Zimbabwe Cholera Epidemic Over - Not!

December 12, 2008

Robert Mugabe, fearing that the United States and the United Kingdom would use Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic as an excuse to topple his dysfunctional regime, has found an easy way out. He has simply declared that the epidemic has ended.

Sorry, Mr. President. It's not that simple.

One thing that world leaders and non-government organizations can agree on is that Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic is far from over, and that Mugabe and his government are not capable of reversing the total collapse of infrastructure that their policies precipitated. Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, summarized that consensus, in a statement reported on December 8th. 

"This government," said Annan, "has not demonstrated the ability to lead the country out of its current crisis."

The World Health Organization reported on Wednesday that 775 people have died as a result of cholera in Zimbabwe since August. At least 16,141 suspected cases have been reported. WHO fears that the total number of cases could surpass 60,000 before the epidemic is contained.

Zimbabwe's problem also has become the problem of its neighbors, especially South Africa, Mozambique and Botswana. South Africa already has reported more than 600 cases of cholera in its norther border area near the Limpopo River. The South African government has declared one district – Vhembe – a disaster zone.

Zambia – Zimbabwe's northern neighbor – has set up a cholera screening process for people trying to cross the border into Zambia at Victoria Falls. Several people already have been turned back, and Zambian border officials have confiscated potentially contaminated food that individuals were trying to bring across the border with them. So far, the quasi-embargo appears to be working.

Regardless of what the world community thinks of Mugabe's regime, international aid agencies, governments and NGOs have been pitching in with supplies, money and trained workers to help the people of Zimbabwe. The International Committee of the Red Cross, and WHO have been on the job for weeks. The United States, through USAID, announced yesterday that it would contribute an additional US$6.2 million in aid, bringing its total contribution to Zimbabwe cholera relief to more than US$10.8 million. USAID also is sending a Disaster Assistance Response Team to Zimbabwe.

South Africa, too, is cooperating in relief efforts. And other African countries are making their own contributions. Tanzania, for example, has donated US$60,000 in medical supplies to Zimbabwe.

Doubtless, once this cholera epidemic has been contained, Robert Mugabe will claim the credit. But this is no time to play politics. Last March, when Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar, the government put itself ahead of the population. This time, the health needs of the people must take priority over the political future of their President.

Clostridium botulinum In Hipp's Baby Food?

December 11, 2008

Norway's Food Safety Authority is warning consumers that some jars of Hipp baby food fruit purée may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum.

The warning was issued following an illness outbreak in Denmark. The Danish Food Safety Authority is in the process of testing samples of the suspect food.

NFSA is recommending that consumers discard jars of Hipp fruit purée with bananas and apricots identified by L35655, with a use-by date of 31.12.08. The importer has agreed to withdraw the product from the Norwegian retail market.

Hipp is a brand of organic baby foods manufactured in Germany and sold in many countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. International sales and marketing is carried out through the company's UK office.

In a reaction to the Norwegian announcement, Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety has alerted its citizens to the potential problem and has asked retailers to withdraw the product. Hong Kong has requested additional information from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

Results of the Danish lab tests should be available within a few days.

Allergy Alert: Sainsbury's Withdraws "Freefrom" Products

December 11, 2008

Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd. has withdrawn four of its own brand Freefrom beef, chicken and pork meat products due to the presence of trace amounts of undeclared milk protein in samples of the products, according to the UK Food Standards Agency.

All date codes of the following items have been withdrawn from sale:

• Sainsbury's Freefrom 16 pork chipolatas, 400g - frozen
  
• Sainsbury's Freefrom chicken steaks x 4, 380g - frozen
  
• Sainsbury's Freefrom chicken nuggets x 20, 425g - frozen
  
• Sainsbury's Freefrom beef burgers, 227g - frozen
  

Individuals who suffer from an allergy to milk protein should not consume these products, as a severe allergic reaction may ensue. Customers are urged to return these products to a Sainsbury's customer service desk for a full refund.

Stilton Cheese Recalled In Canada

December 11, 2008

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a Health Hazard Alert to Canadian consumers, advising that Cropwell Bishop Creamery Finest Blue Stilton Cheese may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The warning covers all sizes of Cropwell Bishop Creamery Finest Blue Stilton Cheese bearing a Best Before date of 08/DE/12. The cheese was sold in Costco Canada Wholesale stores across the country. CFIA is working with the importer to expedite the recall.

No illnesses have been reported in conjunction with this recall notice. Nevertheless, Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious – sometimes fatal – illnesses in susceptible individuals, especially the elderly, young children, immune-compromised individuals and pregnant women.

Consumers who purchased the recalled cheese should return it to the store for a refund.

Allergy Alert: Chocolate-Coated Raisins, Peanuts Recalled

December 11, 2008

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency alerted Canadian consumers today to the presence of undeclared milk in two additional SunRidge Farms products. This action follows last Friday's recall of SunRidge Farms Organic Dark Chocolate Almonds due to the presence of undeclared milk in the chocolate coating.

The newly recalled items are described as follows:

• SunRidge Farms Organic Dark Chocolate Peanuts, 200g (UPC 6 28997 06959 8)
  
• SunRidge Farms Organic Dark Chocolate Raisins, 215g (UPC 6 28997 06961 1)
  

The products were imported from the United States by DMR Food Corporation (Vaughan, ON), which has initiated a voluntary nationwide recall of all lot and date codes of the two items.

While no illnesses have been reported, individuals who are allergic to milk proteins may suffer a severe allergic reaction if they consume one of these products. Consumers who purchased these items should return them to the store for a refund.

Even though the SunRidge products have not been recalled in the United States, consumers in the United States who are allergic to milk proteins should also be on the look-out for these US-made products.

Chicken Jerky Dog Treats Recalled In Australia

December 10, 2008

The Australian Veterinary Association has warned pet owners and veterinarians to watch for dogs exhibiting signs of acquired Fanconi-like syndrome after KraMar announced that it was withdrawing its Supa Naturals Chicken breasts strips from the Australian market. 

The dog treats were imported from China.

