Irish beef.

European Union

The European Food Safety Authority has completed a risk assessment, and has concluded that the risk to human health posed by the levels of dioxin found in Irish pork is low, based on the limited time period during which exposure may have occurred. Specifically, EFSA reported:

• "In the most likely scenario, if someone ate an average amount of Irish pork each day throughout the period of the incident (90 days), 10% of which was contaminated at the highest recorded concentration of dioxins[1], the body burden[2] would increase by approximately 10%. EFSA considers this increase to be of no concern for this single event." 
  
• "In a very extreme case, if someone ate a large amount of Irish pork each day throughout the period of the incident (90 days), 100% of which was contaminated at the highest recorded concentration of dioxins, EFSA concludes that the safety margin embedded in the tolerable weekly intake (TWI [3]) would be considerably undermined. Given that the TWI has a 10-fold built in safety margin, EFSA considers that this unlikely scenario would reduce protection, but not necessarily lead to adverse health effects."
  

What does this mean for consumers? The UK Food Standards Agency, referencing this assessment, advises consumers that composite products containing pork – sausage rolls, pork pies, pizzas, and the like – are safe to eat. And consumers who may have eaten Irish pork since September 1st need not worry about their health. The amount of dioxin to which they may have been exposed, even in a worst-case scenario, is within the EU's  "tolerable weekly intake" for the contaminant.

We would add one more consideration. Dioxin accumulates in fat. Eating lean cuts of pork, or trimming off excess fat and only eating the lean meat, greatly reduces the risk of exposure to dioxins.

Southern Ontario Outbreak Over - "Fat Lady" Mute

December 9, 2008

The Ontario Ministry of Health declared last Friday that the province's multi-locus outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 has ended. 

With the most recent new patient having begun to experience symptoms on November 6, the tally of lab-confirmed and probable cases in each of the five public health units was finalized at:

• Niagara: 13 confirmed, 13 probable
  
• Guelph: 7 confirmed, 19 probable
  
• Halton: 6 confirmed, 6 probable
  
• Waterloo: 2 confirmed
  
• Hamilton: 1 confirmed
  

A confirmed case is one in which the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 was recovered from a patient. A probable case is one in which the patient's symptoms and onset date fit the outbreak profile, but no lab confirmation was obtained. 

In all, 67 people were part of this outbreak; the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 was recovered from 29 of them. But it was not found in any samples of food or water from any of the restaurants and food service venues. Nor was it isolated from the utensils, food contact surfaces or general environment in any of those locations. Epidemiological evidence, combined with a trace-back investigation carried out by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, exposed a probable connection to lettuce grown in California's Salinas Valley.

Sadly, though not unexpectedly, investigators were unable to confirm the presence of the outbreak strain "down on the farm," leaving the Ontario Ministry of Health no real choice but to report,

"The source (or sources) of E. coli was not confirmed."

Dioxin-Contaminated Pork From Ireland: Update #3

Dioxins Found in Irish Cattle

December 9, 2008

Cattle on at least 11 farms in the Republic of Ireland have tested positive for dioxin, but at levels far lower than were found in Irish pigs, according to a report in today's Irish Times. The 11 farms are among an estimated 45 cattle farms in the Irish Republic and 8 farms in Northern Ireland that received dioxin-contaminated feed.

The levels of dioxin found in the cattle are about 2-3 times the legal limit in food. By comparison, the recalled Irish pork contained 80-200 times the legal limit for dioxin.

While any dioxin-contaminated cattle will be slaughtered and the meat from their herds withheld from market, it's unlikely that a recall will be issued for Irish beef already in circulation. The levels of dioxin found in the cattle do not present a public health concern, according to the Minister of Agriculture.

The main concern regarding Irish beef, however, might be one of perception rather than public health. A Canadian headline told the story as "High levels of dioxin found in Irish cattle; joins pork on contaminated list." Ireland will have to pay careful attention to its public relations to avoid serious damage to its US$2 billion beef export industry.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has put up a special web page to provide both consumers, producers and retailers with more information on the dioxin investigation.

Dioxin-Contaminated Pork From Ireland: Update #2

December 8, 2008

As the investigation into the source of dioxin that has found its way into Irish pigs and pork products proceeds, the country's trading partners are working to comply with Ireland's recommendation that all of its pork (dating from September 1st onward) be withdrawn from the market.

The United Kingdom, Ireland's next-door neighbor and largest customer, has advised consumers to avoid all pork products from the Republic of Ireland or from Northern Ireland. This includes any food items that contain pork as a significant ingredient. In addition, the Food Standards Agency is advising retailers and caterers to withdraw from sale all Irish pork products manufactured after September 1st. UK food manufacturers have been asked not to use Irish pork manufactured after September 1st as an ingredient in their products.

