Thursday, September 30, 2010

Recall Roundup: September 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.

For information on the Abbott infant formula powder recall, please click here.


United States


Europe
  • Food Safety Alert (Denmark): The Food Safety Authority alerts consumers to the unauthorized sale of bottled fruit and vegetables, which appear to have been produced in a private home. The production site is unknown. The bottled items, which includes pickled gherkins, pickled pumpkin, pickled cucumbers, marmalade and jam, may have been produced under unsanitary conditions, and there is no ingredient list or declaration of possible allergens or additives.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Inco Kød recalls various cured meats after Salmonella was detected during routine bacteriological tests carried out by the company. The recalled items are labeled with packaging dates from 13.09.2010 to 28.09.2010 and were sold to wholesalers, caterers, institutional kitchens, canteens, cafes and restaurants.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Bornholms A/S recalls Officer Rogn canned roe, 200g (Produced 15-09-2010; Expiry 31-12-2013; Lot #L258N) because there is a risk that some of the cans may become swollen due to air formation. Swollen cans are always unfit for human consumption due to the risk of disease-causing bacteria.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1311): Deoxynivalenol (mycotoxin) in cous cous from Italy; distributed to Austria, France, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Slovenia, South Africa and Spain.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1313): Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxins in mussels from Italy; distributed to Italy and Spain.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2010.1314): Salmonella London in rape seed meal from Germany, via Poland; distributed to Finland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1315): Parasitic infestation with Anisakis and with nematodes of frozen glaze (Merluccius hubbsi) from Lithuania, with raw material from Argentina; distributed to Estonia and Lithuania.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1316): Semicarbazide in soft shell crabs from Vietnam; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1317): Carbon monoxide treatment of tilapia fillets from Indonesia, via the Netherlands; distributed to Germany.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2010.1318): Salmonella in soyabean meal from Argentina; distributed to Poland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1319): Listeria monocytogenes in raw spiced salmon from Poland, via Denmark; distributed to Denmark and Sweden.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1320): Parasitic infestation with Anisakis and with nematodes of frozen hake (Merluccius hubbsi) from Spain, via Latvia; distributed to Lithuania.


Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1311): Deoxynivalenol (mycotoxin) in cous cous from Italy; distributed to Austria, France, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Slovenia, South Africa and Spain.


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 Thursday, September 30, 2010 0 comments
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Outbreaks and Alerts: September 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
  • Clatsop County, OR. September 28th: A public health advisory has been issued due to higher-than-normal levels of bacteria in ocean waters at Seaside Beach in Clatsop County.
  • Sacramento, CA. September 29th: Effective June 11, 2011, all food handlers in California will be required to be certified in safe food handling procedures. Currently, restaurants are only required to have one certified person on staff – usually the manager. Only employees working at temporary facilities will be exempt from this requirement, which could form a model for other states to follow.
  • San Diego County, CA. September 29th: The Boil Water Order has been lifted for Potrero County Park Water System.


Europe
  • Brookenby, UK. September 29th: Company boss Roland Saldanha and Allen Rich Seafoods Ltd. were found guilty of six breaches of hygiene between August and November 2008. Saldanha also was convicted on four charges under the animal by-product regulations. During the court hearing, environmental health officers testified that the premises were infested with rats and some frozen stock was covered in dead maggots. Sentencing will take place next month.
  • Glasgow, Scotland. September 29th: Fifteen guests and four staff members at The Marriott hotel in Glasgow's city center have developed gastroenteritis, thought to be due to Norovirus. The affected guests have been asked to stay in their rooms to limit potential spread of the virus, and ill staff members are remaining at home until they have recovered.
  • Elche, Spain. September 30th: The Department of Public Health is investigating the cause of food poisoning that has affected 14 people who attended a wedding in an Elche restaurant on Saturday night. The restaurant is cooperating in the investigation.


Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Hong Kong. September 29th: The Centre for Food Safety reports that nine out of 179 meat samples tested as part of a targeted surveillance program contained sulphur dioxide, a preservative that is not permitted in fresh, chilled or frozen meat.
  • Hong Kong. September 29th: The Centre for Food Safety released the findings of its food safety report for August. Fourteen out of 3,900 were found to be unsatisfactory.
  • Taiwan. September 29th: Twenty-two people have been arrested for the sale and adulteration of non-prescription slimming products; 22,000 pills were confiscated as part of the police action.
  • Iloilo City, Philippines. September 29th: The public is warned of high coliform levels in the water at Villa Beach.
  • West Africa. September 29th: An epidemic of cholera which began earlier this summer has caused approximately 20,000 illnesses and 1171 deaths so far this year in Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria. Medecins Sans Frontieres has set up 18 treatment centers in the four countries.


Latin America and the Caribbean


Posted by Phyllis E at Thursday, September 30, 2010 0 comments
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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Recall Roundup: September 29, 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.

For information on the Abbott infant formula powder recall, please click here.



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 Wednesday, September 29, 2010 0 comments
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Raw Bean Sprouts Most Likely Source of UK Salmonella Outbreak

Health Protection Agency reports more than 100 confirmed cases since August 1st

The UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) is strongly urging caterers and the public to wash and thoroughly cook raw bean sprouts before they are eaten, unless they are clearly labeled as ready to eat.

This warning comes on the heels of the detection by a government lab of Salmonella in a sample of raw bean sprouts.

HPA has confirmed 106 cases of Salmonella Bareilly infections in England (102 cases), Wales (3 cases) and Northern Ireland (1 case). Health Protection Scotland has confirmed 19 cases, all of which are a genetic match for the 106 cases in England. At least some of the outbreak victims, when interviewed, reported having consumed bean sprouts. Genetic typing results for the Salmonella found in the sprouts will be available in a few days.

On September 17th, the UK Food Standards Agency issued an alert to consumers and caterers advising them that a Salmonella outbreak investigation had identified possible links to raw bean sprouts. According to a news release issued a few days later by HPA, "...routine testing of salad produce by wholesalers ... had identified Salmonella in a small number of raw beansprout samples." HPA added that it was not known whether the strain recovered from the sprouts was Salmonella Bareilly.

Bean sprouts – along with other seed sprouts – have a long history of involvement in food-borne disease outbreaks. In 1973, four people fell ill after eating raw bean sprouts that were produced using a do-it-yourself kit. The sprouts, when cultured in the lab, produced a pure culture of Bacillus cereus.

The most notorious sprout-related outbreaks took place in Japan in 1996 and 1997. In all, some 12,000 people – many of them school children – were infected with E. coli O157:H7 after consuming contaminated radish sprouts. Twelve people died. The sprouts were produced from radish seeds imported into Japan from the United States.

Raw alfalfa, soybean, radish, clover and mung bean sprouts all have been implicated in food-borne outbreaks since 1973 – most often due to E. coli O157:H7 or Salmonella. In May 2010, alfalfa sprouts produced by Caldwell Fresh Foods (Maywood, California) were the source of an outbreak of Salmonella Newport that caused 44 (lab-confirmed) illnesses in 11 US states.

The UK Food Standards Agency has issued the following updated advice for preparing and cooking bean sprouts:
  • keep bean sprouts refrigerated
  • avoid sprouts that have turned brown or have a strange odour
  • rinse raw bean sprouts thoroughly
  • follow any instructions on the packaging and use the bean sprouts by the ‘use by’ dates
  • bean sprouts that are labelled ‘ready to eat’ can be eaten uncooked, as long as they are consumed within the ‘use by’ date
  • bean sprouts not labelled ‘ready to eat’ should be cooked thoroughly until they are piping hot all the way through
  • if you are unsure whether the bean sprouts are ‘ready to eat’, or in the absence of clear preparation instructions, always cook the bean sprouts thoroughly before eating. This includes bean sprouts that are labelled or appear ‘pre-washed’, but are not described as ‘ready to eat’
For any person considered to be in a vulnerable group:
  • as a precautionary measure, cook all bean sprouts before eating them
  • ensure bean sprouts are heated thoroughly until they are piping hot all the way through, including those labelled ‘ready to eat’
  • Vulnerable groups are people with weakened immune systems, as well as the elderly, the very young and pregnant women.

(Unless otherwise noted, historical information on sprout-related outbreaks taken from Food Safety: Old Habits, New Perspectives, ASM Press 2007)

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 Wednesday, September 29, 2010 0 comments
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Tuesday, September 28, 2010

American Fast Food Abroad

Oasis for homesick travelers, or recipe for disaster?

