See's Almond Clusters recalled for peanut content

‘Tis the Season for candy and treats; 

cookies and lollipops; and all kinds of sweets.

See’s Candies has been a company and personal gift-giving favorite since their start in 1921. Long known for their homemade delights and consistent quality, the company fell victim to a little Bah-Humbug this week when they announced a safety recall on one batch of Almond Clusters (8 oz. size).

The batch being recalled (Code SF 088/12 only) is suspected of containing peanuts. Peanuts are a known allergen to many who have an allergy or sensitivity to the nuts. Allergic reactions to peanuts can be mild to life-threatening.  For this reason, See’s is pulling back 3,600 boxes in the singular production run marked SF 008/12.

The candied nuts were sold through See’s Holiday Gift Centers and licensed shops in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Consumers can contact See’s for details at (800) 789-7337

UPDATE: Ocean Spray Craisons® recall expanded

UPDATE:  On December 2, 2011, Ocean Spray added five more “Best By” code dates to their voluntary recall of selected batches of Craisins® on November 25, 2011. This update includes a specific number of production batches shown below:

The new batches shown above were only shipped to retailers in eight western states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington.

See original post below for consumers instructions.

Ocean Spray Craisons® recalled for metal fragment contamination

Nov, 25,2011

Dried cranberries and raisins are popular all-year ‘round, but during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays their popularity gets kicked into high-gear.  Cranberry sauces for the turkey dinner and cranberry muffins or scones for family breakfast festivities. Ocean Spray has long been known as one of the premier makers of packaged dried fruit for healthy snacking and backing. It was Ocean Spray’s idea to combine these two delicious dried fruits into one delectable creation, Craisins®.

The company’s reputation for safe and quality food handling processes ran into some trouble this week, as the company announced a food safety recall of four styles of their packaged dried “Craisons®”  The recall was done in due caution when small, thin metal fragments were discovered to have possibly contaminated specific batches of the packed fruit.

The recall involves five, ten, forty-eight ounce and 10 lb bulk packs of Ocean Spray Original Flavor Craisins® Dried Cranberries. Although no injuries have been reported, and it is unlikely that these hair-like pieces would cause illness or injury, Ocean Spray is taking these voluntary actions to ensure consumer safety.

To check the details on this recall, click the link to the FDA announcement here.  Consumers who purchased one of the batches outlined in the chart below should remove the UPC label, discard the package and contact Ocean Spray via phone at (800) 662-3263 for a replacement product coupon.

Product Name	Best By Dates
5 oz Craisins® UPC: 00293-000	Oct 27 2012  M
10 oz Craisins® UPC: 29456-000 and 29464-000	Oct 27 2012 M  Oct 28 2012 M  Oct 29 2012 M
48 oz Craisins® UPC: 00678-318	Oct  27 2012 M Nov   3 2012 M Nov   4 2012 M Nov   5 2012 M Nov   6 2012 M Nov   7 2012 M Nov 10 2012 M Nov 11 2012 M
10 lb bulk ingredient & foodservice UPC: 03477-000	30 Oct 2013 M 31 Oct 2013 M 1 Nov 2013 M 5 Nov 2013 M

Consumer health threatened by these manufacturers' errors

The Thanksgiving holiday weekend promises plates of appetizers, main courses and tantalizing desserts, all designed to remind the gathered groups of how blessed each one is to have food to eat this holiday.  Having spent many years working in poor townships and villages of South Africa and Sri Lanka, this attitude of appreciation is a daily mindset at our home.

This week the celebrations in many homes may be stunted by the slew of FDA food safety recalls that have made the news.

The links for information are included below, but here is the skinny on a few you’ll want to be aware of:

Caribbean Rum Balls label
missing ingredient list

The tasty rum balls made in the Virgin islands by Caribbean Rum Balls were recalled for undeclared allergens.  That's right, plural.  The label on these treats neglected to list wheat, coconut, eggs, milk and sodium bisulfite (a preservative). In fact, there was no ingredient list at all on the product packaging!  Sold through the mail and in local markets, the rum balls were packed in 4, 8 and 12 ounce containers.

Consumers can contact Caribbean Rum Balls via phone at (340) 755-6616.  

Details about the recall can be found here.

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During a standard factory inspection, the New York State Department of Agriculture & Market Foods found unsatisfactory handling and processing methods associated with Munia Brand Churi Dry Fish. The inspection revealed that the fish, a product of Bangladesh, had been incorrectly eviscerated, which could promote the contamination of dangerous Clostridium botulinum spores. These spores are known to be a cause of botulism which can have serious, even fatal effects if ingested.   

Botulism is a serious condition that can show itself through symptoms such as double or blurred vision, lethargy, slow reflexes and trouble swallowing and breathing.

