Food Safety News – Sunday March 4th, 2012

March 4, 2012 by desertrose  

Non-O157 E. Coli Going Under-Tested, Under-Reported

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/03/non-o157-e-coli-going-under-tested-under-reported/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=120302

 

 

New USDA ‘Compass’ Maps Support Local Meat and Poultry

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/03/new-usda-compass-maps-support-for-local-meat-and-poultry/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=120302

 

 

New Labels Required on Ground Meat, Poultry Packages

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/03/new-labels-required-on-ground-meat-poultry-packages/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=120302

 

 

Drug-Resistant Staph Linked to Animal Antibiotics

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/02/drug-resistant-staph-linked-to-animal-antibiotics/

 

 

FDA and Stealth Recalls

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/02/fda-and-stealth-recalls/
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/recalls.xml

 

 

Food Recalls

Frankfurters Recalled in Canada Due to Listeria Concern

Saturday, March 03, 2012 3:59 AMThe Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Glatt’s Kosher Meat Products of Montreal are glatts-200.jpgwarning the public not to consume certain Glatt’s brand Beef Frankfurters Jumbo BBQ because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
There have been no reported illnesses.

The recalled product, Glatt’s brand Beef Frankfurters Jumbo BBQ,

is sold in 375 g packages with the UPC 0 55627 00203 6 and a best-before date of 12AL21.
The frankfurters were distributed in Ontario and Quebec.

 

 

Frozen Pizza Sticks RecalledSaturday,

March 03, 2012 3:59 AMPasou Foods of Syracuse, IN is recalling about 147 pounds of frozen, fully cooked, ready-to-eat pizza sticks because a meat ingredient may have been produced without federal inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Friday. According to the recall alert, during an ongoing food safety assessment of the company, FSIS personnel determined that the raw ground pork ingredient used in the ready-to-eat pizza sticks was purchased from an unapproved source and the meat may not have been federally inspected. FSIS has received no reports of illness.
The Class II recall is for boxes containing 100 “Pizza Stix.” Case labels bear the establishment number EST. 1903 in the USDA mark of inspection and may have been produced this year on February 2 and 29. The products were sold to a food distributor for further distribution to a caterer and other institutions in Indiana.
A Class II recall is a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product.
For more information contact George Pavel, a company representative, at 574-457-4092.

 

 

Clostridium Perfringens Prompts Ham Recall in Quebec

Saturday, March 03, 2012 3:59 AMCharcuterie La Tour Eiffel is recalling several types of ham products distributed in Quebec due to contamination with Clostridium perfringens.
The recalled products were supplied to retailers, and to hotels, restaurants and institutions in Quebec.
The recall is for:
- La Belle Bretagne brand “Our Cooked Ham – Original,” variable kg; best before 12AL14 or 12AL21
- La Belle Bretagne brand “Sliced Cooked Ham,” variable kg; best before 12AL01
- La Belle Bretagne brand “,”Our Cooked Ham – Original Sliced,”  175 g; best before 12MR30; UPC 0 55652 00536 1
- Tour Eiffel “Cooked Ham – Extra Lean,” variable kg; Lot 271
- Tour Eiffel “Parisian Cooked Ham,” 175 g; best before 12MR31; UPC 0 55652 77710 7
- Tour Eiffel “Shaved Parisian Cooked Ham,” 175 g and 400 g; best before 12MR20 or 12MR21; UPC 0 55652 77717 6 and UPC 0 55652 77728 2
- Tour Eiffel “Chopped Cooked Ham,” 400 g; best before 12MR16; UPC 0 55652 77719 0

 

 

