Outbreaks and Alerts: October 8, 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

• North Syracuse, NY. October 6th: The Onondaga County Health Department reports that 60 people have fallen ill with Campylobacter infections after consuming raw clams served at a clambake at Hinerwadel's Grove on September 15th. The Health Department is asking anyone who ate at the facility and became ill to call (315) 435-6607.
• Silver Spring, MD. October 7th: The Department of Justice, at the request of FDA, has filed a complaint for permanent injunction against Juices Incorporated (a.k.a. Juices International and Juices Enterprises; Brooklyn, NY) to prevent the company from processing and distributing juice products. The action was taken following repeated violations by the company of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
• Carlsbad, CA. October 7th: Carlsbad State Beach has been closed for water contact between 1,000 feet north and south of Encina Creek Outlet due to a 5,000 gallon sewage spill from a main at 6200 Avenida Encinas in Carlsbad.
• Toledo, WA. October 7th: The boil water advisory has been lifted.
• Shelby Township, MI. October 7th: The Macomb County Health Department is investigating a possible food poisoning incident connected to the Club Monte Carlo banquet hall. Anyone who attended a function at Club Monte Carlo on October 1st or 2nd and later got sick should call (586) 469-5236.
• New Port Richey, FL. October 8th: Health departments in Florida have temporarily regained powers to conduct kitchen hygiene inspections at child care facilities, after changes in state laws left food safety inspections in disarray.

Europe

• Pamplona, Spain. October 7th: In the last several days, hundreds of people have visited doctors or health centers, complaining of vomiting and diarrhea. The sudden onset of these gastroenteritis symptoms is thought to be due to a highly contagious viral infection – perhaps Norovirus.
• Ekaterinburg, Russia. October 7th: The maternity ward of the central city hospital of Upper Salda has been closed due to outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses in infants.
• Netherlands. October 8th: The Food Safety Authority warns consumers against using the product Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS), which is sold as a dietary supplement. MMS, when reconstituted as instructed, may contain a hazardous concentration of bleach.
• Satka, Russia. October 8th: Sixty-two cases of hepatitis A infections have been reported. Vaccination programs and disinfection of houses where cases were reported have been undertaken.
• Manchester, UK. October 8th: One person died and eight others were sick after eating contaminated bean sprouts at a wedding in Prestwich, Greater Manchester in August.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• Samut Prakan, Thailand. October 5th: The Public Health Service has warned local residents of a diarrhea outbreak that has affected 19,423 people in the province so far this year. The majority of patients are young children, students and the elderly.
• Talatamaty, Madagascar, October 6th: Food poisoning, which resulted in 21 people being hospitalized, has triggered a ban on the bulk sale of food-grade oil.
• Delhi, India. October 7th: More than a dozen swimmers at the Commonwealth Games have developed gastroenteritis. The illnesses have especially affected the British and Australian teams. Games officials are conducting tests on the water in the main pool and the warmup pool at the aquatic complex.
• Sulawesi, Indonesia. October 7th: A recent diarrhea outbreak has killed two and hospitalized more than 40 in Benteng district since September 30th.
• Hong Kong. October 8th: The Centre for Food Safety reports that one in 10 samples of noodlefish contained 600 ppm of formaldehyde. By law, the chemical is not permitted for use as a food preservative. The stall where the adulterated noodlefish were found has stopped selling the affected products.
• Hong Kong. October 8th: The Secretary for Food and Health publishes notice that mandatory registration of proprietary Chinese medicines will commence December 3, 2010. Label and package insert requirements will go into effect December 1, 2011.

Australia and New Zealand

• Queensland, Australia. October 7th: Fourteen prisoners and two staff members have fallen ill with stomach cramps, nausea and high temperatures at the Maryborough Correctional centre in south-east Queensland. The affected prisoners have been isolated in their cells.
• Wellington, New Zealand. October 8th: Medsafe has been alerted to the Miracle Mineral Solution products (also known as "Miracle Mineral Supplement" - MMSI and MMSII) in the past and has communicated with the company to require them to cease making claims that their products are an effective treatment for several serious diseases.
• Canberra, Australia. October 8th: Abbott Australasia has agreed to withdraw sibutramine (Reductil) from the Australian market, effective October 9, 2010.

