Monday, November 30, 2009

Recall Roundup: November 30, 2009

URGENT: Seven organic grains baby food from Spain may contain the pathogens Salmonella and Enterobacter sakazakii. See below for details.

Here is today's list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals and allergy alerts. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.



United States
  • Food Safety Recall: ShopRite of Bensalem (2200 Bristol Road, Bensalem, PA) recalls all store-made ground meat that was produced on Friday, November 27, because the meat may contain small pieces of Styrofoam tray. No other ShopRite stores are affected.


Europe
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Arnåvej 23, 6240 Løgumkloster recalls fresh and frozen poultry that was slaughtered without authorization
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Gladsaxe School recalls Smooth Me fruit smoothies that were produced in unauthorized premises and distributed in FLG canteens and other locations in the Gladsaxe region.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): ALDI Karlslunde KS. recalls fresh whole chicken that may be contaminated with Campylobacter. The recalled poultry was sold in Aldi stores in Sealand
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2009.1649): Salmonella spp. and Enterobacter sakazakii in seven organic grains baby food from Spain; distributed in France, Spain and Portugal
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2009.1650): Aflatoxins in basmati rice from Pakistan; distributed in the United Kingdom
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2009.1651): Benzopyrene (industrial contaminant) in smoked herring from Canada; distributed in France


Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket's recall web site.


*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.


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

Posted by Phyllis E at Monday, November 30, 2009 0 comments
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Sunday, November 29, 2009

Where Is Justice For Peanut Outbreak Victims?

"Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied"

Like it or not – agree with the sentences or not – China took swift and decisive action against perpetrators of last year's milk adulteration scheme.

Unfortunately, the 700+ victims of Stewart Parnell's Salmonella-poisoned peanuts – and the family members of the 9 people who died as a result of their infections – will have to wait a lot longer before the US government lays charges against Parnell and the Peanut Corporation of America. If charges are ever laid at all!

Last January, Senator Patrick Leahy and Representative Rosa DeLauro asked the US Justice Department to launch a criminal investigation into the actions of Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) and its CEO, Stewart Parnell, saying,

"It is clear that the behavior of the Peanut Corporation Of America was egregious - harming hundreds of Americans and endangering many thousands more. We believe it is critical to determine whether the actions and omissions of this company rose to the level of criminal conduct. If crimes were committed, those responsible must be identified and held accountable."


The FBI acknowledged in February that it was assisting FDA in the PCA investigation. Since then, there has been only silence.


Anyone who is surprised at FDA and the Justice Department's slow response (a) to Parnell and PCA having sold and shipped peanuts that it knew to be Salmonella-contaminated; (b) to Parnell and PCA's practice of lab-shopping (changing labs when the results reported by the first lab were unfavorable); and (c) to Parnell's lack of cooperation with the Congressional investigation, hasn't been following FDA's enforcement performance in recent years. Just look at the way FDA handled repeated violations at Haifa Smoked Fish, Inc. A turtle is supersonic by comparison.


Haifa Smoked Fish, Inc. – An FDA Timeline Case Study
  • Feb 1999: Haifa Smoked Fish, Inc. is incorporated in New York State.
  • Jan 2001: FDA inspection uncovers significant flaws in Haifa's procedures, and gaps in the Company's HACCP plan .
  • June 2001: Follow-up inspection continues to find significant gaps in Haifa's HACCP plan
  • July 2001: FDA issues a Warning Letter to Haifa, detailing the Company's deviations from regulatory requirements and requesting a written response within three weeks.
  • June/July 2002: FDA inspection reveals flaws in Haifa's HACCP plan, temperature control and hygiene habits.
  • Jan 2003: HACCP plan still flawed.
  • June 2004: FDA inspection report details continuing flaws and inadequacies in Haifa's HACCP plan, its product temperature control, and its sanitation practices.
  • July 2004: FDA issues a second Warning Letter, which states "We may take regulatory action without further notice if you do not promptly correct these violations. For instance, we may take further action to seize your products and/or enjoin your firm from operating." A response is demanded within 15 working days.
  • July 2005: One year after the Warning Letter was issued, FDA reinspects Haifa and finds that nothing has changed.
  • Sept/Oct 2005: FDA inspection report lists 14 pages of procedural flaws and processing and sanitation deviations, many of which were first reported in 2001.
  • June/July 2006: FDA re-inspection reveals continuing significant deviations.
  • July 2009: After being Missing In Action for three full years, FDA finally revisits Haifa and finds serious sanitation and pest control issues, including, live maggots on a table in the eviserating room, and fish lying on the processing room floor, as well as the usual lack of HACCP compliance.
  • July 10, 2009: Haifa Smoked Fish, Inc. issues voluntary recall of "... all Haifa Smoked Fish brand Cold Smoked Whitefish sold between December 7, 2008 and June 18, 2009 ..." due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Nov 13, 2009: FDA seeks permanent injunction against Haifa Smoked Fish, Inc. and two of its top officers, in order to prevent Haifa from manufacturing, distributing and selling its products until the company corrects its unsanitary practices.

