Showing posts with label pet food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pet food. Show all posts

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Miscellaneous Recalls and Alerts: March 1-24, 2013

Here are some miscellaneous recalls and alerts from around the world. The live links will take you directly to the official notices or company news releases that contain detailed information for each item.

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

United States
  • The Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Department of Health alert consumers to the risk of lead poisoning associated with eye-area cosmetics (e.g., pencils and eyeliners) called Surma (also known as Kohl or Kajal), a powdered eye area product manufactured and used in the Middle East, India, Pakistan and some parts of Africa.
  • The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has revoked the food processing license of Chu Minh Corp., which produces tofu and other soy products, after several inspections found on-going sanitation problems with the Seattle business.
  • CDC issues final update for its investigation of a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections linked to ground beef. The contaminated ground beef was linked to 22 illnesses (including 7 hospitalizations) in six states.
  • CDC is investigating an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhea that sickened 118 passengers and 3 crew members on Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas during a February 25 to March 8, 2013 cruise.
  • CDC is investigating an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhea that sickened 266 passengers and 10 crew members on Princess Cruises' Ruby Princess during a March 3-10, 2013 cruise.
  • Green Planet, Inc. (Riverside, CA) recalls Night Bullet after FDA finds that the product contains trace amounts of undeclared Sulfohydroxyhomosildenafil and Aminotadalafil.
  • Med Prep Consulting, Inc. (Tinton Falls, NJ) recalls all lots of all products compounded at its facility. The level of recall is to the user, that is, regional hospital pharmacies and related departments, and physician’s office practices. The recall resulted from the pharmacy being notified by a Connecticut hospital that it observed visible particulate contaminants in 50 ml bags of MAGNESIUM SULFATE 2GM IN DEXTROSE 5% IN WATER, 50ML FOR INJECTION intravenous solution confirmed to be mold.
  • Clinical Specialties recalls All Lots of All Sterile products repackaged and distributed by the pharmacy due to lack of sterility assurance.
  • Cargill's animal nutriton business recalls certain brands of its ruminant mineral products because they were deficient in vitamins A, D and E.
  • Diamond Pet Foods (Columbia, SC) recalls limited production codes of Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat Formula dry cat food, Premium Edge Senior Cat Hairball Management Formula dry cat food, Premium Edge Kitten Formula dry cat food, Diamond Naturals Kitten Formula dry cat food and 4health All Life Stages Cat Formula dry cat food. Tests conducted by the company indicated the products might have a low level of thiamine (Vitamin B1).
  • Steve's Real Foods (Murray, UT) recalls 5 lb. bags of Turducken Canine Diet – 8oz. Patties due to potential contamination of Salmonella.
  • Bravo! recalls 2 lb tubes of Bravo! Raw Food Diet Chicken Blend for Dogs and Cats, product code: 21-102, batch ID code 6 14 12, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
  • Diggin' Your Dog™ withdraws Strippin' Chicks™ Pet Treats produced on 8-30-12 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
  • Natura Pet Products recalls specific lots of California Natural, Evo, Healthwise, and Innova dry pet food because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The affected products are sold in bags through veterinary clinics, select pet specialty retailers, and online in the United States, Canada, Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Costa Rica.
  • Jones Natural Chews Co. (Rockford, IL) recalls 245 boxes of Woofers (beef patties) because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
  • Procter & Gamble withdraws certain lot codes of Iams Shakeables Turkey Dog Treats and Iams Shakeables Lamb Dog Treats due to potential for mold growth.
Canada
  • Natura Pet Products recalls specific lots of California Natural, Evo, Healthwise, and Innova dry pet food because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The affected products are sold in bags through veterinary clinics, select pet specialty retailers, and online in the United States, Canada, Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Costa Rica.
Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Natura Pet Products recalls specific lots of California Natural, Evo, Healthwise, and Innova dry pet food because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The affected products are sold in bags through veterinary clinics, select pet specialty retailers, and online in the United States, Canada, Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Costa Rica.
Australia and New Zealand
  • Australia: The Therapeutic Goods Administration has tested Paiyouji Natural Slimming Capsules and found that it contains the undeclared prescription substance sildenafil and the undeclared substance phenolphthalein which was previously used as an oral laxative, but is no longer available in Australia due to serious safety concerns.
  • Australia: The Victoria Department of Health is investigating a four-fold increase in Cryptosporidium notifications since January 2013. While initially focussed on metropolitan Melbourne, an increase in notifications is now affecting regional Victoria.
  • New Zealand: The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is warning that drought conditions in some parts of the country could lead to higher than usual levels of tutin in honey. Tutin is well known as a natural toxin in honey in some parts of New Zealand.
  • New Zealand: Hawke's Bay's water operators are checking the region's supplies for contamination of Cryptosporidium. The New Zealand Herald reports that 45 people have been diagnosed with the parasite over the past two months.
Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Natura Pet Products recalls specific lots of California Natural, Evo, Healthwise, and Innova dry pet food because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The affected products are sold in bags through veterinary clinics, select pet specialty retailers, and online in the United States, Canada, Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Costa Rica.
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 website.
Posted by Phyllis E at Sunday, March 24, 2013 0 comments
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Friday, May 20, 2011

