Euro custard cake recalled for undeclared allergen

On Friday, Eastland Food Corp., based in Columbia, MD, recalled a single lot of Euro Custard Cake because it contains an undeclared milk ingredient.

People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life- threatening allergic reaction if they consume the affected Euro Custard Cake.

The impacted product is Euro Custard Cake with a best-before date of 5/25/2017 (UPC 8373724304. It consists of 12 cakes packaged together into a box (net quantity 7.20oz, 204g).

The recalled product was distributed in Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia. No other states have been impacted.

The recall was initiated after routine sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets food inspectors and subsequent analysis by food laboratory personnel revealed the presence of an undeclared milk ingredient on the label.

No confirmed illnesses have yet  been reported to date. Eastland Food has informed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of its actions.

Consumers who have an allergy to milk and are in possession of the affected Euro Custard Cake lot (best before: 5/25/17) are encouraged to dispose of it and contact the company for a refund.

Consumers with questions may call Eastland Food at (410) 381-0710, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT, or by email to: quality@eastlandfood.com.

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Known allergen not on label causes salad recall

Green Cove Springs, FL-based GHSE, LLC  Friday recalled approximately 5,682 pounds of salad products containing chicken due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The product contains wheat, a known allergen not declared on the product label.

The ready-to-eat salads with chili-seasoned chicken items were produced on various dates between May 11, 2016 and June 29, 2016.  Subject to the recall is:

• 11-oz. plastic clam shell containers with “TRADER JOSE’S MEXICALI INSPIRED SALAD WITH CHILI SEASONED CHICKEN” with “BEST BY” dates 05/18/16 – 07/03/16.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. P-45781” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Southern Virginia.

The labeling problem was discovered by a plant quality assurance technician during a routine check of ingredients. The salads have the correct label on the top of the package, but exhibit an incorrect back label that does not include soy sauce as an ingredient; the source of the wheat. As a result, wheat is not sub-listed in the ingredients statement or in the “Contains” allergen declaration.

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General Mills expands flour recall after more illnesses are reported

General Mills announced Friday that it was expanding its recall of Gold Medal flour, Wondra flour, and Signature Kitchens flour to include flour made earlier in the fall that may still be in consumers’ pantries.

The company, based in Minneapolis, stated that the recall is being expanded due to a newly reported illness which “appears to have stemmed from the consumption of raw dough or batter linked to flour produced last fall.” (The expanded list of recalled flour products is toward the end of this story.)

These are three of several varieties and brands of flour recalled by General Mills in relation to a multi-state outbreak of E. coli.

The recalled flour has been linked to four new cases of infection with Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) E. coli O121 since June 1, according to an update posted Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

There are now 42 cases in 21 states, with 11 related hospitalizations. One new state, Indiana, has been added to the list of states with ill people, the agency added.

No one has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a dangerous type of kidney failure associated with E. coli infections, and no deaths have been reported, CDC noted. The company stated that it was cooperating with the outbreak investigation.

The federal agency stated that STEC O121 was recently isolated from samples of General Mills flour collected from the homes of ill people in two different states.

“In late June 2016, [the U.S. Food and Drug Administration] isolated STEC O121 from samples of General Mills flour collected from the homes of ill people in Arizona and Oklahoma. The flour collected in Oklahoma was not included in the initial General Mills recall,” CDC stated, adding, “In response to these laboratory findings, on July 1, 2016, General Mills expanded the recall to include additional lots of flour under the same brands from the initial recall.”

(CDC posted a list of the recalled flour products and how to identify them here.)

Numbers of people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O121 by state as of June 28, 2016. (Map courtesy of CDC.)

Guidance from both FDA and CDC warns that consumers should not eat any raw products made with flour.

E. coli O121 can be eliminated by heat through baking, frying, sautéing or boiling products made with flour. Also, all surfaces, hands and utensils should be properly cleaned after contact with flour or dough, batter and other food items containing raw flour.