Latin America and the Caribbean

• Durango, Mexico. October 8th: An outbreak of hepatitis A has affected four children attending the Luciano Lopez kindergarten in the community of Ignacio Zaragoza en Nombre de Dios. ther ehave been five hepatitis outbreaks in this community of 250 people in the last 10 years, must likely due to the limited number of sanitary latrines in the village.

Recall Roundup: October 8, 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: Guadalupana Bakery Corp (Brooklyn, NY) recalls 16-ounce packages of Mexican Bread (Assorted) because the products may contain undeclared eggs. The recalled breads, which were sold in uncoded clear plastic bags, were distributed throughout the five New York City boroughs.
• Food Safety Recall: Living Foods, Inc. (Ionia, MI) recalls bulk and retail-size packages of Alfalfa Sprouts (4-ounce cups, 4-ounce bags, 1-pound bags and 5-pound bag-in-box bulk containers; Sell by date 10/2/2010) after a package of the Alfalfa Sprouts tested positive for Salmonella. The recalled sprouts were distributed to unnamed retail and food service facilities through wholesale produce suppliers in Michigan.
• Food Recall: Abbott Laboratories recalls EAS Peak™ brand performance beverages, 16 oz. (see list of flavors and lot numbers) after quality tests indicated the presence of foreign matter in a small number of samples.
• Food Recall: Food City recalls Food Club Meat Canned Spaghetti Sauce. No details given.
• Dietary Supplement Recall: Gaspari Nutrition Incorporated (Lakewood, NJ) recalls all lot codes of Novedex XT, which was marketed "for increasing natural testosterone production" and which contains ATD. Gaspari was notified by FDA that ADT does not meet the definition of a dietary ingredient, placing Novedex XT in violation of provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Canada

• Food Safety Recall: Albion Fisheries Ltd., Aquatex Seafoods Ltd. and Taylor Shellfish Canada ULC (dba Fanny Bay Oysters) recall oysters, mussels and Gallow mussels, harvested on October 3 and October 4, 2010, because the shellfish may contain naturally-occurring paralytic shellfish toxins that can cause illness if consumed. The recalled oysters and mussels were harvested from Subarea 15-4, and were distributed to various retail and institutional clients in British Columbia.
• Cosmetic Product Safety Advisory: Health Canada warns the public that Brazilian Blowout Solution, manufactured by Brazilian Blowout of California, has been found to contain 12% formaldehyde – well beyond the 0.2% permitted for use in cosmetics. Consumers receiving hair smoothing treatments using Brazilian Blowout, and stylists performing the treatment may experience reactions of burning eyes, nose, throat, and breathing troubles.

Europe

• Allergy Alert: The Forge Restaurant (Kells, Co. Meath) recalls The Forge Homemade Apple Tart (all best before dates up to and including 13.10.2010) due to the presence of undeclared egg white protein in the product.
• Food Safety Withdrawal (UK): Ada's Smoked Catfish (120g; ID Mark WQ411) has been withdrawn from sale because it has been labelled with an identification mark of a food manufacturer that is no longer authorized for use. The product has been found for sale in small independent shops in the London area. Local authorities are being asked to ensure that the product is withdrawn from sale and destroyed.
• Food Safety Recall (Denmark): DK Trading Esbjerg ApS recalls Løvbjerg fresh turkey breast (whole or cuts), after Salmonella Saint Paul was found in a sample.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1358): Imidacloprid in Thompson green seedless grapes from Chile; distributed to the United Kingdom.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1359): Unauthorised substance sibutramine in instant coffee from Germany; distributed to Germany.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1360): High content of iodine in sliced dried seaweed from China, via the Netherlands; distributed to Germany.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1361): Campylobacter in fresh whole chicken from Germany; distributed to Denmark.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1362): Salmonella spp. in salami from Italy; distributed to Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

Latin America and the Caribbean

• Food Safety Alert (Colombia): The Instituto Nacional de Vigilancia de Medicamentos y Alimentos (Invima) recommends that the public refrain from buying or consuming Patrick Cudahy Inc. pork pepperoni sausage (Lot #0204; expiration date January 18, 2011), imported from the United States, because the pepperoni may be contaminated with Salmonella. The imported sausage is used mainly for the preparation of fast foods, such as pizza.