 

Belgium, in a December 7th news release, assured its citizens that no live Irish pigs whatsoever had been imported during 2008, but that the government was investigating. Today, the government's food security agency announced that three Belgian companies had been supplied with Irish pork products. As a result, the Delhaize, Okay, Carrefour, GB Super and AD Delhaize food chains have recalled hamburger made with pork meat. Also, a hold was placed on suspect meat at one importer; another importer took delivery of pork meat from the Netherlands that had originated in Ireland.

The French Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has determined that 1,600 (metric) tonnes of Irish pork products entered France between September 1st and now, destined for six companies. The six recipients have been contacted, and are cooperating in an effort to trace the pork products. Pork imported from Ireland, according to the Ministry, represents only 0.7% of the pork meat sold in France.

 

Russia, following discussions with Irish authorities, has temporarily suspended the granting of import permits for Irish pork products.

Germany, which has imported approximately 2,000 tonnes of pork from Ireland since September 1st, has ordered that pork from Ireland be removed from the marketplace until the dioxin contamination problem has been resolved.

Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety, in a December 7th news release, indicated that it was monitoring the situation, and advised consumers to avoid eating pork and bacon products made in Ireland after September 1st. The agency also has asked retailers to stop selling these products. 

According to ChannelNewsAsia, pork and pork products from Ireland also have been withdrawn from the marketplace in, or banned from entry into, a number of other countries, including: China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Bulgaria.

And what is Ireland doing? The FSIA has called in the police to help determine how the pig feed became contaminated with dioxin. The government is working with the pork industry and with its trading partners to determine the probable destinations of the suspect pork.

The Environmental Protection Agency also has joined the investigation, and has found that the feed company had used an "inappropriate" oil. The oil used in the plant would have needed an EPA license for the purpose. This license was not obtained. It is now thought by investigators that the oil was used to generate heat for the feed processing, and somehow contaminated the feed.

Today, the FSIA issued a news update to reassure consumers that the risk of health consequences from this incident was very low. But while the health risks may be low, the economic cost of this incident promises to be high. 

The Irish Times reported earlier today that as many as 100,000 pigs may have to be culled (i.e., destroyed) as a result of their exposure to dioxin-contaminated feed, and 125 million euros-worth of pork products dumped. Nearly 1,400 workers are facing temporary lay-offs, and meat producers are seeking government aid.

The cost to the reputation of Irish pork has yet to be calculated.

Dioxin-Contaminated Pork From Ireland: Update #1

December 7, 2008

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland reported today that an ingredient added to pork feed was responsible for the dioxin contamination of Irish pork and pork products. The contaminated feed was supplied to 10 pig farms in the Republic of Ireland. Ten percent of Irish pigs are raised on those 10 farms. 

The feed was produced by Millstream Power Recycling Limited, a company that recycles food products into pig meal. The dioxin apparently was found in an oil used to lubricate a machine that dries animal feed. Investigators don't yet know how the oil entered the pig feed.

The contaminated feed also was supplied to a number of pig farms in Northern Ireland. The UK Food Standards Agency is monitoring the situation closely, and has advised British consumers to avoid all pork products – including sausages, ham, bacon and salami – from both the Republic of Ireland and from Northern Ireland. 

Alerts also have gone out to Ireland's trading partners. According to Ireland's chief veterinarian, contaminated pork may have been shipped to as many as 20-25 countries.  Le Monde reported today that some contaminated pork products already have been found in France and Belgium. 

Until more is known, the safest bet is to avoid consuming any pork products that might have originated in Ireland.

Allergy Alert: Chocolate Bars Recalled In Canada

December 7, 2008

Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation, a national Canadian drug store chain, has recalled two varieties of Life brand Dark Chocolate Bars due to the possible presence of undeclared milk in the chocolate, according to an announcement by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The imported chocolate bars were sold across Canada in Pharmaprix and Shoppers Drug Mart stores. All lot codes of the following two varieties of 100-gram chocolate bars have been recalled:

• Life brand Premium Swiss Dark Chocolate with Orange (UPC 0 57800 16450 0)
  
• Life brand Premium Swiss Dark Chocolate 72% Cocoa (UPC 0 57800 16449 4)
  

No illnesses have been reported, but individuals who are allergic to milk proteins may experience a severe reaction after eating these products. Consumers who are concerned about the possible presence of milk in the chocolate bars should either discard them or return them to the store for a refund.

This recall comes just two days after CFIA alerted consumers to the presence of undeclared milk in SunRidge Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds. Both recalls involve imported products, raising the question as to whether both SunRidge and Life were made using chocolate from the same manufacturer. If so, there may be more recalls to come.

