Category Archives: Recall

USA – Norovirus Outbreak: Raw Oysters Linked To 41 Cases In San Diego County

Patch

SAN DIEGO, CA — Dozens of people have gotten sick after eating raw oysters in San Diego County.

County health officials have linked 41 confirmed and probable cases of norovirus to raw oysters imported from a specific harvest location in Northwest Mexico. Norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The cases began in mid-December when people dined on raw oysters from Sonora, Mexico, according to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency. The oysters were only available through restaurants and wholesale locations.

Health officials have asked those who purchased “Rocky Point oysters,” packed by GOLPAC in Bahia Salina, Sonora, to not eat or serve them until the outbreak investigation is completed.

USA – Cheese recalled in Hawaii due to Listeria

Food Poison Journal

Rizo_Cotija_Top_V2_CROPPED

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health (DOH) is alerting residents to a voluntary recall of Rizo Bros. California Creamery’s Cotija Aged Mexican Grating Cheese, batch number 4DW-23318, for potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes. This product was distributed nationwide, including retailers in Hawaiʻi such as R. Field Wine Company, select Foodland and Foodland Farms supermarkets, and Cost.U.Less Hilo.

This recall is the result of a food sampling and analysis partnership conducted by DOH’s Laboratory Preparedness and Response Branch (LPRB) and Food and Drug Branch (FDB), and funded by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, to collect certain food products and test for Salmonellaand/or Listeria monocytogenes to protect public health.

FDA Advises Restaurants and Retailers Not to Serve or Sell and Consumers Not to Eat Certain Whole, Live Scallops Believed to Be Harvested from a Prohibited Area in Massachusetts and Distributed by Intershell International Corp (MA 7802 SP)

FDA

Audience

  • Restaurants and food retailers in Illinois (IL), Massachusetts (MA), New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), and Pennsylvania (PA) that have recently purchased certain Intershell International Corp (MA 7802 SP) whole, live scallops that were received from an unlicensed harvester, believed to be harvested from prohibited waters in MA and incorrectly labeled as harvest location FED 514, with harvest dates 12/26/23, 12/27/23 and 01/01/24.
  • Consumers in IL, MA, NJ, NY, and PA who have recently purchased or consumed certain Intershell International Corp (MA 7802 SP) whole, live scallops, that were received from an unlicensed harvester, believed to be harvested from prohibited waters in MA and incorrectly labeled as harvest location FED 514, with harvest dates 12/26/23, 12/27/23 and 01/01/24.

Product

Certain whole, live scallops that were received from an unlicensed harvester, believed to be harvested from prohibited waters in MA and incorrectly labeled as harvest location FED 514, with harvest dates 12/26/23, 12/27/23 and 01/01/24 that were distributed to IL, MA, NJ, NY, and PA. It is possible that these scallops may have been distributed to other states as well.

Purpose

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising consumers not to eat, and restaurants and food retailers not to sell, and to dispose of certain Intershell International Corp (MA 7802 SP) whole, live scallops that were received from an unlicensed harvester, believed to be harvested from prohibited waters in MA and incorrectly labeled as harvest location FED 514, with harvest dates 12/26/23, 12/27/23 and 01/01/24 because they may be contaminated. The scallops were directly distributed to distributors and retailers in IL, MA, NJ, NY, and PA and may have been distributed further from these states.

Scallops harvested from prohibited waters may be contaminated with human pathogens, toxic elements or poisonous or deleterious substances and can cause illness if consumed.

Chile – Salmonella outbreak in Chile caused by cheese

Food Safety News

Health officials in Chile have reported a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 60 people.

So far, 66 people have been affected by the outbreak resulting from eating goat’s cheese in the Metropolitan Region.

Overall, 28 cases have been reported in the Valparaíso Region and 38 in the Metropolitan Region, including seven hospitalizations.

Epidemiological work identified a producer of cheese who informally sold contaminated products in different parts of the province via commercial premises and the area of Llay Llay. Authorities have stopped cheese production.

