Recall Roundup: October 27, 2010

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

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.

For information on the US Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak and egg recalls, please click here.

For information on the Abbott infant formula powder recall, please click here.

United States

• Food Safety Recall: Good Earth Tea (Montvale, NJ) recalls a limited amount of Good Earth Caffeine Free Original blend after routine microbial testing determined that a minor ingredient was contaminated with Salmonella. The affected blend was only distributed to a limited number of Costco retail locations in California (25-coount, and as part of the Costco 3-pack) and Trader Joe's (18-count; best by 19AUG12, 31AUG12 & 02SEP12) retail locations in Northern California, Oregon, Washington State, Northern Nevada and Chelsea (NY).
• Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Sandoz Inc. recalls all 50mg/2mL and 250mg/10mL vials of Sandoz and Parenta brand Methotrexate Injection, USP Product, after Sandoz quality control finds small glass flakes in a limited number of vials and lots. As a precaution, Sandoz is recalling all 24 lots distributed in the USA.
• FDA Enforcement Action: U.S. Marshals, acting under a court order sought by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, today seized an estimated $700,000 worth of rice and other packaged food products from a rodent-infested warehouse in East Point, GA. The FDA-regulated food products were stored in a warehouse operated by Sun Hong Kai Holding Inc., which does business as United Food Service. An FDA inspection of United Food Service’s facility between Sept. 22, 2010, and Oct. 1, 2010, revealed “an active and widespread rodent infestation, including live and dead rodents within the warehouse where food products are stored,” according to the complaint.
• FDA Enforcement Action: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that Peng Bandith, owner of the Lao Trading Company of Nashville has signed a consent decree that permanently prohibits Lao Trading Company from distributing food held under insanitary conditions in interstate commerce. The Lao Trading Company distributes food through its retail store and food stores throughout the Middle Tennessee area, including the cities of Nashville, LaVergne, Smyrna, and Murfreesboro. Among the types of food distributed by the company are seafood items, tofu, canned fruits, vegetables and drinks, rice, rice sticks, fruit juice drinks, coconut milk, fish sauce and soy sauce. Under the consent decree, Lao Trading Co. agreed to follow appropriate pest control practices, maintain its facility in a sanitary condition and undergo routine inspections to ensure continued compliance.
• FDA Enforcement Action: At the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Marshals seized articles of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drug products from Tri-Med Laboratories Inc. in Somerset, NJ earlier this month. The seizure warrant, issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and unsealed this week, shows the drugs are unapproved and adulterated new drugs.

Canada

• Cosmetic Product Safety Advisory (Update): Health Canada is informing Canadians that Brazilian Blowout Solution manufactured by Brazilian Blowout of California has been confirmed to contain unacceptable levels of formaldehyde. Note that at this time, this advisory pertains only to the Brazilian Blowout Solution. Testing conducted by Health Canada has determined that the product contains 42 times the acceptable limit of formaldehyde.

Europe

• Food Safety Recall (Finland): Finnfrost Ltd. recalls Dujardin Pakastepinaatista (frozen spinach), 1kg package (Batch 101 1904 0218; expiration date 06/08/2010), due to elevated levels of Escherichia coli. The recalled product was manufactured by Unifrost NV of Belgium.
• Nutritional Supplement Warning (Denmark): Consumers are warned against buying a number of dietary supplements from the website bodyoutlet.dk / bodyoutlet.net, because the supplements contain extracts from several plants that can cause a variety of central nervous system side effects, and liver damage.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1452): Mercury in frozen swordfish from Spain; distributed to Spain and Italy.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1453): Beta hemolytic streptococci and Arcanobacterium pyogenes detected in purulent abscess in fresh pork from Germany; distributed to Italy.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1454): Histamine in organic salami from Germany; distributed to Germany.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1455): Aflatoxins in dried figs from Turkey; distributed to Denmark.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1456): Aflatoxins in dried fruit mix from Turkey; distributed to Denmark.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1457): Acetamiprid in dried organic goji berries (Lycium barbarium) from China; distributed to France.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• OTC Pharmaceutical Product Recall (Hong Kong): The Department of Health has instructed Synco (HK) Limited to recall Batch #08013004 of Bicolax Tablet 5mg (HK-05074,) as the product was found to have failed to comply with the approved specifications in Singapore.

