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Recalls Still coming in, Part 2

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CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-036-2008 HEALTH RISK: HIGH

Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Amanda Eamich

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2008 - Astro Meats & Seafood, Inc., a Miami, Fl., establishment, is recalling approximately 4,200 pounds of frozen beef trim that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The following product is subject to recall: [View Label]
60-pound bulk boxes of "BM-95 BONELESS BEEF." Each shipping container bears the establishment number "Nicaragua 4" inside the Nicaraguan mark of inspection. The shipping label bears the item number "00003," and pack date of "8-19-08."

The frozen beef trim products were produced on Aug. 19, 2008, and were exported to the United States and then sent to distributors and establishments in Indiana and Wisconsin. These products were sent to establishments for further processing and will likely not bear the establishment number "Nicaragua 4" on products available for direct consumer purchase.

The problem was discovered through FSIS microbiological sampling of imported product from a foreign establishment that was then sent to multiple importers of record in the United States. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.
PREPARING GROUND BEEF FOR SAFE CONSUMPTION

USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
1-888-MPHOTLINE or visit
www.fsis.usda.gov

Wash hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat and poultry. Also wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot soapy water. Immediately clean spills.

Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry and egg products and cooked foods.

Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry and egg products and cooked foods.

Consumers should only eat ground beef or ground beef patties that have been cooked to a safe internal temperature of 160º F.

Color is NOT a reliable indicator that ground beef or ground beef patties have been cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria such as E. coli O157:H7.

The only way to be sure ground beef is cooked to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria is to use a thermometer to measure the internal temperature.

Refrigerate raw meat and poultry within two hours after purchase or one hour if temperatures exceed 90º F. Refrigerate cooked meat and poultry within two hours after cooking.
 
Ingham County lawsuit follows outbreak that sickened 36 in Michigan.
MSU student sues Detroit lettuce supplier in E. coli case

A Michigan State University student on Thursday filed a lawsuit against a Detroit produce supplier for a recent lettuce-borne E. coli bacteria outbreak that sickened more than 40 people in five states, including 36 in Michigan. "It's an accident, so I'm not mad, but I'm annoyed I got sick. It just shouldn't happen," said Samantha Steffen, 19, a premed student from Lake Villa, Ill.

Steffen's lawsuit was filed in Ingham County Circuit Court against Aunt Mid's Produce Co., a supplier of cut and chopped iceberg lettuce to restaurants and institutional food preparers. Shipments from Aunt Mid's have been identified as the source of some of the illness in the outbreak caused by E. coli strain O157:H7.
Thursday, the Michigan Department of Agriculture said California is the source of the tainted iceberg lettuce suspected to have sickened 36 in Michigan.

"Illness dates, ship dates and delivery dates narrow the origin to California," said Jennifer Holton, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Agriculture. The California Department of Public Health is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the state of Michigan, said Ken August, a spokesman with the California agency. He said the source of the contamination was still unknown.

Steffen got sick after eating salad at a university cafeteria early last month. "I missed class and I haven't been allowed to go back to my job in food service because I still get nauseated," Steffens said. "The hospital bills are pretty expensive, $1,600 so far, and I still don't feel good." Aunt Mid's halted shipments in early September. Two more cases of 0157:H7 infections were reported to state officials Thursday.

"Aunt Mid's remains the only source linked to some of the cases. The cause of others remains unidentified so far," said Michigan Department of Community Health spokesman James McCurtis. Representatives of Aunt Mid's couldn't be reached for comment.
 
E. coli in Michigan lettuce traced to California
By Marie Vasari

Monterey Herald

Article Launched: 10/10/2008 07:56:36 AM PDT


Source of Article: http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_10687830

An E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in tainted iceberg lettuce that sickened 36 people in Michigan last month has been traced back to California growers.

Michigan agriculture officials had previously named the supplier of the lettuce as Aunt Mid's Produce of Detroit but had not identified where the lettuce was grown.

The outbreak, involving bagged, industrial-sized packages of iceberg lettuce sold through wholesale venues to restaurants and institutions, sickened students at Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, and inmates at Lenawee County Jail before spreading to metro Detroit.

