Hartz Mountain Recalls Rawhide Chips

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that Hartz Mountain Corporation has recalled one batch of chicken-based rawhide chips for dogs due to the possibility that some bags may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The recalled treats, which were distributed to a national retail customer, are packaged in 2-pound bags bearing lot code JC23282 and UPC 32700 96463.

According to the story carried in the Inquirer, Hartz Mountain's own testing, carried out by an independent lab, did not detect Salmonella in the finished product. But a separate test, carried out by a different lab, found the pathogen in a bag of the rawhide chips. Hartz is investigating the discrepancy in test results.

This is the second Salmonella-related recall initiated by Hartz Mountain this year. The company recalled two production lots of its "Vitamin Care for Cats" in March 2008, after FDA detected Salmonella in the vitamin product. Hartz initiated a lawsuit against its vitamin supplier last month, claiming that the manufacturer, UFAC (USA) Inc. had supplied it with a Salmonella-contaminated product. Hartz is seeking $1 million in damages from UFAC in the lawsuit.

Hartz has not identified the "national retail customer" who received the recalled rawhide chips, nor has it explained why a second laboratory analyzed a sample of the product. FDA has not yet released any information on this recall.

If you have purchased the recalled lot code of Hartz chicken-based rawhide chips, please do not feed them to your dog. They should be returned to the place of purchase for a refund. If you learn the name of the retail store chain that stocks this item, please leave a comment at the end of this post.

Hartz and Wal-Mart Recall Rawhide Treats

FDA released a recall notice this evening covering the Hartz Mountain recall that we reported on yesterday.

To reiterate: Hartz has recalled one production lot of Hartz Chicken-Basted Rawhide Chips due to the possibility that one or more bags of the dog treats may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The recalled Rawhide Chips were packaged in 2-pound bags, marked with lot code JC23282, and UPC number 3270096463. The recalled product was supplied to Wal-Mart stores. Wal-Mart has posted a recall notice on its web site, and Hartz has taken steps to have the product withdrawn from retail stores and distribution centers.

Dog owners who purchased these treats are requested to discontinue their use and to discard them in a safe manner. Consumers can contact Hartz toll-free at 1-800-275-1414 for more information on this recall, or to arrange for reimbursement for the recalled treats.

Recall Roundup: September 4, 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.

United States

• Allergy Alert: Cibo Vita (Saddle Brook, NJ) recalls Mediterranean Mix of Woodpecker brand (8.5 oz. plastic contailers) because it may contain undeclared sulfites.
• Food Safety Recall (Eggs): Sparboe Farms expands its earlier recall to include X-large, white eggs produced by Hillandale Farms and repackaged by Sparboe Farms under the Market Pantry and Sparboe Farms brand names.
• Food Safety Recall (Egg): Real Taste Noodle Manufacture (Chicago, IL) recalls bags of Egg Noodle (5lbs per bag, 10 bags per case), because the noodles may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled bags of egg noodle were distributed between 06/12/2010 and 08/25/2010 to restaurants and grocery wholesalers either by pick up or delivery. Real Taste Noodle initiated this recall in conjunction with the national recalls of shell eggs produced by Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms of Iowa.
• Pet Food Safety Recall: Hartz Mountain Corp (Secaucus, NJ) recalls 8-ounce bags of Hartz Naturals Real Beef Treats for Dogs (lot code BZ0969101E; UPC number 32700-11519), due to possible Salmonella contamination. The bags were imported from a supplier in Brazil and have been distributed across the United States.

Canada

• Allergy Alert: The Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food warns consumers that several paté products sold at certain establishments in Québec, Beauport, Ile d'Orléans and Lévis contain undeclared soy. Please see the news release for details of products and locations where they were sold.
• Food Safety Recall: Olymel, L.P. recalls Lafleur brand Original Wieners (450g package; best before 2010 OC 22; Lot #75022502), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The wieners were distributed only in the Montréal, Laval, Lanaudière, Laurentides and Montérégie regions of Québec.
• Food Safety Recall: Africana General Market (Kingsway, BC) recalls Shitor sauce (250mL and 500mL glass jars), because the product may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. The recalled sauce was sold only at the Africana General Market store in Kingsway, BC.

Europe

• Food Safety Recall (Denmark): IFI Scandinavia recalls Hamidiye Spring Water from Turkey (0.5L plastic bottles; Best before 8:06:12), because of the presence of algae in the water.
• Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Højer Pølser recalls Hojer Teepolse sausages (250 g; all best before dates later than 5 July 2010) because the product may contain Salmonella.

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.

• A&P
• Big Y® World Class Market®
  
• BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.
  
• Bloom
  
• Brookshire's
  
• Costco Wholesale Corporation (US stores)
  
• Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd.
  
• EDEKA (Germany)
• Food City
  
• Food Lion
  
• Giant Food LLC
• Gros Cidac (Italy)
• Hannaford Brothers Co.
  