Australia and New Zealand

• Consumer Safety Advisory (Australia): The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is aware that some Australian consumers have purchased the products So Hard for Men, Shaguar and Pulse8 For Women over the internet or from an Australian retailer. The labels of each these three products claim them to be 100% herbal in origin. However, analyses undertaken by the TGA in Australia and the Institute of Environmental Science & Research Limited in New Zealand have confirmed the presence of therapeutic quantities of the drug tadalafil in each of these products. Consumers are advised that tadalafil is a prescription-only medicine in Australia, and may be harmful if taken without the supervision of a medical professional, particularly in patients with history of cardiovascular disease.

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: October 26, 2010

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

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.

For information on the US Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak and egg recalls, please click here.

For information on the Abbott infant formula powder recall, please click here.

United States

• Food Safety Alert: New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker warns consumers not to eat "Salted Holland Herring" sold by Brighton Bazaar Inc. (1007 Brighton Beach Avenue, Brooklyn, NY), because the product was found to be uneviscerated. The "Salted Holland Herring" was sold from the above retail store to consumers in the New York City Metro area. The product was offered for sale as a bulk item in the seafood cooler. The product is uncoded and is a product of Russia.
• Food Recall: Dulces De La Rosa recalls De La Rosa Super Giant Marshmallows (Lot codes 179102, 179103, 181102, 182102 and 183103), sold at Buehler's retail stores, because of minor traces of mold growth.
• Food Recall: Food City advises its customers that John Morrell Off The Bone Honey Ham, 9 oz tub has been recalled. No details have been provided.
• FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Tropical Bakery Wholesale (Hialeah, FL) that a May/June 2010 inspection of the company's bakery revealed serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food (CGMP) regulations.

Europe

• Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Alpro Comm. VA/SCA recalls Alpro LIGHT 1L carrying the product number 80000484 (production codes A360815.42 through A360816.27; expiration date 6/6/2011), because of an off-color, caused by the erroneous use of a cleaning product. The recalled beverage was distributed only in Colruyt stores.
• Food Safety Recall (UK): M&K Polish Goods Ltd., Donney European Ltd., Expo Foods (Midlands) Ltd. and Food Art UK Ltd. recall all batches of Sokolów Home Black Pudding Sausage, because the product is contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The product is also sold under the name Grill Black Pudding Sausage.
• Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Inco Kød Aut. 2766 recalls minced pork and minced pork and veal products marked with packing date 18-10-2010, because Salmonella was found in the minced pork.
• Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Dansk Supermarked recalls Smokehouse smoked pork tenderloin, 350g (produced in Poland; package dates October 16 and October 17, 2010; best before November 15 and November 16, 2010), because the product is contaminated with Salmonella.
• Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Dansk Supermarked Indkøb recalls Luxury Green Bærsymfoni frozen fruit mixture, 350g (produced by Crop's NV of Belgium; Best before 03-06-2012), because small stones were found in some bags.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1447): Cadmium in whole baby octopus from Vietnam; distributed to the United Kingdom.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1449): Too high total content of colours E 132 - indigotine / indigo carmine and of colour E 133 - Brilliant Blue FCF in food supplement for sportsmen from the United States via Hungary; distributed to the Czech Republic.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1450): Presence of poisonous mushrooms (several kinds of amanitas and clavaria) in dried ceps from China; distributed to France.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1451): Suspicion of unauthorised placing on the market of meat from Germany; distributed to Poland.

Australia and New Zealand

• Food Safety Recall (Australia): Sumabe Holdings Pty Ltd recalls Sumabe Acai Berry Coffee weight loss beverage (200g cardboard box containing 20 x 10g individual coffee sachets; best before date 27/01/2012), because the product contains sibutramine, a non-compliant prescription medication. The recalled product, which was imported from China, was sold in health food stores, cafes, beauty salons and over the internet in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, West Australia and Tasmania.

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.

