Tootsi Impex Inc. Recalls Almond Butter, Peanut Butter and Tahini

 

Consumer Advisory – Certain almond butter, peanut butter and tahini sold in bulk or repackaged at various retailers may contain Salmonella or other harmful bacteria

Recall / advisory date:

May 10, 2013

Reason for recall / advisory:

Microbiological – Other, Microbiological – Salmonella

Hazard classification:

Class 2

Company / Firm:

Tootsi Impex Inc., various retailers

Distribution:

Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan

Extent of the distribution:

Retail

Advisory details

Ottawa, May 10, 2013 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume certain almond butter, peanut butter and tahini sold in bulk or repackaged at the various locations described below because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella or other harmful bacteria.

The affected products were sold at some time during the period indicated below.

Consumers who are unsure if they have affected product are advised to check with their retailer.

Affected Products

1. Natural Crunchy Peanut Butter, Tootsi Impex Inc., 10 kg, Lots: JM12 164 and JM12 086, available from May 2012

Store name	Location	Dates Sold Up To
Mother Natures	331 Columbia Avenue, Castelgar, BC	April 19, 2013
Les Pères Nature St-Georges	10735, 1E Avenue, St-Georges, QC	January 15, 2013
Pères Nature (Ste-Marie) Inc.	590 Boul. Vachon Nord, Ste-Marie-de Beauce, QC	February 9, 2013
Le Vrac du marché Atwater	138 Avenue Atwater, Montreal, QC	December 15, 2012
Le Garde-manger chez Gail	103 rue Châteauguay, Huntingdon, QC	November 30, 2012
Foodsmiths	106 Wilson Street W., Perth, ON	December 31, 2012
Yarmouth Natural Food	3 Jenkins Street, Yarmouth, NS	September 25 – October 25, 2012
Herb & Spice	375 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON	Septembre 30, 2012
Frenco	3985 Boul. St-Laurent, Montreal, QC	December 15, 2012

2. Organic Peanut Butter, Tootsi Impex Inc., 10 kg, Lots: JM12 164 and JM12 086, available from May 2012

Store name	Location	Dates Sold Up To
Penticton Whole Food Emporium	1771 Main Street # 103, Penticton, BC	April 19, 2013
Nutter’s Prince Albert	365, 36th Street W, Prince Albert, SK	April 19, 2013
CRMR at Home	330-17 Avenue, SW, Calgary, AB	May 24, 2012 – April 19, 2013
Going Nuts	Calgary Farmer’s Market, 510- 77th Avenue SE, Calgary,AB	July 10 – December 31, 2012
Market Organics	126 York St., Ottawa, ON	April 19, 2013
Kredl’s Corner Market	1171 Main Street, Hampton, NB	May 23 – July 31, 2012
Pour l’amour d’une planète	507B rue du sud, Cowansville, QC	January 15, 2013
Noah’s Natural Foods	322 Bloor Street W., Toronto, ON	April 19, 2013
Cedars & Co. Food Market	1255 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON	April 19, 2013
Country Bulk Inc.	845 Weber Street North, Waterloo, ON	April 19, 2013

3. Natural Creamy Peanut Butter, Tootsi Impex Inc., 10 kg, Lots: JM12 164 and
JM12 086, available from March 2012

Store name	Location	Dates Sold Up To
Sunripe	744 Adelaide St. N., London, ON	August 3, 2012 – April 19, 2013
Le Vrac du marché Atwater	138 Avenue Atwater, Montreal, QC	December 15, 2012
Herb & Spice	375 Bank Street, Ottawa, On	September 30, 2012
Yarmouth Natural Food	3 Jenkins Street, Yarmouth, NS	September 25 – October 25, 2012
Foodsmiths	106 Wilson Street W., Perth, ON	December 31, 2012
Le Garde-Manger chez Gail	103 rue Chateauguay, Huntingdon, QC	November 30, 2012
Les Pères Nature St-Georges	10735, 1E Avenue, St-Georges, QC	January 15, 2013
Pères Nature (Ste-Marie) Inc.	590 Boul. Vachon Nord, Ste-Marie-de Beauce, QC	February 9, 2013
Frenco	3985 Boul. St-Laurent, Montreal, QC	December 15, 2012
Cedars & Co. Food Market	1255 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON	April 19, 2013

4. Natural Almond Butter, Tootsi Impex Inc., 10 kg, Lots: 1027R and 12 164, available from May 2012

Store name	Location	Dates Sold Up To
Sunripe	744 Adelaide St. N., London, ON	September 6, 2012 -April 19, 2013
Foodsmiths	106 Wilson Steet W, Perth, ON	December 31, 2012
Yarmouth Natural Food	3 Jenkins Street, Yarmouth, NS	September 25 – October 25, 2012
Frenco	3985 Boul. St-Laurent, Montreal, QC	December 15, 2012
Foodstuffs Inc.	89 Main South, Georgetown, ON	April 19, 2013
Pour l’amour d’une planète	507B rue du sud, Cowansville, QC	January 15, 2013

5. Organic Tahini (Bulk), Tootsi Impex Inc., 10 kg, Lots: JM12 164 and JM12 086, available from April 2012

Store name	Location	Dates Sold Up To
Kredl’s Corner Market	1171 Main Street, Hampton, NB	July 31, 2012 – May 6, 2013
Pour l’amour d’une planète	507B rue du sud, Cowansville, QC	January 15, 2013

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

Consumption of the affected almond butter, peanut butter and tahini could result in a wide range of symptoms that may include vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, headache and body ache. In rare cases, chronic, severe, or even life-threatening symptoms may occur.

