Recalls

[Indiana]

Homestead Natural and Panther Ranch Smoked Ham and Bacon Recalls
Date: March 21, 2011
What: Homestead Natural Smoked Ham, Smoked Bacon, and Smoked Ham Hocks
Panther Ranch Smoked Ham, Smoked Ham Slices, Smoked Bacon, and Smoked Ham Hocks
Why: Sodium nitrite not declared on the label.
Scope: Nationwide

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that Northwest Premium Meats, a Nampa, Idaho, establishment, is recalling approximately 2,130 pounds of smoked ham and bacon products because they contain sodium nitrite, which is not declared on the label.

The products subject to recall include:

Various weight individual packages of Homestead Natural Smoked Ham
Various weight individual packages of Homestead Natural Smoked Bacon
Various weight individual packages of Homestead Natural Smoked Ham Hocks
Various weight individual packages of Panther Ranch Smoked Ham
Various weight individual packages of Panther Ranch Smoked Ham Slices
Various weight individual packages of Panther Ranch Smoked Bacon
Various weight individual packages of Panther Ranch Smoked Ham Hocks
Each package contains the establishment number 11032 inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced on various dates between March 9, 2010, and Feb. 25, 2011. The products being recalled represent the entire amount produced between these dates. The products were sold online and at farmers markets, and shipped to distribution centers in Idaho.

[Indiana]

Date: March 25, 2011
What: Toxic Waste® Short Circuits™ Bubble Gum
Why: Elevated levels of lead.
Scope: Nationwide

Circle City Marketing and Distributing, doing business as Candy Dynamics, of Indianapolis, Indiana, is recalling Toxic Waste Short Circuits Bubble Gum, 3.2 oz. (90 g) size, UPC 0 89894 31001 3, and Lot #15070SC12. The product is imported from Pakistan.

A recent test performed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has indicated that Lot #15070SC12 of the 3.2 oz. (90 g) size, contains elevated levels of lead (0.189 parts per million; the FDA tolerance is 0.1 ppm) that have the potential to cause health problems, particularly for infants, small children, and pregnant women.

The product Lot # is located along the left side of the bag.

No other Toxic Waste brand product or other lots of Short Circuits Bubble Gum is affected by this recall.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The recalled Short Circuits Bubble Gum product was distributed nationwide in retail stores and through mail order. The product was also distributed in limited quantities into Canada and Switzerland.

Anyone in possession of the recalled product should telephone the company for information on destruction of the product. Please call Eileen O'Neal at (317) 228-5012, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Eastern time, for further information.

[Indiana]

Date: March 22, 2011
What: Mi Pepito Arnica Flower
Mi Pepito Stem Arnica
Why: Products should have been labled for external use only.
Scope: Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey

NAC Foods Corporation of Palisades Park, New Jersey, is announcing a recall of the Mi Pepito Arnica Flower and Stem Arnica due to inaccurate usage information on the product label. The current label states "Use to enhance the flavor of your favorite dish." The label should have stated: "Recommended for external use only." NAC Foods, a packer of spices and chilies has been informed that the Arnica if taken in large quantities can be harmful. Therefore, as of March 1, 2011, NAC Foods will no longer pack or distribute Arnica.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug administration (FDA). No other NAC Foods products are affected by this recall.


The product was distributed to retail outlets in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.

The recalled products are as follows:

Arnica Flower, UPC 707425900334, item number #508, net weight .25 oz.
Stem Arnica, UPC 707425900655, item number #630, net weight .5 oz.
To date, no illnesses related to this issue have been reported.

The recall was initiated after the company received communication from a key account that a customer raised concerns regarding the product label and usage information.

Consumers who purchased the Mi Pepito Arnica Flower and the Mi Pepito Stem Arnica are urged to return the product to the store it was purchased immediately for a full refund or call NAC Foods. Consumers can contact the company at (201) 592-8920, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Eastern time.