US Marshals Seize Cheese From Estrella Family Creamery

District Court Judge approves FDA request for seizure to prevent sale of potentially contaminated cheeses

The following news release was issued today by the US Department of Justice, US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2010

FEDS SEIZE PRODUCT FROM MONTESANO DAIRY ADULTERATED DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF A DANGEROUS PATHOGEN
District Court Judge Approves Seizure after Repeated Tests Show Listeria Monocytogenes

The U.S. Marshal’s Service seized all cheese products at Estrella Family Creamery (Estrella) in Montesano, Washington, Thursday, October 21, 2010, after repeated tests by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Washington State Department of Agriculture (WADA) over the last several months showed the persistent presence of a pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes, in Estrella’s cheese products and facilities. The pathogen can cause the illness listeriosis which can be life threatening for the aged, infirm, very young or immune compromised individuals. The pathogen can be especially dangerous for pregnant women. U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Settle authorized the seizure.

According to the FDA affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, the WADA collected samples of cheese and cheese ingredients from production areas at the farm on February 1st, 9th, and March 1, 2010. Testing revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the cheese, in the salt brine used in processing the cheese, and in production and storage areas throughout the farm. Estrella recalled a variety of cheeses in February and March 2010 following the test results.

In August, the FDA inspected the farm, collecting a new set of samples. The samples revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the production space and aging rooms. Further, Estrella’s owners revealed that their own tests between March and May 2010, showed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in certain cheese products. On August 16, 2010, an FDA sample of “Caldwell Crik Chevrette,” that was ready to be shipped to customers, tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. FDA testing revealed the Listeria monocytogenes pathogen found in August was indistinguishable from the pathogen found in March, indicating Estrella had not remedied the insanitary conditions found by the WADA in February and March 2010.

On September 3, 2010, the FDA asked Estrella to recall all cheese products. The company refused. The FDA issued a warning to consumers regarding the potential presence of Listeria monocytogenes in Estrella cheese on September 4, 2010.

Under the warrant signed last week, Estrella’s cheese products were seized to prevent the sale and dissemination of adulterated and potentially contaminated food.

The seizure is a civil action undertaken by the FDA. Assistant United States Attorneys David East and Kerry Keefe are handling the matter for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

What prompted FDA to take this drastic action?

• Estrella has an embedded Listeria monocytogenes contamination that it could not (I won't say "would not") eliminate.
• In August, FDA found Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of cheese that was ready to be shipped to customers.
• The Listeria monocytogenes strain found in August by FDA was identical to the strain that the FDA and the Washington State Department of Agriculture found six months earlier – in February of this year – further indicating that Estrella had not solved its contamination problem.
• Estrella refused FDA's request to recall its products after the August detection of Listeria monocytogenes.
• Listeria monocytogenes infections can be deadly for susceptible members of the population, including the elderly and the very young.

Contrast this situation with the recent swift action that the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) was able to take when confronted with a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. The state agency had the power to mandate the closure of the chopped celery producer that was linked to the illnesses, and to insist upon the recall of potentially contaminated food.

FDA is not infallible, and I don't always agree with its actions. But an agency that is charged with protecting the health of 310+ million people must err on the side of public safety. Due to the lack of mandatory recall authority, FDA's hands were tied for six weeks, while the Department of Justice petitioned the US District Court for permission to seize the "...adulterated and potentially contaminated food." During those six weeks, Estrella's customers were at risk of contracting an infection with Listeria monocytogenes – one with potentially deadly consequences.

Mandatory recall authority for FDA is long overdue. It can – and must – be enacted during the fall "lame duck" session of Congress.

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: October 25, 2010

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

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.

For information on the US Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak and egg recalls, please click here.

For information on the Abbott infant formula powder recall, please click here.