• Harris Teeter
• H-E-B
• The Kroger Company*
  
• Price Chopper
  
• Raley's
• Roundy's Supermarkets, Inc.
  
• Sainsbury's
  
• ShopRite
  
• Stop & Shop
• Sweetbay Supermarkets
• Target
  
• Top Food & Drug
• Tops Friendly Markets
  
• Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
  
• Wegmans
  
• Whole Foods Market
  
• WinCo Foods
• Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.
  

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

Recall Roundup: September 7, 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.

United States

• Pet Food Safety Recall (Update): Hartz Naturals Real Beef Treats for Dogs (lot #BZ0969101E), recalled by Hartz Mountain Corporation due to potential Salmonella contamination, were sold in Big Y World Class Market and Food City stores, and may also have been available in other retail locations.
• FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns A G Specialty Foods, Inc. (Gladstone, OR) that a June 2010 inspection of the company's seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.
• FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Quong Hop & Co. (South San Francisco, CA) that an April-May 2010 inspection of the company's food manufacturing facility revealed that its products were adulterated, because they were prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have been rendered injurious to health. FDA lab analysis of environmental swab samples collected during its inspection found Listeria monocytogenes in one subsample from the tofu processing area. In addition, the inspection revealed significant violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulations.

Europe

• Allergy Alert (Ireland): Food Safety Authority of Ireland warns consumers that Varskes frozen cake, net wt. 800g (Use until 2010 11 15), manufactured by UAB "ViP saldumynai” of Lithuania, contains undeclared peanuts and egg white protein. This makes the cake unsafe for consumers who are allergic or intolerant to egg or peanut. Allergy sufferers should note that other batches of the cake may also contain undeclared allergens.
• Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Niels Thams recalls Unduetris-Prosciutto cotto (Lot No. 230901, MHT 23/09/10) and Unduetris Salame (Lot No. 11001, MHT 01/10/10), because E. coli was detected in the mozzarella cheese component of the composite snack products. The two recalled items were manufactured by Citterio (Italy) and sold in Super Best in Virum, Elsinore, Rødovre Centrum, Naerum, and Bryggervangen; SuperBrugsen in Gilleleje, and Købmanden of Søllerød.
• Food Safety Recall (Finland): Alfmix Ltd. recalls Lille Notte Fabrik Pistaasinsydän (best before 13042011; Lot 0228) after the Customs Laboratory detects aflatoxin in excess of the allowable limit. The recalled pistachios were sold in K-chain (Kesko) stores throughout Finland.
• Food Safety Recall (Sweden): Lidl recalls Linessa lite mozzarella, 125g (best before 7 sep 2010) after Italian authorities detect Salmonella in the German-manufactured cheese.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1206): Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens in honey from France; distributed to Italy.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1207): Prohibited substance nitrofuran (metabolite) nitrofurazone (SEM) in casings from China; distributed to Italy.

Australia and New Zealand

• Food Safety Recall (New Zealand and Australia): Cuisine Resources (NZ) Ltd. recalls all batches (inclusive of best before dates 31 August 2010 through 31 August 2011) of liquid chicken, beef, and vegetable stocks and gravy, sold in New Zealand under the brand names Signature Range and Pams, and under the brand name Maggie Beer Products Ltd. in Australia, after microbiological contamination was confirmed in the products. These products represent a potential health hazard and should not be consumed. The Signature Range and Pams products were distributed nationwide in New Zealand; Maggie Beer Products branded items were sold throughout Australia. Please follow the links to the respective recall notices for full details on recalled items and contact information for product returns.

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.

• A&P
• Big Y® World Class Market®
  
• BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.
  
• Bloom
  
• Brookshire's
  
• Costco Wholesale Corporation (US stores)
  
• Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd.
  
• EDEKA (Germany)
• Food City
  
• Food Lion
  
• Giant Food LLC
• Gros Cidac (Italy)
• Hannaford Brothers Co.
  
• Harris Teeter
• H-E-B
• The Kroger Company*
  
• Price Chopper
  
• Raley's
• Roundy's Supermarkets, Inc.
  
• Sainsbury's
  
• ShopRite
  
• Stop & Shop
• Sweetbay Supermarkets
• Target
  
• Top Food & Drug
• Tops Friendly Markets
  
• Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
  
• Wegmans
  
• Whole Foods Market
  
• WinCo Foods
• Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.
  

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

Hartz Recalls Second Lot Of "Vitamin Care for Cats"

FDA is alerting cat owners to the recall of a second production lot of Hartz Mountain Corporation's "Vitamin Care For Cats". Recent testing by FDA revealed Salmonella in bottles of product labelled with lot code SZ 22771.

Cats are susceptible to Salmonella and – just like humans – can suffer from symptoms including diarrhea, fever, nausea and abdominal pain. Please discontinue use of this batch of "Vitamin Care For Cats", and contact your veterinarian if your cat is exhibiting any of these symptoms. If you or a family member are experiencing symptoms of Salmonella, please contact your doctor.