Michael Chappell (acting FDA Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs) explained the agency's decision to take legal action against Haifa and its officers as follows:

"This company has consistently failed to make corrections to improve the insanitary conditions under which it processes smoked fish products, despite frequent warnings to do so. The FDA will not tolerate food companies that fail to provide adequate safeguards to protect the public.”

Really?

And will it take eight years before FDA and the Department of Justice decide whether or not to file charges against Stewart Parnell and the Peanut Corporation of America?

Posted by Phyllis E at Sunday, November 29, 2009 3 comments
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Saturday, November 28, 2009

Recall Roundup: November 28, 2009

Here is today's list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals and allergy alerts. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.



United States
  • Food Safety Recall: Advance Food Company (Enid, OK) recalls approximately 110,730 pounds of frozen beef steak fritter products that may contain pieces of plastic. The recalled products were distributed to restaurants nationwide. There was no distribution to retail stores.
  • Food Safety Recall (Update): The Melon Up! brand Large Seedless Watermelons that were recalled by Timco Worldwide Inc. on November 22nd are a product of Mexico (see Canadian recall notice, below)


Canada
  • Food Safety Recall: Freshpoint Vancouver Ltd. (Vancouver, BC) recalls Melon Up! brand Large Seedless Watermelons (Product of Mexico; PLU# 4032; UPC: 0 33383 40240 6) due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recalled melons were distributed only in British Columbia.
  • Food Safety Recall (Update): Costco Canada advises its customers that Nutrisystem Peanut Butter Granola Bars purchased in its stores or through Costco.ca were not affected by the recent Nutrisystem recall notice.



Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket's recall web site.


*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.


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

Posted by Phyllis E at Saturday, November 28, 2009 1 comments
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Friday, November 27, 2009

Recall Roundup: November 27, 2009

Here is today's list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals and allergy alerts. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.



Europe



Australia and New Zealand
  • Shellfish Alert (West Australia): Department of Health is reminding people not to eat shellfish collected from Wilson Inlet near Denmark (West Australia) after recent tests confirmed elevated levels of potentially toxic algae. Shellfish sold in supermarkets is not affected by this advisory.



Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket's recall web site.


*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.


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

Posted by Phyllis E at Friday, November 27, 2009 2 comments
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UK Reports New E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak

British Tourists Import Spanish Bug

At least 14 British tourists returned from Spain this month with an unwelcome souvenir of their holidays – E. coli O157:H7.

According to the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA), four of the returning travelers were admitted to hospital; two were later released. The 14 confirmed victims all had spent time at Spain's Benidorm resort.

Benidorm, Spain is a popular resort with UK tourists, and the town caters to their preferences, offering British style pubs and fish-and-chip eateries.

HPA is working with Spanish health authorities to establish the source of the infections. Additional cases relating to this outbreak may be uncovered – either in the UK or elsewhere – before the investigation is complete.