The manufacturer, distributor, and retailers are voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

HACCPCanada advocates and mandates HACCP System Certification; with an emphasis on providing Food Safety Confidence to the Consumer. We are a Third-Party Auditor and a Certifying Body (an independent & impartial national organization which evaluates and verifies HACCP systems) and have succeeded in furnishing an economical, effective and expedient Certification Process for the Retail Food Supply Chain including Non-Registered Manufacturing, Warehousing, Logistics, Restaurants and Retail Food Outlets.

Contact us to achieve Certification from HACCPCanada, today!

Nova Scotia officials knew of E. coli outbreak 5 days before public

 

By Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press | The Canadian Press – Mon, 25 Mar, 2013

HALIFAX – Public health officials in Nova Scotia knew they were dealing with an outbreak of E. coli five days before they informed the public about it in early January, documents obtained by The Canadian Press show.

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief public health officer…

The first indication that staff were aware of the E. coli 0157 outbreak appears in two emails sent by the province’s chief medical officer to staff with the Health Department and district health authorities on Dec. 31, 2012.

In one of the emails, Dr. Robert Strang says the Health Department was in the process of gathering more information about the outbreak and officials would meet on Jan. 2 to assess it.

Notes from that day’s meeting, which were released under access-to-information legislation, show that Health Department officials knew there were dealing with seven confirmed cases of E. coli 0157 affecting people ranging in age from 18 to 83.

Those notes also show that six of those people reported eating at fast food restaurants and they showed symptoms of the bacterial infection from Dec. 23-26, 2012. Officials were also aware of an E. coli outbreak of the same strain in New Brunswick but decided to delay notifying the public, the notes show.

“There have been no media calls yet. Until we know what the link is, we will provide standardized messaging,” the notes say.

“If NB is sending messaging out, we should be consistent. Delay 24 hours.”

It wasn’t until Jan. 4 that the department issued a news release confirming it was investigating the cases, two of which required hospital admission. No one died.

In an interview, Strang said he doesn’t believe Health Department officials tried to withhold information from the public. Instead, he said they needed to gather more information from the people who contracted the infection.

“The judgment was that we needed to wait at least 24 hours … so we have something concrete that we can say to the public,” Strang said.

“What do you say publicly without doing unnecessary harm or creating unnecessary anxiety? So we’d respond if questions came to us, but we didn’t feel we were ready yet to go proactively because we didn’t have enough of the detail.”

New Brunswick’s Health Department went public with its outbreak of E. coli on Jan. 3, prompting calls to Nova Scotia’s Health Department that day from the news media, the documents show.

Strang said New Brunswick’s chief medical officer was able to tell the public a day earlier because that province’s outbreak occurred a few days before the one in Nova Scotia.

He said he was first alerted by the on-call medical officer of health to reports of a few cases of E. coli over the weekend of Dec. 29 and 30.

“With the information I had, I wasn’t concerned enough to bring people in on New Year’s Day,” he said. “My judgment was that it could certainly wait until the next working day.”

Liberal health critic Leo Glavine said the province needs a more robust process to ensure timely disclosure of public health matters, such as the E. coli outbreak.

Glavine said because the strain of the bacteria is potentially fatal, Strang should have issued an alert earlier.

“I think within 24 hours, if the medical officer knows, he should be sending this information out to the public, he said.

The strain of E. coli was the same one found in the Walkerton, Ont., water disaster in 2000 that killed seven people.

Strang said the E. coli outbreak would have been treated differently if there had been an indication of ongoing sickness due to the bacteria.

“If we had a sense that there was an ongoing risk to the public, we would have been communicating that right away,” said Strang.

The outbreak, which was also detected in Ontario, was later traced to shredded lettuce distributed by FreshPoint Inc. to KFC and Taco Bell restaurants.

HACCPCanada advocates and mandates HACCP System Certification; with an emphasis on providing Food Safety Confidence to the Consumer. We are a Third-Party Auditor and a Certifying Body (an independent & impartial national organization which evaluates and verifies HACCP systems) and have succeeded in furnishing an economical, effective and expedient Certification Process for the Retail Food Supply Chain including Non-Registered Manufacturing, Warehousing, Logistics, Restaurants and Retail Food Outlets.

