Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Allergy Alert

CANADA BABY GOURMET PRODUCTS RECALL / USA Whole Foods Market expanding a recall
ALLERGY ALERT
UNDECLARED PEANUT PROTEIN OR SULPHITES IN CERTAIN BABY GOURMET PRODUCTS
OTTAWA, December 31, 2007 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Baby Gourmet are warning people with allergies to peanut protein or sensitivities to sulphites not to consume the Baby Gourmet products described below. The affected products may contain peanut protein or sulphites which are not declared on the label.

All codes of the following Baby Gourmet products are affected by this alert:

Organic Moroccan Lamb with Couscous, sold frozen in a double poly lined bag containing 10 x 25 ml cubes. This product may contain undeclared peanut protein.
Seasonal Fruit Compote, sold frozen in a double poly lined bag containing 12 x 25 ml cubes. This product contains undeclared sulphites.
These products have been distributed in Calgary.

There has been one reported illness associated with the consumption of these products.

Consumption of these products may cause a serious or life-threatening reaction in persons with allergies to peanut protein or sensitivities to sulphites.

The manufacturer, Baby Gourmet, Calgary, Alberta, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:

Jennifer Broe, Baby Gourmet at 403-614-9821;

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Whole Foods Market Expands Allergy Alert on 365 Organic Everyday Value Swiss Chocolate Bars to All Varieties and Lots
Contact:
Ashley Hawkins
512-542-0381

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --Austin, TX -- December 21, 2007 --- Whole Foods Market® is expanding the recall of the 365 Organic Everyday Value™ Swiss Milk Chocolate Bars with Rice Crisps with a Best If Used By date of 11/21/07, to include all varieties and all lots of chocolate bars with a Best If Used By date prior to 11/08/09. The products may contain undeclared milk and tree nuts. People, who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to tree nuts or milk, run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

Products affected by the recall are all lots with Best If Used by date prior to 11/08/09 as follows:

365 Organic Everyday Value Swiss Milk Chocolate with Rice Crisps UPC: 9948241730
365 Organic Everyday Value Swiss Dark Chocolate with Coconut Flakes UPC: 9948241731
365 Organic Everyday Value Swiss Dark Chocolate with Mint Crisps UPC: 9948241729
365 Organic Everyday Value Swiss Milk Chocolate UPC: 9948240805
365 Organic Everyday Value Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts UPC: 9948240806
365 Organic Everyday Value Milk Chocolate with Almonds UPC: 9948240807
365 Organic Everyday Value Dark Chocolate UPC: 9948240808
365 Organic Everyday Value Dark Chocolate with Almonds UPC: 9948240809

The product was distributed to and sold at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide. 365 Organic Everyday Value™ Swiss Chocolate Bars are sold in 3 ounce sizes are in blue and white or maroon and white wrappers with a picture of chocolate pieces and the Swiss countryside on the front. The recalled chocolate bars have a Best If Used By date prior to 11/08/09, which is found on the back of the wrapper in a white box.

Consumers who have 365 Organic Everyday Value™ Swiss Chocolate Bars can return them to Whole Foods Market for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at (512) 542-0656 or PrivateLabel.CustomerService@WholeFoods.com.

The recall was expanded after subsequent testing of additional products indicated that the presence of undeclared allergens may be possible in additional lots.

"We have an extensive quality assurance process that works to insure the safety of our products. When we do find an issue, our course of action is to always put customer safety first," said Bruce Silverman, Global Vice President of Private Label for Whole Foods Market. "Hence our decision last week to immediately remove potentially affected chocolate bar skus from the shelves until this further investigation was complete."



Photos: Product labels click here