What’s In Your Kitchen? Week of 8/6 (Almond Milk Recall)

Posted in Outbreaks & Recalls on August 10, 2018

MakeFoodSafe.com would like to help you keep your family safe from unsafe foods.  Each week we bring together a list of the current recalls.  Some recalls are issued due to undeclared allergens, which could cause serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if someone sensitive to the product consumes it.  Other recalls are issued due to contamination with harmful material or other health risk.  Check back often and evaluate your fridge, pantry, and shopping list to make sure you can identify which foods to avoid, like this week’s almond milk recall.

This week’s recalls include:

HP Hood LLC Recalls Almond Milk

HP Hood LLC issued a voluntary recall for a limited number of half-gallon cartons of their refrigerated Vanilla Almond Breeze almond milk on August 2, 2018 due to the undeclared allergen, milk.  People who have a severe sensitivity or allergy to milk risk serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if product is consumed.

The product is otherwise safe to consume unless consumer has a milk allergy or sensitivity.  The recall only applies to the refrigerated Vanilla Almond Breeze almond milk with a use-by date of September 2, 2018.  Affected product includes approximately 145,254 cartons of product and were shipped to retailers and wholesalers in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.  Refer to the chart below for specific product information.

Consumers who would like to return the product can return it to place of purchase for full refund or exchange or visit http://www.bluediamond.com to complete the appropriate web form.  Questions may be directed to Blue Diamond at 1-800-400-1522, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM ET.

Van Oriental Foods, Inc Recalls Eggrolls Due to Mechanical Contamination

Van Oriental Foods, Inc issued a recall for approximately 10,385 pounds of heat treated, but not fully cooked and not shelf stable pork egg rolls on August 3, 2018 due to potential mechanical contamination.  The product may contain extraneous materials, described as soft plastic.

The affected product was produced on May 30, 2018 and bears an establishment number EST. 13219.  The frozen shelf life of the product is 12 months and when refrigerated, 11 days.  This means that this product could be sitting around in consumer freezers for a long time.  See chart below for specific product information.

The recall was initiated after receiving two consumer complaints that “a thin thread of plastic” was found in the egg rolls.  There have been no reports of adverse reaction or injury due to consuming the product.

Consumers are urged to throw away the product or return it to the place of purchase.  Questions from the media may be directed to Amy Power, president/CEO of The Power Group, at 214-693-2146.  Consumers may be directed to Theresa Motter, CEO of Van Oriental Foods Inc at 972-685-0550.

Star Natural Meats LLC Recalls Pork Sausage Products Due to Undeclared Allergens

Star Natural Meats, LLC of Astoria, New York issued a recall for approximately 20,000 pounds of raw, non-intact pork sausage products due to the undeclared allergens, milk and soy as well as sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate. Those with a severe sensitivity or allergy to nitrates, nitrites, milk and/or soy risk serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if the product is consumed.

The affected product was produced on various dates from February 23, 2017 to August 3, 2018 and includes various weights of products labeled “LOUKANIKO GREEK BRAND – MADE IN THE U.S.A” pork sausage and bears the establishment number EST. 48109.  There is no lot or expiration information printed on the package.  Affected product was shipped to retail location in Astoria, New York.

The recall was initiated after routine Food Safety Investigation Service (FSIS) conducted routine label verification.  The problem was caused by misbranding the affected product.

Consumers are urged to throw away the product or return it to the place of purchase.  At this time no confirmed reports of illness or injury.  Questions may be directed to Lena Psorakis, Star Natural Meats supervisor at 510-755-7545.

StoneRidge Wholesale Division LLC Recalls Pork and Beef Bologna Due to Undeclared Allergen.

StoneRidge Wholesale Division LLC of Wautoma, Wisconsin issued a recall for approximately 656 pounds of fully cooked, not shelf stable, ready to eat pork and beef bologna products on August 6, 2018 due to the undeclared allergens sodium nitrite and sodium erythorbate not declared on the label.

Affected product is produced on May 11, 2018 and packaged on May 15, 2018 and bears the establishment number EST. 33989 and shipped to a retail location in Wisconsin.

The recall was initiated after an FSIS inspector received a consumer complaint.  Consumers are urged to return the product to the place of purchase if they choose to do so.  Those who are not sensitive to the undeclared allergens can safely consume the product.  Questions may be directed to Trevor Diedrick, HACCP coordinator, StoneRidge Wholesale Division LLC at 920-787-5444.

Food recalls, although concerning, are actually a good thing. Food recalls help reduce the risk of food illnesses. According to an article with the Chicago Tribune, “Currently, companies are only required only to report where they obtained a food product and the customer for their product, not the entire distribution process. “Food is something that can get contaminated at any step of the process,” national food safety attorney Jory Lange said. “One plant and one fruit . . . if you have a problem, that problem can spread.”

This Week’s Affected Products