The withdrawal comes as a result of an unusually high number of dogs being reported as suffering from symptoms consistent with this relatively uncommon syndrome. University of Sydney researchers have pointed an epidemiological finger linking the problem to the consumption of the chicken treat.

While KraMar has withdrawn the implicated product, the company was careful to point out that there is no direct scientific evidence linking the chicken treats to the problem. KraMar routinely tests these products for the presence of melamine, Salmonella and E. coli.

Fanconi's syndrome, most often an inherited disease, is characterized by elevated levels of glucose in urine, but not in blood. The high glucose level is an indicator of damage to the kidney's ability to reabsorb nutrients and electrolytes back into the body. 

Non-hereditary Fanconi-like symptoms can be triggered – at least in humans – by a number of factors, including exposure to heavy metals or other chemicals, vitamin D deficiency, or multiple myeloma, among others. While the definition of a "heavy metal" is somewhat arbitrary, this category of chemical elements includes arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium and zinc.

The situation in Australia is eerily reminiscent of a similar incident that took place last year in the United States. In September 2007, FDA warned consumers that as many as 95 dogs might have been sickened – some fatally – as a result of having been fed chicken jerky treats imported from China. Extensive chemical and microbiological testing carried out by the agency failed to reveal anything unusual. At least some of the dogs exhibited symptoms consistent with Fanconi-like syndrome. But FDA never was able to tie down a cause for the illnesses.

KraMar has told ABC News that it is considering moving the production of their Supa Naturals Chicken treat to Australia. Meanwhile dog owners should be watchful for symptoms such as excessive drinking and urination, lethargy and vomiting, and should contact their veterinarian immediately should these symptoms appear.

For more information about the precautionary recall, consumers can contact KraMar by email at customerservice@kramar.com.au or by telephone at 02 4648 8500.

Dioxin-Contaminated Pork From Ireland: Update #4

What's Being Done?

December 10, 2008

As the Republic of Ireland continues its investigation into dioxin contamination, its international customers are taking their own actions to protect local consumers. Following is a summary of what has been learned in the past 24 hours, and what is being done.

Republic of Ireland

After learning that dioxin-contaminated feed had been supplied to 45 cattle farms in the Irish Republic, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF) put a hold on cattle from all 45 farms and began to test each herd for non-dioxin like PCBs – a test used as a preliminary screen for dioxin. Eight of the first 11 herds tested were completely clean. The other three herds were contaminated with low levels of non-dioxin like PCBs – far lower than the quantities found in samples of pork. 

DAFF is continuing to screen the remaining 34 herds of cattle, but is optimistic that most will prove to be cleared. And the Chief Veterinary Officer is scheduled to meet with his EU colleagues today to brief them on the status of Irish beef and live cattle, and assure them of its safety.

Investigators may have a handle on how dioxins entered the animal feed. The Irish EPA has determined that the oil used in a burner to generate heat in order to process waste food into animal feed was "inappropriate" and not approved for that use. Millstream Recycling, the feed processor, insists that it purchased its oil only from "legitimate sources" in the Republic of Ireland. 

The search for the source of the offending oil seems to be leading to a company in County Tyrone, which stores or incinerates waste oil from electricity transformers under license. It's unclear, as yet, how that oil might have found its way to Millstream Recycling – or how dioxins generated by heating the oil might have traveled into the animal feed.

The United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland)

Nine cattle farms in Northern Ireland were supplied with feed from Millstream Recycling. The UK Food Standards Agency is conducting tests on the affected herds. Pending results of those tests – and of the concurrent tests being carried out by the Republic of Ireland – FSA has put a hold on livestock and carcasses from the affected herds in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

FSA also has posted a list of meat processors in Ireland and Northern Ireland that received potentially contaminated pork. Investigations are still underway to determine which of the Northern Ireland processors received the contaminated pork. And, as part of its recall of Irish pork products, FSA has provided consumers with a list of UK companies (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) that received pork from one or more of the listed meat processors.

Russia

The government has announced a ban on pork and pork products from Ireland as a result of the dioxin contamination. It's unknown how much of the meat has entered Russia.

People's Republic of China

The importation of all pork products and animal feeds from the Republic of Ireland has been suspended. The government has alerted its inspectors to recall the more than 2,000 tons of Irish pork that was imported into China since September 1st.

Sweden

After being alerted to the dioxin contamination problem, Findus, a Swedish food company, announced its own recall of food products that might contain Irish pork. Servera, a food wholesaler and customer of Findus, determined that it may have supplied recalled Findus products to as many as 152 of its customers, including several schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Servera is in the process of tracking the affected products – Swedish meatballs and "Biff Lindstrom – to their destinations.

Belgium

Champion has announced a recall of ready-to-eat hamburgers that contain Irish pork. A press release will follow. Belgium is monitoring the situation regarding possible dioxin contamination of Irish beef.

European Union

The European Food Safety Authority has completed a risk assessment, and has concluded that the risk to human health posed by the levels of dioxin found in Irish pork is low, based on the limited time period during which exposure may have occurred. Specifically, EFSA reported:

• "In the most likely scenario, if someone ate an average amount of Irish pork each day throughout the period of the incident (90 days), 10% of which was contaminated at the highest recorded concentration of dioxins[1], the body burden[2] would increase by approximately 10%. EFSA considers this increase to be of no concern for this single event." 
  
• "In a very extreme case, if someone ate a large amount of Irish pork each day throughout the period of the incident (90 days), 100% of which was contaminated at the highest recorded concentration of dioxins, EFSA concludes that the safety margin embedded in the tolerable weekly intake (TWI [3]) would be considerably undermined. Given that the TWI has a 10-fold built in safety margin, EFSA considers that this unlikely scenario would reduce protection, but not necessarily lead to adverse health effects."
  

What does this mean for consumers? The UK Food Standards Agency, referencing this assessment, advises consumers that composite products containing pork – sausage rolls, pork pies, pizzas, and the like – are safe to eat. And consumers who may have eaten Irish pork since September 1st need not worry about their health. The amount of dioxin to which they may have been exposed, even in a worst-case scenario, is within the EU's  "tolerable weekly intake" for the contaminant.