This is the latest of several E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks to hit UK consumers this year, including,

HPA is urging travelers to Benidorm to take the following precautions against foodborne illness:
  • Practice good hand hygiene procedures (wash hands thoroughly with soap and hot water) especially before eating, after going to the toilet and after touching any animals
  • Ensure food is cooked thoroughly to avoid contamination and avoid food outlets where uncooked meat is in contact with cooked food or food that isn't cooked prior to serving e.g. salads

Posted by Phyllis E at Friday, November 27, 2009 0 comments
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Thursday, November 26, 2009

Phyllis' Fables: A Thanksgiving Turkey To Remember

Bob and Terri – a newlywed couple – were hosting their first family Thanksgiving dinner. Terri, an aspiring attorney who had never prepared a turkey before, sat down at her computer early on Thanksgiving morning and Googled "turkey recipe". To her delight, up popped the following fail-safe instructions:


(Media-Newswire.com) - The proper turkey cooking times ensure the best tasting food this Thanksgiving day. By following some simple tips, anyone can cook their dinner with guests raving for more.

Cooking a turkey is not rocket science! Follow a few basic rules and plan out your dinner for the best results.

First, set the oven to 325 degrees and move the rack to a middle to lower position. Next, clean turkey of the inner guts through the front cavity opening. Dry the turkey well with paper towels.

Place the turkey in a shallow roasting pan usually with water on the bottom for basting later.

Pin the wings close to the turkey using cooking rope and wrap around the neck. Use an oven safe thermometer which has the stem into the thick part of the leg. This will ensure the proper cooking temperature needed to decide when it has been fully cooked. Make sure the thermometer does not touch the bone or you will get a misreading.

The inner temperature is the most important when cooking a turkey. Most cooks will use the 12 minutes per pound under 10 pounds. This rule is basically 2 hours for a 10-12 pound turkey. If the bird is larger than this, theory is to add 15 minutes per pound on top of this two hours.

Averages for an 18-20 pound turkey is 3-3.5 hours if it is unstuffed. With stuffing inside the cavity of the bird, expect to cook it from 4-4.5 hours in the oven. Temperatures usually are around a minimum of 325 degrees but you must check the label on the turkey as each are different.

Not being a rocket scientist, Terri was reassured by the statement that "Cooking a turkey is not rocket science!".

She pulled her 15-pound bird out of the refrigerator (she had transferred it from the freezer the night before), cleared out – with some effort and much splashing around – the still-frozen cavity, and blotted it dry with paper towel. Terri then stuffed the cavity, trussed the bird, placed a meat thermometer in the thigh, and left the turkey on the counter to continue thawing until it was time to pop the bird into the oven.

"Let's see," she calculated, "We're planning to serve dinner at 4 o'clock. That means I should start roasting my turkey at noon."

And that's what Terri did.

At 4 o'clock, Terri removed her turkey from the oven, transferred it to a platter and proudly placed it at the head of the table for Bob to carve. It looked delicious, and Bob did a masterful job of slicing the bird (he had been secretly practicing his carving technique). Everyone exclaimed over Terri's tender turkey.


The next day, Terri and Bob were exclaiming over something else. Both had spent a restless night of toilet trips. "Must have eaten too much," they both thought. But then, Bob had a call from his Dad, and Terri from her Mom. Everyone who had eaten Terri's turkey was sick. Stomach cramps, diarrhea, and nausea made the day after Thanksgiving a true Black Friday.

"It must be food poisoning from the turkey," Bob told Terri.

"But how could that be? I followed the directions exactly," Terri answered.


Sadly, the recipe that Terri had followed so carefully was incomplete.
  • It gave no instructions on how to thaw a frozen turkey safely.
  • It did not say that the cooking times applied to a completely thawed turkey.
  • The recipe should have said that a bird must be placed in the preheated oven immediately after stuffing.
  • The thermometer placement was wrong. In a stuffed turkey, the stuffing is the last place to heat up. That's where the thermometer should be placed.
  • The recipe did not provide a target temperature – just a recommended cooking time.

These flaws were Terri's downfall. The bird and its stuffing were not cooked for long enough to allow the coldest area – the stuffed cavity – to reach a safe temperature. Salmonella survived.