Evanger's - The Light Dawns

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Ever since I received a copy from Evanger's of their lab report (also posted on the company's web site), I have been trying to figure out how FDA could possibly determine that there was no duck meat present in their sample of dog food, while Genetic ID - the third-party lab used by Evanger - found duck DNA in the sample that was submitted to them for testing.

My first thought was that there was may have been a significant difference in lab methods used by FDA and Genetic ID. That thought was quashed earlier today, when I ascertained from FDA that the agency used a PCR method - the same type of method as the one used by Genetic ID. Even a slight difference in technique would not be enough to explain a total lack of positive duck meat reaction in FDA's hands.

I was stymied until I revisited the wording of the FDA warning letter and compared it to the wording of the information released by Evanger.

Here's the relevant portion of the Evanger statement:
"Our results show that, in fact, Evanger’s brand Super Premium Duck was detected positive for duck..."

And here's the relevant statement from the FDA warning letter:
"The labeling indicates that Evanger’s Grain-free Duck Pet Food contains duck, but the analytical sample results did not detect the presence of duck in the product."

A quick review of Evanger's website brought everything into focus. Super Premium Duck and Grain-Free Duck are two VERY different products!

I challenge Evanger's to submit samples of the same batch of Grain-Free Duck dog food analyzed by FDA to a third-party lab for testing.

Anyone care to speculate on the outcome?
Posted by Phyllis E at Friday, May 20, 2011 0 comments
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Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Evanger's Back In Hot Water With FDA

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FDA weekly list of Warning Letters included an old familiar name this morning - Evanger's Dog & Cat Food Company, Inc. (Wheeling, IL).

Readers of eFoodAlert who have been following the adventures of Joel and Holly Sher will remember that the company has been in and out of trouble with FDA since April 2008.

The latest problems revolve around misbranding and record keeping.

On August 19, 2010, FDA obtained samples of Lamb and Rice Dog Food from the company's distributor. FDA's analysis of the food failed to detect any lamb. Instead, the Lamb and Rice Dog Food contained beef.

On December 14, 2010, during its inspection of the company's low acid-canned food manufacturing facility, FDA collected samples of Evanger's Grain-free Duck Pet Food. Analysis of the food failed to detect any duck.

According to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, "...a food is deemed to be adulterated if any substance has been substituted wholly or in part therefore." Also, offering a product for sale under the name of another food constitutes misbranding.

In addition to the adulteration/misbranding issue, Evanger's still has not fixed its processing documentation problem. FDA's warning letter states that the "...firm was not able to provide processing and production records upon written demand, as required by 21 C.F.R. 108.35(h), for products manufactured in 2009..." - the period during which Evanger's was operating under a suspended "Emergency Operating Permit" while it was supposed to be correcting its processing documentation flaws.

The company has been given fifteen (15) working days to bring its operations into full compliance, or to provide a time frame within which the corrections will be completed.

In my post of June 17, 2009, I wondered whether Evanger's was being singled out by FDA in order to "send a message" to the pet food industry. If this was the case, I suggested that we might owe Evanger's an apology.