Contact us to achieve Certification from HACCPCanada, today!

 

Costco Recalls Formaggio Artisan Wraps

 

Health Hazard Alert – Certain Formaggio brand Artisan Wraps Italian Style Meats around Fresh Mozzarella may contain Listeria monocytogenes

Recall date:

March 12, 2013

Reason for recall:

Microbiological – Listeria

Hazard classification:

Class 1

Recalling Firm:

Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd.

Distribution:

Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador

Extent of the distribution:

Retail

Advisory details

Ottawa, March 12, 2013 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd. are warning the public not to consume Formaggio brand Artisan Wraps Italian Style Meats around Fresh Mozzarella because it may be contaminated withListeria monocytogenes.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

The Importer, Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd., Ottawa, Canada is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

Affected products

Brand Name	Common Name	Size	Codes(s) on Product	UPC
Formaggio	Artisan Wraps Italian Style Meats around Fresh Mozzarella	675 gpackages	BEST BEFORE codes for products sold between February 13, 2013 to March 11, 2013 inclusive	7 08531 29431 7

More information

For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:

Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd. at 1-800-463-3783

For more information, consumers and industry can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with this bacteria may cause listeriosis, a foodborne illness. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

For more information, consumers and industry can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday) or by filling out the online feedback form.

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HACCPCanada advocates and mandates HACCP System Certification; with an emphasis on providing Food Safety Confidence to the Consumer. We are a Third-Party Auditor and a Certifying Body (an independent & impartial national organization which evaluates and verifies HACCP systems) and have succeeded in furnishing an economical, effective and expedient Certification Process for the Retail Food Supply Chain including Non-Registered Manufacturing, Warehousing, Logistics, Restaurants and Retail Food Outlets.

Contact us to achieve Certification from HACCPCanada, today!

Shoppers Drug Mart Recalls Simply Food Blueberry Pomegranate Nut Clusters

 

Notification – Certain Simply Food brand Blueberry Pomegranate Nut Clusters may contain glass

Recall date:

March 1, 2013

Reason for recall:

Extraneous Material

Hazard classification:

Class 2

Recalling Firm:

Shoppers Drug Mart

Distribution:

New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec

Extent of the distribution:

Retail

Reference number:

7865

Affected products

Brand Name	Common Name	Size	Codes(s) on Product	UPC	Reason for Recall
Simply Food	Blueberry Pomegranate Nut Clusters	100g	2013/NO/01 LOT#BPT1230600	0 57800 80101 6	Extraneous Material – Harmful – Glass

More information

For more information, consumers and industry can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

HACCPCanada advocates and mandates HACCP System Certification; with an emphasis on providing Food Safety Confidence to the Consumer. We are a Third-Party Auditor and a Certifying Body (an independent & impartial national organization which evaluates and verifies HACCP systems) and have succeeded in furnishing an economical, effective and expedient Certification Process for the Retail Food Supply Chain including Non-Registered Manufacturing, Warehousing, Logistics, Restaurants and Retail Food Outlets.

Contact us to achieve Certification from HACCPCanada, today!

 

More Mauri Gorgonzola Cheese Recalled

HACCPCanada advocates and mandates HACCP System Certification; with an emphasis on providing Food Safety Confidence to the Consumer. We are a Third-Party Auditor and a Certifying Body (an independent & impartial national organization which evaluates and verifies HACCP systems) and have succeeded in furnishing an economical, effective and expedient Certification Process for the Retail Food Supply Chain including Non-Registered Manufacturing, Warehousing, Logistics, Restaurants and Retail Food Outlets.

Contact us to achieve Certification from HACCPCanada, today!

Updated Health Hazard Alert – Certain Mauri brand Gorgonzola may contain Listeria monocytogenes

Recall date:

March 1, 2013

Reason for recall:

Microbiological – Listeria

Hazard classification:

Class 1

Recalling Firm:

Arla Foods Incorporated

Distribution:

Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec

Extent of the distribution:

Retail

Advisory details

Ottawa, March 1, 2013 – The public warning issued on February 25, 2013 has been updated to include additional Best Before date codes of the product.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Arla Foods Inc. are warning the public not to consume the Mauri brand Gorgonzola cheese, product of Italy, described below because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria may cause listeriosis, a foodborne illness. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

The importer, Arla Foods Inc., Concord, ON, is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

Affected products

Brand Name	Common Name	Size	Codes(s) on Product
Mauri	Gorgonzola	Approximately 1.5 kg	13/04/13 & 21/04/13

Related recalls

2013-02-25 – Certain Mauri brand Gorgonzola may contain Listeria monocytogenes

More information

For more information consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:

Carl Choueiri of Arla Foods Inc. at 905-669-9393 Ext. 438;

Christine Picheca, Jesson and Company Communications Inc., at 416-992-1092 or 416-323-7828.

CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with this bacteria may cause listeriosis, a foodborne illness. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

Fact Sheet: Food Safety Facts on Listeria

Media enquiries

Carl Choueiri
Arla Foods Inc.
905-669-9393 Ext. 438

Christine Picheca
Jesson and Company Communications Inc.
416-992-1092 or 416-323-7828.

CFIA Media Relations
613-773-6600

 

Arla Foods Inc Recalls Mauri Gorgonzola Cheese

 

HACCPCanada advocates and mandates HACCP System Certification; with an emphasis on providing Food Safety Confidence to the Consumer. We are a Third-Party Auditor and a Certifying Body (an independent & impartial national organization which evaluates and verifies HACCP systems) and have succeeded in furnishing an economical, effective and expedient Certification Process for the Retail Food Supply Chain including Non-Registered Manufacturing, Warehousing, Logistics, Restaurants and Retail Food Outlets.

Contact us to achieve Certification from HACCPCanada, today!

Health Hazard Alert – Certain Mauri brand Gorgonzola may contain Listeria monocytogenes

Recall date:

February 25, 2013

Reason for recall:

Microbiological – Listeria

Hazard classification:

Class 1

Recalling Firm:

Arla Foods Incorporated

Distribution:

Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec

Extent of the distribution:

Consumer

  

Advisory details

Ottawa, February 25, 2013 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Arla Foods Inc. are warning the public not to consume the Mauri brand Gorgonzola cheese, product of Italy, described below because the product may be contaminated withListeria monocytogenes.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

The importer, Arla Foods Inc., Concord, ON, is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

Affected products

Brand Name	Common Name	Size	Codes(s) on Product	Additional Info
Mauri	Gorgonzola	Approximately 1.44 kg	L. 3100012	« PACKAGING DATE; DATE DE PRODUTION 07/01/13 » « BEST BEFORE A CONSUMMER DE PREFERENCE AVANT LE 07/04/13 »

More information

For more information consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:

Carl Choueiri of Arla Foods Inc. at 905-669-9393 Ext. 438;

CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with this bacteria may cause listeriosis, a foodborne illness. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

Fact Sheet: Food Safety Facts on Listeria 

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Last of Canada’s E. coli Tainted Lettuce Victims Discharged From Hospital

HACCPCanada advocates and mandates HACCP System Certification; with an emphasis on providing Food Safety Confidence to the Consumer. We are a Third-Party Auditor and a Certifying Body (an independent & impartial national organization which evaluates and verifies HACCP systems) and have succeeded in furnishing an economical, effective and expedient Certification Process for the Retail Food Supply Chain including Non-Registered Manufacturing, Warehousing, Logistics, Restaurants and Retail Food Outlets.

Contact us to achieve Certification from HACCPCanada, today!

Food Safety News:  Last of Canada’s E. coli Victims Discharged From Hospital

BY DAN FLYNN | JANUARY 28, 2013

Not a single E. coli O157:H7 outbreak can be considered a good one, but when everyone recovers it is about as good as it gets. And that’s how Canada’s January E. coli outbreak –sourced to California lettuce– is ending.“The last patient was discharged,” John Gillis, media relations advisor for the Capital Health District Authority in Nova Scotia, told Food Safety News.Last discharged was the one Nova Scotia patient out of the 30 E. coli victims in three provinces who also developed the kidney threatening Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). In addition to that patient, a dozen other E. coli victims were hospitalized across Ontario and the Maritimes.

Canada’s lettuce-caused E. coli outbreak first surfaced on New Year’s Eve–Dec. 31, 2012–in New Brunswick. In the next 16 days, a total of 30 E. coli illnesses were confirmed; 7 in New Brunswick, 10 in Nova Scotia, and 13 in Ontario.

Canada usually reports about 440 cases of E. coli O157:H7 annually.

Also within the first week, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) was investigating an Ontario-based distributor called Freshpoint. And two days later, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) found through its epidemiological assessment that the likely source of the outbreak was lettuce the victims consumed at KFC and Taco Bell restaurants.

The last onset of illness, among the victims,  was on Jan. 9. They ranged in age from  1-83, and  half were male and half were female.

KFC and Taco Bell, units of the fast food giant Yum! Brands got their lettuce from Freshpoint. On Jan. 10, Freshpoint initiated a recall of the lettuce its distributed to KFC and Taco Bell, quickly expanded to include other restaurants and institutions it served.

By Jan. 12, CFIA says it’s unlikely given the shelf life of lettuce that any of the contaminated products remains in circulation.

CFIA has traced the lettuce to California, from a grower involved in the Leafy Green Marketing Agreement (LGMA). Food Safety News has learned that the CFIA investigation  is focused on a brand from a company on the central coast of California. It’s a brand that may involve multiple growers and CFIA is not yet ready to name names.

California’s LGMA is safety program developed by the state’s growers and their buyers to prevent product contamination. It involves private auditors and public inspections by the State of California.
Many of the LGMA practices–developed after the 2006 spinach outbreak of E. coli– are included in the new produce rule published for comment by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act.

