Margot's News & Views: Year-End Flurry of Food Recalls, Illness

Sprouts, Parsley, Cilantro, Pastry, Cheese in Separate Recalls

By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News

Dec. 28, 2010 -- A nationwide recall of curly parsley and cilantro is the latest in a year-end flurry of food warnings and outbreaks of food-borne illness.
In the two most serious of these outbreaks:

At least 89 people in 15 states fell ill with salmonella infections after eating contaminated Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts from Tiny Greens Organic Farm of Urbana, Ill. Many of those who fell ill reported eating sandwiches at Jimmy John's restaurants.
100 people became ill after eating pastries made by Rolf's Patisserie, a gourmet European bakery in Lincolnwood, Ill. Various desserts were shipped wholesale and repackaged by other retailers. Whole Foods has recalled gingerbread houses and a wide range of pastries, pot pies, and quiche originally made by Rolf's.

Parsley/Cilantro Recall -- Salmonella

In the latest recall, J&D Produce of Edinburg, Texas, has recalled its Little Bear brand curly parsley and cilantro. Tests of the products in Quebec, Canada and in Detroit detected salmonella contamination.
The items were packed from Nov. 30 to Dec. 6. According to the Associated Press, the company is also recalling other produce that came through its production lines on these dates: arugula, leeks, collards, curly mustard, gold beets, kale, green Swiss chard, plain mustard, plain parsley, kohlrabi, rainbow Swiss chard, mint, methi leaf, beets, daikon, red Swiss chard, turnips, turnip greens, and dill.
No known illnesses have yet been associated with this recall. J&D promises a full refund of any affected product.

Alfalfa Sprouts -- Salmonella

On Dec. 27, the FDA warned consumers not to eat Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts (a mix of alfalfa, radish, and clover sprouts) from Tiny Greens Organic Farm.
The preliminary results of a CDC/FDA investigation link many of the illnesses to sandwiches from Jimmy John's restaurant outlets. About half of the 89 cases reported as of Dec. 21 were in Illinois residents who ate at Jimmy John's. The restaurant has stopped putting sprouts on its sandwiches.
The sprouts were also distributed in 4-ounce and 5-pound containers to farmers markets, restaurants, and groceries in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, and possibly other states in the Midwest.
Illnesses from salmonella with the same DNA fingerprint as the outbreak strain have been identified in Connecticut, Washington D.C., Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Pastries -- Staph Toxin

On Christmas Eve, the Lincolnwood, Ill., bakery Rolf's Patisserie recalled products made after Nov. 1, 2010.
The products include tiramisu, cakes, cobblers, decorated cookies, tarts, pastries, and pies (including pot pies). Because these foods are sold wholesale, they may be repackaged by retailers under various labels.
The foods contain toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus. Poisoning occurs from ingesting these toxins, not from Staph infection. Illness onset is usually within one to six hours after eating the contaminated food. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. Severe cases are rare but may include headache, muscle cramps, and changes in blood pressure and pulse rate.

Pastries -- Staph Toxin continued...

Whole Foods has removed the foods from its shelves. Included in the Rolf's recall are pre-assembled gingerbread houses sold in Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.
Also included in the recall are the following products sold by Whole Foods in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin:
Items sold in Bakery:

UPC Code	Product Desc	Item Size	Unit of Measure
23691600000	WFM 6 IN CHERRY CRUMB PIE	12	OUNCES
23600700000	WFM 6 INCH APPLE PIE	20	OUNCES
23692300000	WFM 6IN APPLECRAN CRMB PIE	19	OUNCES
23693100000	WFM 9 IN HOUSE KEY LIME PIE	34	OUNCES
23654800000	WFM 9 INCH CHOC SILK PIE	48	OUNCES
23691800000	WFM 9IN APPCHDR CRUMB/DBL PIE	34	OUNCES
23692200000	WFM 9IN APPLCRAN CRUMB/DBL PIE	37	OUNCES
23659200000	WFM 9IN BANANA DULCE D LCH PIE	52	OUNCES
23650700000	WFM 9IN BLACKBERRY CHRRY PIE	60	OUNCES
23659800000	WFM 9IN BOSTON CREME PIE	40	OUNCES
23691500000	WFM 9IN CHERRY CRUMB/DBL PIE	40	OUNCES
23659600000	WFM 9IN COOKIES AND CREAM PIE	42	OUNCES
23650000000	WFM 9IN CRML APPLE CHSCAKE PIE	44	OUNCES
23690900000	WFM 9IN PEACH CRUMB/DBL PIE	37	OUNCES
23650500000	WFM 9IN RASP PCH CRUMB/DBL PIE	60	OUNCES
23611000000	WFM CAKE CHOC MOUSSE 8IN 58OZ	58	OUNCES
23182200000	WFM CHOC FLOURLESS CAKE 6IN	24	OUNCES
23610800000	WFM CHOC FLOURLESS CAKE 8IN	32	OUNCES
UPC Code	Product Desc	Item Size	Unit of Measure
23629500000	WFM LEMON MERINGUE PIE 9 INCH	1133	GRAMS
23184200000	WFM MINI CARAMEL TART 1OZ	1	OUNCES
23615900000	WFM MINI CHOC FRESH FRUIT TART	1	OUNCES
23173400000	WFM MINI CHOC GANACHE TART 1OZ	1	OUNCES
23129700000	WFM MINI CHOC RASPBERRY TART	1	OUNCES
23648700000	WFM MINI CHOCOLATE MOUSSE TART	1	OUNCES
23152700000	WFM MINI FRESH FRUIT TART 1OZ	1	OUNCES
23658200000	WFM MINI GERMAN CHOC TART	1	OUNCES
23121200000	WFM MINI KEY LIME TART	1	OUNCES
23618600000	WFM MINI LEMON MERINGUE TART	1	OUNCES
23185400000	WFM MINI LEMON TART 1OZ	1	OUNCES
23619600000	WFM MINI MERINGUE TART	1	OUNCES
23651200000	WFM MINI ROCKY ROAD TART	1	OUNCES
23167600000	WFM STRAWBERRY & CREAM PIE 9IN	24	OUNCES
23621700000	WFM APPLE PIE 9 INCH 1/2	22	OUNCES
23621800000	WFM 9IN CHOCOLATE SILK PIE 1/2	24	OUNCES
23614300000	WFM TIRAMISU CAKE 6IN 22OZ	16	OUNCES
23167100000	WFM PUMPKIN ANGEL FOOD CAKE	16	OUNCES
23187900000	WFM LEMON CREAM PIE 9 IN	40	OUNCES
23605700000	WFM MINI COCONUT TART	1	OUNCES
23612900000	WFM TIRAMISU CUP 6OZ	6	OUNCES
23625000000	WFM CRANBERRY WLNT UPSIDE CAKE	19	OUNCES
23642700000	WFM TRES LECHES CUP	6	OUNCES
23660100000	WFM 9IN CRML APPLE WALNT PIE	44	OUNCES
23669000000	WFM CREME BRULEE	5	OUNCES
23671700000	WFM 9 INCH IN HOUSE PUMPKIN PIE	32	OUNCES
23695700000	WFM YULE LOG	27	OUNCES