ALERT: Republic of Ireland Recalls All Pork Products

December 6, 2008

The government of the Republic of Ireland has recalled all pork products "... made and sold in the Irish Republic since September..." according to BBC. 

The action was taken after dioxins were found in slaughtered pigs. It is thought that the pigs had eaten feed contaminated with PCBs. Some of the samples contained 200 times the level of dioxins generally considered to be safe.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has advised consumers not to eat any Irish pork or bacon. All Irish pork products have been recalled on government instruction. Movement of pigs on 10 farms has been restricted for now.

Approximately half of the country's pork production is consumed domestically – sold at retail, and in restaurants, pubs, and food service establishments. Retailers, restaurateurs, food service operators, and publicans have been told to return or destroy their stocks of Irish pork. 

The remainder is exported to the United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland), Europe and Asia. Ireland has issued an international warning, advising consumers in its export markets not to eat any products that contain Irish pork.

Melamine: How Much Is Too Much?

December 6, 2008

The World Health Organization convened a meeting of toxicology experts in Ottawa (Canada) this past week to figure out a Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of melamine. The expert panel arrived at a consensus of 0.2 milligrams of melamine daily per kilogram of body weight (one kilogram equals 2.2 pounds). 

This is a significant reduction from the previous working numbers of 0.5 mg/Kg (in Europe), and 0.63 mg/Kg on which the US Food and Drug Administration based its Interim Risk Assessment. The WHO announcement did not provide any details explaining the basis for the change.

An obvious question is whether this reduced TDI will alter the interim limit guidelines that have been applied around the world for melamine in food. At present, those guidelines stipulate a maximum of 2.5 ppm (i.e., 2.5 mg/Kg) of melamine in most foods and feeds. Foods intended to be the main source of nutrition for infants and toddlers (age cut-off of 36 months) must meet a stricter melamine limit of 1.0 ppm. 

It's easiest to answer the question by working through an example – a 3-year old child weighing 15 Kg (33 pounds). 

According to the new recommendations, this child can safely consume 3 milligrams of melamine daily (0.2 mg/Kg body weight, multiplied by 15 Kg). Assuming that all food contains the permitted limit of 2.5 ppm of melamine, the child would need to eat or drink 1.2 Kg – more than 2.6 pounds – of food and beverage every day in order to consume 3 milligrams of melamine. 

Using the same arithmetic, an adult weighing 70 Kg (154 pounds) would have to consume 5.6 Kg (more than 12 pounds) of food and beverage daily to reach his or her TDI of 14 milligrams of melamine. 

There are other considerations, of course. Not everyone will respond to melamine the same way. Individuals whose kidney functions already are impaired may be more susceptible to low doses of melamine. Infants and young children may be far more susceptible than adults. And no one knows to what extent the presence of other related compounds (such as cyanuric acid) may alter the health equation. For the moment, though, the current guidelines are likely to remain in force.

The WHO report states clearly that the TDI of 0.2 ppm is a Tolerable – not a safe – level for melamine. In principle, melamine should not be present in food. In practice, food can become contaminated by trace amounts of melamine from products used in food plant sanitation, from the metabolism of certain pesticides by crops, and by migration from food contact surfaces, such as melamine-based dish ware.

Until society finds a way to eliminate all possible sources of melamine contamination of our food supply, it would appear that we shall have to tolerate the possibility that we are ingesting melamine along with our meals.

Melamine Alert: Walgreen's Recalls Teddy Bears

December 6, 2008

Walgreen's (Deerfield, IL) has recalled a limited number of 9-inch tall Dressy Teddy Bear with 4-oz., Chocolate Bar, after the drugstore chain was notified by FDA that some of the chocolate bars may contain more than 2.5ppm of melamine.

The Teddy Bears – available for sale since September 2008 – are labeled with UPC #047475864485 and WIC #291332 (on the product tag). Walgreen's urges anyone who purchased one of the 173 recalled Teddy Bears to return the item to the store for a full refund.

Québec Alerts to Undeclared Gluten in Foods

December 6, 2008

The Québec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) has alerted consumers in that province to the undeclared presence of gluten in specific foods labeled as SANS GLUTEN (i.e., "gluten-free"). 

Solution Saveur Santé, Inc. (3773, rue du Campanile, Québec, QC). All products sold up to and including December 5, 2008 may contain undeclared gluten and have been recalled. One case of gluten intolerance linked to a product purchased at this location has been reported.

Boucherie Jacques Saint-Pierre (103, 23e Rue, Saint-Rédempteur, QC). All Boucherie Jacques-Saint-Pierre brand products sold up to and including December 5, 2008 may declare undeclared gluten and have been recalled. The items were sold at the indicated location, in addition to other retail stores in the province. One case of gluten intolerance linked to a Boucherie Jacques-Saint-Pierre product has been reported.