© Food Safety News

Related articles

• KFC-Taco Bell E. coli Contaminated Lettuce Confirmed Cases Reaches 30 (haccpcanada.wordpress.com)
• E. coli source likely lettuce at KFC/Taco Bell (cbc.ca)

Updated Lettuce Recall List

Reference Number: 7688
Recalling Firm: FRESHPOINT TORONTO
Date of Recall: 1/13/2013
Recall Classification: 1
Distribution : New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec
Extent of the Product Distribution : Hotel/Restaurant/Institutional

Product List

Brand Name	Common Name	Size	Codes(s) on Product	UPC	Reason for Recall:
SYSCO	COMBO SEPARATE SALAD	1 x 5lb	With a Use By date of January 8, 2013 or earlier and lot codes 5011, 5021, 5031, 5041, 5051, 5111, 5121, 5131, 5141, 5151, 5211, 5221, 5231, and 5241	None / Aucun	Microbiological – E. coli O157:H7
SYSCO	CHOP LETTUCE ICEBERG	5 x 4lb	With a Use By date of January 8, 2013 or earlier and lot codes 5011, 5021, 5031, 5041, 5051, 5111, 5121, 5131, 5141, 5151, 5211, 5221, 5231, and 5241	10074865394076	Microbiological – E. coli O157:H7
SYSCO	SALAD MIX HARMONY	5 x 4lb	With a Use By date of January 8, 2013 or earlier and lot codes 5011, 5021, 5031, 5041, 5051, 5111, 5121, 5131, 5141, 5151, 5211, 5221, 5231, and 5241	10883278074582	Microbiological – E. coli O157:H7
SYSCO	1/4″ SHRED LETTUCE ICEBERG	4 x 2lb	With a Use By date of January 8, 2013 or earlier and lot codes 5011, 5021, 5031, 5041, 5051, 5111, 5121, 5131, 5141, 5151, 5211, 5221, 5231, and 5241	None / Aucun	Microbiological – E. coli O157:H7
SYSCO	CHEF SALAD MIX	5 x 4lb	With a Use By date of January 8, 2013 or earlier and lot codes 5011, 5021, 5031, 5041, 5051, 5111, 5121, 5131, 5141, 5151, 5211, 5221, 5231, and 5241	None / Aucun	Microbiological – E. coli O157:H7
SYSCO	ARAMARK MIXED VEGETABLE PACK	1 x 1lb	With a Use By date of January 8, 2013 or earlier and lot codes 5011, 5021, 5031, 5041, 5051, 5111, 5121, 5131, 5141, 5151, 5211, 5221, 5231, and 5241	None / Aucun	Microbiological – E. coli O157:H7
SYSCO	CHOP LETTUCE ICEBERG	1 x 5lb	With a Use By date of January 8, 2013 or earlier and lot codes 5011, 5021, 5031, 5041, 5051, 5111, 5121, 5131, 5141, 5151, 5211, 5221, 5231, and 5241	None / Aucun	Microbiological – E. coli O157:H7
SYSCO	1/8″ SHRED LETTUCE ICEBERG	5 x 4lb	With a Use By date of January 8, 2013 or earlier and lot codes 5011, 5021, 5031, 5041, 5051, 5111, 5121, 5131, 5141, 5151, 5211, 5221, 5231, and 5241	10074865178676	Microbiological – E. coli O157:H7
SYSCO	CHOP SALAD MIX 50/50	2 x 5lb	With a Use By date of January 8, 2013 or earlier and lot codes 5011, 5021, 5031, 5041, 5051, 5111, 5121, 5131, 5141, 5151, 5211, 5221, 5231, and 5241	10883278081462	Microbiological – E. coli O157:H7
BURGER KING	BK WHOLE ICEBERG LETTUCE	24 HEADS	With a Use By date of January 8, 2013 or earlier and lot codes 5011, 5021, 5031, 5041, 5051, 5111, 5121, 5131, 5141, 5151, 5211, 5221, 5231, and 5241	None / Aucun	Microbiological – E. coli O157:H7
SYSCO	CHOP LETTUCE ROMAINE	2 x 2lb	With a Use By date of January 10, 2013 or earlier and lot codes 4941, 4951, 5011, 5021, 5031, 5041, 5051, 5061, 5111, 5121, 5131, 5141, 5151, 5211, 5231, 5241, 5251, 5261	None / Aucun	Microbiological – E. coli O157:H7
SYSCO	1″ CHOP PANERA LETTUCE ROMAINE	6 x 2lb	With a Use By date of January 10, 2013 or earlier and lot codes 4941, 4951, 5011, 5021, 5031, 5041, 5051, 5061, 5111, 5121, 5131, 5141, 5151, 5211, 5231, 5241, 5251, 5261	None / Aucun	Microbiological – E. coli O157:H7
SYSCO	PREMIUM CHOP LETTUCE ROMAINE HEARTS	6 x 2lb	With a Use By date of January 10, 2013 or earlier and lot codes 4941, 4951, 5011, 5021, 5031, 5041, 5051, 5061, 5111, 5121, 5131, 5141, 5151, 5211, 5231, 5241, 5251, 5261	10074865916643	Microbiological – E. coli O157:H7
NONE – PACKAGED FOR USE BY PIZZA HUT	1 1/2″ CHOP ROMAINE LETTUCE	6 x 2lb	With a Use By date of January 10, 2013 or earlier and lot codes 4941, 4951, 5011, 5021, 5031, 5041, 5051, 5061, 5111, 5121, 5131, 5141, 5151, 5211, 5231, 5241, 5251, 5261	None / Aucun	Microbiological – E. coli O157:H7
BURGER KING CANADA	1 1/2″ CUT ROMAINE LETTUCE BK-2002	6 x 2lb	With a Use By date of January 10, 2013 or earlier and lot codes 4941, 4951, 5011, 5021, 5031, 5041, 5051, 5061, 5111, 5121, 5131, 5141, 5151, 5211, 5231, 5241, 5251, 5261	None / Aucun	Microbiological – E. coli O157:H7
NONE – PACKAGED FOR USE BY YUM	1 1/2″ CHOP ROMAINE LETTUCE	3 x 2lb	With a Use By date of January 10, 2013 or earlier and lot codes 4941, 4951, 5011, 5021, 5031, 5041, 5051, 5061, 5111, 5121, 5131, 5141, 5151, 5211, 5231, 5241, 5251, 5261	10883278093724	Microbiological – E. coli O157:H7
FRESHPOINT	CHOP ROMAINE	6 x 907 g	With a Use By date of January 10, 2013 or earlier and lot codes 4941, 4951, 5011, 5021, 5031, 5041, 5051, 5061, 5111, 5121, 5131, 5141, 5151, 5211, 5231, 5241, 5251, 5261	None / Aucun	Microbiological – E. coli O157:H7
SYSCO	1 1/2″ CHOP ROMAINE LETTUCE	6 x 2lb	With a Use By date of January 10, 2013 or earlier and lot codes 4941, 4951, 5011, 5021, 5031, 5041, 5051, 5061, 5111, 5121, 5131, 5141, 5151, 5211, 5231, 5241, 5251, 5261	10074865451069	Microbiological – E. coli O157:H7

