California Warns Consumers Not to Eat "Queen Victoria" and "Tubby" Bunched Spinach

Posted by Salmonella Lawyer on September 18, 2009

The California Department of Public Health warned consumers not to eat “Queen Victoria” and “Tubby” bunched spinach because they may be contaminated with salmonella, which can cause serious illness. 

The 12-count and 24-count spinach bunches were bound with a twist tie which says“PLU 4090 UPC 33383-65200.” The twist tie associated with the “Queen Victoria” label has the Queen Victoria logo on it. The twist tie for the Tubby label has a generic spinach band on it.

Of the 1,715 cartons of recalled bunched spinach, a total of 1,515 cartons were packed under the “Queen Victoria” label and distributed to California, Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and to British Columbia, Ontario, and Manitoba in Canada. 

The remaining 200 cartons were packed under the “Tubby” label and distributed in California and New York. The recalled spinach was harvested September 1 through September 3, and distributed to retail, food service and wholesale buyers.

The recalled bunched spinach was packed in 12-count and 24-count spinach bunches in cardboard boxes with “Spinach” printed on the side panel, in wire bound crates or reusable plastic containers.

Oregon Says Nationwide Salmonella Outbreak Likely Caused By Shredded Lettuce

Posted by Salmonella Lawyer on September 14, 2009

A mid-summer Salmonella outbreak that sickened at least 124 people across the country probably was due to contaminated lettuce.

At least that’s the opinion of William Keene, senior epidemiologist at Oregon’s Public Health Division.

The outbreak ran from mid-July to mid-August with one cluster of cases being in the Portland area where seven became sick and two required hospital stays. They have since been released.

No deaths were associated with the outbreak.

Keene said shredded lettuce is suspected of causing the outbreak and the investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues.

Salmonella Typhimurium was involved, which makes the investigation more difficult because the strain is so common. Nor were there any lettuce recalls associated with the outbreak, and by now all tainted product would be gone.

“We’re trying to learn what happened and what steps can be taken to reduce risk,” said Keene. 

Muranaka Farm Knows Where Parsley Was & Where It's Going--Now Wants It Back

Posted by Salmonella Lawyer on September 12, 2009

Salmonella-related recalls lately have been all over the spice rack. This time, parsley is on the recall list, but no illnesses have yet been associated with it.

Moorpark, CA's Muranake Farms Inc. is recalling 1,005 cases of 60-count bunched parsley because it may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Muranaka Farm's has a trace recall program that allows the company to immediately determine which customers purchased all 1,005 cases. Muranaka's food safety protocols also ensure the company was able to determine the amount of cases harvested, the crew harvesting the product, and the field on which the parsley was grown and harvested.

Product was distributed in the following 10 states: Arizona (30 cases), California (574 cases), Colorado (35 cases), Florida (60 Cases), Iowa (3 cases), Illinois (1 case), Missouri (7 cases), Tennessee (5 cases), Texas (278 cases) and Wisconsin (12 cases). These cases were distributed within both retail and foodservice outlets.

The product was shipped in a brown wax carton under the Muranaka Label with a parsley silhouette on the side. The bunches were banded using a red rubber band. The lot code 0023909 is on a sticker on the outside of the carton.

The recall was as the result of a voluntary sampling program conducted in cooperation with the FDA which revealed that the finished products contained the bacteria. Muranaka Farm, Inc. continues to work in cooperation with the FDA on this matter.

Consumers with questions may contact Muranaka Farm, Inc. at 805-529-0201 8AM-PM PST with any questions. We also urge consumers to visit their retailer to determine if the product they have purchased is from Muranaka Farm and is associated with Lot Code 0023909.

"The health of all consumers is of the utmost importance to every employee of our company. With that in mind, even though this product is over two weeks old and most likely past the useable shelf life, we have taken immediate actions to ensure that all product is accounted for and out of the supply chain. We are working with all of our customers to insure this product is no longer being distributed." said Greg Emi, President, Muranaka Farm, Inc.

Because of Muranaka Farm's trace recall program the company was able to immediately determine which customers purchased the product in question. Muranaka's food safety protocols also ensure the company was able to determine the amount of cases harvested, the crew harvesting the product, and the field on which the parsley was grown and harvested.

Michigan Candy Maker Recalls Chocolate-Covered Peanuts

Posted by Salmonella Lawyer on September 11, 2009

Kilwin's Quality Confections, Inc. of Petoskey, MI, on Sept. 10 recalled all of our seven ounce packages of chocolate-covered peanuts, and bulk chocolate-covered peanuts, sold in our retail stores prior to April 1, 2009.

These package may be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Sometimes, an infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The recalled chocolate-covered peanuts were sold in Kilwin's retail stores located in Michigan, Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin, Colorado, Rhode Island, Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

The product comes in a seven ounce, gold foiled plastic package with a clear center section, and is labeled "Milk Chocolate Peanuts" and "Fresh dry roasted peanuts covered in creamy milk chocolate", Kilwin's Quality Confections, Petosky, MI 49770.

The barcode on the package is 001615. Additionally, the product was sold in bulk bins, by weight, at Kilwin's retail stores.

No illnesses are yet associated with the recall.

The potential for contamination was noted after our peanuts supplier voluntarily recalled their product because these peanuts originally came from the Peanut Corporation of America's now closed facility in Plainview, TX.

Kilwin's products purchased at our stores on or after April 1, 2009 are not subject to this recall.

Salinas Produce Company Recalls Mexican Onions Over Salmonella Contamination

Posted by Salmonella Attorney on September 09, 2009

 

Two California produce shippers have recalled thousands of cases of green onions supplied by an onion farm in Mexicali, Mexico, over fears the onions could be contaminated with salmonella.

U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors found salmonella in a routine test taken in New York last month. No illnesses have been reported.

Officials notified the shipper, Salinas-based Steinbeck Country Produce. The company issued a voluntary recall Aug. 28 for 3,360 cartons.  Steinbeck's produce was distributed in California, Massachusetts, Texas, Indiana, New York, Michigan, Missouri, Kansas and Arizona.  Castroville-based shipper Ocean Mist Farms recalled 1,746 cases as well, after realizing they came from the same lot. Ocean Mist wouldn't say where it's onions were distributed.

Red Pepper Spice Recalled By Texas Coffee Co. For Salmonella Contamination

Posted by Salmonella Attorney on September 01, 2009

Red pepper spice sold by retailers in southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana is being recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination.
A Beaumont, TX -based coffee and spice packager issued the red pepper recall.
The Texas Coffee Co. said 3- and 8-ounce packages of Texjoy red pepper are being recalled because of potential contamination by salmonella bacteria.
No illnesses have yet been associated with this recalled.
Salmonella infection can cause flulike symptoms in otherwise-healthy people and death in young children, frail or elderly people and those with compromised immune systems.
The clear plastic packages bear lot numbers A29A07A2012, A28A07A2012 and A30A07A2012.
A Texas Coffee statement issued Monday says it received word of the potential contamination from its supplier.
The company says consumers can return pepper covered by the recall to their retailer for a refund. Questions can be directed to 1-800-259-3400.