eFoodAlert.com: June 2009

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Tracking Recalled Beef

June 30, 2009

In spite of the Obama Administration's promises of "transparency", consumers are still in the dark as to where JBS Swift Beef Company shipped its recalled beef products. JBS recalled more than 41,000 pounds of beef on June 24, 2009 and expanded that recall to a total of 380,000 pounds on June 28th.

The Company's initial recall notice stated that the beef was shipped to retailers and distributors in 13 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin. The expanded recall simply said that the beef was distributed nationally and internationally.

USDA promised consumers last year that the agency would release a list of retail consignees for all Class I (highest hazard level) recalls. We are still waiting to see the consignee list. Indeed, we don't even know what countries were on the receiving end of the beef shipments. All we have is a detailed list of recalled products that is 104 pages long, and is completely useless to consumers.

The recalled beef products have been linked to illnesses of E. coli O157:H7 in "multiple states". Which states? We don't know. How many states? We don't know. And when eFoodAlert asked the direct question, CDC's Press Officer, Lola Scott Russell, replied, "We do not have any additional information to release beyond the FSIS press release at this time."

Three children in London, Ontario also have been diagnosed with E. coli O157:H7 gastroenteritis. While the timing is coincidental and the illnesses have been linked to consumption of ground beef, there is no evidence as yet that these Canadian cases can be traced to meat from JBS Swift. We were informed by Bryna Warshawsky, Associate Medical Officer of Health of the Middlesex-London Health Unit, that molecular typing of the three London cases is in progress. Dr. Warshawsky did not know whether there was any plan to compare the genetic fingerprint with the E. coli O157:H7 strain from the US cases.

Instead of receiving prompt, practical information from USDA or from JBS Swift, US consumers are being forced to rely on the information released, in a haphazard fashion, by retailers. The following retailers have released a list of recalled beef sold in their stores:

Bloom (part of Food Lion LLC)
Food 4 Less (part of Kroger)
Fry's (part of Kroger)
Hannaford Bros. Co.
Kroger
Price Chopper
Smith's Food and Drug Stores (part of Kroger)
WinCo Foods, LLC

This ad hoc approach to releasing retail-level distribution information is unacceptable. It's time for USDA to live up to its promise and provide consumers with prompt and practical recall details.

Recall Roundup: June 30, 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

Cosmetic Product Safety Recall: State of Indiana warns that certain flavors of Wink Bath and Body's shimmer lip gloss contain excessive levels of lead and have been removed from store shelves by Target.
Food Safety Recall: Following the expanded beef recall announced by JBS Swift Beef Company, the following supermarket chains have announced recalls of beef cuts and ground beef due to possible E. coli o157:H7 contamination: Food 4 Less, Fry's, Hannaford, Kroger, Price Chopper, and WinCo Foods

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.

Monday, June 29, 2009

FDA Finds E. coli O157:H7 In Toll House Cookie Dough

June 29, 2009

Nestlé USA's Baking Division announced this afternoon that FDA has found E. coli O157:H7 in a "... retained production sample of 16 oz. Nestle Toll House refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough bar." The unopened package of cookie dough carries a production code of 9041 (corresponding to a production date of February 10, 2009) and a "Best Before" indication of 10 JUN 2009.

The Company's news release went on to say,

"Nestle continues to work closely and in full cooperation with the FDA on the ongoing investigation. We are very concerned about those who have become ill from E. coli 0157:H7, and deeply regret that this has occurred."

Nestlé recalled all of its refrigerated Toll House cookie dough from the retail market on June 19th, after CDC established a link between the Company's products and an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses. As of last report, CDC has confirmed that at least 46 people in 29 states were infected as a result of eating Nestlé Toll House raw cookie dough. The agency expects to update its outbreak report on Wednesday, July 1st.

According to CDC Press Officer Lola Scott Russell, the particular E. coli O157:H7 that is responsible for this outbreak is a very common strain. It has been circulating at a "background level" in the United States since early in 2005. CDC became suspicious when the number of reported cases due to this strain spiked above the usual background level in May and continued above that baseline early in June.

FDA, which has been carrying out an in-depth investigation of Nestlé's Danville facility, has not yet determined how the E. coli O157:H7 found its way into the cookie dough. Nestlé is cooperating with the FDA investigation.

At least three personal injury lawsuits already have been filed against Nestlé by Marler Clark on behalf of outbreak victims; Pritzker Olsen also is representing one or more victims.

Nestlé urged its customers today not to consume the recalled products; consumers should return these to the store for refund. And the Company reminded consumers once again that cookie dough should never be eaten raw.

Consumers with questions about the cookie dough recall should contact Nestle Consumer Services at 1-800-559-5025.

Recall Roundup: June 29, 2009

United States

Food Safety Recall: Plainview Milk Products Cooperative (Plainview, MN) recalls instant nonfat dried milk, whey protein, fruit stabilizers, and gums (thickening agents) that it has manufactured over the past two years, because they might be contaminated with Salmonella.

Canada

Teether Recalls: Health Canada advises consumers that the following liquid-filled infant teether products have been recalled, because the liquid contains living microorganisms: Lobster Teether and SeaPals Water Teethers by Infantino; Water-filled teether by Small Wonders; and Teether in Baby Medical Kit by Elegant Baby

*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.

Plainview Milk Products: Another Ingredient-Driven Recall

June 29, 2009

For the third time this year, the FDA finds itself overseeing an ingredient-driven Salmonella recall.

Plainview Milk Products Cooperative (Plainview, MN) announced this morning that it was recalling all instant nonfat dried milk, whey protein, fruit stabilizers, and gums manufactured by the Company during the last two years. Plainview took this action because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Plainview sells its dried dairy powders, gums and stabilizers to food processors and distributors for incorporation into other products. None of the recalled items were sold directly to the public. The Company initiated its recall after FDA found Salmonella on production equipment in the Minnesota plant.

FDA inspected the Plainview facility after USDA reported finding Salmonella in a 100-gram package of Dairyshake powder. One of the ingredients in Dairyshake was supplied by Plainview. So far, no illnesses have been linked with the Plainview products.

Plainview has halted production while federal (FDA, CDC and USDA) and state agencies continue their investigation, and the Company has notified its customers of the recall. No consumer-level products have been recalled so far, but this will certainly change as Plainview and FDA trace the destination of the two years-worth of food ingredients.

This recall may prove to be as extensive as the peanut and pistachio product recalls that we experienced earlier this year. Dried milk and whey powders are common ingredients in a wide variety of dry mixes (e.g., cake and brownie mixes), in milk chocolate, and many other items. Stabilizers and gums can be found in everything from low fat yogurts to jams and jellies.

Plainview Milk Products Cooperative was established in 1899. Several of the Company's products are Certified Organic; a number of them are Certified Kosher.Plainview also boasts an America Institute of Baking (AIB) Superior rating – the same rating that AIB issued after inspecting Peanut Corporation of America's production facility in Blakely, Georgia.

Neither FDA nor the Company have explained the reason for the two-year span of the recall. We'll likely find that out as FDA releases more details of its investigation.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

A New Cross-Border Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7?

June 28, 2009

Is it coincidence that both the US CDC and the Middlesex-London Health Unit in Ontario, Canada are in the throes of investigating meat-related outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7?

The Health Unit has received three reports of children infected with E. coli O157:H7 in the last five days. Two of those children ate kofta (spiced ground meat) purchased from the Westmount Halal Food Store in London, Ontario. The third child did not. Yesterday, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency advised consumers to avoid eating ground meat or kofta purchased from this store.

Also, yesterday, JBS Swift Beef Company announced an expansion of its June 24th meat recall. The Company's action was triggered by a CDC investigation into a multi-state E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. According to the recall announcement, CDC has confirmed 18 associated illnesses in several states. The agency has released no additional details – not even which states have reported illnesses.

The meat recalled by JBS Swift was distributed throughout the United States and internationally. The Company did not indicate to which countries it supplied beef cuts, although Canada would be a logical recipient for some of the cross-border sales. A simple comparison of genetic fingerprints of the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak strain from both sides of the border would quickly determine whether the US and Canadian outbreaks are related.

Both Price Chopper and Smith's Food and Drug Stores (part of the Kroger family of stores) already had posted recall notices following JBS Swift's June 24th recall announcement. The expanded recall will likely trigger additional recall notices from other grocery chains.

With the summer barbecue season now underway, these announcements are timely reminders to cook meat and poultry thoroughly. Always use a meat thermometer to determine whether the meat is done; color and texture are not reliable. Both USDA and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency offer suggestions for safe food handling. Please read and follow those recommendations to ensure that you, your family members, and your friends enjoy a food-safe barbecue season.

Recall Roundup: June 28, 2009

United States

Allergy Alert: City Baking LLC (Long island City, NY) recalls 781 individually wrapped City Baking brand Apple Crumb Cakes (bag code #161 or #169; UPC 854142000165) because they contain walnuts, which were not declared on the label. The 3 1/4 oz. packages were distributed in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Maine.
Food Safety Recall: JBS Swift Beef Company (Greeley, CO) expands its June 24 recall to include approximately 380,000 pounds of assorted beef primal products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The expanded recall results from an on-going CDC outbreak investigation of 24 illnesses in multiple states. At least 18 of the illnesses may be associated. The recalled meat was distributed nationally and was exported.

Canada

Food Safety Alert: The Middlesex-London Health Unit (Ontario) has received three lab-confirmed reports of E. coli O157:H7 infections in children in the last five days. Two of the three children reported eating kofta (spiced ground beef) purchased on June 14 and 15 from the Westmount Halal Food Store located at 490 Wonderland Road South. The source of the third child's infection is unknown. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency advises consumers to avoid ground meat or kofta purchased from Westmount Halal Food Store on or after June 2nd. While no recall notice has been issued, the store will issue refunds to any consumers who purchased these products.

*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.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 27, 2009

Canada

Allergy Alert: Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns consumers not to consume Sweet Potato Slice, manufactured in China by Zhongshan Kaxing Industry & Trade Co., Ltd., because the product contains undeclared sulfites. All codes of this product, which is sold in 454 g packages bearing UPC 6 941882 504139, are being recalled by the importer. The recalled product was distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and may also be available in other provinces.