The Detroit Free Press reported late Thursday that Michigan agriculture officials had confirmed the state of origin, although a region wasn't specified.

Several questions remain to be answered, including in which part of California the lettuce originated.

Bob Perkins, executive director of the Monterey County Farm Bureau, said September is peak season for Salinas Valley lettuce growers.

"That's when our growers are very busy," said Perkins. "If it's California bagged lettuce, there's a real probability that it will be tied to our area, or to somebody that we know."

Even if it turns out that the lettuce was grown outside the Salinas Valley, he expects the implications could weigh heavily on a leafy green industry still reeling from the 2006 E. coli outbreak in spinach that sickened more than 200 and left three people dead.

Consumers from California may be familiar enough with the state's geography to differentiate the San Joaquin Valley or Imperial Valley from Salinas Valley, but Perkins thinks that's not likely the case for someone living outside the state.

"For anybody outside of California," he said, "what they're going to remember is California."

As of late Thursday, the news that California had been identified hadn't yet traveled through the local industry.

Perkins said the other big question will be whether health officials will be able to suggest a possible cause for how the bacteria was introduced.

"Everybody's going to want to know as much as possible about the potential causes, because everybody is doing pretty much everything they can to prevent outbreaks," he said.

For consumers reading about food safety outbreaks, he suspects it's hard to know what choices to make. And confusion doesn't help the industry sell its product, he said.

"Just talking about California certainly affects consumer confidence," he said.

Likewise, Dennis Donohue, president of the Grower-Shipper Association of the Central Coast, said the determination that California is the source of the lettuce is only one part of a complete picture.

"How was the product handled by the processor? How was the product handled by the product's consumers? How was it consumed?" he said.

As a founding member of the California Leafy Greens Handler Marketing Agreement, Donohue said he was proud of the efforts grower-shippers have made to ensure food safety.

"Obviously we would hope that the source would not be identified with that membership," he said. "But no one has ever said it would be a zero-incident world."

But wherever in California the lettuce turns out to have been grown, Donohue said, it will have some impact on consumer trust.

"Consumers, in terms of confidence levels, they tend not to split hairs. So the strongest link is affected by the weakest link," said Donohue. "This is an issue that has affected our industry, if nothing else, in costs and practices, and we're going to have to be eternally vigilant."

Aunt Mid's Produce of Detroit was identified as one of the Michigan suppliers. The company immediately stopped its lettuce distribution, said Chief Executive Officer Philip Riggio, and had its supply and processing facilities tested by outside experts. The tests found no evidence of contamination.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture also tested Aunt Mid's lettuce, with no findings of E. coli, said Jennifer Holton, MDA spokeswoman.

Holton said Aunt Mid's will be able to resume operations soon and the investigation is ongoing in cooperation with California food and safety officials.

The Detroit Free Press contributed to this report.
 
Vermont Recall Part of Dangerous Trend


Last update: 1:44 p.m. EDT Oct. 17, 2008

FERRISBURGH, Vermont, Oct 17, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The E. coli illnesses of ten Vermont residents have been traced to tainted beef from the Vermont Livestock, Slaughter, and Processing Company in Ferrisburgh. The USDA has recalled 2,758 pounds of ground beef from the company, and has put out warnings for consumers.
"In the last year and a half, the American meat industry has been in a spiral of recalls," said food safety advocate and attorney William Marler. "More than 40 million pounds of meat tainted with E. coli O157:H7 has been publicly recalled, up by a factor of two hundred from the 2006 amount of 181,900 pounds. This is a very dangerous and completely unacceptable level of contaminated beef making its way to consumers."


In more than thirty recalls ranging from a few hundred to millions of pounds, the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) has deemed E. coli contaminated meat a class one health hazard to consumers. (A class I recall involves a health hazard situation in which there is a reasonable probability that eating the food will cause health problems or death.)
"There are many theories as to why there has been such an unprecedented jump in E. coli," said Marler. "It could be regulatory complacency, better reporting, or immigration sweeps that have left slaughterhouses empty of skilled workers. Global warming may be spreading fecal dust and/or high oil prices may have led to an E. coli-producing diet for cattle. The microbe itself may even be evolving to elude capture. These ideas need investigation and research, so that real change can begin."

