Food Poison Journal - Food poisoning outbreaks and litigation: surveillance and analysis

Today the USDA announced that 18th Street Deli Inc., a Hamtramck, Mich., establishment, is recalling approximately 118 pounds of julienne salad products with turkey, ham and hard-boiled eggs. The salads contain eggs that are the subject of an FDA recall due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

The salad products were produced on Jan. 20, 2012 and then distributed to retail stores in Michigan and vending companies in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. The products subject to the recall are 9.25-ounce packages of "18th Street Deli Julienne Salad," "18th Street Deli Julienne Salad Lite," and "Balanced Choice Julienne Salad Lite" that bear the establishment number "P-22061" inside the USDA mark of inspection and expiration dates of "01/27/12" and "01/30/12."

The problem was discovered when 18th Street Deli was notified by one of its suppliers that hard-cooked eggs (a product inspected by the FDA) had tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes and are being recalled by Michael Foods Egg Products Co. The julienne salads contain the recalled eggs and are the subject of this FSIS recall. FSIS and the company have received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.

Today it was announced that the Frisia Dairy and Creamery, located in Tenino, Washington, is recalling its raw milk products after routine sampling turned up shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria in its skim raw milk product.  Thankfully no illnesses have been detected thus far. 

The products being recalled include whole, skim, and cream milk sold in various sizes.  The raw milk products are distributed and sold directly at the dairy and through 8 stores in Lewis, Thurston, and Pierce counties.  The affected stores include:

• Olympia Food Co-op, 3111 Pacific Ave., Olympia, WA
• Yelm Co-op, 404 1st St., Yelm, WA
• Mt. Community Co-op, 105 Carter St., Eatonville, WA
• Shop-N-Kart, 2100 N. National Ave., Chehalis, WA
• Olympia Food Co-op, 921 Rogers, Olympia, WA
• Olympia Local Foods, 2442 Mottman Road S.W., Tumwater, WA
• Baily’s IGA, 10333 Hwy 12 S.W., Rochester, WA
• Tenino IGA, 669 Lincoln Ave., Tenino, WA

This marks the second E. coli recall in the past several months tied to Washington raw milk products.  At the end of November, 2011, the Cozy Vale Creamery announced a recall after several shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 infections were linked to consumptions of its raw milk dairy products.  The Washington State Department of Agriculture conducted tests at the Cozy Vale Creamery during the E. coli outbreak investigation. The test results indicated E. coli O157:H7 contamination in the milking parlor and processing areas. The unique genetic strain of the pathogen was a match to the genetic strain that infected at least three children in Pierce and Thurston counties.

Green Valley Food Corp. is recalling approximately 35,159 cases of a variety of products because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Random samples tested positive for 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. Any customer who received any of the products on 12/07/2011 to 1/1/2012 are affected in this recall and/or if the items have a use by date ranging from 12/22/2011 to 1/17/2012. The original recall was initiated on 12/23/11 and 12/24/11.

The items being recalled are as follows, which includes all items from the original press release from 12/23/2011:

• Let's Grow Healthy Together!” Alfalfa Sprouts 5 oz. plastic 2 piece containers with the UPC number 714722228818
• Let"s Grow Healthy Together!” Spicy Sprouts 5 oz. plastic 2 piece containers with the UPC number 714722229914
• Alfalfa Sprouts 4oz. plastic security sealed clamshell UPC number 815098001088
• Green Valley Food Corp.” Onion Sprouts” 4oz. plastic security sealed clamshell UPC number 815098002054
• Let's Grow Healthy Together!” Sunflower Greens 5 oz. plastic 2 piece containers with the UPC number 714722206069
• Let's Grow Healthy Together!” Clover Sprouts 5 oz. plastic 2 piece containers with the UPC number 714722225510
• Let's Grow Healthy Together!” Onion Sprouts 2 oz. plastic 2 piece containers with the UPC number 714722227712
• Let's Grow Healthy Together!” Zesty Sprouts 5 oz. plastic 2 piece containers with the UPC number 714722221116
• Let's Grow Healthy Together!” Organic Wheat Grass 6oz. plastic 2 piece containers with the UPC number 714722608122
• Let's Grow Healthy Together!” Mung Bean Sprouts 8oz. red polypropylene bag with the UPC number 815098001071
• Let's Grow Healthy Together!” Mung Bean Sprouts 16 oz. clear polypropylene bag with a green label, the UPC number 714722208162
• &Green Valley Food Corp. Spicy Sprouts 4 oz. plastic security sealed clamshell containers with the UPC number 815098002023
• Green Valley Food Corp.” Snow Pea Shoots 3 oz. plastic security sealed clamshell containers with the UPC number 714722106062
• “Green Valley Food Corp.” Organic Wheatgrass 4 oz. plastic security sealed clamshell containers with UPC number 714722608122
• Green Valley Food Corp.” Daikon Sprouts 3 oz. plastic security sealed clamshell containers with UPC number 714722206076
• Broccosprouts” Sandwich Blend 4 oz. plastic security sealed clamshell containers with UPC number 815098000289
• Broccosprouts” Salad Blend 4 oz. plastic security sealed clamshell containers with UPC number 815098000265
• Broccosprouts” Deli Blend 4 oz. plastic security sealed clamshell containers with the UPC number 815098000272
• Broccosprouts” Broccoli Sprouts 4 oz. plastic security sealed clamshell containers with UPC number 815098000258