The expanded General Mills recall affects the following retail flour products. It includes eight SKUs (stock keeping units or UPC codes) of Gold Medal Flour, 1 SKU of Signature Kitchens Flour and 1 SKU of Gold Medal Wondra flour.

13.5 ounce Gold Medal Wondra
Package UPC	000-16000-18980
Recalled Better if Used by Dates	23FEB2017KC, 24FEB2017KC
2 lb Gold Medal All Purpose Flour
Package UPC	000-16000-10710
Recalled Better if Used by Dates	15MAY2017KC through 24MAY2017KC, 04JUN2017KC, 05JUN2017KC, 11JUN2017KC, 12JUN2017KC, 13JUN2017KC, 14JUN2017KC
2lb Gold Medal Self-Rising Flour
Package UPC	000-16000-11710
Recalled Better if Used by Dates	09AUG2016KC, 10AUG2016KC, 16AUG2016KC, 17AUG2016KC, 06SEP2016KC, 07SEP2016KC
10lb Gold Medal All Purpose Flour
Package UPC	000-16000-10410
Recalled Better if Used by Dates	16MAY2017KC through 20MAY2017KC, 05JUN2017KC
5lb Gold Medal All Purpose Flour
Package UPC	000-16000-10610
Recalled Better if Used by Dates	15MAY2017KC through 24MAY2017KC
5lb Gold Medal Self Rising Flour
Package UPC	000-16000-11610
Recalled Better if Used by Dates	10AUG2016KC, 11AUG2016KC
4.25lb Gold Medal All Purpose Flour
Package UPC	000-16000-12670
Recalled Better if Used by Dates	21MAY2017KC, 03JUN2017KC
5lb Gold Medal Unbleached Flour
Package UPC	000-16000-19610
Recalled Better if Used by Dates	19MAY2017KC through 24MAY2017KC, 11JUN2017KC, 12JUN2017KC
10lb Gold Medal All Purpose Flour- Banded Pack
Package UPC	000-16000-10650
Recalled Better if Used by Dates	15MAY2017KC
2lb Signature Kitchens All Purpose Flour Enriched Bleached
Package UPC	000-21130-53000
Recalled Better if Used by Dates	BB MAY 27 2017

E. coli O121 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. Seniors, the very young, and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

Anyone diagnosed by a physician as having an illness related to E. coli O121 is urged to contact state and local public health authorities.

Anyone who has any of the recalled products is advised to throw them away. Consumers with additional questions or who want to request a replacement should contact General Mills at 800-230-8103. Additional recall information can also be found here.

More information about the signs and symptoms of E. coli O121 infection can be found here.

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Listeria contaminated lemongrass basil chicken gets recalled

Winter Gardens Quality Foods Inc. in New Oxford, PA has recalled approximately 42 pounds of Lemongrass Basil Chicken entrées that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, says a July 1 announcement by  the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The ready-to-eat, Lifestyle Foods Inc. brand of Lemongrass Basil Chicken product was produced on June 13 and June 14, 2016. The following product is subject to recall:

• 8.0-oz. (227g) individually wrapped entrée packages labeled “Lifestyle Foods Lemongrass Basil Chicken Entrée – Brown Rice in a Thai Style Sauce with Grilled Chicken and Green Beans.” The product has “Enjoy By” dates of June 28, 2016 and June 29, 2016.  The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-9815” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to distributors in Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington D.C.

The problem was discovered when Winter Gardens Quality Foods, Inc. notified FSIS that a component of the product had tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. As yet, there are no reports of illness or adverse reactions due to consumption of these recalled products.

Eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website.

FSIS advises all consumers to reheat ready-to-eat product until steaming hot.

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FDA warns consumers against eating any raw dough or batter

At the 2010 International Association for Food Protection meeting in Anaheim, CA, speakers from such food giants as Nestlé and ConAgra went public with their concerns about the widespread practice of people eating not just raw cookie dough but even raw frozen pizza.

That discussion, which was prompted by a severe 2009 E. coli outbreak, included mention of the fact that some people — new immigrants and college students were named — were either unaware of cooking instructions or chose to ignore them.