The 2,758 pounds of ground beef subject to the Vermont recall was shipped in 5-pound packages labeled VT BURGER CO GROUND BEEF. They carry the number EST 9558 inside the USDA mark of inspection and a lot code of 090508A, 090808A, 091208A, 091908A or 092208A. The products were shipped two packages per box and were produced on Sept. 5, 8, 12, 19, and 22. The problem was discovered through a joint investigation with the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the state Health Department.
 
Lettuce likely E. coli culprit: Ont. health officials
Mike Barber, Canwest News Service
Published: Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Health officials in Ontario's Halton and Niagara regions said Tuesday that the most likely source of an E. coli outbreak that has made more than 130 people sick throughout the province was lettuce.

Dr. Monir Taha, the associate medical officer for the Halton public health department, said while he couldn't confirm a single product as a source, lettuce was the most common food named in interviews with those reporting symptoms of the food-borne illness.

In cases where those ill did not remember eating lettuce, cross-contamination with other raw produce seemed likely, he said.


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Font:****The strain of E. coli O157 found in some of the Halton cases has also been linked to instances in the Niagara region, Guelph and Kitchener, suggesting a common food source throughout southern Ontario.

Romaine lettuce appears to have been the cause in Niagara as well, said Dr. Doug Sider, the region's associate medical officer.

"All of our data point toward it being (the common food source)," he said. Sider said they had narrowed the days of contamination to between Oct. 16 and 19.

The particular strain of E. coli 0157 found in cases in all four regions is rare in Canada, but has been linked to five cases from New Jersey, South Dakota, and California from the last year.

Taha said the Public Health Agency of Canada has been in contact with American authorities at the Centers for Disease Control to determine whether or not there were further commonalities among the outbreaks.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is currently looking for a distributor or farm where the outbreak could have originated.

The southern Ontario outbreak includes 72 cases of the illness being investigated by the Halton health department, all of which originate from Johnathan's Family Restaurant. Only five of these have been confirmed to be E. coli infections. That restaurant was closed on Oct. 30 and reopened Monday.

The 56 cases in the Niagara region, 14 of which are confirmed, were linked to two area restaurants, M.T. Bellies in Welland and the Little Red Rooster in Niagara-on-the-Lake, both of which reopened earlier this month after having been closed for two weeks to let inspectors investigate their kitchens.

Another five confirmed cases have been linked to a restaurant at the University of Guelph, said Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health.

All lettuce products have been removed from the school as a precaution.

Finally, two students at St. Mary's High School in Kitchener were also infected, prompting the school to close the cafeteria. One of the two youths remains in hospital while the other has recovered, a school board spokesman said.

E. coli-contaminated lettuce has caused at least two widespread outbreaks in the U.S. in the last two years. Infected lettuce and spinach served at Taco Bell and Taco John's in 2006 made 276 people ill and killed three.

The lettuce was traced back to farms in California where the water supply had been contaminated by cow or deer feces.

A smaller outbreak in Michigan in September and October involving iceberg lettuce made at least 38 ill.

An unrelated outbreak at a Harvey's fast-food restaurant in North Bay, Ont., has led to 251 cases of suspected E. coli infection, 50 of which have been confirmed, said Dr. Catherine Whiting, the region's medical officer.


No source has been determined in that outbreak.
 
The particular strain of E. coli 0157 found in cases in all four regions is rare in Canada, but has been linked to five cases from New Jersey, South Dakota, and California from the last year.
Click to expand...

First off, Canada, doesn't row lettuce at this time of year. California, seems like the first place to investigate.

Stop this free trade, it's killing us Canadians!
 
Limited Recall of LAND O LAKES® Sheep Balancer B136
Specific Lot Number Distributed in southeastern Nebraska and western Iowa
Contact:
Lydia Botham, 651-481-2123
Dave Karpinski, 651-481-2360

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Lincoln, Neb. -- December 4, 2008 -- The Land O'Lakes Purina Feed plant in Lincoln, Neb., has initiated a limited recall of LAND O LAKES® Sheep Balancer B136, packaged in 50-pound bags, due to the potential for a higher than acceptable level of copper. The recall is limited to Sheep Balancer B136 produced at the Lincoln plant on October 8, 2008.