Munia Brand Dry Fish

The Best Used Before code on the affected packages is April-2013.  They had nationwide sales, but fortunately so far no illnesses have been attributed to this product. Consumers are encouraged not to eat the affected product, and may contact Munia at (718) 366-6580.

Check here for more specific details. 

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Georgia seafood packagers, King & Prince Seafood Corporation, have issued a recall of 24 Nova Scotia style Cold Smoked Salmon and Sable Fish Lox, Salmon Sushi Fillets, and Salmon Trim.  Each product was vacuum-packed and sold in frozen form beginning on October 4, 2011, but may have been sold thawed at the retail level.

The health issue here is that the packs may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes which, if ingested, has the potential to cause illness in children, the elderly or those with compromised immune systems, and stillbirths or miscarriages in pregnant women.

Check the recall here for details of specific products being recalled. Date codes involved include: 1277W, 1278W, 1279W, 1280W, 1281W, 1283W, 1284W, 1285W, 1286W, 1287W, 1290W, 1291W, 1292W, 1293W, 1294W, 1297W, 1298W, 1299W, 1300W, 1303W, 1306W, 1311W, 1312W, 1313W, 1314W.

Consumers who purchased these products at retail markets should return them to place of purchase.  Markets who purchased the products frozen from King & Prince Seafood should contact them directly at 800-632-5464 or online at nova@kpseafood.com 

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GFS® sugar canisters from Diamond Crystal Brands, Inc. was recalled last week when it was discovered that they had mistakenly filled the twelve ounce sugar canisters with non-dairy coffee creamer.  Shipped in cases marked as “GFS® NON-DAIRY COFFEE CREAMER-24/12 ounce - Lot G293 B,” the canisters inside the cases were labeled on the bottom of each containers as “GFS® SUGAR – Lot G293 B.”

GFS Sugar mistakenly contains coffee
creamer and milk allergen

Past the obvious issue of having coffee creamer in a sugar jar, the more serious issue is the presence of sodium caseinate, a milk by-product. People with milk allergies who unknowingly ingest this milk product, could have a severe or life-threatening allergic reaction. 

Check here for more details.

Consumers should check any GFS® sugar canisters they may have and if an incorrect container is discovered, they are encouraged to contact Diamond Crystal Products directly at (800) 654-5115.

Ohio & Indiana: Undeclared allergen alert on vending machine sandwich

The Maumee Valley Vending Company (MVVC) is alerting customers by phone and in writing that about 350 of their Buffalo Chicken Wing Sandwiches contain cheese, but the milk product is not declared on the product ingredient label. The sandwiches were sold in office vending machines in Ohio and Indiana. 

Consumers with milk allergies can have mild to very severe reactions if the cheese in consumed.

The product involved is marked on the label with the product code: CLF103 11/21 and sold for $1.85 each.  It was packaged in the typical white plastic holder with clear plastic wrap covering the sandwich and package (as shown here).

Consumers in Indiana and Ohio who purchased the sandwiches are advised to return the sandwich to place of purchase for refund.

Those with further questions can contact MVVC by phone at 1-800-569-8090.

Peanut Butter Lovers Beware !

Three thousand jars of Smucker’s® Natural Chunky Peanut Butter was recalled on November 16, 2011, due to a possible bacteria Salmonella contamination.

The J.M. Smucker Company peanut butter involved in this FDA recall is the 16 oz. jars marked with UPC code 5150001701.  This code can be found printed on the product label just below the barcode.

The peanut butter in this recall was sold across the USA, specifically in the following states: Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia. Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

To identify the affected product, look for the criteria below: 

• Best if Used by date reads: August 3, 2012 and August 4, 2012
• Production Code: 1307004 and 1308004
• Purchased between November 8-17, 2011

Stop using the product immediately.  Discard the product so no other human or animal can consume it, and contact J.M. Smuckers for replacement coupon.

Contact company via phone:  1-888-55-9555

Kraft recalls Velveeta Microwavable Snack Cups

There are Velveeta lovers in this world, and there are mac ‘n cheese lovers.  Then there are those really special culinary gourmets who combine the two for a tasty treat.  Kraft Foods Global, the makers of Velveeta, is hands-down an institution with the folks who opt for the tasty combo.

Sadly, Kraft announced a recall on September 30^th for four styles of the Shells & Cheese Single Serve Microwavable Cups. About 137,000 products have been shipped for distribution onto retail shelves in the United States. Kraft is pulling specific batches off the shelves due to the possible presence of thin wire pieces inside. The recall stands in line behind Pepperidge Farms, whose Baked Naturals Sesame Sticks, who issues a similar recall on September 23, 2011 when some small, thin pieces of wire were found in their products.  Unlike the Pepperidge Farms recall, Kraft has received no customer complaints or reports of contamination, but are recalling the products to protect the consumers.