Speaking from personal experience, footsore international travelers – even those who don't patronize fast food restaurants at home – celebrate the sighting of a pair of golden arches as jubilantly as Stanley marked his first encounter with Dr. Livingstone.



After weeks of sampling exotic food in Southeast Asia, finding an almost-familiar food outlet is worth memorializing.



Fast food chains based in the industrialized world face special difficulties when they expand into less developed regions. Cultural differences, food supplies, sanitation issues and the availability of safe drinking water all present challenges, which must be surmounted if a multinational company is to maintain a consistent and recognizable standard of product and service.



I once had the chance to experience, first-hand, the impact of cultural practices on Dunkin' Donuts' Bangkok operations. As I reported in 2008, the chain's corporate management reacted promptly and positively when I advised them of my observations relating to the dispensing of coffee cream (please click on the live link for the full story).




I was reminded of these issues on the weekend, after reading in Today's Zaman about the disappearance of 160,000 hamburger patties (roughly 11 tons of meat) that had been destined for Burger King in Turkey, but which were rejected due to contamination with Listeria and Salmonella.

The hamburger patties were produced by TT Gida, and shipped to Fasdat Gida last spring for delivery to Burger King. But Fasdat Gida claimed that the meat was contaminated, cancelled its contract with TT Gida, and sent the 160,000 hamburger patties to Zeybek Solid Waste Center for safe disposal. And that should have been the end of the story.

After learning what Fasdat Gida had done with the meat, TT Gida (the manufacturer) tried to locate it at the Waste Center. The 160,000 patties were, however, nowhere to be found. When contacted by the Agriculture Ministry, Zeybek claimed to have shipped the hamburgers to a Kangal dog farm in Bursa. The farm's manager reported that all of the meat was fed to his 55 dogs during the two month period between May 5 and July 7.

The Agriculture Ministry did the math and decided that it was highly unlikely for 55 dogs to have consumed what amounted to more than 3,300 pounds of meat each per day for two months.

So where was the missing beef? The Turkish government has concluded that it probably was sold – through discounters – for human consumption. The incident is now under investigation by a public prosecutor. And Fasdat Gida, the intermediate company that was responsible for supplying hamburger patties to Burger King is under suspicion; one of its warehouses was operating without a license.

The next time you get excited about a familiar pair of golden arches (or any other familiar fast food logo) in a strange city, remember that the logo might be "western" but the food is surely local.



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 Tuesday, September 28, 2010 0 comments
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Outbreaks and Alerts: September 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 Enteritidis outbreak and egg recalls, please click here.


United States
  • Montpelier, VT. September 27th: Vermont Department of Health district offices have received replacement shipments of Similac and Isomil liquid infant formulas, which can be used as substitutes for the powdered infant formulas that were recalled recently by Abbott.
  • King County, WA. September 27th: The Department of Health has ended the boil water advisory for the East King County water system that serves Riverbend Homesites.
  • Sacramento, CA. September 28th: California became the largest state to limit the toxic metal cadmium in children's jewelry after Gov. Schwarzenegger signed a new bill into law that will limit cadmium in jewelry for children six-years old and under to no more than 0.03% starting in 2012.
  • Silver Spring, MD. September 28th: FDA warns Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Inc., Walgreen Company and CVS Corporation to stop making unproven claims on mouth rinses. The three companies claimed that their sodium fluoride-containing mouth rinse products were effective at removing plaque above the gum line and promoting healthy gums. According to FDA, these claimed benefits have not been proven.


Canada
  • Ottawa, ON. September 28th: Health Canada reminds Canadians of the importance of adhering to good food safety practices while home canning.
  • Sudbury, ON. September 28th: Sudbury Regional Hospital reports six cases of Clostridium difficile on the sixth floor of its South Tower. Visitor restrictions are in effect for the six patients, and enhanced infection control procedures have been initiated.


