TAHINI sesame paste by Krinos Foods
Krinos Foods of Long Island City, New York, is voluntarily recalling its TAHINI sesame paste because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The TAHINI sesame paste product comes in 1 lb. and 2 lb. glass jars. The UPC code of the 1 lb. jar is 0-75013-28500-3 and the 2 lb. jar is 0-75013-28510-2. The recalled lots have a code stamped on the lid of “EXP OCT 16 – 2014” up to and including “EXP MAR 15 – 2015”.
The potential for contamination was noted after the Michigan Department of Agriculture conducted routine testing on a sample of the product in a retail store and advised Krinos of the positive test results. Krinos has ceased distribution of the product as the cause of the problem is investigated. (Food Safety News: www.foodsafetynews.com)
Farm Rich E. coli O121 Outbreak Expands
Five more victims in four states were added last Friday by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta to the list of confirmed cases in the rare Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O121 outbreak associated with Farm Rich brand products.
The additional victims—one each in California, Colorado, and Ohio and two in Florida—bring the total number of individuals infected with the outbreak strain of E coli O121 (STEC O121) to 32. CDC says 35 percent of the victims have required hospitalization and two developed the kidney-damaging hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). No deaths have been reported among the mostly young (81 percent are age 21 or under) victims.
Ill persons range in age from one year to 75 years, with a median age of 17 years. Fifty-six percent of ill persons are female. Illnesses that occurred after March 30, 2013 might not be reported yet due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported.
CDC and state public health officials are interviewing ill persons to obtain information regarding foods they might have eaten and other exposures in the week before illness. Information available to date indicates that consumption of Farm Rich brand frozen food products is a likely source of infection for the ill persons in this outbreak. The outbreak strain of STEC O121 has been identified in two different Farm Rich brand frozen products collected from the homes of two ill persons.
On April 4, 2013, Rich Products Corporation expanded its recall to include all Farm Rich, Market Day, and Schwan’s brand frozen food products produced at its Waycross, Georgia plant between July 1, 2011 and March 29, 2013 due to possible contamination with E. coli O121. The recalled products had “Best By” dates ranging from January 1, 2013 to September 29, 2014.
Natura Pet Products Pet Food Recall
Natura Pet Products, which issued a recall of select lots of four brands of pet food last month, has expanded its recall to include all of the company’s dry pet food and treat products with expiration dates through March 24, 2014.
The recall was initiated after the Michigan Department of Agriculture discovered Salmonella in a sample taken from a pet food bag, and was expanded after both that agency and the Georgia Department of Agriculture discovered Salmonella in more dry pet food and a cat treat. No wet food or biscuits are affected by this recall, according to the company.
In addition to the four brands subject to the initial recall: California Natural, EVO, Healthwise and Innova, Natura has included its Karma brand products in this latest recall. Go here for a full list of recalled products. (Food Safety News: www.foodsafetynews.com)