United States

• Homeopathic Product Recall: Standard Homeopathic Company (Los Angeles, CA) recalls its Hyland's Teething Tablets. FDA analysis and testing identified some Hyland’s Teething Tablets that contained varying amounts of belladonna, a potentially toxic ingredient. An ongoing FDA inspection at the manufacturer indicates substandard control of the manufacturing operation. Hyland’s Teething Tablets is a homeopathic product intended to provide temporary relief of teething symptoms in children that is sold over-the-counter (OTC) in retail outlets, including Food City and Wegmans stores.
• Food Safety Recall: Colombina S.A. recalls specific lots of Colombina Brand Mega Pops in 14-ounce and 28-ounce cellophane bags containing watermelon, cherry, orange and grape flavored pops. (Lots #1240695, 1209708 and 1209796), because the lollipops may contain foreign particles. The recalled products were sold nationwide through several different retailers and wholesalers, including Walmart.
• FDA Enforcement Action: FDA has seized all cheeses on the property of Estrella Family Creamery (Montesano, WA). In September 2010, FDA cautioned consumers to discard cheeses from Estrella, after environmental samples and one product sample collected by FDA during an August 2010 inspection at the facility tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. During February and March 2010, Estrella issued three recall notices for various of their cheeses, all due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
• Consumer Product Safety Recall: Far East Brokers recalls Witches Brew Mug (UPC 11546-26410) because it may contain lead. The product was sold in Price Chopper stores.

Europe

• Allergy Alert (Ireland): Marks & Spencer withdraws Gluten Free Rich Fruit cake, 375 g (Best Before: 30th October 2010, product code: 00395120), because a very small number of packs may contain undeclared wheat flour and gluten.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Hong Kong): The Department of Health has instructed Neochem Pharmaceutical Laboratories Ltd. to recall from the market 42 batches of 37 registered products, as they were produced between July and August, when the plant was not licensed to manufacture.

Australia and New Zealand

• Food Safety Recall (Australia): Emma Vita Pty. Ltd. recalls Leptin Weight Loss Chocolate (expiry 8 July 2012), imported from Hong Kong, because the product contains a non-compliant prescription medicine (sibutramine). The recalled item was distributed in only New South Wales, via online purchasing.

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.

Outbreaks and Alerts: October 25, 2010

A daily digest of international outbreaks, alerts and food safety news

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

• Olympia, WA. October 20th: Washington State Department of Health urges Mason County well users along the western shore of Hood Canal to have their water tested after E. coli was detected in the wells of three public water systems in the area over the previous two week period.
• Canton, KS. October 22nd: The Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the City of Canton, while the City undertakes repairs to the storage tank and valves in the water distribution system.
• Carlsbad, CA. October 22nd: A 60,000 gallon sewage spill caused by a lift station failure has caused authorities to close the area around the Batiquitos Lagoon Outlet at Carlsbad State Beach to water contact until testing determines that the water is safe for recreational use.
• Lorain, OH. October 23rd: At least seven of the nine cases of Salmonella reported at Clearview High School might be part of a larger bacterial outbreak, according to a Lorain County Health Department official. According to The Morning Journal, a CDC spokesperson said that the case was still under investigation. The federal agency apparently not aware of links to cases in other states.

Canada

• Saint John, NB. October 20th: The Caribbean Princess, on a tour of New England and Eastern Canada, entered port in Saint John carrying approximately 40 passengers and three crew members who were suffering from a "stomach flu" – apparently norovirus. The sick passengers and crew were barred from leaving the ship while in port, due to the ease with which the virus is spread. The port officials plan to disinfect the terminal once the ship leaves port.

Europe

• Glasgow, Scotland. October 23rd: One staff member and 23 guests at the Glasgow Euro Hostel are believed to have contracted a norovirus infection after complaining of diarrhea and vomiting. None of the victims are seriously ill.
• Odessa, Ukraine. October 25th: A 22-year old woman was hospitalized with food poisoning, probably due to eating toxic mushrooms.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• Cairo, Egypt. October 24th: A family of four were hospitalized with vomiting and severe diarrhea after eating spoiled, stuffed Menoufia.
• Lagos, Nigeria. October 24th: As of mid-October, cholera has claimed the lives of more than 1,500 Nigerians . The total number of illnesses – in excess of 40,000 – is three times the number experienced in 2009, and seven times the 2008 total.
• Hong Kong. October 25th: The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) recently conducted a targeted food surveillance project to assess the microbiological quality in bottled water. The results obtained on all 60 samples of bottled natural mineral water and bottled drinking water were all satisfactory.