Europe
  • UK. September 27th: The Health Protection Agency has identified 97 cases of Salmonella Bareilly in England since the beginning of August; Scotland is investigating a further 17 lab-confirmed cases. The source of the outbreak is not yet known; however, one possibility is bean sprouts. A small number of samples have tested positive for Salmonella, but it has not been determined whether the Salmonella recovered from bean sprouts is Salmonella Bareilly. The investigation is ongoing.
  • Lothians, Scotland. September 28th: Thirty-three pupils and 30 staff members at Saltersgate Special Needs School were stricken with severe vomiting and diarrhea. Norovirus – sometimes called the winter vomiting bug – is suspected to be the cause of the outbreak.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Ndola, Zambia. September 27th: Two suspected cases of typhoid were recorded by the Ndola District Health Management Team last week. A similar outbreak took place in the neighboring city of Kitwe one month ago.
  • Davao City, Philippines. September 28th: Residents of Barangay Alejal of Carmen received a pleasant surprise: purified drinking water for the neighborhood's 550 families.
  • Manila, Philippines. September 28th: The Department of Health is checking a report that two residents of Caloocan City have died due to complications from cholera. At least eleven more people have become infected with the disease.


Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Piura, Peru. September 28th: Thirty-six people were diagnosed with salmonellosis after eating grilled chicken in a restaurant in the Sullana shopping center. The manager of Maxi Bodega, where the incident took place, suggested that the problem was not the chicken, but may have been the dressings or sauces and has sent samples for lab analysis. Maxi Bodega has been in touch with patients and will cover the costs of their care.


Posted by Phyllis E at Tuesday, September 28, 2010 0 comments
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Recall Roundup: September 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.

For information on the Abbott infant formula powder recall, please click here.


United States
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Rohr Fish, Inc. (Toledo, OH) that an April/May 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.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Tri-Country Food Service & Distribution, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH) that a June 2010 inspection of the company's food 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 Inaudi Commerciale Srl (Borgo San Dalmazzo, Italy) that an April 2010 inspection of the company's facility revealed serious deviations from the US low-acid canned food regulations.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Fierro Group dba Rico Brand (Salt Lake City, UT) that a June 2010 inspection of the company's seafood processing facility revealed violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) regulation and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Enriching Gifts International (Miles City, MT) that a review of the company's web sites determined that the products Plant Enzymes, Sterol Max, Pro Biotic with FOS™, Metabolic Complete™, Heart Algae™, Lightning Colloidal Silver™, and Aloe Ace Max™ are promoted for conditions that cause the products to be drugs under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The marketing of these products with the claims indicated on the web sites violates the Act.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Quinault Indian Nation (Taholah, WA) that a January 2010 inspection of its food commodity warehouse revealed serious deviations from the regulations that cause the products held in your facility to be adulterated within the meaning of Section 402(a)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Peslasa SA (Guyaquil, Ecuador) that a May 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.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Above Sea Level (Santa Fe, NM) that a June 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.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Madama Oliva, S.R.L. (Carsoli, Italy) that a June 2010 inspection of the company's low-acid canned food and acidified food facility revealed serious deviations from the low-acid canned food regulations.


Europe
  • Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Galway Bay Seafoods recalls all batches of Galway Bay Seafoods Smoked Salmon (Approval # IE GY 0015 EC; Use-by dates up to and including 06.10.2010), due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): COOP Trading A/S recalls COOP Marinated Salmon, sliced (100g, 200g & 300g; Packed 06.09.2010; Best before 04.10.2010), because the product may contain Listeria. The recalled Marinated Salmon was manufactured in Poland by Coral, and was imported into Denmark by KB Finest.
  • Food Withdrawal (Finland): Tuko Logistic Oy withdraws Party Time Children's Biscuit assortment (226g) because the packaging lacks Finnish markings.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1292): Mercury in fresh small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) from Spain; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1293 & 2010.1294): Cortisol and cortisone in horse meat from Mexico; distributed to Belgium and the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1295): Omethoate in water mimosa from Thailand; distributed to the Netherlands.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1296): Salmonella infantis in frozen marinated chicken breast fillets from Germany; distributed to Denmark.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1297): Unauthorised substance morpholine in apples from Chile; distributed to the United Kingdom.


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, September 28, 2010 0 comments
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Monday, September 27, 2010

Recall Roundup: September 27, 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.

For information on the Abbott infant formula powder recall, please click here.



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, September 27, 2010 0 comments
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