Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Recall Roundup: August 31, 2010

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

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.

For information on the US Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak and egg recalls, please click here.


United States
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Procter & Gamble (P&G) is voluntarily recalling a small number of bags of its Iams Proactive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care dry cat food (6.8-pound blue bags; UPC 1901403921; code date 02304173 (B1-B6)), because the product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The product was distributed to certain stores – including Walmart – in Loveland, Colorado.
  • Food Safety Alert: Rhode Island Department of Health alerts consumers to two additional cheese products that have been found to contain Listeria monocytogenes. The DOH expects the following products to be recalled by the manufacturer: Queso El Azteca brand Queso Fresco (expiration date 09/12/2010), and Queso El Azteca brand Ricotta Cheese (Requeson; expiration date 09/19/2010).
  • Food Recall: Food City recalls Trademill White Self Rising Cornmeal (no details given).
  • Food Safety Recall: California Department of Public Health (CDPH), warns consumers not to eat Fruiti Pops or Paletas California brand frozen mamey fruit bars, also known as aspaletas, because of potential contamination with Salmonella Typhi. Mamey, which is the main ingredient of these products, is a tropical fruit from Central America.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Specialty Brands of America (Westbury, NY) that a review of the label for the company's Bear Creek Country Kitchens Navy Bean Soup Mix established that the label does not meet the requirements for the nutrient label claim.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns R&P Seafood Corp. (Bell, CA) that an April 2010 inspection of the company's Los Angeles seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Village Green Foods, Inc. (Irvine, CA) that a March/April 2010 inspection of the company's seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.


Europe
  • Food Safety Recall (Finland): Inex Partners Oy recalls Rainbow Dried Dates due to mold growth. The recalled product was sold in S Group, Prisma, S-Market, ABC and Alepa stores.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1185): Omethoate and dimethoate in kale from Belgium; distributed to Luxembourg.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1186): Tin in canned lychees in syrup from the Netherlands; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1187): Migration of benzophenone from packaging of cakes from Turkey; distributed to Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
  • Pet Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1188): Salmonella Mbandaka and Salmonella typhimurium in raw frozen chicken/beef sausages from Belgium; distributed to Belgium and the Netherlands.


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.



Posted by Phyllis E at Tuesday, August 31, 2010 2 comments
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Unscrambling The Egg Mess: What The British Have Done

Eggs fully traceable; most breeder flocks vaccinated; table egg producers must test for Salmonella

"If you do not test for Salmonella then your eggs will be classified class B. These can only be used for human consumption if they are heat treated before entering the food chain."
-UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Egg FAQs

Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses in the United Kingdom increased six-fold (from 1,101 to 6,858 confirmed cases annually) between 1982 and 1987. The first egg-linked Salmonella Enteritidis outbreaks in the United States occurred in 1985.

In 1988, CDC-led research discovered what was behind these dramatic changes in Salmonella illness patterns. CDC determined that eggs were becoming infected with Salmonella Enteritidis while they were still being formed inside the oviducts of infected laying hens.

The conclusion drawn from this research was inescapable. The only way to produce Salmonella-free eggs was to start with a Salmonella-free flock of laying hens, and to keep the hens free from Salmonella infections.

The UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) took action:
  1. A Salmonella control program was implemented for breeding flocks in 1993.
  2. In 1998, a program was set up to vaccinate UK laying hens against Salmonella Enteritidis.

By 2004, the Food Standards Agency was able to report that more than 80% of laying hens in the UK had been vaccinated against Salmonella Enteritidis. As a result of the vaccination program and the other control requirements instituted by UK regulators, the level of Salmonella contamination in shell eggs dropped by two-thirds between 1996 and 2004. And the number of reported human illnesses due to Salmonella Enteritidis fell to its lowest level since the late 1980s.


What else have the British done that can be put to good use in the United States? Here are a few of their initiatives.