Instead, I am now convinced that Evanger's owes its customers an apology.
Posted by Phyllis E at Tuesday, May 17, 2011 0 comments
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Thursday, January 6, 2011

Recall Roundup: January 6, 2011

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.



Canada
  • Allergy Alert: Mocaroma (Canada) Ltd. (Scarborough, ON) recalls Dai Pai Dong brand No Sugar Added Instant Soya Milk (160g box; Best before 31-10-11), because the product contains undeclared milk. The recalled instant soya milk was distributed in Ontario.


Europe
  • Allergy Alert (UK): Wm Morrisons Supermarkets PLC recalls Morrisons Free From Chocolate and Orange Bar, 35g (Best before end December 2011) because the product contains undeclared milk.
  • Allergy Alert (UK): SFC Ltd. recalls SFC Chicken Mini Fillets, 200g (Best before December 2011 and March 2012; Batch codes L0315 and L0336, respectively), because the product contains undeclared celery. The recalled product is only sold in Sainsbury's stores.
  • Allergy Alert (Ireland): The Food Safety Authority of Ireland warns consumers that soya was detected in Amaizin Organic Chilli Cornrolls (Best before 14.04.2011; Batch code 301950331). The soya was not declared on the product label.
  • Food Safety Withdrawal (Ireland): UK authorities have requested a withdrawal of Natco Brown Basmati Rice (Product of Pakistan; Batch No. 0902107067; Best before 28.02.2012), due to the presence of aflatoxins. Some of the implicated product was distributed to a small number of food businesses in Cork and Dublin, and has been withdrawn from sale.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Aguettant recalls Aguettant brand Morphine (chlorhydrate) 10 mg/ml - 1 ml injectable solution, after an ampoule of Atropine was found in a box of ampoules labelled Morphine.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2011.0012): Salmonella Agona in rapeseed meal from Belgium; distributed to Finland.
  • Pet Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0013): Salmonella Senftenberg in dog chew from India; distributed to Sweden.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0014): Salmonella in pork fat from Germany; distributed to Italy.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2011.0015): Undeclared soya in chili flavoured corn chips from the Netherlands; distributed to Ireland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0016): Aflatoxins in unsalted pistachio nuts in shell from Italy; distributed to Gibraltar and the United Kingdom.


Australia and New Zealand
  • Allergy Alert (Update): Coles Supermarkets Australia Ltd. recalls Coles Frozen Crumbed Fish Fillets Lemon Flavoured (1 kg and 425g; product of China; all Best before dates up to and including 05/01/2013), because the product contains undeclared peanuts. The recalled frozen fish was distributed nationally in Australia; no information on distribution outside Australia is available.



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, January 06, 2011 0 comments
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Thursday, November 11, 2010

Recall Roundup: November 11, 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.


United States
  • Food Safety Recall: DPI Specialty Foods (Tualatin, OR) recalls Mauri Gorgonzola cheese with sell-by dates of 01/13/11 and 01/14/11 after a Colorado state laboratory detects E. coli O157:H7 in a sample of the cheese. The cheese was cut, packaged and distributed by DPI to Costco stores in Colorado. The E. coli O157:H7 strain found in this cheese differs from the outbreak strain that has sickened at least 33 people in 5 states this autumn. Colorado encountered the contaminated Mauri cheese while investigating the current outbreak. Investigations are underway to determine how the Mauri cheese was contaminated, and whether any illnesses are associated with its consumption.


Canada
  • Food Safety Recall: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has expanded its public warning, issued November 9th, to include additional retailers and products. Pitt Meadows Meat Packers (Pitt Meadows, BC) has recalled beef trims after E. coli O157:H7 was found in a sample. The contaminated meat was supplied to a number of retailers in British Columbia for incorporation into ground meats, beef patties, and sausages. Please visit the CFIA recall notice for details on retailers and products affected by the expanded recall.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns the public not to use certain Beef Pet Food made by Surrey Meat Packers (Cloverdale, BC), because it may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The affected product was sold frozen in 500g blocks assembled in 10-unit and 50-unit packages from October 8 to 23 inclusively at Surrey Meat Packers and 6050-176th Street, Cloverdale, BC; and Jolly Meats and Fine Foods, 111 Charles Street, North Vancouver, BC.


