Aug 30, 2012
US supplier pulls Daniella mangoes amid Salmonella outbreak investigation
California produce distributor Splendid Products yesterday recalled certain lots of Daniella mangoes because they may be contaminated with Salmonella, according to a notice posted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).The mangoes that are subject to the recall carry the Daniella label and have the following price look-up (PLU) numbers on the stickers: 3114, 4051, 4584, and 4959. The company said the mangoes were sold at retail stores throughout the United States between Jul 12 and Aug 29. It added that mangoes have been liked to recent salmonellosis cases in Canada and may be linked to infections in California and perhaps other states. The recall is being issued out of an abundance of caution, Splendid Products said, adding that it pulled the products after consulting with the FDA and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
Aug 29 Splendid Products recall notice
In a separate announcement yesterday, California officials warned the public not to eat Daniella-brand mangoes due to possible Salmonella contamination. It said the recalled mangoes were packed in Mexico and distributed by Splendid Products, based in Burlingame, Calif. Though the mangoes are no longer being sold, the CDPH said in its statement the consumers may still have them in their homes. It added that the preliminary investigation suggests that mango consumption is the likely cause of a Salmonella Braenderup outbreak that has sickened 80 people in California, and as many as 103 people in 16 states. The US outbreak strain genetically matches the strain that sickened people in a Canadian outbreak that has also been linked to Daniella mangoes.
Aug 29 CDPH statement
In a further related development, Spokane Produce, Inc., yesterday recalled a small lot of its pineapple-mango pico de gallo sauce because it includes Daniella mangoes. The salsa was distributed to 11 inland supermarkets in Washington, Idaho, and Montana.
Aug 29 Spokane Produce recall notice
Two groups sue to spur implementation of food safety law
Two health and environmental organizations have sued the federal government over what they describe as its failure to implement the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, Reuters reported yesterday. The law was enacted in January 2011 to bolster disease-prevention efforts at many points along the food chain. The suit was filed by the Center for Food Safety and the Center for Environmental Health, both described as nonprofit advocacy groups, in US District Court for the Northern District of California. The FDA proposed rules to implement the new law late in 2011, but they have remained at the White House Office of Management and Budget since then, according to Reuters. The two plaintiffs contend that the FDA has missed hundreds of deadlines specified in the law, including seven that pertain to major food safety regulations, the story said. "They haven't done what is required to actually begin the process of getting this new food safety law in place," Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of the Center for Food Safety, told Reuters. The FDA had no immediate comment on the lawsuit, the story said.
Aug 29 Reuters story
Aug 30 Center for Food Safety press release