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.

Oklahoma Salmonella Source Still A Mystery

No break yet in the Canadian County outbreak investigation

State health officials can put a name to the strain of Salmonella that has sickened elementary school-aged children in Mustang, Oklahoma. But they have not yet been able to identify a common source for the pathogen.

As of yesterday, the Oklahoma State Department of Health have identified fourteen cases of gastroenteritis among Mustang children. Ten of the cases were lab-confirmed. The other four were identified through interviews of ill and non-ill children in the elementary school district.

The four children whose illnesses were not lab-confirmed reported having experienced gastroenteritis symptoms – including diarrhea, vomiting, cramps and fever – that lasted for several days, according to Laurence Burnsed, Director of the Communicable Disease Division. All fourteen children fell ill between September 2nd and September 11th.

In addition to the 14 school children, the outbreak strain – Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate (+), formerly known as Salmonella Java – has been recovered from three adults in two other counties – Oklahoma County and Carter County. One of the three adults was hospitalized.

The same strain of Salmonella has been isolated from two people in Iowa, according to health officials from that state. There have been reports of a case in Nebraska. But the Nebraska case was an Iowa resident whose specimen was processed in a Nebraska lab, according to Leah Bucco-White, Public Information Officer for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

So far, no common element has been found that links the Iowa cases to the Oklahoma cases – or, for that matter, that links the 3 infected Oklahoma adults to the 14 school children in Mustang. And with the epidemiological trail growing increasingly cold, the chances of finding that link are dwindling.

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 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.

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

United States

• Food Safety Recall: Valley Farm Meats, DBA Strasburg Provision, Inc. (Strasburg, OH) recalls approximately 1,187 pounds of ready-to-eat meats that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products include Trail Bologna, Prepared for Abel's Cheese Trail Bologna, Smoked Snack Sticks and Smoked Sliced Bacon (Ohio Dept. of Agr. inspection mark & Est. 80; produced between Sept 21 and Sept 22, 2010; may display Julian date of 265, 266 or 267 or a calendar date of Sept. 9, 2010 or Sept. 10, 2010). The products were offered for sale on or after Sept 22, 2010 at Valley Farm Meats (Strasburg, OH), Abels Cheese (Sardis, OH), D & B (Canton, OH) and Strasburg Meats (Canton, OH).
• Consumer Product Safety Recall: Tabletops Unlimited, Inc. recalls various sizes and colors of Castalon Frying Pans, because the enamel coating can crack and break off after a few uses, posing a burn hazard.

Europe

• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1349): Salmonella in frozen sow tenderloin from Spain; distributed to Denmark and Sweden.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1350): Aflatoxins in pistachio nuts from Germany, with raw material from Iran; distributed to Belgium.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1351): Salmonella in raw frozen chicken cuttlets from Estonia; distributed to Finland.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1352): Carbon monoxide treatment of frozen tilapia fillets from China, via the United Kingdom; distributed to Germany.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1353): Unauthorised substance sildenafil in coffee drink from China and Hong Kong; distributed to Italy.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1354): Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxins in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Italy; distributed to Italy and Spain.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1355): Acetamiprid in aubergines (eggplants) from the Dominican Republic; distributed to France.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1356): 3-monochlor-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD) in soy sauce from the Philippines; distributed to the United Kingdom.
• Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2010.1357): Dioxins in calcium iodate from Canada; distributed to Austria, Belgium and Germany.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Universal Pharmaceutical Laboratories Limited recalls four batches of tablets from one production line after a metal wire was found in one tablet of its product, Bronco-DM tablets.

