Recalls You Should Be Aware Of—Week of July 8, 2018

We’ve rounded up a list of important US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recalls from this past week. :

FDA Announces Voluntary Recall of Several Medicines Containing Valsartan Following Detection of an Impurity

The US Food and Drug Administration recently sent out a notice alerting health care professionals and patients of a voluntary recall of several drug products containing valsartan, used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. This recall is due to an impurity, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), which was found in the recalled products. Of note: Not all products containing valsartan are being recalled. NDMA is classified as a probable human carcinogen (a substance that could cause cancer) based on results from laboratory tests. The presence of NDMA was unexpected and is thought to be related to changes in the way the active substance was manufactured.

Read the official notification.

Radagast Pet Food, Inc. Issues Recall for Cat Food Potentially Contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli 0121

Radagast is recalling three lots of Rad Cat Raw Diet Free-Range Chicken Recipe because testing results indicate they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Company is also recalling one lot of Rad Cat Raw Diet Pasture-Raised Venison Recipe because testing results indicate it has the potential to be contaminated with Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli O121.

Listeria monocytogenes is pathogenic to humans, and there is a risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Although E. coli O121 is not known to cause illness in cats, the FDA has a zero-tolerance rule for pathogens in pet food, as humans that handle the food may become infected. Infected cats can become carriers of E. coli O121 and transfer the E. coli O121 to the home environment, thus increasing the potential human exposure.

For more information, check out the official announcement.

Afandina Halal Recalls Raw Chicken Products Produced Without Benefit of Inspection

Afandina is recalling an undetermined amount of raw poultry products that were produced, packaged, and distributed without the benefit of federal inspection, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The raw chicken items were produced and packaged from May 14 through June 22, 2018. The recall includes:

• 40-lb bulk boxes containing “Afandina, Halal Wholesale Chicken, Boneless Meat”
• 40-lb bulk boxes containing “Afandina, Halal Chicken, Whole Chicken Legs”
• 40-lb bulk boxes containing “Afandina, Halal Chicken, Chicken Cutlets”

The products bear establishment number “P-51183” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

For more information on this recall, read the USDA’s statement.

Saje Natural Wellness Recalls Baby Wash Contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Saje Natural Wellness is warning customers not to use Splish Splash Gentle Baby Wash, 8.5 fl. oz. and 1.7 fl. oz. as it may contain the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pseudomonas aeruginosa an opportunistic pathogen that causes infection and results in bacteria in the blood, particularly in individuals with compromised immune systems.

Based on routine sampling testing, one lot (814020) of Splish Splash Gentle Baby was 8.5 oz. was found to contain the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

For additional details, check out the recall statement.

FDA Issues Reminder to Consumers and Retailers that all Kellogg’s Honey Smacks Cereal is Recalled

The FDA has become aware that recalled Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal is still being offered for sale. All Honey Smacks cereal was recalled in June 2018 due to contamination with Salmonella.

Retailers cannot legally offer the cereal for sale and consumers should not purchase Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal.

For more information from the FDA, read the outbreak investigation.

For updated case counts on the multi-state Salmonella outbreak linked to Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal, be sure to check out the Contagion® Outbreak Monitor.