Showing posts with label Campylobacter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Campylobacter. Show all posts

Friday, July 15, 2011

Recalls and Alerts: July 15, 2011

This is a mirror of eFoodAlert on WordPress. To subscribe to automatic email alerts, please go to the eFoodAlert on WordPress blog page and complete the EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION form.

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.


United States
  • Allergy Alert Update: Bruce Foods Corporation (New Iberia, LA) recalls mislabeled cans of Food Club Red Enchilada Sauce, 10-oz cans (Code ECH 451244; Best Before 5/13/2015), that may contain Green Enchilada Sauce instead of Red. The mislabeled cans contain undeclared wheat and soy, which is present in the Green Enchilada Sauce. The recalled product was sold in retail stores between 5/31/2011 and 7/02/2011 in Texas, Virginia, Minnesota, Alabama, and Ohio.

  • Food Safety Recall (Ohio): Valley Farm Meats (dba Strasburg Provision, Inc.) recalls beef products due to possible contamination with prohibited materials (spinal cord and vertebral column). The recall includes all beef products slaughtered and processed by or purchased from Valley Farm Meats retail store in Strasburg, OH, or from Ed Lind Livestock and Poultry in Medina, OH. The recalled products were produced between 01/28/2011 and 07/05/2011 and offered for sale from 01/28/2011 through 07/11/2011.

  • Food Safety Recall: Sid Wainer & Son, Inc. (New Bedford, MA) recalls imported ready-to-eat Magret de Canard Fumé Seche/Dried Smoked Duck Breast (Product of Canada; Lot No. 111217; Package code 11JN20; Best before 11DE17), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled products were distributed for institutional use in Connecticut, Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania.

  • Food Safety Recall: Palmex, Inc. (Champlain, NY) recalls imported ready-to-eat Magret de Canard Fumé Seche/Dried Smoked Duck Breast (Product of Canada; Lot No. 111217; Package code 11JN20; Best before 11DE17), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled products were sent to distribution centers in California and exported to the Dominican Republic.

  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall Expanded: Global Wellness LLC (Hollywood, FL) recalls Via Xtreme Ultimate Sexual Enhancer Dietary Supplement for Men (Lot No. A032111 03/13), because the product contains sulfoaildenafil methanesulfonate, sulfosildenafil and dimethylsildenafil, which are not approved for use due to safety concerns.

  • Outbreak Alert: Teton County (Wyoming) public health officials have confirmed several cases of norovirus in northwest Wyoming in the past few weeks. Illness reports have been logged in Jackson, Teton Village, and Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Separately, the Wyoming Department of Health is tracking a sharp increase in reported cases of Campylobacter across the state.

  • Outbreak Alert: Wicomico County (Maryland) Health Department is investigating a cluster of reported foodborne illnesses that officials believe is linked to a fish fry held in Salisbury on July 1st. At least some of the illnesses involve Salmonella.

  • Outbreak Alert: The CDC is investigating an increase in cases of Campylobacter gastroenteritis in Yuma County (Arizona) and San Luis Rio Colorado (Sonora, Mexico) over the past three months, accompanied by an increase in cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome - a known secondary complication associated with Campylobacter infections.

  • Outbreak Alert: The Federal Bureau of Prisons has confirmed that a Salmonella outbreak occurred at the U.S. Penitentiary-Canaan (Waymart, PA), a high-security federal prison. More than 300 inmates and staff developed salmonellosis after consuming tainted chicken served in fajitas on June 25th, according to the Associated Press report. The food was all cooked and prepared on site.

  • Outbreak Alert: The Rhode Island Department of Health has received a report of a laboratory-confirmed case of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection in a male in his 70s who ate raw clams earlier this month. The Department is not certain where the clams were harvested. The man was treated and is recovering.


Canada
  • Allergy Alert: Dai Jung Distributing recalls Lee brand Lemon Grass from Fresh Stems (200g; SLM MFG:28AUG2010BB:31AUG2012), due to the presence of undeclared sulphites. The recalled product was distributed through retailers in Ontario and Quebec.

  • Food Safety Recall: Palmex Inc (Marieville, QC) recalls Dried Smoked Duck Breast, (Prepared for Palmex Inc. by Charcuterie Parisienne Inc.; Canada 377; Code Lot 111217; Pkgd on 11JN20), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled ready-to-eat product was distributed in Quebec and Ontario.