 

KFC-Taco Bell E. coli Problem Worsens

In Canada, 26 Cases of E. coli 0157:H7 Associated with KFC and Taco Bell

January 13, 2013 By Kathy Will foodpoisoningbulletin

The Public Health Agency of Canada is investigating an E. coli 0157:H7 outbreak that has now sickened at least 26 people. The outbreak is located in the Maritimes and Ontario and is associated with shredded lettuce produced by Freshpoint Inc. and sold at KFC and KFC-Taco Bell restaurants. The lettuce was not distributed to grocery stores.

 

A recall has been announced. The source of contamination has not been determined. The lettuce originally came from California. U.S. officials have been notified of this outbreak. Public health officials are investigating to see if food safety controls were followed at each step along the production and supply chain.

So far, there are six cases of E. coli 0157:H7 in New Brunswick, ten cases in Nova Scotia, and ten cases in Ontario. Most of those sickened have recovered or are recovering. There may be more cases of illness identified as the investigation continues. The reported illnesses occurred between late December and early January.

The public can help government officials take control of this outbreak. If you are suffering symptoms of E. coli 0157:H7, such as severe stomach cramps, watery and/or bloody diarrhea, and vomiting, see your doctor immediately. And stay home when you are sick. About 5-10% of those who contract this infection develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause kidney failure and can be fatal. Thorough hand washing is the best way to prevent person-to-person spread of this illness. And follow general food safety rules and precautions at all times.

____________________________________________________

E. coli-Contaminated Lettuce Came from a California LGMA Grower

BY DAN FLYNN foodsafetynews | JANUARY 15, 2013

First it was just plain old lettuce, then it was California-grown lettuce, and now the latest from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is that was lettuce from a grower who has signed onto the California Leafy Green Products Handler Marketing Agreement.

In explaining how that lettuce contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 came across the border from the U.S., CFIA now points to how involvement in the Leafy Green Marketing Agreement (LGMA) is a quick ticket across the international border for California-grown lettuce.

The idea is simple. Since the 115 California leafy green producers submit to a mandatory food safety program, they can check “Box 22″ on their Confirmation of Sale’s (COS) document and enter Canada almost without slowing down.

Amazing Coachella

And, the LGMA agreement may be the most stringent food safety program for leafy green producers on the planet. It includes mandatory government audits for lettuce, spinach, and other leafy greens that follow a “best practices” model to reduce risk. It focuses on water, soil and other environmental conditions along with farm worker hygiene and harvest controls.