Name of Product	Size	Best When Used By Dates (look on bottom of package)	UPC
Velveeta Shells & Cheese Original Microwaveable Cups	2.39 oz. cup	16 MAY 2012	2100002322
Velveeta Shells & Cheese Original Four Pack Microwaveable Cups	4 x 2.39 oz. cup	24 APR 2012 to 16 MAY 2012	2100002339
Velveeta Shells & Cheese Made with 2% Milk Microwaveable Cups	2.19 oz cup	25 MAR 2012 to 30 MAR 2012	2100002323
Velveeta Shells & Cheese Made with 2% Milk Four Pack Microwaveable Cups	4 x 2.19 oz cup	29 MAR 2012 to 12 APR 2012	2100002946
Velveeta Rotini & Cheese Broccoli Microwaveable Cups	2.44 oz cup	29 APR 2012 to 14 MAY 2012	2100002318

Products affected are ONLY those with the “best when used by” dates indicated above.  Consumers who may have already purchased the product should not use them, and immediately return them to the place of purchase for exchange or refund.

Any other questions can be addressed to Kraft Foods at (800) 308-1841.

Possible Contamination of Wire Flecks Prompts Pepperidge Farm Recall

It’s bad enough that so many of us have those nightmare memories of schooldays spent with wire-threaded metal bands slowly and painfully correcting our awkward adolescent smile. Now the folks at Pepperidge Farm, Inc. may have found a way to create an even more painful scenario.  

Photo:  FDA

Some consumers have complained about slight scrapes inside and around their mouth from eating Pepperidge Farm Baked Naturals Sesame Sticks. Pepperidge Farm issued the voluntary recall of a specific quantity of 10.2-ounce boxes of the Sesame Sticks product. This action was taken as a preventative measure, just in case any of the products happen to experience the presence of small, thin pieces of wire!

The 13,000 cases of products included in this recall were made at the company’s Willard manufacturing facility in Ohio.  Each individual package is marked with a bright yellow banner with the words “20% More!” printed toward the top of the front panel of the box.  Look for the codes below on the top package flap:

     W07*1781 Sell by 11/20/2011          W07*1891 Sell by 11/27/2011
     W07*1921 Sell by 12/4/2011            W07*2041 Sell by 12/11/2011
     W07*2061 Sell by 12/13/2011          W07*2221 Sell by 1/1/2012

These are the ONLY codes involved in this recall. Product was sold in the USA only.

According to the FDA recall information, “consumers who have purchased this product should not eat it. They should check their pantry shelves for boxes with "Sell By" dates of 11/20/2011 through 1/1/2012 marked on the top package flaps and return them to the store of purchase for an exchange or full refund.”

Pepperidge Farm customer service can also be contacted directly at (866) 535-3774. 

Vita Food Sliced Smoked Atlantic Nova Salmon Recalled by FDA

Alert Type:                FDA Recall

What:                        Vita Classic Premium Sliced Smoked Atlantic Nova 

                                  Salmon (8,088 packages involved)

Packaged by:             Food Products, Inc. (Chicago, ILL)

Hazard:                      Possible contamination by Listeria monocytogenes.

Details of Hazard:      Listeria monocytogenes can cause flu-like illness in healthy adults, but can lead to serious illness, or death in young children and individuals with compromised immune systems. It has also been known to cause miscarriages and stillbirths.

Illness or Injury:         None to date

Where Sold:              

• Publix stores: Alabama,  Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee 

• Safeway stores:  California, District of Columbia, Idaho, Oregon, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington

• Meijer stores: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio

• Vons stores: California

• Genuardi’s stores: Pennsylvania, New Jersey

• Winn Dixie stores: Florida

• Edgewater Produce store: Chicago, IL on or after July 25, 2011 may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. 

FDA also warns that an "additional 828 packages of this same product have either possibly been sold or are being offered for sale at various grocery stores in the Buffalo, NY and Pittsburgh, PA metropolitan areas and Northeast Ohio."



Product Packaging:       See photo. 

Sell Date Info:             The SELL BY Date and Code of DEC 15 2011 01961B is printed in see-though panel on front of package.

4-5 slices (total 4 oz.) of smoked salmon per vacuum-sealed package. Package size 7¾“ wide x  7¼” high x ¼” thick

Photo: FDA

Special Instructions:   PER FDA ALERT:

“If any consumer purchased a product with that SELL BY Date and Code from a retail store on or after July 25, 2011 he or she should not consume any of the Vita Classic Premium Sliced Smoked Atlantic Nova Salmon product. Then, the Company asks that it be sealed in plastic bag or placed in some similar container and returned to the retailer from which it was purchased.”

Contact Info:                1-800-989-8482 on weekdays from 8am to 5pm (CT)

Anyone who has eaten the affected product and is experiencing any unusual or severe flu-like symptoms should visit an emergency room immediately or contact your doctor for advice.