Whole Foods' salmon wasn't the only product on the shelves to run into listeria problems in January. 2013 kicked off with a handful of food recalls, including brands from ConAgra and Boba Direct. Straight from the FDA, here are the details on what's been pulled:
1. ALFALFA, CLOVER, BROCCO SANDWICH SPROUTS, AND SPICY SPROUTS
Brand: Sprouters Northwest
Company: Sprouters Northwest
Why?: Listeria monocytogenes
From the press release: "... We are taking this action after recent Hartz testing found trace amounts of unapproved antibiotic residue in samples of Hartz® Chicken Chews™ and Oinkies® Pig Skin Twists wrapped with Chicken products. Even though two-thirds of the products we tested did not contain antibiotic residues, we would rather be overly cautious by voluntarily withdrawing these products from the market. ..."
2. ALASKAN SOCKEYE SALMON
Brand: Whole Catch
Company: Whole Foods Market
Why?: Listeria monocytogenes
From the press release: "... Whole Foods Market is recalling one lot code of Whole Catch Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon (4 oz), cold smoked and sliced, sold in stores in 12 states, because it may contain Listeria Monocytogenes, an organism which can cause a sometimes fatal infection in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer short term symptoms, such as high fever, severe headaches, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. ..."
3. TOMATO SAUCE
Brand: Hunt's
Company: ConAgra Foods
Why?: Defect in inner lining of cans causes the cans to swell
From the press release: "... This recall is limited only to 8-ounce cans of Hunt’s Tomato Sauce (regular variety) and Hunt’s Tomato Sauce Not Salt Added bearing the following Best By dates. No other Hunt’s products are impacted. Hunt’s Tomato Sauce (regular variety) and Hunt’s Tomato Sauce Not Salt Added are packaged in 8 ounce cans with a Hunt’s graphic logo on the front of the can. Consumers can find the Best By date by looking at either the top or bottom of the can. ..."
4. FROZEN PIZZA PRODUCTS
Brand: Annie's
Company: Annie's Inc.
Why?: Metal fragments
From the press release: "... The company announced the recall after learning a fine metal mesh screen failed at a third-party flour mill and fragments of flexible metal mesh were found in the flour and pizza dough. All Annie’s manufacturers have comprehensive metal control programs that include magnets and metal detection devices. Pieces of the fine wire were too small to be detected and could have found their way into the finished product. While no metal has been found in Annie’s finished product, as a precaution, Annie's initiated this voluntary recall. There have been no consumer complaints, illnesses or injuries reported to date. ..."
5. CHICKEN SALAD SANWICHES
Brand: Knott's Fine Foods Inc.
Company: Knott's Fine Foods Inc.
Why?: Listeria monocytogenes
From the press release: "... Knott's Fine Foods, Inc. of Paris, TN, is voluntarily recalling its 3 ounce Chicken Salad Sandwiches with an expiration date of 1/29/13 and earlier because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. ..."
6. FROZEN PIE CRUST
Brand: Kinnikinnick
Company: Kinnikinnick Foods
Why?: Undeclared eggs
From the press release: "... Kinnikinnick Foods of 10940 120 street, Edmonton, AB is warning consumers with Egg Allergies not to consume Kinnikinnick Frozen Pie Crust because it contains EGG products which may not be indicated on an applied ingredient label. Products without an ingredient label applied to the box are not subject to this recall as they correctly list the product as containing eggs. ..."
7. BAGELS
Brand: Thomas', Sara Lee, Publix and Weight Watchers
Company: BBU, Inc.
Why?: Metal fragments
From the press release: "... The company announced the recall after discovering metal fragments in two packages. No consumer reports have been received. There are no reports of injury. ..."
8. COOKIES & CREAM BARS AND BROWNIE BARS
Brand: Dymatize Nutrition
Company: Belmont Confections Inc.
Why?: Undeclared peanuts
From the press release: "... Belmont Confections Inc. is recalling Dymatize Nutrition Elite Gourmet Cookies & Cream bars and Dymatize Nutrition Elite Gourmet Fudge Brownie bars in both the 1.5oz and 3oz packages because they may contain undeclared peanuts. Belmont became aware of the problem via a complaint to the distributor Dymatize Inc. People who have allergies to peanuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. ..."
9. ARTISAN CHEESES
Brand: Homestead Cremery
Company: Homestead Creamery
Why?: Contaminated with Shiga-Toxin producing E.coli
From the press release: "... The State Milk Board, in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, announced today that Homestead Creamery of Jamesport, Mo. is voluntarily withdrawing a batch of its Flory's Favorite cheese from the marketplace.
Preliminary test results received from the Missouri State Health Laboratory indicate the cheese may be contaminated with Shiga-Toxin producing E.coli, which can lead to food borne illness. Confirmatory tests are ongoing. ..."
10. HAYSTACKS
Brand: Island Delights
Company: Island Delights, Inc.
Why?: Undeclared milk
From the press release: "... Island Delights, Inc. today recalled 492 Bags of its Coconut Haystack Candy due to mislabeling and undeclared allergens. This was discovered during an audit from the Ohio Department of Agriculture on January 7, 2013. The Coconut Haystack Candy contains milk that is not declared on the product label. People who have allergies to milk run the risk of an allergic reaction if they consume these products. ..."
