Recalls

Recall Alert: Turmeric and Curry Seasoning

by Slashfood Editor, Posted Apr 18th 2011 @ 11:00AM

turmeric spice recall Photos: USDA.gov; Rachel Been, AOL

Before you shake a little dried turmeric into that curry you're preparing, read this. Food Safety News reports that the possibility of excessive lead in its ground turmeric has led Missouri company B&M, Inc. to voluntarily recall its Archer Farms brand turmeric, sold at Target in 2.6 oz. glass bottles, with UPC 0-85239-02612-0. The lot numbers included (numbers and dates can be found on the bottom of the bottle ) are 1740901A, best by 6/23/2011; 2180902A, best by 8/6/11; 2780906A, best by 10/5/2011; 2920903A, best by 10/19/11; 3060903A, best by 11/2/2011; 0071003A, best by1/7/2012. The turmeric is distributed nationwide. (No other Archer Farm spices are affected.)

Consumers can return the turmeric to the store where it was purchased. For more information, you can call B&M, Inc. at 1-877-321-5852 or Target Guest Relations at 800-316-6151.

Food Safety News also reports that another concern with lead in turmeric has caused Top Food & Drugs to voluntarily recall two Spice Hunter brand products: Spice Hunter Curry Seasoning in 1.8 oz. containers with a UPC number of 0-81057-01330, lots: 09 198 and 09 225, as well as its Spice Hunter Ground Turmeric in 2 oz. containers, UPC: 0-81057-01985, lots: 09 196, 09 201 and 09 264.

No illnesses have yet been reported because of the affected turmeric. The concern, though, is that when too much lead is consumed, it can create developmental problems, especially in children.

Filed under: Recalls

Jennie-O Turkey Recalled Because of Salmonella Concerns

COMMENTS 10

by Slashfood Editor, Posted Apr 4th 2011 @ 3:00PM

Jennie-O All Natural Turkey Burgers Photo: Hormel Foods Corporation

Check your freezer: Jennie-O Turkey Store is recalling almost 55,000 pounds of frozen turkey burgers that may be contaminated with Salmonella, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The recall applies for all packages of a raw turkey product: "All Natural Turkey Burgers with seasonings Lean White Meat" with a "use by" date of December 23, 2011. But if you're not a Sam's Club member, you can breathe easier -- the patties, sold in 4-pound boxes containing 12 patties, are found exclusively at Sam's Club, Jennie-O said on its recall website.

Three people in Colorado, Ohio, and Wisconsin fell ill after eating the Jennie-O ground turkey, leading the FSIS to determine there is a link between the product and the outbreak, the agency said on its website. Salmonella infections can be life-threatening for those with weak immune systems.

Filed under: Recalls

Melons: The Repeat Recall Offenders of Fruit

COMMENTS 2

by Jessie Cacciola, Posted Mar 29th 2011 @ 12:00PM

cantaloupe Photo: eddie.welker, Flickr

Melons are not having a good start to the season. A mass recall of 4,992 cartons of Del Monte cantaloupes was issued in seven western states last Tuesday due to potential Salmonella outbreak at their Asunicion Mita farm in Guatemala, according to the company's press release. But this isn't the first time melons have posed a health risk.

The Food and Drug Administration notes that between 1996 and 2008, 13 out of 83 infected types of fresh produce were melons, and 10 were cantaloupe. Ray Costa, a registered sanitarian and food safety education advocate, tries to explain why in Food Safety News.

Filed under: Health & Medical, Recalls

Lean Cuisine Recall

COMMENTS 0

by Jason Best, Posted Mar 15th 2011 @ 1:00PM

Lean Cuisine recall, frozen spaghetti with meatballs Photo: Cassandra Hubbart, AOL

Nestlé Prepared Foods is recalling more than 10,000 pounds of a popular frozen entrée due to possible contamination with foreign materials.

The company has issued a recall for 9.5-oz. packages of its "Lean Cuisine Simple Favorites" spaghetti with meatballs dinners. The recall is limited to specific packages with the production code "0298595519P." The code can be found by looking for the gray "proof of purchase" label beneath the product's ingredient statement. The entrées carry a "best before" date of November 2011 and were shipped to retail stores east of the Rocky Mountains.

Nestle recalled the products after consumers in Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin complained that they had discovered pieces of hard red plastic in the frozen dinners.

The company is telling consumers who purchased these Lean Cuisine dinners with the above production code not to consume the product. Instead they should contact the company at (866) 606-8264 or via leancuisine@casupport.com.

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Filed under: Recalls

Skippy Peanut Butter Recalled

COMMENTS 0

by Jessie Cacciola, Posted Mar 7th 2011 @ 12:00PM

Skippy peanutbutter Photo: Pinot & Dita, Flickr

Before you make your next PB&J, check the jar. Unilever has issued a recall on two varieties of Skippy peanut butter due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recall applies to Skippy Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy Reduced Fat Super Chunk Peanut Butter sold in sixteen states.

Affected states are Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.

No illnesses have been reported yet, but consumers are urged to discard any purchased 16.3 oz plastic jars with a UPC of 048001006812 or 048001006782 (found below the bar code on the product's label) and a 'best-if-used-by-date' of MAY1612LR1, MAY1712LR1, MAY1812LR1, MAY1912LR1, MAY2012LR1 or MAY2112LR1.

Salmonella can prove fatal for young children, elderly or people with weakened immune systems.