The sprouts affected in this recall were distributed to customers in Texas, consisting of grocery store distribution centers and food service customers.  According to the company's press release, there have been no confirmed illnesses related to consumption of the recalled sprouts. 

Kradjian Imp Co. of Glendale, CA is recalling 231 cases of cheese distributed in Southern California to Mediterranean specialty markets because the cheese may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The company was notified by its supplier, Fromagerie Marie Kade of Quebec, Canada, that a specific lot number of the cheese might be contaminated. Fromagerie Marie Kade has recalled the cheese.

The recall is of 22 lb. cases of 16 oz. Cedar brand Tresse Cheese and 16 oz. Cedar brand Shinglish cheese. The Cedar brand Shinglish firm unripened cheese has the UPC 78546 10000 and the Cedar brand Tresse firm unripened cheese has the UPC 78546 01000. Both brands were delivered before Nov. 13, 2011.

Both cheeses are vacuum packed and have a green cedar tree on the label, pictured at http://www.fromageriemariekade.com/Produits.htm

Consumers can return the recalled Cedar brand Shingilish or Tresse cheese to the place of purchase for a full refund. For more information contact the company at 1-866-825- 2633 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on holidays.

Sprouts have been linked to at least 40 outbreaks of E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria.  Thursday evening, Green Valley Food Corp. recalled 650 cases of alfalfa sprouts due to a positive test for Salmonella from a customer's sample.  The recalled sprouts were distributed only in Texas.  According to the company's recall announcement:

Green Valley Food Corp. of is recalling 650 cases of “Let’s Grow Healthy Together!” Alfalfa Sprouts 5 oz. containers, because the results showed to be contaminated with Salmonella.

“Let’s Grow Healthy Together!” Alfalfa Sprouts 5 oz. containers were distributed in Texas via truck deliveries to all customers in Texas. All customers were retail chains and food distribution centers. If you are a customer affected by this recall you will be receiving a letter asking for the quantities you were shipped and their whereabouts. Please, respond as soon as possible.

The product is in a plastic container that measures 4-inch by 4-inch container that has a lid. The containers UPC number is 714722228818. The label has blue lettering that states “Let’s Grow Healthy Together!” Alfalfa Sprouts 5 oz. containers. The code date on the shipping box is an orange tag that will state the number,”3440210”. The “Let’s Grow Healthy Together!” Alfalfa Sprouts 5 oz. containers will have a white tag on the upper right hand side of the label with the date of 1/1/2012.

Till this present day there has been no related illnesses CONFIRMED because of this recall. This is a cautionary measure taken by Green Valley Food Corp. to assure safe and quality products are being distributed by our facility.

On 12/12/2011 a random sample was taken from a customer we currently supply. The product tested for Salmonella that had a result positive result. To assure our customers of a safe Alfalfa Sprout, Green Valley Food Corp., is voluntarily recalling this product that has a product code “3440210”. Rest assured, other Alfalfa products or blends are not included in the recall and are safe for consumption, and is not included in this recall. We are voluntarily requesting this recall and are working closely with the FDA to assure all consumers our products are safe.