Daily Archives: November 11, 2014

Hawaii Firm Recalls Frozen Pork Products Due To Misbranding and Undeclared Allergen

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WASHINGTON – Kulana Foods Ltd., a Hilo, Hawaii establishment is recalling approximately 4,465 pounds of frozen, fully cooked pork products because of misbranding and an undeclared allergen. The products are formulated with a soy sauce that contains wheat, a known allergen, which is not declared on the label.

This is a Class II Recall which presents a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product.

The products subject to recall include:

  • Various weight (approximately .75 – .90 lb.) packages of “MOUNTAIN APPLE BRAND Teri Smoked Pork” with identifying case codes: 03414, 07214, 12814, 16914, 21114, 28114, 03713, 05113, 06513, 23313, or 34513.
  • 5-pound packages of “MOUNTAIN APPLE BRAND Teri Smoked Pork” with identifying case code: 09214.

The products bear the establishment number “EST. 12445” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the label. The products were produced on various dates between Feb. 6, 2013 and Oct. 8, 2014 and shipped to retail locations and for foodservice use on the islands of Hawaii and Oahu.

The problem was discovered by FSIS personnel during a label review at the establishment. FSIS personnel are responsible for verifying that establishments are actively labeling the eight most common food allergens. Wheat was a sub-ingredient of soy sauce used in the product and was inadvertently left off the product label.

FSIS and the company have received no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.

Marin Food Specialties, Inc. Initiates Voluntary Recall of Imported Organic Raw Almonds (Bitter Almonds)

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Due to Elevated Levels of Naturally Occurring Hydrogen Cyanide
raw-almonds
Marin Foods Specialties, Inc. of Byron, CA is voluntarily recalling Organic Raw Almonds (bitter almonds), due to them possibly containing elevated levels of naturally occurring hydrogen cyanide according to laboratory test results. To date, no human illnesses have been associated with these products and they have been pulled from sale.

Bitter almonds are the wild form of the edible “sweet almonds.” Bitter almonds contain a chemical called glycoside amygdalin, which becomes transformed into toxic prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide) after they are crushed or chewed. Eating foods that contain prussic acid may result in some or all of the following signs and clinical symptoms within minutes: dizziness, headache, nausea and vomiting, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, restlessness, and weakness. Exposure to higher quantities of food containing prussic acid may cause other more serious health effects including convulsions, loss of consciousness, low blood pressure, lung injury, slow heart rate, and respiratory failure leading to death. Showing these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed to cyanide. Treatment with supportive measures and available specific and efficacious antidotes frequently allows survival.

The products were labeled as “Whole Foods Market Organic Raw Almonds Imported from Italy” and “Whole Foods Market Organic Raw Almonds Imported from Spain,” and were packaged in 13.5 oz. plastic tubs. The recalled products have sell-by dates from 4/18/15 to 6/7/15 and a UPC code of UPC 9-99482-00071-7. The recalled product was distributed to Whole Foods Market stores only in Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Reno, Nevada and Boise, Idaho.