Traceability
Eggs in the UK can be traced directly back to the producer. Since 2004, the UK has required every individual shell egg destined for retail sale or for caterers to be stamped with the method of production (i.e., caged, free-range, organic), the country of origin and the production establishment. Only producers with fewer than 50 laying hens are exempt from the egg marking requirement.

This is an example of a traceable egg, produced under the British Lion Quality Code of Practice, a voluntary program of the British Egg Industry Council, under which approximately 85% of table eggs are produced in the United Kingdom.



For comparison, this is a carton of Target market pantry brand eggs, identified as "Produced and packed by or for Sparboe Farms"



Mandatory slaughter of infected breeding flocks
"When a breeding flock of Gallus gallus is suspected of being infected with Salmonella Enteritidis or Salmonella Typhimurium the flock is placed under official control by the Competent Authority. This applies to breeding flocks from day old through to end of production. If the flock is in the laying phase no further eggs may be sent for hatching and no birds or hatching eggs may leave the holding, except under licence issued by the Competent Authority. When infection with Salmonella Enteritidis or Salmonella Typhimurium has been confirmed, the owner is required to have the birds slaughtered in accordance with Community legislation on food hygiene."


Mandatory testing by egg producers
"Producers must test for Salmonella as set out in the Salmonella NCP (National Control Programme). Any eggs which come from a flock that has not been properly tested or which is suspected or known to be Salmonella positive must be treated and marked as class B eggs. To avoid handling such eggs in their packing centre without first obtaining Animal Health consent and to avoid incorrectly classifying unmarked eggs as class A eggs, packers should take steps to satisfy themselves that the eggs they receive from producers are from tested and Salmonella free flocks." Only small producers (with fewer than 350 laying hens) are exempt from this provision.


Responsibility and Accountability
"If you are an egg producer in England, and you do not test your laying birds for Salmonella in line with NCP and your eggs are intended for the retail market (Class A eggs), then you must treat your eggs as class B eggs. If you fail to do so then you may be given a penalty notice for your failure to comply or even face a criminal prosecution in court for non-compliance." Only small producers (fewer than 350 laying hens) are exempt.

"For egg packers, you may also face a penalty, or criminal prosecution, for allowing eggs onto your premises where they come from a flock where the salmonella testing under the NCP is not up-to-date, or the flock is suspected, or is known to be, infected with the relevant salmonella serotypes. Likewise you may also face a penalty or criminal prosecution for packing and marketing those eggs as anything other than class B eggs."


Consequences
"The range of penalties for non compliance are:
  • Marketing restrictions automatically apply.
  • A £100 to £4,500 penalty depending on the severity of the contravention.
  • The issue of a compliance notice which will be made public.
  • Criminal prosecution."

How does the British system compare with the US situation?

After several years of sitting "shovel-ready" on the shelf at FDA, the US Egg Safety Rule finally was promulgated in 2009, and began to take effect in July 2010 – for the largest egg producers (more than 50,000 laying hens) only. Medium-sized producers (3,000-50,000 laying hens) have an additional 2 years to comply; small producers are at liberty to ignore most of the Egg Safety Rule requirements (except for temperature control).

The Egg Safety Rule requires producers to:
  • Buy chicks and young hens only from suppliers who monitor for Salmonella bacteria (also required by the British)
  • Establish rodent, pest control, and biosecurity measures to prevent spread of bacteria throughout the farm by people and equipment (also required by the British)
  • Conduct testing in the poultry house for Salmonella Enteritidis. If the tests find the bacterium, a representative sample of the eggs must be tested over an 8 week time period (4 tests at 2 week intervals); If any of the four egg tests is positive, the producer must further process the eggs to destroy the bacteria, or divert the eggs to a non-food use (British system is more demanding)
  • Clean and disinfect poultry houses that have tested positive for Salmonella Enteritidis (also required by the British)
  • Refrigerate eggs at 45 degrees Fahrenheit temperature during storage and transportation no later than 36 hours after the eggs are laid (European requirements differ from this)

The Egg Safety Rule does NOT require producers to label egg cartons with a "best before" or "expiration" date. That comes under USDA jurisdiction, and is not mandatory, even for the largest producers.

