Fresh Express is voluntarily recalling 480 cases of American Salad because it may contain undeclared egg, milk, wheat, and anchovy, which are four of the major food allergens. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the consumption of this product. A small number of Caesar Salad condiment packets with undeclared allergens may have been mistakenly put into a limited quantity of American salads. The condiment packets are in a separate clear pouch and are labeled "Caesar," but the ingredient list for the condiments is not on the package label, so consumers will not be aware that those allergens are present. The recall is for 11 ounce packages of Fresh Express American Salad. The product code is G264A12A and the use by date is October 5, 2016. The UPC number for this … [Read more...]
General Mills Flour E. coli Outbreak Investigation Ends
The E. coli O121 and O26 outbreak linked to recalled Gold Medal flour from General Mills is over, according to the CDC, but the government expects illnesses to continue for some time. These products have long shelf lives and may still be in consumers' homes. A list of the recalled products and how to identify them is at the CDC web site. The recalled products include several varieties of Gold Medal flour, along with brownie and cake mixes, bread mixes, muffin mixes, pancake and biscuit mixes, and meat and poultry products that were made with the recalled flours. A total of 63 people in 24 states have been infected so far. Seventeen of those people were hospitalized for their illnesses. One person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). No deaths were reported in this outbreak. … [Read more...]
Hawaii Hepatitis A Outbreak Grows to 282 Sick
The hepatitis A outbreak in Hawaii linked to frozen scallops imported from the Philippines has now sickened 282 people, according to the latest update from the Hawaii State Department of Health. That is an increase of six new cases since the last update on September 21, 2016. All of the cases have been in adults. Seventy-one people have been hospitalized because their illness is so serious. That's a hospitalization rate of 25%, slightly higher than the average 20% rate in a typical hepatitis A outbreak. Most of those sickened live on the island of Oahu. Five people live on the mainland or overseas. Public health officials announced on August 15, 2016, that raw scallops served at Genki Sushi restaurants on Oahu and Kauai are the "likely source" of the ongoing outbreak. The product … [Read more...]
Caviness Beef Packers Recall Ground Beef for Possible E. coli O103
Caviness Beef Packers of Hereford, Texas is recalling about 2,100 pounds of boneless beef trim products that were made into ground beef and may be contaminated with E. coli O103. These products were sold to another firm and were then available for direct consumer purchase at retail locations in Texas. The recalled products are 2,100 pound Combo Bin of "boneless beef trim 84L" produced on September 14, 2016 and processed into ground beef products by another establishment. The ground beef may not have the Caviness Establishment number 675, but may have another number inside the USDA seal. Caviness Beef has control of all but 320 pounds of ground beef products. They are: 10 pound chub of 73% Regular Ground Beef with a "use by" or "freeze by" date of October 10, 2016 with UPC number … [Read more...]
FDA Notes Decline in Cyclospora Cases
The FDA has released information about the decline of Cyclospora cases in the U.S. when compared to 2015, 2014, and 2013. FDA activities, including import alerts and testing of imported products, have contributed to that decline. In each of the last three summers, there have been huge cyclosporiasis outbreaks in this country that have been linked to imported produce. As a result of traceback investigation by the government from 2013 to 2015, the FDA inspected farms and packing houses in Puebla, Mexico and found conditions that may cause contamination of cilantro and other produce with human feces. The FDA implemented an Import Alert for fresh cilantro from the state of Puebla, Mexico as a result of these investigations. Cilantro imported from this region is detained and refused … [Read more...]
Tropical Smoothie Virginia Hepatitis A Outbreak Grows to 105
The hepatitis A outbreak linked to Tropical Smoothie Cafes has grown to include 105 sick in Virginia alone. The CDC has not updated their investigation into this outbreak since September 16, 2016. The CDC's numbers for those sickened in other states are: Arkansas (1), Maryland (12), New York (3), North Carolina (1), Oregon (1), West Virginia (6), and Wisconsin (1). That means there are at least 130 people sick with hepatitis A infections in this particular outbreak. In Virginia, the case count by region is: 60 Northern, 15 Northwest, 17 Eastern, 13 Central, 0 Southwest. About 35% of those sickened have been hospitalized because their illnesses are so serious. The patient age range is 14 to 70. Illness onset dates are from early May through September 2016. This outbreak is slowing … [Read more...]
FDA Investigates Island Soup Company
The FDA is advising consumers to throw away any soup products from the New York firm Island Soups Company with best before dates between July 2015 and June 2018 because they may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum bacteria. That bacteria produces a toxin that can be deadly even in very small amounts. The company issued a recall for six soup varieties of their products on September 7, 2016. But in the notice from the FDA, they state that "FDA's safety concerns extend to all low-acid canned food products with best before dates between July 2015 and June 2018." FDA officials inspected Island Soups Company on June 22, 2016 and found that the facility "does not meet mandatory safety requirements for thermally processed low-acid canned food (LACF) products under the Federal … [Read more...]
Good Sense Cranberries ‘N More Recalled for Undeclared Allergens
Waymouth Farms, Inc. is voluntarily recalling Good Sense® Cranberries 'N More trail mix because other allergens were inadvertently packed into the package. The recall is for 2640 of these packages. The recall is for undeclared peanuts, walnuts, wheat, milk, and soy. Anyone allergic to those ingredients could have a serious reaction if they eat this product. There is no word on whether or not any reactions have been reported to date. The recalled product is Good Sense® Cranberries 'N More in a 6 ounce (170 gram) packages with a "Freshest if used by" date of 8/16/2017 A 15:00 through "Freshest if used by" date of 8/16/2017 A 23:00. If you are allergic to peanuts, walnuts, wheat, milk, and/or soy or are lactose intolerant, do not eat this product. Throw it away or take it back to the … [Read more...]
Mt Kisco Smokehouse Recalls Smoked Salmon for Listeria
Mt. Kisco Smokehouse of New York is voluntarily recalling two types of smoked salmon because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses have been reported to date, but the illness caused by this bacteria can take up to 70 days to appear. An FDA inspection revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in floor drains and cracks in the floor in the company's facility. The recalled products are Atlantic Smoked Salmon Whole lot # 13723516 USE BY 09 12 16 and lot # 1215316 USE BY 9 30 16. Also recalled is Sliced - Smoked Atlantic Salmon in an 8 ounce (225.89 gram) package. The lot numbers and use by dates for that product are lot # 12125116 USE BY 09 28 16, lot # 12125216 USE BY 09 29 16, lot # 11325716 USE BY 10 03 16, and lot # 11325816 USDE BY 10 05 16. … [Read more...]
Canned Vegetables Recalled for Undeclared Shellfish
Sager Creek Foods, a subsidiary of Del Monte Foods, is recalling 15,000 shipped cases of canned vegetables, primarily non-retail, which may have the potential to contain trace amounts of shellfish. Anyone who is allergic to shellfish could have a serious reaction if they eat these products. No illnesses have been reported to date. You can see pictures of product labels at the USDA web site. The products were shipped to Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. They are sold in 106 ounce metal cans with Best By Dates of JUN 01 19 printed on the top. The recalled products are: Allens Cut … [Read more...]