Kountry Buffet Horse Feed Recalled

Saturday, March 03, 2012 3:59 AMFollowing reports that some horses have died as a result of consuming feed that may contain monensin sodium (Rumensin), Western Feed, LLC is recalling two lots of Kountry Buffet 14% feed.
paybackhorsefeed-280.jpgMonensin sodium is a medication approved for use in some livestock and poultry species, but can be fatal to horses if fed at sufficiently high levels.
The recalled feed, with the lot numbers M718430 and M720280, is packaged in 50 lb. bags bearing the Payback logo with the attached tag identifying the product as Kountry Buffet 14%.  The lot number  can be found towards the bottom of the tag, below the Feeding Directions.
At this time, no other Western Feed, LLC products and no other lots of Kountry Buffet 14% are involved.
This feed was distributed December 2 through 15, 2011 to retailers in Nebraska and Wyoming.
Initial testing by a private laboratory has indicated the presence of a potentially harmful level of monensin sodium (Rumensin) in these two lots. Further follow up testing is underway.
The symptoms of toxicity vary with the amount of monensin ingested by a horse. Trace amounts may cause a horse to go off his regular feed, show signs of colic and appear unwell for a few days. Larger amounts will cause a horse to show more serious symptoms within a few hours including colic, stiffness, sweating, a lack of coordination and the inability to stand.
Customers who purchased Kountry Buffet 14% from lot M718430 and M720280 should stop feeding the product immediately. For more information contact Western Feed LLC at 308-247-2601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT.

Hot Liquid Could Shatter Melamine Cups, Mugs

Wednesday, February 29, 2012 3:59 AMCarlisle FoodService Products of Oklahoma City has recalled about 111,000 melamine cups and mugs after receiving three reports that they may shatter when exposed to hot liquids.
No injuries have been reported, according to the  U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission news release.
Nine models of Carlisle cups and mugs, sold nationally through distributor outlets and online, including to food service companies and equipment supply distributers, are part of the recall.
The recalled melamine cups and mugs, imported from China, range in size 7 to 16 oz. and from 2 to 3 inches tall and were available in white, green, red, brown, black, ocean blue, sand, honey yellow, bone and sunset orange. Go here to see product photos.
The name “Carlisle OKC, OK” and model number are imprinted on the bottom, along with “Made in China” and “NSF.” Some may also include the model name and size, such as “Durus 7 oz. cup.”
The recall is for:
- Sierrus™ Mug,    7.8 oz., model # 33056- Durus® Challenge Cup, 7.8 oz., model # 43056- Dallas Ware® Stacking Cup, 7 oz., model # 43546- Dayton™ Stacking Cup, 7 oz., model # 43870- Kingline™ Ovide Cup, 7 oz., model # KL300- Kingline™ Stacking Cup, 7 oz.,    model # KL111- Melamine Stackable Mug, 8 oz.,  model # 4510- Cappuccino Mug, 12 oz., model # 4812- Cappuccino Mug, 16 oz., model # 4816
The mugs were sold between January 2011 and January 2012 for between $4 and $10 each.
The mugs should not be used and may be returned for credit toward a future purchase of Carlisle FoodService Products merchandise. Carlisle will provide instructions for free return shipping.
For more information contact Carlisle FoodService Products at 800-217-8859 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.carlislefsp.com/productsafetyAllergen Alert: MSG in SausagesTuesday, February 28, 2012 3:59 AM

 

 

London Meat Co. of New York, NY is recalling approximately 200 pounds of sausage because it contains monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is not listed on the label, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Monday.
There have been no reports of adverse reactions.
FSIS said its personnel discovered the problem during a routine inspection. FSIS said the MSG was added as an ingredient when seasoning blends were changed, but the company did not update its product label.
The recall is of 5-lb boxes of “Milano’s Country Breakfast Sausage,” containing 80 sausage links per box. Each box bears the establishment number “EST. 8777″ inside the USDA mark of inspection.
These recalled sausages were made-to-order for restaurants and caterers in the New York City area through Feb. 21, 2012.
For more information contact the company’s co-owner Michael Milano at 212- 255-2135.
 

