Chinese Honey Contaminated

HEALTH HAZARD ALERT: CERTAIN FOOD PRODUCTS MAY CONTAIN CHLORAMPHENICOL

OTTAWA, April 19, 2002 – The public warning issued on April 18, 2002 has been expanded to include additional product information. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning consumers not to consume certain food products (see attached table) which may contain Chloramphenicol. These products have been manufactured using honey imported from China found to contain Chloramphenicol.

The affected products are sold without labels or with labels under various brand names as listed in the attached table. Consumers who have purchased unlabeled products should verify with their retailer whether they are affected by this alert.

These products are being voluntarily recalled from the marketplace by the manufacturers.

Chloramphenicol is a drug which is not permitted for use in Canada (or the U.S.) in food producing animals, including bees. Consumption of chloramphenicol contaminated products may pose a human health risk related to the inherent toxicity of the drug. The CFIA is continuing to monitor all imports of Chinese honey.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

As the CFIA investigation continues, the attached list of products will be updated as necessary. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recalls.

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

In the province of Quebec 1-800-561-3350; or
In other provinces and territories 1-800-442-2342.

For information on receiving recalls by electronic mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.

CERTAIN FOOD PRODUCTS MAY CONTAIN CHLORAMPHENICOL
APRIL 19, 2002

Brand / Product Size UPC Codes Distribution

• “Au goût du jour”, English Muffins Honey Butter, 6 pack 340 g 059608 184278 Best Before dates up to and including 25 AL 02 Quebec
• “Au goût du jour”, English Muffins 100% Whole Wheat, 6 pack * 340 g 059608 184292 Best Before dates up to and including 25 AL 02 Quebec
• “L’Authentique”, English Muffins 100% Whole Wheat * 340 g 059608 911614 0802 to 1072 found on the right side of the bag closure Quebec
• Merit Selection, English Muffins Honey Butter 340 g 059749 340656 0802 to 1072 found on the right side of the bag closure Quebec, Ontario
• Merit Selection, English Muffins Whole Wheat * 340 g 059749 340731 0802 to 1072 found on the right side of the bag closure Quebec, Ontario
• Super C, English Muffins 100% Whole Wheat 340 g 062609 103490 codes up to and including AL 27 Quebec
• POM New York New York, 100% Whole Wheat English Muffins, Sliced 340 g 061077 778315 codes up to and including AL 27 Quebec
• Betty, 100% Whole Wheat English Muffins * 340 g 059243 001824 AL01 to AL27 found on the right side of the bag closure Quebec, Ontario
• Country Goodness, Multigrain, 6 Bagels * 510 g 059608 019907 0802 to 1072 found on the right side of the bag closure Ontario
• Country Goodness, Whole Wheat ‘n Honey, 6 Bagels 510 g 059608 019808 0802 to 1072 found on the right side of the bag closure Ontario
• Tim Hortons, Multigrain Bagels — – purchased between March 21 to April 18 Quebec, Ontario and Atlantic Provinces
• Tim Hortons, Muesli and Fruit Bagels — – purchased between March 25 to April 18 Quebec, Ontario and Atlantic Provinces
• Tim Hortons, Whole Wheat ‘n Honey Bagels — – purchased between March 21 to April 18 Quebec, Ontario and Atlantic Provinces
• 100% Whole Wheat & Honey Bagels (by Fiera Foods Company, North York, Ontario) — – purchased between April 14 and 18 Sold through bulk sales at retailers in Ontario
• Carrot Nut Muffins (by Amore Sweets Corporation, Toronto, Ontario) — – purchased between March 14 and April 18 Sold in various food establishments such as cafeterias, coffee shops, delis, and restaurants in Ontario
• Raisin Bran Muffins (by Amore Sweets Corporation, Toronto, Ontario) — – purchased between March 14 and April 18 Sold in various food establishments such as cafeterias, coffee shops, delis, and restaurants in Ontario
• Honey Bran Muffins (by Amore Sweets Corporation, Toronto, Ontario) — – purchased between March 14 and April 18 Sold in various food establishments such as cafeterias, coffee shops, delis, and restaurants in Ontario