Europe


Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Proprietary Chinese Medicine Recall (Hong Kong): The Department of Health (DH) has instructed a local licensed proprietary Chinese medicine (pCm) manufacturer, Merika Medicine Factory Limited, to recall all oral pCm products it manufactured as they were suspected to exceed the permitted microbial 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.


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



Posted by Phyllis E at Thursday, November 11, 2010 0 comments
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Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Revisiting The Blue Buffalo Dog Food Recall

Stories behind the story

When an animal receives an excessive amount of vitamin D in its diet, it develops a condition known as Hypervitaminosis D, or vitamin D toxicity. What is the significance of vitamin D toxicity, and when should a dog owner suspect that a canine family member is suffering from this condition? Here is the answer that I found in the 1996 textbook Clinical Endocrinology of Dogs and Cats: An Illustrated Text, by Adam Rijnberk. I've inserted "translations" of technical terms in square brackets where appropriate.
"Hypervitaminosis D may result from excessive supplementation of vit D in the diet..." It leads to increased formation of 25-OHD [a form of vitamin D], augmented calcium and phosphate absorption from the intestine, and increased calcium and phosphate reabsorption in the kidneys."

"The clinical picture may be dominated by one or more of the signs of hypercalcemia [elevated calcium] such as polydipsia/polyuria [excessive thirst/excessive urination], dehydration, weakness and anorexia [loss of appetite]. If complicated by renal insufficiency [inadequate kidney function], there may be vomiting and other signs of azotemia [abnormally high nitrogen compound levels in the blood]. Routine laboratory investigations will reveal that calcium and phosphate concentrations in plasma and urine are elevated."

Last Friday, researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) alerted pet owners to a link between Blue Buffalo dog food and 16 cases of excessive blood levels of Vitamin D in dogs. The sick dogs had increased thirst and urination; some of them also suffered weight loss, anorexia and signs of kidney damage.

MSU also announced that it was cooperating with FDA and the Michigan Department of Agriculture in an investigation of the dog food. Shortly after this announcement, Blue Buffalo recalled the following products:
  • BLUE Wilderness Chicken Flavor: 4.5 lb; Best if used by JUL2611Z, JUL2711Z, JUL2811Z
  • BLUE Wilderness Chicken Flavor: 11 lb; Best if used by JUL1211B
  • BLUE Wilderness Chicken Flavor: 24 lb; Best if used by JUL1211B, JUL1311B
  • BLUE Basics Limited Ingredient Formula Salmon and Potato Recipe: 11 lb; Best if used by AUG2111B, AUG2211B
  • BLUE Basics Limited Ingredient Formula Salmon and Potato Recipe: 24 lb; Best if used by AUG2111B, SEP2311P, OCT2611P
  • BLUE Life Protection Formula Natural Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Large Breed Adult: 30 lb.; Best if used by SEP2211P, SEP2311P, OCT2611P

By the time the recall was announced, the known number of sick dogs had risen to 36.

In its recall notice, the Company explained that "...a sequencing error had occurred at the supplier of the dry ingredients for these products. Immediately before producing the ingredients for these specific production runs, the supplier had run a product for another customer that contained a more potent form of Vitamin D used in chicken feeds. It is now believed that there was some level of carry over of this Vitamin D product into the ingredients for the specific manufacturing runs of the BLUE products, thereby increasing the Vitamin D activity to unacceptable levels in the Blue ingredients."


Since posting the original story, I have received comments from some readers, who have described their own experiences with Blue Buffalo and its dog foods. Their descriptions hint at the possibility of additional problems with the company's products. Here is what they had to say.

From Las, who posted this comment on October 12th:
"We have two dogs on this food. They have only been on it since early August. Three weeks ago one of our dogs had a horrible kidney infection. Last night we took our "puppy" (19 months) to the vet because she started drinking so much water and then having accidents. The vet was a little worried and gave us a run if antibiotics and told us to watch her water intake for the next few days and bring her back at the end of this week.

This morning we got a panicked call from him telling us he treated another dog with the same symptoms and the owner had mentioned the food recall. He put two and two together and I have to bring in my girls later today to have lab work done. My girls are feeling very ill and you can tell they don't feel well either.