The Egg Safety Rule does NOT require producers to test their eggs unless environmental testing in a poultry house has detected Salmonella Enteritidis.

The Egg Safety Rule does NOT mandate automatic marketing restrictions in the event of non-compliance.


One of the biggest difficulties faced by FDA in an investigation is tracing a contaminated food to its source. Traceback is especially problematic when food products – such as shell eggs – are sold in bulk for repackaging by wholesalers or distributors.

This is not the first time that a food borne illness outbreak investigation has shown up the inadequacy of food traceability in the United States. As the British have shown, the technology exists to correct this major gap in our food safety system.

Enhancing traceback for fruits and vegetables is one of the elements of the long-stalled FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. What about eggs? What about peanuts? What about the thousands of other raw ingredients and processed foods that circulate through our food supply?

Or must US legislators and regulators continue to demonstrate that the definition of insanity is to repeat the same actions over and over again in the expectation of achieving a different result?


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Posted by Phyllis E at Tuesday, August 31, 2010 2 comments
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Monday, August 30, 2010

Unscrambling The Egg Mess: FDA Releases Inspection Reports

Salmonella Enteritidis found in samples from Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms of Iowa, Inc.

FDA has just released its preliminary inspection reports (Form 483) summarizing observations made at nine separate locations belonging to Quality Egg LLC (Wright County Egg) and to Hillandale Farms of Iowa, Inc.

Federal inspectors found six Salmonella Enteritidis positive samples at Wright County Egg:
  1. a manure swab from Plant ID#1946
  2. a manure scraper blade sample from Plant ID#P1946
  3. a walkway swab sample from Plant ID#P1413
  4. a sample of meat and bone meal collected from an ingredient bin at the company's Galt, Iowa feed mill
  5. a sample of "Developer" pullet feed collected from the feed mill
  6. a sample collected from a roof-level covered ingredient bin chute and a 2nd-floor ingredient bin cover at the feed mill

If these Salmonella Enteritidis results weren't damning enough, consider the following partial list of additional observations, recorded at various Wright County Egg/Quality Egg operations:
  • Chicken manure located in the manure pits below the egg laying operations was approximately 4 feet to 8 feet high in some places in laying houses located in Galt and Clarion.
  • Exterior structural damage allowing entrance to the interior of the laying houses in Galt and Clarion.
  • Rodent burrows along baseboards inside the laying houses.
  • Uncaged birds (escaped chickens) observed in contact with egg laying hens. The uncaged birds used the manure piles to gain access to the laying area.
  • Access to the entry to a pair of laying houses blocked due to excessive amounts of manure in the manure pits.
  • Live mice in the laying houses.
  • Flies on and around egg belts, feed, shell eggs and walkways; live and dead fly maggots on the manure pit floor under one laying house.
  • Birds roosting and flying in the feed storage and milling facility; nesting material found in the feed mill closed mixing system, ingredient storage and truck filling areas.
  • Feed ingredient bins with rusted holes; feed grain level sensors ajar to the outdoors.

While FDA inspectors "only" found a single Salmonella Enteritidis-positive sample (spent water from an egg wash station) at a Hillandale plant, the rest of the picture is not much prettier than the scene at Wright County Egg. For example:
  • numerous unsealed rodent holes at the Plant ID#1860 location
  • holes protruding into the manure pit and gaps on manure pit doors at the Plant ID#1663 location
  • standing water on the floor adjacent to the manure pit where a foot bath was located
  • liquid manure leaking into a section of a laying house
  • liquid manure streaming out of a gap in a manure pit door
  • uncaged hens tracking manure from the manure pit into the caged area of two hen houses.

