Ongoing Salmonella outbreak spurs recall of shell eggs

For additional details on the current outbreak linked to Good Earth Egg Co. shell eggs, please see: “Egg producer implicated in another Salmonella outbreak” 

A Missouri cage-free egg producer is recalling all of its shell eggs in the midst of the second Salmonella outbreak linked to its operation in less than a year.

Good Earth Egg Co. LLC distributed the eggs throughout the Midwest to retailers, restaurants, wholesalers, institutions and walk-in customers at its Bonne Terre, MO, operation. As of Monday, the Salmonella outbreak had sickened eight people in three states.

A similar outbreak traced to Good Earth Egg Co that began in December 2015 sickened at least 52 people in six states.

The recall notice — posted on the Food and Drug Administration’s website a day after the agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the current Salmonella outbreak — specifies the recalled eggs went to Missouri, Kansas and Illinois, but leaves open the possibility that other states in the Midwest may have also received the eggs.

“Good Earth eggs were sold at Dierbergs, Straubs, Midtowne Market and Price Chopper in the metropolitan St. Louis area,” according to the recall notice.

“Consumers do not need to return the product to the store where it was purchased. Instead, consumers should discard any product and its container. Good Earth Egg Co. will work directly with each consumer to manage replacement of its product. Consumers with questions may contact Good Earth Egg Co. LLC at goodeartheggco@hotmail.com.”

The recalled eggs can be identified by information on the cartons. The company reports the “dates and codes on the cartons and cases include everything prior to and including date code 252 – Sell By 10/08/2016, with ‘Packed for’ or ‘Produced for Good Earth Egg Company.’ ”

The recall includes various sizes of shell eggs are packaged in the following ways:

• 6-count cartons;
• 10-count cartons;
• 12-count cartons;
• 18-count cartons;
• 15 dozen cases; and
• 30 dozen cases.

The family-owned company did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday. A written statement was posted with the recall notice:

“We are taking these steps because consumer safety is our top priority. As a third-generation family operated farm, we are solely focused on providing fresh, quality, healthy eggs to local consumers. Although no Good Earth Egg Co. eggs have tested positive for Salmonella, we feel strongly that issuing a voluntary recall is the right thing to do. Good Earth Egg Co. is working closely with the FDA to determine the root cause of the potential contamination.”

Anyone who has eaten eggs and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection is urged to seek medical care, being sure to inform their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea that is often bloody, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis.

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Some of Maine’s shellfish off limits because of temporary toxin

Until further notice, certain portions of Maine’s coastline are closed to shellfish harvesting — and recently harvested clams and mussels are not to be consumed — because a naturally occurring algae is present in dangerously high levels.

Maine’s Department of Marine Resources posted the so-called harvest recalls Friday after tests showed domoic acid at levels considered to be dangerous to humans. The department posted two notices for different areas.

Together the notices ban the harvest of clams, mussels, European oysters, surf/hen clams, or carnivorous snails from the shores, flats and waters of several areas in Maine and its coastal waters.

No illnesses have been reported, but the excessive levels of domain acid can cause serious illness and death. Neither freezing nor cooking shellfish with these excessive levels removes the dangerous neurotoxin.

Dominic acid can cause amnesic shellfish poisoning, or ASP. The symptoms include abdominal cramps, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

Typically symptoms will appear within 24 hours after eating contaminated shellfish. High enough levels of the toxin can cause neurological problems including short-term memory loss, seizures, dizziness, motor weakness, headache, seizures, cardiac arrhythmia, coma and even death.

A known phenomenon, West Coast shellfish fans are familiar with harvest bans because of domoic acid. The problem is not as common in the Northeast.

For complete descriptions of the areas implicated by the harvest ban, please see:

• http://ift.tt/2dosSAr
• http://ift.tt/2dOb7Zl

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Feds say Salmonella outbreak linked to sprouts appears over

A recent multistate outbreak of Salmonella Reading and Salmonella Abony infections linked to alfalfa sprouts appears to be over, according to a final update from the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

People infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Reading or Salmonella Abony, by state of residence, as of Sept. 30. (CDC map)

The outbreak sickened 36 people from nine states and hospitalized seven of them. No related deaths were reported.

Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 21 to Sept. 10. Those sickened range in age from less than 1 year to 72, with a median age of 30. Fifty-six percent of ill people were female.

Of those sickened, 30 were infected with Salmonella Reading, one was infected with Salmonella Abony, and five were infected with both strains. The 36 people were from the following states: Colorado, 17; Kansas, nine; Nebraska, three; Wyoming, two; and Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oregon and Texas, one each.

“Epidemiologic and traceback evidence indicated that alfalfa sprouts supplied by Sprouts Extraordinaire of Denver, CO, were the likely source of this outbreak,” CDC stated.

Following a conference call with CDC and the Food and Drug Administration  on Aug. 4, Sprouts Extraordinaire initiated a voluntary recall of 5-pound boxes of “Living Alfalfa” sprouts harvested from July 5-26. These products were not sold directly to consumers, according to FDA, but were probably consumed on sandwiches in one of several restaurants.

“The FDA and state and local health agencies performed traceback investigations at five different restaurant locations where ill people reported eating alfalfa sprouts. These investigations indicate that Sprouts Extraordinaire supplied alfalfa sprouts to all five of these locations,” FDA reported. The restaurants were not named.

People infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Reading or Salmonella Abony, by date of illness onset, and for whom information was reported as of Sept. 30. Some illness onset dates have been estimated from other reported information. (CDC map)

During interviews, those sickened answered questions about the foods they ate and other exposures in the week before they became ill. Of the 31 ill people who were interviewed, 18 reported eating or possibly eating alfalfa sprouts in the week before illness started, according to CDC.

Even though this outbreak appears to be over, the federal agencies cautioned that sprouts are known to cause foodborne illness and outbreaks.

FDA recommends that children, the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with weakened immune systems avoid eating raw sprouts of any kind, including alfalfa, clover, radish and mung bean sprouts.

More information from CDC about how to reduce the risk of getting sick from eating sprouts is available here.

Retailers who purchase sprouts are advised to only source them from companies following FDA’s Guidance for Industry: Reducing Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Sprouted Seeds.

Salmonella infection typically causes diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment.

However, in some people the diarrhea may be so severe that they need to be hospitalized. In such patients, the infection may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.

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Ready-to-eat, precooked bacon recalled because of Listeria

About 170 pounds of ready-to-at bacon products that were shipped to Associated Foods retailers in Idaho and Utah are under recall because of possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

Daily’s Premium Meats LLC of Salt Lake City initiated because of its internal food safety testing program, according to the recall notice posted Monday night by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

“The problem was discovered during the company’s routine internal third party testing when a product sample collected tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. There have been no confirmed reports of illness or adverse reactions due to consumption of these products,” according to the recall notice.

“FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers. 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.”

The recalled product can be identified by labeling that says “Regular Ends Precooked Bacon”  with a packaging date of “9/22/16” and use by date of “6/19/17.” The recalled bacon products have the establishment number “EST. 6133” within the USDA inspection mark.

Anyone who has consumed the recalled bacon products and develops symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical attention and alert their doctors to the possible exposure. Listeria infection can take up to 70 days to develop symptoms.

Listeria infection 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.

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Spices USA recalls imported ground turmeric for excessive lead

Spices USA Inc. of Hialeah, FL, is recalling 772 50-pound bags of Tasty Sawa Ground Turmeric because it contains elevated levels of lead. The company sells its products to distributors and re-packers, not directly to consumers.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem, according to Spices USA.

Consumers are warned not to use the product. Lead can accumulate in the body over time, and too much of it can cause serious and sometimes permanent adverse health consequences.

The recalled Tasty Sawa Ground Turmeric was distributed in Florida and New York states and also in the Dominican Republic, France, Colombia, Jamaica and Barbados.