As for classy, I called Blue Buffalo and.... I wouldn't call the terrible customer service I got today "class"."

From Alice, who emailed me privately on October 11th:
"I had my three Goldendoodles on Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Chicken and Rice Adult. I had seen your notice of the recall on Blue Buff. food, and figured that since it was a different variety from the Life Protection, I was ok. however, the last 40 lb. bag I purchased had an inordinate quantity of their "Life Source Bits". Well over half of the bag was these "bits". Since they tout them as being the blend of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, I was concerned that my dogs would get too much of a good thing and I decided to mix the food with another brand to balance the ingredients. In the meantime, I sent a request to Blue Buffalo asking if there would be a problem in feeding it to my dogs without mixing it and in the request, I asked for a prompt reply. I sent my request on 9-24-10 by email. I finally received a reply tonight, 10-10-10. Their reply will follow my long diatribe to you. It includes the text of my email to them. I do not store my dog food in the original bags, so do not have the bag from the food, nor do I have the receipt, however it was purchased at Petsmart and I can show the purchase date from my debit card transaction. I usually save the production information just in case, but for some reason unbeknownst to me, I didn't save it this time.

Now, my questions: What do I do next? I am no longer feeding it to my dogs, but have about half of the bag's quantity left. I do not want another bag of Blue Buffalo!! Is there someplace that I should report this to, and if so, who and where? Needless to say, I am not a happy camper!!"

Blue Buffalo offered the following explanation for Alice's experience, and suggested that she return the product to the retailer for an exchange.
"It sounds as if you may have purchased a bag from the beginning or end of a production run."

And from Anonymous, who posted this on October 13th:
"I wouldn't be surprised if they recall other flavors of their dog food too. My dog got horribly sick several times this summer and I narrowed it down to the Blue Buffalo Lamb & Brown Rice. I took it back to the store and they refunded me. I wish I still had it so they could test it."

My first reaction to Blue Buffalo's recall announcement was a favorable one – it's not often that a company immediately offers to reimburse "... any veterinary or testing expenses related to illness caused by..." a recalled product. But delays in responding to consumer complaints and comments about "terrible" customer service are worrisome. As is Blue Buffalo's complete lack of response to my request for information on the retail distribution of the recalled products.

In the absence of a response from Blue Buffalo, I have surveyed most of the pet supply chains listed on the company's Store Locater web page. I have found only two that have posted Blue Buffalo recall notices on their web sites – PetCo and Pet Supplies Plus. I encourage readers who purchased recalled product from other retailers to post the information below, or to email me directly with the information so that I can help to spread the word.

I hope Blue Buffalo realizes that its reputation for quality products and customer service will be harmed permanently if it does not respond promptly and effectively to complaints and questions. As Alice said in granting me permission to share her experience,
"I hope that Blue Buffalo's rush to enter the market with quality foods is the reason for the problems that they are having. I know they've spent a lot of time and money to introduce it and to promote it to the pet stores. Sloppy production practices may cost it dearly. I know I won't use any of their products again. I had such high hopes for them."

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, October 13, 2010 23 comments
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Monday, October 11, 2010

Recall Roundup: October 11, 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
  • Food Safety Recall: Gorton's recalls Gorton's VIP Fish Sticks, 2.4 oz (Lot #0265, 0266 & 0272) because the product may contain hard plastic pieces.
  • Food Safety Recall (Retail Distribution): Several of the Haifa smoked fish product varieties, which were recalled last week by D & M Smoked Fish, Inc., were sold at ShopRite, a regional grocery chain with stores in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
  • Pet Food Safety Recall (Retail Distribution): Blue Buffalo dog food products that were recalled on October 8th by Blue Buffalo, were sold at PETCO, a national chain of specialty pet product stores.


Europe
  • Food Safety Notification Update (EU #2010.1362): Salmonella spp. in salami from Italy; distributed to Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
  • Pet Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1363): Salmonella Reading in dog chew from Germany; distributed to Austria.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1364): Unauthorized substance leucomalachite green in frozen tilapia steaks from China; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1365): Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxins in mussels (Mytilus sp) from Italy; distributed to France and Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1366): Unauthorised substance phenylbutazone in horse meat from the United Kingdom; distributed to France and the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1367): Prohibited substance heptachlor in fresh carrots with green leaves from Belgium; distributed to Belgium and France.