 

Smoked Salmon Recalled in British Columbia Monday, February 27, 2012 3:59 AMThe Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume certain refrigerated cold smoked sockeye salmon trim products because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
There have been no reported illnesses.
The following products, sold refrigerated at various weights from February 16 through 24, have been recalled:
- Salmon Lox Trim Classic packed on dates 2012.02.17, 2012.02.18 and 2012.02.19; UPC begins with 0297629; sell-by dates 2012.02.27, 2012.02.28, 2012.02.29, 2012.03.01 and 2013.03.02 and sold at Whole Foods Market, 925 Main Street, West Vancouver, BC and at Whole Foods Market, 510 W. 8th Ave., Vancouver, BC
-  Lox Trim packed on dates FE 17, FE 18, FE 19, FE 20, FE 21, and FE 22; UPC begins with 204780; sold at The Salmon Shop, #112-1689 Johnston Street, Vancouver, BC
- unlabeled lox sold at The Daily Catch Seafood Company, 1418 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC, no date codes
The recalled smoked sockeye may have also been sold unlabelled over the counter at the stores listed above. Consumers who are unsure whether they have the affected products are advised to check with their retailer.

 

 

Malta Beverages Recalled Due to Bottle Breakage

Friday, February 24, 2012 3:59 AMThe Florida Brewery, Inc. is recalling certain 7-oz. bottles of Goya, Great Value, Hatuey, Mr. Special, Polar, Publix, Regal, and SuperMax brand non-alcoholic malta beverages because glass on the exterior of the bottles may break when the twist-off cap is removed.
The company has received two reports of consumers cutting their mouths on broken glass.
The recall is for:
- Goya: UPC 041331040068; lot codes12/01/13, 12/08/13, 12/27/13, 12/28/13, 12/29/13, 01/06/13    - Great Value: UPC 681131762793, lot codes 1/05/13, 1/06/13
- Hatuey: UPC 080480594909, lot codes 12/21/13, 12/22/13, 01/06/13, 01/07/13
- Mr. Special: UPC 008254820702, lot codes 11/30/13, 12/01/13, 12/08/,1 2/09/13
- Polar: UPC 7591446006785 and 7591446006761  lot codes 11/30/12, 12/22/12, 1 2/23/12, 12/29/12, 12/30/12, 01/03/1, 01/04/13
- Publix: UPC 041415109360, lot codes 11/28/13, 12/09/13, 12/27/13     - Regal: UPC 082502738889, lot codes 12/01/13, 12/09/13, 12/27/13, 12/28/13
- SuperMax: UPC 870906000691, lot code 12/09/13
The lot codes are printed on the bottles above the label. Go here to see photos of the recalled bottles.
The Florida Brewery distributed the recalled 7-oz Goya, Great Value, Hatuey, Mr. Special, Polar, Publix, Regal and SuperMax brand malta beverages in Florida, Texas, Georgia, California and Puerto Rico from Dec. 8, 2011 to Feb. 1, 2012.
The recalled bottles of malta beverage can be returned to the place of purchase for a full refund, product replacement, coupon or product credit.
For more information call the Florida Brewery’s consumer hotline at 1-866-872-8860 weekdays from 8 a.m. to  8 p.m. EST and weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

 