The only product and lot number involved in the recall is:

Formula No.
Item No.
Description
Lot Number

3LN7
1860220
Sheep Balancer B-136
8OCT08LNC1


The lot number is found on the sewing strip of each bag.

The product was distributed only to six dealers in southeastern Nebraska and western Iowa.

The presence of copper in higher than acceptable levels can cause health issues and, at high levels, mortality in sheep.
 
USDA recalls pork amid dioxin fears 16 Dec 2008
The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued three class two alerts for dioxin contamination in imported pork.
In all three cases, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) notified the FSIS of the possible dioxin contamination based on its routine surveillance testing. The FSIS said it has reason to believe that the retail locations listed received the recalled pork products.

In the first recall, Dawn International of Acton, Massachusetts is recalling approximately 33,880 pounds of fresh pork products. The second class two recall involves Tommy Moloney's, Inc, of Long Island City, in New York. The recall involves eight-ounce packages of "Tommy Moloney's Traditional Irish Breakfast Bacon, Made from imported Irish Pork." The third recall involves Rupari Food Services of Deerfield Beach, Florida.
 
USDA To Test Meat And Poultry For Melamine
NewsInferno.com
12-16-8


In the wake of the China melamine scandal, ConsumerAffairs.com is reporting that the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will be testing some meats and poultry products, including, for example, baby food, hot dogs, and chicken nuggets.

The melamine scandal in China has affected foods that include baby formula, cheese, yogurt, milk teas and coffees, biscuits, and eggs and has prompted a variety of international recalls, sickened tens of thousands of children in China, and caused the deaths of at least six infants. The FSIS took its most recent action following concerns that melamine contamination in dairy products has now spread to meat and poultry, said ConsumerAffairs.com. "In light of recent disclosures of melamine being found in certain imported food products, FSIS has determined that it is prudent to do a small amount of sampling to see if there is any reason to be concerned about the presence of this chemical in meat and poultry products," the agency wrote, said ConsumerAffairs.com.

ConsumerAffairs.com also reports that FSIS officials say that federal investigators will, over the next three months, collect and test meat and poultry products, collecting 45 samples weekly from retail stores. Food Product Design reports that testing will occur on domestically produced meat and poultry products quoting the FSIS notice as stating, "sampling will focus on those meat and poultry products that contain milk-derived ingredients such as non-fat dried milk, casein, whey, evaporated milk, and milk powder." The Seattle Times points out that the FSIS, in its testing notice, did not specify any food brand and did not "make any distinction between domestic or imported products." The Seattle Times noted that testing is scheduled to begin in about two weeks.

The FSIS listed the following five types of products to be involved in the testing:

* Baby food that contains a significant amount of meat or poultry products;
* Cooked sausages, which includes hot dogs or frankfurters with and without cheese products;
* Breaded chicken, which includes bite-sized morsels or nuggets with and without cheese products;
* Meatballs; and
* Meat and poultry wrapped in dough and pizza, including calzones.

Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned melamine from human and pet food, the FDA recently stated that melamine levels at less than 2.5 parts per million (ppm) do not pose a health risk in foods, exept for infant formula, said ConsumerAffairs.com. In infant formula, the level at which the FDA stated melamine does not pose a health risk was less than 1.0 ppm, added ConsumerAffairs.com

Melamine is a toxic industrial chemical that, because of its high nitrogen content, can give the false impression in foods of being high in protein. Used in the manufacture of plastics, fire retardants, and fertilizers, melamine has been found in a wide array of foods imported from China and, recently, in animal feed in that country, linking melamine contamination to livestock there.
 
PORKER said:
USDA To Test Meat And Poultry For Melamine
NewsInferno.com
12-16-8


In the wake of the China melamine scandal, ConsumerAffairs.com is reporting that the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will be testing some meats and poultry products, including, for example, baby food, hot dogs, and chicken nuggets.