We would add one more consideration. Dioxin accumulates in fat. Eating lean cuts of pork, or trimming off excess fat and only eating the lean meat, greatly reduces the risk of exposure to dioxins.

Southern Ontario Outbreak Over - "Fat Lady" Mute

December 9, 2008

The Ontario Ministry of Health declared last Friday that the province's multi-locus outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 has ended. 

With the most recent new patient having begun to experience symptoms on November 6, the tally of lab-confirmed and probable cases in each of the five public health units was finalized at:

• Niagara: 13 confirmed, 13 probable
  
• Guelph: 7 confirmed, 19 probable
  
• Halton: 6 confirmed, 6 probable
  
• Waterloo: 2 confirmed
  
• Hamilton: 1 confirmed
  

A confirmed case is one in which the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 was recovered from a patient. A probable case is one in which the patient's symptoms and onset date fit the outbreak profile, but no lab confirmation was obtained. 

In all, 67 people were part of this outbreak; the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 was recovered from 29 of them. But it was not found in any samples of food or water from any of the restaurants and food service venues. Nor was it isolated from the utensils, food contact surfaces or general environment in any of those locations. Epidemiological evidence, combined with a trace-back investigation carried out by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, exposed a probable connection to lettuce grown in California's Salinas Valley.

Sadly, though not unexpectedly, investigators were unable to confirm the presence of the outbreak strain "down on the farm," leaving the Ontario Ministry of Health no real choice but to report,

"The source (or sources) of E. coli was not confirmed."

Dioxin-Contaminated Pork From Ireland: Update #3

Dioxins Found in Irish Cattle

December 9, 2008

Cattle on at least 11 farms in the Republic of Ireland have tested positive for dioxin, but at levels far lower than were found in Irish pigs, according to a report in today's Irish Times. The 11 farms are among an estimated 45 cattle farms in the Irish Republic and 8 farms in Northern Ireland that received dioxin-contaminated feed.

The levels of dioxin found in the cattle are about 2-3 times the legal limit in food. By comparison, the recalled Irish pork contained 80-200 times the legal limit for dioxin.

While any dioxin-contaminated cattle will be slaughtered and the meat from their herds withheld from market, it's unlikely that a recall will be issued for Irish beef already in circulation. The levels of dioxin found in the cattle do not present a public health concern, according to the Minister of Agriculture.

The main concern regarding Irish beef, however, might be one of perception rather than public health. A Canadian headline told the story as "High levels of dioxin found in Irish cattle; joins pork on contaminated list." Ireland will have to pay careful attention to its public relations to avoid serious damage to its US$2 billion beef export industry.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has put up a special web page to provide both consumers, producers and retailers with more information on the dioxin investigation.

Dioxin-Contaminated Pork From Ireland: Update #2

December 8, 2008

As the investigation into the source of dioxin that has found its way into Irish pigs and pork products proceeds, the country's trading partners are working to comply with Ireland's recommendation that all of its pork (dating from September 1st onward) be withdrawn from the market.

The United Kingdom, Ireland's next-door neighbor and largest customer, has advised consumers to avoid all pork products from the Republic of Ireland or from Northern Ireland. This includes any food items that contain pork as a significant ingredient. In addition, the Food Standards Agency is advising retailers and caterers to withdraw from sale all Irish pork products manufactured after September 1st. UK food manufacturers have been asked not to use Irish pork manufactured after September 1st as an ingredient in their products.

 

Belgium, in a December 7th news release, assured its citizens that no live Irish pigs whatsoever had been imported during 2008, but that the government was investigating. Today, the government's food security agency announced that three Belgian companies had been supplied with Irish pork products. As a result, the Delhaize, Okay, Carrefour, GB Super and AD Delhaize food chains have recalled hamburger made with pork meat. Also, a hold was placed on suspect meat at one importer; another importer took delivery of pork meat from the Netherlands that had originated in Ireland.

The French Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has determined that 1,600 (metric) tonnes of Irish pork products entered France between September 1st and now, destined for six companies. The six recipients have been contacted, and are cooperating in an effort to trace the pork products. Pork imported from Ireland, according to the Ministry, represents only 0.7% of the pork meat sold in France.

 

Russia, following discussions with Irish authorities, has temporarily suspended the granting of import permits for Irish pork products.

Germany, which has imported approximately 2,000 tonnes of pork from Ireland since September 1st, has ordered that pork from Ireland be removed from the marketplace until the dioxin contamination problem has been resolved.

Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety, in a December 7th news release, indicated that it was monitoring the situation, and advised consumers to avoid eating pork and bacon products made in Ireland after September 1st. The agency also has asked retailers to stop selling these products. 

According to ChannelNewsAsia, pork and pork products from Ireland also have been withdrawn from the marketplace in, or banned from entry into, a number of other countries, including: China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Bulgaria.

And what is Ireland doing? The FSIA has called in the police to help determine how the pig feed became contaminated with dioxin. The government is working with the pork industry and with its trading partners to determine the probable destinations of the suspect pork.

The Environmental Protection Agency also has joined the investigation, and has found that the feed company had used an "inappropriate" oil. The oil used in the plant would have needed an EPA license for the purpose. This license was not obtained. It is now thought by investigators that the oil was used to generate heat for the feed processing, and somehow contaminated the feed.

Today, the FSIA issued a news update to reassure consumers that the risk of health consequences from this incident was very low. But while the health risks may be low, the economic cost of this incident promises to be high. 

The Irish Times reported earlier today that as many as 100,000 pigs may have to be culled (i.e., destroyed) as a result of their exposure to dioxin-contaminated feed, and 125 million euros-worth of pork products dumped. Nearly 1,400 workers are facing temporary lay-offs, and meat producers are seeking government aid.

The cost to the reputation of Irish pork has yet to be calculated.