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


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



Posted by Phyllis E at Monday, October 11, 2010 0 comments
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Saturday, October 9, 2010

Blue Buffalo Recalls Dog Foods LInked to Vitamin D Toxicity

Company blames ingredient supplier for excess Vitamin D (updated October 9th with link to FDA recall notice)

Blue Buffalo (Wilton, CT) has recalled three varieties of its dry dog foods after researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) linked Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken to reports of elevated blood levels of Vitamin D in 16 sick dogs from 8 different states.

The affected dogs all exhibited increased thirst and urination; some of them also suffered weight loss, anorexia and signs of kidney damage. They seemed to recover once their diet was changed.

Veterinarians had sent blood samples from their canine patients to MSU's Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, according to Center Director Carole Bolin. Veterinarians also provided a patient history, which enabled MSU to determine that all 16 dogs routinely were fed Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken recipe. Once MSU researchers established the unequivocal link, they notified the company, the Michigan Department of Agriculture, and the FDA.

According to FDA, there have been a total of 36 cases reported nationwide. In all cases, the symptoms subsided after a change in diet, with no apparent long-term health consequences.

According to the company, this problem most likely derived from the action of an ingredient supplier, who produced a Vitamin D supplement immediately prior to preparing ingredients for Blue Buffalo. The company suspects that some of the Vitamin D inadvertently was carried over into Blue Buffalo's ingredients.

Once company management became aware of its ingredient supplier's scheduling error and the potential that excess Vitamin D had been incorporated into certain dog foods, Blue Buffalo recalled all of the following dry dog food products and date codes:
  • BLUE Wilderness Chicken Flavor: 4.5 lb; Best if used by JUL2611Z, JUL2711Z, JUL2811Z
  • BLUE Wilderness Chicken Flavor: 11 lb; Best if used by JUL1211B
  • BLUE Wilderness Chicken Flavor: 24 lb; Best if used by JUL1211B, JUL1311B
  • BLUE Basics Limited Ingredient Formula Salmon and Potato Recipe: 11 lb; Best if used by AUG2111B, AUG2211B
  • BLUE Basics Limited Ingredient Formula Salmon and Potato Recipe: 24 lb; Best if used by AUG2111B, SEP2311P, OCT2611P
  • BLUE Life Protection Formula Natural Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Large Breed Adult: 30 lb.; Best if used by SEP2211P, SEP2311P, OCT2611P

The affected products were distributed across the USA through pet specialty stores. As Blue Buffalo also is sold in Canada, I urge both US and Canadian customers to check the Best if used by dates on the product packages listed above.

In a classy move that should be emulated by all food processors whose products are linked to illnesses – human or animal – Blue Buffalo has promised to reimburse its customers for any veterinary or testing expenses related to illness caused by these products.

I have also received the following statement from Larissa, on behalf of Blue Buffalo Co.
"To assure that this sort of mistake doesn’t occur again in the handling of our ingredients, we have required all of our manufacturing and ingredient partners to immediately put in place a system of cross checking and reporting, by multiple operators on site, to confirm that they have followed our protocol for all lines to be clear of any possible residue before running any of our products."

Without the services provided by a large veterinary diagnostic center such as the one located at MSU's East Lansing campus, it is unlikely that this problem would have been detected. The MSU lab performs more than 1.3 million diagnostic tests a year on samples received from all over the USA.