Filed under: Recalls

Recall Alert: Salad Greens

COMMENTS 1

by Jason Best, Posted Jan 27th 2011 @ 11:00AM

Photo: JenWaller, Flickr

The Food and Drug Administration has announced that Massachusetts-based State Garden Co. has issued a voluntary recall of fresh-cut salad products processed in its plant on January 4. The recall comes after samples of State Garden salad mixes were found to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

State Garden distributes packaged salad products throughout the Northeast. The affected products include baby conventional and organic arugula, baby spinach, baby romaine, spring mix and organic herb salad. These products are marketed under the following names: Gold Quality, Hannaford, Natures Place, Natures Promise, Roche Bros, Northeast Fresh, Noreast Fresh, Olivia's Organics, Signature, Wegmans.

The products that are being recalled have trace-back codes of 45693 and 45703, which are typically found in the upper right corner of bag labels. The "best if used by" date should be no later than January 15, 2011. The FDA has provided a complete list for consumers.

Filed under: Recalls

Recall Alert: Organic Beef

COMMENTS 15

by Slashfood Editor, Posted Jan 3rd 2011 @ 12:00PM

ground beef recall Photo: Corbis

More than 34,000 pounds of organic ground beef has been recalled by California-based First Class Foods because of a possibility of contamination with E. coli 0157:H7, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service reported. The beef is sold under the "Nature's Harvest" and "Organic Harvest" labels, and was shipped to stores in California, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Washington State. (The meat was produced on 12/7/10 and 12/16/10).

The recall began on December 30, when the company discovered a positive result for E.coli O157:H7 after an internal sampling of the beef products. No illness has been reported so far.

Specific products include 16-ounce packages of Nature's Harvest Organic Ground Beef Brick, Organic Harvest Organic Ground Beef Brick, and Nature's Harvest Ground Patty.

For more information, see the FSIS press release, or contact First Class Foods at www.firstclassfoods.com.

Filed under: Recalls

Recall Alert: 18 Vegetables Added to Salmonella-Scare List

COMMENTS 2

by Slashfood Editor, Posted Dec 30th 2010 @ 11:00AM

vegetables recall Photo: Live Simply, Flickr

First it was thousands of cases of parsley that were recalled by J&D Produce for a positive test for salmonella; now the company has voluntarily recalled 18 additional vegetables. According to a release by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Texas-based J&D is taking the precaution of including its produce (mostly leafy greens, sold under the Little Bear brand), from dill to arugula to mustard greens, in the recall, in case of cross-contamination.

"It's imperative to protect public health, even if that means being overzealous in expanding the scope of the products we're calling back," said James Bassetti, president of J&D Produce Inc. "We will work closely with regulators, health officials and our customers in bringing back the products."

No illnesses have yet been reported in the 16 states where J&D products are distributed.

For a full list of produce, and the UPC's, see this FDA release.

And or additional information, contact J&D Produce by email at: qa@littlebearproduce.com; by fax: 956-381-9732; or by phone at 956-380-0353.

Filed under: Recalls

Recall Alert: Gingerbread Houses Sold at Whole Foods

COMMENTS 4

by Slashfood Editor, Posted Dec 27th 2010 @ 12:30PM

Photo: Ben Husmann, Flickr

There's trouble in Candyland. Whole Foods and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have announced a recall of gingerbread houses produced by Rolf's Patisserie and sold in Whole Foods stores. The reason? There's a possible connection to outbreaks of Staphylococcus aureus food poisoning, according to this F.D.A. press release. It says that the assembled gingerbread houses are decorated and packaged in clear plastic wrap and sold with a Whole Foods Market scale label; some scale labels also may list "Rolf's Patisserie" as part of the description.

The recall affects all gingerbread houses sold after November 1, 2010, in Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin.

The FDA adds that customers who have purchased any of the listed products from Whole Foods Market may return them to the store for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Whole Foods Market at 512-542-0878 weekdays between 8:00am and 5:00pm Central Standard Time.

Filed under: Recalls

Recall Alert: Sally Jackson Cheese

COMMENTS 3

by Jessie Cacciola, Posted Dec 21st 2010 @ 1:00PM

Sally Jackson Cheese recall Photo: Getty Images

The FDA has issued a recall of all Sally Jackson Cheese due to a possible contamination of E. coli. Sally Jackson produces raw cheese from cow's-, goat's- and sheep's milk. These cheeses do not bear a USPC code, as they are wrapped in leaves and tied with twine. The company is based in Oroville, WA but the cheese has been distributed nationwide to restaurants, distributers and retail stores.

As per the FDA: "Customers who have purchased Sally Jackson cheeses are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 509-429-3057, Monday through Friday, between 8:00am and 5:00pm Pacific Time."

Sally Jackson is one of the pioneer women cheesemakers. She had recieved a grant from the Carter Administration in the 1970s to produce her raw cheese on her Okanagan Highlands farm from the raw milk of her pasture-raised livestock. The cheese is then aged for the required 60 days (for raw cheeses) in signature dried chestnut leaves. You'll even find her product at the famed Murray's Cheese Shop, whose owner once referred to Sally as "one of America's great artisans."

Here at Slashfood we believe that's as true today as it's ever been. Ms. Jackson has had a long record of producing fine cheeses safely and we wish her the best in the future.

Filed under: Bakeries, Recalls