Australia and New Zealand

• Coromandel, NZ. October 22nd: A shellfish health warning remains in effect along the Bay of Plenty, stretching into the eastern coast of Coromandel. Shellfish in the affected area contain high levels of paralytic shellfish poison, a heat-stable toxin that causes numbness and tingling around the mouth, face or extremities, difficulty swallowing or breathing, dizziness, and double vision. In severe cases, the toxin may cause paralysis and respiratory failure.

Latin America and the Caribbean

• Valencia, Spain. October 23rd: Two babies remain hospitalized with meningitis after being born already infected with Listeria monocytogenes. The babies' mothers both apparently contracted Listeria infections during their pregnancies, and transmitted the bacteria to their fetuses in utero. Doctors performed a caesarean section in both cases, in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent the infections from being transmitted to the babies. There is no common link between the two cases, according to the Department of Health.
• Port-au-Prince, Haiti. October 24th: The death toll and reached 253 people, with more than 3,000 ill in the cholera epidemic that exploded in Haiti in recent days.
• Diarioc, Argentina. October 24th: Sixteen children and one adult were hospitalized with food poisoning symptoms at the 20th Parlamento Nacional Infantil (National Youth Parliament), held at Infantry Regiment No. 15. In all, about one-half of the 200 participants in this annual event experienced vomiting, diarrhea and fever. Samples of food and water are being analyzed to determine the source of the food poisoning.

Explosive Cholera Outbreak Threatens Port-au-Prince

3,015 ill; 253 dead at last count

Almost as soon as Haiti's magnitude 7.0 earthquake shook that country to pieces in January, public health officials around the world warned of the appearance of the four microbial Horsemen of the Apocalypse – cholera, dysentery, typhoid and hepatitis.

After keeping the local population in suspense for several months, the first of these – cholera – is now threatening to besiege Port-au-Prince.

The explosive nature of this outbreak has more than made up for its delay in appearing. On October 21st, the death toll was reported by CBC as 135+ people, with "hundreds" sickened. That toll has risen in just four days to 253 dead and more than 3,000 infected – five of them in Port-au-Prince, where many people are still living in relief camps around the capital.

How severe is this outbreak? The Pan American Health Association has declared it to be an epidemic. The Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispañola is reported to have strengthened health controls along its border with Haiti, and Canada has issued a recommendation that its citizens "...avoid all non-essential travel..." to that devastated country.

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by Vibrio cholerae. It is carried by fecal-contamination in water and food, and spreads very easily. The frequent, watery diarrhea that is a trademark symptom of cholera can quickly result in severe dehydration or even death, especially in young children and the elderly.

Inadequate toilet facilities, a lack of clean drinking water, and the crowded living conditions that exist in emergency relief camps all contribute to the spread of cholera and other waterborne diseases. Public health workers – and the people of Haiti – will be fortunate if they are able to prevent this epidemic from decimating the population of the Port-au-Prince relief camps.

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: October 23, 2010

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

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.

For information on the US Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak and egg recalls, please click here.

For information on the Abbott infant formula powder recall, please click here.

United States

• Allergy Alert: Nestlé USA's Confections & Snacks Division (Glendale, CA) recalls Nestlé® RAISINETS® Fun Size Bags (10oz; production code 02015748; UPC 2800010255), because the product may contain some undeclared peanuts. Three complaints have been received by the company to date. The recalled RAISINETS® were distributed only in the USA and were sold in Target, Shop Rite and Don Quixote retail stores.
• Food Safety Recall: Klement Sausage Company, Inc. (Milwaukee, WI) recalls approximately 2,740 pounds of Market Pantry Beef Sticks, Original (8 oz.; Use by March 1, 2012; Code 03293) that may contain foreign materials. The recalled products were shipped to distribution centers and retail stores nationwide. Market Pantry is a Target private label brand.
• Food Safety Recall: Ropp Jersey Cheese, LLC (Normal, IL) recalls some cheese products because the cheese may contain antibiotics. Products were sold at various stores and wineries across Illinois, including Schnucks and Friar Tucks. Please follow the live link for details on the recalled "sell by" dates.