Dioxin-Contaminated Pork From Ireland: Update #1

December 7, 2008

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland reported today that an ingredient added to pork feed was responsible for the dioxin contamination of Irish pork and pork products. The contaminated feed was supplied to 10 pig farms in the Republic of Ireland. Ten percent of Irish pigs are raised on those 10 farms. 

The feed was produced by Millstream Power Recycling Limited, a company that recycles food products into pig meal. The dioxin apparently was found in an oil used to lubricate a machine that dries animal feed. Investigators don't yet know how the oil entered the pig feed.

The contaminated feed also was supplied to a number of pig farms in Northern Ireland. The UK Food Standards Agency is monitoring the situation closely, and has advised British consumers to avoid all pork products – including sausages, ham, bacon and salami – from both the Republic of Ireland and from Northern Ireland. 

Alerts also have gone out to Ireland's trading partners. According to Ireland's chief veterinarian, contaminated pork may have been shipped to as many as 20-25 countries.  Le Monde reported today that some contaminated pork products already have been found in France and Belgium. 

Until more is known, the safest bet is to avoid consuming any pork products that might have originated in Ireland.

Allergy Alert: Chocolate Bars Recalled In Canada

December 7, 2008

Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation, a national Canadian drug store chain, has recalled two varieties of Life brand Dark Chocolate Bars due to the possible presence of undeclared milk in the chocolate, according to an announcement by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The imported chocolate bars were sold across Canada in Pharmaprix and Shoppers Drug Mart stores. All lot codes of the following two varieties of 100-gram chocolate bars have been recalled:

• Life brand Premium Swiss Dark Chocolate with Orange (UPC 0 57800 16450 0)
  
• Life brand Premium Swiss Dark Chocolate 72% Cocoa (UPC 0 57800 16449 4)
  

No illnesses have been reported, but individuals who are allergic to milk proteins may experience a severe reaction after eating these products. Consumers who are concerned about the possible presence of milk in the chocolate bars should either discard them or return them to the store for a refund.

This recall comes just two days after CFIA alerted consumers to the presence of undeclared milk in SunRidge Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds. Both recalls involve imported products, raising the question as to whether both SunRidge and Life were made using chocolate from the same manufacturer. If so, there may be more recalls to come.

ALERT: Republic of Ireland Recalls All Pork Products

December 6, 2008

The government of the Republic of Ireland has recalled all pork products "... made and sold in the Irish Republic since September..." according to BBC. 

The action was taken after dioxins were found in slaughtered pigs. It is thought that the pigs had eaten feed contaminated with PCBs. Some of the samples contained 200 times the level of dioxins generally considered to be safe.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has advised consumers not to eat any Irish pork or bacon. All Irish pork products have been recalled on government instruction. Movement of pigs on 10 farms has been restricted for now.

Approximately half of the country's pork production is consumed domestically – sold at retail, and in restaurants, pubs, and food service establishments. Retailers, restaurateurs, food service operators, and publicans have been told to return or destroy their stocks of Irish pork. 

The remainder is exported to the United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland), Europe and Asia. Ireland has issued an international warning, advising consumers in its export markets not to eat any products that contain Irish pork.

Melamine: How Much Is Too Much?

December 6, 2008

The World Health Organization convened a meeting of toxicology experts in Ottawa (Canada) this past week to figure out a Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of melamine. The expert panel arrived at a consensus of 0.2 milligrams of melamine daily per kilogram of body weight (one kilogram equals 2.2 pounds). 

This is a significant reduction from the previous working numbers of 0.5 mg/Kg (in Europe), and 0.63 mg/Kg on which the US Food and Drug Administration based its Interim Risk Assessment. The WHO announcement did not provide any details explaining the basis for the change.

An obvious question is whether this reduced TDI will alter the interim limit guidelines that have been applied around the world for melamine in food. At present, those guidelines stipulate a maximum of 2.5 ppm (i.e., 2.5 mg/Kg) of melamine in most foods and feeds. Foods intended to be the main source of nutrition for infants and toddlers (age cut-off of 36 months) must meet a stricter melamine limit of 1.0 ppm. 

It's easiest to answer the question by working through an example – a 3-year old child weighing 15 Kg (33 pounds). 

According to the new recommendations, this child can safely consume 3 milligrams of melamine daily (0.2 mg/Kg body weight, multiplied by 15 Kg). Assuming that all food contains the permitted limit of 2.5 ppm of melamine, the child would need to eat or drink 1.2 Kg – more than 2.6 pounds – of food and beverage every day in order to consume 3 milligrams of melamine. 

Using the same arithmetic, an adult weighing 70 Kg (154 pounds) would have to consume 5.6 Kg (more than 12 pounds) of food and beverage daily to reach his or her TDI of 14 milligrams of melamine. 

There are other considerations, of course. Not everyone will respond to melamine the same way. Individuals whose kidney functions already are impaired may be more susceptible to low doses of melamine. Infants and young children may be far more susceptible than adults. And no one knows to what extent the presence of other related compounds (such as cyanuric acid) may alter the health equation. For the moment, though, the current guidelines are likely to remain in force.

The WHO report states clearly that the TDI of 0.2 ppm is a Tolerable – not a safe – level for melamine. In principle, melamine should not be present in food. In practice, food can become contaminated by trace amounts of melamine from products used in food plant sanitation, from the metabolism of certain pesticides by crops, and by migration from food contact surfaces, such as melamine-based dish ware.

Until society finds a way to eliminate all possible sources of melamine contamination of our food supply, it would appear that we shall have to tolerate the possibility that we are ingesting melamine along with our meals.

Melamine Alert: Walgreen's Recalls Teddy Bears

December 6, 2008

Walgreen's (Deerfield, IL) has recalled a limited number of 9-inch tall Dressy Teddy Bear with 4-oz., Chocolate Bar, after the drugstore chain was notified by FDA that some of the chocolate bars may contain more than 2.5ppm of melamine.

The Teddy Bears – available for sale since September 2008 – are labeled with UPC #047475864485 and WIC #291332 (on the product tag). Walgreen's urges anyone who purchased one of the 173 recalled Teddy Bears to return the item to the store for a full refund.