• LF Blueberry Muffins (by Amore Sweets Corporation, Toronto, Ontario) — – purchased between March 14 and April 18 Sold in various food establishments such as cafeterias, coffee shops, delis, and restaurants in Ontario
• LF Cranapple Muffins (by Amore Sweets Corporation, Toronto, Ontario) — – purchased between March 14 and April 18 Sold in various food establishments such as cafeterias, coffee shops, delis, and restaurants in Ontario
• LF Carrot Muffins (by Amore Sweets Corporation, Toronto, Ontario) — – purchased between March 14 and April 18 Sold in various food establishments such as cafeterias, coffee shops, delis, and restaurants in Ontario
• LF Triple Berry Muffins (by Amore Sweets Corporation, Toronto, Ontario) –
  – purchased between March 14 and April 18 Sold in various food establishments such as cafeterias, coffee shops, delis, and restaurants in Ontario
• LF Lemon Crunch Muffins (by Amore Sweets Corporation, Toronto, Ontario) — purchased between March 14 and April 18 Sold in various food establishments such as cafeterias, coffee shops, delis, and restaurants in Ontario
• Apple Spice Muffins (by Amore Sweets Corporation, Toronto, Ontario) — – purchased between March 14 and April 18 Sold in various food establishments such as cafeterias, coffee shops, delis, and restaurants in Ontario
• Oatmeal Chunk Cookies (by Amore Sweets Corporation, Toronto, Ontario) — – purchased between March 14 and April 18 Sold in various food establishments such as cafeterias, coffee shops, delis, and restaurants in Ontario
• Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (by Amore Sweets Corporation, Toronto, Ontario) — – purchased between March 14 and April 18 Sold in various food establishments such as cafeterias, coffee shops, delis, and restaurants in Ontario
• Plain Bagels (by Amore Sweets Corporation, Toronto, Ontario) — – purchased between March 14 and April 18 Sold in various food establishments such as cafeterias, coffee shops, delis, and restaurants in Ontario
• Seeded Bagels (by Amore Sweets Corporation, Toronto, Ontario) — – purchased between March 14 and April 18 Sold in various food establishments such as cafeterias, coffee shops, delis, and restaurants in Ontario
• Muesli Bagels (by Amore Sweets Corporation, Toronto, Ontario) — – purchased between March 14 and April 18 Sold in various food establishments such as cafeterias, coffee shops, delis, and restaurants in Ontario
• Apple Cinnamon Bagels (by Amore Sweets Corporation, Toronto, Ontario) — – purchased between March 14 and April 18 Sold in various food establishments such as cafeterias, coffee shops, delis, and restaurants in Ontario
• Garden Cheddar Bagels (by Amore Sweets Corporation, Toronto, Ontario) — – purchased between March 14 and April 18 Sold in various food establishments such as cafeterias, coffee shops, delis, and restaurants in Ontario

* These products do not mention honey in the list of ingredients.

APRIL 18, 2002

Brand / Product Size UPC Codes Distribution

• Hollandia Speculaas Cookies 325 g 060465 201060 C2219, C2226 C2231, C1238 Ontario and Nova Scotia
• Hollandia Speculaas Cookies 2/$3.00 325 g 060465 201060 C2219, C2226 C2231, C1238 Ontario and Nova Scotia
• Hollandia Speculaas Cookies 5 lbs N/A Best Before Aug 19, 2002 Aug 26, 2002 Ontario
• Hollandia Speculaas Cookies 9 lbs N/A Best Before Aug 07, 2002 Aug 19. 2002 Ontario
• Oakrun Honey Butter English Muffins, 6 pack 340 g 059608 001100 All Codes Ontario
• Oakrun 100% Whole Wheat English Muffins, 6 pack 340 g 059608 001605 All Codes Ontario
• Honey Butter English Muffins, 6 pack (plain bag by Oakrun Farm Bakery Ltd.) 340 g 059608 001117 All Codes Ontario
• 100% Whole Wheat English Muffins, 6 pack (plain bag by Oakrun Farm Bakery Ltd.) 340 g 059608 001612 All Codes Ontario

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Kim Flottum
Editor, Bee Culture Magazine

http://www.airoot.com/beeculture/index.htm

As one who makes his living by writing about allergies and asthma I am often asked about the potential health benefits of using local honey.