*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.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 26, 2009

United States

Food Safety Recall: Nuts For You recalls Roasted & Salted Peanuts because of possible health risk. The recalled items contain peanut products from Peanut Corporation of America and may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Europe, Including the United Kingdom

Food Safety Recall (UK): Sainsbury's recalls its own-brand sesame seed and seed mix products, because of the presence of Salmonella, detected by Sainsbury's during routine testing.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific

Fraud Alert (Philippines): The Bureau of Food and Drugs warns consumers to be wary of advertisements for foods, dietary supplements and drugs that claim to provide protection against Influenza A/H1N1 (swine flu).

*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.

Nestlé Toll House Cookie Dough: Rethinking A Pathogen

June 26, 2009

The outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 that has sickened as many as 69 people (46 confirmed, as of June 25th) in 29 states has been circulating in the United States for more than four years, according to CDC records.

Based on the chart displayed in CDC's outbreak investigation report, this strain has been reported in 363 E. coli O157:H7-infected individuals since February 2005. Significant clusters of reported cases occurred in February/March 2005, August 2005 through January 2006, April 2006 through December 2006, and April 2008 through December 2008. The present outbreak may have started as early as March 2009.

Without knowing the genetic fingerprint of the outbreak strain, we can only guess at the precise outbreaks associated with this particular E. coli O157:H7. Here are my best guesses.

February 2005: Florida farm animal petting zoo outbreak (22 cases in February/March 2005)
August 2005 - January 2006: Some of these illnesses may be linked to two ground beef recalls initiated in August 2005 and September 2005 by Flanders Provision Co. after CDC linked their meat epidemiologically to E. coli O157:H7 illnesses.
April 2006 - December 2006: The November/December 2006 outbreak that was traced to contaminated shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell fast food restaurants in the northeast may account for some of these cases.
April 2008 - December 2008: Iceberg lettuce outbreaks in the United States and Canada (September/October 2008) may have been due to this strain of E. coli O157:H7.
March 2009 - ?: Nestlé Toll House raw cookie dough.

If my suppositions prove to be correct – and we won't know unless CDC and USDA release the genetic fingerprints for these incidents – this strain of E. coli O157:H7 is now endemic. It has made itself at home right across the United States. As, most likely, one or more other strains of E. coli O157:H7 have done, too.

What does this mean for food safety?

Quite simply, the food industry and its regulators no longer have the luxury of treating E. coli O157:H7 as a niche pathogen – one that is found only in a limited range of food products. This pathogen has kept one step ahead of regulators and the industry for nearly three decades, jumping from dairy cows and petting zoo animals to recreational water, beef, apple cider, salad greens, and sprout seeds. Now it appears to have jumped into raw cookie dough.

E. coli O157:H7 is a hardy microbe – in many ways, hardier than Salmonella. It also is deadlier than Salmonella. Inevitably, E. coli O157:H7 will become as pervasive as Salmonella. Eventually, it might even challenge Salmonella at the top of the list of foodborne pathogens.

This scenario might sound far-fetched, but who would have predicted the contaminated cookie dough outbreak? Certainly not Nestlé's Corporate Quality Assurance group.

It's time to start paying closer attention to E. coli O157:H7 across the entire food spectrum – before this versatile pathogen outflanks us again.

Nestlé Cookie Dough Takes Its Toll

June 26, 2009

With 70 victims (41 confirmed as of June 22nd) in 30 states, FDA and Nestlé still don't know how E. coli O157:H7 was introduced into Toll House raw cookie dough products.

Yesterday, FDA posted a series of inspection reports for the Danville, Virginia facility where the Toll House cookie dough was manufactured. The most recent FDA inspection, performed over the course of 12 hours on March 12 2009 – only four hours of which were spent on the Toll House cookie dough area – did not uncover a single sanitary violation or "objectionable" condition.

The inspection reports reveal little else. Thanks to Nestlé's corporate policy,

FDA was not permitted to review the company's consumer complaint files;
FDA was not permitted to review the company's HACCP program;
FDA was refused permission to photograph any areas inside the facility; and
FDA was not permitted to review either the pest control records or the environmental testing program.

If these restrictions sound familiar, it's because FDA and the Georgia Department of Agriculture encountered similar roadblocks at Peanut Corporation of America. It was only during the Salmonella outbreak investigation that FDA gained access to all of the Company's files, including lab test results.

Nestlé released the following statement on June 24th:

"Nestlé USA’s Baking Division is continuing to work with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), together with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), on an investigation into reported E. coli 0157:H7 illnesses that may be related to consumption of raw cookie dough.

At this point, the E. coli strain implicated in the CDC investigation has not been detected in our products. FDA investigators have been working at our Danville, VA production facility, along with Nestlé experts, to obtain dough samples for testing. As well, the investigators are testing our equipment, water and air handling systems. They’re also analyzing our detailed production records and reviewing our procedures.

We have temporarily suspended production at our Danville facility and stopped shipping product to our retail customers. We estimate that about 300,000 cases of product have been removed from sale since the recall began.

Nestlé announced a voluntary recall of all of our Nestlé TOLL HOUSE refrigerated cookie dough on June 19, 2009. Because the health and safety of our consumers is so important, we began the recall while the investigation is still underway.

No other Nestlé TOLL HOUSE products are impacted, including already baked TOLL HOUSE cookies purchased outside the home, all varieties of Nestlé TOLL HOUSE morsels, chocolate baking bars, or cocoa, and Dreyer’s and Edy’s ice cream products with Nestlé TOLL HOUSE cookie dough ingredients. Also, the recall does not include any Nestlé Professional™ cookie dough products that are destined for foodservice use, including frozen Nestlé TOLL HOUSE cookie dough and cookie dough “mix-ins” purchased outside the home.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled products should not consume them. Instead, we are asking that consumers return these products to their local grocer for a full refund. We invite consumers with questions to contact Nestlé Consumer Services at 1-800-559-5025 and visit our web site at www.verybestbaking.com."

The Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, which is working its way through the House of Representatives, will increase FDA's access to quality assurance, environmental testing and other records during routine inspections – if the Act survives its trip through the House and Senate unaltered.

Meanwhile, it seems to take an outbreak investigation to bring about full cooperation between food corporations and regulators.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 25, 2009

United States

Food Safety Recall: Laxson Provision Company (San Antonio, TX) recalls approximately 350 pounds of a cervelat sausage product that may be undercooked. The recalled sausage was distributed only to small grocers in the San Antonio area.
Food Safety Recall: JBS Swift Beef Company (Greeley, CO) recalls approximately 41,280 pounds of beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The contamination was found as a result of USDA testing. The recalled meat was produced on April 21 and April 22, 2009 and shipped to distributors and retail establishments in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.
Food Safety Recall: Kowalke Family Sprouts (Culver City, CA) recalls certain products containing Organic Alfalfa Sprouts after Salmonella is found in a surveillance sample. The recalled sprouts were distributed to grocery stores in Southern California, including Gelson’s and Whole Foods. The California Department of Public Health has issued a warning to consumers to avoid eating these sprouts.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Roger's Select Meats (32-36 Main Road, Narangba QLD, 4504) recalls Roger's Select Meats Roast Beef (300-400g cryovac packets), labeled with Use By date of 02 July 2009 and available for sale from 18 June 2009. The recalled ready-to-eat meat was distributed in Narangba only.

*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.

Evanger's Back On Track With FDA

June 25, 2009

Evanger's has been given permission by FDA to resume interstate shipments immediately.

"The meeting went well," Joel Sher advised us in an e-mail yesterday evening, after returning from the "informal" hearing.

At the meeting, FDA asked Evanger's to submit a new set of Standard Operating Procedures ("SOPs") as a final condition for lifting the suspension. This should take 1-2 weeks, according to Joel.

Submission of new SOPs appears to be no more than a formality. The agency agreed that Evanger's could begin immediately to ship its canned pet foods interstate with the "review and approval" of the Company's Process Authority – the consulting firm that validated Evanger's sterilization processes and equipment.

Once FDA has received the SOPs, it will formally lift the suspension order. And Evanger's regulatory nightmare finally will be over.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 24, 2009

United States

Allergy Alert: La Mexicana, Inc. (Seattle, WA) recalls Solena Tortilla Chips with a June 03, 2009 code date, because they may contain undeclared milk and milk products. The recalled chips were distributed to retailers and food service outlets in Oregon and Washington.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Alimentation M.R. (1727, rue Savoie, Plessisville, QC) recalls all sliced deli meats, salads and take-out sandwiches sold between June 8 and June 19 inclusive, due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
Food Safety Recall: Boucherie Fouquet-Morel (730 boul. des Récollets, Trois-Rivières, QC) recalls all smoked salmon and Rillettes de truite St-Alexis because the vacuum-packaging may permit growth of Clostridium botulinum.

Europe, Including the United Kingdom

Allergy Alert (UK): Sainsbury's recalls some Heritage Raspberry Jelly and Strawberry Upside Down Trifle due to a labeling mix-up that resulted in the presence of undeclared milk, egg and wheat gluten.

*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.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 23, 2009

United States

Food Safety Alert: FDA warns consumers not to eat California Prime Produce and Orange County Orchards brands of pistachios. The pistachios, which had been recalled by Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc., were received and repacked by Orca Distribution West Inc. Orca has not made any public announcements about these products.
Food Safety Recall: International Meat Co., Inc. (Chicago, IL) recalls approximately 6,152 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The contamination was discovered by USDA during routine sampling. The recalled meat was shipped to distributors and restaurants in the Chicago area.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Kildara Farms (Sidney, BC) recalls Kildara Farms Organic Gourmet Salad Greens, sold in 113 g plastic containers bearing Best Before JUN 25 and UPC 8 10770 00001 4, because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product was distributed in British Columbia.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific

Adulterated Herbal Product (Hong Kong): The Department of Health warns consumers to avoid Jin Yuan Pai Xue Guan Qing Dao Fu Jiao Nang, which was found to be adulterated with sildenafil, a drug used to treat male erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil (brand name Viagra) can interact with some other pharmaceutical products, resulting in potentially serious side effects in certain individuals.