Québec Alerts to Undeclared Gluten in Foods

December 6, 2008

The Québec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) has alerted consumers in that province to the undeclared presence of gluten in specific foods labeled as SANS GLUTEN (i.e., "gluten-free"). 

Solution Saveur Santé, Inc. (3773, rue du Campanile, Québec, QC). All products sold up to and including December 5, 2008 may contain undeclared gluten and have been recalled. One case of gluten intolerance linked to a product purchased at this location has been reported.

Boucherie Jacques Saint-Pierre (103, 23e Rue, Saint-Rédempteur, QC). All Boucherie Jacques-Saint-Pierre brand products sold up to and including December 5, 2008 may declare undeclared gluten and have been recalled. The items were sold at the indicated location, in addition to other retail stores in the province. One case of gluten intolerance linked to a Boucherie Jacques-Saint-Pierre product has been reported.

Gluten intolerance is not an allergic reaction. In sensitive individuals, eating even a small amount of a food that contains gluten produces an immune system reaction resulting in an inflammation of the small intestine. Symptoms – including diarrhea and abdominal pain, among others – range from very mild to severe. 

Individuals who are gluten-intolerant and have purchased one of these products should discard the product or return it to the store for a refund.

Allergy Alert: Kroger, Whole Foods Recall Mislabeled Items

December 6, 2008

Whole Foods Markets and The Kroger Company have each issued separate alerts as a result of labeling errors involving undeclared dairy ingredients.

Whole Foods Market has withdrawn 365 Everyday Organic High Fiber Cereal (12-ounce box, UPC #99482-40888) from store shelves to correct the labeling error. The package labels omitted the word "milk" in parentheses after the ingredient "whey." Customers who purchased the item may return it to the store for a refund.

The Kroger Company has recalled Louisiana Fish Fry Chicken/Fish Bake, 6-ounce due to the presence of undeclared buttermilk in the product. The recalled item was sold in Dillons, Food 4 Less, King Soopers, Smith's, and Ralphs stores, as well as in Kroger stores located in Michigan, Central Ohio, the northern West Virginia panhandle, Greater Memphis (TN), Arkansas, Mississippi, Greater Cincinnati (both Ohio and northern Kentucky), southeast Indiana, and Dayton (OH). Consumers should return the recalled item to the store for a refund.

Individuals who are allergic to milk may suffer a severe reaction if they consume a food item that contains even a small amount of milk protein. 

Allergy Alert: SunRidge Farms Dark Chocolate Almonds

December 5, 2008

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has alerted consumers to the presence of undeclared milk in SunRidge Farms Organic Dark Chocolate Almonds. All lot codes are affected.

The chocolate-covered nuts were imported from the United States by DMR Food Corporation (Vaughan, ON), and sold in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Québec and the Atlantic provinces, and may have been distributed nationally. The nuts are packaged in 205-gram packages bearing UPC 6 28997 06960 4.

Individuals who are allergic to milk proteins may experience a severe – possibly life-threatening – allergic reaction after consuming a food that contains milk. While there have been no illnesses reported, anyone who is concerned about the presence of milk in these nuts should either discard the product or return it to the store for a refund.

This recall has been announced only in Canada so far. But the chocolate-covered almonds were processed and packaged in the United States. US consumers who are allergic to milk, therefore, should also be on the alert for this item, which would probably be offered in 8-ounce bags.

Price Chopper Recalls Shucked Oysters

December 5, 2008

The Price Chopper supermarket chain, acting out of an abundance of caution, announced a recall earlier today of Willapoint Fresh Shucked Oyster Meats. Because the product temperature was not recorded at the time the oyster meats were delivered to the warehouse, Price Chopper cannot be sure of the product's quality.

Eight-, 16-, and 128-ounce package sizes are all affected by this recall. These correspond to Store Item Codes 2160953, 2162593 and 2155743.

Customers who purchased Willapoint Fresh Shucked Oyster Meats at any Price Chopper supermarket are asked to return the product to the store for a full refund. For additional information, contact Price Chopper at (800) 666-7667, Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:30am and 5:00pm (EST).

Allergy Alert: Sainsbury Chicken Recalled In UK

December 5, 2008

The Sainsbury supermarket chain has recalled its own brand of cooked "wafer-thin" chicken, due to the possible presence of traces of undeclared milk in the product, according to the UK Food Standards Agency.

The recall covers all 70-gram packages of Sainsbury's Wafer thin chicken slices labeled with date codes up to and including 22 December.

While most people can consume this product safely, individuals who are allergic to milk protein may suffer a severe reaction after eating the chicken. Sainsbury asks that consumers return the recalled product to the supermarket customer service desk for a refund.

Allergy Alert: Mom's Food Sandwiches Mislabeled

December 5, 2008

Mom's Food Products, Inc. has recalled several days' production of its Pimento Spread sandwiches after it was discovered that the spread contained undeclared eggs.

The recalled sandwiches are described as:

• Mom's Pimento Spread 5.0 oz black wedge (UPC 83898 00114) Expiration dates December 15th through 18th.
  

Only those sandwiches delivered by Mom's Food personnel are included in this recall.

While there have been no illnesses reported, individuals who are allergic to egg may experience a severe reaction after eating the recalled sandwiches. Customers are encouraged to return uneaten sandwiches to the place of purchase for a refund.

For more information on this recall, consumers can contact Mom's Food Products at 1-800-743-0010.

Those Mysterious Salmonella Outbreaks

December 5, 2008

Several times this autumn – most recently on October 24th – the Public Health Agency of Canada advised Canadians that it was investigating a national outbreak of Salmonella Poona. As of the last report, the same strain of Salmonella Poona had turned up 29 patients in five provinces.

That outbreak must have ended, because PHAC has been "mum" on any new cases since October 24th. And, as best we can tell, the source of the unusual flurry of infections was never found.

