Original Article
Baked and Prepared Foods Recalled After 100 Reported Illnesses - Updated
by Deep Harm
Sun Dec 26, 2010
On Christmas Eve, December 24, the FDA issued notice of a recall of baked goods (including holiday specialties like gingerbread houses) produced by Rolf's Patisserie. Many of the products are sold by Whole Foods. The recall was issued after 100 or more people fell ill in November and December from staphylococcus aureas, a bacteria most dangerous to children and elderly people.
Whole Foods is doing little to notify its consumers. As of 7 pm ET today, there was no information about the recall on the Whole Foods website, its Facebook page or its Twitter feed. No one answered the phone at headquarters and calls to a local store failed to find any staff who acknowledged the recall. Rolf's doesn't mention the recall, either.
Many more people potentially could fall ill due to this minimalist approach to recall notification.
It's noteworthy that the recall was issued on a slow news night, Christmas Eve, although the illnesses began in November. Thus, many people would not have learned of the recall in time to avoid eating products potentially contaminated with "high levels" of Staphylococcus aureus.
State and federal investigators are looking into outbreaks in which people became ill after eating desserts from Rolf's Patisserie at a company event, a catered party, a restaurant and a holiday party, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
As the news report indicates, this is a time for holiday parties. Many people may consume products without knowing the origin of the food. Therefore, take care and ask questions. If you have any of the recalled products, do not eat them.
If you have purchased a Rolf's product made after November 1st, the recall notice recommends trashing the baked goods in a sealed container, so that children and animals cannot get to them. (CNN)
Better yet, return them to the store for a refund.
Anyone who comes down with symptoms of Staphylococcus aureaus should report it to the FDA complaint line or your local health department. (See the recall notice for details.) Also, as LNK points out in the comments, take appropriate medical measures, such as consulting your physician, drinking plenty of fluids. With children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems, prompt help is especially important.
The onset of symptoms in staphylococcal food poisoning is usually rapid and in many cases acute, depending on individual susceptibility to the toxin, the amount of contaminated food eaten, the amount of toxin in the food ingested, and the general health of the victim. The most common symptoms are nausea, vomiting, retching, abdominal cramping, and prostration. Some individuals may not always demonstrate all the symptoms associated with the illness. In more severe cases, headache, muscle cramping, and transient changes in blood pressure and pulse rate may occur. Recovery generally takes two days, However, it us not unusual for complete recovery to take three days and sometimes longer in severe cases. (FDA)
Death from staphylococcal food poisoning is very rare, although such cases have occurred among the elderly, infants, and severely debilitated persons. (FDA)
FDA RECALL NOTICE
Below is the full text of the FDA newswire. (Canada citizens should read CFIA's release.) The release mentions specific states and products. However, not all baked goods sold by Whole Foods carry barcodes. Also, food recalls frequently are expanded after the initial notice to include other products and locations. The safest tactic for consumers is to assume possible contamination of products resembling those identified in the recall notice.
SILVER SPRING, Md., Dec. 24, 2010 PRNewswire-USNewswire --
Fast Facts
Rolf's Patisserie, a gourmet European style bakery located in Lincolnwood, Ill., is recalling all desserts made after Nov. 1, 2010. The products include tiramisu, cakes, cobblers, decorated cookies, tarts, pastries, and pies.
The desserts have been connected to several outbreaks of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) food poisoning.
Because Rolf's Patisserie sells the desserts in both retail and wholesale markets, as well as online and to institutions, the products may not carry a Rolf's Patisserie label.
A food item contaminated with S. aureus, the bacterium responsible for producing toxins in foods, can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea. The illness usually lasts for one to two days, although severe cases may last as long as three days. However, certain individuals, such as the elderly or very young, may require medical treatment for dehydration.
Consumers should not eat the desserts and should dispose of them in a sealed container so that people and animals (including wild animals) cannot get access to and eat them.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/... )
What is the Problem?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to eat desserts from Rolf's Patisserie of Lincolnwood, Ill., because they have been linked to several outbreaks of S. aureus food poisoning.
The desserts are available through retail, wholesale and internet sales, and may not be labeled as coming from Rolf's Patisserie. Resellers include grocery stores. Rolf's Patisseries also distributes the products through a catering service and to institutions such as nursing homes.
A total of 100 cases of illness have been reported from four separate events in November and December. Three of the events occurred in Illinois and resulted in 30 illnesses. Seventy illnesses have been reported from a single event in Wisconsin.
What are the Symptoms of Illness/Injury?