*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.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 22, 2009

United States

Allergy Alert: Seoul Shik Poom Inc. (Englewood, NJ) recalls its 2.2 lb packages of imported Honey Jujube Teas because they may contain undeclared sulfites. The recalled teas were distributed nationwide.

Europe, Including the United Kingdom

Food Safety Recall: Waitrose recalls some of its Aberdeen Angus Beefburgers (available at the in-store service counter) because the burgers may be contaminated with small pieces of hard, white plastic.

*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.

Evanger’s: Filling In The Blanks

June 22, 2009

With all the discussion over Evanger’s recent run-in with FDA, I thought it would be useful to piece together the entire chain of events for eFoodAlert readers. Last Wednesday, I sent an email to Joel and Holly Sher, asking for their cooperation. The outcome was a 35-minute telephone conversation with Joel, followed by a series of email exchanges.

The following story is based on the telephone and email dialogues, supported wherever possible by independent documentation.

How It Began
In 2002, Joel and Holly Sher purchased Evanger’s, a Wheeling, IL pet food canning company, which was founded in 1935. The couple spent the next two years renovating the canning facility, learning the intricacies of manufacturing canned pet foods, and developing a network of local suppliers of fresh meat and produce for their pet foods.

Under its new ownership, Evanger’s strove to gain a reputation among pet owners for producing high quality canned pet foods. The Company, thanks to its reliance on domestic suppliers, was not involved in the 2007 melamine-related pet food recalls. In fact, under its current management, Evanger’s has never experienced a recall for any reason.

The Company’s first face-to-face contact with FDA took place in March 2008, when an inspector came to call – the first FDA visit to Evanger’s Wheeling facility in thirteen years.

A New FDA Emphasis On Inspection
FDA’s current canned food regulatory system came into being in the early 1970’s, and was an agency success story for more than 30 years. Unfortunately, success sometimes breeds complacency. On July 18, 2007, Castleberry’s Food Company recalled its canned chili products, when four cases of botulism were linked to the Company’s canned chili. The recall was expanded on July 21^st to encompass all of Castleberry’s canned foods, including pet foods.

Five months later, FDA received a second shock. Agency inspectors discovered that New Era Canning’s cut green beans presented a serious health risk, due to deficiencies in the Michigan Company’s canning operations. New Era recalled the green beans on December 21, 2007, and expanded the recall to include additional products in January 2008.

Prodded into action by the deficiencies that were revealed during the Castleberry’s and New Era investigations, FDA sent a Dear Colleague letter to all canned food processors on December 21, 2007. In the letter – issued on the same day as the first New Era recall – FDA reminded processors of their responsibilities under federal regulations. In addition, the agency stepped up its canned food inspection program.

Three months after FDA released its Dear Colleague letter, the agency sent an inspector to visit Evanger’s. During his visit, the FDA inspector pointed out several deviations to Joel Sher, many of which were corrected while the inspection was still in progress. The most significant issue – one that would require more time and outside expertise to correct – was the need to update the Company’s sterilization “Processes”, on file with FDA.

Because canned foods present an ideal environment for the growth of Clostridium botulinum and the development of the deadly toxin that causes botulism, FDA requires that canned food manufacturers validate their cooking processes for each individual recipe. Government regulations also are very specific in their requirements for equipment validation and record keeping.

The inspector who visited Evanger’s in March 2008 pointed out that the Processes then on file with the agency were outdated. Joel and Holly had modified some formulas and developed a new line of “hand-packed” canned foods. The Company needed to submit new validation data to cover the changes – and was required to operate under an Emergency Permit while its documentation was brought up to date.

Evanger’s Complies
Evanger’s hired two different experts in canned food process validation to bring its paperwork into full compliance. Thermal Process Technology took care of the hand-packed products, and TechniCal was handed the loaf-style canned food validation project.

TechniCal and Evanger’s went beyond the bare requirements for validation, deciding to base the loaf-style canned food process validation on the most difficult product to sterilize – the Vegetarian loaf-style. In addition to the standard process validations, Joel Sher instructed TechniCal to also validate the effectiveness of the Company’s canned food sterilization equipment – the retorts – in a “worst case scenario”.

Retorts are equipped with vents that are opened while steam is introduced into the chamber. The vents allow dry air to escape as the steam enters the retort, preventing the formation of air pockets that could result in inadequate sterilization. TechniCal, on instructions from Evanger’s, ran a test of the process without opening the vents. Even under those “worst case” conditions, the sterilization process was effective.

All of the work was completed promptly, and all of the validation data were in FDA’s hands by the end of August 2008. In order to tidy up Evanger’s process file, TechniCal also deleted the obsolete processes from the Company’s FDA file.

In fact, when eFoodAlert contacted FDA by email on December 2, 2008, we were told, “Evanger’s was issued a permit and is now operating in full compliance with applicable FDA regulations.”

Certain that the company had met all FDA requirements, Joel Sher planned to request the dismissal of the Company’s Emergency Permit during the next inspection, scheduled for March 2009. But that was not to be.

The Stumbling Block
As planned, the FDA inspector returned to Evanger’s in March 2009. On making his rounds, the inspector pointed out a couple of minor deviations, which were addressed immediately and noted on the inspection report. But, according to the inspector, TechniCal had made a mistake in its submission, on Evanger’s behalf, of the process validation data to FDA.

Instead of naming the validation process “All Loaf Style Solid Pack Products”, which would have covered the entire range of products, TechniCal named the process “Vegetarian”. Rather than simply allowing TechniCal to correct the process name, FDA decided to apply the letter of the law, and demanded that Evanger’s submit a separate process validation for each individual loaf style. And, two months after the inspection, FDA suspended Evanger’s Emergency Operating Permit – even though the Company was already working to comply with FDA’s demands.

Is Evanger’s Canned Pet Food Safe?
During our telephone conversation, I asked Joel Sher whether FDA had ever requested a product recall. “No,” he replied, “Absolutely not!”

Joel went on to explain that, if FDA was concerned about the safety of Evanger’s canned foods, the agency could have requested a recall, and could have asked Illinois to block sale of the canned food within the state. FDA took no such actions.

In response to my questions regarding the Company’s internal Quality Assurance program, and its commitment to product safety, Sher disclosed the following:

Evanger’s processes all of its loaf-style pet foods based on the requirements for the toughest product to sterilize – the Vegetarian loaf. This provides an extra safety margin for all of the other products;
Evanger’s has validated its sterilization equipment under worst-case scenarios, again ensuring a safety margin for normal operations;
Evanger’s supplier of vitamin and mineral premixes maintains a Certificate of Analysis on file for each premix batch, and those Certificates are available to Evanger’s upon request;
Evanger’s receives a Certificate of Analysis for each shipment of other specialty ingredients, such as guar gum;
Evanger’s conducts incubation testing of each batch of canned food it produces; and
Evanger’s conducts random sampling of its products for microbiological and nutritional profile testing, carried out by a reputable independent laboratory.

No manufacturer is immune from the occasional complaint from a dissatisfied customer. And Evanger’s is no exception. The Company tries to address complaints as they arise, but its efforts are not always successful.

One former customer, unhappy with Evanger’s response to her complaint that the Company’s dry dog food had made her dogs ill, took matters into her own hands. She arranged for a sample of Evanger’s dry food to be tested for copper, aflatoxins and solanine. The testing lab reported negative results for solanine (a natural toxin sometimes found in potato) and aflatoxins (toxins produced by some molds). The lab determined the level of copper to be 12.3mg/Kg (shown on the report as 1.23mg/100g).

The amount of copper found by the testing lab is nearly twice the minimum level (7.3mg/Kg) recommended by FDA for a dry dog food, but well within the maximum recommended level of 250mg/Kg. And despite the customer’s claim that a copper concentration of 12.3mg/Kg is excessive, other high quality dry dog foods routinely contain this much copper. Innova dry dog food, for example, typically contains 14.4mg/Kg.

What Happens Next?
Evanger’s has filed the required additional Process information with FDA, and has requested an informal hearing – set for June 23^rd – to review its status. The Company expects their Permit suspension to be lifted shortly thereafter.

“Meanwhile,” Joel Sher reports, “Evanger’s continues to manufacture its high quality, nutritious, wholesome, innovative and safe products at its plant in Wheeling, Illinois.”

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Nestlé Toll House Cookie Dough: Is Cross-Contamination The Answer?

June 20, 2009

With 65 E. coli O157:H7 infections in 29 states appearing to be linked to the consumption of raw Toll House cookie dough, Nestlé's Quality Assurance staff must be scrambling to determine how the pathogen might have sneaked in.

E. coli O157:H7 usually is associated with raw meat, unpasteurized dairy products and raw produce. None of these items can be found on any Toll House cookie dough ingredient list. And none of the cookie dough ingredients ever have been associated until now with E. coli O157:H7 contamination, as far as we can tell.

Unless the pathogen was introduced into Nestlé's production facility by an asymptomatic carrier of the disease – a Typhoid Mary – we would suggest that the most probable source of the contamination is an ingredient.

While we have no inside information on Nestlé's processes or the FDA outbreak investigation, we have figured out one possible scenario. But, first, a little history lesson.

In 1994, nearly 600 people in 41 states suffered from gastroenteritis after consuming Salmonella-contaminated Schwan's ice cream. The contamination was blamed on a "sanitary" bulk tanker truck that had not been properly sanitized after hauling a load of raw liquid egg. The improperly cleaned tanker then was used to transport ice cream mix to Schwan's. The result: Salmonella-contaminated ice cream.

History might be repeating itself in this outbreak. Dairy herds are a major reservoir for E. coli O157:H7, and contamination of raw milk by this pathogen has been documented on several occasions. Bulk tanker trucks haul raw milk from the farm to dairy companies. They also deliver bulk pasteurized egg products to food processors, such as Nestlé.

Perhaps a particular tanker was not sanitized properly between carrying a load of raw milk and a load of bulk pasteurized egg. If so, E. coli O157:H7 may have survived the improper sanitizing treatment, and then contaminated the egg.