  • Food Safety Recall: Sol Cuisine Inc. recalls Sol Cuisine brand Spicy Bean Burger (364g frozen pkg; Lot code 06711), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product was distributed nationally.


Europe
Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Vita Green Health Products Co. Ltd recalls Doctor's Choice - Evening Primrose Oil (Manufactured in the USA by Captek Softgel Int'l Inc.; Best before July 28, 2013; Batch No. OEO82OA), because the product contains the plasticizers DEHP and DBP.

  • Consumer Product Safety Recall (Philippines): Procter and Gamble Distributing Phils. recalls Oral-B Tooth and Gum Care Alcohol Free Mouth Rinse (500ml, 350ml, and 60 ml; Manufactured in Columbia), after detecting out-of specification microbial levels in some products produced at the manufacturing site.

  • Health Alert (PRC): A duck processor in central China has been dumping duck excrement and dead animals directly into a river, killing fish and polluting the water. As many as 100,000 people may have been sickened as a result of the actions of the processor.

  • Outbreak Alert (Taiwan): The Centers for Disease Control has confirmed a new case of zoonotic brucellosis in a 60-year-old woman who visited Malaysia in April.

  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating a suspected outbreak of food poisoning involving 13 people who participated in an office lunch party on July 11th. Eleven of the 13 victims consulted a medical practitioner, and one person was hospitalized.


Australia and New Zealand
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall (Australia): Procter & Gamble Australia Pty Ltd. recalls Oral-B Tooth & Gum Care Mouth Rinse (All flavors, sizes and batches), because the product contains out-of-specification microbial levels. The recalled Mouth Rinse was sold nationwide.


Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Food Safety Recall: Palmex, Inc. (Champlain, NY) recalls imported ready-to-eat Magret de Canard Fumé Seche/Dried Smoked Duck Breast (Product of Canada; Lot No. 111217; Package code 11JN20; Best before 11DE17), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled products were sent to distribution centers in California and exported to the Dominican Republic.

  • Outbreak Alert: The CDC is investigating an increase in cases of Campylobacter gastroenteritis in Yuma County (Arizona) and San Luis Rio Colorado (Sonora, Mexico) over the past three months, accompanied by an increase in cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome - a known secondary complication associated with Campylobacter infections.


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.
Posted by Phyllis E at Friday, July 15, 2011 0 comments
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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Recalls and Alerts: June 28, 2011

This is a mirror of eFoodAlert on WordPress. To subscribe to automatic email alerts, please go to the eFoodAlert on WordPress blog page and complete the EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION form.

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.


United States
  • Allergy Alert: Risvold's Salads Inc. (Gardena, CA) recalls Seafood Pasta Salad (Use by 7/17/11) and Seafood Salad (Use by 6/27/11, 7/4/11 and 7/11/11), because they may contain undeclared milk, sunflower, sesame and soy. The recalled salads were sold behind the deli case in retail markets in Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Montana and Idaho.

  • Allergy Alert: JFC International, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA) recalls all UCC and Taitan Instand Drink Mix (Product of Taiwan), because they contain undeclared milk.

  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Nestlé Purina PetCare Company recalls Cat Chow Naturals Dry Cat Food (6.3-lb bag; Best by Aug 2012; Production Code 10331083 13), and Friskies Grillers Blend Dry Cat Food (3.15-lb and 16-lb bags; Best By Aug 2012; Production code 10381083 06), because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The bags were distributed in error in February 2011 to a small number of customers in Colorado, Idaho and Oregon, which may have further distributed the products to other Western states.

  • Food Safety/Outbreak Alert: FDA warns the public not to eat alfalfa sprouts or spicy sprouts from plastic bags labeled "Evergreen Produce" or "Evergreen Produce Inc." because the sprouts may be linked to 21 confirmed Salmonella Enteritidis infections in five US states: Idaho (3), Montana (7), North Dakota (1), New Jersey (1) and Washington (9). Three people have been hospitalized. The investigation is ongoing, and the producer has not (yet) recalled the implicated sprouts.

  • Outbreak Alert: The Alaska Section of Epidemiology is investigating four known cases of Campylobacter infections associated with drinking raw milk from an Alaska dairy farm in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley that operates a cow-share program.

