Dry milk, whey protein & dairy products in foods and supplements recalled by FDA for salmonella

July 5, 10:46 AMSacramento Nutrition ExaminerAnne Hart

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Dry milk products put in a wide variety of packaged foods such as cereals and numerous dietary supplements such as whey protein are being recalled by the FDA, along with packaged dry milk products due to contamination with salmonella. These products include packaged cereals and other processed foods that contain dry milk products or whey protein.

CPI Foods, Inc of Dallas, TX is recalling approximately 15,000 (net wt. 20g) packets of non fat dry milk because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Non Fat Dry Milk packets are components of CPI Foods shelf stable meal kits distributed to various community service companies in Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, West Virginia, North Carolina, Nevada, and Kentucky.

These community service companies deliver CPI Foods shelf stable meal kits to consumers in their homes. The meal kits are packaged in small white boxes that have no identifying information and contain single-serve food items. Distribution of affected kits began in May 1, 2009.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with these products.This recall was initiated after Plainview Milk Products Association announced a voluntary recall of it's Instant Non Fat Dry Milk because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Consumers who have any meal kits or Non Fat Dry Milk packets are urged to destroy them.Consumers with questions may contact the company at 214-634-9559, or visit www.cpifoods.com to see a list of the meals that contain the Non Fat Dry Milk. 

NOW Foods has issued a voluntary recall for NOW Foods products containing whey protein concentrate due to potential Salmonella contamination. This is an extension of the voluntary recall being conducted by the company’s supplier Plainview Milk Products Cooperative.

NOW Foods has not received any reports of illness related to whey protein concentrate.The products being recalled include 12 products and 29 lots. The lot numbers listed below are the only ones affected and should not be consumed. Customers should return the product to the store where it was purchased for a full refund. NOW Foods has provided information on the voluntary recall to all retail customers nationwide who purchased the specific lots regarding this voluntary recall via fax, phone or mail.

NOW Foods is a nationwide manufacturer and distributor of dietary supplements and natural foods that has been GMP certified by Natural Products Association since 2000. Consumers with additional questions may call the NOW Foods Customer Service Department at 1-888-NOWFOODS (1-888-669-3663) extensions 268, 317, or 318. Precision Foods Inc., of St. Louis, Missouri, is recalling certain Madagascar Vanilla cocoa as a precaution given that the potential exists that the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The company is conducting this voluntary recall because of a notification Precision Foods received from two of its suppliers, AMFOTEK and Plainview Milk Products Co-op, regarding Plainview’s Instant Non-Fat Dry Milk recall. Although the product has not been found to contain Salmonella and no illnesses have been reported to date, as a precaution, production and distribution of the product has been suspended while the FDA and the company continue their investigations into the suppliers’ issues.

The cocoa product that is the subject of this voluntary recall is labeled as Land O Lakes International Drinking Cocoa “Madagascar Vanilla”. The product is packed in 12.5 ounce foil bags marked with “Best By 09/04/10” or “Best By 11/05/10” in the lower right hand corner of the rear panel of the package. The UPC is 8 78326 00071 0.

This is the only product involved in this recall. The product was distributed nationally in retail stores and through mail orders. Consumers who have purchased the Madagascar Vanilla cocoa are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers who want additional information may call 1-877-585-2365.

Meijer has initiated a voluntary recall of one type of its Meijer Brand Instant Non-fat Dry Milk because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Meijer Brand Instant Non-fat Dry Milk was sold in Meijer stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. Meijer has removed all identified products from its stores.

The product under recall is Meijer Instant Non-fat Dry Milk, 10 QT Packets, UPC # 00000000-41250-96746-0, with the following two sell-by dates: FEB0911S and FEB1011S. The sell-by date is printed on the top of the box by the opening. While this Meijer brand product has not been identified as contaminated or linked to any illness, Meijer has received these products from Plainview Milk Products Cooperative in Plainview, Minnesota, which has been verified as a potential source of Salmonella - contaminated products.

Meijer requests that customers who have purchased these products destroy the product or return them to any Meijer location for a full refund. If Meijer customers are unsure if they have the recalled product, they are requested to bring in the product for determination or contact the Meijer customer contact center at 800-543-3704 (available 24/7). Consumers with questions or concerns about their health should contact their health care provider. If symptoms are present, please visit a health care provider or go to a hospital emergency room.

"The safety of our customers is always our number one priority," said Frank J. Guglielmi, director of public relations for Meijer. "Meijer has taken these precautionary steps to help protect our customers and will return this product to our stores only once it is safe for our shoppers."