Canada Beef Recall Tied to E. Coli Illness

Thursday, February 23, 2012 3:59 AMOne person is ill and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and New Food Classics are warning the public not to consume certain Country Morning Beef Burgers, no name Club Pack Beef Steakettes, and certain Grillhouse beef burgers because the beef may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
There has been one reported E. coli infection associated with eating these products.
New Food Classics of Burlington, Ontario, is recalling:
- Country Morning Beef Burgers, 1 kg, UPC 0 57316 02941 6, lots 52841 EST 761, 62841 EST 761, 72841 EST 761, 82841 EST 761
-  No name Club Pack Beef Steakettes, 2.27 kg, UPC 0 60383 01321 9, lot BB 2012 AL 10 EST 761
Also recalled are these Grillhouse brand products, bearing the establishment number 761:
- Angus Beef Burgers, 4.59 kg, UPC 55377, lot code 11 OC 11
- Beef Burger with Seasoning, 3.2 oz – 4.54 kg, UPC 52988, lot code 11 OC 12
- Beef Burger with Seasoning, 4 oz – 4.54 kg, UPC 52981, lot code 11 OC 12
The Country Morning Beef Burgers were distributed to COOP and TGP grocery stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, North West Territories, Yukon Territories and Nunavut.
The no name Club Pack Beef Steakettes were distributed by Loblaws to the following stores and provinces:
- Ontario: Cash&Carry/RCWC Ontario Corporate, Extra Foods, Freshmart, Loblaws Great Food, no frills, RCWC West Corporate, Real Canadian Superstore, Value-mart, Your Independent Grocer, Zehrs and Zehrs Great Food.
- British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba: Extra Foods, Extra Foods no frills, Real Canadian Superstore West Corporate, Shop Easy/SuperValu, Superstore, Your Independent Grocer.
- North West Territories, Yukon Territories and Nunavut.
The Grillhouse brand products were distributed nationally through restaurants and institutional establishments.          For more information contact New Food Classics at 1-289-398-2009 during business hours, and at 1-647-627-8761 after hours, or CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday).

 

 

MA Firm Recalls Chili for Lack of Inspection

Friday, February 17, 2012 3:59 AMA Massachusetts-based company is recalling approximately 3,800 pounds of chili products because they may not have undergone federal inspection.
The Chili Station in Ludlow, MA recalled containers of its beef and turkey chili Thursday. No illnesses have been linked to these products.
The following products have been recalled:
- 5 gallon containers and 1-gallon bags of “The Chili Station” Beef Chili with Beans
- 5 gallon containers and 1-gallon of “The Chili Station” Beef Chili with Beans and/or Turkey Chili
Establishment numbers “EST. 6380″ or “P-6380″ may be printed on labels or packaging, inside the mark of inspection or ink-jetted on the case label.
The chili products were distributed and sold in Massachusetts. The problem was discovered during a routine Food Safety Assessment conducted by FSIS. 

Anyone with concerns surrounding the recall should contact Jeffrey Belkin, a company representative, at 413-883-5096.
The recall notice is available here.

FDA Updates Information on Fungicides in OJ

Friday, February 17, 2012 3:59 AMThe Food and Drug Administration published a new update on Thursday to its ongoing testing of imported orange juice for the fungicide carbendazim, a compound restricted from agriculture in the United States.

Since January 9, the FDA has tested samples from 104 shipments of orange juice and orange juice concentrate. Out of those, the agency found 24 shipments that contained at least 10 parts per billion (ppb) of carbendazim.
Half of those 24 shipments came from Canada, while the other half came from Brazil. The FDA has added the food processors associated with those shipments to its Import Alert 99-08 list.
Of the shipments testing negative for carbendazim, 57 have been released for sale. Those shipments came from: Canada (22 shipments), Mexico (18), Dominican Republic (3), Italy (2), Argentina (2), Costa Rica (2), Honduras (2), Trinidad & Tobago (2), Brazil (1), Lebanon (1), Belize (1) and Turkey (1).
The FDA began testing all orange juice imports for carbendazim in January after being alerted by Coca Cola — owner of Minute Maid and Simply Orange — that some juice from Brazil had tested positive for the fungicide.
The Environmental Protection Agency considers carbendazim levels below 80 ppb safe for human consumption. In earlier tests of shipments, those containing the fungicide ranged in concentration from 13 to 36 ppb. The FDA will not allow sale of any shipments containing more than 10 ppb.
On Thursday, the FDA also rejected a request by the Brazilian Citrus Exporters Association to have levels of carbendazim in orange juice concentrate assessed according to its “single strength” level — the levels that would be found once the concentrate is mixed with the intended ratio of water. Brazilian orange growers recently began using carbendazim to combat a problem with “black spot,” a mold that grows on trees.
The FDA plans to continue testing orange juice imports for carbendazim and will publish updates every Thursday evening.
Recall of Chicken Feet, Tripe, Pork Uteri

AA Meat Products Corporation of Maywood, CA is recalling an undetermined amount of meat and poultry that may not have been federally inspected, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Wednesday.
The problem was discovered during an investigation by FSIS. There have been no reports of illness associated with this recall.
 