  • Outbreak Alert Update: The Alabama Department of Public Health is continuing its investigation into an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in Lee County that has sickened 13 children and two adults who either played in the Splash Park or swam in the pool at the Opelika SportsPlex and Aquatic Center. Five of the children have been confirmed positive for E. coli O157:H7; four children were hospitalized initially, and two remain in hospital.

  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Wild Foods, Inc., dba Ma Baensch's, Baensch Food Products Co. (Milwaukee, WI) that a February-April 2011 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 La Fiesta Food Products, Inc. (San Jose, CA) that a February 2011 inspection of the company's seafood repackaging facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.

  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Ozark Bottling Co. (Lake Ozark, MO) that a January/February 2011 inspection of the company's facility revealed serious deviations from the Acidified Food regulations described in Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 108, Emergency Permit Control (21 CFR Part 108) and Part 114, Acidified Foods (21 CFR Part 114).

  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Sally Jackson Cheeses (Oroville, WA) that a December 2010 inspection of the company's cheese processing establishment revealed the presence of the pathogen E. coli O157:H7 in a sample of aged cow milk cheese wrapped in chestnut leaves, and the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of aged raw goat milk cheese wrapped in grape leaves, rendering these cheeses adulterated. The E. coli O157:H7 isolate obtained from the aged cow milk cheese sample was indistinguishable from a strain of E. coli O157:H7 that caused an outbreak of human illness.

  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Los Genuinos, Inc. (Bayamon, PR) that a January 2011 inspection of the company's food manufacturing facility revealed serious violations of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 110 (21 CFR 110), Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food.

  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Baxter Healthcare Corporation (Deerfield, IL) that a July/August 2010 inspection of the company's pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Jayuya, PR revealed significant violations of Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for Finished Pharmaceuticals, Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 210 and 211.

  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Mutual Trading Company, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA) that a May 2010 inspection of the company's seafood processor/importer/distribution facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point regulation, and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.


Canada
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Advisory: Following an R.C.M.P. seizure of counterfeit Cialis in the Greater Toronto Area, Health Canada is reminding Canadians that unauthorized and counterfeit health products can pose serious risks to their health. The seized product contained sildenafil, instead of the authorized prescription medicine tadalafil.


Europe
  • Allergy Alert (UK): Asda withdraws Asda Extra Special Strawberry & White Chocolate Popcorn, 150g (Best before 04/11/11), because a packaging error has resulted in the packages containing Pecan and Milk Chocolate Popcorn, and presents a risk to people who are allergic to nuts.

  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Lantmännen Cerealia recalls Kornkammeret organic muesli (Best before 15.02.2012), because the product contains a foreign object which may be rodent residue.

  • Outbreak Alert Update (France): Sixteen cases of E. coli O104:H4 infections in Gironde have been linked to the consumption of raw sprouts. Eight of the patients are suffering from hemolytic uremic syndrome.


Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Food Safety Recall (Hong Kong): AIC Merchandising (Japan) Ltd recalls TOPVALU TV SALT Flavoured Instant Ramen Noodles (Product of Japan; Expiry October 6, 2011), because the sachet of soup powder included in the noodle pack was found to contain DEHP.

  • Chinese Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Wah Shun Medicine Limited recalls [W.S] Gan Mao Ling, because the medicine contains excessive arsenic.

  • Chinese Medicine Safety Alert (Singapore): The Health Sciences Authority warns consumers not to use Ren Sem Tu Chon Chin Kuo Pill and Huo Li Bao, as these Chinese medicines contain undeclared western pharmaceutical ingredients, including dexamethasone, chlorpheniramine, piroxican, and/or frusemide.


Australia and New Zealand
  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Shin Mi (Australia) Pty Ltd. recalls WANG Dried Kelp Varech Speche (56g and 170g plastic packets; Product of Korea; Date Marking 2013.01.20), because the dried seaweed contains high levels of naturally occurring iodine.

  • Safety Advisory (Australia): The Therapeutic Goods Administration warns consumers that Pure Fat Three Days Reduce Weight Capsules, sold over the internet, contain therapeutic quantities of sibutramine, and are not 100% herbal as claimed. Sibutramine was a prescription-only medicine supplied in Australia until it was withdrawn in October 2010 due to safety concerns.


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.
Posted by Phyllis E at Tuesday, June 28, 2011 0 comments
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Monday, June 27, 2011

Outbreaks and Alerts: June 27, 2011

This is a mirror of eFoodAlert on WordPress. To subscribe to automatic email alerts, please go to the eFoodAlert on WordPress blog page and complete the EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION form.