This is pure speculation, of course. Nestlé might own a fleet of sanitary tankers that are dedicated to hauling pasteurized egg products. And as of this evening, neither FDA nor Nestlé have reported finding the outbreak strain in any sample of Toll House cookie dough, in the company's production environment, or in any of the ingredients.

But it might have happened that way.

Recall Roundup: June 20, 2009

United States

Allergy Alert: Unilever United States, Inc. recalls imported Knorr® Kosher Soup Mix- Chicken Vegetable Flavor with Pasta due to undeclared egg. The soup mix was was manufactured in Israel by Unilever Bestfoods Israel Ltd. and imported and distributed nationally across the United States.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Knorr® recalls Knorr Kosher Soup Mix – Chicken Vegetable Flavor with Pasta (62g pouch) due to the presence of undeclared eggs. This product was manufactured in Israel by Unilever Bestfoods Israel Ltd., and imported and distributed by a third party. Consumers are asked to discard the product and call 1-877-270-7412 for more information on the recall and to request a refund.
Food Safety Recall: Restaurant Chez Gautier Inc. recalls certain deli products due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The sliced meats and cucumber salad were sold only in the province of Québec.

*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.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 19, 2009

United States

Allergy Alert: Smith Dairy Products Company recalls SMITH’S Tea with Lemon in gallon size, lot no. 07/07/09, due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled product was distributed only in Ohio.
Stolen Insulin Warning: FDA warns that at least some of the stolen 129,000 vials of the injectable insulin product, Levemir – made by Novo Nordisk – have resurfaced and are being sold to US consumers. FDA has received one report of a patient who suffered a dangerous reaction due to poor control of blood glucose as a result of using a vial of the stolen insulin.
Food Safety Alert: The California Department of Public Health warns consumers not to eat canned Cioppino Sauce from Sea Harvest Fish Market & Restaurants, (Carmel, CA) because the product presents a botulism hazard. Sea Harvest does not have a cannery license, and did not process the Cioppino Sauce in accordance with the requirements for a low acid-canned food.
Food Safety Alert: The Utah Department of Health provides sport fishermen with a list of state fish advisories.
Food Safety Recall: Nestlé USA recalls all varieties of Nestlé Toll House refrigerated raw cookie dough products. Preliminary epidemiological evidence has linked consumption of raw Toll House cookie dough to a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7.

Canada

Allergy Alert: La Chocolaterie des Pères Trappistes Mistassini Inc. recalls some packages of Blueberry Flavour Cream chocolates, due to the presence of milk that is not declared on the packaging.

Europe, Including the United Kingdom

Food Safety Alert (Norway & Denmark): The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has prohibited the sale of all sugar peas imported from Kenya after Shigella sonnei was detected in an unopened package. The imported sugar peas were linked to four cases of shigellosis in Norway and 10 cases in Denmark.

*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.

Nestlé USA Recalls Toll House Cooke Dough

June 19, 2009

Nestlé USA announced this morning that it was recalling all varieties of Nestlé TOLL HOUSE refrigerated Cookie Bar Dough, Cookie Dough Tub; Cookie Dough Tube; Limited Edition Cookie Dough items; Seasonal Cookie Dough and Ultimates Cookie Bar Dough.

The company acted out of an "abundance of caution" after being notified that FDA and CDC are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses that may be linked to consumption of raw Toll House cookie dough.

According to a news release issued yesterday evening by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, raw cookie dough may be behind as many as 66 confirmed illnesses in 28 states. Five of the illnesses were reported in Colorado.

Maine announced in late May that it had identified a group of 4 genetically related E. coli O157:H7 infections that were part of a national cluster. We are advised (by Bill Marler) that the Maine cluster is part of the national outbreak.

FDA reported this morning that 25 of the 66 victims of this outbreak have been hospitalized – seven with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). There have been no deaths. The FDA news release did not identify the 28 states in which illnesses have been reported, but indicated that the outbreak began in March 2009.

The Colorado report makes it clear that its advisory is based on preliminary evidence, and that the investigation into the source of the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak is ongoing. Indeed, raw cookie dough seems to be an unlikely venue for this pathogen, which typically is associated with raw meat, raw produce and raw dairy products.

Nestlé, in announcing its recall this morning, reminded consumers that its Toll House cookie dough must be baked before being eaten. The following precaution is prominently displayed on the back of each package, just above the baking instructions:

"Cookie dough contains raw ingredients and should be baked before being consumed."

FDA advises that consumers should not use the recalled raw cookie dough in baking, because of the risk of cross-contamination from handling the dough. Any recalled packages should either be discarded or should be returned to the store for a refund.

For more information on the recall, consumers should visit the Nestlé web site or contact Nestlé Consumer Services at 1-800-559-5025.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Nature's Variety: Acting Responsibly

June 18, 2009

We reported on June 15th that Nature's Variety withdrew two batches of freeze-dried, raw dog food for what was described as a quality issue.

The company gave no details, except to say that there were no product safety concerns. Nevertheless, Pet Food Express, one of the retailers that carries the product line, chose to remove all of Nature's Variety dog foods from its shelves – both freeze-dried and kibble – until the retailer received further assurances from the manufacturer.

On June 16th, Nature's Variety released the reason for its product withdrawal; namely, "...a product handling issue that occurred with a co-packer that created a gap in the products’ chain of custody." The broken custody link contravened the pet food manufacturer's internal quality standards. As a result, Nature's Variety chose to withdraw the affected products from sale, even though there was no evidence of a safety issue.

Pet Food Express has reversed its previous action, and has restocked its shelves with Nature's Variety products. The retailer, after learning the reasons for the initial product withdrawal, commented that it was "... more impressed than ever with their systems for assuring and monitoring that everything that they manufacture is safe and of the highest quality."

It's always cheering to encounter companies that set – and adhere to – high internal standards for product safety and quality.

Two Paws Up for Nature's Variety, whose management acted responsibly and ethically in withdrawing the two batches from sale. And Two Paws Up for Pet Food Express, whose management took extra precautions in an effort to protect its customers.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 17, 2009

United States

Allergy Alert: Smith Dairy Products Company recalls SMITH'S Tea with Lemon gallon size - UPC 70424 00560 Lot No. 07/07/09, due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled tea was distributed only in Ohio.
Cold Remedy Warning: FDA warns consumers that three zinc-containing Zicam Cold Remedy products may cause a loss of the sense of smell, and should not be used.
Dietary Supplement Recall: Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. recalls all lots of Stamina-Rx Dietary Supplement Products, because Stamina-Rx is "...an unapproved new drug and misbranded new drug in violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (the Act)." In addition, one lot contains benzamidenafil, a drug that is not FDA-approved and is not declared on the label.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific

Food Safety Warning: The Hong Kong Department of Health warns that certain Chinese Herbal Teas were found to be adulterated with either paracetamol or both paracetamol and chlorpheniramine, and may cause adverse reactions.

*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.

Is Evanger's An FDA Scapegoat?

June 17, 2009

Something about the Evanger's story doesn't add up.

In April 2008, FDA announced that it would require Evanger's to obtain an Emergency Operating Permit in order to continue interstate sales of its canned pet food line. The agency cited ". . . significant deviations from prescribed documentation of processes, equipment, and recordkeeping . . ." as the reason for this requirement.

In August 2008, according to Evanger's, the company filed the necessary updates with FDA.

On December 2, 2008, FDA informed us by email that Evanger's "... is now operating in full compliance with applicable FDA regulations."

Yet last week, FDA announced that it had suspended Evanger's Emergency Operating Permit, citing deviations ". . . from the prescribed process, equipment, product shipment, and recordkeeping requirements . . ."

In both its April 2008 and June 2009 news releases, FDA cited a risk of botulism to justify both the need for an Emergency Permit and the suspension of that permit. But there have been no recalls; nor has FDA issued a formal warning against feeding Evanger's canned pet foods.

If the health risk is sufficiently high to warrant FDA's actions, why has the agency not taken steps – in conjunction with the state of Illinois – to prevent the sale of Evanger's canned foods within the company's home state? Conversely, if the health risk is low, why has FDA taken the unusual step of "going public"?

Perhaps the answer is contained in the following statement, made by Dr. Bernadette Dunham, Director of FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine:

"Today’s enforcement action sends a strong message to manufacturers of pet food that we will take whatever action necessary to keep unsafe products from reaching consumers.”

Is FDA coming down hard on Evanger's, a small, family run business, in order to "send a message" to the rest of the industry? If so, we – along with many others in the blogging community – owe Evanger's an apology.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Evanger's Fights Back

June 16, 2009

Evanger's Dog and Cat Food Co., Inc. announced today that it has filed a formal request with FDA for reinstatement of its Low Acid Canned Food operating permit.

On June 12th, FDA suspended the temporary Emergency Permit under which Evanger's had been operating its canned pet food facility for approximately a year. The federal agency, in announcing the suspension, said that the company "...was not operating in compliance with the mandatory requirements and conditions of the Temporary Emergency Permit."

The suspension did not prevent Evanger's from producing and selling canned pet food within its home state of Illinois, but barred the company from selling the canned foods across state lines.

The company claims that their dispute with FDA is nothing more than "...a misunderstanding regarding paperwork updating the company's processing protocols that was submitted last year." Evanger's emphasizes that no products have been recalled. Furthermore, according to company Vice President Joel Sher, many of FDA's outstanding questions have already been addressed.

A careful reading of the FDA's formal notice of deficiencies, posted on Evanger's web site, appears to support Evanger's position. Let's hope that FDA and Evanger's can come to an understanding that will put this pet food issue to bed.

PFPSA Confirms Toxic Zinc Levels In Nutro Cat Food

June 16, 2009

On May 22, 2009 – one day after Nutro Products recalled certain of its dry cat foods – the Pet Food Products Safety Alliance (PFPSA) purchased a bag of recalled cat food and submitted the unopened bag to University of Idaho Analytical Sciences Laboratory for analysis. The product was identified as:

Nutro Max Cat Adult Roasted Chicken Flavor, Best by: 07 JUN 2010 07:17 2AD6 "A"

The lab test results, released today, confirm that this bag of cat food contained zinc at a level of 2,100 parts per million. PFPSA describes this as a "deadly" concentration of zinc – enough, based on the company's recommended daily feeding portion size to kill a 9-pound cat in just over two days.