[Indiana]

Date: March 28, 2011
What: Soladek Vitamin Solution (imported illegally)
Why: Risk of serious health problems from dangerously high levels of vitamins A and D.
Scope: Nationwide

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers to stop using Soladek, a vitamin-solution product marketed by Indo Pharma of the Dominican Republic, because the product may contain dangerously high levels of vitamins A and D.

Soladek is marketed with claims that the product treats "hypo and avitaminosis, rickets, growth, dentition, lactation, fractures, infection, convalescence, protection and regeneration of certain epithelium (bronchial, glandular, ocular, cutaneous), corticotherapy, aging and pregnancy." The product is sold in a box labeled in Spanish and containing a vial of the solution.

FDA recently received information that tested samples of Soladek contained levels of vitamin A and vitamin D that were many times the recommended daily allowances for these vitamins. Intake of excessively high levels of these vitamins poses a risk to human health.

The FDA also received seven reports of serious health problems occurring in consumers using the product. The problems include decreased renal function, elevated levels of calcium in the blood, fatigue, heart arrhythmia, vomiting, and diarrhea. Symptoms of vitamin D toxicity include weakness, fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, changes in mental status, increased blood pressure, abnormal heart rate or rhythm, kidney damage, and coma.

Symptoms of vitamin A toxicity include anemia, anorexia, alopecia, joint pain, bone weakness, bulging eyes, liver abnormalities, and birth defects.

Consumers who are in possession of Soladek should stop using the product immediately. Any consumers who have been using Soladek and are experiencing any of the above symptoms should see a doctor immediately.

Soladek cannot currently be marketed legally in the United States because U.S. law prohibits the sale of products claiming to treat disease conditions without review and approval by the FDA. However, the reports of adverse events and other information leads the FDA to conclude that Soladek may be available illegally in the country; therefore, the agency is issuing this warning.

Health care professionals and consumers should report adverse events or other problems with regulated products to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program by:

Online: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
Fax: 1-800-FDA-0178
Phone: 800-FDA-1088
Regular Mail: use postage-paid FDA form 3500 available at www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm and mail to:
MedWatch, FDA
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20852-9787

[Indiana]

Date: March 24, 2011
What: Hans Brand Santra Candy
Why: Unacceptable levels of lead.
Scope: California

California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Interim Director Dr. Howard Backer warned consumers not to eat Hans Brand Santra Candy imported from India after tests conducted by CDPH found unacceptable levels of lead. Consumers in possession of the candy should discard it immediately.

Hans Brand Santra Candy is imported and distributed by Thal Golden Spice Inc., located in the Bay Area city of Hayward.

Recent chemical analysis of this candy by CDPH determined that this product contained as much as 0.28 parts per million of lead. California considers candies with lead levels in excess of 0.10 parts per million to be contaminated.

Hans Brand Santra Candy is an orange, crescent-shaped candy packaged in clear flexible plastic. The front of the package contains a light blue label with a picture of a swan.

Lead is especially toxic to infants, young children and pregnant women. If consumers have eaten several of these candies, or if they have been eating these candies on a regular basis, they should consult with their health care provider to determine if further medical testing is needed.

Anyone finding this candy for sale in the state of California should call the CDPH Hotline at (800) 495-3232.

[Indiana]

Date: April 1, 2011
What: Jennie-O Turkey Store® All Natural Turkey Burgers
Why: Salmonella contamination
Scope: Sam's Club Nationwide

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that Jennie-O Turkey Store, a Willmar, Minnesota, establishment, is recalling approximately 54,960 pounds of frozen, raw turkey burger products that may be contaminated with Salmonella. As FSIS continues its investigation of illnesses related to this recall, additional raw turkey products may be recalled. As a result, FSIS is alerting consumers to take extra care when preparing all raw turkey products.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. The most common manifestations of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within six to 72 hours. Additional symptoms may be chills, headache, nausea and vomiting that can last up to seven days.

