Food & Drug Alerts

FDA Advises Restaurants and Retailers of a Recall of Certain Oysters from Westport, Connecticut Potentially Contaminated with Norovirus – posted 3-18-24

The FDA is notifying restaurants, food retailers, and consumers that the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Aquaculture is conducting a recall of oysters harvested by Norm Bloom and Son (CT-069-SS, AQ) from Westport, CT, lot 207, with the harvest date 2/20/2024, because they are associated with a norovirus outbreak in Minnesota and may be contaminated with norovirus. The FDA is advising restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell and consumers not to eat the recalled oysters.

Please visit the FDA website for additional information about this alert.

FDA Recalls WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree Pouches Due to Possible Elevated Levels of Lead – Posted 10.30.23

The FDA is advising parents and caregivers not to buy or feed WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches to children because the product may contain elevated levels of lead. Parents and caregivers of toddlers and young children who may have consumed WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches should contact their child’s healthcare provider about getting a blood test.

Please visit the FDA website for additional information about this alert.

DPH Updates Recall of Contaminated Cheese – posted 2-25-21

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) has expanded its warning to consumers, restaurants, and retailers not to eat, serve or sell any soft cheeses produced by El Abuelito Cheese Company of Paterson, NJ due to laboratory findings that confirm the product is the source of a multistate outbreak of foodborne bacteria called listeria monocytogenes.

Please visit the FDA website for additional information about this alert.
Spanish version of FDA’s update

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Uganda illnesses likely linked to whole, fresh papayas. – posted 7.8.19

The CDC has issued a food safety alert advising that retail food establishments not to sell or serve Cavi brand papayas. Food establishments should check all papayas and discard without serving any Cavi brand. More information regarding the outbreak can be found on the FDA and CDC websites.

Click here to read more information about this alert on the FDA website.

FDA Investigating Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections Likely Linked to Romaine Lettuce Grown in California – posted 12.7.18

Information collected through December 6, 2018, continues to indicate that contaminated romaine lettuce from the Central Coast growing regions of northern and central California is the likely source of the current outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections. The California counties FDA is including in this region remain the same: Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and Ventura. Counties may be added or removed as the investigation progresses.

Romaine lettuce that was harvested outside of the Central Coast growing regions of northern and central California does not appear to be related to the current outbreak. Hydroponically- and greenhouse-grown romaine also does not appear to be related to the current outbreak. There is no recommendation for consumers or retailers to avoid using romaine harvested from these sources.

Click here to read more information about the romaine lettuce investigation on the FDA website.

FDA Investigating Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections Likely Linked to Romaine Lettuce Grown in California – posted 11.29.18

The FDA, along with CDC, state and local agencies, is investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses likely linked to romaine lettuce grown in California this fall. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Canadian Food Inspection Agency are also coordinating with U.S. agencies as they investigate a similar outbreak in Canada.

Click here to read more information about the romaine lettuce investigation on the FDA website.

Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections Likely Linked to Romaine Lettuce Grown in California – posted 11.27.18

The US Food and Drug Administration has released an update pertaining to a multi-state outbreak of E. coli 0157:H7 linked to romaine lettuce. The Food and Drug Administration is recommending that restaurants and consumers avoid romaine lettuce that has been harvested in Northern and Central Coastal Regions of California. Please check with your suppliers and distributors to determine if romaine lettuce used at your establishment is harvested from the Northern or Central Coastal Regions of California. Romaine lettuce harvested outside of these Regions does not need to be avoided per Food and Drug Administration.

Click here to read more information about the romaine lettuce investigation on the FDA website.

Outbreak of E. coli Infections Linked to Romaine Lettuce – posted 11.20.18

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a Food Safety Alert regarding a multi-state E. coli outbreak associated with romaine lettuce. At this time, the source, supplier, grower and distributor are not known and therefore the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that all restaurants and retailers discard and not serve any romaine lettuce, including salads and salad mixes containing romaine lettuce.

Click here to read more information about the romaine lettuce investigation on the FDA website.

Duncan Hines Classic White, Classic Butter Golden, Signature Confetti and Classic Yellow Cake Mixes Recalled Due to Potential Presence of Salmonella – posted 11.6.18

Conagra Brands is collaborating with health officials in connection with a positive finding of Salmonella in a retail sample of Duncan Hines Classic White cake mix that may be linked to a Salmonella outbreak that is currently being investigated by CDC and FDA.

Click here to read more about the Duncan Hines cake mixes recall.

HP Hood LLC Recalls Select Units of Half-Gallon Refrigerated Vanilla Almond Breeze Almond Milk due to Possible Milk Allergen – posted 8.3.18

HP Hood LLC is voluntarily recalling a limited number of half-gallon (1.89 L) cartons of refrigerated Vanilla Almond Breeze almond milk because the product may contain milk, an allergen not listed on the label. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

Please visit the FDA website for additional information about this alert.

Kraft Heinz Voluntarily Recalls Taco Bell Salsa Con Queso Mild Cheese Dip – posted 7.27.18

As a precaution, approximately 7,000 cases of Taco Bell Salsa Con Queso Mild Cheese Dip are being voluntarily recalled because the affected product is showing signs of product separation which can lead to a potential health hazard.