Now New Zealand is searching for the source of a national outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium, phage type 42. According to yesterday's news release from the Ministry of Health, 36 New Zealanders have been infected with this strain of Salmonella since October 13th – more than double the total for all of 2007. While the victims are located on both the North and South Islands – in Dunedin (9), Christchurch (16), Nelson (5), Greymouth (1), Rotorua (1), Whakatane (1), Waikato (1) and Auckland (2) –  most live on the South Island.

The broad geographic distribution of cases suggests a common food source. The duration of the outbreak (since mid-October) hints at a food that is not highly perishable – or at an ongoing source of contamination of a perishable food. At the moment, it's up to the epidemiologists to narrow the scope of the search.

Ontario Ricotta Cheese Recalled

Updated December 5, 2008
(originally posted December 3, 2008)

International Cheese Co. Ltd. (Toronto, ON) has recalled a single production lot of Santa Lucia brand Ricotta Cheese due to the possibility that the cheese was contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The cheese is sold in 500-gram packages, and is identified by lot number 477 and a Best Before date of 09JA01. The ricotta was distributed in Ontario and in the following three Montreal, QC stores (Montreal distribution updated Dec 5th):

• Inter Marché Lagoria St-Léonard, 5305 Jean-Talon East
  
• Inter Marché St Michel,10, 181 St Michel Blvd.
  
• Charcuterie Noël, 5733 Léger Blvd.
  

Listeria monocytogenes infections may produce mild flu-like or gastrointestinal symptoms in healthy adults, but can cause serious – sometimes fatal – illness in the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and frail or immuno-compromised individuals. A pregnant women who becomes infected with Listeria monocytogenes may pass her infection to her unborn child, resulting in premature birth, stillbirth, or the birth of a seriously ill infant.

Anyone who purchased the recalled batch of Santa Lucia Ricotta Cheese should return it to the store for a refund. For more information, consumers can call the company directly at 416-769-3547.

The China Syndrome: Looking Back (Again)

What's worse? A cholera epidemic that got out of hand due to government neglect, denial and incompetence, or the systematic adulteration of food and feed that was winked at by all levels of government? It depends on your point of view.

Zimbabwe's government, let by Robert Mugabe, has a lot to answer for. After decades of neglect, the country's water and sewage infrastructure – once fully modern – has collapsed. The resulting cholera epidemic has claimed more than 500 lives and infected in excess of 12,000 Zimbabweans. And it has spilled into the neighboring countries of South Africa and Botswana.

China's melamine adulteration scandal, in contrast, cost 6 lives and sickened 294,000 infants – nearly 52,000 of them were hospitalized – as a result of the presence of high levels of melamine in Chinese dry infant formulas. 

While the cholera epidemic is tragic, the disease is endemic in Africa and Asia. Periodic outbreaks happen – usually as a result of a natural or man-made disaster. The Zimbabwe epidemic might be the straw that topples Mugabe's government, but it won't have a lasting impact on the world economy. 

Melamine, on the other hand, has changed the way in which China's trading partners view the safety and reliability of the country's food and feed exports. All over the world, countries large and small, rich and poor, developed and emerging, reacted to the melamine scare by closing their borders to Chinese dairy imports, removing those products from store shelves, and testing them for the presence of melamine. 

As soon as the Chinese government – after initial denials – began to get a handle on the dairy problem, other shoes started falling. Melamine was reported in egg powder, animal feed, shell eggs, and even a chemical leavening agent. More borders were closed. More products were embargoed.

China now is faced with a serious credibility problem. The European Union, which already prohibited the import of milk and other animal products from China, now requires that all products from China that contain milk as an ingredient must be tested for melamine. And – after a French company reported finding melamine in a sample of soy meal – the EU also has banned soy-based foods from China that are meant to be consumed by infants and young children. All other soy-containing foods from China must be tested for melamine at the time of import.

Canada, a long-standing trading partner, hasn't quite closed its border to protein-based foods from China. But it now requires importers to sample and test:

• infant formula or baby food with milk ingredients sourced from China;
  
• Chinese food products derived from milk or containing milk-derived ingredients as one of the first three ingredients; and
  
• dairy ingredients and soybean meal from China destined for use in animal feed.
  

Last month, the United States issued an Import Alert advising border agents to detain without examination "... all milk products, milk derived ingredients and finished food products containing milk from China..." This de facto embargo puts the onus on importers to document the safety of each individual shipment. The US Food and Drug Administration also has opened an office in Beijing to work with Chinese officials on ensuring the safety and quality of food and drug ingredients and products destined for shipment to the United States.

From the Chinese perspective, a cholera epidemic might have been preferable to the melamine adulteration. At least cholera is easily treated, if one can deliver medications, clean drinking water and some basic health care to the afflicted population. 

And cholera wouldn't have triggered the international after-effects that have resulted from the melamine scandal.

Foreign Materials in Frozen Chicken: USA and Hong Kong

Retail Distribution Updated December 4

For the second time this month, the USDA has advised consumers of a recall of frozen chicken products that contain small pieces of foreign material.

On November 7th, Barber Foods Company (Portland, ME) recalled more than 41,000 pounds of frozen, stuffed chicken after customers complained of finding pieces of rubber in the chicken entrées. The Schwann's Stuffed Chicken Kiev was produced on May 17, June 2 and August 4, and sold through catalogs and over the internet.

Yesterday (November 17th), Nestlé Prepared Foods Company (Springville, UT) announced a recall of 879,565 pounds of frozen chicken meals after several consumers reported finding pieces of hard plastic in the entrées. One injury was reported.

The recalled entrée packages, listed below, carry a USDA inspection logo with Est. P-9018, and were produced on Aug 18, Aug 21, Aug 28, Sept 9, Sept 19, Sept 25, Sept 30, Oct 6, Oct 17-18, Oct 22 and Oct 27. 

• LEAN CUISINE PESTO CHICKEN WITH BOW TIE PASTA, 9.5-ounce package. Production code of “8280595912” and use-by date of “Best Before MAY 2010.”
  
