FDA issues warnings to olive importers

FDA issues warnings to olive importers The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Miami office has issued a warning to olive importers about dangerously tainted olives produced by an Italian manufacturer and distributed under several brand names in the United States.
   Ted Ogdahl, director of import operations for the FDA in Miami, has issued a notice to the trade that is part of a wider warning the FDA has issued nationally.
   Olives from Charlie Brown di Rutigaliano & Figli of Bari, Italy, are being recalled by the manufacturer after the discovery that some olives may be contaminated with the potentially deadly bacterium clostridium botulinim, which can botulism.
   Warnings have also been issued to retailers and consumers, but the notice also said: 'importers of these olives should discontinue distribution, isolate held stocks and notify customers to take similar actions to prevent the product from reaching consumers. Importers should contact their local FDA office for assistance in implementing the recall.'
   The olives are sold under the brand names Borrelli, Bonta di Puglia, Cento, Corrado’s, Dal Raccolto, Flora, Roland and Vantia, and have codes that start with the letter “G” and are followed by three or four digits. All sizes of cans, glass jars and pouches of Cerignola, Nocerella and Castelvetrano type olives are affected, according to the FDA notice.