Recall Roundup: Pathogens and undeclared allergens

Undeclared allergens

In the UK, Waitrose and Partners has announced that it is recalling its Chocolate Mini Cupcakes as certain batches of the product contain undeclared walnuts.

This recall is England, Scotland and Wales specific and reportedly occurred due to a packaging error as some packs contain Coffee and Walnut Cupcakes.

Products included in the recall are packs of nine cupcakes with a best before date of 20 July 2024.

Waitrose and Partners has been advised to contact the relevant allergy support organisations, which will be able to inform their members about the recall.

A point of sale notice had been issued by Waitrose and Partners to notify consumers what they should do if they have purchased the product.

Advice states that anyone who has purchase the product and has an allergy to walnuts (nuts), should not eat it. Instead it should be returned to the store of purchase for a full refund.

Pathogens

Meanwhile, in the US Viva Raw LLC, Hillsborough, NC is recalling various dog and cat foods, including the Viva Turkey for Dogs Ground, Viva Turkey for Dogs Chunked, Viva Turkey for Cats, Viva Pure Turkey, and Viva Beef & Turkey for Puppies as these five products are contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

All products involved in this recall were manufactured under the Lot number 21244 and were reportedly distributed “directly to consumers” in all fifty states and the District of Columbia.

The company has said that it is notifying all customers who were shipped any Turkey or Beef & Turkey for Puppies products between May 16th and June 28th, 2024.

In addition, Viva Raw has claimed “no illnesses related to this lot have been reported to date”.

Pet owners can identify the recalled products as they were distributed as frozen 1 lb bricks in clear vacuum packaging. However, it is important to note there are no expiration dates for these products.

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Click this link to find out more about the products being recalled.

Advice to pet owners states that anyone who have purchased from Lot 21244, should contact Viva Raw using the email address [email protected] for a refund on any remaining product. In addition, pet owners have been told they should then destroy the food in a way that children, pets, and wildlife cannot access and not to feed the recalled product to pets or any other animals.

Also providing advice in relation to this recall, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended that humans do not touch the contaminated food product with bare hands.

“While wearing gloves or using paper towels, place the contaminated food in a sealed plastic bag and throw it in the garbage. Areas that may have come in contact with the contaminated product should be sanitized. Do not sell or donate the recalled products,” the FDA concluded.