Gluten intolerance is not an allergic reaction. In sensitive individuals, eating even a small amount of a food that contains gluten produces an immune system reaction resulting in an inflammation of the small intestine. Symptoms – including diarrhea and abdominal pain, among others – range from very mild to severe. 

Individuals who are gluten-intolerant and have purchased one of these products should discard the product or return it to the store for a refund.

Allergy Alert: Kroger, Whole Foods Recall Mislabeled Items

December 6, 2008

Whole Foods Markets and The Kroger Company have each issued separate alerts as a result of labeling errors involving undeclared dairy ingredients.

Whole Foods Market has withdrawn 365 Everyday Organic High Fiber Cereal (12-ounce box, UPC #99482-40888) from store shelves to correct the labeling error. The package labels omitted the word "milk" in parentheses after the ingredient "whey." Customers who purchased the item may return it to the store for a refund.

The Kroger Company has recalled Louisiana Fish Fry Chicken/Fish Bake, 6-ounce due to the presence of undeclared buttermilk in the product. The recalled item was sold in Dillons, Food 4 Less, King Soopers, Smith's, and Ralphs stores, as well as in Kroger stores located in Michigan, Central Ohio, the northern West Virginia panhandle, Greater Memphis (TN), Arkansas, Mississippi, Greater Cincinnati (both Ohio and northern Kentucky), southeast Indiana, and Dayton (OH). Consumers should return the recalled item to the store for a refund.

Individuals who are allergic to milk may suffer a severe reaction if they consume a food item that contains even a small amount of milk protein. 

Allergy Alert: SunRidge Farms Dark Chocolate Almonds

December 5, 2008

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has alerted consumers to the presence of undeclared milk in SunRidge Farms Organic Dark Chocolate Almonds. All lot codes are affected.

The chocolate-covered nuts were imported from the United States by DMR Food Corporation (Vaughan, ON), and sold in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Québec and the Atlantic provinces, and may have been distributed nationally. The nuts are packaged in 205-gram packages bearing UPC 6 28997 06960 4.

Individuals who are allergic to milk proteins may experience a severe – possibly life-threatening – allergic reaction after consuming a food that contains milk. While there have been no illnesses reported, anyone who is concerned about the presence of milk in these nuts should either discard the product or return it to the store for a refund.

This recall has been announced only in Canada so far. But the chocolate-covered almonds were processed and packaged in the United States. US consumers who are allergic to milk, therefore, should also be on the alert for this item, which would probably be offered in 8-ounce bags.

Price Chopper Recalls Shucked Oysters

December 5, 2008

The Price Chopper supermarket chain, acting out of an abundance of caution, announced a recall earlier today of Willapoint Fresh Shucked Oyster Meats. Because the product temperature was not recorded at the time the oyster meats were delivered to the warehouse, Price Chopper cannot be sure of the product's quality.

Eight-, 16-, and 128-ounce package sizes are all affected by this recall. These correspond to Store Item Codes 2160953, 2162593 and 2155743.

Customers who purchased Willapoint Fresh Shucked Oyster Meats at any Price Chopper supermarket are asked to return the product to the store for a full refund. For additional information, contact Price Chopper at (800) 666-7667, Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:30am and 5:00pm (EST).

Allergy Alert: Sainsbury Chicken Recalled In UK

December 5, 2008

The Sainsbury supermarket chain has recalled its own brand of cooked "wafer-thin" chicken, due to the possible presence of traces of undeclared milk in the product, according to the UK Food Standards Agency.

The recall covers all 70-gram packages of Sainsbury's Wafer thin chicken slices labeled with date codes up to and including 22 December.

While most people can consume this product safely, individuals who are allergic to milk protein may suffer a severe reaction after eating the chicken. Sainsbury asks that consumers return the recalled product to the supermarket customer service desk for a refund.

Allergy Alert: Mom's Food Sandwiches Mislabeled

December 5, 2008

Mom's Food Products, Inc. has recalled several days' production of its Pimento Spread sandwiches after it was discovered that the spread contained undeclared eggs.

The recalled sandwiches are described as:

• Mom's Pimento Spread 5.0 oz black wedge (UPC 83898 00114) Expiration dates December 15th through 18th.
  

Only those sandwiches delivered by Mom's Food personnel are included in this recall.

While there have been no illnesses reported, individuals who are allergic to egg may experience a severe reaction after eating the recalled sandwiches. Customers are encouraged to return uneaten sandwiches to the place of purchase for a refund.

For more information on this recall, consumers can contact Mom's Food Products at 1-800-743-0010.