A food item contaminated with S. aureus, the bacterium responsible for producing toxins in foods, can cause gastrointestinal illness that usually begins 1-6 hours after eating contaminated food. The most common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. In more severe cases, headache, muscle cramping, and temporary changes in blood pressure and pulse rate may occur. The illness is usually mild and most patients recover after one to three days. In a small minority of patients the illness may be more severe. In these cases, some people, especially the very young and old, may require medical treatment for dehydration from vomiting and/or diarrhea.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) web page on Staphylococcal food poisoning: http://www.cdc.gov/...
What Do Consumers and Product Sellers Need To Do?
Consumers should not eat the desserts. Consumers and product sellers should dispose of them in a sealed container so that people and animals (including wild animals) cannot get access to and eat them.
To report problems, including adverse reactions, related to any food except meat and poultry, contact the FDA district office consumer complaint coordinator for your geographic area (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/ReportaProblem/ConsumerComplaintCoordinators/default.htm).
What Does the Product Look Like?
Because the desserts are sold through wholesale and catering services, as well as Rolf's Patisserie's retail bakery, they may not be labeled with the Rolf's Patisserie name. Rolf's products include cakes, cobblers, decorated cookies, tarts, pastries, and pies.
Where is it Distributed?
Rolf's Patisserie desserts are sold online and through retailers and wholesalers, as well as through the bakery's catering service. The FDA is working with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to obtain a distribution list, but individuals or businesses may have already purchased goods for the holidays, so it is important to ask where the dessert is from and to not eat desserts from Rolf's made after Nov. 1, 2010.
What is Being Done about the Problem?
Rolf's Patisserie is contacting retailers and restaurants to remove and discard these products from their shelves. The FDA is working with the CDC and the State of Illinois and Cook County departments of public health to investigate the situation. Rolf's Patisserie has ceased production and distribution.
The information in this press release reflects the FDA's best efforts to communicate what it has learned from the manufacturer and the state and local public health agencies involved in the investigation. The agency will update this page as more information becomes available.
For more information:
Foodsafety.gov S. aureus page: http://www.foodsafety.gov/...
IDPH Press Release: http://www.idph.state.il.us/...
Media Inquiries: Siobhan DeLancey, 301-796-4668, siobhan.delancey@fda.hhs.gov
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
UPDATE
WHOLE FOODS PRESS RELEASE
(As posted on FDA website.)
Whole Foods Market Announces A Recall Of Products Which Were Produced By Rolf’s Patisserie In Seven States In The Midwest Because Of A Possible Health Risk
Contact:
Whole Foods Market
512-542-0878
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 24, 2010 - Whole Foods Market announces that it is recalling items sold in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin that came from its supplier Rolf’s Patisserie of Lincolnwood, Illinois. The recalled items have been used as an ingredient in prepared food and bakery department products or repackaged and sold under the Whole Foods Market Label. Rolf’s Patisserie has recalled all items that were made after Nov. 1, 2010.
Products produced by Rolf’s Patisserie have been connected to several outbreaks of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) food poisoning. To date no illnesses have been reported from consumers eating products sold by Whole Foods Market.
A food item contaminated with S. aureus, the bacterium responsible for producing toxins in foods, can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea. The illness usually lasts for one to two days, although severe cases may last as long as three days. However, certain individuals, such as the elderly or very young, may require medical treatment for dehydration. Consumers should not eat the gingerbread houses and should dispose of them in a sealed container so that people and animals (including wild animals) cannot get access to and eat them.
All of the following Whole Food Market (WFM) Products are included in this recall:
Items sold in Bakery
UPC/PLU Description
Item
Size
Unit of
Measure
23629500000 WFM LEMON MERINGUE PIE 9 1133 GRAMS
23184200000 WFM MINI CARAMEL TART 1OZ 1 OUNCES
23615900000 WFM MINI CHOC FRESH FRUIT TART 1 OUNCES
23173400000W 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
23185400000 WFM MINI LEMON TART 1OZ 1 OUNCES
23619600000 WFM MINI MERINGUE TART 1 OUNCES
23651200000 WFM MINI ROCKY ROAD 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 22 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 Item Description 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 12 OUNCES
23789400000 SPINACH MUSH QUICHE SLICE BY POUND
23807900000 MUSHROOM QUICHE SLICE BY POUND
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
Signage is posted in Whole Foods Market stores to notify customers of this recall.
Customers who have purchased any of the listed products from Whole Foods Market may return them to the store for a full refund.
Consumers with questions may contact Whole Foods Market at 512-542-0878 weekdays between 8:00am and 5:00pm central standard time.
Comment: The Whole Foods press release is curiously vague regarding the source of the contamination. The release says Whole Foods is recalling "items" that came from Rolf's that were "used as an ingredient in prepared food and bakery department products." If they know the products contain these ingredients, why not identify the ingredients?
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