Friday, April 29, 2011

Recalls and Alerts: April 29, 2011

This is a mirror of eFoodAlert on WordPress. To subscribe to automatic email alerts, please go to the eFoodAlert on WordPress blog page and complete the EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION form.

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.


United States
  • Allergy Alert/Incident Report: A & J Bakery (Cranston, RI) recalls chocolate five-ounce Easter Bunnies (unlabelled cellophane bags) sold in the store because they may contain undeclared milk. The Rhode Island Department of Health has received one complaint of an allergic reaction.

  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: Ethos Environmental, Inc. recalls Regenerect dietary supplements (Lot #100521, blue capsule sold individually in foil packets, expiry 5/2012; Lot #112850, clear capsule sold individually in foil packets, expiry 11/2013), after FDA confirms the presence of Sulfosildenafil (an analogue of Sildenafil), making these products unapproved new drugs. The recalled products were distributed over the internet to consumers in the USA and Puerto Rico.

  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Withdrawal: Procter & Gamble withdraws Vicks Cold Remedy Child Nyquil - Contains Dextromethorphan - 18+ Age Restriction (UPC 32390001097 and 32390000742), because the current label is missing a statement about potassium content per dose.

  • Dietary Supplement False Marketing Alert: The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is investigating several OTC Dietary Supplement products being falsely marketed as antibiotics under names such as Amoxilina, Pentrexcilina, Ampitrexyl, Citricillin, Amoximiel and Pentreximil. The products are distributed statewide in Texas and are targeted toward Hispanic consumers. For more information, or to file a complaint, contact DSHS at 512-834-6755.

  • Outbreak Alert (Update): As of April 21, 2011, a total of 218 individuals from 41 states have been infected with a single strain of Salmonella Typhimurium since April 21, 2009. The infections are associated with African Dwarf Frogs and water from their habitats. A single water frog breeder in California has been identified as the source of the implicated frogs.

  • Outbreak Alert: As of April 20, 2011, a total of 73 individuals from 35 states have been infected with a commercial lab strain of Salmonella Typhimurium since August 20, 2011. Ten people have been hospitalized, and one has died. Most of the outbreak victims either work or study in a microbiology lab, or live in the same household as someone who does.

  • Outbreak Alert (Worcester, MA): Worcester health inspectors are investigating an outbreak of illnesses in patrons who ate Easter brunch at Luciano's Cotton Club restaurant at Union Station. Eight people have reported their illnesses to the city's Health Department; as many as 35 people may have been affected, according to a report in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.


Canada
  • Allergy Alert: Gagan Foods International Limited recalls Rasm The Great Indian Tradition Minced Ginger Garlic and Rasm The Great Indian Tradition Minced Ginger, due to the presence of undeclared sulphites. The recalled products were distributed to retailers in Albert, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

  • Allergy Alert: Nikolaos Fine Foods Limited recalls various Breaded Seasoned Chicken Breast Fillets, because the product contains undeclared milk. The recalled items were distributed to hotels, restaurants and institutions in Alberta, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Prince Edward Island under the Nikolaos (Codes 04051104, 02241104, 03311104), Savory Secret Gold Coast (Code 02241104), Woodward Meat Purveyors (Code 02241104), Gabriel Pizza (Code 02241104) and Evanston Farms (Code 03311104) brands.

  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert (Update): The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) continues to investigate a series of 14 E. coli O157:H7 illnesses from three provinces. There have been no new cases reported since PHAC's initial Public Advisory, issued on April 7th. Ten of the outbreak victims have been hospitalized; three developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. One individual with an underlying medical condition died. The illnesses are thought to be linked to the consumption of certain raw, shelled walnuts that were imported from the USA. Ten of the outbreak victims are from Quebec; the other four are from Ontario and New Brunswick. The suspect walnuts were recalled by the importer earlier in April.


Europe
Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0557): Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning toxins in razor clams from the United Kingdom; distributed to Hong Kong, Spain and the United Kingdom.

  • Outbreak Alert (Sri Lanka): At least 70 students from a Christian Boys Hostel were admitted to Mannar Base Hospital due to food poisoning. The students complained of vomiting and severe headaches after consuming their midday meal.

  • Outbreak Alert (Xinghua City, PRC): Arrangements have been made to carry out emergency vaccination against hepatitis A in the village of Longnan Shimen after an outbreak of hepatitis was identified.The village is in a remote mountainous area, and has poor sanitation facilities.

  • Outbreak Alert (Isabela, Philippines): Twenty-six children aged 3 to 12 suffered from suspected food poisoning in Barangay Rang-ayan, Ilagan, Isabela. The victims apparently fell ill after eating snacks provided in a Disaster and Calamity Preparedness seminar organized by a private sector organization. Eleven of the children are still hospitalized.


Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: Ethos Environmental, Inc. recalls Regenerect dietary supplements (Lot #100521, blue capsule sold individually in foil packets, expiry 5/2012; Lot #112850, clear capsule sold individually in foil packets, expiry 11/2013), after FDA confirms the presence of Sulfosildenafil (an analogue of Sildenafil), making these products unapproved new drugs. The recalled products were distributed over the internet to consumers in the USA and Puerto Rico.


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.
Posted by Phyllis E at Friday, April 29, 2011
Labels: , , , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)