Australia and New Zealand

• Allergy Alert (Australia): Bacchus Marsh Food Works recalls a number of baked goods (all Best Before dates up to and including 07/10/10) because the baked goods contain egg, which is not declared on the label. The recalled products were sold at Food Works Bacchus Marsh, Food Works Kilmore and Food Works Gisborne in Victoria. No other Food Works stores are affected.
• Cosmetic Product Safety Recall (Australia): Liberty Distributors recalls Carlo Di Roma Brown Mascara (UPC 8436002470831; Batch no. 1204) because the product contains the chemical N-nitrosodiethanolamine, a human carcinogen. The recalled item was sold at Giant Chemist Harbour Town and Giant Chemist Pacific Fair in Queensland.

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.

UK Confirms Sprouts Are Source Of Salmonella Outbreak

Health Protection Agency lab recovers outbreak strain from bean sprout sample

HPA's Centre for Infections has confirmed the link between contaminated bean sprouts and 141 cases of Salmonella Bareilly in the UK, according to a report just released by the Health Protection Agency.

In September, the Food Standards Agency learned that routine testing of salad produce by wholesalers had resulted in the detection of Salmonella in a small number of samples of raw bean sprouts. The type of Salmonella was not known. Nevertheless, on September 17th, the Food Standards Agency and HPA issued a joint reminder on safe handling practices for raw bean sprouts. And they told the British public – for the first time – that an outbreak of Salmonella Bareilly was under investigation.

HPA issued its initial investigation update on September 23rd. By then, the agency had received reports of 68 cases, including 19 in the North West of England, since the beginning of August; Scotland accounted for an additional 15 cases. Normally, HPA confirms fewer than 10 cases of this type of Salmonella per month.

As of September 29th, the number of confirmed cases had risen to 125, including 102 in England, 3 in Wales, 1 in Northern Ireland and 19 in Scotland. By then, HPA's Outbreak Control Team had produced epidemiological evidence of a link to bean sprouts. The Centre for Infections isolated Salmonella from a sample of raw bean sprouts, and was working on the genetic profile.

With today's announcement, the chain of evidence is complete. Consumption of raw or undercooked bean sprouts contaminated with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bareilly has been firmly linked to 141 confirmed cases of Salmonella in the UK.

And what has the Food Standards Agency doing about the contaminated bean sprouts? More to the point, what has FSA not done?

• No bean sprouts have been recalled.
• No bean sprout producer has been named.
• No wholesalers and retailers of the implicated bean sprouts have been named.

As a result, the British public has no idea which brands of bean sprouts or salad preparations are responsible for this outbreak.

HPA and FSA simply have advised consumers that "...bean sprouts are safe to eat provided that they are washed and cooked until piping hot before consumption or are clearly labeled as ready-to-eat."

"The link with bean sprouts has been established," according to Professor Qutub Syed, Chairman of the Outbreak Control Team in charge of the investigation. "However, no one should be put off eating bean sprouts, provided they are properly cooked. The risk is in eating raw or under-cooked bean sprouts. The best advice is to follow the guidance on the packaging, but if there is any doubt or ambiguity about the instructions, cook the sprouts until they are piping hot.”

Well, after that reassuring advice, what is left to say?

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.

Outbreaks and Alerts: October 6, 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

• Multnomah County, OR. October 5th: A health advisory prompted by high algae levels has been lifted for Blue Lake.
• Toledo, WA. October 5th: Customers of the City of Toledo in Lewis County are advised to boil their tap water following a water line break. This advisory affects nearly 400 homes and businesses. Toledo Elementary, Toledo Middle School and Toledo Alternative Options School are closed until the advisory ends. The local high school is not affected.
• Onondaga County, NY. October 5th: The Onondaga County Health Department and the New York State Department of Health are investigating the source of at least seven lab-confirmed cases of Campylobacter infections. The outbreak victims became ill after eating at Hinerwadel's on September 15th.
• Atchison, KS. October 6th: A boil water advisory has been issued for Atchison due to a line break on the raw water line feeding the water treatment plant.
• Mustang, OK. October 6th: The cluster of Salmonella Java infections in Oklahoma has increased to 17; 14 students in Mustang (10 lab-confirmed), two adults in Oklahoma County and one in Carter County. One adult has been hospitalized. Two cases in Iowa also have been matched genetically to the Oklahoma cases, but there is no evidence yet of a common source for the outbreak.