United States
  • Lansing, MI. June 23rd: The Michigan Department of Community Health announced three people in Michigan have been diagnosed with of Q fever after drinking raw milk from a dairy herd share program Livingston County.

  • Lee County, AL. June 24th: Six children sickened with E. coli O157:H7 after playing in Opelika Splash Park and Aquatic Center.

  • Anchorage, AK. June 27th: The State of Alaska Section of Epidemiology is investigating four recent cases of Campylobacter infection associated with drinking raw milk from an Alaska farm.

  • Idaho, New Jersey, North Dakota, Washington & Montana. June 24th: FDA warns the public not to eat alfalfa sprouts or spicy sprouts from plastic bags labeled "Evergreen Produce" or "Evergreen Produce Inc." because the sprouts may be linked to as many as 20 cases of Salmonella Enteritidis in Idaho, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota and Washington State. Six of the outbreak victims report having consumed sprouts obtained from Evergreen Produce (Moyie Springs, ID). While no recall has been initiated, federal and state officials are warning consumers to discard any Evergreen Produce sprouts in their possession.

  • Cruise Ship Inspection. June 10th: Cunard's Queen Mary 2 fails routine unannounced CDC Vessel Sanitation Program inspection, obtaining a score of 84 (a score of 86 or above represents a Satisfactory result).


Europe, including Russian Federation and Ukraine
  • Bordeaux, France. June 27th: Sprout seeds incriminated in an outbreak of E. coli O104:H4 in Bordeaux were imported from Italy. The seeds were purchased from Jardiland de Villenave d'Ornon (Gironde) before sprouting. At least 10 people are suffering from bloody diarrhea, 8 of whom have been hospitalized. Five of the victims are suffering from hemolytic uremic syndrome. At least six people reported having consumed sprouts. E. coli O104:H4 has been confirmed in 3 of the outbreak victims.


Asia and Africa
  • Hong Kong. June 22nd: The Centre for Health Protection is investigating a suspected food poisoning case involving 14 members of a study tour group from Taiwan. The victims developed gastroenteritis some 10-35 hours after dining at a restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui in the evening of June 20th.

  • Kinshasa, Congo. June 27th: Four new cases of cholera were reported in Kinshasa earlier today, bringing the total number of cases in the capital city to seven.

  • Zabul Province, Afghanistan. June 27th: More than 70 civilians and military personnel in the Ma'ruf district of Zabul province have developed cholera. Another 200 people have been exposed to the disease and are experiencing its initial symptoms. Members of the Afghan air force and the US 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group have transported medical personnel and supplies to the affected region.
Posted by Phyllis E at Monday, June 27, 2011 0 comments
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Friday, May 20, 2011

Recalls and Alerts: May 20, 2011

This is a mirror of eFoodAlert on WordPress. To subscribe to automatic email alerts, please go to the eFoodAlert on WordPress blog page and complete the EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION form.

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.



United States
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: The Arizona Department of Health has mandated a mass recall of Lazy Cakes relaxation brownies after a 2-year old child was rushed to hospital. The toddler fell into a deep sleep after biting into one of the brownies, which contains 8mg of melatonin, a naturally occuring compound that helps to regulate sleep cycles. A typical adult dose of melatonin is 1-3mg.

  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: Phoenix Import & Distribution LLC recalls Pentrexyl Forte Natural (Exp. 04/14; Lot #102050 and all lots distributed between November 1, 2010 and May 1, 2011), because the packaging is believed to be misleading, causing the product to be confused with an antibiotic.

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: American Regent (Shirley, NY) recalls Sterile Water for Injection, USP, 50 mL single-dose vial (Lot 0092; Exp. February 2014), because some of the vials may contain rust-like particulate matter.

  • Food/Water Safety Alert (Alaska): The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services reminds the public that all locally harvested shellfish may contain paralytic shellfish poison (PSP). Alaska does not have a PSP testing program for recreational or subsistence harvested shellfish, and does not certify beaches as PSP-free.

  • Recreational Water Alert (Ohio): Water warnings have been posted at Grand Lake St. Mary, due to an algae bloom. People should not swim or wade in the lake, or touch any of the algae in the lake.

