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Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 10, 2009

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

United States

Allergy Alert: The Kroger Co. recalls Kroger Fully Cooked Buffalo Style Chicken Wings, 32 oz. due to the presence of undeclared wheat, soy and dairy ingredients. The recalled chicken wings were sold in Kroger, Dillons, King Soopers, Food 4 Less, Smith's, Jay C, and Fry's stores.

Europe, Including the United Kingdom

Animal Feed Contamination (Finland): Hankklja-Maatalous Oy reports that in-house testing has detected Salmonella Mbandaka in a 30-ton batch of imported rapeseed meal. Initial testing of the rapeseed meal last fall by the company and by the Finnish government did not detect any Salmonella. Most of the meal was delivered to cattle farms; however, none of the cattle that were fed the meal have become infected. The company has discontinued deliveries of the Salmonella-contaminated batch.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific

Food Recall (Singapore): The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore has instructed the importer of Campbell’s Country Ladle Potato and Leek Soup to recall one batch of the Australian-made product. The soup was recalled in Australia last week by Campbell's Soup Australia due to contamination with black rubber pieces.

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.

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Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 9, 2009

United States

Food Safety Recall: Snow Creek Meat Processing (Seneca, SC) recalls approximately 75 pounds of fresh beef trim products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled meat was sold at Amazing Savings retail stores in North Carolina and South Carolina.
Food Safety Recall: The California Department of Public Health warns consumers not to eat SENG Chen PiMei Candy, which has been recalled due to the presence of excessive lead. The candies were manufactured in China by Seng, and were imported by Tjiat Seng Eximi of Singapore.
Skin Product Safety Recall: Clarcon Biological Chemistry Laboratory Inc. (Roy, UT) has recalled several skin care lotions and sanitizers after an FDA inspection uncovered excessive contamination with potentially harmful bacteria, as well as other deviations from FDA requirements.

Europe, Including the United Kingdom

Allergy Alert (UK): Tesco recalls its own brand of Lamb Rogan Josh products due to the presence of undeclared wheat, soya and sulfites.
Food Safety Alert (Finland): The Finnish Food Safety Authority recommends that consumers heat imported frozen raspberries for at least 2 minutes at 90ºC. Imported frozen raspberries are suspected as the source of a series of Norovirus outbreaks that have been reported this spring in various parts.

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

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Monday, June 8, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 8, 2009

United States

Allergy Alert: Le Pain Quotidien recalls Noir Belgian Dark Chocolate Spread due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled spread was sold at all Le Pain Quotidien restaurants in New York, Connecticut, California, Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC.
Food Safety Recall: N.Y. Fish, Inc. (Brooklyn, NY) recalls I ♥ NY Fish brand Imperial-European Style Smoked Salmon, due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled smoked salmon was distributed to wholesale distributors and retail food stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific

Weight Loss Product Alert (Hong Kong): The Department of Health warns consumers not to purchase or use Slim Pure and Ku Xiu Ba Xiang Jian Fei Wan slimming drugs, because they contain undeclared sibutramine and sibutramine analogue. The slimming drugs were sold over the Internet.

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

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Saturday, June 6, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 6, 2009

United States

Food Safety Recall: Cameco, Inc. (Verona, NJ) recalls approximately 79,312 pounds of various fully cooked, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products because the products may contain under-processed ham components after contacting surfaces of equipment. The recalled products were distributed under a variety of brand names.
Food Safety Recall: Wegmans recalls Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Chunky Apple Sauce Natural (no sugar added), 23.5 oz. with a Best By date of 04/13/11 and UPC 77890-10692, because the rim of the glass jar may chip, possibly leading to glass in the apple sauce.

Europe, Including the United Kingdom

Food Supplement Recall (Ireland): The Food Safety Authority of Ireland warns consumers to discontinue using Hydroxycut food supplements, due to reports of liver damage in some users in the United States and Finland.

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

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Friday, June 5, 2009

The Downside of Irradiation: The Australian Experience

June 5, 2009

Virbac (Australia) Pty. Ltd. has recalled Veggie Dent™ Chews For Dogs after the dental chews were tentatively linked to cases of Fanconi-like syndrome (a kidney disease) in an undisclosed number of pet dogs. No kidney illnesses have been reported in other countries among dogs who were fed Veggie Dent™ chews.