The melamine scandal in China has affected foods that include baby formula, cheese, yogurt, milk teas and coffees, biscuits, and eggs and has prompted a variety of international recalls, sickened tens of thousands of children in China, and caused the deaths of at least six infants. The FSIS took its most recent action following concerns that melamine contamination in dairy products has now spread to meat and poultry, said ConsumerAffairs.com. "In light of recent disclosures of melamine being found in certain imported food products, FSIS has determined that it is prudent to do a small amount of sampling to see if there is any reason to be concerned about the presence of this chemical in meat and poultry products," the agency wrote, said ConsumerAffairs.com.

ConsumerAffairs.com also reports that FSIS officials say that federal investigators will, over the next three months, collect and test meat and poultry products, collecting 45 samples weekly from retail stores. Food Product Design reports that testing will occur on domestically produced meat and poultry products quoting the FSIS notice as stating, "sampling will focus on those meat and poultry products that contain milk-derived ingredients such as non-fat dried milk, casein, whey, evaporated milk, and milk powder." The Seattle Times points out that the FSIS, in its testing notice, did not specify any food brand and did not "make any distinction between domestic or imported products." The Seattle Times noted that testing is scheduled to begin in about two weeks.

The FSIS listed the following five types of products to be involved in the testing:

* Baby food that contains a significant amount of meat or poultry products;
* Cooked sausages, which includes hot dogs or frankfurters with and without cheese products;
* Breaded chicken, which includes bite-sized morsels or nuggets with and without cheese products;
* Meatballs; and
* Meat and poultry wrapped in dough and pizza, including calzones.

Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned melamine from human and pet food, the FDA recently stated that melamine levels at less than 2.5 parts per million (ppm) do not pose a health risk in foods, exept for infant formula, said ConsumerAffairs.com. In infant formula, the level at which the FDA stated melamine does not pose a health risk was less than 1.0 ppm, added ConsumerAffairs.com

Melamine is a toxic industrial chemical that, because of its high nitrogen content, can give the false impression in foods of being high in protein. Used in the manufacture of plastics, fire retardants, and fertilizers, melamine has been found in a wide array of foods imported from China and, recently, in animal feed in that country, linking melamine contamination to livestock there.
Click to expand...

The FSIS is one of the most politically infiltrated parts of the USDA. They capture the agents who figure out big Ag's corruption and scams in other regulatory agencies of the USDA and then "manage" them.
 
Alfalfa Sprouts Recalled After Tests Turn Up Contamination
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 12/23/2008

A Wisconsin-based sprout grower has notified their customers to remove their alfalfa sprouts and certain sprout mixes from store shelves after routine food safety tests by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture turned up positive for Salmonella, a bacteria that can cause food-borne illness.

Sunrise Farms, Inc. of Neenah is recalling their packaged Alfalfa Sprouts, Spicy Sprouts, Crunchy Sprouts and Onion Sprouts. These sprouts and sprout mixes are sold in four-ounce packages at grocery stores and retailers throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota. The other sprout mixes produced by Sunrise Farms are not part of the recall. At this time, there have been no reports of illness.

Sunrise Farms routinely tests sprouts grown at their facility to ensure that the sprouts are free of Salmonella and E. coli, another food-borne pathogen, in addition to testing by the state agriculture department. The company is working closely and cooperatively with the department's Food Safety Division to determine how these sprouts became contaminated.

Consumers who have Sunrise Farms Alfalfa Sprouts, Spicy Sprouts, Crunchy Sprouts or Onion Sprouts should throw away the package. Credits will be given with a proof of purchase receipt.

Symptoms of salmonellosis, an infection caused by Salmonella include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps that occur 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness lasts four to seven days and most recover without additional treatment. However, in severe cases, medical intervention may be required. The elderly, infants and those with impaired immune systems are most at risk. Contact your physician if you suspect that you may have symptoms.
 
FDA Notifies Consumers that Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak is bad.

400+ sick in 42 states today. Is it meat or produce ?

Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 388 Across US: CDC
Source: Reuters
08/01/2009

Washington, Jan 8 - An outbreak of salmonella food poisoning has made 388 people sick across 42 states, sending 18 percent of them to the hospital, U.S. health officials said on Wednesday.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is trying to trace the source of the outbreak, which began in September. The Department of Agriculture, state health officials and the Food and Drug Administration are also involved.