  • Outbreak Alert (California): San Joaquin County has noticed a sharp increase in the number of cases of Campylobacter gastroenteritis - about twice the usual number so far this year. The County Public Health Services has not yet found a common source or specific explanation for this increase. The rise began in 2010, with 233 cases reported, versus 135 cases in 2009.


Canada
  • Allergy Alert: Health Canada cautions the public that cereal grains such as oats or barley may contain low levels of wheat, because of the way the grains are grown and harvested. Individuals who are allergic to wheat should review package labels carefully to determine whether the product may contain traces of wheat.

  • Allergy Alert: Pâtisserie St-Martin (Laval, QC) recalls Pâté au poulet (chicken pâté), Pâté au saumon (salmon pâté) and Tourtière maison (meat pie), because the products contain undeclared egg and soy.

  • Food Safety Recall: The Tree of Life Canada (Surrey, BC) recalls King James brand Blue Stilton Cheese (Product of England; Lot/Batch numbers between 019 and 034, inclusive), because the cheese may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The cheese was sold to retailers in 2 kg bulk round packages, but may have been cut and sold at retail and deli counters in random weight packages between April 14, 2011 and May 19, 2011. The product was distributed in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland; however it may have been sold nationally.


Europe
  • Food Safety Recall (France): Magasins U recalls Magasins U brand Pain de Mie extra moelleux (Extra-chewy sandwich bread; Lot 3 256 224 034 261; Best before 27/05/2011), because the bread may contain glass fragments. The recalled bread was sold in Hyper U, Super U, Marché U, U Express, and Utile stores.

  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Lantmännen Danpo A/S recalls Chicky Cuts, plucked chicken (Product of Belgium; Danpo Batch No. 20110104), because the product contains elevated bacteria levels, which may be due to defective bag seals.

  • Dog Food Safety Recall Update (Finland): VIP Vescor Oy recalls additional batches of Nutritional Balance Dog Food. The recalled batches include 1kg packs (Batch #OW 320, OW 246 and OW 321), 3kg packs (Batch #OW 221, OW 320, OW 321, OX 039 and OX 040) and 15 kg packs (Batch #OW 222, OW 291, OW 312, OW 356, OW 249, OW 336, OX 025 and OX 055). Lab results suggest that rice protein used in the product contains an extraordinary amount of nitrogen.

  • Shellfish Alert (France): Due to the presence of toxic algae in the water, the harvest, sale and consumption of shellfish is prohibited over a large part of the Seine-maritime coastline.

  • Outbreak Alert (UK): Redfield Edge School in Oldland Common has shut two classes after an outbreak of E. coli diarrhea, suspected to be E. coli O157. One child has been hospitalized, two others have received medical treatment, and 25 others have called in sick with diarrhea. The source of the outbreak has not yet been determined.


Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
Australia and New Zealand
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.
Posted by Phyllis E at Friday, May 20, 2011 0 comments
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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Recalls and Alerts: April 19, 2011

This is a mirror of eFoodAlert on WordPress. To subscribe to automatic email alerts, please go to the eFoodAlert on WordPress blog page and complete the EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION form.

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.


United States
  • Allergy Alert: Cinderella Sweets recalls Cindy's Scrumptious Chocolate Chip Pound Cake, 16 oz., due to the presence of undeclared egg. Due to a labeling error, the product packaging indicates "Egg Free" but eggs are listed on the ingredient statement.

  • Allergy Alert: S&M (USA) Enterprise Corp recalls Rain Swiss Roll, Banana Flavor (160g uncoded cardboard box; Product of China), because the product contains undeclared eggs. The recalled product was distributed nationwide.

  • Food Safety Recall: Charcuterie La Tour Eiffel (Montreal, Canada) recalls all Summersweet seafood mousses and dips after samples from two lot codes of Salmon & Spinach Mouse were found to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled mousses and dips (see FDA recall notice for product list) were sold in retail outlets in New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida, California and Texas, including in Ralphs supermarkets. The manufacturer has suspended production pending the outcome of an investigation into the source of the contamination.

  • Food Safety Recall: Royal Sweet Bakery, Inc. (Brooklyn, NY) recalls Herring in Vegetable Oil Filling, after the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets determined that the fish was improperly eviscerated prior to processing and may, therefore, be contaminated with spores of Clostridium botulinum.

  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Investigation Update: As of April 18th, The Rhode Island Department of Health has identified 79 confirmed and suspect cases of salmonellosis linked to baked goods from De Fusco's Bakery in Johnston, RI. Forty-eight cases were lab-confirmed; 30 people were hospitalized, and there have been two Salmonella-associated deaths.