The product was packed in 50-pound yellow polypropylene bags printed with the following information: Brand Tasty Sawa, Lot Number 120674, Use By 4/2018, Country of Origin: India.

The recall was initiated after FDA informed the company that product samples contained elevated levels of lead. According to Spices USA, the problem is in the plant in India where the product was packed.

The company stated that the product was not handled, modified or opened by Spices USA Inc. before being shipped to buyers. All buyers have been contacted and advised to either return or destroy the product and to contact their customers with the same instructions if this product was repacked under another label, according to Spices USA.

Consumers who have purchased the Tasty Sawa Ground Turmeric are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company representative at 1-800-583-0250 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT.

There were several recalls this summer of imported ground turmeric and blended curry seasoning for elevated lead levels, including by Gel Spice Inc., JM Exotic Foods Inc. and Oriental Packing Co. Inc.

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‘Toddler formula alternative’ recalled for potential Cronobacter risk

Graceleigh Inc. of Newport Beach, CA, doing business as Sammy’s Milk, is recalling all lots of Sammy’s Milk Baby Food because of the possible presence of Cronobacter, a bacteria that can cause severe and sometimes fatal blood infections or meningitis in infants, and because it may not provide adequate nutritional levels of iron.

Sammy’s Milk was distributed in California to Mother’s Markets retailers and through nationwide direct delivery via online sales.

The recalled product comes in a 12.84-ounce white plastic container for all lot numbers with expiration dates of 11/2016 – 8/2018.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

This recall is being conducted as a result of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s determination that Sammy’s Milk is being marketed as an Infant Formula and not being manufactured in compliance with infant formula regulations and that testing was not performed to confirm the absence of the Cronobacter bacteria.

Although Sammy’s Milk meets FDA’s minimum requirement for iron content, there is no label warning that it contains low iron and that supplementation may be necessary.

Consumers who have purchased Sammy’s Milk are urged not to consume it and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at 949-646-4628 or email to recall@SammysMilk.com between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday.

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4th allergen recall for Chiquita’s Fresh Express salads in 2016

Consumers can identify the recalled product by the best-by date and product code on the front of the packaging, circled in yellow above.

For at least the fourth time this year, Chiquita Brands International’s Fresh Express salad division is recalling bagged salads because of undeclared allergens.

The Orlando-based division recalled 480 cases of Fresh Express brand “American Salad” from six Southern states because Caesar salad condiment packets containing egg, milk, wheat and anchovy may have been mistakenly included. The allergens in the condiment packets are not declared on the “American Salad” packaging.

“In some individuals the consumption of an undisclosed allergen could be life-threatening,” according to the recall notice posted on the Food and Drug Administration website Friday.

“No illnesses are reported. No other Fresh Express products are included in this recall.”

Fresh Express distributed the recalled salads to retailers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The salads have an Oct. 5 use-by date, so officials are urging consumers to check their homes for the recalled product.

Consumers can identify the recalled 11-ounce bagged salads by the Product Code G264A12A on the front of the bag and the UPC number 0 71279 241005 on the back go the bag.

“Consumers in possession of the recalled product should discard it. A refund is available where purchased or by contacting the Fresh Express Consumer Response Center toll-free at 800-242-5472 during the hours of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time,” according to the recall notice.

Similar recalls earlier this year
Chiquita’s salad division recalled salads in February, May and June — also because of undeclared allergen issues. In June the company openly blamed human error.

The June recall of almost 2,500 cases of Caesar Salad Kits because of the wrong condiment packets involved retailers in 19 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico.

In May, Fresh Express had to recall its Farmers Market Chopped Asian Salad Kit because the wrong labels were applied on the salads during production, resulting in undeclared allergens of soy, almonds, wheat.

The first allergen-related recall by Fresh Express this year was in February and involved bagged, chopped romaine because a production line error resulted in condiment packets for other products being included in the romaine bags.

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