FDA Recalls You Should Know About—Week of February 25, 2018

We’ve compiled a list of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalls that you should be aware of. They include:

Compounded Drug Products from Cantrell Drug Company: FDA Warning - Serious Deficiencies in Quality and Sterility Assurance—March 1, 2018

The FDA is alerting health care professionals and patients not to use drug products produced by Cantrell Drug Company of Little Rock, Arkansas, including opioid products and other drugs intended for sterile injection, that were produced by the company and distributed nationwide. The agency is concerned about serious deficiencies in Cantrell’s compounding operations, including its processes to ensure quality and sterility assurance that put patient safety at risk. Administration of contaminated or otherwise poor quality drug products can result in serious and life-threatening injury or death.

For more information, read the official MedWatch Safety Alert.

Olli Salumeria Americana Firm Recalls Ready-To-Eat Meat Products due to Possible Listeria Contamination

Olli Salumeria Americana, an Oceanside, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 3,946 pounds of ready-to-eat meat products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The not heat treated, shelf stable, ready-to-eat meat items were packaged on January 19, 2018.

Read the full list of products and official announcement.

The Double Cola Company Recalls Select Cases of Its Cherry Ski Product

The newly designed cans of Cherry SKI are being recalled because the nutrition facts are incorrect. The cans show "Red #4" under ingredients, which is incorrect. The ingredients should include "Red #40" and "Yellow #5." These dyes may cause a reaction to anyone allergic. The Double Cola Company has reported that no medical illnesses or harmful effects have resulted from this product thus far. Products affected are coded A8023EV10:25 through A8023EV11:40.

Learn more from the official FDA recall.

FDA Warns of Fraudulent and Unapproved Flu Products—March 2, 2018

Consumers should be aware that there are no legally marketed over-the-counter (OTC) drugs to prevent or cure the flu. However, there are legal OTC products to reduce fever and to relieve muscle aches, congestion and other symptoms typically associated with the flu. Products sold online are fraudulent if they claim to prevent, treat or cure the flu, and have not been evaluated by the FDA for that intended use.

Read the official warning.

Bella Diet Capsules by Bella All Natural: Recall - Presence of Sibutramine—March 1, 2018

This recall has been initiated due to the presence of sibutramine. Sibutramine is an appetite suppressant that was withdrawn from the U.S. market in October 2010 due to safety concerns. N-Desmethyl sibutramine is an active metabolite of sibutramine. Sibutramine and its active metabolites substantially increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients and may present significant health risks including heart attack, arrhythmia, and stroke.

Read the official recall announcement.

Updated — Northwest Naturals Voluntarily Recalls 5lb Frozen Chicken and Salmon Pet Food Chubs Because of Possible Listeria Monocytogenes Health Risk—February 23, 2018

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated their press release regarding how Northwest Naturals is recalling 5lb frozen chicken and salmon pet food chubs due to potential Listeria contamination. The updated press release includes the correct states who have received the potentially contaminated product. The states include: California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington. The recalled products were sold through specialty pet retail stores.

The product is packaged in 5lb frozen chubs labeled “chicken” and “salmon” dog food with a UPC code of 0 87316 38440 6 with a best buy date of 15 082218.

Not only can Listeria affect animals consuming contaminated products, but contaminated products also pose a risk to humans who are handling them, especially if they have not washed their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with them or any other surfaces that had been exposed to the products.

For more information, read the official recall announcement.

TruPet, LLC Issues Voluntary Recall of Certain “Treat Me Crunchy Beef Delight” Pet Treats—February 23, 2018

TruPet, LLC announced a voluntary recall of a limited amount of Treat Me Crunchy Beef Delight, 2.5 oz pet treats due to potential Salmonella contamination. The recalled product, Lot # 20190514 13753, was distributed throughout the United States via Chewy.com and TruDog.com through direct delivery. No other products are involved in this recall.

Salmonella can affect animals who consume contaminated products, but these products also pose a risk to humans who handle them. Again, the risk comes from if hands are not thoroughly washed after handling the product or touching surfaces that have been exposed to the product.

The recall is being issued in abundance of caution due to the fact that the Michigan Department of Agriculture found that a retail sample from a single batch of the product tested positive. However, as of February 23, 2018, no associated illnesses have been reported.

For more information, read the official company announcement.

Carnivore Meat Company Issues Voluntary Recall of “Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Beef Nibblets Entrée for Dogs” Pet Food—February 24, 2018

Carnivore Meat Company has voluntarily recalled 73 cases of pet food due to potential Salmonella contamination. The recalled products have the following lot number: 13753. No other products have been included in this recall.

Again, the recall is being issued in an abundance of caution after the Michigan Department of Agriculture found that a retail sample from a single batch tested positive for Salmonella. No associated illnesses have been reported.

The FDA urges anyone who has purchased Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Beef Nibblets Entrée for Dogs in a 1 lb. bag to return the product at the place of purchase for a refund.

For more information, read the official announcement.

Medtronic Recalls Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators Due to Manufacturing Error Preventing Electrical Shock Delivery—February 27, 2018

The FDA has identified this as a Class I recall, which is the most serious type of recall as the use of these devices can potentially result in serious injuries or even death.

These devices provide pacing for slow heart rhythms and electric shock or pacing to stop dangerously fast heart rhythms. Medtronic is recalling certain implantable cardioverter defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators due to a manufacturing error.

“This defect causes an out of specification gas mixture inside the device and may prevent the device from delivering the electrical shock needed to pace a patient’s heartbeat or revive a patient in cardiac arrest,” the FDA warns.

Failure to deliver a shock to a patient who is in cardiac arrest, or failure to pace a patient’s heart whose heartbeat is too slow could result in serious injury or death.

Read more about the Class I recall.