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company has recalled the following Stop & Shop Non Fat Dry Milk products

Stop and Shop Nonfat Dried Milk, 16 ounce size
UPC - 21120-00056
Code - FEB 0511S

Stop and Shop Nonfat Dried Milk, 32 ounce size
UPC 21120-00052
Code - FEB 1211S

The items were removed from store shelves because they were produced with nonfat dried milk that is part of a national recall by Plainview Milk and may have the potential to be contaminated with salmonella bacteria. Customers who have purchased the product should discard any unused portions and bring their purchase receipt to any Stop & Shop for a full refund. To date, Stop & Shop has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.

Stop & Shop is committed to the highest standards of food safety. Customers looking for additional information may call Stop & Shop’s corporate brands hotline at 1-877-846-9949, M-F, 9 am-1 pm. Or Stop & Shop’s Customer Service line at 1-800-767-7772, M-F, 9 am-5 pm.

Check to see which cereal packages are being recalled, such as Malto-Meal, and other products containing dried milk. Malt-O-Meal Co. is voluntarily recalling oatmeal that contains instant nonfat dry milk that may be contaminated with salmonella.

According to the Associated Press, article, July 3, 2009, "Malt-O-Meal Recalls Oatmeal Made With Dried Milk," The instant nonfat dry milk came from Plainview Milk Products Cooperative of Minnesota which is recalling products made over the past two years due to the possible contamination. Many of Plainview's products were sold to other food makers. Minneapolis-based Malt-O-Meal is recalling "Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal" sold in cartons and variety packs with best-if-used-by dates of June 30, 2009 to Oct. 28, 2010.

The oatmeal is sold nationally under brands including Cub Foods, Diamond Crystal, Fastco, Flavorite, Foodland, Good 'n Hearty, Hearty Traditions, Hy-Top, IGA, Mom's Best Natural, Megaroons, Millville, Our Family, Richfood, Shop 'n Save and Smart Menu.

Multi-State Outbreaks of E. coli Prompt Recall of Certain JBS Swift Beef Company Products

In addition to dried milk recalls, the FDA also noted on July 1, 2009, multistate outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 infections associated with Beef from JBS Swift Beef Company. Boxes of these pieces of beef bear the establishment number "EST. 969" inside the USDA mark of inspection, the identifying package date of "042109," and a time stamp ranging from "0618" to "1130."

These pieces of beef were sold to retail stores nationwide after April 21, 2009, and some was probably cut again or made into ground beef, then re-packaged, so packages purchased by consumers may not have identifying information. Customers with questions about the source of a package of beef should contact the place where they purchased it (e.g., grocery store, club store, or meat market). 

Nestlé Cookie Dough Recalled

On June 19, 2009, the Pediatrics Blog on About.com reported that, "Nestlé USA's Baking Division has recalled all varieties of Nestlé TOLL HOUSE refrigerated cookie dough products, including their Cookie Bar Dough, Cookie Dough Tub, Cookie Dough Tube, Limited Edition Cookie Dough items, Seasonal Cookie Dough and Ultimates Cookie Bar Dough. The Nestle cookie dough recall was prompted by an investigation by the FDA and CDC that E. coli 0157 illnesses may be related to people who eat raw cookie dough. So far, in the current E. coli outbreak, there have been 66 cases of E. coli in 28 states since March 2009." For further information on the cookie dough recall, click on the FDA links below.

FDA: Toll House Cookie Dough Recall
CDC: E. coli Outbreaks
Food Poisoning
Preventing Food Poisoning

What is Salmonella?

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. For more information on Salmonella, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s site. Check the FDA food recall warnings to see whether your box of cereal or any other packaged product you have in your pantry is on the recall list.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. The most common manifestations of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within eight to 72 hours. Additional symptoms may be chills, headache, nausea and vomiting that can last up to seven days. For further information, view the links below.

Information on Botulism and Pet Food Recalls at Evanger's and Nutro 

Note: There also have been some pet food recalls involving botulism in pet food that also could possibly infect humans handling the food. Check out the links on the human and pet food recalls below. See the links on Evanger's Dog and Cat Food and Nutro Products Pet Food 

• Colorado Firm Expands Recall of Beef Products Due To Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination (June 28 recall)
• RSS Feed for FDA Recalls Information
• Photos: Product Labels
  Plainview Milk Products: Salmonella Recall  
• Nestlé Toll House Cookie Dough Outbreak
• BS Swift Beef Company Recall (E. coli O157:H7)
• Evanger's Dog and Cat Food
• Nutro Products Pet Food
• Swine Flu

Photo credits: FDA