Last December, we reported on a similar situation – a recall of KraMar chicken jerky dog treats. Then, too, the treats were associated with Fanconi-like syndrome. Then, too, only dogs in Australia appeared to be affected.

In November 2008, Orijen cat food was recalled in Australia when at least 40 Orijen-fed cats became paralyzed in a nine-month period. Again, no Orijen-related problems were reported in other countries where the cat food was available.

What is the common element that links these three episodes?

It's not the animal species. Cats were affected in the first episode and dogs in the other two.
It's not the country of origin. The Orijen was made in Canada, the KraMar chicken jerky came from China, and the Virbac dog chews were manufactured in Vietnam.
It's not the symptoms. Cats were paralyzed, whereas the dogs experienced kidney problems.

The common element is Australia's import requirement that these pet foods and pet treats be treated with high levels of irradiation in order to be allowed into the country.

In 1985, Czech researchers reported that treating dog food with radiation levels similar to those specified by Australia resulted in:

35% degradation of essential amino acids;
destructive changes in the lipid component;
partial decomposition of the saccharide part; and
decomposition of fats with a release of free fatty acids.

In addition to its effect on amino acids and fats, irradiation reduces vitamin A levels and increases peroxides. And cats fed an exclusive diet of irradiated food developed the same paralysis syndrome suffered by the Orijen-fed cats in Australia.

The evidence is piling up. Australia's insistence on irradiating imported pet foods and pet treats is sickening some of the very pets that the policy is meant to protect. The government already has backed away from requiring irradiation of cat food. Why are dogs not receiving equal treatment?

The Australian experience also raises a fundamental question about the safety of irradiating food for human consumption. Irradiated food doesn't glow in the dark, but neither should we be left in the dark about the downside of an irradiated diet.

Recall Roundup: June 5, 2009

Pistachio Product Recalls

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns consumers that certain pistachio products made in the United States and Canada contain pistachios from Setton Farms and may be contaminated with Salmonella. A second notice corrects the UPC for one item listed in the original notice.

Peanut Butter Outbreak Recalls

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns consumers that certain food items contain peanut products from Peanut Corporation of America and may be contaminated with Salmonella.

United States

Food Safety Recall-Retail Distribution List: USDA releases retail distribution list for ground beef products recalled by SP Provisions due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination (FSIS Recall #027-2009)
Food Safety Alert: The New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets warned residents not to consume raw farm milk from Breese Hollow Dairy, after the state lab detected Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of milk as part of its routine monthly monitoring program. The producer is prohibited from supplying unpasteurized milk until follow-up sampling determines that the milk is pathogen-free.

Canada

Allergy Alert: The Québec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food warns consumers that certain pâtés from Magasin général la mère de famille (556, chemin du Chenal-du-Moine, Sainte-Anne-de-Sorel, QC) contain undeclared egg protein and have been recalled.
Food Safety Recall: La Ferme d'Oc Inc. (4495, chemin Royal, Sainte-Famille, l'île d'Orléans, QC) recalls certain preserves sold in hermetically sealed glass jars, because the food items were not processed in a manner to ensure microbiological safety.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Recall (Australia): Campbell Soup Australia recalls Campbell’s Country Ladle Potato & Leek 505g Canned Soup (Batch code 3T9PAL) due to contamination with pieces of black rubber.

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

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Is The US Finally On The Road To Food Safety Reform?

June 5, 2009

The draft Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 lists a backlog of regulatory reforms that have accumulated in the desk drawers of Congressional legislators for a decade or more. And, with the backing of the Obama Administration, it has a good chance of becoming law.

The proposed Act provides for several key changes to the way the United States approaches food safety. What do some of these changes mean for the food industry and for consumers?

Mandatory Recall Authority

We, along with many others, have been advocating this change for a very long time. It will allow FDA to initiate a recall in those cases where a food company refuses the agency's request for a voluntary recall. The new authority will rarely need to be used. It's mere existence will be a stimulus to industry cooperation.

