Hygaard Recalls More Sub Sandwiches

Updated January 28, 2009

Original article posted January 27, 2009

Hygaard Fine Foods (EST 318, Sherwood Park, Alberta) has recalled two more sub sandwiches, according to a Health Hazard Alert issued today by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The recalled products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Today's recall is an expansion of an initial recall, announced by Hygaard earlier this month.

The following products, distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario and the Northwest Territories, were recalled by Hygaard today:

• Hygaard Lumberjack Sub (312g): UPC #0 65504 49413 7; Best before January 30, 2009
  
• Hygaard Little John Sub (387g): UPC #0 65504 49446 5; Best before January 30, 2009
  
• Hygaard Mini Pizza Sub family pack (798g): UPC #0 65504 49760 2 and 0 65504 49762 6; Best before March 06, 2009
• Hygaard Mini Ham Sub family pack (738g): UPC #0 65504 49759 6 and 0 65504 49763 3; Best before March 06, 2009
• Hygaard Mini Hoagie family pack (822g): UPC #0 65504 49765 7; Best before March 06, 2009

The Best Before dates may appear in different formats – for example, JAN 30, JA 30, or 30 01 09 – on the sandwich label.

Listeria monocytogenes causes mild flu-like or gastrointestinal illness in otherwise healthy individuals. But the elderly, the very young, and people with weakened immune systems or debilitated by a pre-existing illness may suffer very severe – possibly fatal – illness as a result of becoming infected by Listeria monocytogenes. A pregnant woman may transmit the infection to her unborn child, resulting in possible premature birth, stillbirth, or the birth of a seriously ill infant.

Anyone who may have eaten one of the recalled sandwiches and who begins to suffer symptoms of listeriosis should seek immediate medical attention.

Canada Recalls Sub Sandwiches

January 20, 2009

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has advised consumers that certain Hygaard brand sub sandwiches may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and have been recalled.

The following sandwiches, sold only in Saskatchewan and northern Alberta, are included in this recall:

• Hygaard Mini Pizza Sub, 140 g: UPC 0 65504 49440 3, Best before February 10, 2009
  
• Hygaard Little John Sub, 387 g: UPC 0 65504 49446 5, Best before February 10, 2009
  

The Best before date may appear on the label as FEB 10, FE 10 or 10 02 09.

No illnesses have been reported, but Listeria monocytogenes can cause a life-threatening illness among susceptible populations, including the elderly, the very young, and individuals with weakened immunity. Pregnant women may transmit their infection to their infants in utero, resulting in premature delivery, stillbirth or the birth of an already-contaminated baby.

Any individual who has consumed one of the recalled sandwiches and begins to experience symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection, including mild gastrointestinal or flu-like symptoms, should seek medical advice.

New Recall; Different Company; Same Problem: Listeria monocytogenes

Hygaard Find Foods Ltd. (Sherwood Park, Alberta) has announced a voluntary recall of a series of prepackaged ready-to-eat sandwiches due to the possibility of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, after the company detected the microbe in an environmental sample.

The following items are included in the recall notice:

• Super Donair/Notre Donair Super (251g)
  
• Mini Pizza Sub/Sous-Marin à la Pizza Mini (140g)
  
• Little John Sub/Sous-Marin Petit Jean (387g)
  
• Hoagie (238g)
  
• Mini Hoagie Family Pack/Paquet Familial de Hoagie Mini (822g)
  
• Mini Pizza Sub/Sous-Marin à la Pizza Mini (156g)
  
• Mini Pizza Sub Family Pack/Paquet Familial de Mini Sous-Marin à la Pizza (798g)
  
• Super Pizza Sub/Notre Sous-Marin à la Pizza Super (380g)
  
• Lumberjack Sub/Sous-Marin Bucherin (312g)
  
• Mini Sub/Sous-Marin Mini (133g)
  