Six years later, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided to do something about the problem by simply warning people not to eat raw dough or batter no matter whether it’s for bread, cookies, pizza, tortillas or anything else.

FDA this week warned the public that sampling raw dough or batter “could make you, and your kids, sick.”

This current warning was prompted by the recent General Mills recall of 10 million pounds of flour sold under three brand names: Gold Medal, Signature Kitchens, and Gold Medal Wondra. The recalled varieties include unbleached, all-purpose, and self-rising flours.

Flour has a long shelf life, and many people store bags of flour for a long time. If you have any of these recalled items in your home, FDA recommends that you throw them away.

Some of the recalled flours had been sold to restaurants that allow children to play with dough made from the raw flour while waiting for their meals. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is advising restaurants not to give customers raw dough.

The flour recall is associated with the ongoing investigation of an outbreak of infections that illustrates the dangers of eating raw dough. Dozens of people across the country have been sickened by a strain of bacteria called Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O121.

The investigation found that raw dough eaten or handled by some of the patients was made with General Mills flour produced in a facility in Kansas City, MO. Subsequent tests by FDA linked bacteria in a flour sample to bacteria from people who had become ill.

Flour, regardless of the brand, can contain bacteria that cause disease.

FDA states that people often understand the dangers of eating raw dough due to the presence of raw eggs and the associated risk with Salmonella. However, consumers should be aware that there are additional risks associated with the consumption of raw dough, such as particularly harmful strains of E. coli in a product such flour.

“Flour is derived from a grain that comes directly from the field and typically is not treated to kill bacteria,” notes Leslie Smoot, Ph.D., a senior advisor in FDA’s Office of Food Safety and a specialist in the microbiological safety of processed foods. So if an animal heeds the call of nature in the field, bacteria from that animal’s waste could contaminate the grain, which is then harvested and milled into flour.

Common “kill steps” applied during food preparation and/or processing (so-called because they kill bacteria that cause infections) include boiling, baking, roasting, microwaving, and frying. But with raw dough, no kill step has been used.

Homemade cookie dough ice cream isn’t a good idea either. If that’s your favorite flavor, FDA suggests buying commercially made products since manufacturers should be using ingredients that include treated flour and pasteurized eggs.

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Washington state dairy recalls raw goat milk after E. coli test

A dairy on Vashon Island, WA, is recalling raw goat milk after state officials detected toxin-producing E. coli in a sample. Burton Hill Farm & Dairy sold the raw goat milk that is now under recall between June 22 and 29. It is labeled with sell-by dates of June 29 and July 1, 2016.

“Burton Hill Farm & Dairy and the WSDA (Washington State Department of Agriculture) are continuing their investigation into the sources of the problem. Burton Hill Farm & Dairy is choosing not to sell or distribute raw goat milk until the source of the contamination is found,” according to the recall notice.

“The E. coli was found in a milk sample from a batch of goat milk that was not sold to the public. However, it is possible that other subsequent batches could contain the harmful bacteria. From those subsequent milkings, nine quarts of the raw goat milk were sold at the Phinney Farmers Market and one quart at the Vashon Farmers Market.”

As of the initiation of the recall on Wednesday, Burton Hill officials were not aware of any illnesses in connection with their recalled milk.

“Consumers who have purchased the recalled raw goat milk are urged not to drink the milk and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. If you have any questions about the recall, please call the company at 206-940-6805,” the recall notice states.

Although it is legal to sell unpasteurized, raw milk at retail locations in Washington state, health officials warn there are serious potential health risks if that milk is contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. Consumers should read the warning label on retail raw milk containers in the state.

Anyone who has consumed any of the recalled unpasteurized raw milk and developed symptoms of E. coli infection is advised to seek medical attention.

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections may cause diarrhea, stomach cramps and bloody stool. Symptoms generally appear three to four days after exposure, but they can take as long as nine days to appear. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact a health care provider.

The infection sometimes causes hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious disease in which red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys fail. Infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems are especially at risk.

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Consumers had key to unlock E. coli outbreak linked to flour