Honey contains bits and pieces of pollen and honey, and as an immune system booster, it is quite powerful. I have often in talks and articles, and in my books, advocated using local honey. Frequently I’ll get emails from readers who want to know exactly what I mean by local honey, and how “local” should it be. This is what I usually advise:

Allergies arise from continuous over-exposure to the same allergens. If, for example, you live in an area where there is a great deal of red clover growing, and if in addition you often feed red clover hay to your own horses or cattle, then it likely you are exposed over and over to pollen from this same red clover. Now, red clover pollen is not especially allergenic but still, with time, a serious allergy to it can easily arise.

Another example: if you lived in a southern area where bottlebrush trees were frequently used in the landscapes or perhaps you had a bottlebrush tree growing in your own yard, your odds of over-exposure to this tree’s tiny, triangular, and potently very allergenic pollen is greatly enhanced.

In the two examples used above, both species of plants are what we call amphipilous, meaning they are pollinated by both insects and by the wind. Honeybees will collect pollen from each of these species and it will be present in small amounts in honey that was gathered by bees that were working areas where these species are growing. When people living in these same areas eat honey that was produced in that environment, the honey will often act as an immune booster. The good effects of this local honey are best when the honey is taken a little bit (a couple of teaspoons-full) a day for several months prior to the pollen season.

When I’m asked how local should the honey be for allergy prevention I always advise to get honey that was raised closest to where you live, the closer the better since it will have more of exactly what you’ll need.

It may seem odd that straight exposure to pollen often triggers allergies but that exposure to pollen in the honey usually has the opposite effect. But this is typically what we see. In honey the allergens are delivered in small, manageable doses and the effect over time is very much like that from undergoing a whole series of allergy immunology injections. The major difference though is that the honey is a lot easier to take and it is certainly a lot less expensive. I am always surprised that this powerful health benefit of local honey is not more widely understood, as it is simple, easy, and often surprisingly effective.

Pharmaceutical companies have huge budgets and can fund studies, but with honey this scientific research doesn’t seem to get funded… thus most evidence we have is what we see, anecdotal evidence. That however can be, and often is important; sometimes, often actually, such evidence proves very useful. Let me give you one such anecdotal example of the powers of local honey. I was asked to look over the yard of a family that had just moved to this area (Central coastal California) to see if I could figure out what was triggering the allergies of their five-year-old son. The boy was experiencing classical allergic responses, runny nose, itchy eyes, persistent cough. This family had only recently moved to California, from the Midwest, so a pollen allergy was surprising, as they generally take a number of years of exposure to develop.

The boy had started having these symptoms a few months after moving here. At his house I didn’t find the usual allergy culprits of the landscape, male cloned trees or shrubs, but I did note that next to the house was a row of towering blue gum eucalyptus trees. I knew the eucalyptus trees were shedding plenty of pollen, as you could see it on the windows of the cars parked underneath them. I checked some of this pollen with a microscope and it was indeed from these blue gum trees. Eucalyptus pollen is fairly large in size and is triangular in shape, making it easy to ID. I suggested that at the local farmers market they could buy some eucalyptus honey and recommended that the boy be given several spoonfuls of this every day.

The family did as I advised and the boy ate the strongly flavored eucalyptus honey every day for four months. By the end of the first month the allergic symptoms were starting to ease up. By the end of the second month all his symptoms had disappeared. Some ten years then passed and while in high school this same boy again started having allergic symptoms. I visited the high school at the request of his folks and found that they had a multitude of huge eucalyptus trees growing there. I again advised the local honey and once again, it seemed to do the trick.

Now, let me be clear here, I am not suggesting that local honey will replace allergists. But what I am saying is that since visits to allergists are expensive and the series of immunology shots, although generally very effective, are costly, it makes perfect sense to give the local honey a try first. Many times, as many others and I have seen firsthand, the local honey will take care of the problem, quickly, safely, and inexpensively.

Thomas Leo Ogren