Those Mysterious Salmonella Outbreaks

December 5, 2008

Several times this autumn – most recently on October 24th – the Public Health Agency of Canada advised Canadians that it was investigating a national outbreak of Salmonella Poona. As of the last report, the same strain of Salmonella Poona had turned up 29 patients in five provinces.

That outbreak must have ended, because PHAC has been "mum" on any new cases since October 24th. And, as best we can tell, the source of the unusual flurry of infections was never found.

Now New Zealand is searching for the source of a national outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium, phage type 42. According to yesterday's news release from the Ministry of Health, 36 New Zealanders have been infected with this strain of Salmonella since October 13th – more than double the total for all of 2007. While the victims are located on both the North and South Islands – in Dunedin (9), Christchurch (16), Nelson (5), Greymouth (1), Rotorua (1), Whakatane (1), Waikato (1) and Auckland (2) –  most live on the South Island.

The broad geographic distribution of cases suggests a common food source. The duration of the outbreak (since mid-October) hints at a food that is not highly perishable – or at an ongoing source of contamination of a perishable food. At the moment, it's up to the epidemiologists to narrow the scope of the search.

Ontario Ricotta Cheese Recalled

Updated December 5, 2008
(originally posted December 3, 2008)

International Cheese Co. Ltd. (Toronto, ON) has recalled a single production lot of Santa Lucia brand Ricotta Cheese due to the possibility that the cheese was contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The cheese is sold in 500-gram packages, and is identified by lot number 477 and a Best Before date of 09JA01. The ricotta was distributed in Ontario and in the following three Montreal, QC stores (Montreal distribution updated Dec 5th):

• Inter Marché Lagoria St-Léonard, 5305 Jean-Talon East
  
• Inter Marché St Michel,10, 181 St Michel Blvd.
  
• Charcuterie Noël, 5733 Léger Blvd.
  

Listeria monocytogenes infections may produce mild flu-like or gastrointestinal symptoms in healthy adults, but can cause serious – sometimes fatal – illness in the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and frail or immuno-compromised individuals. A pregnant women who becomes infected with Listeria monocytogenes may pass her infection to her unborn child, resulting in premature birth, stillbirth, or the birth of a seriously ill infant.

Anyone who purchased the recalled batch of Santa Lucia Ricotta Cheese should return it to the store for a refund. For more information, consumers can call the company directly at 416-769-3547.

The China Syndrome: Looking Back (Again)

What's worse? A cholera epidemic that got out of hand due to government neglect, denial and incompetence, or the systematic adulteration of food and feed that was winked at by all levels of government? It depends on your point of view.

Zimbabwe's government, let by Robert Mugabe, has a lot to answer for. After decades of neglect, the country's water and sewage infrastructure – once fully modern – has collapsed. The resulting cholera epidemic has claimed more than 500 lives and infected in excess of 12,000 Zimbabweans. And it has spilled into the neighboring countries of South Africa and Botswana.

China's melamine adulteration scandal, in contrast, cost 6 lives and sickened 294,000 infants – nearly 52,000 of them were hospitalized – as a result of the presence of high levels of melamine in Chinese dry infant formulas. 

While the cholera epidemic is tragic, the disease is endemic in Africa and Asia. Periodic outbreaks happen – usually as a result of a natural or man-made disaster. The Zimbabwe epidemic might be the straw that topples Mugabe's government, but it won't have a lasting impact on the world economy. 

Melamine, on the other hand, has changed the way in which China's trading partners view the safety and reliability of the country's food and feed exports. All over the world, countries large and small, rich and poor, developed and emerging, reacted to the melamine scare by closing their borders to Chinese dairy imports, removing those products from store shelves, and testing them for the presence of melamine. 

As soon as the Chinese government – after initial denials – began to get a handle on the dairy problem, other shoes started falling. Melamine was reported in egg powder, animal feed, shell eggs, and even a chemical leavening agent. More borders were closed. More products were embargoed.

China now is faced with a serious credibility problem. The European Union, which already prohibited the import of milk and other animal products from China, now requires that all products from China that contain milk as an ingredient must be tested for melamine. And – after a French company reported finding melamine in a sample of soy meal – the EU also has banned soy-based foods from China that are meant to be consumed by infants and young children. All other soy-containing foods from China must be tested for melamine at the time of import.

Canada, a long-standing trading partner, hasn't quite closed its border to protein-based foods from China. But it now requires importers to sample and test:

• infant formula or baby food with milk ingredients sourced from China;
  
• Chinese food products derived from milk or containing milk-derived ingredients as one of the first three ingredients; and
  
• dairy ingredients and soybean meal from China destined for use in animal feed.
  