Canada

• Vancouver, BC. October 6th: Listeria monocytogenes has been found in 18% of ready-to-eat fish products tested in BC. All of the Listeria-positive samples were smoked salmon.
• Ottawa, ON. October 6th: Health Canada reminds the public of appropriate steps to ensure safe cooking and handling of turkey for the coming Thanksgiving celebration.

Europe

• Copenhagen, Denmark. October 6th: The Food Administration warns the public that the marketing of the dietary supplement Reduxin is misleading.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• Delhi, India. October 5th: Commonwealth Games organizers have ordered an inspection of all food at the athletes village after three Australians developed gastroenteritis.
• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. October 6th: The Ho Chi Minh City Paediatric Hospital No. 1 has admitted a child who experienced convulsions after drinking a liquid vitamin-D supplement.
• Gombe, Nigeria. October 6th: At least 122 people have died of cholera and more than 1,700 cases have been reported during the current outbreak.

Latin America and the Caribbean

• Guerrero, Mexico. October 5th: Several outbreaks of hepatitis A have been reported, due to the consumption of contaminated drinking water.

Recall Roundup: October 6, 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: Value Natural recalls Value Natural Calmyma Figs (8 oz; UPC 9042921885) because worms were found in a single sealed package. The figs were sold in Price Chopper stores.

Canada

• Health Hazard Alert: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency warns the public not to consume Smoked Salmon purchased from Sausage Kitchen Fine Sausages & Meats (Ottawa, ON) from September 10 to October 4, 2010, because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Europe

• Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Celtic Pure recalls Ramor Aontaithe C.L.G Natural Still Water in 500 ml bottles (BN 180; Best before 27th December 2011) due to the presence of enterococci. The water was distributed locally in Virginia, Co. Cavan.
• Health Hazard Alert (France): The Ministry of Health and Sports alerts the public to the risks associated with the consumption of the product known as Miracle Mineral Solution, or MMS. When activated according to package directions, this product becomes a solution of 28% sodium chlorite (bleach), and can cause severe injury when ingested. Health authorities in Canada, Australia, the USA and the UK also have issued warnings about this product.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1343): Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxins in frozen cooked mussels ( Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Slovenia; distributed to Italy.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1344): Too high content of cyclamate in powder drink from Turkey, via Hungary; distributed to Slovakia.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1345): Escherichia coli in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Greece; distributed to Italy.
• Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1346): Escherichia coli in chilled clams (Tapes decussatus) from Turkey; distributed to Italy.
• Consumer Product Safety Notification (EU #2010.1347): Nitrosamines in soother from Italy; distributed to Greece.
• Consumer Product Safety Notification (EU #2010.1348): Migration of primary aromatic amines from kitchen utensils from China; distributed in Denmark and Germany.

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.

Unscrambling The Egg Mess: Where Are We Now?

A recap and unofficial update on the US Salmonella Enteritidis shell egg outbreak

At the end of this week, CDC plans to release an update on its investigation of this outbreak. The agency expects to issue a final update in late November – around Thanksgiving.

One day soon – perhaps this week, according to my FDA contact – FDA might release an update on its outbreak investigation.

For the moment, this is where things stand.

The Numbers

• 1,608 lab-confirmed illnesses linked to shell eggs between May 1 and September 14, 2010
• 29 restaurant or event clusters of illnesses reported in 11 states
• 15 of the 29 cluster venues were supplied with eggs from Wright County Egg in Galt, IA (WCE)
• the number of illnesses peaked in June/July, but continued to track above baseline at least through August
• 7 Salmonella Enteritidis-contaminated environmental samples – six from Wright County Egg and one from Hillandale – have been found by FDA. All seven are a genetic match for the outbreak strain