Under these conditions of gross contamination, Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms of Iowa produced shell eggs, which were then supplied to wholesalers, distributors, re-packagers, retailers and food service operators across the United States.

This is not simply non-compliance. It is gross negligence. And there can be no excuse for it.


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Posted by Phyllis E at Monday, August 30, 2010 1 comments
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Recall Roundup: August 30, 2010

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

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.

For information on the US Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak and egg recalls, please click here.


United States
  • Food Safety Recall (Eggs): California Department of Public Health provides alphabetical list of all recipients of eggs that were recalled on or before August 25, 2010. The list includes retailers, restaurants, delis, food service operators, hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, and caterers.


Europe


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.



Posted by Phyllis E at Monday, August 30, 2010 0 comments
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Outbreaks and Alerts: August 30, 2010

A daily digest of international outbreaks, alerts and food safety news

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.


For information on the US Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak and egg recalls, please click here.


United States
  • Asheville, NC. August 30: Health officials have closed Lake Powhatan to swimming and fishing to prevent the spread of Cryptosporidium. Buncombe County Health Department reports three confirmed and one suspect case of cryptosporidiosis. All of the victims reported swimming in the lake this month. One of the patients required hospitalization. Water in the lake is off-limits until at least September 12th.


Europe
  • Copenhagen, Denmark. August 27th: A greengrocer located at Frederikssundsvej 11 was closed by authorities due to several health infractions. These included: rat droppings, eggs and yoghurt stored at room temperature, and sale of foreign groceries without statutory Danish labeling. Denmark's Food Authority advises consumers who purchased products at this location to discard them.
  • Plymouth, England. August 29th: The public has been warned to stay out of the water along Plymouth's seafront until further notice, due to a sewage spill. Hoe's Tinside open-air lido is still safe.
  • Lancashire, England. August 30th: The public is being advised to avoid contact with the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, due to the presence of toxic blue-green algae in the water. Swimming in or drinking the water can be hazardous to people and fatal to dogs and other animals.


Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Panchkula, India. August 25th: More than 43 new cases of typhoid have been reported in a one-week period at the General Hospital, Sector 6. Forty-five cases were reported the previous week. Cases have originated in both urban and rural areas, and reports of diarrhea also are on the rise.
  • Nowa District, Afghanistan. August 28th: Health officials and aid organizations report that a cholera epidemic that struck 130 or more people in the Nowa district of Ghazni province is now under control. New cases have declined to an average of three per day.
  • Kashmir, India. August 28th: More than 1,100 people in Doda and an additional 500 or more people in Banihal are reported to be suffering from gastroenteritis after drinking or using water that is contaminated with fecal matter. At least one resident of Doda has died.
  • Mengcheng County, China. August 29th: At least 30 people have been stricken by cholera in recent weeks. Consumption of unsanitary food purchased from street vendors is thought to be the source of the infections.
  • Hanoi, Vietnam. August 30th: Counterfeit cosmetic products were confiscated during raids on 30 Hanoi shops last week. Products were labeled with brands such as Gucci, Clinique and Lancome.


Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Playa Grande, Venezuela. August 29th: At least 6,000 vacationers were evacuated after 125 swimmers complained of respiratory problems and other symptoms due to "environmental irritants." Unofficial word is that contaminated water is being discharged into the sea, because the town's sewage treatment plant has been broken for some time. This information was not confirmed by authorities.


Posted by Phyllis E at Monday, August 30, 2010 0 comments
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Sunday, August 29, 2010

Unscrambling The Egg Mess: Whose Eggs Can We Trust?

Day after day, the number of outbreak illnesses grows.

Day after day, the number of recalled egg brands grows.

Day after day, the number of affected egg plant locations grows – 15 locations at last count.

And day after day, public skepticism in the safety of shell eggs grows.