• Salt & Pepper Dry Ribs/Flanc de Porc Sechées Entierment Sel et Poivre (164g)
  
• Super Sub/Notre Sous-Marin Super (165g)
  
• Mini Ham Sub Family Pack/Paquet Familial de Mini Sous-Marin au Jambon (738g)
  
• Philly Steak Sub/Sous-Marin au Philly Bifteck (219g)
  
• Spicy Donair/Donair épicé (155g)
  
• Sausage & Egg Muffin/Muffin avec Saucisse et Oeuf (165g)
  

All of the above-listed items that are identified with Best Before dates of Oct 24 - Nov 16, inclusive are part of the recall. The products were distributed across Canada, except for New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

This is the second major precautionary recall of prepared sandwiches by a Canadian manufacturer in less that a week. Last Friday, Smith's Snack Service Ltd. (Norman Cove, NL) recalled its entire outstanding production inventory after CFIA detected Listeria monocytogenes. It doesn't take much stretching of the imagination to deduce that CFIA has instituted a heightened surveillance of all deli meat and ready-to-eat sandwich producers across Canada.

Hygaard uses modified atmosphere packaging technology to extend the shelf life of its packaged sandwiches to 35 days. Their packaging system injects carbon dioxide gas into the packaging to suppress the growth of spoilage bacteria. Unfortunately, Listeria monocytogenes thrives on reduced oxygen/increased carbon dioxide atmospheres. And, unlike many other food-borne pathogens, it multiplies at normal refrigerator temperatures.

As usual, the recall notice does not indicate which grocery chains or convenience stores carry the recalled Hygaard sandwiches. Consumers who want more information can contact CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 during normal business hours.

Cheese, Please! - The Saputo Recalls

Processed cheese recall by Canada's largest cheese maker triggers nationwide sandwich recalls

(Updated December 15, 2010)

The two recall notices for processed cheese slices, which were issued by Saputo Inc. (Montreal, QC) on November 26th and December 2nd, have triggered a multiplicity of secondary recalls of sandwiches, subs and burgers that contain the recalled cheese slices.

The following processed cheese foods were supplied to retailers, cash & carry and deli stores, and may also have been sold to food service institutions such as restaurants, hospitals, day care centers, and nursing homes across Canada.

• Faith Farms Ribbon Slices Process Cheese Product Made with Swiss Cheese:- UPC 065949040029; Best Before up to and including 2011 JN 15; 2 kg.
• Faith Farms Ribbon Slices Process Cheese Food:- UPC 065949040043; Best before up to and including 2011 JL 18; 2 kg.
• Faith Farms Submarine Cut Process Cheese Food:- UPC 065949040050; Best before up to and including 2011 JL 09; 2 kg.
• Faith Farms Pullman Slices Process Cheese Food:- UPC 065949040074; Best before up to and including 2011 MA 07
• No Label PCF - Colored Pullman:- No UPC; Best before up to and including 2011 OC 27; 2.27 kg.
• St-Albert Ribbon Slices Process Cheese Food:- No UPC; Best before up to and including 2011 JL 09; 2 kg.
• Sunspun Pullman Slices Process Cheese Food:- UPC 060383020262; Best before up to and including 2011 AL 30; 2 kg.
• Sunspun Ribbon Slices Process Swiss Food:- UPC 060383101367; Best before up to and including 2011 AL 15; 2 kg.
• Sunspun Submarine Slices Process Cheese Food:- UPC 060383128036; Best before up to and including 2011 MA 10; 2 kg.

As a result of the Saputo recalls, the following sandwich products have been recalled by their manufacturers as a precaution. Please follow the live link to find the details for each recalled product brand or type.