Last month, the United States issued an Import Alert advising border agents to detain without examination "... all milk products, milk derived ingredients and finished food products containing milk from China..." This de facto embargo puts the onus on importers to document the safety of each individual shipment. The US Food and Drug Administration also has opened an office in Beijing to work with Chinese officials on ensuring the safety and quality of food and drug ingredients and products destined for shipment to the United States.

From the Chinese perspective, a cholera epidemic might have been preferable to the melamine adulteration. At least cholera is easily treated, if one can deliver medications, clean drinking water and some basic health care to the afflicted population. 

And cholera wouldn't have triggered the international after-effects that have resulted from the melamine scandal.

Foreign Materials in Frozen Chicken: USA and Hong Kong

Retail Distribution Updated December 4

For the second time this month, the USDA has advised consumers of a recall of frozen chicken products that contain small pieces of foreign material.

On November 7th, Barber Foods Company (Portland, ME) recalled more than 41,000 pounds of frozen, stuffed chicken after customers complained of finding pieces of rubber in the chicken entrées. The Schwann's Stuffed Chicken Kiev was produced on May 17, June 2 and August 4, and sold through catalogs and over the internet.

Yesterday (November 17th), Nestlé Prepared Foods Company (Springville, UT) announced a recall of 879,565 pounds of frozen chicken meals after several consumers reported finding pieces of hard plastic in the entrées. One injury was reported.

The recalled entrée packages, listed below, carry a USDA inspection logo with Est. P-9018, and were produced on Aug 18, Aug 21, Aug 28, Sept 9, Sept 19, Sept 25, Sept 30, Oct 6, Oct 17-18, Oct 22 and Oct 27. 

• LEAN CUISINE PESTO CHICKEN WITH BOW TIE PASTA, 9.5-ounce package. Production code of “8280595912” and use-by date of “Best Before MAY 2010.”
  
• LEAN CUISINE CHICKEN MEDITERRANEAN, 10.5-ounce package. Production code of “8231595912” or “8241595912” and use-by date of “Best before SEP 2010”. Production code of “8263595912,” “8269595911” or “8274595912,” and use-by date of “Best before OCT 2010”. Production code of “8291595912” or “8301595912” and use-by date of “Best before NOV 2010.”
  
• LEAN CUISINE CHICKEN TUSCAN, 12.5-ounce package. Production code of “8234595911” and  use-by date of “Best before SEP 2009” Production code of “8253595911” or “8269595912” and use-by date of “Best before OCT 2009”. Production code of “8292595911” or “8296595911” and use-by date of “Best before NOV 2009.”
  

The chicken meals were distributed through retail establishments throughout the United States. USDA will be posting a retail distribution list as soon as the information is forthcoming from Nestlé. Meanwhile, here is the information we've been able to assemble so far.

• Food Lion, LLC (Bloom, Food Lion and Reid's stores): Lean Cuisine Chicken Mediterranean (10.5 oz), UPC 13800 16612, store item #671396 
• Giant Food LLC: All three varieties of Lean Cuisine mentioned in the USDA recall notice
• Harris Teeter: Lean Cuisine Spa Classic Chicken Mediterranean
  
• The Kroger Company (King Soopers, Ralphs, QFC, Food 4 Less stores only): Lean Cuisine Chicken Tuscan (12 oz.), Lean Cuisine Chicken Mediterranean (10.5 oz.)
  
• Price Chopper: Lean Cuisine Chicken Bowtie Pasta (9.5 oz.)
  
• ShopRite: All three varieties of Lean Cuisine mentioned in the USDA recall notice 
• The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company: All three varieties of Lean Cuisine mentioned in the USDA recall notice
• TOPS Friendly Markets: Stouffer Lean Cuisine Chicken Tuscan, (12 oz.), Lean Cuisine Chicken Mediterranean (10.5 oz.) 
• Wal-Mart USA: All three varieties of Lean Cuisine mentioned in the USDA recall notice
  
• Wegmans: Lean Cuisine Chicken Mediterranean (10.5 oz.)

For a complete retail distribution list covering the three recalled items, click HERE. This 140-page list provided by USDA is sorted alphabetically by state, then by city. Revised list issued December 4th.

If you have purchased one of the recalled varieties of Lean Cuisine, please check the production code and Best before date printed on the side of the package.

Consumers with questions about this recall should contact the Nestlé Consumer Services Center at (800) 227-6188.

The Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety reports that all three Lean Cuisine products were exported from the United States to Hong Kong. The CFS advises consumers not to eat the recalled entrées, and has instructed local retailers to remove the items from store shelves.