Ever since the first in this series of egg recalls reached public ears, I have been receiving comments and questions from concerned consumers – including those who have not become ill.

From Anonymous in Oklahoma (August 20th):- "Has anyone heard of Wagon Trail Farmers' eggs? These were purchased at Walmart recently."

From Keith (August 21st):- "This box of 18 eggs is labeled 'Sunny Farms'. On the back of the hinge of the box it says Packed for Hillandale Farms Crown Ohio; West Union IA. Just want to make sure this is not a source that is being overlooked."

From Matt in Napa (August 21st):- "I keep seeing 'Market Pantry brand at Target is fine, but I didn't want to risk food poisoning (or my life) to eat a delicious 9-cent egg."

From Anonymous (August 28th):- "I am now a bit scared to eat any of the eggs. I'll try to return them and see if Target will accept it."

And from Elle M. (August 28th):- "I just bought a carton (P-1173) and after reading the comment from the guy in New York, I'm going to throw them away."


When I turned on my computer this morning, I found the following message from Valerie Engler of Sparboe Farms. Her email was in response to a message I sent several days ago.

"As you can imagine, we have been busy responding to many phone calls and e-mails! We care greatly about our customers and consumers, so thank you for contacting Sparboe Farms.

If you would like more information about Sparboe Farms and the industry-wide egg recall, please view our press release available here: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm224301.htm

Please note that no eggs shipped to Target that were packed by Sparboe Farms are listed as part of the withdrawal that Sparboe Farms participated in."

At this point, I'm more concerned about the eggs that were not listed as part of the Sparboe Farms withdrawal, and have responded to Ms. Engler of Sparboe Farms with some additional questions.


Meanwhile, in answer to the question as to whose eggs can be trusted, here's my opinion.

Who NOT to trust until further notice (my personal "watch list")
  • Eggs stamped with one of the 15 plant identification numbers that have been involved in one or more of the recalls, whether or not the specific grade, size or Julian date matches one of the recall notice. The suspect Plant IDs are: P1026, P1091, P1156, P1167, P1292, P1382, P1413, P1663, P1686, P1720, P1860, P1906, P1942, P1946, and P1951.
  • Eggs produced and/or packed in Iowa but which have not yet been recalled. This adds another eight locations to the watch list: P1002 (Sparboe-Eagle, Eagle Grove, IA), P1098 (Sunrise Farms, Harris, IA), P1189 (Winterset Egg Farm, Winterset, IA), P1519 (Sparboe-Vincent, Eagle Grove, IA), P1592 (Sparboe-Farmegg Products LLC, Humboldt, IA), P1674 (Sparboe Farms, Inc., Goodell, IA), P1725 (Sunbest Foods, LLC, Clearfield, IA), and P1773 (Sunbest Papetti Farms, Villisca, IA).
  • Eggs sold at Target stores that bear the statement "Produced and packed by or for Sparboe Farms." These eggs may carry Target's Market Pantry brand.


Eggs that are probably safe
  • Pasteurized shell eggs (if you can find them in a store near you)
  • Liquid eggs and egg substitutes. These eggs, too, are pasteurized.
  • Eggs sold in Maryland - all egg shipments (either direct or via third parties) must be registered with the State.
  • Eggs produced and sold locally – in Farmer's Markets, Co-op stores or local food markets – probably are OK.

While the onus for supplying safe food rests solidly on the shoulders of the food industry, consumers can – and should – always take steps to protect themselves from potentially unsafe food. Here are a few of the things you can do:
  • Stay aware of any food recall announcements, especially when they are associated with foodborne disease outbreaks;
  • Maintain clear separation between raw foods (meats, poultry, eggs and fish) and cooked or ready-to-eat foods in the kitchen;
  • Cook potentially contaminated foods under time/temperature conditions that will kill pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli;
  • Avoid cross-contamination in the kitchen;
  • Always refrigerate or freeze leftover food promptly;
  • When eating out, return any undercooked or questionable food to the restaurant kitchen; and
  • Discard any food that is suspected of being contaminated, stale or spoiled.