The recall is of:
30-pound and 22-pound cases of the following products produced between Jan. 11 and Feb. 8, 2012:
 

- AA Scalded Beef Omasum Tripe- AA Honeycomb Beef Tripe- AA Scalded Beef Tripe Menudo De Vovino- AA Beef Omasum Tripe – AA Beef Tripe
Various weights of the following products produced between March 5 and Feb. 8, 2012:
 

- Pork chops- Beef short ribs- Beef tongues- Boneless beef shank- Boneless beef ribeye lipon- Boneless beef short plate- Boneless beef strip loin- Beef fat
10-pound bags of the following products produced between April 7 and Feb. 8, 2012:
 

- Chicken feet- Duck feet- Pork uteri
Also, FSIS says the pork uteri, chicken feet and duck feet may have been produced using sodium percarbonate, a food additive not approved for use in these specific products.
 

Case labels or packaging may bear the establishment numbers EST. 21492, P-21492 or EST. 21492A in the USDA mark of inspection, or EST. 21492 simply ink-jetted on the case label. The products were sold in California, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Washington.
 

Images of the labels can be seen here. The retail distribution list is available here.
For more information about this recall contact Johnny Wu, a company representative, at 1-626-376-2819.

FDA-Regulated Food Recalls Surged in Last Quarter 2011Wednesday, February 15, 2012 3:59 AM

Foods regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were recalled 50 percent more in the fourth quarter last year and affected over 80 percent more units when compared with the previous period, according to the ExpertRECALL ™ Index.

The quarterly ExpertRECALL™ Index was released Tuesday, showing 2011 ended with a surge of food recalls led by undeclared allergens, which accounted for more than one in three food recalls during the quarter.   ExpertRECALL publishes the data from both FDA and the Consumer Products Safety Commission.  It plans to add USDA recall data in the near future.

Listeria was second only to allergens for causing recalls.  Listeria-contaminated cantaloupes, grown in Colorado on a single farm, were  responsible for the most deadly outbreak in a century in 2011.
The fourth quarter’s big spike in recalls could be causing “recall fatigue,” says Mike Rozembajgier, vice president of recalls at Stericycle ExpertRECALL, which publishes the index.

“In this current environment, manufacturers and retailers must take extra care to ensure that consumers are receiving the right messages about recalls and that they are encouraged to respond appropriately,” he says.
Rozembajgier still thinks consumers focus on recalls.  “I don’t believe that there will ever be a time when consumers stop paying attention to safety,” he told Food Safety News.  “As consumers, our ears will always perk up when the media covers major recalls that result in illness or harm to people.”
“In our experience,” he said, “recall fatigue can be at its peak when several recalls of varying sizes occur at once.  During times like these, it can be easy for some consumers to miss the smallest recalls even when they might be the most relevant to them.”

During the final three months of 2011, FDA logged 176 food recalls by more than 150 companies, affecting nearly 70 million units of food products.  It marked the highest recall levels of the past four years, and represented an 80 percent increase over the third quarter.
 

In addition to representing a 50 percent over the previous quarter, the increase was 55 percent over the final period of 2010.

In the fourth quarter of 2011, 42 recalls affected customers throughout the United States.  Twenty-eight (28) affected both domestic and international customers, and two recalls impacted only consumers outside of the country.
Undeclared allergens, followed by Listeria, Salmonella, botulism and E. coli, were the cause of the greatest number of FDA-regulated foods.
 

