Recall Roundup: Listeria, E.coli and undeclared allergens…

Pathogens

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced the recall of several Levitts Foods brand deli meats due to the detection of Listeria monocytogenes. A full list of the products affected can be found on the CFIA website. According to the agency, the product was distributed in Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Quebec – though there are concerns that affected products could have been sold across Canada.

Similarly, B&I Overseas Trading Inc from California is recalling its frozen Veladis herring in oil with Italian spices, once again due to the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that the products affected were sold at certain stores in Washington state. Customers are advised to return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Germany’s Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) has also announced the recall of Alexander Eyckeler GmbH’s frozen Lamb chops due to the detection of enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). The meat was sold in Real supermarkets across Germany according to the manufacturer and had a best before date of 30 January. For more information visit the BVL’s website.

Undeclared allergens

ASK Italian is recalling Ask Italian Christmas Crackers in the UK because the chocolates in the cracker contain peanuts, soya, barley (gluten), eggs, wheat (gluten) and may contain almonds (nuts) and oats (gluten) not mentioned on the label. More information on the recall is available from the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Staying in the UK, supermarket chain Tesco is recalling a batch of Tesco Finest Festive Belgian Dark Chocolate Brazil Nuts. The product has been incorrectly packed with Tesco Finest Festive Fruit and Nut Selection, which contains sulphur dioxide that is not mentioned on the label. The FSA says the product is a possible health risk for anyone with a sensitivity to sulphur dioxide and/or sulphites. The correctly packed Tesco Finest Festive Fruit and Nut Selection product is not affected by this recall. The FSA is advising customers that have bought the product and are sensitive to sulphur dioxide and/or sulphites to return it to the store where it was purchased or contact Tesco’s Customer Helpline on 0800 505 555 for a full refund.

In Canada, Dolson Marketing Inc. is recalling its Merrylady brand Blue Non-Dairy Whip Topping from the marketplace because it contains milk which is not declared on the label. The products were sold in Ontario, although the CFIA believes distribution may have been national. Again, the CFIA advises customers who have purchased the product to return it for a full refund.

In the US, Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc. is recalling a limited number of its Sesame Asian Chopped Salad Kit due to the presence of undeclared egg. According to the FDA, the dressing and topping kit designed for a different Dole product was unintentionally used during a portion of the production of the salad. The salad kit was sold in Alaska, California, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Utah. For more information, including the lot codes of the products affected, visit the FDA’s website.