  • Salmonella Outbreak Investigation Update: During the past two years (beginning April 9, 2009), 216 Salmonella illnesses have been confirmed in 41 states as a result of contact with water frogs, especially African dwarf frogs. The outbreak victims were infected with a strain of Salmonella Typhimurium that has been traced to a single African dwarf frog breeding facility in California. The outbreak strain also was recovered from a water sample collected in March 2011 from an aquarium containing African dwarf frogs in the household of a sick infant. Approximately 30% of the outbreak victims were hospitalized as a result of the infection.

  • Food Safety Alert: A retail-level survey of 100 samples of raw chicken (including whole fryers and packages of chicken parts) sold in Fred Meyer, Safeway, QFC, Whole Foods, Costco, Sam's Club, Albertsons, Thriftway, PCC Natural Markets and Ken's Market stores in the Seattle area from March 1st to April 4th revealed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus (42 samples), Campylobacter (65 samples), Salmonella (19 samples), Listeria (1 sample) and E. coli O126 (1 sample). Ten of the samples were contaminated with a methicillin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus.

  • Recreational Water Advisory Update (Oregon): A heath advisory for contact with marine water at Seaside Beach in Clatsop County, Oregon was lifted after further testing showed that fecal bacteria levels have subsided at the beach.

  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Brinkman Turkey Farms, Inc. (Findlay, OH) that a January/February 2011 inspection of the company's low-acid canned food manufacturing facility revealed significant deviations from the Low-Acid Canned Food regulations.

  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Schindler's Broad Run Cheese House, Inc. (Dover, OH) that a series of inspections carried out between September 2010 and December 2010 revealed serious deviations from Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food.

  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Hocean Food Corporation (Los Angeles, CA) that a November/December 2010 inspection of the company's rice noodle processing establishment 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 Delta Airlines, Inc. (Atlanta, GA) that an inspection of a Delta aircraft in Atlanta uncovered the presence of rodent excreta pellets and mammalian urine at various locations the aircraft.

  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Omega Nutriton U.S.A., Inc. (Bellingham, WA) that a December 2010 inspection of the company's dietary supplement manufacturing facility revealed serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations for Dietary Supplements.


Canada
  • Allergy Alert: Aliments Trigone Inc. recalls Les Moissonneries du Pays brand Green Buckwheat Flour Stone Ground Finely Milled (1 kg., Code 349642), due to the presence of undeclared gluten. The recalled product was distributed in the province of Québec.

  • Allergy Alert: Armstrong Food Service recalls Roast Beef (Product code 123790; Best Before dates up to and including 21/04/11), Shaved Roast Beef (Product code 124804; Best Before dates up to and including 21/04/11), and Thin Sliced Shaved Roast Beef (Product code 124802; Best Before dates up to and including 21/04/11) due to the presence of undeclared soy. The recalled products were distributed to hotels, restaurants and institutional customers in Nova Scotia., Shaved

  • Health Product Recall: Mary Ginseng House recalls Mary Ginseng House 100% Pure High Calibre Pow Sum Ontario Genseng after Health Canada's testing revealed the presence of Klebsiella oxytoca, Pantoea sp. and Enterobacter cloacae in product samples. These bacteria can cause serious infection in an individual whose immune system has been weakened by another illness or chronic condition.

  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Galati Cheese Company Ltd. (Windsor, ON) that a January 2011 inspection of the company's cheese manufacturing facility revealed a serious violation of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food, in that the company failed to store and transport finished food under conditions that will protect the food against physical, chemical, and microbial contamination.


Europe
  • Allergy Alert (UK): Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC recalls Morrisons Fresh Ideas Mini Chicken Roast, 411g (Use by 22 April 2011), Morrisons 6 Carrot Cake Slices (Best before 11 May 2011), and Morrisons The Best Prawn & Smoked Salmon Cocktail, 140g (Use by 20 April 2011), due to the presence of undeclared allergens.

  • Petting Farm Outbreak Investigation (Wales, UK): Public Health Wales is investigating an outbreak of Cryptosporidium in an unspecified number of people who fell ill over the past twelve months following farm and "lamb petting" events at Erddig Hall.


Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (Abu Dhabi): Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority has ordered the closure of Al Tazaj Fakieh Grilled Chicken (License No. 1043939), a restaurant at the Hamdan Centre building on Hamdan Bin Mohamed Street, for repeated violation of food safety rules.

  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (China): Food quality inspectors raided steamed bun producers in Zhejiang Province, and found tens of thousands of buns containing banned dyes and other chemicals sold to local schools.

  • Chinese Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Lai Sing Medicine Factory Limited recalls Prolonged Man Power Essence, as its lead level exceeds the permitted limit.

  • Chinese Medicine Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Lee Sze Trading Co. recalls Lee Sze Texiao Houtong Wan, as its arsenic level exceeds the permitted limit.


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.
Posted by Phyllis E at Tuesday, April 19, 2011 0 comments
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Thursday, December 9, 2010

Outbreaks and Alerts: December 9, 2010

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

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United States
  • Midland, TX. December 2nd: The Midland Health Department reported Thursday it has observed more than 10 times the typical number of Shigella diarrhea cases since October – 53 versus the expected incidence of 3-4 per month.
  • Gibbon, MN. December 7th: State Agriculture Department investigators have seized several hundred gallons of raw milk and other food produced by Mark Hartmann's dairy farm in defiance of a state order to halt production at the farm. Raw milk produced at Hartmann's farm was the source of eight cases of E. coli O157:H7 in May and several other instances of gastroenteritis in July and August.
  • Boise, ID. December 8th: Health officials have found evidence of E. coli at a privately run prison south of Boise after five inmates at the Idaho Correctional Center became ill around December 1st.
  • Bellaire, MI. December 8th: The Northwest Michigan Health Department has issued a norovirus advisory for the region. Health workers suspect that norovirus was behind two outbreaks of gastroenteritis in Grand Traverse County in October - one linked to a company luncheon and the other at a day care center.
  • Maine. December 9th: The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC has issued a norovirus health advisory after receiving reports of five outbreaks from four counties in the last 10 days. Four of the outbreaks occurred in long term care facilities, and the fifth was in a school setting.
  • Washington, DC. December 9th: EPA has published a petition filed by 82 public health and environmental groups to ban the antibacterial agent triclosan for nonmedical use. A 60-day comment period has been announced.
  • Brown County, Kansas. December 9th: The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the City of Willis and portions of the City of Horton after a loss of water pressure was reported in the public water system.


Canada
  • Peterborough, ON. December 8th: The Peterborough Regional Health Centre continues to restrict visitors to its B3 medical unit, due to an outbreak of Clostridium difficile, MRSA and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus. No new cases have been identified.


Europe
  • Llandudno, Wales. December 8th: Badgers Café is facing five hygiene and cleanliness charges after an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis PT14b last year.
  • Wiltshire, UK. December 8th: Churchfields School remains closed as investigations continue into an illness outbreak, thought to be due to norovirus. Twenty-four staff members are absent with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.
  • Liverpool, UK. December 8th: Banks Road Primary School in Garston is experiencing an outbreak of viral gastroenteritis. About 55 of the 209 pupils are affected.
  • UK. December 9th: The Health Protection Agency has recorded 43 outbreaks of norovirus in hospitals since the beginning of November. Thirty-nine of the outbreaks have led to ward closures.
  • Saint-Michel, France. December 9th: A 14-year old student at Puygrelier College has been hospitalized and 143 are ill with food poisoning. A meal served to the students on Tuesday is suspected to be the source of the outbreak. Lab analyses are in progress.
  • Östersund, Sweden. December 9th: The municipality believes that it has found the source of the Campylobacter contamination in its municipal water system. The parasite is thought to have entered the system in a multi-family dwelling in the Odensala neighborhood of Östersund.


Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Putrajaya, Malaysia. December 8th: The Health Ministry has ordered a probe of the waters of the Kenyir Lake to determine the extent to which it is contaminated with E. coli, following media reports of high levels of the bacteria having been found in the waters of the lake by a study undertaken by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu.
  • Morogoro, Tanzania. December 8th: Four people have died and 58 were hospitalized in a new outbreak of cholera. The first cases in the area were reported two weeks ago.
  • Singapore. December 9th: Cordial drinks and chicken frank rolls were suspected to have caused the mass food poisoning incident at the Singapore Sports School canteen last month which affected 106 students. A sample of chicken frank rolls was found to contain low levels of Bacillus cereus, and one of the food handlers also tested positive for Salmonella.
  • Cebu, Philippines. December 9th: The number of reported cases of typhoid fever continue to rise in two villages of Alegria. At least 30 residents have been hospitalized; 160 are experiencing symptoms of typhoid. Contaminated water is suspected to be the source of the outbreak.


