Food Recalls for April, 2004

FDA has compiled information which indicates that candies and related products that contain significant amounts of chili powder may contain higher lead levels than other types of candy, such as candy that contains predominantly sugar. Examples of chili containing products include lollipops coated with chili and powdery mixtures of salt, lemon flavor and chili seasoning sold as a snack item.

In addition, tamarind, a popular Mexican candy item, can become contaminated with lead if it is sold in poorly made glazed ceramic vessels that release lead from the glaze into the candy.

The 16-ounce packages of Autumn Trails Delite were distributed to retail stores throughout Montana, southeast Idaho, northern Idaho, and western Wyoming.

Autumn Trails Delite is packaged in clear plastic bags labeled as Gray Squirrel Nut Co., Autumn Trails Delite, 16 oz. There are no manufacturing or expiration codes associated with this product. The UPC is 1629451000.

FDA issued a warning in February 2004, about adverse events experienced by four teenagers after they consumed Green Hornet Liquid that contained high levels of the over-the-counter drugs diphenhydramine and dextromethorphan.

FDA analyses of additional products, manufactured or distributed by Cytotec Solutions Inc., has not only found the drugs, diphenhydramine HCl and dextromethorphan, but ephedrine and the controlled substances GBL and GHB as well. Although this firm is no longer producing these products, they remain under investigation and FDA is working to identify and address additional distributors of the products. The agency is issuing this warning because consumers may still have these products in their possession or may be able to buy them commercially.

The only known butter and butterine sold in retail stores is at GFS Marketplace Stores located in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan under the GFS label, in 1 lb. prints, butter cups, continentals, patties and 5 lb. whipped tubs.

The other butter and butterine products were distributed nationwide. These products include individual serving butter chips used by restaurants, butter and butterine cups distributed to restaurants, tubs of whipped butter for restaurants and bulk butter for food manufacturers, primarily under the Zander's and GFS labels.

The recalled butter and butterine products have codes beginning with 043 to 100 as the first three digits.

Consumption of this bread by people who have an allergy or sensitivity to milk may result in a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction. However, this product only poses a potential hazard to milk-allergic and milk-sensitive individuals. The company has not received any consumer complaints regarding this bread.

The 16-ounce packaged bread loaves have been removed from store shelves and are no longer available for purchase, but some loaves may remain in consumer possession.

The recall applies only to Country Farms Old Fashioned Wheat Bread sold in Arizona with a purchase-by date of April 30 or earlier. The purchase-by date is printed in ink on the front of the bread bag in the following format: “BEST IF PURCHASED BY APR 30.” The recall does not apply to any other Country Farms brand products, which are sold exclusively by Albertsons, Inc. Consumers may return bread loaves to any Arizona Albertsons store for a full refund.

Earthgrains Baking Companies, Inc., the baker of Country Farms Old Fashioned Wheat Bread in Arizona, is working with Albertsons, Inc., and the Food and Drug Administration in undertaking a voluntary recall of this product. The mislabeled product was discovered during a routine audit of the company’s Phoenix bakery. The company has also notified the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network of the voluntary recall.

The butterine products in this recall are in addition to the Zander's Creamery butter and butterine products that were recalled on April 15, 2004. The butterine products being recalled were sold under the label Zander's Butter Margarine Blends. The products were sold in various stores located in Wisconsin in 1 lb. prints and packed in a 1 lb. quartered carton with an expiration date of June 28, 2004. The recall is limited to only those products with an expiration date of June 28, 2004.

Publix Spokesman Lee Brunson said, “Although the almonds are clearly visible on the top of the cake through the clear clam shell package, as a precaution we are recalling the product from all our stores.”

The precautionary recall takes effect immediately and involves retail stores in 13 states (Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Wisconsin).

The two margarine products involved are:

Customers are asked not to consume these products and instead return the products to the place of purchase for a prompt and full cash refund. No other Crystal Farms products are affected by this action. To date, there have been no reports of illness related to the products subject to this recall.

The margarine products subject to the recall are made with product from Zander's Creamery Inc. of Cross Plains, Wis. The recall was initiated following notification by Zander's that its margarine products are being recalled based on possible contamination by Listeria monocytogenes in its food service line. As such, we are making this voluntary recall on a precautionary basis.

Individuals with allergies to eggs run the risk of a serious or life threatening reaction if they consume this product.

The recalled ice cream was processed at the Purity Dairies plant in Nashville and distributed to retailers in portions of Tennessee , Kentucky and Alabama.

How to identify the recalled product:

"Moose Tracks" is packaged in pint, half-gallon and 3-gallon containers. "After Dinner Mint" is packaged in only half-gallon containers.

The recalled Lucerne Chocolate Ice Cream was distributed to less than 85 Safeway stores in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and the city of Milton Freewater, Oregon between April 16 and April 27, 2004.

The recalled Lucerne Chocolate Ice Cream has a 21130-08039 UPC number and a Best Before JAN 10 05 53-38 date. The code and date are located on the carton’s end flap. The impacted product will contain chocolate covered peanut clusters.

For more information on recalls, withdrawals and alerts in the last 60 days, visit http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html