Pastries -- Staph Toxin continued...

Items sold in Prepared Foods:

UPC Code	Product Desc	Unit of Measure
23773800000	CHICKEN POT PIE 9INCH SPECIAL	26 OUNCES
23851300000	BEEF & MUSHROOM POT PIE 9IN	26 OUNCES
23853500000	CURRY CHICKEN POT PIE LARGE	26 OUNCES
23856300000	FAMILY SIZE TURKEY POT PIE	16 OUNCES
23923600000	TOFU POT PIE 9 IN	26 OUNCES
23928400000	CHICKEN POT PIE 9IN	26 OUNCES
23928500000	VEGETABLE POT PIE 9 IN	26 OUNCES
9948280244	CHICKEN POT PIE LARGE	26 OUNCES
9948280320	TURKEY POT PIE LARGE	26 OUNCES
23785900000	CORN PEPPPER QUICHE WHOLE	12 OUNCES
23788900000	SMSALMONLEEKGOATQUICHESLICE	BY POUND
23789300000	SMSALMON LEEK GOAT CHS QUICHE	BY POUND
23789400000	SPINACH MUSH QUICHE SLICE	BY POUND
23807900000	MUSHROOM QUICHE SLICE	BY POUND
UPC Code	Product Desc	Unit of Measure
23808100000	SPINACH QUICHE SLICE	BY POUND
23808200000	SPINACH QUICHE WHOLE	12 OUNCES
23808300000	WFM BROC CHEDDAR QUICHE SLICE	BY POUND
23808400000	BROCCOLI CHEDD QUICHE 9 IN	12 OUNCES
23949900000	WFM QUICHE TOMATO BASIL SLICE	BY POUND
23950200000	WFM QUICHE LORRAINE SLICE	BY POUND
23950300000	QUICHE LORRAINE 9 IN	12 OUNCES
23950700000	LEEK GOAT CHEESE QUICHE SLICE	BY POUND
23967800000	TOMATO BASIL QUICHE 9IN	12 OUNCES
9948280061	QUICHE BROCCOLI CHEDDAR	12 OUNCES
9948280063	QUICHE LORRAINE 9	12 OUNCES
9948280065	QUICHE TOM BASIL 9	12 OUNCES
75452	CATERING QUICHE LORRAINE	12 OUNCES
75453	CATERING QUICHE BROCCOLI CHDDR	12 OUNCES
75454	QUICHE TOMATO BASIL	12 OUNCES
76009	QUICHE SPIN AND MUSHROOM	12 OUNCES
72418	QUICHE LEEK AND GOAT CHEESE	12 OUNCES

Soft Cheese Recall -- E. Coli

On Dec. 17, Sally Jackson Cheese of Oroville, Wash., recalled soft, raw milk cheeses made from cow, goat, and sheep milk. The cheeses were distributed nationwide.
The cow and sheep cheeses are wrapped in chestnut leaves, while the goat cheese is wrapped in grape leaves. They may have an outer wrapping of waxed paper.
The cheeses may have been the source of E. coli O157:H7 infections reported by Washington State and Oregon health authorities.
Whole Foods Market carried some of these cheeses. Some carry the Sally Jackson label, but others were simply wrapped in clear plastic and sold with a Whole Foods Market scale label.
E. coli o157:H7 infection can be dangerous. It causes diarrhea, often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults recover, the infection can cause kidney failure. Consumers who develop symptoms of E. coli infection should immediately seek medical care.