The products subject to recall include:

4 pound boxes of Jennie-O Turkey Store All Natural Turkey Burgers with seasonings Lean White Meat. Each box contains 12 1/3-pound individually wrapped burgers.

A use by date of DEC 23 2011 and an identifying lot code of 32710 through 32780, are inkjetted on the side panel of each box, just above the opening tear strip. Establishment number "P-7760" is located within the USDA mark of inspection on the front of each box. The products were packaged on Nov. 23, 2010 and were distributed to retail establishments nationwide.

[Indiana]

Date: March 30, 2011
Updated: April 1, 2011
What: Frankly Fresh seafood salad products
Cedar Lane seafood salad products
Why: Listeria monocytogenes contamination
Scope: California and Nevada

Frankly Fresh of Carson, California, is recalling its seafood line of products, because it has the potential to be contaminated with 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.

Although healthy individuals may suffer only short term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Product was distributed in California and Nevada through retail supermarket stores. Products are packed under the Frankly Fresh label in a variety of sizes in plastic containers with safety seals on. Some products also sold under the Cedar Lane brand are also affected by this recall.

The list is long - here is a link:

http://usfoodsafety.com/zr110094.aspx

[Indiana]

Canadian Walnut recall…Product imported from U.S.

Posted on April 5, 2011

On Monday, the Public Health Agency of Canada said that up to 13 people have contracted E.Coli 0157:H7 from walnuts. Two of these folks have the HUS strain which can be life threatening.

The raw bulk and packaged nuts are in food stores in the 3 Eastern provinces – New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec. The brands include Amira, Tia, and Merit Selection.

The recall is for all products involving walnuts which include mixed nuts and a salad topping.

Why this is of particular interest for those of us in the USA is that these walnuts were imported from the U.S. Stay tuned… this one is earmarked to be much larger…

(Passover is the holiday where walnuts are plentiful)

[Indiana]

Date: April 5, 2011
What: Fresh Express bagged spinach
Why: Salmonella contamination
Scope: Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island

Fresh Express is recalling 2,939 cases of 9 oz. bagged spinach that may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Salmonella is 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. In rare circumstances, 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.

Products affected by the recall include bagged spinach, 9 oz., with product codes starting with H081 and H082, UPC Code 7127913204 and use-by dates of April 6 and 7. Affected products were distributed to Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.

Fresh Express initiated the recall due to a positive result for Salmonella from random sample testing.

No illnesses have been reported to the company.

[Indiana]

Date: April 15, 2011
What: Archer Farms Ground Turmeric
Why: Excessive levels of lead
Scope: Target stores

B&M of Mount Vernon, Missouri, is recalling Archer Farms Ground Turmeric sold at Target stores in glass bottles with a net weight of 2.6 oz. (74g), due to elevated levels of lead.

Lead can accumulate in the body over time. Too much can cause health problems, including delayed mental and physical development and learning deficiencies. Pregnant women, infants and young children especially should avoid exposure to lead. People concerned about blood lead levels should contact their physician or health clinic to ask about testing.

This recall is a result of notification from B&M’s supplier that the Ground Turmeric they provided contained excessive levels of lead.

The Archer Farms Ground Turmeric was distributed nationwide to Target retail stores located in the following states from June, 2009 to February, 2010: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, and WI.

The product is identified at the retail store level as Archer Farms Ground Turmeric, UPC 0-85239-02612-0. The lot numbers included in this recall are 1740901A, Best By 6/23/2011; 2180902A, Best By 8/6/11; 2780906A, Best By 10/5/2011; 2920903A, Best By 10/19/11; 3060903A, Best By 11/2/2011; 0071003A, Best By1/7/2012. The lot numbers and Best By dates can be found on the bottom of the bottle.

No illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall.

Consumers in possession of this recalled product may return it to the store at which it was purchased. Consumers with questions should contact B&M at 877-321-5852, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Central time or contact Target Guest Relations toll-free at 800-316-6151.