• APFL (Prepared by):- All varieties; distributed in PEI and Nova Scotia, with possible distribution in other Atlantic provinces
• Best Value:- Prime Rib Beef Hamburger and various styles of cheeseburgers; distributed nationally
• CCV Food Service Est 467:- All sandwiches, wraps, kaisers, croissants and subs containing processed cheese; distributed nationally
• Circle K Grab N' Go:- All varieties; distributed in PEI and Nova Scotia, with possible distribution in other Atlantic provinces
• Deli Chef Est 114:- Our Super Submarine, Roast Beef Submarine, and Chicken Caesar Pita; distributed nationally
• Deli Chef Est 467:- Chicken Parmesan Sandwich, Our Super Sub, Pizza Sub and Meatball Sub; distributed nationally
• Delicious:- Various sandwiches and subs; distributed in New Brunswick
• Deli Supreme:- Various subs; St. John's, Conception Bay South, NL
• Dépanneur Godefroy:- Submarine "extra" and ham & cheese sandwiches; sold from 675 rue Godefroy, Saint-Grégoire, QC
• Hamish & Enzo Est 467:- Various subs and sandwiches; distributed nationally
• Hygaard:- Sausage & Egg Muffin, and various styles of burgers; distributed nationally
• J.C.A. Food Services Ltd.:- Chicken entrees, burgers, lasagna, wraps, and various subs and sandwiches; sold in vending machines in Ontario
• JMS Est 467:- Chicken Parmesan Sandwich, Our Super Sub, Pizza Sub and Meatball Sub; distributed nationally
• Les Cuisines Polo Bic:- Various subs and sandwiches; sold in the province of Quebec.
• Majestic Fresh Foods 4U:- All breakfast sandwiches, croissant sandwiches, cold sandwiches, subs, Kaiser sandwiches, and specialty sandwiches (with or without cheese); sold in vending machines and from catering trucks in Ontario
• Manufactured by HFS:- Pre Grilled Cheese (bulk; white and brown); known to be distributed in Ontario, with possible national distribution
• McBuns Bakery:- all refrigerated subs; sold from various outlets in Moncton, NB
• No brand name:- Assorted cold cut subs containing ham, salami and processed cheese sold in the Atlantic provinces in Foodland stores and in 4 specific Sobey's stores; all in-store packaged sandwiches, subs, wraps & cheeseburgers containing processed cheese sold at Co-op, ValuFoods & RiteStop stores in the Atlantic provinces and the Magdalen Islands; various sandwiches sold in Atlantic Superstore, Save Easy, nofrills, and Dominion stores in the Atlantic provinces; various sandwiches and subs sold in Circle K convenience stores in the Atlantic provinces; All in-store packaged sandwiches and subs containing processed cheese; sold at certain Metro, Richelieu, AMI and EXTRA stores in Quebec
• Orangestore:- Pizza burger and various wraps; St. John's, Conception Bay South, NL
• Quality Fast Food:- Prime Rib Beef Burger, several varieties of sandwiches, and various styles of burgers; distributed nationally
• Smith Snacks:- Various subs, sandwiches and wraps; distributed in Newfoundland
• Sub Delicious:- All varieties; distributed in PEI and Nova Scotia, with possible distribution in other Atlantic provinces
• William Davids Foods:- Various sandwiches and subs containing processed cheese; sold in vending machines in Ontario
• Winsor:- Various subs, sandwiches and wraps; sold in St. John's Conception Bay South, NL

The following retailers sold one or more of the recalled products:

• AMI:- Québec
• Atlantic Superstore:- Atlantic provinces
• Boucherie Claude Giguère:- Trois-Rivières, QC (mislabeled as Suisse Blanc Tranche and Kraft Tranche cheese slices)
• Boucherie J.F.:- Saint-Hubert, QC (Fromage Tranché Saputo)
• Circle K convenience stores:- Atlantic provinces
• Co-op:- Atlantic provinces and the Magdalen Islands (QC)
• Dépanneur Godefroy:- 675, rue Godefroy, Saint-Grégoire, QC
• Dominion:- Atlantic provinces
• EXTRA:- Québec
• Foodland:- Atlantic provinces
• Le Marché végétarien:- Drummondville, QC (F. Fram Tranche Colore, Ontario)
• Les aliments Bégin inc.:- Saint-Ludger, QC (various sandwiches and burgers)
• Les arpents verts:- Chambly, QC (Tranche Jaune)
• Metro:- Québec
• nofrills:- Atlantic provinces
• Richelieu:- Québec
• RiteStop:- Atlantic provinces and the Magdalen Islands (QC)
• Save Easy:- Atlantic provinces
• Sobey's:- 4 stores, located in Miramichi (NB), Darmouth (NS), Grand Bank (NL) and Placentia (NL)
• ValuFoods:- Atlantic provinces and the Magdalen Islands (QC)

This information will be updated periodically as more recall notices appear.

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.

Recall Roundup: December 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.

United States

• Allergy Alert: Diana's Mexican Food Products, Inc. (Lawndale, CA) recalls approximately 41,670 pounds of Diana's Central Meat Market Chicken Tamales (wrapped in rice paper), due to the presence of undeclared whey. The tamales were produced between February 2010 and December 2, 2010 and were distributed to restaurants in California.
• Food Safety Recall: Hillcrest Dairy (Plant #36-3108, Moravia, NY) recalls Hillcrest Dairy Heavy Cream (Sell by 12/18/10), due to improper pasteurization. The recalled cream was distributed in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State.
• Food Safety Recall: Atlas Walnut Co. of California recalls walnut halves and pieces because a shipment sent to another manufacturer has tested positive for Salmonella. Azar Nut Co., which receives product from Atlas, has recalled the products that it received from Atlas.
• Food Recall/Withdrawal: Food City reports that Duchess Mini Chocolate Donut Bags, 10 oz., have been withdrawn/recalled. No details are available.
• Food Recall/Withdrawal: Food City reports that its supplier has recalled/withdrawn several Tropical Nut & Fruit items, including Walnut Halves/Pieces Tub (6 oz.), Hi Energy Tub (12 oz.), Perfectly Fit Tub (11 oz.), Hi Energy Mix (25 lb bulk) and Siena Cream Crunch Natural (25 lb. bulk). This announcement may be related to the Atlas walnut recall, reported above.

Canada

• Allergy Alert (Update): Grandpa Jimmy's Scottish Bakery (Grand Bend, ON) amends its earlier recall notice to correct the weights for three of the products. The recalled items were distributed in Ontario.
• Food Safety Recall: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) warns the public not to consume an extensive list of prepared sandwich products (follow live link for complete list of affected products), because the affected products were made using processed cheese slices recalled by Saputo, Inc. on December 2, 2010. CFIA continues to monitor the situation and will update the list as and when more products are recalled. The recalled items were sold at Foodland stores in the Atlantic Provinces, at specific Sobey's stores, in vending machines, in convenience stores, from catering trucks and through other retail and food service operations across Canada. Affected brand names include Best Value, Hygaard, Quality Fast Foods, Deli Chef, JMS, Hamish & Enzo, J.C.A. Food Services, Majestic Fresh Foods 4U, Country Morning, Circle K Grab N' Go and Sub Delicious.
• Consumer Product Safety Recall: Avon Canada Inc. recalls several shades of Healthy Makeup Eye Shadows by Avon for missing preservative ingredients. The lack of preservative poses a risk of eye irritation or eye infections. In addition, the Violet Dusk shade is recalled because it contains an incorrect color pigment ingredient.

Europe

• Food Safety Seizure (Belgium): Three tonnes of meat were seized from the Palais du Frais wholesaler in Bray, due to several infractions.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• Food Safety Recall (South Korea): The Korea Food and Drug Administration reports the recall of CJW Gold Anchovy Sauce (Produced 2010.11.13; Expiry 12.5.12) after coliforms were found in the product.

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*
  
• Lucky Supermarkets
• Price Chopper
  
• Publix
• 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.