• LEAN CUISINE CHICKEN MEDITERRANEAN, 10.5-ounce package. Production code of “8231595912” or “8241595912” and use-by date of “Best before SEP 2010”. Production code of “8263595912,” “8269595911” or “8274595912,” and use-by date of “Best before OCT 2010”. Production code of “8291595912” or “8301595912” and use-by date of “Best before NOV 2010.”
  
• LEAN CUISINE CHICKEN TUSCAN, 12.5-ounce package. Production code of “8234595911” and  use-by date of “Best before SEP 2009” Production code of “8253595911” or “8269595912” and use-by date of “Best before OCT 2009”. Production code of “8292595911” or “8296595911” and use-by date of “Best before NOV 2009.”
  

The chicken meals were distributed through retail establishments throughout the United States. USDA will be posting a retail distribution list as soon as the information is forthcoming from Nestlé. Meanwhile, here is the information we've been able to assemble so far.

• Food Lion, LLC (Bloom, Food Lion and Reid's stores): Lean Cuisine Chicken Mediterranean (10.5 oz), UPC 13800 16612, store item #671396 
• Giant Food LLC: All three varieties of Lean Cuisine mentioned in the USDA recall notice
• Harris Teeter: Lean Cuisine Spa Classic Chicken Mediterranean
  
• The Kroger Company (King Soopers, Ralphs, QFC, Food 4 Less stores only): Lean Cuisine Chicken Tuscan (12 oz.), Lean Cuisine Chicken Mediterranean (10.5 oz.)
  
• Price Chopper: Lean Cuisine Chicken Bowtie Pasta (9.5 oz.)
  
• ShopRite: All three varieties of Lean Cuisine mentioned in the USDA recall notice 
• The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company: All three varieties of Lean Cuisine mentioned in the USDA recall notice
• TOPS Friendly Markets: Stouffer Lean Cuisine Chicken Tuscan, (12 oz.), Lean Cuisine Chicken Mediterranean (10.5 oz.) 
• Wal-Mart USA: All three varieties of Lean Cuisine mentioned in the USDA recall notice
  
• Wegmans: Lean Cuisine Chicken Mediterranean (10.5 oz.)

For a complete retail distribution list covering the three recalled items, click HERE. This 140-page list provided by USDA is sorted alphabetically by state, then by city. Revised list issued December 4th.

If you have purchased one of the recalled varieties of Lean Cuisine, please check the production code and Best before date printed on the side of the package.

Consumers with questions about this recall should contact the Nestlé Consumer Services Center at (800) 227-6188.

The Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety reports that all three Lean Cuisine products were exported from the United States to Hong Kong. The CFS advises consumers not to eat the recalled entrées, and has instructed local retailers to remove the items from store shelves.

Allergy Alert: UK Company Withdraws Chutney

Updated December 4, 2008
(originally posted November 26, 2008)

On November 26th, Shaws of Huddersfield ordered its Apricot and Ginger Chutney withdrawn from store shelves due to the presence of undeclared sulphur dioxide, according to an Allergy Alert issued by the UK Food Standards Agency.

The product withdrawal was extended on December 4th to include all date codes of the following Shaws of Huddersfield 1889 Yorkshire brand chutneys:

• Apricot and Ginger, 300g: Batch code AGC
  
• Apricot and Orange, 300g: Batch code AOC
  
• Autumn Fruit, 300g: Batch code AFC
  
• Curried Fruit, 300g: Batch code CFC
  
• Hot Toddy, 300g: Batch code HTC
  
• Mulled Wine, 300g: Batch code MWC
  
• Santa’s Special, 300g: Batch code SSC
  
• Spicy Apricot, 300g: Batch code SAC
  
• Winter Ale, 300g: Batch code FLC
  
• Winter Warmer, 300g: Batch code WWC
  

Consumers who are sensitive to sulphur dioxide or sulphites should not eat these products, as they may provoke a severe allergic-type reaction in sensitive individuals. 

Zimbabwe Cholera Update

December 3, 2008

The situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate.

Two days ago, we reported that Zimbabwe's neighbors were getting worried that the Zimbabwe epidemic would spill over. South Africa, Botswana and Malawi already had reported cholera cases in people who had crossed their shared borders with Zimbabwe. Yesterday, the news got worse.

The health department of Limpopo Province (South Africa) reported that Vibrio cholerae – the causative agent of cholera – has been detected in the Limpopo River. This river forms part of the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe, as well as between South Africa and Botswana. Limpopo has treated 399 cholera patients since November 15th. An additional 101 patients were admitted to hospitals around the province between December 1st and 2nd. Six of the cholera patients – 2 South Africans and 4 Zimbabweans – have died.

In an update released yesterday, the World Health Organization reported that the cholera death toll in Zimbabwe had reached 484 as of December 1st; 11,735 cases of cholera have been reported in the country since August. But that tally already is out of date. According to the United Nations, the cholera epidemic has claimed 565 lives – 177 in Harare. The number of confirmed cases nationwide has risen to 12,546 victims, of which 6,448 live in Harare.

A Harare diarist's cry of desperation was published on-line by BBC yesterday. "People are dying in great numbers," Esther (not her real name) wrote, "because ... Harare's two main hospitals are closed."

"In some parts of town there is raw sewage running down streets."

New Zealand Firm Recalls Maize Cornflour

Murdoch Manufacturing Limited (Christchurch, New Zealand) has recalled some 400-gram packages of Pam's Maize Cornflour, due to the presence of gluten in the product. 

Gluten, a protein that is a natural constituent of wheat, rye and barley, can cause intestinal distress to sensitive individuals. In more severe cases, ingesting gluten can trigger celiac disease – an autoimmune disease that runs in families. 

The recall comprises a single production batch of cornflour, which became cross-contaminated with gluten during packaging. The recalled batch, identified as Lot 4689 and labeled as Best Before 22 OCT 10, was distributed through the South Island and the mid to lower North Island of New Zealand. There was no overseas distribution.

Pam's Maize Cornflour is sold through Pak 'N Save, Write Price and New World Supermarkets, Four Square Foodmarkets, On the Spot Dairies, and Trents and Toops Cash and Carry's. Anyone who wishes to return the recalled product for a refund may do so at the place of purchase.