Allergy Alert: UK Company Withdraws Chutney

Updated December 4, 2008
(originally posted November 26, 2008)

On November 26th, Shaws of Huddersfield ordered its Apricot and Ginger Chutney withdrawn from store shelves due to the presence of undeclared sulphur dioxide, according to an Allergy Alert issued by the UK Food Standards Agency.

The product withdrawal was extended on December 4th to include all date codes of the following Shaws of Huddersfield 1889 Yorkshire brand chutneys:

• Apricot and Ginger, 300g: Batch code AGC
  
• Apricot and Orange, 300g: Batch code AOC
  
• Autumn Fruit, 300g: Batch code AFC
  
• Curried Fruit, 300g: Batch code CFC
  
• Hot Toddy, 300g: Batch code HTC
  
• Mulled Wine, 300g: Batch code MWC
  
• Santa’s Special, 300g: Batch code SSC
  
• Spicy Apricot, 300g: Batch code SAC
  
• Winter Ale, 300g: Batch code FLC
  
• Winter Warmer, 300g: Batch code WWC
  

Consumers who are sensitive to sulphur dioxide or sulphites should not eat these products, as they may provoke a severe allergic-type reaction in sensitive individuals. 

Zimbabwe Cholera Update

December 3, 2008

The situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate.

Two days ago, we reported that Zimbabwe's neighbors were getting worried that the Zimbabwe epidemic would spill over. South Africa, Botswana and Malawi already had reported cholera cases in people who had crossed their shared borders with Zimbabwe. Yesterday, the news got worse.

The health department of Limpopo Province (South Africa) reported that Vibrio cholerae – the causative agent of cholera – has been detected in the Limpopo River. This river forms part of the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe, as well as between South Africa and Botswana. Limpopo has treated 399 cholera patients since November 15th. An additional 101 patients were admitted to hospitals around the province between December 1st and 2nd. Six of the cholera patients – 2 South Africans and 4 Zimbabweans – have died.

In an update released yesterday, the World Health Organization reported that the cholera death toll in Zimbabwe had reached 484 as of December 1st; 11,735 cases of cholera have been reported in the country since August. But that tally already is out of date. According to the United Nations, the cholera epidemic has claimed 565 lives – 177 in Harare. The number of confirmed cases nationwide has risen to 12,546 victims, of which 6,448 live in Harare.

A Harare diarist's cry of desperation was published on-line by BBC yesterday. "People are dying in great numbers," Esther (not her real name) wrote, "because ... Harare's two main hospitals are closed."

"In some parts of town there is raw sewage running down streets."

New Zealand Firm Recalls Maize Cornflour

Murdoch Manufacturing Limited (Christchurch, New Zealand) has recalled some 400-gram packages of Pam's Maize Cornflour, due to the presence of gluten in the product. 

Gluten, a protein that is a natural constituent of wheat, rye and barley, can cause intestinal distress to sensitive individuals. In more severe cases, ingesting gluten can trigger celiac disease – an autoimmune disease that runs in families. 

The recall comprises a single production batch of cornflour, which became cross-contaminated with gluten during packaging. The recalled batch, identified as Lot 4689 and labeled as Best Before 22 OCT 10, was distributed through the South Island and the mid to lower North Island of New Zealand. There was no overseas distribution.

Pam's Maize Cornflour is sold through Pak 'N Save, Write Price and New World Supermarkets, Four Square Foodmarkets, On the Spot Dairies, and Trents and Toops Cash and Carry's. Anyone who wishes to return the recalled product for a refund may do so at the place of purchase.

Allergy Alert: Tesco Recalls Cocoa

Tesco Stores Ltd. has recalled two production batches of Tesco brand Continental Plain Chocolate 74% Cocoa, due to the presence of undeclared milk in the product. The mislabeling was due to a packaging error.

The recalled 100-gram packages of cocoa are identified as batch codes 01 2010 L8208 1 and 01 2010 L8208 2.

Individuals who are allergic to milk may experience a severe allergic reaction upon consuming this product. 

Allergy Alert: Undeclared Soy Protein In Sausages

DeNunzio's Sausage (Elmira, NY) has recalled nearly 36,400 pounds of ready-to-eat Polish Kielbasa sausages due to the presence of undeclared soy protein in the sausages. The oversight was discovered during a routine USDA inspection of the production facility.

The recalled sausages are packed in 1-, 2-, and 4-pound jars, labeled as "DeNunzio Polish Kielbasa, Fully Cooked, Ready To Eat, Packed In Vinegar." The jar labels are imprinted with Est. 18523 inside the USDA inspection mark. 

The kielbasa was produced between March 13 and November 26 and sold to distributors in Pennsylvania and New York for redistribution to retail establishments. No retail distribution list is available yet.

While no illnesses have been reported, individuals who are allergic to soy protein may suffer a severe reaction if they consume this product. Consumers with questions about this recall should contact the company's owner, James DeNunzio, at (607) 732-2131.

