It was Splendid that on Aug. 29 recalled five lots of Mexican mangoes carrying the Daniella-brand sticker with PLU numbers 3114, 4051, 4311, 4584, and 4959.
Those doing the recalls downstream usually make the claim that their mango shipment is not responsible for any illnesses. Maybe, but 105 people in 16 states and another 21 in Canada are infected with Salmonella Braenderup in an outbreak likely associated with mangoes.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) had the jump on the outbreak, which is said was likely connected to Mexican mangoes that it said carried the Daniella brand as early as Aug. 24. Three days later, U.S. retailers began recalling the Mexican mangoes with the Daniella brand, usually for PLU 4959.
Also by Aug. 27, health officials in California and Washington State confirmed they had S. Braenderup illnesses associated with the outbreak strain. On Aug, 29, the day Splendid recalled the Daniella brand mangoes, Mexico's National Service of Health, Food Safety, and Quality (SENASICA) said there was not enough evidence to determine to source of the contamination for the S. Braenderup outbreak in the U.S. and Canada.
SENASICA said a Mexican federal government working group was in communication with both the U.S. and Canada. However, for FDA and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, the only issue seems to be pinpointing the types of mangoes causing the outbreak.
Yet, mango growers are waiting on what can be proved. No authoritative regulatory agency--meaning FDA, CDC, CFIA or SENASICA--'has confirmed what is the source of the food-borne contamination," said William Watson, executive director of the National Mango Board in Orlando.
According to the Mango Crop Report, updated weekly, Mexico's mango season began in February and runs through September, producing 54.4 million boxes. Consumers looking to avoid Mexican mangoes entirely may want to consider those from Haiti and Brazil.
Projections are for Brazil to produce 437,976 boxes in each of the next two weeks. No information is available on Haiti.
Meanwhile, the downstream recalls continue.
From Pacific Coast Fruit Co.
The Portland-based Pacific Coast Fruit Co. has recalled multiple types of fresh cut processed items based on the potential contamination of Salmonella Braenderup.
Pacific Coast Fruit said it used mangoes recalled by Splendid Products LLC with the Daniella brand in some fresh cut processed fruit products for distribution to various Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska grocery retailers.
The recalled deli styled items are packed in six and eight pound salads bags. They are called VA Kit New Gourmet Fruit Salad and Mango and Cucumber Salad.
From Real Foods & Charlie's of Anchorage
Seattle's Triple B Corporation, which does business as Real Foods and Charlie's Anchorage, recalled 1336 cases of products containing mangoes marked by the Daniella brand.
The products on this long list were used in retail stores and delis in Washington state and Alaska. Shelf life of the product is 5-7 days. The Real Foods used by date range is 7/12/2010 to 8/29/2012.
From Taylor Farms New Jersey
Taylor Farms New Jersey recalled products containing Daniella brand mangoes that were distributed to Wawa retail stores in New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania.
It said Daniella Brand mangoes were identified by the CFIA as having the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella Braenderup, and are subject to a prior recall posted by CFIA and FDA. All products are packaged in rigid plastic trays and can be identified by the information on this list.