The CDC said poultry, cheese and eggs are the most common source of this particular strain, known as Salmonella typhimurium.

"It is often difficult to identify sources of foodborne outbreaks. People may not remember the foods they recently ate and may not be aware of all of the ingredients in food. That's what makes these types of investigations very difficult," said CDC spokesman David Daigle.

Daigle did not specify how many people were hospitalized, but the percentage he gave puts that figure at about 70.

"Because foods of animal origin may be contaminated with Salmonella, people should not eat raw or undercooked eggs, poultry, or meat. Persons also should not consume raw or unpasteurized milk or other dairy products. Produce should be thoroughly washed," he said.

Only Ohio state health officials have agreed to have their state named as one of those affected, with an estimated 50 cases.

Every year, approximately 40,000 people are reported ill with salmonella in the United States, the CDC says, but it said many more cases are never reported.

There have been several recent high-profile outbreaks of foodborne illness in the United States, including a strain of Salmonella carried by peppers from Mexico and that sickened 1,400 people from April to August of 2007 and an E. coli epidemic in 2006, traced to California spinach, that killed three.

Salmonella-contaminated dry pet food sickened at least 79 people, including many young children, in October and November.
 
Peanut Butter Eyed as Source of Salmonella Outbreak


By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
Saturday, January 10, 2009; 12:00 AM

SATURDAY, Jan. 10(HealthDay News) -- An Ohio peanut butter distributor issued a voluntary recall Saturday for two brands of peanut butter after health officials in Minnesota on Friday said they had found salmonella bacteria in a tub of peanut butter that is distributed to schools and hospitals.

The recall, and the Minnesota report, could be the breakthrough in the search for the source of a salmonella outbreak that has struck in 42 states so far.

Officials from the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture issued a product warning Friday after preliminary laboratory testing indicated the presence of salmonella in a container of creamy peanut butter from King Nut, according to published reports.

Late Saturday, King Nut Companies of Solon, Ohio, announced it had issued a recall of all peanut butter distributed under its label and manufactured by Peanut Corporation of America, of Lynchburg, Va. The company also recalled its distribution of Parnell's Pride peanut butter, which is also made by Peanut Corporation, according to a prepared statement by King Nut.


"Cases are continuing to occur, and it is an ongoing investigation," Dr. Rajal Mody, a CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service officer, said earlier Friday. "The first people began getting ill in September, but it usually takes several weeks before enough cases have been reported to start noticing a possible outbreak."

Mody said he suspects a food item, possibly produce or a prepared packaged food.

"When you look at the distribution of cases, it does suggest that it could be a mass-distributed food," he said. "This outbreak is on the larger side, but there have been larger outbreaks."

Reports of people sickened have occurred between Sept. 3 and Dec. 29, 2008, with most illnesses starting after Oct. 1. About 18 percent of those who fell ill were hospitalized. Mody said he couldn't estimate when the outbreak might end, or how many people might eventually become infected with the germ.

Salmonella is typically transmitted through foods that are contaminated with animal feces, Mody said. As part of the investigation, federal health officials are interviewing infected people to see if there were common elements in their diet, he said.


Mody said most reported cases of salmonella occur in children. In the current outbreak, victims have ranged in age from less than 1 year to 103, he said.

An estimated 40,000 cases of salmonella infection are reported each year in the United States, but those are only the reported cases, Mody said. "Those are only the cases that are severe enough to have a person go to a doctor. It's been estimated that the actual number of total salmonella cases could be 30 times or more as great," he said.

Mody said there probably have been many unreported cases in the current outbreak. "If someone has mild symptoms, they might not seek health care," he said.

Most people infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps within 12 to 72 hours after contact with the germ. Infections typically clear up in five to seven days, Mody said. "They often don't require any treatment other than making sure you take enough fluids," he said.

But, severe infections can occur, particularly in infants, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. In severe cases, the salmonella infection can spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and other parts of the body, causing death unless antibiotics are administered, according to the CDC.

