Year-End Flurry of Food Recalls, Illness
Sprouts, Parsley, Cilantro, Pastry, Cheese in Separate Recalls
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

Dec. 28, 2010 -- A nationwide recall of curly parsley and cilantro is the latest in a year-end flurry of food warnings and outbreaks of food-borne illness.

In the two most serious of these outbreaks:

    * At least 89 people in 15 states fell ill with salmonella infections after eating contaminated Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts from Tiny Greens Organic Farm of Urbana, Ill. Many of those who fell ill reported eating sandwiches at Jimmy John's restaurants.
    * 100 people became ill after eating pastries made by Rolf's Patisserie, a gourmet European bakery in Lincolnwood, Ill. Various desserts were shipped wholesale and repackaged by other retailers. Whole Foods has recalled gingerbread houses and a wide range of pastries, pot pies, and quiche originally made by Rolf's.

Parsley/Cilantro Recall -- Salmonella

In the latest recall, J&D Produce of Edinburg, Texas, has recalled its Little Bear brand curly parsley and cilantro. Tests of the products in Quebec, Canada and in Detroit detected salmonella contamination.

The items were packed from Nov. 30 to Dec. 6. According to the Associated Press, the company is also recalling other produce that came through its production lines on these dates: arugula, leeks, collards, curly mustard, gold beets, kale, green Swiss chard, plain mustard, plain parsley, kohlrabi, rainbow Swiss chard, mint, methi leaf, beets, daikon, red Swiss chard, turnips, turnip greens, and dill.

No known illnesses have yet been associated with this recall. J&D promises a full refund of any affected product.
Alfalfa Sprouts -- Salmonella

On Dec. 27, the FDA warned consumers not to eat Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts (a mix of alfalfa, radish, and clover sprouts) from Tiny Greens Organic Farm.

The preliminary results of a CDC/FDA investigation link many of the illnesses to sandwiches from Jimmy John's restaurant outlets. About half of the 89 cases reported as of Dec. 21 were in Illinois residents who ate at Jimmy John's. The restaurant has stopped putting sprouts on its sandwiches.

The sprouts were also distributed in 4-ounce and 5-pound containers to farmers markets, restaurants, and groceries in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, and possibly other states in the Midwest.

Illnesses from salmonella with the same DNA fingerprint as the outbreak strain have been identified in Connecticut, Washington D.C., Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Pastries -- Staph Toxin

On Christmas Eve, the Lincolnwood, Ill., bakery Rolf's Patisserie recalled products made after Nov. 1, 2010.

The products include tiramisu, cakes, cobblers, decorated cookies, tarts, pastries, and pies (including pot pies). Because these foods are sold wholesale, they may be repackaged by retailers under various labels.

The foods contain toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus. Poisoning occurs from ingesting these toxins, not from Staph infection. Illness onset is usually within one to six hours after eating the contaminated food. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. Severe cases are rare but may include headache, muscle cramps, and changes in blood pressure and pulse rate.

Whole Foods has removed the foods from its shelves. Included in the Rolf's recall are pre-assembled gingerbread houses sold in Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.

Also included in the recall are the following products sold by Whole Foods in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin:

Items sold in Bakery:

UPC Code
   

Product Desc
   

Item Size
   

Unit of Measure

23691600000
   

WFM 6 IN CHERRY CRUMB PIE
   

12
   

OUNCES

23600700000
   

WFM 6 INCH APPLE PIE
   

20
   

OUNCES

23692300000
   

WFM 6IN APPLECRAN CRMB PIE
   

19
   

OUNCES

23693100000
   

WFM 9 IN HOUSE KEY LIME PIE
   

34
   

OUNCES

23654800000
   

WFM 9 INCH CHOC SILK PIE
   

48
   

OUNCES

23691800000
   

WFM 9IN APPCHDR CRUMB/DBL PIE
   

34
   

OUNCES

23692200000
   

WFM 9IN APPLCRAN CRUMB/DBL PIE
   

37
   

OUNCES

23659200000
   

WFM 9IN BANANA DULCE D LCH PIE
   

52
   

OUNCES

23650700000
   

WFM 9IN BLACKBERRY CHRRY PIE
   

60
   

OUNCES

23659800000
   

WFM 9IN BOSTON CREME PIE
   

40
   

OUNCES

23691500000
   

WFM 9IN CHERRY CRUMB/DBL PIE
   

40
   

OUNCES

23659600000
   

WFM 9IN COOKIES AND CREAM PIE
   

42
   

OUNCES

23650000000
   

WFM 9IN CRML APPLE CHSCAKE PIE
   

44
   

OUNCES

23690900000
   

WFM 9IN PEACH CRUMB/DBL PIE
   

37
   

OUNCES

23650500000
   

WFM 9IN RASP PCH CRUMB/DBL PIE
   

60
   

OUNCES

23611000000
   

WFM CAKE CHOC MOUSSE 8IN 58OZ
   

58
   

OUNCES

23182200000
   

WFM CHOC FLOURLESS CAKE 6IN
   

24
   

OUNCES

23610800000
   

WFM CHOC FLOURLESS CAKE 8IN
   

32
   

OUNCES

UPC Code
   

Product Desc
   

Item Size
   

Unit of Measure

23629500000
   

WFM LEMON MERINGUE PIE 9 INCH
   

1133
   

GRAMS

23184200000
   

WFM MINI CARAMEL TART 1OZ
   

1
   

OUNCES

23615900000
   

WFM MINI CHOC FRESH FRUIT TART
   

1
   

OUNCES

23173400000
   

WFM MINI CHOC GANACHE TART 1OZ
   

1
   

OUNCES

23129700000
   

WFM MINI CHOC RASPBERRY TART
   

1
   

OUNCES

23648700000
   

WFM MINI CHOCOLATE MOUSSE TART
   

1
   

OUNCES

23152700000
   

WFM MINI FRESH FRUIT TART 1OZ
   

1
   

OUNCES

23658200000
   

WFM MINI GERMAN CHOC TART
   

1
   

OUNCES

23121200000
   

WFM MINI KEY LIME TART
   

1
   

OUNCES

23618600000
   

WFM MINI LEMON MERINGUE TART
   

1
   

OUNCES

23185400000
   

WFM MINI LEMON TART 1OZ
   

1
   

OUNCES

23619600000
   

WFM MINI MERINGUE TART
   

1
   

OUNCES

23651200000
   

WFM MINI ROCKY ROAD TART
   

1
   

OUNCES

23167600000
   

WFM STRAWBERRY & CREAM PIE 9IN
   

24
   

OUNCES

23621700000
   

WFM APPLE PIE 9 INCH 1/2
   

22
   

OUNCES

23621800000
   

WFM 9IN CHOCOLATE SILK PIE 1/2
   

24
   

OUNCES

23614300000
   

WFM TIRAMISU CAKE 6IN 22OZ
   

16
   

OUNCES

23167100000
   

WFM PUMPKIN ANGEL FOOD CAKE
   

16
   

OUNCES

23187900000
   

WFM LEMON CREAM PIE 9 IN
   

40
   

OUNCES

23605700000
   

WFM MINI COCONUT TART
   

1
   

OUNCES

23612900000
   

WFM TIRAMISU CUP 6OZ
   

6
   

OUNCES

23625000000
   

WFM CRANBERRY WLNT UPSIDE CAKE
   

19
   

OUNCES

23642700000
   

WFM TRES LECHES CUP
   

6
   

OUNCES

23660100000
   

WFM 9IN CRML APPLE WALNT PIE
   

44
   

OUNCES

23669000000
   

WFM CREME BRULEE
   

5
   

OUNCES

23671700000
   

WFM 9 INCH IN HOUSE PUMPKIN PIE
   

32
   

OUNCES

23695700000
   

WFM YULE LOG
   

27
   

OUNCES

Items sold in Prepared Foods:

UPC Code
   

Product Desc
   

Unit of Measure

23773800000
   

CHICKEN POT PIE 9INCH SPECIAL
   

26 OUNCES

23851300000
   

BEEF & MUSHROOM POT PIE 9IN
   

26 OUNCES

23853500000
   

CURRY CHICKEN POT PIE LARGE
   

26 OUNCES

23856300000
   

FAMILY SIZE TURKEY POT PIE
   

16 OUNCES

23923600000
   

TOFU POT PIE 9 IN
   

26 OUNCES

23928400000
   

CHICKEN POT PIE 9IN
   

26 OUNCES

23928500000
   

VEGETABLE POT PIE 9 IN
   

26 OUNCES

9948280244
   

CHICKEN POT PIE LARGE
   

26 OUNCES

9948280320
   

TURKEY POT PIE LARGE
   

26 OUNCES

23785900000
   

CORN PEPPPER QUICHE WHOLE
   

12 OUNCES

23788900000
   

SMSALMONLEEKGOATQUICHESLICE
   

BY POUND

23789300000
   

SMSALMON LEEK GOAT CHS QUICHE
   

BY POUND

23789400000
   

SPINACH MUSH QUICHE SLICE
   

BY POUND

23807900000
   

MUSHROOM QUICHE SLICE
   

BY POUND

UPC Code
   

Product Desc
   

Unit of Measure

23808100000
   

SPINACH QUICHE SLICE
   

BY POUND

23808200000
   

SPINACH QUICHE WHOLE
   

12 OUNCES

23808300000
   

WFM BROC CHEDDAR QUICHE SLICE
   

BY POUND

23808400000
   

BROCCOLI CHEDD QUICHE 9 IN
   

12 OUNCES

23949900000
   

WFM QUICHE TOMATO BASIL SLICE
   

BY POUND

23950200000
   

WFM QUICHE LORRAINE SLICE
   

BY POUND

23950300000
   

QUICHE LORRAINE 9 IN
   

12 OUNCES

23950700000
   

LEEK GOAT CHEESE QUICHE SLICE
   

BY POUND

23967800000
   

TOMATO BASIL QUICHE 9IN
   

12 OUNCES

9948280061
   

QUICHE BROCCOLI CHEDDAR
   

12 OUNCES

9948280063
   

QUICHE LORRAINE 9
   

12 OUNCES

9948280065
   

QUICHE TOM BASIL 9
   

12 OUNCES

75452
   

CATERING QUICHE LORRAINE
   

12 OUNCES

75453
   

CATERING QUICHE BROCCOLI CHDDR
   

12 OUNCES

75454
   

QUICHE TOMATO BASIL
   

12 OUNCES

76009
   

QUICHE SPIN AND MUSHROOM
   

12 OUNCES

72418
   

QUICHE LEEK AND GOAT CHEESE
   

12 OUNCES

 
Soft Cheese Recall -- E. Coli

On Dec. 17, Sally Jackson Cheese of Oroville, Wash., recalled soft, raw milk cheeses made from cow, goat, and sheep milk. The cheeses were distributed nationwide.

The cow and sheep cheeses are wrapped in chestnut leaves, while the goat cheese is wrapped in grape leaves. They may have an outer wrapping of waxed paper.

The cheeses may have been the source of E. coli O157:H7 infections reported by Washington State and Oregon health authorities.

Whole Foods Market carried some of these cheeses. Some carry the Sally Jackson label, but others were simply wrapped in clear plastic and sold with a Whole Foods Market scale label.

E. coli o157:H7 infection can be dangerous. It causes diarrhea, often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults recover, the infection can cause kidney failure. Consumers who develop symptoms of E. coli infection should immediately seek medical care.