Still, the current E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, with at least 26 illnesses in three provinces, marks the second time in two years that California-grown lettuce served in Canadian restaurants has been responsible for a foodborne illness outbreak.

Last year’s outbreak involved two restaurants in Canada’s New Brunswick and one in Orange County, California. Genetic fingerprinting connected Amazing Coachella Inc., a Coachella, CA-based producer, to the illnesses in both countries.

This year’s outbreak involves KFC and Taco Bell outlets, restaurants of the Yum! Brands chain that receive fresh lettuce in the middle of winter from FreshPoint, a distributor in Toronto. CFIA has yet to name the actual grower, a subject that is giving the tight leafy green community in California something talk about.

“We’ve been reaching out some,” says April Ward, LGMA’s communications director who is based in Sacramento. Her members are talking about it, but no one has coughed up the name of the responsible grower – yet.

LGMA, in a statement issued on Chairman Ryan Talley’s blog, promises to fully cooperate with all those investigating the latest incident.

“Consumers should know that if there is an outbreak determined to be associated with California leafy greens, the LGMA is committed to working with health officials to assist in determining the cause,” he said. “Traceback and recall capabilities that are a mandatory part of our program can be initiated and any product with the potential to be associated with the outbreak is removed from market channels to protect consumers.”

“Information about any implicated farms is made available to authorities, and re-inspections can be done,” he continued. “If it is determined that an outbreak is the result of any on-farm practice, the food safety measures included in the LGMA program will be examined and, if necessary, changed.”

Talley said when LGMA hears about an possible outbreak involving one of its members, “We jump in to learn more.”

While California lettuce growers are aware of the Canadian outbreak involving their product, they aren’t too into speculating about who is involved. Tom Lathos, chief operating officer at Sun Coast Farms, said he’d sooner end his day at the beach, doing some January surfing.

Letting a pathogen slip through does not mean a producer loses its LGMA status. Under the program, a producer can be decertified or ordered to take corrective action. But Amazing Coachella Inc. remains in good standing as an LGMA member.

The LGMA program includes roles for both private sector auditors and California Department of Food and Agriculture inspectors. It was created in response to the 2006 E. coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with spinach grown in California’s Salinas Valley, often called the “America’s Salad Bowl.”  In that outbreak, 205 were sickened and 5 died.

Talley says the LGMA program meets and/or exceeds the requirements of the new Produce Safety Rule, recently published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the two-year-old Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

All LGMA members use the organization’s service mark on bills of lading to assure customers that its products were produced under the best food safety practices available today. Growers who today can use that service mark include:

Agro Jal Farms Inc, Santa Maria
Amazing Coachella Inc/DBA Peter Rabbit Farms, Coachella
Amigo Farms Inc, Yuma
Andrew Smith Co, Spreckels
Anthony Costa and Sons, Soledad
Apio Inc, Guadalupe
Babe Farms Inc, Santa Maria
Badlands / El Don, Brawley
Baloian Packing Co Inc, Fresno
Beachside Produce LLC, Guadalupe
Bengard Ranch Inc, Salinas
Big E Produce, Lompoc
Blanton Produce Co, Salinas
Boggiatto Produce Inc, Salinas
Bonipak Produce Co, Santa Maria
Boskovich Farms, Oxnard
C and E Farms Inc, Salinas
Cal Cel Marketing Inc, Oxnard
Channel Islands Farm, Inc, Oxnard
Church Bros LLC, Salinas
Classic Salads LLC, Salinas
Coastal Fresh Farms, Westlake Village
Coastline / Sunridge Farms Inc, Salinas
Country Sweet Produce Inc, Bakersfield
Creekside Organics Inc., Bakersfield
Crystal Organic/Grimmway Farms, Bakersfield
D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of CA, Salinas
Dan Andrews Farms, Bakersfield
Deardorff Family Farms, Oxnard
Diamond Produce Co, Salinas
Dole Fresh Vegetables, Salinas
Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc-Cal, Salinas
Durant Distributing, Santa Maria
Dynasty Farms Inc, Salinas
Earthbound Farm, San Juan Bautista
EpicVeg, Lompoc
Ernie Strahm & Sons, Inc – Holtville
Faurot Ranch LLC, Watsonville
Field Fresh Farms, Watsonville
Fisher Ranch Corporation, Blythe
Fratelli Farms, Hollister
Fresh Choice Marketing Inc, Oxnard
Fresh Express Inc, Salinas
Fresh Kist, Nipomo
Fresh Origins LLC, San Marcos
Fresh Roots LLC, Salinas
George Amaral Ranches Inc, Gonzales
Gold Coast Packing Co, Santa Maria
Greengate Fresh LLLP, Salinas
Growers Express LLC, Salinas
Ippolito International, Salinas
Jayleaf LLC, Hollister
Joe Heger Farms LLC, El Centro
John S Tamagni and Sons, Inc, Spreckels
Kawaguchi Farms, Arroyo Grande
Keber Distributing, Thermal
Kenter Canyon Farms, Sun Valley
Lakeside Organic Gardens LLC, Watsonville
Mann Packing Co Inc, Salinas
Misionero Vegetables, Salinas
Muranaka Farms, Moorpark
Nava Enterprise Inc, Oxnard
New Star Fresh Foods LLC | organicgirl, Salinas
North Country Produce, Paso Robles
Ocean Mist Farms, Castroville
Pablo’s Produce, Oxnard
Pacific Coast Produce, Santa Maria
Pacific Fresh Produce Inc, Oxnard
Pacific International Marketing, Salinas
Pacific Marketing Co, Salinas
Pacific Pride Marketing LLC, Oxnard
Pajaro Valley Fresh Fruit And Veg Dist, Watsonville
Pismo Oceano Vegetable Exch, Oceano
Premium Valley Produce, Inc, Scottsdale
Pure Pacific Organics, Salinas
Purepak Inc / Pacific Ridge Farms LLC, Oxnard
Ratto Bros Inc, Modesto
Ready Pac Foods Inc, Duarte
Real Fresh Farms Inc., Santa Paula
River Ranch Fresh Food LLC, Salinas
Royal Rose LLC / European Vegetable Specialties, Salinas
Sabor Farms, Salinas
Salad Savoy Corp, Salinas
San Cristobal Distributing Inc, Oxnard
San Miguel Produce, Oxnard
Santa Barbara Farms Packing, Lompoc
Scarborough Farms Inc, Oxnard
Seaboard Produce/Variety Marketing, Oxnard
Silva Farms, Gonzales
Steinbeck Country Produce, Spreckels
Strahm Farms Inc, Holtville
Sun Coast Farms, Santa Maria
Sun Terra Produce Traders Inc, Newport Beach
Sunamerica Produce, Salinas
Sunfresh USA Inc, Santa Paula
Sunsation Farms Inc, Monterey
Talley Farms Inc, Arroyo Grande
Tanimura And Antle Fresh Foods, Inc, Salinas
Taylor Farms, Salinas
The Nunes Co Inc, Salinas
The Salad Farm LLC, Salinas
True Leaf Farms, Salinas
Vessey And Company Inc, Holtville
William Consalo and Sons, Bakersfield