An Evanger's Update

Last April, I alerted readers to a safety warning issued by FDA regarding Evanger's Dog and Cat Food Company, Inc. According to the FDA news release, the agency had noted "... significant deviations from prescribed documentation of processes, equipment, and recordkeeping in the production of the company's thermally processed low acid canned food (LACF) products."

Over the months, several readers have posted comments to that April article – some of them raising questions about Evanger's current status. Two days ago, we contacted Holly Sher, President of Evanger's, for her take on the situation. Holly replied with the following statement:

"At Evanger’s we take every customer comment and question seriously. In fact, as not only the president of Evanger’s but a true animal lover, I personally take customers calls to get feedback on the products and to get to know our customers. I appreciate the opportunity to clarify a few critical points:

1. No Evanger’s product has ever been recalled, nor is there any indication that any Evanger’s product is under-processed, unsafe, or contaminated in any way. The notice from the FDA this past spring has been cleared and was a result of mishandled paperwork.

2. All ingredients in Evanger’s products are sourced in the United States and all manufacturing is done in our suburban Chicago facility, where I work every day only a few feet away. We purchase the majority of our ingredients locally including produce at the very same distributor of some of the top five-star Chicago restaurants.

In closing, please know that I stand by our products and procedures. My dogs and cats are fed the very same Evanger’s product that we ship out. I truly appreciated the opportunity to get this information out.

Thank you again,

Holly Sher, President of Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food"

When contacted by eFoodAlert, Laura Alvey, Deputy Director of Communications Staff for FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, confirmed that Evanger's "... is now operating in full compliance with applicable FDA regulations."

FDA urges consumers who want to report any problems or adverse reactions relating to animal foods to contact the agency's district office complaint coordinators. 

Zimbabwe Exports Cholera To Neighbors

The Zimbabwean economy is so bad that it has nothing to export – except its cholera victims. It has plenty of those.

According to the country's opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, more than 500 Zimbabweans have died of cholera in an epidemic that has been simmering since August. The World Health Organization is somewhat more conservative, estimating a death toll of 412.

It's taken the better part of four months, but the government finally appears to have acknowledged that an epidemic is in full flower. One week ago, the deputy health minister blamed the epidemic on "illegal sanctions" and stated that the situation was under control. And Zimbabwe denied entry visas to a committee of "Elders" – former US President Jimmy Carter, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Graca Machel, the wife of Nelson Mandela – who were hoping to help the country find a solution to its health crisis. 

The situation in Zimbabwe has been exacerbated by the total breakdown in the country's water and sewage infrastructure. On November 30, running water was cut off to the capital city of Harare. The water treatment department had run out of chemicals needed to treat the water. As a result, residents were forced to collect water from stagnant pools, or dig shallow wells – increasing the chances that cholera would continue to spread.

Earlier today, with the rainy season on its way and the epidemic still unchecked, Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe finally acknowledged the severity of the situation. He described the cholera situation as "disastrous" and called upon the population to exercise good hygiene practices. But it's not clear what the government can – or will – do to stem the cholera epidemic, beyond continuing to accept the assistance of international aid organizations, including the World Health Organization and the International Red Cross.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's neighbors are getting increasingly nervous. Cholera victims have crossed the border into South Africa, hoping to receive treatment that is unavailable at home. Between November 15th and November 24th, 168 cholera victims from Zimbabwe were treated in one South African border city alone. 

The United Nations has warned that the disease also is spreading into neighboring Botswana. And an editorial in the November 28th edition of The Daily Times (Malawi) urged that individuals crossing from Zimbabwe into Malawi should be required to take "preventive medication" to forestall further spread of the disease.

Zimbabwe's neighbors have reason to be afraid. Cholera is easily spread through contaminated water. The best defense against this disease is a safe drinking water supply and a sanitary means of human waste disposal – two items that are scarce in that part of the world. Even South Africa, the most developed of the countries in the region, has failed to maintain its water infrastructure.

In this last month of the International Year of Sanitation, the Zimbabwe cholera epidemic is a frustrating reminder of how much work is left to do.

Québec Issues "Bathtub Cheese" Warning

The Québec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) is alerting consumers this morning to a recall of Latuma and Cacciocavallo cheeses.

The cheeses were produced from raw milk in an unlicensed facility and sold from a garage located at 6241, 27th Avenue, in Montréal. MAPAQ considers the consumption of this cheese to present a significant health risk. Anyone who has purchased this cheese should discard it.

MAPAQ also reminds consumers that the sale of raw milk and cream, in addition to other dairy products made from unpasteurized milk or cream, is not permitted in the Province of Québec.