Posted by Phyllis E at Thursday, December 09, 2010 0 comments
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Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Outbreaks and Alerts: December 8, 2010

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

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United States
  • Brainerd, MN. December 7th: Crosslake Community School was closed last friday after three staff members and more than 20% of the student body were absent due to an outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis.
  • Oregon. December 7th: An advisory is in effect for Harris State Park Beach, due to a sewage spill into Harris Creek. While the advisory is in effect, visitors should avoid direct contact with the water. Children and the elderly are the most vulnerable to potential infection from waterborne bacteria.


Canada
  • Ottawa, ON. December 7th: Health Canada is reminding Canadians of some basic rules for safe handling of leftovers during the holiday season.


Europe
  • Dublin, Ireland. December 6th: The Food Safety Authority of Ireland reports that it issued one Improvement Order and four Closure Orders to food businesses during November.
  • Sunderland, UK. December 6th: A Campylobacter infection thought to have been contracted from contaminated food left a couple dangerously ill in hospital as a result of their stay at Kenya's Baobab Beach Resort. Mick and Liz Rodwell were on a 15-day safari in celebration of Liz's 56th birthday.
  • Kharkiv, Ukraine. December 7th: Authorities have launched a criminal investigation into an outbreak of food poisoning at the Kharkiv Air Force University that sickened 96 cadets in November. An inspection revealed numerous problems at the university cafeteria, including improper sanitation, outdated equipment and failure by university authorities to monitor food quality.


Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Hong Kong. December 6th: The Centre for Health Protection is investigating two clusters of suspected food poisoning involving 10 people. Both clusters are associated with consumption of food in the same restaurant in Tung Chung on November 28th and December 4th.
  • Hanoi, Vietnam. December 6th: The Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade has rejected a proposal from the owners of the city's unhygienic Thinh Liet Abattoir to keep the facility open until next August.
  • Hong Kong. December 7th: The Centre for Health Protection has confirmed a local case of cholera involving a 61-year old woman in Shau Kei Wan. This is the 9th case of cholera reported in Hong Kong this year.
  • Uganda. December 7th: The illness that has killed at least 38 people in northern Uganda remains a mystery. Preliminary tests have ruled out Ebola, typhoid and several other diseases.
  • Dhaka, Bangladesh. December 7th: Officials at Rajshahi University in western Bangladesh have ordered a major rat extermination drive after rodent meat found its way into chicken curry served to students. The chef has been suspended.
  • Lusaka, Zambia. December 7th: The Ministry of Health has confirmed three cholera cases from Chawama and Kanyama Townships. No deaths have been reported.
  • Papua New Guinea. December 7th: Between 200 and 300 people have died from cholera in the Western Province. Thirty-two of the deaths were recorded at Daru General Hospital. More than 2,000 cases of cholera have been reported, with many of the victims from isolated villages.
  • Cebu, Philippines. December 7th: A state of disaster has been declared in Alegriaafter nearly 200 people were diagnosed with typhoid fever. The town's water system is under investigation.

Australia and New Zealand
  • Lake Hume, Australia. December 8th: An algae bloom has been confirmed in Lake Hume. The public is being urged to avoid any water that appears bright green, or where green scums or a distinctive odor are present.


Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Panama. December 7th: Six hundred cases of diarrhea have been linked to poor food handling practices and the consumption of spoiled food.
  • Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. December 7th: The number of confirmed cholera cases has reached 22, according to the Public Health Ministry. The government believes that the situation is under control.
  • Haiti. December 8th: As of December 3rd, the Haitian Ministry of Public Health and Population had confirmed 91,770 cases of cholera; 43,243 (47.1%) victims were hospitalized, and there have been 2,071 deaths (death rate of 2.3%). A nationwide cholera surveillance system has been established. A French medical report commissioned by the Haitian authorities to determine the origin of the epidemic has pointed a finger at the Nepalese peacekeepers who were deployed as part of the international earthquake relief efforts. The United Nations does not consider the French report to be definitive proof of the Nepalese connection.


Posted by Phyllis E at Wednesday, December 08, 2010 2 comments
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