One of them likely shipped lettuce to Freshpoint.

© Food Safety News

Related articles

• E. coli source likely lettuce at KFC/Taco Bell (cbc.ca)

 

E. coli source likely lettuce at KFC/Taco Bell

Product recalled, no new cases expected, health officials say

CBC News

Posted: Jan 11, 2013 4:57 PM AT

The source of a potentially deadly strain of E. coli in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario was likely lettuce served at KFC/Taco Bell outlets, health officials say.

All suspect lettuce has been recalled, they said Friday afternoon.

“The evidence from our collaborative investigation leads us to believe that the common food source was distributed to this fast-food restaurant chain,” said Dr. Frank Atherton, Nova Scotia’s deputy chief medical officer of health.

“Lettuce has a limited shelf life, and we have not seen a new case in more than a week. This tells us it is highly unlikely the food item remains in the food chain. As an added precaution, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is issuing a recall of the lettuce products.”

He added that the fault did not lie with the restaurants, but with FreshPoint, the company that supplied the lettuce.

No new cases of E. coli O157 are expected, officials said.

Nova Scotia has had 10 confirmed cases of E. coli O157 in the past couple of weeks. At least five are linked to the outbreak.

New Brunswick has also had six confirmed cases, while Ontario has had five. All of the patients have been treated and are recovering, Atherton said.

Dr. Eilish Cleary, New Brunswick’s chief medical officer, said it was hard to pin down the particular outlet. The lettuce was distributed to other fast-food chains, but the cases were all linked to Taco Bell/KFC.

“When we looked at the food history of our patients, they had eaten at several locations, so we were unable to pinpoint exactly which ones they were exposed at,” she said.

Sabir Sami, president of KFC/Taco Bell parent company Yum Restaurants, said his company takes the developments seriously.

“We’re obviously concerned, as this lettuce provided to us by FreshPoint has been distributed to many area restaurants in Canada, including ours,” he said in a news release.

“We have removed all the affected lettuce from our restaurants in Canada and want to reassure our customers that our food is perfectly safe to eat. The health and safety of our customers is our top priority.”

E. coli O157 is the same strain that killed seven people in Walkerton, Ont., in 2000. It secretes a powerful toxin that can cause severe illness, high blood pressure and kidney damage.

Romaine lettuce was determined to be the likely source of an E. coli outbreak in Miramichi., N.B., in April. At least 13 people in the northern New Brunswick city were infected with that strain of E. coli O157, while another 11 people may have also been infected with that strain, officials said at the time.

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• E. coli source likely lettuce at KFC/Taco Bell (cbc.ca)
• Nova Scotia health official traces source of E. coli outbreak to lettuce (ctvnews.ca)