The Traceback, The Recalls and The FDA Investigation Timeline

• August 6:- FDA conducted a traceback investigation on three illness cluster venues: one each in Minnesota, Colorado and California
• August 9:- FDA contacted WCE after identifying the shell egg producer as the source of eggs in the three illness clusters
• August 12:- FDA began inspections at WCE in Galt, IA
• August 13:- WCE issued its first recall notice of eggs from three farms
• August 17:- The secondary recalls issued by customers of WCE and Hillandale began
• August 18:- WCE expanded its recall to include eggs from two additional farms
• August 19:- FDA began inspections at Hillandale Farms of Iowa
• August 20:- Hillandale issued recall notice
• August 26:- In a media teleconference, FDA reported finding 4 Salmonella Enteritidis-contaminated environmental samples from the WCE inspections. Work on the majority of the 600 environmental samples taken during those inspections was still in progress.
• August 30:- FDA released to the public its Form 483 Inspection Observations reports for both WCE and Hillandale, after first having issued the reports to both egg producers. Two additional Salmonella Enteritidis-contaminated samples were added to the list – including one from Hillandale Farms – bringing the total to six contaminated samples, with work on the remainder of the 600 samples still in progress.
• September 20:- CDC mentioned in its Investigation Update that a seventh Salmonella Enteritidis-contaminated environmental sample was found.
• September 22:- The House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations heard testimony from two outbreak victims, from the owners of Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms, and from the FDA. A transcript of the hearing, together with supplementary exhibits and documents is available on the Subcommittee web page.

What Next?

FDA is still working through the 600 environmental samples taken during its inspections of Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms. The agency has not said how many of those samples are still in progress. FDA did not include any shell eggs in the 600 samples from these producers.

I have been told by Ira Allen (FDA Office of Public Affairs) that FDA has begun its inspection program under the new Egg Rule. According to Mr. Allen, the first of those inspections were completed in Maine in late September. While Mr. Allen did not identify the target of the Maine inspection, my guess is that FDA focused first on Quality Egg of New England, LLC (Turner, ME), which has ties to the DeCoster family, the owners of Wright County Egg. The next inspections – most likely already underway – are planned for the Midwest.

FDA has not said whether it plans to release the results of its Egg Rule inspections. Let's hope that we don't have to wait for more recall notices in order to find out which egg farms have been inspected.

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.

Outbreaks and Alerts: October 5, 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

• Lane County, OR. October 4th: A health advisory prompted by high algae levels found in Dorena Reservoir has been lifted.
• Roseville, CA. October 4th: Seven people were hospitalized after food served at a wedding reception sickened at least 30 guests.
• Lane County and Coos County, OR. October 5th: Health advisories prompted by high algae levels found in Blue Water Reservoir and Sru Lake have been lifted.

Europe

• UK. October 4th: Nearly 300 vacationers who were infected with Shigella after staying at the Royal Park Hotel in Bulgaria have begun legal action. The outbreak of gastroenteritis took place between June and October 2008.
• Dublin, Ireland. October 5th: The Food Safety Authority of Ireland reports that four Closure Orders and one Prohibition Order were served on food businesses during September 2010.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. September 28th: The Saudi FDA has become a member of the European Rapid Alert System for Food & Feed (RASFF) and of the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN).
• Hong Kong. October 5th: The Centre for Health Protection is investigating two clusters of suspected food poisoning involving 11 people. The individuals became ill after consuming food in a restaurant in Tsuen Wan.
• Papua New Guinea. October 5th: Four cases of cholera have been confirmed in the Yangorus district of East Sepik.
• Bangalore, India. October 5th: A third Royal Bengal tiger has died in a south Indian zoo after becoming infected with Salmonella. It is thought that the tigers were infected after consuming contaminated chicken or beef.

Australia and New Zealand

• Wellington, New Zealand. October 5th: The New Zealand Food Safety Authority reminds the public that whitebait, fish and shellfish taken from sewage-contaminated rivers in the Canterbury area can cause serious illness. Refusal of whitebaiters to comply with warnings risks the prospect of significant fines or even prison sentences.

Latin America and the Caribbean

• Jamaica. October 1st: The Ministry of Health advises the public to treat water intended for consumption by bleach or boiling, as the water may become contaminated after heavy rainfall and flooding.