If you don't trust the source, don't buy or eat the product.


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Posted by Phyllis E at Sunday, August 29, 2010 1 comments
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Saturday, August 28, 2010

Target's Market Pantry Eggs - Part of the Problem?

Target says "No" but some consumers beg to differ
(This article first appeared August 21, 2010. It has been updated to include additional plants as the result of a NuCal recall, a Moark recall and a Sparboe Farms recall that were announced after the initial publication)

After hearing from a few readers yesterday, I contacted Target's media communications office to ask whether any Market Pantry eggs were being recalled. I received a call-back from Jenn Glass, a Target spokesperson, who told me that none of Target's Market Pantry brand eggs were involved in the massive egg recalls.

I also asked Ms. Glass specifically whether Sparboe Farms eggs were sold at Target – Walmart has issued a statement that mentions a Sparboe Farms recall – and she promised to check and get back to me. That was yesterday afternoon.

Meanwhile, several readers have posted their concerns and experiences with Target's Market Pantry eggs. Here are some examples:
"Wondering about Market Pantry (Target Brand) P-1906203. They were all hard boiled too. Woke up sick today and wondering if its the eggs I ate the last two days or just being around my kid and other kids yesterday? Just wondering if these are on the list?"


"I keep seeing "Market Pantry brand at Target is fine" but I didn't want to risk food poisoning (or my life) to eat a delicious 9-cent egg.

After reading your report, I see a few things that make me think perhaps Target isn't taking this as seriously as they should:

1) My "Market Pantry" eggs are produced by/for Sparboe, which was listed as being supplied by Wright County.

2) Sure enough, the plant number listed on the carton is P-1951... isn't this the same plant as the NuCal recalled eggs are coming from?

So if Sparboe is being recalled by WalMart and P-1951 is being recalled by NuCal... then why is Target saying my P-1951 eggs from Sparboe are definitely fine??"


"I second the Target Market Pantry suspicion... have been in intestine hell for a few days... but I don't have the package anymore to check the stamp : ("

Here is a list of the fifteen egg plant locations (Plant ID numbers) that have been named so far in recall notices:
  • P1026: Wright County Egg, Quality Egg Environ Division, Dows, IA
  • P1091: NuCal Foods, Dwight Bell Plant, Atwater, CA
  • P1156: E & M Ranch, Fontana, CA (added 8/23/10)
  • P1167: Sparboe Agricultural Corporation, Hudson, CO (added 8/28/10)
  • P1292: Hilmar Processing LLC, Hilmar, CA (added 8/22/10)
  • P1382: Benton County Food, LLC, Benton, AR (added 8/28/10)
  • P1413: Wright County Egg, Quality Egg LLC site 4, Clarion, IA
  • P1663: Hillandale Iowa LLC, Alden, IA
  • P1686: Nucal Foods, Gemperle Enterprises, August Plant, Hilmar, CA
  • P1720: Wright County Egg, Quality Egg LLC site 1, Galt, IA
  • P1860: Hillandale Iowa II, LLP, West Union, IA
  • P1906: Sparboe Agricultural Corporation, Britt, IA (added 8/28/10)
  • P1942: Wright County Egg, Quality Egg LLC site 3, Clarion, IA
  • P1946: Wright County Egg, Quality Egg LLC, site 2, Clarion, IA
  • P1951: Nucal Foods, Rainbow Farms, Denair, CA

I urge any reader who has Target Market Pantry eggs in the refrigerator to check the Plant ID/date code stamped on the end of the carton. If the plant ID matches one of the numbers listed above, please email me directly with the details.

If you have any recalled eggs in your refrigerator, do not use them. Discard them or return the eggs to the store for a refund. If you believe that you have become ill within a few days after having eaten eggs – either from Target or from any other source – contact your local public health authorities.