“It’s impossible to say based on available data why there has been an increase in allergen-related recalls,” Rozembajgier added. “In monitoring the safety of our food, the FDA’s inspection and sampling can result in the discovery that allergens have been left off product labels.  However, in some cases, the issues are identified by companies who have been increasingly vigilant in the past few years in withdrawing products because of possible allergy issues, often erring on the side of caution.
The Lake Forest Park, IL-based Stericycle ExpertRECALL ™ manages consumer product, pharmaceutical, medical device, juvenile product, and food and beverage recalls for multiple companies.

Veal Cubes Recalled in Canada May Contain Metal

Monday, February 13, 2012 3:59 AMCostco Wholesale Canada Ltd. has recalled fresh veal cubes sold in certain Costco warehouses in Eastern Canada because they may contain pieces of metal.
There have been no injuries reported in connection with the veal cubes.
The veal cubes, item #50088, have a best-before date of Feb. 19, 2012 and were sold on Feb. 9 or 10.
 

The recalled meat can be returned for a refund. For more information contact Costco Wholesale at 800-463-3783.

 

 

Allergen Alert: Crullers with Sodium Caseinate

Saturday, February 11, 2012 3:59 AMWalmart has recalled its eight-count packages of cruller bakery pastries because the common name of milk was not listed following sodium caseinate, a milk derivative, on the ingredient label.
People who have milk allergies and do not recognize sodium caseinate as a milk derivative run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume it.
 

One adverse reaction has been reported by a customer, according to Walmart
The recalled eight-count packaged crullers, which are ring-shaped twisted sweet cakes similar to doughnuts, have a UPC code of 787429847 and expiration dates on or before Feb. 9, 2012. The crullers were labeled and sold in Walmart store bakeries in Puerto Rico and all states with the exception of Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
 

Walmart says it has taken steps to ensure all current and future products are properly labeled to reflect the common name of milk as an ingredient.
For more information contact the Walmart Customer Service at 1-800-Walmart (1-800-925-6278) or return the product to the nearest Walmart store for a full refund.Allergen Alert: Pumpkin Bundt Cakes with MilkSaturday, February 11, 2012 3:59 AM

Whole Foods Market has recalled certain Pumpkin Bundt Cakes because the cream cheese contains milk, an allergen not listed on the label.

No adverse reactions have been reported.

The recalled 3 oz.and 26. oz. Pumpkin Bundt Cakes were made in Whole Foods Market store bakeries and sold at stores in Fresno, Monterey, San Rafael, San Ramon and Santa Cruz. The recalled cakes were sold from a service case or displayed in small, clear plastic clamshells marked with a scale label #21630100000. Expiration dates prior to Feb. 13, 2012 are recalled.
 

The necessary label corrections have been made for the Pumpkin Bundt Cakes currently for sale.
 

Recalled cakes may be returned to the store for a full refund.

Allergen Alert: Wheat in Cooked Pork Hocks

Friday, February 10, 2012 3:59 AMHan Yang Inc. of Milwaukee, WI is recalling approximately 25,600 pounds of cooked pork hocks because they contain wheat, an allergen not noted on the label.
 

The label omission was discovered by a USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service  inspector during a label review.
 

There have been no reports  of adverse reactions.
 

The recall is of shrink-wrapped packages of various weights of “JANG CHUNG DONG HAN YANG KING JOAK BAL COOKED PORK HOCKS” with EST. 21880 inside the USDA mark of inspection. The pork hocks, produced between Oct. 7, 2011 and Feb. 7, 2012, have a four month shelf life and were distributed to wholesalers and retailers in Los Angeles and Chicago.
 

For more information contact the company’s president, Chang Choi, at 414-389-1099.

Big Spinach Recall with No Public Notice

Friday, February 10, 2012 3:59 AMOn New Year’s Eve 2011, a Texas company recalled 228,360 lbs. — 114 tons — of spinach because it tested positive for E. coli O157:H7.