11. COLD SMOKED FISH PRODUCTS
Brand: Royal Fjord, Pacific Supreme, Icy Point, more
Company: Delifish
Why?: Listeria monocytogenes
From the FDA: "... During an inspection of your facility at the above address on February 5 and 11, 2002, Investigator Torres determined that your firm manufactures and distributes P-K-5 Pain Relief Medication. The inspection revealed that this over-the-counter (OTC) drug is adulterated within the meaning of Section 501(a)(2)(B) of the Act in that the methods used in, or the facilities or controls used for its manufacture, processing, packing, or holding do not conform to or are not operated or administered in conformity with current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulations for pharmaceuticals (21 CFR, Part 211) as follows ..."
12. FLAVORED POWDERS
Brand: Boba Direct (BD)
Company: Boba Direct (BD)
Why?: Undeclared milk
From the press release: "... Boba Direct (BD) announced the voluntary recall of the following BD Flavored Powders: Almond, Avocado, Banana, Blueberry, Café Latte, Cherry, Chocolate, Coconut, Honeydew, Lavender, Lychee, Mango, Matcha Green Tea, Milk Tea, Passionfruit, Peppermint, Pineapple, Red Bean, Strawberry, Taro, Vanilla and Watermelon in the 2.2 lb. plastic bags because of the incorrect label failing to declare milk as the source of sodium caseinate and lactose. Individuals with allergies to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. ..."
13. SNACK
Brand: Somersault
Company: Somersault Snack Co., LLC
Why?: Undeclared milk
From the press release: "... Today, Somersault Snack Co., LLC, in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is voluntarily recalling all packages of Somersaults Cinnamon Crunch products with Sell By Dates of 8/30/2013 or earlier. The packaging of these products inadvertently fails to declare the allergen milk which is contained in a flavoring ingredient of these products. As a consequence, the packaging of the affected Somersaults Cinnamon Crunch products fails to list milk as an ingredient/allergen contained in the product. ..."
14. ALMONDS
Brand: Woodstock
Company: Woodstock
Why?: Undeclared soy
From the press release: "... The recall was initiated when it was discovered that packages were mislabeled by the packer. Although soy ingredient is contained in the product, the incorrect back label does not list soy in the ingredients statement. No other lot numbers of Woodstock Tamari Almonds are affected. In addition, the package bears the allergen advisory statement 'Manufactured on shared equipment in a plant that processes peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat (gluten), and milk products.' ..."
15. ICE CREAM
Brand: ShurFine
Company: Southwest Ice Cream Specialties
Why?: Undeclared soy, pecan, and wheat
From the press release: "... Southwest Ice Cream Specialties is voluntarily recalling ShurFine Brand "Creamery Select (Premium Ice Cream) Dulce de Leche" Ice Cream (1.75 quarts, 1.66L) because it may contain praline pecan ice cream, which contains wheat, soy and pecans. The product is packed with a ShurFine Praline Pecan lid, but bears the Dulce de Leche product labeling on the carton. While no ShurFine product has been linked to any illness related to allergens at this time, Southwest Ice Cream Specialties is taking this precautionary measure because the ice cream inside the carton contains pecans, soy and wheat that are not declared on the packaging. ..."
16. SMOKED SALMON
Brand: Nathan's, Lascco
Company: Giant Food Stores, LLC and Martin's Food Markets
Why?: Listeria monocytogenes
From the press release: "... GIANT Food Stores, LLC and MARTIN’S Food Markets, following a recall by Ocean Beauty Seafoods LLC, announced it removed from sale several varieties of smoked salmon due to possible contamination by listeria monocytogenes. ..."
17. HOT FRIES SNACK
Brand: Andy Capp's
Company: ConAgra Foods
Why?: Undeclared soy
From the press release: "... Today, ConAgra Foods, Omaha, Neb., in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is voluntarily recalling a limited number of packages of its Andy Capp’s Hot Fries flavor product that may contain the Andy Capp’s Cheddar Fries flavor, and, therefore, an undeclared allergen—soy. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. There have been no illnesses reported to date in connection with this product. ..."
18. BROWNIE MIX
Brand: Food Club
Company: Gilster-Mary Lee
Why?: Undeclared Walnuts
From the press release: "... Gilster-Mary Lee of Chester, Illinois is voluntarily recalling one lot of Chocolate Chunk Brownie Mix because it contains cartons containing undeclared walnuts. (Wrong packaging/cartons were used that do not declare walnuts). People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to walnuts run the risk of serious or life threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. ..."
19. BAGELS WITH CREAM CHEESE, CREAM CHEESE
Brand: Whole Foods
Company: Whole Foods Market
Why?: Listeria monocytogenes
From the press release: "... Whole Foods Market is recalling four items made with Circle Sea Salmon Lox Trim sold in Oregon and Washington state store seafood departments due to possible Listeria Monocytogenes contamination. Listeria is an organism which can cause a sometimes fatal infection in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer short term symptoms, such as high fever, severe headaches, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. ..."
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