It is disturbing that FDA has had nothing to say about the Nutro cat food recall. The agency's lips have been sealed ever since it released its April 28th statement on Nutro Products, Inc. At that time, FDA said,

"FDA is clarifying that Nutro Products, Inc. is not currently under investigation. FDA does not typically confirm or deny the existence of an FDA investigation. It has recently come to our attention, however, that a media report incorrectly concluded and reported that Nutro Products, Inc. was the subject of an investigation."

When we contacted FDA by email on May 27th to ask about the May 22nd Nutro cat food recall announcement, we were told that, "The FDA can neither confirm or deny whether a company is under investigation."

Why should it be necessary for PFPSA to do the FDA's job for it? And where is the "transparency" that the Obama administration has been promising?

Recall Roundup: June 16, 2009

United States

Food Safety Recall: Knouse Foods, Inc. recalls apple sauce packed in glass jars, because imperfections in the jar rims may cause the rim to chip when the lid is removed and introduce glass fragments into the apple sauce. The apple sauce was packed under a variety of brand names and private label names.
Pet Food Alert: Nature's Variety withdraws two production lots of freeze-dried raw dog food, because the products did not meet quality specifications.

Europe, Including the United Kingdom

Allergy Alert (UK): Asca withdraws some Pick 'n' Mix Mexican Rice because some packages contain Mexican Paella. As a result, these packages may contain undeclared milk, shellfish, fish and wheat gluten.

*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.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Nature's Variety "Withdraws" Products Due To Quality Issue

June 15, 2009

Nature's Variety has withdrawn from the market two production batches of its freeze-dried raw dog food that did not meet quality specifications. The company claims that the withdrawn products do not represent any health risk to their customers' pets.

According to the news release dated June 12th and appearing on the company's web site, the only two affected batches are:

Freeze Dried Raw Chicken Formula (UPC # 69949 60151) with a “best if used by” date of 05/25/10; and
Freeze Dried Raw Beef Formula (UPC # 69949 60251) with a “best if used by” date of 05/25/10

Nature's Variety claims that most of the withdrawn product is in the hands of its distributors and retailers, and that it is "very unlikely" that any of the product was purchased. Nevertheless, the company is offering its customers a full refund or replacement. That sounds like a recall to us!

The company's announcement provides no details about the reason for this product withdrawal, leaving some people to speculate whether there is more here than meets the eye. At least one retailer – Pet Food Express – has unilaterally extended the product withdrawal to include other Nature's Variety products, until the pet food manufacturer furnishes more information as to the reasons for its actions.

FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine has not commented on the action taken by Nature's Variety, nor has FDA posted the company's advisory on its list of recalls and alerts.

If you have purchased one of the "withdrawn" batches of Nature's Variety freeze-dried raw dog food, treat the problem as a safety recall and return the package to your retailer for a refund.

Recall Roundup: June 15, 2009

United States

Vitamin Labeling Error: FoodScience Corporation (Essex Junction, VT) recalls Children's Multi-Vitamins due to error in suggested dosage.

Europe, Including the United Kingdom

Allergy Alert (UK): Asda recalls some frozen Spaghetti Bolognaise, because some of the packages may contain Bangers and Mash, resulting in the presence of undeclared milk and barley in those packages.

*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.

CDC Report Ruffles Poultry Industry Feathers

June 15, 2009

The National Chicken Council (NCC) reacted harshly last Friday to CDC's report on Foodborne Disease Outbreaks that were recorded in 2006, claiming that the report presented "...a misleading picture of the safety of poultry."

According to CDC, 48 US states reported a total of 1,270 foodborne disease outbreaks in 2006. Eleven of the outbreaks were multistate, including the Salmonella outbreak that was caused by ConAgra's contaminated peanut butter.

The item that got the NCC's goat, though, was CDC's report of a Clostridium perfringens outbreak – traced to contaminated, baked chicken – that caused 741 illnesses in a prison population. The Council claims that the illnesses from this unusual outbreak skewed the apparent frequency of foodborne illnesses caused by contaminated poultry. Does the Chicken Council have a valid beef?

In 2006, poultry accounted for 21% of the reported cases of foodborne disease. Had the prison outbreak been excluded, the percentage would have fallen to 10.9%. Of course, a similar case would then have to be made for excluding the unprecedented – and equally large – peanut butter outbreak, which sickened 715 people. That outbreak swelled to fruits/nuts category to 1,021 cases, or 16% of the total.

Raw poultry has its contamination issues, notably, Salmonella and Campylobacter. But Clostridium perfringens isn't one of them. The NCC would have been wiser to point out that the prison outbreak likely had little or nothing to do with contaminated raw poultry. Rather, Clostridium perfringens outbreaks typically are caused by mishandling cooked foods – usually through poor temperature control during cooling, storage or display of the cooked foods.

As CDC makes clear in its report, it's the nature of the agency's foodborne disease surveillance process that the annual numbers are easily skewed by individual large outbreaks – whether due to contaminated dairy products, meats, produce or poultry.

Instead of taking potshots at the messenger, the National Chicken Council should help spread the food safety message.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 14, 2009

United States

Food Safety Recall: Torres Hillsdale Country Cheese LLC (Reading, MI) recalls all lots of Soft Mexican Cheeses due to possible Listeria contamination, after FDA found Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of queso fresco cheese taken on May 26, 2009. The recalled cheeses were sold in retail stores and delis under the brand name Aguas Calientes in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Stolen Insulin Alert: Novo Nordisk warns customers that 10-mL vials of Levemir® insulin for injection, reported stolen in North Carolina, has surfaced at a medical center in Houston, TX.

*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.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Evanger's Troubled History

June 13, 2009

Evanger's Dog & Cat Food Company, Inc., whose canned food operation has been under FDA scrutiny for more than a year, learned yesterday that the federal agency was suspending the company's temporary emergency operating permit. FDA's action prevents Evanger's from selling its canned pet foods outside of its home state of Illinois.

FDA, in a notice released to the public yesterday evening, stated that Evanger's ". . . deviated from the prescribed process, equipment, product shipment, and recordkeeping requirements in the production of the company's thermally processed low acid canned food (LACF) products." The deviations, according to FDA, could result in under-processing, which could allow survival of Clostridium botulinum in the canned pet foods. Clostridium botulinum is a spore-forming bacterium that produces a deadly neurotoxin.

The story began in April 2008. After inspecting Evanger's food canning operations, FDA advised the company that the pet food maker would need to obtain an emergency operating permit in order to continue interstate distribution of its canned pet foods. The agency took this action due to "significant deviations" in the company's processes, equipment and documentation. The emergency permit would allow Evanger's to continue operating while correcting those deviations.

The company responded publicly to the April 2008 FDA action, claiming that the problem was a relatively minor documentation issue, that FDA's April 24, 2008 announcement was inaccurate and misleading, and that Evanger's was not operating under an emergency permit.

In June 2008, FDA issued Evanger's with a temporary Emergency Permit, under which the company could continue to operate while correcting the outstanding issues. The agency reinspected Evanger's between March and April 2009, and determined that the company was not operating in compliance with the conditions of the Emergency Permit. FDA, therefore, decided to suspend the permit until Evanger's shows that it has taken appropriate corrective actions to bring the company's processes into line with government requirements.

Evanger's released a statement today in response to FDA's actions. Joel Sher, the company's Vice President, blames the entire problem on an inadvertent documentation error on the part of Evanger's processing expert. The error, according to Sher, occurred in August 2008 and the company ". . . has been working with the FDA to resolve this issue quickly."

As FDA pointed out in a "Dear Colleague" letter to the Low Acid Canned Food industry in 2007, the agency's canned food regulations ". . . are among the best examples of science-based food safety regulations with long records of successful implementation." But this excellent track record requires diligent attention to careful process control and thorough process documentation – something that, apparently, has been lacking at Evanger's.

It's time for Evanger's to come out of "denial" and start cleaning up its act. It's not enough to use wholesome ingredients that are sourced in the United States. It's not enough to be the oldest natural pet food company in the United States. Evanger's customers have every right to expect the company to process its pet foods under the very best of Good Manufacturing Practices and in full compliance with FDA requirements.

Anything less is unacceptable.

Recall Roundup: June 13, 2009

United States

Allergy Alert: R. E. Kimball and Company, Inc. (Amesbury, MA) recalls approximately 1200 units of Clam Chowder and Corn Chowder, including all lot numbers in 15 oz cans, because they contain undeclared milk and wheat. The recalled chowders were packaged under several different brand names and distributed throughout New England.
Allergy Alert (Retail Consignee List): USDA publishes list of retail consignees for Recall #032-2009: Kroger, Fully Cooked, Buffalo Style Chicken Wings, Chicken Wing Sections Coated With Sauce. The chicken wings were recalled by Pilgrim's Pride on June 10th, due to the presence of undeclared milk, soy, and wheat.
Food Safety Recall: Bao Ding Seafood (New York, NY 10002) recalls Boiled Horse Mackerel, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets discovered that the fish was not eviscerated before being processed.
Food Safety Recall: The California Department of Public Health warns consumers to avoid Dulces Beny Mega Pinta Labios Candy, manufactured by Dulces Topi, S.A. DE C.V. in Mexico. Tests carried out by CDPH determined that the candy contains excessive lead. CDPH is working to identify the distributor and to ensure that the candy is removed from the marketplace.
Food Safety Recall: The California Department of Public Health warns consumers to avoid Chulada Saladitos C/Chile (Salted Plums W/Chili), packed and distributed by Chulada, Inc. (Burbank, CA), after tests determine that the candy contains excessive lead. CDPH is working with the distributor to have the candy removed from the marketplace.