Hong Kong – Trade instructed to suspend importing and selling raw oysters harvested in area 50-07 Saint Vaast La Hougue in France

CFS

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 8) instructed the trade to suspend the import of raw oysters harvested in area 50-07 Saint Vaast La Hougue in France. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately should they possess it.

A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS received notifications from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission that ready-to-eat raw oysters harvested in area 50-07 Saint Vaast La Hougue in France were detected with norovirus and the area concerned was closed. A preliminary investigation by the CFS found that a local importer, Alliance Gourmet Limited, had imported the affected raw oysters. For the sake of prudence, the CFS has immediately suspended the import into and sale within Hong Kong of raw oysters harvested in the area concerned, and instructed the importer to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected oysters.”

The spokesman said that preliminary investigation by the CFS found that five kilograms of the affected oysters had been imported by the importer concerned. All were distributed to a restaurant and were consumed. The trade should also stop selling other products from the affected area if they possess them.

The spokesman pointed out that as oysters feed by filtering a large volume of seawater, pathogens can accumulate in them if they are grown in or harvested from contaminated water. Raw or partially cooked oysters are high-risk foods. Susceptible groups, such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, should avoid eating raw oysters.

The CFS will inform the French authorities and will also notify the local trade. It will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. An investigation is ongoing.

France – BUTTERNUT HAZELNUT PUREE 1.5KG – Microbiological Safety/Spoilage

Gov France

Product category
Food
Product subcategory
Soups, sauces and condiments
Product brand name
EPC
Model names or references
00025452.002 BUTTERNUT HAZELNUT PUREE 1.5KG
Product identification
GTIN Batch Date
3368270254521 Lot No. = 4393015278 with sublot 23.333.8205384801.02 This is indeed the lot ending in 02 Use-by date 01/23/2024
Products List
identification_table.pdfAttachment
Packaging
1.5kg vacuum bag
Start/end date of marketing
From 12/13/2023 to 12/27/2023
Storage temperature
Product to keep in the refrigerator
Health mark
FR72 253 002 CE
Further information
Orange butternut puree in 1.5kg vacuum bag Lot number = 4393015278 with sublot 23.333.8205384801.02 This is indeed the lot ending with 02
Geographical sales area
Whole France
Distributors
RHD

French oyster farmers fear reputation damage as Norovirus scares off customers

RFI

Despite being Europe’s biggest producer and consumer of oysters, France is facing a decline in demand after a wave of norovirus-induced food poisoning.

Heavy rains are to blame for contaminated oyster beds as wastewater treatment floods and washes untreated sewage into the ocean.

 

USA – FDA – Enforcement Report – Potential C. botulinum growth and toxin formation

FDA

Event ID: 93557

Voluntary / Mandated:

Voluntary: Firm initiated

Product Type: Food

Status: Ongoing

Distribution Pattern:

U.S. Distribution to Supermarkets in CA, HI, WA, IL, NV, and TX. No foreign distribution.

Recalling Firm:Foremost Foods International, Inc.
2883 Surveyor St
Pomona, CA 91768-3251
United States

Press Release URL(s):

Recall Initiation Date:

12/1/2023

Center Classification Date:

1/4/2024

1
Pamana Premium Marinated Baby Bangus (Deboned Marinated Baby Milkfish), Net Weight to be Weight at Time of Sale

F-0691-2024

Class II
All product codes

432 boxes

Potential C. botulinum growth and toxin formation. Frozen bangus (milkfish) in reduced oxygen packaging does not contain instructions to keep frozen and instructions for proper thawing (e.g., “Important, keep frozen until used, thaw under refrigeration immediately before use.”).

2
Pamana Premium Marinated Bangus (Deboned Marinated Milkfish), Net Weight to be Weight at Time of Sale

F-0692-2024

Class II
All product codes

407 boxes

Potential C. botulinum growth and toxin formation. Frozen bangus (milkfish) in reduced oxygen packaging does not contain instructions to keep frozen and instructions for proper thawing (e.g., “Important, keep frozen until used, thaw under refrigeration immediately before use.”).