If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.



Posted by Phyllis E at Saturday, August 28, 2010 14 comments
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Recall Roundup: August 28, 2010

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

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.

For information on the US Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak and egg recalls, please click here.


United States
  • Food Safety Recall (Eggs): Sparboe Farms (Litchfield, MN) recalls shell eggs produced by Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms which were packaged by Sparboe Farms, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Recalled eggs can be identified by Plant #1167 (Julian dates 214, 215 & 219; packaged in various configurations under the brand names Albertson, Sparboe Farms, Liborio Market, Shamrock Foods and Glenview Farms) and Plant #1906 (Shurfresh brand; Julian dates 211 and 218; 12-dozen carton). The eggs were distributed to grocery stores and foodservice companies in Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Minnesota.
  • Food Safety Recall: Cargill Meat Solutions Corp. (Wyalusing, PA; Est. 9400) recalls approximately 8,500 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O26. The 14-pound chubs of Ground Beef Fine 90/10 have a use/freeze by date of 07/01/10 and an identifying product code of W69032. The recalled ground beef has been linked to three confirmed cases of E. coli O26 illnesses (2 in Maine and 1 in New York). The meat was sold in certain BJ's Wholesale Club stores in Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Virginia.
  • Food Safety Recall: Queseria Chipilo (Passaic, NJ) recalls all date codes up to and including Sept. 26, 2010 (Fresco) and up to and including Nov. 25, 2010 (Oaxaca) because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled Oaxaca String Cheese, Queso Fresco and Queso Fresco Hoja De Plátano cheeses were distributed in New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware and Virginia to retail strores and wholesalers. The following brands are included in the recall: Queseria Chipilo, Chipilo, Aztlan, and Mi Pueblito. Cheeses were sold in 1-lb., 5-lb., and 10-lb. plastic packages with sell-by labels.
  • Food Safety Recall: Morningland Dairy (Mountain View, MO) recalls all products produced by the company since January 2010 due to reports of traces of Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus found in the company's cheese products at a retail facility in California. The cheese is sold nationwide, including 23 retail outlets in Missouri.
  • Food Safety Recall: WinCo Foods advises its customers that Umpqua Dairy brand gallon orange juice purchased at its Medford, OR store on or prior to Monday, Aug. 16, 2010 or with an expiration date of Sept. 5, 2010 or Sept. 15, 2010 has been recalled by Umpqua and should be discarded or returned to the store.
  • Food Safety Recall: Glory Foods recalls Fresh Bagged Kale (16 oz.; UPC 73639320606; Best by 8/24/10) because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled kale was available for sale in Stop & Shop, Giant and Giant Eagle stores, and may also have been sold elsewhere.


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.



Posted by Phyllis E at Saturday, August 28, 2010 0 comments
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Outbreaks and Alerts: August 28, 2010

A daily digest of international outbreaks, alerts and food safety news

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.


For information on the US Salmonella Enteritidisoutbreak and egg recalls, please click here.


