Labeling error forces recall at Whole Food Markets

Rip Roarin’ Crab Soup byBlount Fine Foods is being pulled of the shelves at Eastern Coast Whole Foods Markets due to undeclared allergens.  The food label attached to the back of the soup container indicates the contents in error as Manhattan Clam Chowder. The product food content label does not list milk, crab and wheat as ingredients. People sensitive or allergic to these specific allergens can experience a very serious reaction if unknowingly ingested.

The product is packed in 16-ounce plastic tubs and is marked with a product code of 71116 / Lot No. 1202117D.  The Use or Freeze by date is February 10, 2012.

Products with these codes and date should not use the soup, but return it to the location of purchase for a refund.  Blount Fine Foods can be contacted via phone at 800-274-2526, or through their website at www.blountfinefoods.com.

Recent FDA Food Safety Recalls include favorite brand names

Check out these recent FDA food safety recalls:

Alpine Slicing and Cheese Conversion Company recalls “Brennan’s Cellars Shredded Premium Fondue Blend, Emmentaler Swiss & GruyereCheese,” "Brennan’s Cellars Shredded Mild Colored Cheddar Cheese”, and “Brennan’s Cellars Shredded Part Skim Mozzarella Cheese” due to possible health risk

guava sticks

RichProducts Corporation announces nationwide recall of 1/4 (Quarter)Sheet Vanilla Flavored Pre-Soaked Sponge Cake Artificially Flavored

Enhorabuena! Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Milk, Wheat, Tree Nuts, and Eggs in “Palitos de Guayaba” (Guava Sticks)

 

Voluntary Recall of Limited Quantity of 6-pack 250 mL Martinelli's Gold Medal Sparkling Cider

Bekkum Family Farms recalls Nordic Creamery Brand Grumpy Goat Shreds With A Sell By Date Of 10-MAR-12 due to possible Listeria contamination

Green Valley Food Corp. is further expanding its recent recall to include more Products due to possible consumer health risk.

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

Recent Food-Related Recalls Cause Concern

Although the media is much more likely to set off all the bells and whistles for a toy recall, the Federal Food and Drug Association’s (FDA) food safety alerts seem to get much less attention.  From September 1 through October 24, 2011 CPSC announced eight recalled toys covering a total quantity of 1,863,805 units. The safety issues involved in these eight recalls include a laceration injury, 2 potential small part choking incidents, 1 lead paint incident and one potential suffocation concern.  These recalls were prompted by one injury and three child-involved incidents where no injury occurred, as well as toy manufacturers' own product integrity program checks and balances.

On the other hand, during that same time period, the FDA has announced a whooping 45 food-related recalls!  These food alerts included violations that could result in illness, reactions and infections that range from serious to life threatening.  The FDA recalls rarely list a quantity of units involved, so it might be reasonable to assume that these potentially expose many more consumers to harm than those toys recalled during the same time period.

Take a look at what the last fifty-five days of food recalls brought to light:

• Wire pieces in snacks
• Undeclared milk
• Undeclared peanuts
• Undeclared sulfites
• Undeclared wheat
• Undeclared gluten
• Undeclared egg
• Undeclared tree nuts
• Undeclared shrimp
• Uneviserated fish
• Listeria monocytogenes
• Salmonella
• Elevated levels of histamine

Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella are both organisms that can cause serious to fatal infections in young children, as well as individuals who are elderly, frail or have compromised immune systems. Listeria infection has also been known to cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. Elevated levels of histamine in food can cause various reactions, which may not be limited to a burning sensation in the mouth, facial swelling, rash, hives or itchy skin.  Others might experience nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.  Wire mesh or small fragments of wire pieces caused scratching and scraping in and around the mouth, gums and throat.

Twenty-two undeclared allergens, 15 cases of Listeria monocytogenes contamination, and eight cases of Salmonella contamination make up the majority of the food health warnings.  While smaller food producers were called out in these alerts, big players like General Mills, Nestle, Kroger, Kraft, Pepperidge Farms and Quaker Oats were also culprits.  With numbers and name brands like these being recalled within only 55 days, it is surprising that more attention to FDA’s failing report card does make the headlines.  In fact, for the most part, they barely made a blip on the media radar.

The FDA is the federal agency held responsible for overseeing most of the food supply in the United States. Their goal remains to protect the public health by ensuring the nation’s food supply is safe, correctly labeled and packaged.  It’s a tough job, since they face increasing challenges in this world of globalization. Innovative new food and animal drug technologies seem to be changing faster than the rules and regulations can address. More and more people are becoming sensitive to airborne and foodborne pathogens, making undeclared allergens a serious concern.  The escalated problem with obesity in our children and adults provides a petri dish for many chronic medical conditions.  Surprisingly, the FDA states that intentional contamination of food is also a growing concern.

On January 4, 2011, the President signed into law the new Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 (FSMA).  This was the first major revamping of the food safety & protection system in almost three-quarters of a century!  The new FSMA enhances FDA authority, encourages partnerships and expands protection system from “farm to table.” (1) Hopefully these new provisions will help reduce the alarming quantity of food safety contaminations that are making their way to our pantry shelves.

  

(1) See details on FSMA at http://www.fda.gov/food/foodsafety/fsma/default.htm.)

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.