Canada

Allergy Alert: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns consumers that several Lotte and Crown brands of biscuits, imported from Korea, have been recalled by the importers. The recalled items may contain undeclared milk, eggs, and/or hazelnuts.
Food Safety Alert: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns consumers that Our Father's Farm brand Ultra Bitter Apricot Kernels should not be consumed in excessive amounts, as the product contains a natural toxin, amygdalin, which can cause acute cyanide poisoning. CFIA is working with Our Father's Farm to remove the product from the marketplace. The Ultra bitter Apricot Kernels were distributed throughout Ontario, and may also be available in other parts of Canada.
Food Safety Recall: La Boutique du Pâtissier Enr. (1075, avenue Laurier Ouest, Outremont, QC) recalls cooked ham sold by weight between May 21 and May 29, 2009, because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Europe, Including the United Kingdom

Allergy Alert (UK): Co-Operative Group withdraws Truly Irresistible Oatmeal Batch Loaf 800g, with a ‘best before’ date of 15 June, as some of the Co-operative’s Truly Irresistible White Farmhouse Loaf products may have been wrapped in the Oatmeal Batch Loaf packaging. The White Farmhouse loaf contains a soya ingredient that is not declared on the Oatmeal Loaf packaging.
Dietary Supplement Alert: The Food Standards Agency warns consumers to avoid using Hydroxycut weight-loss supplement products, as these products have been linked to several cases of liver damage, and one death. The Hydroxycut products, manufactured by Iovate in Canada, have been recalled in the United States, Canada and Finland.

*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.

Friday, June 12, 2009

BREAKING NEWS: FDA Suspends Evanger's Operating Permit

June 12, 2009

FDA announced this evening that it was suspending the temporary operating permit under which Evanger's Dog and Cat Food Company, Inc. has been operating for the last year.

The agency took this action after determining that Evanger's was not operating its canning operation according to ". . . prescribed process, equipment, product shipment, and recordkeeping requirements . . ." as set out in the temporary operating permit.

According to FDA, Evanger's deviations from prescribed protocols could ". . . result in under-processed pet foods, which can allow the survival and growth of Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum), a bacterium that causes botulism in some animals as well as in humans."

Evanger's is an Illinois-based privately owned pet food company that manufactures and sells "premium" dog and cat foods, and pet treats. In April 2008, FDA announced that the company would be allowed to continue manufacturing canned pet food under a temporary emergency permit while it brought its low acid canned food processing operations into compliance with federal requirements.

When the FDA notice was released last year, Evanger's took strong exception to its contents. Holly Sher, the company's President, had the following response to our original post last April:

"The FDA news release is highly inaccurate and misleading. Evanger's Dog and Cat Food Company is not under emergency permit and is currently manufacturing and distributing its products worldwide with FDA approval. There have been no allegations for unsafe product or recalls. Please go to evangersdogfood.com for company statement."

It's evident, based on today's FDA announcement, that Ms. Sher's statement was disingenuous, at best. While there have been no product recalls – FDA cannot force a recall under current law – the company clearly has been producing its canned food lines under an emergency permit.

FDA cannot stop Evanger's from continuing to produce its canned dog and cat foods. But by suspending the temporary emergency permit, the agency can – and has – stopped Evanger's from selling its product outside the company's home state of Illinois.

We strongly urge dog and cat owners who may have purchased Evanger's canned foods to either discard any remaining product or to return the unopened cans to their retailer. Please switch to another brand of food until FDA lifts the suspension of Evanger's operating permit.

Do not put your dogs and cats at risk.

Recall Roundup: June 12, 2009

United States

Food Safety Recall (Reissue): Sconza Candy Company reissues notice of nationwide recall of trail mix, organic chocolate peanuts and organic toffee cashews and peanuts to correct one item number and add another. The recalled items contain peanut products supplied by Peanut Corporation of America (Plainview, TX facility).

Canada

Food Safety Recall: La Pâtisserie Belge Inc. (3487, avenue du Parc, Montréal, QC) recalls cooked ham that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled ham was sold by weight between May 21 and May 29, 2009.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (Australia and New Zealand): Cadbury Ltd. recalls Cadbury Old Gold Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa due to the presence of undeclared milk protein. The chocolate was manufactured in Australia and distributed nationally, as well as to New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Guam.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific

Allergy Alert (Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Guam): Cadbury Ltd. recalls Cadbury Old Gold Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa due to the presence of undeclared milk protein. See above for details.

*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.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 11, 2009

United States

Allergy Alert: Pilgrim's Pride Corp. (Mount Pleasant, TX) recalls approximately 608,188 pounds of frozen Buffalo-style chicken wings, because they may contain undeclared milk, soy, and wheat. The recalled chicken wings were distributed to the Kroger family of stores, except for Fred Meyer, QFC and Ralph's stores.
Allergy Alert: Sigma Processed Meats, Inc. (Seminole, OK) recalls approximately 2.68 million pounds of fully cooked ham products that contain undeclared monosodium glutamate (MSG).
Allergy Alert: Price Chopper recalls Price Chopper Extra Cheese Ring Danish due to the presence of undeclared eggs.
Allergy Alert: Indian Groceries & Spices, Inc. recalls Nirav Golden Raisins due to the presence of undeclared sulfites.

Canada

Allergy Alert: Fruiterie 440 (3840, boulevard Taschereau, Longueuil, QC) recalls yogurt-flavored raisins, because some packages may contain yogurt-flavored peanuts, due to a labeling error.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall: Regal Cream Products Pty Ltd recalls Bulla Creamy Classics – Cookies & Cream ice cream after receiving reports of pieces of plastic in some containers.

*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.

World Health Organization Declares Flu Pandemic

June 11, 2009

According to the BBC, the WHO is raising its swine flu (Influenza A/H1N1) alert to Level 6, declaring a full-fledged pandemic.

Today's change in alert status comes 50 days after the first warning – issued April 24 – that a novel strain of influenza A had appeared in Mexico and parts of the United States. In the last 50 days, the new virus, which contains genetic components of swine, bird and human flu strains, has spread to 74 countries, infecting 27,737 victims, and killing 141.

As early reports of the spread of the disease piled up, WHO quickly raised its alert levels from Level 3 to Level 4 (April 28) and from Level 4 to Level 5 (April 29). The decision to proclaim a Level 6 alert makes the pandemic official.

What does Level 6 mean? Simply that the new influenza virus has become established in communities in two or more different regions of the world. Illnesses caused by the new flu already were reported all over North America and in several European countries – notably the United Kingdom and Spain.

The illnesses in North America and Europe weren't enough to convince WHO to declare a flu pandemic. Apparently, though, the recent rapid and extensive spread of the virus in Australia and New Zealand was impossible to ignore.

The Southern Hemisphere is now entering winter – prime influenza season. The performance of the new flu strain over the next few months will provide a good indication of what to expect in the North America, Europe and Asia during the 2009-2010 flu season.

National and international health agencies will be watching closely for any signs that the relatively mild strain is mutating into something more dangerous before the next Northern Hemisphere flu season begins.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 10, 2009

United States

Allergy Alert: The Kroger Co. recalls Kroger Fully Cooked Buffalo Style Chicken Wings, 32 oz. due to the presence of undeclared wheat, soy and dairy ingredients. The recalled chicken wings were sold in Kroger, Dillons, King Soopers, Food 4 Less, Smith's, Jay C, and Fry's stores.

Europe, Including the United Kingdom

Animal Feed Contamination (Finland): Hankklja-Maatalous Oy reports that in-house testing has detected Salmonella Mbandaka in a 30-ton batch of imported rapeseed meal. Initial testing of the rapeseed meal last fall by the company and by the Finnish government did not detect any Salmonella. Most of the meal was delivered to cattle farms; however, none of the cattle that were fed the meal have become infected. The company has discontinued deliveries of the Salmonella-contaminated batch.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific

Food Recall (Singapore): The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore has instructed the importer of Campbell’s Country Ladle Potato and Leek Soup to recall one batch of the Australian-made product. The soup was recalled in Australia last week by Campbell's Soup Australia due to contamination with black rubber pieces.

*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.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 9, 2009

United States

Food Safety Recall: Snow Creek Meat Processing (Seneca, SC) recalls approximately 75 pounds of fresh beef trim products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled meat was sold at Amazing Savings retail stores in North Carolina and South Carolina.
Food Safety Recall: The California Department of Public Health warns consumers not to eat SENG Chen PiMei Candy, which has been recalled due to the presence of excessive lead. The candies were manufactured in China by Seng, and were imported by Tjiat Seng Eximi of Singapore.
Skin Product Safety Recall: Clarcon Biological Chemistry Laboratory Inc. (Roy, UT) has recalled several skin care lotions and sanitizers after an FDA inspection uncovered excessive contamination with potentially harmful bacteria, as well as other deviations from FDA requirements.

Europe, Including the United Kingdom

Allergy Alert (UK): Tesco recalls its own brand of Lamb Rogan Josh products due to the presence of undeclared wheat, soya and sulfites.
Food Safety Alert (Finland): The Finnish Food Safety Authority recommends that consumers heat imported frozen raspberries for at least 2 minutes at 90ºC. Imported frozen raspberries are suspected as the source of a series of Norovirus outbreaks that have been reported this spring in various parts.

*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.

Diarrhea Digest: June 9, 2009

Diarrhea Digest is an eFoodAlert feature that presents a periodic snapshot of foodborne and person-to-person gastroenteritis outbreaks from around the world.

One or twice a month, we'll survey the globe and discover what all of us have in common – a shared susceptibility to the bacteria and viruses that cause gastrointestinal disease.

Asia and Africa

Bangladesh, June 2 – High energy biscuits supplied to by the World Food Programme have been fingered as the source of an outbreak of food poisoning among school children in Khagrhachharhi.
Bangladesh, June 5 – Capsules containing vitamin A and a deworming medication triggered an episode of vomiting among 150 children approximately 2 hours after they swallowed the capsules. The children were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Hong Kong, June 5 – Kowloon Junior School in Ho Man Tin was closed for several days on the advice of the Center for Health Protection after 41 students developed gastroenteritis. Two of the children – all of whom suffered from vomiting, diarrhea and fever – were hospitalized. The school is undergoing cleaning and disinfection while classes are suspended.
Kazakhstan, June 9 – Thirty residents of the Atyrau region are showing symptoms of brucellosis, after coming into contact with infected cattle. People can become infected with Brucella as a result of drinking unpasteurized milk from an infected dairy cow.
Sri Lanka, June 5 – Eheliyagoda Central College was closed temporarily after 25 students and several teachers contracted hepatitis. The source of the infection is being investigated.
Tanzania, June 4 – An outbreak of acute watery diarrhea – blamed on contaminated drinking water resulting from a ruptured pipe – has killed two people and sent 28 others to hospital in the western district of Kigoma.

Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands

Philippines, June 7 – Two people – a 14-year old girl and a 33-year old woman – have died and 28 others have been suffering from diarrhea in and around Basay town. The outbreak is blamed on a lack of sanitary toilet facilities and safe drinking water. Residents of the area are being told to boil their water.

Europe, Including Russia

Ukraine, June 2 – Eight students from a school district were hospitalized with food poisoning after eating at the school canteen.
Ukraine, June 4 – Salmonella left a bitter aftertaste to both a birthday celebration and a funeral meal at a café in Valkivska after 16 of the attendees were hospitalized. Victims complained of fever and diarrhea two days after eating a chicken dish that also contained a liver and fish filler (stuffing?). Authorities are investigating.
United Kingdom, June 5 – An East Oxford sushi bar was closed when two patrons complained of food poisoning as a result of eating at the restaurant. One of the victims was hospitalized.

Western Hemisphere

Costa Rica, June 5 – Some 800 residents of Grecia, Costa Rica have been stricken with gastroenteritis as a result of drinking contaminated water. More than 100 of the victims have been treated in hospital. Both Salmonella Typhimurium and E. coli have been found in the town's water supply. Local health authorities suspect that the water became infected as it traveled through an old aqueduct, which is scheduled for replacement in 2011.
Guatemala, June 1 – Residents of 10 municipalities in Huehuetenango have been experiencing an outbreak of diarrhea that has sickened 223 people so far. No specific source of the outbreak has been identified.
United States, May 28 – The Maine CDC has issued a Public Health Alert advising that the state has confirmed six cases of E. coli O157:H7 infections in Cumberland and York counties over the last month. A seventh case is under investigation. The same genetic strain has been recovered from four of the infected individuals. This same strain also has been reported elsewhere in the US. No common source of this cluster of infections has been determined so far.
United States, June 4 – Two kindergarten students in Jackson County, MO were confirmed to have been infected with Salmonella. Several other children also reported symptoms of salmonellosis, but were not tested for the microbe.
United States, June 6 – Two cases of typhoid fever (Salmonella Typhi) have been confirmed in Chattanooga, TN and a third case is considered probable. The three victims – all of them children – have recovered. Health officials are trying to determine the source of the outbreak.

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.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 8, 2009

United States

Allergy Alert: Le Pain Quotidien recalls Noir Belgian Dark Chocolate Spread due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled spread was sold at all Le Pain Quotidien restaurants in New York, Connecticut, California, Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC.
Food Safety Recall: N.Y. Fish, Inc. (Brooklyn, NY) recalls I ♥ NY Fish brand Imperial-European Style Smoked Salmon, due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled smoked salmon was distributed to wholesale distributors and retail food stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific

Weight Loss Product Alert (Hong Kong): The Department of Health warns consumers not to purchase or use Slim Pure and Ku Xiu Ba Xiang Jian Fei Wan slimming drugs, because they contain undeclared sibutramine and sibutramine analogue. The slimming drugs were sold over the Internet.

*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.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 6, 2009

United States

Food Safety Recall: Cameco, Inc. (Verona, NJ) recalls approximately 79,312 pounds of various fully cooked, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products because the products may contain under-processed ham components after contacting surfaces of equipment. The recalled products were distributed under a variety of brand names.
Food Safety Recall: Wegmans recalls Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Chunky Apple Sauce Natural (no sugar added), 23.5 oz. with a Best By date of 04/13/11 and UPC 77890-10692, because the rim of the glass jar may chip, possibly leading to glass in the apple sauce.

Europe, Including the United Kingdom

Food Supplement Recall (Ireland): The Food Safety Authority of Ireland warns consumers to discontinue using Hydroxycut food supplements, due to reports of liver damage in some users in the United States and Finland.

*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.

Friday, June 5, 2009

The Downside of Irradiation: The Australian Experience

June 5, 2009

Virbac (Australia) Pty. Ltd. has recalled Veggie Dent™ Chews For Dogs after the dental chews were tentatively linked to cases of Fanconi-like syndrome (a kidney disease) in an undisclosed number of pet dogs. No kidney illnesses have been reported in other countries among dogs who were fed Veggie Dent™ chews.

Last December, we reported on a similar situation – a recall of KraMar chicken jerky dog treats. Then, too, the treats were associated with Fanconi-like syndrome. Then, too, only dogs in Australia appeared to be affected.

In November 2008, Orijen cat food was recalled in Australia when at least 40 Orijen-fed cats became paralyzed in a nine-month period. Again, no Orijen-related problems were reported in other countries where the cat food was available.

What is the common element that links these three episodes?

It's not the animal species. Cats were affected in the first episode and dogs in the other two.
It's not the country of origin. The Orijen was made in Canada, the KraMar chicken jerky came from China, and the Virbac dog chews were manufactured in Vietnam.
It's not the symptoms. Cats were paralyzed, whereas the dogs experienced kidney problems.

The common element is Australia's import requirement that these pet foods and pet treats be treated with high levels of irradiation in order to be allowed into the country.

In 1985, Czech researchers reported that treating dog food with radiation levels similar to those specified by Australia resulted in:

35% degradation of essential amino acids;
destructive changes in the lipid component;
partial decomposition of the saccharide part; and
decomposition of fats with a release of free fatty acids.

In addition to its effect on amino acids and fats, irradiation reduces vitamin A levels and increases peroxides. And cats fed an exclusive diet of irradiated food developed the same paralysis syndrome suffered by the Orijen-fed cats in Australia.

The evidence is piling up. Australia's insistence on irradiating imported pet foods and pet treats is sickening some of the very pets that the policy is meant to protect. The government already has backed away from requiring irradiation of cat food. Why are dogs not receiving equal treatment?

The Australian experience also raises a fundamental question about the safety of irradiating food for human consumption. Irradiated food doesn't glow in the dark, but neither should we be left in the dark about the downside of an irradiated diet.

Recall Roundup: June 5, 2009

Pistachio Product Recalls

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns consumers that certain pistachio products made in the United States and Canada contain pistachios from Setton Farms and may be contaminated with Salmonella. A second notice corrects the UPC for one item listed in the original notice.

Peanut Butter Outbreak Recalls

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns consumers that certain food items contain peanut products from Peanut Corporation of America and may be contaminated with Salmonella.

United States

Food Safety Recall-Retail Distribution List: USDA releases retail distribution list for ground beef products recalled by SP Provisions due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination (FSIS Recall #027-2009)
Food Safety Alert: The New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets warned residents not to consume raw farm milk from Breese Hollow Dairy, after the state lab detected Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of milk as part of its routine monthly monitoring program. The producer is prohibited from supplying unpasteurized milk until follow-up sampling determines that the milk is pathogen-free.

Canada

Allergy Alert: The Québec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food warns consumers that certain pâtés from Magasin général la mère de famille (556, chemin du Chenal-du-Moine, Sainte-Anne-de-Sorel, QC) contain undeclared egg protein and have been recalled.
Food Safety Recall: La Ferme d'Oc Inc. (4495, chemin Royal, Sainte-Famille, l'île d'Orléans, QC) recalls certain preserves sold in hermetically sealed glass jars, because the food items were not processed in a manner to ensure microbiological safety.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Recall (Australia): Campbell Soup Australia recalls Campbell’s Country Ladle Potato & Leek 505g Canned Soup (Batch code 3T9PAL) due to contamination with pieces of black rubber.

*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.

Is The US Finally On The Road To Food Safety Reform?

June 5, 2009

The draft Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 lists a backlog of regulatory reforms that have accumulated in the desk drawers of Congressional legislators for a decade or more. And, with the backing of the Obama Administration, it has a good chance of becoming law.

The proposed Act provides for several key changes to the way the United States approaches food safety. What do some of these changes mean for the food industry and for consumers?

Mandatory Recall Authority

We, along with many others, have been advocating this change for a very long time. It will allow FDA to initiate a recall in those cases where a food company refuses the agency's request for a voluntary recall. The new authority will rarely need to be used. It's mere existence will be a stimulus to industry cooperation.

Universal HACCP

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is a preventative approach to the production and processing of safe food. The meat and poultry industry adopted HACCP a decade ago at the insistence of USDA. FDA already requires some food industry sectors – seafood processors, for example – to operate under HACCP. Now, if the proposed bill becomes law, HACCP will be extended to the entire food industry. The program would be phased in, first in large companies – many of which already follow HACCP practices – then in smaller ones.

Annual Registration of All Food Operations, Including Warehouses, Food Brokers and Importers

The 2008/2009 Peanut Corporation of America fiasco was complicated by the apparent invisibility of the company's Texas facility. Although registered with FDA, the facility was not known to the Texas Department of State Health Services. As a result, it never was inspected by the State (which was operating under contract with FDA) until after the federal agency followed the evidence trail from Georgia to Texas. Annual registration may reduce the risk of this problem occurring again, but only if there is effective sharing of the registration information between FDA and state agencies. The $1,000 annual registration fee that is part of this mandate should help to defray the costs of information sharing.

Country of Origin Labeling

This already is a requirement for some foods (just check the labels on your supermarket fruits and veggies). If the proposed bill becomes law, all foods would need to be labeled with their country of origin. This is not, strictly speaking, a food safety issue – unless a food product or ingredient from a specific country has been fingered as the source of a problem (e.g., melamine adulteration). But many consumers want to be able to choose which countries they will support with their food dollars.

Reinspection and Recall Fees

Until now, FDA has been forced to swallow the entire cost of overseeing food safety recalls and of follow-up inspections needed to determine whether a food facility has corrected deficiencies noted during routine inspections. The proposed legislation will shift FDA's reinspection costs to the out-of-compliance facilities. And the extraordinary costs to FDA associated with product recalls also will be borne by the companies whose products have been recalled. Companies that cut corners on food safety will now risk paying a higher price for their mistakes. The Grocery Manufacturers Association has – not surprisingly – expressed its displeasure over what it described as an open-ended fee.