Please visit the FDA website for additional information about this alert.

Voluntary Recall of Four Varieties of Goldfish Crackers – posted 7.25.18

Pepperidge Farm is voluntarily recalling four varieties of Goldfish crackers. One of its ingredient suppliers notified Pepperidge Farm about the potential presence of Salmonella. The products were distributed throughout the United States. No illnesses have been reported. No other Pepperidge Farm products in the U.S. are subject to this recall.

Please visit the FDA website for additional information about this alert.

Voluntary Recall of Ritz Cracker Sandwiches and Ritz Bits Cheese Products – posted 7.25.18

Mondelez Global LLC is recalling Ritz sandwiches and Ritz bits cheese products because an ingredient could be contaminated with Salmonella. There are no related illnesses. The FDA is investigating and the product information may change as the investigation continues.

Please visit the FDA website for additional information about this alert.

Multi-State Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Kellogg’s Honey Smacks – posted 6.15.18

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is investigating a multi-state salmonella outbreak associated with Kellogg’s Honey Smacks. The recalled cereal product, Kellogg’s Honey Smacks, was sold in 15.3 oz. and 23 oz. packages and has a “best if used by” date from June 14, 2018, through June 14, 2019, on the box top and a UPC code of 38000 39103 on the bottom of the box. The product information may change as the investigation continues.

Please visit the FDA website or the CDC website for additional information about this alert.

Multi-State E. coli O157 Outbreak Associated with Romaine Lettuce – posted 4.23.18

Based on new information obtained during the investigation of the multi-state E.coli O157 outbreak
associated with romaine lettuce, CDC has expanded their consumer advice to include whole heads
and hearts of romaine lettuce, in addition to chopped romaine, and salads and salad mixes containing
romaine, from the Yuma, Arizona growing region.

Do not buy or eat romaine lettuce from a grocery store or at a restaurant unless you can confirm it is not from the Yuma, Arizona, growing region.

Inquiries from consumers who believe they may be ill from consuming romaine lettuce should contact their medical provider.

Please visit the CDC website or FDA website for additional information about this alert.

Walmart Eggs Safe for Consumption – posted 4.18.18

Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) was notified on April 13, 2018, that 22 illnesses associated with eggs contaminated with Salmonella Braenderup had been documented in Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Connecticut was not listed as one of the states affected by the contamination issue.

LLHD was notified through social media outlets and a complaint from a resident that eggs at two area Walmart stores may have the same serial numbers as the eggs associated with the recall. Initial inspections by LLHD and Walmart staff determined that a portion of the serial numbers on the eggs at the Walmart store matched those associated with the recall. As a precautionary measure, LLHD and Walmart staff agreed that it was in the best interest of the community to remove the questionable eggs from the shelves. Further investigation revealed that the eggs at the area Walmart stores were NOT associated with the recall. The eggs were in fact produced at a different production facility and are considered safe and wholesome.

Multi-State E. coli O157 Outbreak Associated with Romaine Lettuce – posted 4.13.18

Consumers anywhere in the United States who have store-bought chopped romaine lettuce at home, including salads and salad mixes containing chopped romaine lettuce, should not eat it and should throw it away, even if some of it was eaten and no one has gotten sick. If you do not know if the lettuce is romaine, do not eat it and throw it away.

Wash and sanitize drawers or shelves in refrigerators where chopped romaine was stored. Follow these five steps to clean your refrigerator.

Before purchasing romaine lettuce at a grocery store or eating it at a restaurant, consumers should confirm with the store or restaurant that it is not chopped romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region. If you cannot confirm the source of the romaine lettuce, do not buy it or eat it.

Take action if you have symptoms of an E. coli infection:

Talk to your healthcare provider.
Write down what you ate in the week before you started to get sick.
Report your illness to the health department.
Assist public health investigators by answering questions about your illness.

Follow these general ways to prevent E. coli infection:

Wash your hands. Wash hands after using the restroom or changing diapers, before and after preparing or eating food, and after contact with animals.
Don’t prepare food or drink for others when you are sick.

Restaurants and retailers should not serve or sell any chopped romaine lettuce, including salads and salad mixes containing chopped romaine lettuce, from the Yuma, Arizona growing region. Restaurants and retailers should ask their suppliers about the source of their chopped romaine lettuce. It is the CDC’s advice not to serve romaine lettuce unless they are sure it did not originate from the Yuma, Arizona growing area. More specific advice will be provided when it becomes available.

Inquiries from consumers who believe they may be ill from consuming romaine lettuce should contact their medical provider.

Please visit the CDC website for the full report about this alert.

Oriental Packing Co., Inc., Issues Alert on Curry Powder – posted 12.9.16

Oriental Packing Co., Inc., Miami, Florida is recalling ORIENTAL Hot Curry Powder 50 lb. Bulk, OCHO-RIOS Jamaican Nice Mild and Spicy Hot Curry Powder 4oz, and OCHO-RIOS Mild Curry Powder 5 lb, due to the presence of lead.