The moral of Phyllis' Fable:– When preparing for Thanksgiving dinner, plan well ahead.
  • Be sure that your turkey has been completely thawed.
  • Never allow the raw bird to sit at room temperature.
  • Buy a good meat thermometer and learn to use it correctly. The coldest part of the turkey must reach 165ºF.
  • Consult a reliable source – such as the USDA web site – for a safe recommendation on cooking and handling procedures.

Finally, to ensure that you enjoy Thanksgiving leftovers safety, never let them sit out at room temperature after dinner. Refrigerate or freeze all of your leftovers as quickly as possible.


Wishing all of my US readers a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!

Posted by Phyllis E at Thursday, November 26, 2009 3 comments
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Recall Roundup: November 26, 2009

Here is today's list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals and allergy alerts. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.



United States
  • Allergy Alert: Vita Food Products, Inc. (Chicago, IL) recalls its Elf Branded Herring in Sour Cream product distributed in retail stores in California, Texas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Georgia, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin because the product contains undeclared wheat.


Canada
  • Food Safety Recall: NutriSystem Canada ULC recalls certain Nutrisystem brand Peanut Butter Granola Bars (Canadian version) described below because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The 40 g packages bearing UPC 6 32674 37016 7 and lot code TC05219B (product of USA) were sold exclusively through the Canadian NutriSystem website, by telephone (1-877-368-8446), and via the Shopping Channel.
  • Dietary Supplement Recall: Health Canada is warning consumers not to use Herblex "Once More", an unauthorized product promoted to enhance male sexual performance, as this product was found to contain sildenafil, a prescription medication not indicated on the label. The product also was found to be contaminated with high levels of mold and bacteria.


Europe


Australia and New Zealand
  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): National Foods and Woolworths Limited recall Woolworths Fresh Milk Lite, 2 L (Use by date: 6 Dec 09) due to the presence of Escherichia coli. The recalled milk was sold in Woolworths/Food For Less supermarkets in specific stores in Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT.



Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket's recall web site.


*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.


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

Posted by Phyllis E at Thursday, November 26, 2009 0 comments
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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Recall Roundup: November 25, 2009

Here is today's list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals and allergy alerts. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.



United States
  • Food Recall: Food City advises customers that Log Cabin Original Syrup 24 oz has been recalled.
  • Pet Treat Recall (Updated 6:45 p.m. with information provided by the manufacturer): Food City advises customers that the manufacturer has recalled SnawSomes! Beef & Chicken Flavor Snausages (dog treats) 9.75 oz. According to the manufacturer, Del Monte Foods, "SnawSomes Beef & Chicken Flavor Snausages are safe for your pet to eat and have not been formally recalled by the Company. We have been notified that some consumers have seen what looks like salt or crystals in the product. These ‘crystals’ are formed when potassium sorbate – a normal ingredient in the product – breaks down. This is not harmful to your pet if he or she eats them, and should not affect the taste. Although the product is not harmful, crystallization does not meet our Quality Assurance standards for appearance. We are working on identifying the cause and fixing the issue.
  • Food Product Withdrawn (Packaging): Brookshires advises customers that certain 12” pre-baked Jessie Lord Pies are part of a voluntary market withdrawal due to broken clam shell packaging.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Almi Inc. of serious violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act following a series of inspections.
  • FDA Court Action: FDA seeks a permanent injunction against Sharkco Seafood International Inc. (Venice, LA). The injunction is intended to stop the seafood processing company from distributing scombrotoxin-forming fish in interstate commerce.


Europe


Australia and New Zealand
  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Wah Lien Trading Pty Ltd recalls Shui Kou Preserved Bean Curd (Chilli) due to contamination with Bacillus cereus. The recalled 400g glass jars of bean curd were sold through Asian retail outlets in the state of Victoria.


Asia, Africa & The Pacific
  • Dietary Supplement Warning (Hong Kong): The Department of Health warns consumers not to buy or use a slimming product labeled as "Slimming Beauty" as it was found to have contained undeclared the western medicines sibutramine and phenolphthalein.


Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket's recall web site.


*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.


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

Posted by Phyllis E at Wednesday, November 25, 2009 0 comments
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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Recall Roundup: November 24, 2009

Here is today's list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals and allergy alerts. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.



United States
  • Stolen Infant Formula Alert: Mead Johnson Nutrition is working with the FDA and law enforcement officials to recover cases of infant formula products that were stolen from a truck stop in Jeffersonville, Ohio, on November 13, 2009.
  • FDA Warning Letter: TMC Food, LLC. (d.b.a. Maine-Harvest Seafood) receives warning letter after FDA inspection reveals serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.
  • Food Recall: Food City recalls ValuTime Vanilla Cookies. No reason was cited for the product recall.


Europe


Asia, Africa & The Pacific
  • Dietary Supplement Recall (Hong Kong): The Department of Health warns consumers to avoid buying or using several slimming products, because they contain unauthorized Western medicines


Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket's recall web site.


*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.


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

Posted by Phyllis E at Tuesday, November 24, 2009 0 comments
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Melamine Claims Two More Lives As China Executes Scapegoats

PRC Carries Out Death Sentence On Zhang Yujun and Geng Jinping

China's melamine-tainted milk has now claimed at least eight lives – six babies and two scapegoats.

Earlier today, Zhang and Geng were executed for the crime of endangering public safety by dangerous means, and the crime of producing and selling toxic food, respectively. Nineteen other participants in the tainted milk scandal also have been convicted and sentenced – one to a suspended death sentence, and the others to prison terms ranging from two years to life.

The melamine story first broke in September 2008 – shortly after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games – when China recalled 700 tonnes of Sanlu Bei Bei Infant Powder, which had been linked to one death and 50 cases of infants with kidney stones. At the time, Sanlu was a major Chinese dairy company that was 43% owned by Fonterra Cooperative Group of New Zealand.

The story, and the number of illnesses, eventually mushroomed to six confirmed deaths and at least 300,000 sick babies. It soon became clear that the Fonterra Board of Directors, the Sanlu Board of Directors and the PRC government knew about the melamine adulteration problem for several months before the story became public. Sanlu was under government pressure not to embarrass China in advance of the Olympic Games. The adulterated baby powder was recalled in September 2008, after the New Zealand government pressed China to act.

In addition to the two men who were executed this morning, here are some of the other players who have been convicted and sentenced:
  • Zhang Yanzhang: sentenced to life in prison for supplying melamine to the dairies
  • Geng Jinzhu: sentenced to eight years for producing and selling poisoned food
  • Tian Wenhua: sentenced to life in prison for selling melamine-adulterated milk products. Tian was the chief executive of Sanlu Group
  • Gao Junjie: death sentence – "suspended" for two years – for producing melamine-laced powder

Zhang Yujun and Geng Jinping were out to make a yuan and chose a fraudulent way to do so. There has been no indication that either man knew he was endangering the lives of babies by adding melamine to milk. Were these two men more deserving of the death penalty than Tian, the former chief executive of Sanlu? Or than the PRC officials who withheld knowledge of the adulterated milk from unsuspecting Chinese mothers? I think not.

Zhang and Geng deserved to be punished severely for their crimes. They should have been sentenced to long prison terms – perhaps for life. But they should not have been singled out for execution. That honor should have been reserved for the senior government officials who kept the melamine-adulterated milk situation under wraps until after the Beijing Olympic Games were over. They were the true murderers of those six babies.

Posted by Phyllis E at Tuesday, November 24, 2009 0 comments
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Monday, November 23, 2009

On The Trail Of The Recalled Melons

Does Anybody Know Where The Majesty Cantaloupes And MelonUp! Seedless Watermelons Went?

For more than a year, now, USDA has posted a retail distribution list for all Class I (i.e., hazardous product) recalls under its authority. Usually, that list is available on the USDA web site within a week of the recall announcement.

