MORE WHOLE FOODS RECALLS

Often in our food system, one recall leads to another. As I have said before - If you want to really avoid contaminated foods, don't just avoid the food product that is being recalled. Instead, draw a wide circle around the product for a few weeks, and avoid these as well, to see what else turns up. It could be the same food item under a different label, an expansion of an existing recall by the distributor, producer or retailer or recall of foods that have been made with the recalled item.

So let's turn to Whole Foods Market. About a week ago it recalled whole-catch smoked Alaskan Salmon in Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island and Utah. Some three days later, it expanded that recall to include an additional lot number and six more states.

Then it recalled various Circle Sea Salmon Lox Trim sold in Oregon and Washington state stores. Wonderful-sounding ones such as Gravlox Cream Cheese Spread, Bagel Half with Lox Cream Cheese w/Capers and Whole Bagel with Lox Cream Cheese with Capers.

All this in the space of a week. Three recalls.

Will there be more recalls of potentially Listeria contaminated foods by this health-conscious store? I wouldn't be surprised.

To your good health,

TSF

RECENT RECALLS BY WHOLE FOODS MARKET

Whole Foods Market prides itself on its healthy food products and concern about its customers' health and wellbeing. Wonderful. But then, why doesn't it post ongoing product recalls on its website? Store notices are not enough.

I spent about 10 minutes looking for the current ones. All I found when I searched was recalls back in 2009 and earlier. Ancient history. That doesn't do me - or, all my friends who shop at Whole Foods Market - any good.

Here are four ongoing recalls I think it should publicize:

Cookie Recall: Whole Foods Market recall of 3oz peanut butter cookies and 3oz peanut butter chocolate chunk cookies sold in its self-serve pastry case, and mini peanut butter cookies sold in 12-pack paper bags. This is due to possible Salmonella contamination in the peanut butter used as an ingredient (from Sunland, Inc.).

Cheeses Recalled: Ricotta Salata, including "Mitica Ricotta Salada,” (that came from Forever Cheese Inc.) and sold in 21 states and Washington, D.C.. The cheese is being recalled because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. In WFM stores in two states another cheese has been found to have the same bacteria in it. Whole Foods Market just announced that it is also recalling “Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese KY BL” sold in its Louisville, KY store and “Blue Kentucky Rose Kenny’s” cheese sold in its Nashville, TN store. These cheeses came from Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese of Austin, Kentucky (also now recalling its products).

Prepared Food Recall: Chicken Spring Rolls and Peanut Sesame Noodles, sold in its prepared food department in the grab and go section and at the full service chef’s case (in Houston, Texas). They are being recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Soup Recall: Recall of the Whole Foods Market Kitchens soup, labeled as Roasted Garlic and Eggplant Soup. It is being recalled because the soup is actually Lobster Bisque. The soup was sold in 24oz containers from Whole Foods Market stores in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, between September 29 and October 2, 2012. This mislabelling poses the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if consumed by customers with a shellfish or milk allergy.



To your good health,
TSF