Allergy Alert: Tesco Recalls Cocoa

Tesco Stores Ltd. has recalled two production batches of Tesco brand Continental Plain Chocolate 74% Cocoa, due to the presence of undeclared milk in the product. The mislabeling was due to a packaging error.

The recalled 100-gram packages of cocoa are identified as batch codes 01 2010 L8208 1 and 01 2010 L8208 2.

Individuals who are allergic to milk may experience a severe allergic reaction upon consuming this product. 

Allergy Alert: Undeclared Soy Protein In Sausages

DeNunzio's Sausage (Elmira, NY) has recalled nearly 36,400 pounds of ready-to-eat Polish Kielbasa sausages due to the presence of undeclared soy protein in the sausages. The oversight was discovered during a routine USDA inspection of the production facility.

The recalled sausages are packed in 1-, 2-, and 4-pound jars, labeled as "DeNunzio Polish Kielbasa, Fully Cooked, Ready To Eat, Packed In Vinegar." The jar labels are imprinted with Est. 18523 inside the USDA inspection mark. 

The kielbasa was produced between March 13 and November 26 and sold to distributors in Pennsylvania and New York for redistribution to retail establishments. No retail distribution list is available yet.

While no illnesses have been reported, individuals who are allergic to soy protein may suffer a severe reaction if they consume this product. Consumers with questions about this recall should contact the company's owner, James DeNunzio, at (607) 732-2131.

An Evanger's Update

Last April, I alerted readers to a safety warning issued by FDA regarding Evanger's Dog and Cat Food Company, Inc. According to the FDA news release, the agency had noted "... significant deviations from prescribed documentation of processes, equipment, and recordkeeping in the production of the company's thermally processed low acid canned food (LACF) products."

Over the months, several readers have posted comments to that April article – some of them raising questions about Evanger's current status. Two days ago, we contacted Holly Sher, President of Evanger's, for her take on the situation. Holly replied with the following statement:

"At Evanger’s we take every customer comment and question seriously. In fact, as not only the president of Evanger’s but a true animal lover, I personally take customers calls to get feedback on the products and to get to know our customers. I appreciate the opportunity to clarify a few critical points:

1. No Evanger’s product has ever been recalled, nor is there any indication that any Evanger’s product is under-processed, unsafe, or contaminated in any way. The notice from the FDA this past spring has been cleared and was a result of mishandled paperwork.

2. All ingredients in Evanger’s products are sourced in the United States and all manufacturing is done in our suburban Chicago facility, where I work every day only a few feet away. We purchase the majority of our ingredients locally including produce at the very same distributor of some of the top five-star Chicago restaurants.

In closing, please know that I stand by our products and procedures. My dogs and cats are fed the very same Evanger’s product that we ship out. I truly appreciated the opportunity to get this information out.

Thank you again,

Holly Sher, President of Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food"

When contacted by eFoodAlert, Laura Alvey, Deputy Director of Communications Staff for FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, confirmed that Evanger's "... is now operating in full compliance with applicable FDA regulations."

FDA urges consumers who want to report any problems or adverse reactions relating to animal foods to contact the agency's district office complaint coordinators. 

Zimbabwe Exports Cholera To Neighbors

The Zimbabwean economy is so bad that it has nothing to export – except its cholera victims. It has plenty of those.

According to the country's opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, more than 500 Zimbabweans have died of cholera in an epidemic that has been simmering since August. The World Health Organization is somewhat more conservative, estimating a death toll of 412.

It's taken the better part of four months, but the government finally appears to have acknowledged that an epidemic is in full flower. One week ago, the deputy health minister blamed the epidemic on "illegal sanctions" and stated that the situation was under control. And Zimbabwe denied entry visas to a committee of "Elders" – former US President Jimmy Carter, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Graca Machel, the wife of Nelson Mandela – who were hoping to help the country find a solution to its health crisis. 

The situation in Zimbabwe has been exacerbated by the total breakdown in the country's water and sewage infrastructure. On November 30, running water was cut off to the capital city of Harare. The water treatment department had run out of chemicals needed to treat the water. As a result, residents were forced to collect water from stagnant pools, or dig shallow wells – increasing the chances that cholera would continue to spread.

Earlier today, with the rainy season on its way and the epidemic still unchecked, Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe finally acknowledged the severity of the situation. He described the cholera situation as "disastrous" and called upon the population to exercise good hygiene practices. But it's not clear what the government can – or will – do to stem the cholera epidemic, beyond continuing to accept the assistance of international aid organizations, including the World Health Organization and the International Red Cross.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's neighbors are getting increasingly nervous. Cholera victims have crossed the border into South Africa, hoping to receive treatment that is unavailable at home. Between November 15th and November 24th, 168 cholera victims from Zimbabwe were treated in one South African border city alone. 

The United Nations has warned that the disease also is spreading into neighboring Botswana. And an editorial in the November 28th edition of The Daily Times (Malawi) urged that individuals crossing from Zimbabwe into Malawi should be required to take "preventive medication" to forestall further spread of the disease.

Zimbabwe's neighbors have reason to be afraid. Cholera is easily spread through contaminated water. The best defense against this disease is a safe drinking water supply and a sanitary means of human waste disposal – two items that are scarce in that part of the world. Even South Africa, the most developed of the countries in the region, has failed to maintain its water infrastructure.

In this last month of the International Year of Sanitation, the Zimbabwe cholera epidemic is a frustrating reminder of how much work is left to do.

Québec Issues "Bathtub Cheese" Warning

The Québec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) is alerting consumers this morning to a recall of Latuma and Cacciocavallo cheeses.

The cheeses were produced from raw milk in an unlicensed facility and sold from a garage located at 6241, 27th Avenue, in Montréal. MAPAQ considers the consumption of this cheese to present a significant health risk. Anyone who has purchased this cheese should discard it.

MAPAQ also reminds consumers that the sale of raw milk and cream, in addition to other dairy products made from unpasteurized milk or cream, is not permitted in the Province of Québec.