Universal HACCP

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is a preventative approach to the production and processing of safe food. The meat and poultry industry adopted HACCP a decade ago at the insistence of USDA. FDA already requires some food industry sectors – seafood processors, for example – to operate under HACCP. Now, if the proposed bill becomes law, HACCP will be extended to the entire food industry. The program would be phased in, first in large companies – many of which already follow HACCP practices – then in smaller ones.

Annual Registration of All Food Operations, Including Warehouses, Food Brokers and Importers

The 2008/2009 Peanut Corporation of America fiasco was complicated by the apparent invisibility of the company's Texas facility. Although registered with FDA, the facility was not known to the Texas Department of State Health Services. As a result, it never was inspected by the State (which was operating under contract with FDA) until after the federal agency followed the evidence trail from Georgia to Texas. Annual registration may reduce the risk of this problem occurring again, but only if there is effective sharing of the registration information between FDA and state agencies. The $1,000 annual registration fee that is part of this mandate should help to defray the costs of information sharing.

Country of Origin Labeling

This already is a requirement for some foods (just check the labels on your supermarket fruits and veggies). If the proposed bill becomes law, all foods would need to be labeled with their country of origin. This is not, strictly speaking, a food safety issue – unless a food product or ingredient from a specific country has been fingered as the source of a problem (e.g., melamine adulteration). But many consumers want to be able to choose which countries they will support with their food dollars.

Reinspection and Recall Fees

Until now, FDA has been forced to swallow the entire cost of overseeing food safety recalls and of follow-up inspections needed to determine whether a food facility has corrected deficiencies noted during routine inspections. The proposed legislation will shift FDA's reinspection costs to the out-of-compliance facilities. And the extraordinary costs to FDA associated with product recalls also will be borne by the companies whose products have been recalled. Companies that cut corners on food safety will now risk paying a higher price for their mistakes. The Grocery Manufacturers Association has – not surprisingly – expressed its displeasure over what it described as an open-ended fee.

Whistleblower Protection

The draft bill offers protection to company employees who witness and report infractions or conditions at the workplace that might render a food product unsafe. The provision would prevent an employer from discriminating or retaliating against a whistleblower.

There is a lot more – 116 pages of draft legislation in all. Many of the provisions are long overdue. Many will be expensive to implement.

On June 3rd, the House of Representatives Sub-Committee on Health held an initial hearing on the draft bill. Witnesses included government, industry and consumer representatives. The last to testify was newly confirmed FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg.

After the hearing, Commissioner Hamburg was asked by reporters what she learned in her first Congressional appearance as FDA Commissioner. She replied, "That I have a lot to learn."

If passed, rapid and effective implementation of this monumental revamping of food safety laws will depend on Margaret Hamburg being a fast learner.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 4, 2009

Pistachio Product Recalls

Regal Health Food International, Inc. recalls Regal Gourmet Snacks In-Shell Pistachios (9-ounce bags; Lot #2958D05XLA1)

United States

Food Safety Recall: Schaller Mfg. Corp. (Schaller & Weber) of Long Island City, NY, recalls approximately 564 pounds of duck leg confit and kolbase sausage products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The problem was detected by the company testing carried out as part of its routine monitoring program.
Food Safety Advisory: Seven East Coast states, including Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Delaware and Maryland, are advising residents to limit their consumption of large bluefish and striped bass caught in Long Island Sound. The flesh of these two species of fish contain high levels of PCBs.
Food Safety Advisory: The Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services reminds consumers of the potential for mercury and/or PCB contamination in several species of marine fish, freshwater fish and shellfish.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Le Saucissier Gaspésien recalls five varieties of dried sausage after Salmonella contamination was detected in one of the five varieties (saucisson sec doux le rimouskois)

Europe, Including the United Kingdom

Allergy Alert (UK): Asda recalls some Asda Extra Special Apricot Conserve, because it contains undeclared sulphur dioxide
Food Alert (UK): Certain batch codes of Heinz, Iceland, Morrisons and Sainsbury's frozen apple pies have been recalled due to contamination with small pieces of white plastic on the tops of the products

Australia and New Zealand

Dog Treat Recall (Australia): Virbac (Australia) Pty Ltd. recalls VeggieDent™ Dog Chews (Batch numbers C14808, C14908, C01409 and C1509).