There was a time, not so long ago, that California automatically and promptly posted a retail distribution list for all recalled products in the state. That doesn't seem to happen anymore – perhaps because of California's budget problems.

FDA, on the other hand, has always left the decision of whether or not to provide retail-level distribution information to the company that initiates the recall. Most notices simply provide a list of states to which the recalled products were shipped. The two Salmonella-contaminated melon recalls that were announced during the past few days were no exception to this pattern.

On November 20th, Five Crowns Marketing recalled Majesty cantaloupes after lab analysis carried out by a consignee detected Salmonella in a cantaloupe sample. The melons had been shipped to wholesalers, retailers and food service operators in ten states (Alabama, California, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee). Five Crowns invited their consignees to telephone the company for more details. Consumers were told to contact their retailer in order to determine whether the store had carried the recalled cantaloupes.

On November 22nd, Timco Worldwide (Davis, CA) announced a recall of MelonUp! seedless watermelons under very similar circumstances. In this case, the melons were shipped to "...select grocers, wholesalers and processors in California and Texas."

Are consumers who live outside of the states identified in these recall notices home free? Not on your life!

Chances are excellent that these intact melons – or fruit salads containing cut melon from these recalled fruits – have been shipped right across the US mainland. In fact, two retailers already have posted notices on their web sites confirming that the cantaloupe is available beyond the borders of the ten states listed by Five Crowns.
  • Wegmans, a regional supermarket chain with stores in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, has posted a recall notice on its web site. Neither Maryland, New Jersey nor Virginia were listed in the original Five Crowns recall notice.
  • Kroger, in addition to selling the uncut Majesty melons, also sold cut melons and fruit salads that contained the recalled cantaloupes. The Majesty melons and affected fruit salads were sold in Kroger stores in parts of Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia. There was no mention of West Virginia in the Five Crowns recall notice.

The recalled Majesty cantaloupes, thus, have traveled to at least 14 states. And they probably will turn up in other parts of the country, too.


What about the watermelons?

The Timco recall, which was issued on the weekend, has not even been listed on the FDA web site. No consignees have identified themselves as yet. But, since the watermelon was shipped to wholesalers and processors, it's a safe bet that this melon, has traveled beyond the two states listed in the company's recall notice.


What's a consumer to do?

If you have purchased either cantaloupe or seedless watermelon during November, check with your supermarket or grocery store to find out whether the melon that you purchased is part of the recall. Also, keep an eye on the daily eFoodAlert Recall Roundup. I'll be monitoring retail recall websites for additional cantaloupe and watermelon recall notices.

Finally, if you have eaten a cantaloupe or watermelon recently – or a cut fruit dish that contained one of these melons – and you experienced symptoms of gastroenteritis (stomach ache, diarrhea, cramps, nausea, low-grade fever), please contact your family doctor and your local department of health. You might have been infected with Salmonella.

Posted by Phyllis E at Monday, November 23, 2009 1 comments
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Recall Roundup: November 23, 2009

Here is today's list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals and allergy alerts. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.



United States
  • Food Safety Recall: Timco Worldwide Inc. (Davis, CA) recalls a limited number of MelonUp! large seedless watermelons after a distribution company detects Salmonella on the rind of a watermelon during routine sampling. The recalled watermelons were distributed to grocers, wholesalers and processors in California and Texas.


Canada
  • Allergy Alert: Bonisoir LEA (Châteauguay, QC) recalls a number of cakes due to the presence of undeclared milk, soy, nuts, peanuts and sulfites.


Europe


Australia and New Zealand
  • Fraudulent Claims Alert (New Zealand): Medsafe (New Zealand Ministry of Health) warns the public of 65 overseas websites that purport to be based in New Zealand and are touting unapproved herbal products.


Asia, Africa & The Pacific
  • Food Safety/Cholera Alert (Malaysia): Contaminated fish used in the making of crackers has been identified as among the sources of the cholera outbreak. Eleven ice factories, two cracker factories and eight food outlets have been ordered closed.



Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket's recall web site.


*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.


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

Posted by Phyllis E at Monday, November 23, 2009 0 comments
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