Whistleblower Protection

The draft bill offers protection to company employees who witness and report infractions or conditions at the workplace that might render a food product unsafe. The provision would prevent an employer from discriminating or retaliating against a whistleblower.

There is a lot more – 116 pages of draft legislation in all. Many of the provisions are long overdue. Many will be expensive to implement.

On June 3rd, the House of Representatives Sub-Committee on Health held an initial hearing on the draft bill. Witnesses included government, industry and consumer representatives. The last to testify was newly confirmed FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg.

After the hearing, Commissioner Hamburg was asked by reporters what she learned in her first Congressional appearance as FDA Commissioner. She replied, "That I have a lot to learn."

If passed, rapid and effective implementation of this monumental revamping of food safety laws will depend on Margaret Hamburg being a fast learner.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 4, 2009

Pistachio Product Recalls

Regal Health Food International, Inc. recalls Regal Gourmet Snacks In-Shell Pistachios (9-ounce bags; Lot #2958D05XLA1)

United States

Food Safety Recall: Schaller Mfg. Corp. (Schaller & Weber) of Long Island City, NY, recalls approximately 564 pounds of duck leg confit and kolbase sausage products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The problem was detected by the company testing carried out as part of its routine monitoring program.
Food Safety Advisory: Seven East Coast states, including Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Delaware and Maryland, are advising residents to limit their consumption of large bluefish and striped bass caught in Long Island Sound. The flesh of these two species of fish contain high levels of PCBs.
Food Safety Advisory: The Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services reminds consumers of the potential for mercury and/or PCB contamination in several species of marine fish, freshwater fish and shellfish.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Le Saucissier Gaspésien recalls five varieties of dried sausage after Salmonella contamination was detected in one of the five varieties (saucisson sec doux le rimouskois)

Europe, Including the United Kingdom

Allergy Alert (UK): Asda recalls some Asda Extra Special Apricot Conserve, because it contains undeclared sulphur dioxide
Food Alert (UK): Certain batch codes of Heinz, Iceland, Morrisons and Sainsbury's frozen apple pies have been recalled due to contamination with small pieces of white plastic on the tops of the products

Australia and New Zealand

Dog Treat Recall (Australia): Virbac (Australia) Pty Ltd. recalls VeggieDent™ Dog Chews (Batch numbers C14808, C14908, C01409 and C1509).

Asia, Africa and the Pacific

Food Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Food Safety has found trace levels (0.1 to 0.3 micrograms per litre) of cocaine in samples of Red Bull Cola, Red Bull Energy Drink and Red Bull Sugar-free. Major supermarket chains in the territory have removed these products from store shelves.

*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.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Do "Natural" Sanitizers Work?

June 3, 2009

The Internet abounds with web sites that tout the use of "natural" sanitizers, such as vinegar and lemon juice. These products are inexpensive, non-toxic and very attractive to consumers who wish to avoid harsh chemicals and expensive cleansers. But they don't necessarily work.

Researchers in Ohio and Colorado recently compared the ability of chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar (acetic acid), citric acid (the active agent in lemon juice) and baking soda to kill three common foodborne pathogens: Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes.

Ordinary household bleach was the clear winner, killing large populations of all three pathogens with a contact time of only one minute at room temperature. Hydrogen peroxide, used full strength out of the bottle (3% concentration) was second best. It took care of Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7, but was less effective than bleach against Listeria monocytogenes – even when the contact time was extended to 10 minutes.

Full-strength vinegar (5% acetic acid) killed Salmonella readily; vinegar had more difficulty, though, with Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7. Citric acid (the "sanitizing" agent in lemon juice) was even worse, needing 10 minutes to knock off even Salmonella. And baking soda had no sanitizing effect at all.

The authors of the research report caution that their tests were carried out under very specific conditions. Real life tend to be more challenging than the lab experiments.

The bottom line? For effective and inexpensive sanitizing of kitchen counters, bathroom toilets and other areas where microbes lurk, nothing beats bleach.

Recall Roundup: June 3, 2009

United States

Food Safety Recall: SP Provisions (Portland, OR) recalls approximately 39,973 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The contamination was detected by FSIS during routine sampling. Recalled product was distributed to retailers, restaurants, hotels and institutions in Oregon and Washington. A retail distribution list is not yet available.
Food Recall Notification (Class III): The Wornick Company (Cincinnati, OH) recalls approximately 153,698 pounds of a "Chili no beans" product because the product was mislabeled with the incorrect nutrition facts information panel. The recalled product was distributed to correctional institutions nationwide.
Food Recall (Reasons not given): Food City recalls ice cream and several ready-to-eat deli meat products. The supermarket chain gives no reason for the recalls.

Europe, Including the United Kingdom

Food Recall (UK): Sainsbury's recalls two apple pie varieties that may be contaminated with small pieces of plastic.

*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.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 2, 2009

United States

Allergy Alert: USDA provides retail distribution list for Paisano Meat, Inc. (Recall #023-2009).
Allergy Alert: The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection alerts consumers to recall of muffins sold at the Lake Avenue Stop & Shop in Danbury. The muffins were recalled due to the presence of undeclared soy and dairy.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific

Food Safety Alert (Singapore): The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore warns consumers that Smith’s Classic Crinkle Cut Potato Chips (Chicken Flavour and Salt & Vinegar Flavour) have been recalled in Australia by the manufacturer due to the presence of rubber particles. AVA recommends that Singapore consumers discard any recalled products.

*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.

Diarrhea Digest: June 2, 2009

Diarrhea Digest is an eFoodAlert feature that presents a periodic snapshot of foodborne and person-to-person gastroenteritis outbreaks from around the world.

One or twice a month, we'll survey the globe and discover what all of us have in common – a shared susceptibility to the bacteria and viruses that cause gastrointestinal disease.

Africa

Ethiopia, May 26 – An outbreak of diarrhea has killed 20 people out of 649 reported victims from mid-April to mid-May, according to a UN report.

Asia

Azerbaijan, May 27 – Soldiers at a military training facility in Baku were felled by food poisoning, which at least some of the victims blamed on canned fish. Nearly all – 151 out of 162 – of the victims were taken to hospital for treatment.
Bangladesh, May 29 – An outbreak of diarrhea has followed on the heels of Cyclone Aila. Already, more than 100 of the half-million storm victims have fallen ill. As usual, refugee camps are lacking for clean water, fuel for cooking, and sanitary toilet facilities.
China, May 28 – Students at the Chanshuyhe school farm were stricken with food poisoning, apparently after eating at the local canteen. Of the 159 students who complained of nausea, vomiting and dizziness, 68 were admitted to hospital.
Hong Kong, June 1 – A Tai Po district restaurant has been fingered as the source of a food poisoning outbreak that sickened 9 men and 6 women who attended a banquet at the facility. None of the victims were hospitalized.
India, May 28 – Food poisoning sent 16 pilgrims to hospital after a visit to the Vaishnodevi shrine. The victims were stricken with stomach pains and vomiting after eating at a hotel during their pilgrimage. At last report, one pilgrim – a nine-year old girl – is in critical condition.

Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands

Australia, May 28 – Aficionados of dining out in New South Wales were given some disturbing news by the state's health department. Ten percent of the restaurants and food take-out establishments visited by local health authorities between July and December 2008 failed their food safety inspections. New South Wales maintains a "name and shame" web site, where diners can check on the health record of their favorite restaurants.

Europe, Including Russia

Albania/Macedonia, May 29 – A fast-food restaurant near the Tirana, Albania stadium is being blamed for an outbreak of food poisoning among 50 high school students from Kicevo, Macedonia who were on a three-day excursion to Albania.
Russia, May 28 – Kaliningrad health officials suspect rotavirus to be the culprit in a hospital outbreak of gastroenteritis illness that has sickened 165 individuals, 113 of them children.
United Kingdom, May 29 – Twenty-nine wedding guests at a reception held at the Bull's Head in Chislehurst were stricken with vomiting and diarrhea. Nine of the victims were confirmed to have been infected with Campylobacter. The Bull's Head was levied with a £5,100 fine and costs of £4,531 as a result of the outbreak.

Western Hemisphere

Mexico, June 2 – A Salmonella outbreak has provided an extra dose of punishment to 191 inmates of Atlacholoaya maximum security prison, some 10 kilometers south of Cuernavaca, according to the Morelos Secretary of Health. The source of the outbreak is unknown.
United States, May 27 – An outbreak of shigellosis has sickened 60 individuals – most of them children who attend Kelly Elementary School in Burlington, Kentucky.
United States, May 29 – Residents of Grant County, Wisconsin were warned to pay extra attention to personal hygiene after 10 cases of shigellosis were reported in the Platteville area.
Venezuela, May 26 – Hepatitis has stricken 47 residents – 22 of them children – at a shelter in Quinta Crespo.

Please join us again for the next edition of Diarrhea Digest.

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.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 1, 2009

United States

Allergy Alert: Tops Friendly Markets recalls Vavel Celery with Carrot Salad due to the presence of undeclared sulfites.
Food Safety Recall: Union International Food Company recalls Lian How Brand White Pepper in 5 lbs plastic containers with red labels after a sample was found to be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled containers were distributed in Southern California to restaurants and wholesalers from September 2008 to March 2009.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Épices Gan Eden recalls Tehina Real Mediterranean, 500 g plastic bottles bearing lot code EXP28/12/2010 and UPC 7 290010 304011, due to contamination with Salmonella. The recalled product was imported by Gan Eden and distributed in the province of Québec.

*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.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Monday, June 29, 2009

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Friday, June 26, 2009

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Monday, June 22, 2009

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Friday, June 19, 2009

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Monday, June 15, 2009

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Friday, June 12, 2009

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Monday, June 8, 2009

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Friday, June 5, 2009

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Monday, June 1, 2009

About Me

Subscribe To

Get E-Mail Alerts!

Features and Series

Guest Blogger Articles

Links I Like

Followers

Blog Archive