Asia, Africa and the Pacific

Food Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Food Safety has found trace levels (0.1 to 0.3 micrograms per litre) of cocaine in samples of Red Bull Cola, Red Bull Energy Drink and Red Bull Sugar-free. Major supermarket chains in the territory have removed these products from store shelves.

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

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Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Do "Natural" Sanitizers Work?

June 3, 2009

The Internet abounds with web sites that tout the use of "natural" sanitizers, such as vinegar and lemon juice. These products are inexpensive, non-toxic and very attractive to consumers who wish to avoid harsh chemicals and expensive cleansers. But they don't necessarily work.

Researchers in Ohio and Colorado recently compared the ability of chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar (acetic acid), citric acid (the active agent in lemon juice) and baking soda to kill three common foodborne pathogens: Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes.

Ordinary household bleach was the clear winner, killing large populations of all three pathogens with a contact time of only one minute at room temperature. Hydrogen peroxide, used full strength out of the bottle (3% concentration) was second best. It took care of Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7, but was less effective than bleach against Listeria monocytogenes – even when the contact time was extended to 10 minutes.

Full-strength vinegar (5% acetic acid) killed Salmonella readily; vinegar had more difficulty, though, with Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7. Citric acid (the "sanitizing" agent in lemon juice) was even worse, needing 10 minutes to knock off even Salmonella. And baking soda had no sanitizing effect at all.

The authors of the research report caution that their tests were carried out under very specific conditions. Real life tend to be more challenging than the lab experiments.

The bottom line? For effective and inexpensive sanitizing of kitchen counters, bathroom toilets and other areas where microbes lurk, nothing beats bleach.

Recall Roundup: June 3, 2009

United States

Food Safety Recall: SP Provisions (Portland, OR) recalls approximately 39,973 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The contamination was detected by FSIS during routine sampling. Recalled product was distributed to retailers, restaurants, hotels and institutions in Oregon and Washington. A retail distribution list is not yet available.
Food Recall Notification (Class III): The Wornick Company (Cincinnati, OH) recalls approximately 153,698 pounds of a "Chili no beans" product because the product was mislabeled with the incorrect nutrition facts information panel. The recalled product was distributed to correctional institutions nationwide.
Food Recall (Reasons not given): Food City recalls ice cream and several ready-to-eat deli meat products. The supermarket chain gives no reason for the recalls.

Europe, Including the United Kingdom

Food Recall (UK): Sainsbury's recalls two apple pie varieties that may be contaminated with small pieces of plastic.

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

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

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 2, 2009

United States

Allergy Alert: USDA provides retail distribution list for Paisano Meat, Inc. (Recall #023-2009).
Allergy Alert: The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection alerts consumers to recall of muffins sold at the Lake Avenue Stop & Shop in Danbury. The muffins were recalled due to the presence of undeclared soy and dairy.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific

Food Safety Alert (Singapore): The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore warns consumers that Smith’s Classic Crinkle Cut Potato Chips (Chicken Flavour and Salt & Vinegar Flavour) have been recalled in Australia by the manufacturer due to the presence of rubber particles. AVA recommends that Singapore consumers discard any recalled products.

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

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

Diarrhea Digest: June 2, 2009

Diarrhea Digest is an eFoodAlert feature that presents a periodic snapshot of foodborne and person-to-person gastroenteritis outbreaks from around the world.

One or twice a month, we'll survey the globe and discover what all of us have in common – a shared susceptibility to the bacteria and viruses that cause gastrointestinal disease.

Africa

Ethiopia, May 26 – An outbreak of diarrhea has killed 20 people out of 649 reported victims from mid-April to mid-May, according to a UN report.

