What’s in Your Kitchen? A Week in Recalls: Tea, Submarine Sandwiches, and Quesadillas.

Posted in Outbreaks & Recalls on August 3, 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.

This week’s recalls include:

Ottomanelli Wholesale Meats Inc. Recalls Ground Beef Due to Potential Health Hazard

Win Opportunity Knocks, DBA Ottomanelli Wholesale Meats Inc. of St Petersburg, Florida issued a recall on July 18, 2018 for around 6,020 pounds of fresh and frozen, raw ground beef products due to the potential health hazard, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O45, O103 and I145.

Those infected with STECs often experience symptoms of diarrhea (can be bloody) and vomiting anywhere from 2 to 8 days after consuming the contaminate food product.  Illness ranges from mild to severe with the possibility of developing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure common among STEC infection.  Symptoms of HUS include pallor, decreased urine output and easy bruising.  Seek medical attention if you may be infected an present these symptoms.  While most will recover from a typical STEC infection within a week, the very young, the very old, and those with a compromised immune system are at greatest risk for infection and more severe symptoms.

The recall was initiated after testing performed by the establishment found positive results for E. coli during their sampling program.  The affected product was produced from June 18, 2018 through July 11, 2018 and distributed for institutional use in Florida.  The product can be identified with a USDA mark and establishment number EST. 11167.  See chart below for affected product information.

TeaSource Issues Recall for Roasted Chestnut Loose Leaf Tea Due to Undeclared Allergen

TeaSource of Roseville, Minnesota issued a recall on July 26, 2018 for their Roasted Chestnut loose leaf tea due to the undeclared allergen, almonds.  Those with a severe sensitivity or allergy to almonds risk serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if the product is consumed.

The recall was initiated after discovering that the product containing almonds did not include the presence of almonds on the packaging.  According to the company, this was caused by a temporary mistake in the company’s production and packaging processes.

The product can be identified as packed in either silver or black metal foil pouches with a label indicating TeaSource and “Roasted Chestnut” in one of four sizes including: 1lb, 4oz, 2oz, or sample.  The product was distributed in the Twin Cities region through three retail stores and by web or mail order and through wholesale partners.

No illness or allergic reaction has been reported in connection with this recall.

Lipari Foods, LLC Recalls Premo Brand and Fresh Grab Turkey and Swiss Submarine Sadwiches Due to Potential Health Risk

Lipari Foods, LLC issued a recall on July 28, 2018 for their Premo Brand and Fresh Grab brand turkey and swiss submarine sandwiches that were packaged and processed by their sister company, JLM due to potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytogenes is a harmful bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal illness in the very young, the very old, and those with a compromised immune system.  Pregnant women are at risk for miscarriages and still birth.  Normally healthy individuals often experience short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

The recall was initiated after routine environmental monitoring and testing initiated by JLM return with a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes.  The affected product was produced on July 17, 2018 and distributed to food service and retail stores throughout Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.  See chart below for specific product information.

No illness has been reported in connection with this recall.

Sweet Earth Foods Recalls Aloha BBQ Quesadilla Due to Undeclared Allergens

Sweet Earth Foods issued a recall on August 1, 2018 for a limited amount of 8-ounce packages of Sweet Earth Aloha BBQ Quesadilla due to the undeclared allergens, egg and milk.  Those with a severe sensitivity or allergy to egg and/or milk risk serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if the product is consumed.

The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the Sweet Earth Mile High Quesadilla was packaged in the Sweet Earth Aloha BBQ Quesadilla external packaging.  The ingredient statement for the Aloha BBQ Quesadilla does not identify the allergens egg and milk.

The product was produced on May 29, 2018 and a limited supply of the mismatched packaged product was distributed to Target nationally and Strack & Van Til Food Market in Indiana and Illinois.  No other production dates or products are included in the outbreak.

No reports of illness or allergic reaction have been reported in connection with this recall.  Consumers with egg and/or milk allergies are urged to not consume the product.

This Week’s Affected Products

By: Heather Williams, Contributing Writer (Non-Lawyer)