"Because of our nationwide reach and expertise," Director Bolin said, "we were able to discover this and notify the proper 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, October 09, 2010 11 comments
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Recall Roundup: October 9, 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
  • Pet Food Safety Recall: Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd. (Wilton, CT) recalls certain dry dog food because of possible excess Vitamin D that can affect the health of some dogs. The recall encompasses specific packages of Blue Wilderness Chicken Flavor, Blue Basics Limited Ingredient Formula Salmon and Potato Recipe, and Blue Life Protection Formula Natural Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Large Breed Adult dog foods. To date, there have been 36 cases nationwide of dogs reported with symptoms consistent with elevated Vitamin D in their system, all of whom where feeding on the recalled products.
  • Food Safety Recall: D & M Smoked Fish, Inc., dba Haifa Smoked Fish (Jamaica, NY) recalls specific lots of Haifa Smoked Fish brand products (see recall notice for complete list of products and lot numbers) because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products were sold between August 10 and September 3, 2010 to retailers and distributors in greater New York, New Jersey, and areas of Illinois. The company is under a previous court order requiring it to cease production and distribution of the products.
  • Food Safety Recall: Montalvan's Sales, Inc. (Ontario, CA) recalls La Nuestra brand Mamey Ice Cream (all lot numbers) due to a potential health risk from Salmonella Typhi. The recall was initiation after FDA notified the company that the affected product contained Mamey Pulp, which was implicated in a recent outbreak of Typhoid Fever in several western states. The recalled Ice Cream was distributed in Nevada and California through retail stores and restaurants.
  • Food Safety Recall: Hamilton Corner Meat Market Inc. (New York, NY) recalls all packages of in-store ground beef, in-store sliced deli turkey and in-store sliced deli ham sold on September 29, 2010, because the meat products may contain E. coli O157:H7.
  • Food Safety Alert: The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services warns consumers that Colombina Mega Pops lollipops (28-oz. bags; lot #120979601171 or ELPACK #2), imported from Colombia, may contain tiny pieces of metal.
  • Food Safety Recall: Price Chopper recalls Price Chopper ground beef purchased from the Bennington, VT store at 214 Northside Drive after 11am Oct 7, with a sell-by date of Oct 7, because a paper liner used in the meat packaging was inadvertently ground up in some of the meat.
  • Food Recall: Price Chopper advises that Annie's has recalled the Honey and Chocolate Chip flavors of Annie's Bunny Grahams, 7 oz., because the products may exhibit an unusual odor.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert: FDA advises consumers who have purchased Slimming Beauty Bitter Orange Slimming Capsules not to use the product. The Slimming Capsules contain sibutramine, a prescription-only drug which is a stimulant and which can be harmful, especially to those with cardiovascular conditions. Slimming Beauty is being sold over the Internet by Beautiful Health Inc., formerly LL Health and Beauty. Slimming Beauty sample packets also have been distributed by individuals at community events. The product and the sample packets are falsely labeled as “100% Herbal.” FDA is aware of several reports of serious side effects from the use of this product including elevated blood pressure, headaches, vomiting, and insomnia.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Withdrawal: Abbott Laboratories has agreed to voluntarily withdraw its obesity drug Meridia (sibutramine) from the U.S. market because of clinical trial data indicating an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The FDA requested the market withdrawal after reviewing data from the Sibutramine Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial (SCOUT). The SCOUT trial demonstrated a 16% increase in the risk of serious heart events, with only a small difference in weight loss between the placebo group and the group that received sibutramine.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Recall: Pfizer recalls specific bottles of Lipitor (40mg only) due to a small number of reports of an uncharacteristic odor relating to the bottles in which the Lipitor is packaged. According to the company, the odor is not likely to cause adverse health consequences in patients taking Lipitor.


Canada
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Withdrawal: Abbott Laboratories is voluntarily withdrawing the prescription weight-loss drug sibutramine, which is marketed under the brand name Meridia®, from the Canadian market. Abbott's decision, in collaboration with Health Canada, comes in light of data from the Sibutramine Cardiovascular OUTcomes (SCOUT) trial, a large study that suggested an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events associated with sibutramine use in patients with heart problems.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: Midwest-CBK, Inc. recalls "S T U F F" and Paw Wall Hook Sets, because paint on the metal hooks attached to the wooden letters and on the blue paw hooks contain concentrations of lead above the allowable limit.


Europe
  • Allergy Alert (Ireland): The Food Safety Authority of Ireland advises consumers that certain The Bramley Apple Bakery products contain undeclared egg white protein, making these products unsafe for consumers who are allergic or intolerant to egg. Implicated products have been withdrawn from sale by the manufacturer.
  • Allergy Alert (Denmark): COOP Denmark A/S recalls Coop microwave popcorn with butter flavor (3 x 300g; all best before dates), because the product contains undeclared milk protein.


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, October 09, 2010 1 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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