United States
  • Lincoln County, OR. August 25th: A public health advisory was issued Wednesday due to higher-than-normal levels of fecal bacteria in ocean waters at D River State Park Beach in Lincoln County.
  • Multnomah County, OR. August 26th: A health advisory has been issued, prompted by high algae levels found in Blue Lake, located 20 miles east of Portland on NE Marine Drive. Water monitoring has confirmed the presence of blue-green algae that can produce toxins harmful to humans and animals. Swallowing or inhaling water droplets should be avoided, as well as skin contact with water by humans or animals. Drinking water from Blue Lake is especially dangerous.
  • St. Paul, MN. August 26th: The Minnesota Department of Health has confirmed the cause of death of a seven-year-old child as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a very rare form of meningitis caused by an amoeba known as Naegleria fowleri that is associated with warm freshwater. The organism infects people by entering the body through the nose, usually while a person is swimming or diving in warm freshwater. Infections are rare, even though the amoeba is commonly found in freshwater all over the world.
  • Roseburg, OR. August 26th: Salmonella that contaminated packages at Umpqua Dairy's milk processing plant in Roseburg was found in equipment that washes and sanitizes crates receiving packaged milk and juice, according to a report in The News-Review.
  • Rochester, NY. August 27th: Two swimming beaches on Sodus Bay have been closed due to the presence in the water of potentially toxic Cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) in the water during the last several weeks.
  • Leon Springs, TX. August 27th: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is investigating how sewage seeped into the water well that supplies Fralo's Art of Pizza restaurant. Twenty-four restaurant patrons were sickened as a result of the E. coli contamination.
  • Nebraska. August 27th: The state has issued a health alert for toxic blue-green algae at Willow Creek Lake near Pierce. Alerts continue for Kirkman’s Cove near Humboldt, Red Willow Reservoir near McCook and Merritt Reservoir in Cherry County.
  • Rhode Island. August 28th: Rhode Island Department of Health is investigating several illnesses in connection with the cheese recall announced late yesterday by Queseria Chipilo of Passaic, NJ.


Europe
  • Rostov-on Don, Russia. August 26th: Five people, including a seven-year old child, were hospitalized in serious condition with botulism after eating dried bream, which was purchased in a store in their village. Investigations have determined that the fish had been transported to the store by the producer without refrigeration.
  • Melitopol, Ukraine. August 26th: Fifteen participants at a private celebration in Melitopol were hospitalized as a result of Salmonella infections. The victims included 9 children. Two people have been released from hospital; the condition of the others is stable.
  • Edinburgh, Scotland. August 27th: As many as 60 families have been warned that their children may have been exposed to hepatitis A after a boy from Uganda who attended a rugby event at the Merchiston Castle sports camp was diagnosed with the infection.


Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. August 25th: Thirteen food poisoning cases have been blamed on the consumption of stale food since the start of Ramadan. Early preparation, unsuitable storage and undercooking were highlighted as causes of the food spoilage and consequent illnesses.
  • Hong Kong. August 25th: The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating two confirmed cases of cholera. One case involves a 29-year old woman who came to Hong Kong from Indonesia on August 17th and developed symptoms of cholera on August 20th. The second case is a 30-year old woman who lives in Tsing Yi and has not traveled recently. Both patients are in the isolation ward of Princess Margaret Hospital for treatment.
  • Nigeria. August 26th: Health authorities in Nigeria are warning that the entire country is threatened by a cholera outbreak. At present, there are active outbreaks in 12 of the country's 36 states. At least 352 people have died of cholera in the past three months; more than 6,400 cases have been reported. To date, most of the cholera cases have occurred in the north of the country.
  • Beijing, China. August 27th: The General Principles for Examination of Food Additive Production Licensing (2010 Edition) published by the AQSIQ on August 13, will go into effect as of September 1 this year.
  • Beijing, China. August 27th: China's top quality watchdog (AQSIO) released the lists of substandard imported foods and cosmetics from April and May, blacklisting products by brands such as South Korea's Lotte and the US' General Mills.
  • Nairobi, Kenya. August 27th: One hundred forty people have been infected with cholera in Kenya's Nyanza province; 8 people have died.
  • South Darfur, Sudan. August 27th: Typhoid has broken out in Rahid El Barda, according to the area's medical director. An estimated 60% of the population are affected. Elsewhere in South Darfur, 23 family members suffered an outbreak of food poisoning; one child died.
  • Cotonou, Benin. August 27th: A cholera outbreak has infected 190 people, killing seven of them.


Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Mexico City, Mexico. August 26th: The Federal Secretary of Health is warning of the possible presence of cholera in areas that have suffered from heavy rains. So far, there have been isolated cases of the disease.


Posted by Phyllis E at Saturday, August 28, 2010 0 comments
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