Canada

• Food Safety Recall: Déli Beauce Inc. (Saint-Georges de Beauce, QC) recalls Déli Beauce Sauce à spagetti (460g or 1 liter glass jars; best before dates up to 10 mai 2011), because the indicated expiration date is too far off to guarantee safety of the product for human consumption.
• Food Safety Recall: Boucherie Richard Daigneault (Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, QC) recalls cooked, ready-to-eat entrées packaged between 6 octobre and 8 octobre 2010, inclusive, because they products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Europe

• Allergy Alert (Belgium & Luxembourg): Colruyt Group recalls Père Joseph assorted sliced cheeses (UPC 0265370000009; expiration dates between 22/10/2010 and 12/12/2010), because the cheese contains undeclared egg. The affected cheeses were sold in Colruyt stores in Belgium and Luxembourg and in OKay stores.

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.

Decisive Texas Action To Stop Spread of Listeria-Contaminated Produce

State invokes mandatory authority to close plant and force recall

Since January of this year, ten Texas residents – all adults – have become infected with Listeria monocytogenes. Five of the 10 adults died; all five of the deaths occurred in people with serious underlying health conditions.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) became aware of the possible outbreak during the summer, according to Press Officer Carrie Williams. Lab tests determined that the 10 cases were related; patient interviews and other epidemiological investigations pointed to chopped celery as a common source in six of the illnesses – including four of the deaths.

About a week or so ago, DSHS investigators identified the probable source of the celery as Sangar Produce & Processing Co., a San Antonio company. The probability became a certainty when the state lab recovered Listeria monocytogenes from a sealed package of chopped celery obtained directly from the Sangar facility. Additional testing confirmed that the Listeria recovered from the celery sample was a genetic match for the strain that infected at least six of the 10 outbreak victims.

Texas requested that Sangar suspend production to facilitate the state's investigation. The Company refused. So Texas ordered the plant to close – and ordered the recall of all outstanding production dating back to the beginning of January 2010.

The extent of the recall coincides with the duration of the outbreak; the first confirmed illness began in January 2010.

The scope of the recall is based on the sanitary violations observed by DSHS inspectors who visited the Sangar facility and were concerned that the contaminated celery may have spread Listeria monocytogenes to other items of produce. Specifically, the inspection revealed:

• a condensation leak above a food product area,
• soil on a preparation table, and
• hand washing issues.

The investigation – including lab testing of environmental samples from the Sanger facility – is still in progress. The plant will remain closed until DSHS permits it to resume production.

According to Food Safety News, Sanger management disputed the Texas lab findings, saying that the state employed "... flawed collection methods, including improper attire, unrefrigerated transport of samples and a delay between collections and lab tests." Even if true, this would not negate a confirmed Listeria monocytogenes finding – especially a finding of the outbreak strain – in a sealed package of chopped celery procured at the production facility.

This outbreak investigation is a case study in why food safety regulators need mandatory recall authority. Had this been a multi-state outbreak investigation, the company's refusal to cooperate would have tied federal hands. Neither FDA nor USDA has the authority to require a food processor – even one operating under egregiously unsafe conditions – to shut down or to recall a product. All FDA can do (and has done on past occasions) is to issue a Consumer Alert. USDA is somewhat better equipped that FDA to apply pressure – it can withdraw its inspectors, and effectively shut down a food processing facility, but cannot mandate a recall.

While some people have expressed concern that mandatory recall authority would be wielded arbitrarily and excessively by regulators, that's not what happened in Texas. The Texas DSHS acted to protect the public health, according to Carrie Williams, only once it was "100% certain" that Sanger's chopped celery was the source of at least six cases of Listeria monocytogenes infections.

Associated Press reports that FDA is analyzing samples from Sangar, but that the results on samples taken October 15th are not yet complete. An independent lab also is testing samples on behalf of the company, which hopes that results from these analyses will contradict the Texas findings.

Sanger has not yet responded to my email request for comment, transmitted earlier today.

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