What’s in Your Kitchen? A Week in Recalls: Lily Bulbs, Beef and Pork Products, and Dried/Smoked Catfish

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.

This week’s recalls include:

Allied Imports Inc. Recalls Lily Bulb Product Due to Undeclared Allergen

Allied Imports Inc of Brooklyn, New York issued a recall on August 27, 2018 for their product “Lily Bulb” due to the undeclared allergen, sulfites.  People with a severe sensitivity or allergy to sulfites risk serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

The recall was initiated after routine sampling performed by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets generated a positive result for sulfites.  These samples contained more than 10 milligrams of sulfites per serving, which is enough to elicit severe reactions in some asthmatics and can result in anaphylactic shock for certain sensitive individuals.

The product can be identified as packaged in a 10 oz plastic bag with a clear window and is labeled as a product of China.  See chart below for specific product information.  No illness has been reported to date in connection with this recall.

Consumers who are sensitive to sulfites are urged to discard the product.

Cargill Meat Solutions Recalls Ground Beef Products Due to Potential Health Risk

Cargill Meat Solutions of Fort Morgan, Colorado issued a recall on August 23, 2018 for approximately 25,288 pounds of ground beef product duet to potential contamination with E. coli O157:H7.

E. coli O157:H7 is a harmful bacterium that causes mild to serious symptoms in normally healthy individuals including dehydration, abdominal cramps, and bloody diarrhea around 2 to 8 days after exposure. Some groups of people, such as the very young (under 5 years of age) and older adults (over 65 years of age) may develop a type of kidney failure known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS symptoms include pallor, decreased urine output, and easy bruising.  Infected individuals experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately or infection may become fatal.

The recall was initiated after a presumptive positive result for E. coli O157:H7 was discovered on August 22, 2018 from routine sample testing.  The product can be identified as Excel 93/7 Fine Grind Beef as bears establishment number EST. 86R.

Affected product was produced on August 16, 2018 and shipped to warehouses in California and Colorado.  See chart below for specific product information.

There have not been any reports of adverse reactions in connection with this recall.

Taylor Farms Illinois, Inc Recalls Beef and Pork Meatloaf Products Due to Undeclared Allergens

Taylor Farms Illinois, Inc of Chicago, Illinois issued a recall on August 29, 2018 for approximately 75 pounds of beef and pork meatloaf products due to misbranding and subsequent undeclared allergens, egg and wheat.  Those with an allergy or severe sensitivity to eggs and/or wheat risk serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if the product is consumed.

The recall was initiated after a retail store employee reported the issue on August 27, 2018.  The product can be identified as bearing the establishment number EST. 21794.  The affected product was produced on August 22, 2018 and shipped to retail location in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee.  See chart below for specific product information.

There have been no reports of illness in connection with this recall.

Olufela Yemitan Recalls Siluriformes Due to Lack of Inspection and Ineligibility to Export

Olufela Yemitan, the Importer of Record located in Houston, Texas issued a recall on August 29, 2018 for approximately 45 pounds of smoked Siluriformes products due to not being presented at the US. point of entry for inspection.

These products were imported from Nigeria, which is not a country that is eligible to export Siluriformes to the United States.  The recall was initiated after routine monitoring of eligibility of imported products uncovered this product on August 28, 2018.

The affected products were produced in the month of August 2018 and can be identified as labeled as “dried, smoked Siluriformes containing ‘picante fishes spicy catfish smoked with tomatoe pepper sauce ready to eat now!!!!’  See chart below for specific product information.

There have been no reports of illness associated with this recall.  Consumers are urged to not eat the product. 

Publix Super Markets Inc. Recalls Ground Beef Products Due to Potential Health Risk

Publix Super Markets Inc of Lakeland, Florida issued a recall on August 30, 2018 for their ground beef products made from chuck due to potential contamination with E. coli O26.

E. coli O26 is a harmful bacterium that causes mild to serious symptoms in normally healthy individuals including dehydration, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea around 2 to 8 days after exposure. Some groups of people, such as the very young (under 5 years of age) and older adults (over 65 years of age) may develop a type of kidney failure known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS symptoms include pallor, decreased urine output, and easy bruising.  Infected individuals experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately or infection may become fatal.

A recall was initiated after FSIS linked 18 cases of E. coli O26 illnesses to ground chuck products from Publix Super Markets.  This investigation is ongoing.

Affected products purchased by consumers from June 25, 2018 though July 31, 2018 can be found at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/330436d0-f5bb-4ee3-a3eb-cca6459bf014/072-2018-List-Products.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&useDefaultText=0&useDefaultDesc=0  .  Florida counties included in this recall can be found at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/68f37b9e-2b95-45c9-8ba7-36500f13a6ac/072-2018-Affected-Counties-Florida.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&useDefaultText=0&useDefaultDesc=0

The product should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

J.T.M Provisions Co. Recalls Cooked Ground Beef Patty Products Due to Potential Health Risk

J.T.M Provisions Co., of Harrison, Ohio issued a recall on August 31, 2018 for approximately 960 pounds of their cooked ground beef patty products due to contamination with the potential health risk, Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytogenes is a harmful bacterium that can cause serious illness.  Those in certain groups are at higher risk than a normally healthy individual, though anyone can become sick.  The very young, the very old and those with a compromised immune system are at highest risk.  Symptoms often include muscle aches, fever, stiff neck, headache, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.  This is often preceded by diarrhea and other gastrointestinal upset. Pregnant women risk miscarriage still birth, premature deliver, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.

The recall was initiated after the product tested positive for L. monocytogenes on August 31, 2018 during routine inspection and testing by the establishment.

The product can be identified as ready-to-eat beef patty crumble items.  The product was produced on May 17, 2018 and bears an establishment number EST. 1917.  See chart below for specific product information.

There have been no reports of illness in connection with this recall.  Consumers are urged to throw away the product.

By: Heather Van Tassell, Contributing Writer (Non-Lawyer)

This Week’s Affected Products

Manufacturer	Label	Size	Date	UPC/Lot
Allied Imports Inc	Lily Bulb	10 oz. (283 g)		UPC: 6-43719-11002-0
Cargill Meat Solutions	Excell 93/7 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF	10-lb chubs	Pack Date 8/16/2018 Use/Frz By Sept 5, 2018
Taylor Farms Illinois, Inc	Homestyle Beef and Pork Meatloaf	14-oz tray	Use-By: 8/28/18	Lot: TFIL234A001
Olufela Yemitan	Dried, Smoked, Siluriformes	1-lb	Best By: 2/2019 MFD: 8/2018
J.T.. M. Porvisions Co.	Cooked Beef Patty Crumbles	20-lb case (4 X 5-lb pouches)	Julian Date: 18137	Case Code: 47860