eFoodAlert.com: Recalls and Alerts: May 23, 2011

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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

Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0672): Sulfathiazole unauthorized in honey from Italy; distributed to the USA and other countries in Europe and Asia.

Europe

Food Safety Withdrawal (UK): Snax 4 U withdraws Chicken Tikka Drumsticks (all packs) and Chicken Biryani and Rice Ready Meal (all packs), because the products were manufactured on and supplied by unapproved premises.

Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Condi ApS recalls Paradise Pepper (Imported from West Africa), because the seeds of Aframomum melegueta are considered to be unacceptable for human consumption.

Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0664): Defective packaging of cooked poultry meat from Belgium, via the Netherlands; distributed to Denmark.

Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0665): Salmonella spp. in chilled minced turkey from France; distributed to Belgium and France.

Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0666): Listeria monocytogenes in chilled smoked salmon from Lithuania, via Italy; distributed to Slovenia.

Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0667): Histamine in canned sardines in olive oil from Morocco; distributed to France.

Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0668): Cadmium in sardines in oil from Morocco; distributed to Greece.

Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0669): Cadmium in octopus in water from Greece; distributed to Greece.

Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0670): Dead insects in dried figs from Turkey; distributed to Poland.

Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0672): Sulfathiazole unauthorized in honey from Italy; distributed to Belgium, Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the USA.

Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0673): Bone fragments in sausage from Hungary; distributed to the Czech Republic.

Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2011.0674): Unauthorized tadalafil in food supplement from China; distributed to Norway and Sweden.

Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0675): Carbon monoxide treatment of farmed yellowtail fillet from Japan; distributed to the United Kingdom.

Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2011.0676): Unauthorized sildenafil in food supplements from China, via the UK; distributed to Norway.

Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2011.0677): Unauthorized tadalafil in food supplements from China, via Sweden; distributed to Norway.

Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2011.0678): Unauthorized sildenafil and tadalafil in food supplement from unknown origin; distributed to Norway.

Outbreak Alert (Germany): Uncooked vegetables are suspected to be the source of a dangerous outbreak of Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli across Germany. Two victims of the outbreak have been placed on artificial respirators. Forty people are being treated in Hamburg; Frankfurt reports 10 people hospitalized - 4 of them in intensive care - and an additional 50 people reporting mild symptoms. Cases of the infection also have been reported in Rostock, Lower Saxony, Bremen and Schleswig Holstein.

Outbreak Alert (Germany): Fifty-seven patients and 30 employees of the 300-bed Robert Koch Hospital in Gehrden (Hanover) have been infected with norovirus. The source of the infection apparently was an employee in the hospital kitchen. An additional 11 patients and one staff member in the hospital's sister clinic in Springe also are ill. The hospital kitchen supplies both facilities.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

Outbreak Alert (Sudan): An outbreak of diarrhea at the Otash displaced people camp in South Darfur has claimed the lives of ten children daily in three out of 11 centers in the camp.

Outbreak Alert (India): Four family members are dead from suspected food poisoning and four other people have been admitted to hospital in critical condition after participating in a family function in Biranwadi village.

Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0672): Sulfathiazole unauthorized in honey from Italy; distributed to Japan, Thailand and countries in Europe as well as to the USA.

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Greens General Foods Pty Ltd. recalls Black & Gold Fruity Rings Breakfast Cereal (300g cardboard box; Best before 23 Mar 2012 and 24 Mar 2012), because the cereal may contain fine wire thread. The recalled products were sold nationally in IGA, Foodworks, Friendly Grocers and other independent supermarkets, and may have been exported.

Food Safety Recall (Australia): Coles Supermarkets Limited recalls Coles Frooty Rings Breakfast Cereal (300g cardboard box; Best before 22 Feb 2012, 23 Feb 2102, 24 Feb 2012 and 24 Mar 2012), because the cereal may contain wire contamination. The recalled product was distributed nationally to all Coles supermarkets, Bi-Lo and Pick N' Pay stores.

Food Safety News (Australia): An analysis of two samples of human feces fertilizer (also known as 'night soil') has revealed traces of an infectious virus, Salmonella and Blastocystis. According to an article in The Sunday Telegraph, fertilizers made from human waste are being used on 20 farms in New South Wales, and may also be in use on vegetable and dairy farms in Queensland.

Outbreak Alert (New Zealand): Timaru Hospital (South Canterbury District) has been closed to non-essential visitors while it deals with a suspected outbreak of norovirus in three wards. Fifteen patients and six staff members on these wards have reported suffering from vomiting and/or diarrhea since Saturday.

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.