Asia

Azerbaijan, May 27 – Soldiers at a military training facility in Baku were felled by food poisoning, which at least some of the victims blamed on canned fish. Nearly all – 151 out of 162 – of the victims were taken to hospital for treatment.
Bangladesh, May 29 – An outbreak of diarrhea has followed on the heels of Cyclone Aila. Already, more than 100 of the half-million storm victims have fallen ill. As usual, refugee camps are lacking for clean water, fuel for cooking, and sanitary toilet facilities.
China, May 28 – Students at the Chanshuyhe school farm were stricken with food poisoning, apparently after eating at the local canteen. Of the 159 students who complained of nausea, vomiting and dizziness, 68 were admitted to hospital.
Hong Kong, June 1 – A Tai Po district restaurant has been fingered as the source of a food poisoning outbreak that sickened 9 men and 6 women who attended a banquet at the facility. None of the victims were hospitalized.
India, May 28 – Food poisoning sent 16 pilgrims to hospital after a visit to the Vaishnodevi shrine. The victims were stricken with stomach pains and vomiting after eating at a hotel during their pilgrimage. At last report, one pilgrim – a nine-year old girl – is in critical condition.

Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands

Australia, May 28 – Aficionados of dining out in New South Wales were given some disturbing news by the state's health department. Ten percent of the restaurants and food take-out establishments visited by local health authorities between July and December 2008 failed their food safety inspections. New South Wales maintains a "name and shame" web site, where diners can check on the health record of their favorite restaurants.

Europe, Including Russia

Albania/Macedonia, May 29 – A fast-food restaurant near the Tirana, Albania stadium is being blamed for an outbreak of food poisoning among 50 high school students from Kicevo, Macedonia who were on a three-day excursion to Albania.
Russia, May 28 – Kaliningrad health officials suspect rotavirus to be the culprit in a hospital outbreak of gastroenteritis illness that has sickened 165 individuals, 113 of them children.
United Kingdom, May 29 – Twenty-nine wedding guests at a reception held at the Bull's Head in Chislehurst were stricken with vomiting and diarrhea. Nine of the victims were confirmed to have been infected with Campylobacter. The Bull's Head was levied with a £5,100 fine and costs of £4,531 as a result of the outbreak.

Western Hemisphere

Mexico, June 2 – A Salmonella outbreak has provided an extra dose of punishment to 191 inmates of Atlacholoaya maximum security prison, some 10 kilometers south of Cuernavaca, according to the Morelos Secretary of Health. The source of the outbreak is unknown.
United States, May 27 – An outbreak of shigellosis has sickened 60 individuals – most of them children who attend Kelly Elementary School in Burlington, Kentucky.
United States, May 29 – Residents of Grant County, Wisconsin were warned to pay extra attention to personal hygiene after 10 cases of shigellosis were reported in the Platteville area.
Venezuela, May 26 – Hepatitis has stricken 47 residents – 22 of them children – at a shelter in Quinta Crespo.

Please join us again for the next edition of Diarrhea Digest.

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Monday, June 1, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 1, 2009

United States

Allergy Alert: Tops Friendly Markets recalls Vavel Celery with Carrot Salad due to the presence of undeclared sulfites.
Food Safety Recall: Union International Food Company recalls Lian How Brand White Pepper in 5 lbs plastic containers with red labels after a sample was found to be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled containers were distributed in Southern California to restaurants and wholesalers from September 2008 to March 2009.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Épices Gan Eden recalls Tehina Real Mediterranean, 500 g plastic bottles bearing lot code EXP28/12/2010 and UPC 7 290010 304011, due to contamination with Salmonella. The recalled product was imported by Gan Eden and distributed in the province of Québec.

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

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

eFoodAlert.com

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 10, 2009

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 9, 2009

Monday, June 8, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 8, 2009

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 6, 2009

Friday, June 5, 2009

The Downside of Irradiation: The Australian Experience

Recall Roundup: June 5, 2009

Is The US Finally On The Road To Food Safety Reform?

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 4, 2009

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Do "Natural" Sanitizers Work?

Recall Roundup: June 3, 2009

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 2, 2009

Diarrhea Digest: June 2, 2009

Monday, June 1, 2009

Recall Roundup: June 1, 2009

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