3
Pamana Premium Bangus Belly (Cut Deboned Milkfish Belly), 340 g (120 oz)

F-0693-2024

Class II
All product codes

448 boxes

Potential C. botulinum growth and toxin formation. Frozen bangus (milkfish) in reduced oxygen packaging does not contain instructions to keep frozen and instructions for proper thawing (e.g., “Important, keep frozen until used, thaw under refrigeration immediately before use.”).

USA – Expanded Recall Affected States: Blue Ridge Beef Issues Voluntary Recall of Blue Ridge Beef Kitten Grind, Blue Ridge Kitten Mix and Blue Ridge Beef Puppy Mix Due to Salmonella and Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination

FDA

A previous version of this press release was issued on 12/22/2023. This press release was updated to include all states that may have received the recalled product lot numbers.

STATESVILLE, NC – January 3, 2024 – Blue Ridge Beef is expanding their recall to include additional lot numbers. This recall includes all lot numbers and used by dates between N24 1114 to N24 1224 of their 2 lb log of Kitten Grind UPC 8 54298 00101 6; 2lb log of Kitten Mix UPC 8 54298 00143 6 and their 2lb log of Puppy Mix UPC 8 54298 00169 6 due to contamination of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenesSalmonella and Listeria monocytogenes can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella and Listeria infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

On 12/15/2023 the firm was notified by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that one lot of each of the products were sampled and tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. However, out of an abundance of caution the firm is recalling all lots with the used by dates between N24 1114 to N24 1224.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The products were distributed between 11/14/2023 – 12/20/2023. These products were packaged in clear plastic and sold primarily in retail stores located in the states of: CT, FL, IA, IL, MA, MD, MI, NC, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, TN, VA & WI. Image of the products are below.

Products affected are:

Product

Size

UPC

All Lot #/Use By Dates Between

Kitten Grind 2lbs 8 54298 00101 6 N24 1114 to N24 1224
Kitten Mix 2lbs 8 54298 00243 6 N24 1114 to N24 1224
Puppy Mix 2lbs 8 54298 00169 6 N24 1114 to N24 1224

The lot numbers and used by dates are located on the silver tabs at the end of the tubes.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to contact Blue Ridge Beef at blueridgebeefnc@yahoo.com for a full refund and destroy the food in a way that children, pets, and wildlife cannot access. Do not sell or donate the recalled products. Do not feed the recalled product to pets or any other animals. Wash and sanitize pet food bowls, cups, and storage containers. Always ensure you wash and sanitize your hands after handling recalled food or any utensils that come in contact with recalled food. Consumers with questions may contact Mr. Steven Lea at (704) 880-4500 Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm EST.

This recall is being made with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration.


Company Contact Information

Consumers:
Mr. Steven Lea
 704-880-4500

Slovakia – Unsuitable product Chilled chicken breast, DS: 02.12.2023Slovakia – Salmonella

SVPS

Unsuitable product Chilled chicken breast, DS: 02.12.2023

RVPS Rimavská Sobota carried out an official food inspection at the operator Tauris as, Potravinárska 6, 979 01 Rimavská Sobota, where on the basis of a targeted inspection (23/417) they took a sample of the raw material – Chilled chicken breast.

Product

  • Chicken breast, chilled
  • DS: 02.12.2023,
  • EAN: RW – 10471/23/PROD for microbiological criteria.
  • The country of origin of the raw material is Poland.

Finding

The supplied sample does not comply with the requirements of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 of November 15, 2005 of the European Parliament and the Council on microbiological criteria for food (OJ L 338), as amended, Chapter 1. Food safety criteria – 1.28: the presence of Salmonella Enteritidis bacteria was confirmed in the sample.

The raw material in question – chilled chicken breast – was processed into heat-treated meat products. The products are suspended for shipping and the supply of additional raw materials from the supplier from Poland has been suspended. Samples were taken for all incorporated products with objectionable raw materials and other randomly selected products, which were subsequently sent for microbiological examination to the appropriate laboratory.