That Class I recall — which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration defines as “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death” — was revealed this week as an item in the FDA enforcement report for February 8.

Credit microbiologist and blogger Phyllis Entis for spotting what she calls a stealth recall, and explaining its significance on her eFoodAlert website.
“I realize that not all recalls are created equal, and that not all recalls require public notification. But I cannot understand the rationale behind NOT publicizing a Class I Hazard recall of a ready-to-eat item of produce that may be contaminated with a potentially lethal pathogen,” Entis wrote.  “Would anyone care to explain this to me?”

The potentially contaminated spinach from Tiro Tres Farms of Eagle Pass, TX was distributed in Colorado, Kentucky, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, and in Canada in Ontario and Quebec.
FDA and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency did not publish public notices of this recall in December or January – and still have not — and the FDA enforcement report did not say whether there were any illnesses linked to the recalled spinach.

According to the enforcement report, Tiro Tres Farms notified its own customers of the recall by letter on Dec. 31, 2011, but the FDA report does not indicate if any of the spinach was sold by retailers.
The recall was of Robert’s S 1 cut leaf “Curly” spinach packed in 30 lb. totes with no specific type of labeling, except for a small sticker label identifying the “pup” container that identified the harvest date and the field in Uvalde, TX. Harvest dates were Nov. 21, 22, 23, 25, 28 and 29, 2011, one month before the recall letter was sent.

Another Recall of Salad With Hard-Cooked Eggs

Wednesday, February 08, 2012 3:59 AMIn another recall related to hard-cooked eggs that may be contaminated with Listeria, Bost Distributing Company of Bear Creek, NC, doing business as Harold Food Company, is withdrawing approximately 1,200 pounds of chicken salad products.
The recall is one of many resulting from a recall by Minnesota-based Michael Foods, which produced the cooked eggs at its Wakefield, NE facility.
There have been no confirmed reports of illnesses associated with the eggs.
The recall is for 30-lb. boxes of Harold Food Co. Grand Strand Deluxe Chicken Salad with sell-by dates of 2/15/2012 and the establishment number P-20479.
The products were sent to a distributor in South Carolina for further distribution to retail establishments in North Carolina and South Carolina. The chicken salad products may have been repackaged as sandwiches under a brand other than Harold Food Co. and no longer bear the identifying information listed above.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact Bost Distributing Company’s General Manager, Jeff Bennett, at 919-775-5931.

Chicken Salad Sandwiches Another Egg-Related Recall

Wednesday, February 08, 2012 3:59 AMGrand Strand Sandwich Company of Longs, SC is recalling some of its chicken salad sandwiches from convenience stores in the Southwest after its distributor recalled the chicken salad used to make them.

The recall is the latest in the string of recalls that began January 26 when Michael Foods revealed that some of its hard-cooked eggs could be contaminated with Listeria.

No illnesses have been associated with the hard-cooked eggs distributed by Michael Foods or any of the products made with the eggs.
In a news release Wednesday, Grand Strand wrote that its recall “came about when Bost Distributing, our chicken salad manufacturer, bought some of the hard-cooked eggs that were produced (and later recalled) by Michael Foods. Bost Distributing was unsure if the eggs from Michael Foods were used in our product, so just to be safe we are recalling (the sandwiches).”

The recalled sandwiches include:
- Grand Strand Sandwich 4.5 oz., UPC 067068101056, sell-by 02/24/12- Grand Strand Sandwich 4.5 oz., UPC 067068101056, sell-by 02/29/12- Country Harvest Chicken Salad 5 oz., UPC 067068171059, sell-by 02/23/12- Lunchbox Chicken Salad 4.5 oz., UPC 067068121050, sell-by 02/24/12 For a list of many of the other egg products recalled see “Hard-Cooked Egg Recall Widens.”

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/recalls.xml