A salmonella outbreak that began last April eventually sickened almost 1,400 Americans, sending nearly 300 of them to hospitals. The outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul was later traced to jalapeno and serrano peppers imported from Mexico.

More information

To learn more about salmonella, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SOURCE: Rajal Mody, M.D., M.P.H., Epidemic Intelligence Service officer, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; Jan. 10, 2009,statement, King Nut Co., Solon, Ohio; Associated Press


The company, in its statement, said it took the action after salmonella was found in an open five-pound tub of King Nut peanut butter.

King Nut distributes peanut butter through food service accounts and does not sell it directly to consumers, the statement said.

The statement added, "King Nut does not supply any of the ingredients for the peanut butter distributed under its label. All other King Nut products are safe and not included in this voluntary recall."

"We are very sorry this happened," said Martin Kanan, president and chief executive officer of King Nut Companies. "We are taking immediate and voluntary action because the health and safety of those who use our products is always our highest priority."

King Nut customers are asked to take all King Nut peanut butter and Parnell's Pride peanut butter out of distribution immediately.

The recall and the potential link to the multi-state outbreak come two years after ConAgra recalled its Peter Pan brand peanut butter, which had been linked to at least 625 salmonella cases in 47 states.

U.S. health officials had formed a task force this week to seek the source of the latest outbreak, which began last fall and so far has sickened 399 Americans, according to the latest numbers issued Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The strain of salmonella has been identified as Salmonella Typhimurium, the most common of the more than 2,500 types of salmonella bacteria in the United States. It's often found in uncooked eggs and meats, said officials with the CDC, who have been investigating the outbreak for several weeks.

ALL products are produced under carefully maintained food safety controls and inspections and are protected by Good Manufacturing Practices, HACCP (where appropriate), and strict compliance with AIB and applicable industry safety and sanitation standards.

Our Suffolk, Virginia plant can process:

Buff Blanched Peanuts
Marble/Pearl Blanched Peanuts
Split Nut
Peanut Cleaning
Peanut Roasting
Dark Roasting
In Shell Roasting
USDA Compliance for out-of-grade lots
Repacking
Pre-cleaning
Package Transferring

All of the above can be packaged in the following ways:
30# box with liner
30# box without liner
50# Kraft Bags
100# Kraft Bags
2000# boxes
2000# totes

Oil Roasted
Granulated
Dry Roasted
Honey Roasted
World-Class Peanut Butter
Retail and Private Label Nuts
Delicious Flavored Peanuts
Peanut Blanching
 
Steer clear of peanut butter: US authorities
Sat Jan 17, 2009 11:20pm
(Adds FDA statement on retail sales)

By Jim Wolf

WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - U.S. health authorities told consumers on Saturday to avoid eating products that contain peanut butter until they can determine the scope of an outbreak of salmonella food poisoning that may have contributed to six deaths.

"We urge consumers to postpone eating any products that may contain peanut butter until additional information becomes available," Dr. Stephen Sundlof of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety said in a teleconference with reporters.

As of now, there is no indication that "major national name brand jars of peanut butter sold in retail stores are linked" to bulk supplies of peanut butter and peanut paste recalled for fear of possible contamination, the FDA said in a follow-up statement.

The company at the center of the matter, Peanut Corporation of America, or PCA, said it had been informed by health authorities that some samples of its products had tested positive for a salmonella strain that may have originated in a Blakely, Georgia, peanut processing plant.

The peanut butter and peanut paste recalled by PCA was used by many other manufacturers to make such products as cakes, crackers, candies, cookies and ice cream, the FDA said.

"In terms of food products which contain peanut butter, but have not yet been recalled, we urge consumers to postpone eating these products until information becomes available about whether that product may be affected," an e-mailed statement said. "We have been advised by manufacturers that product specific information may be available within the next few days."

The FDA is asking companies to check the records of their supply chain and determine if their ingredients came from PCA, and if so, to take "appropriate precautionary measures."

Here is a complete list of Kellogg's recalled products:

Austin Quality Foods Cheese Crackers with Peanut Butter -- all sizes
Austin Quality Foods Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers -- all sizes
Austin Quality Foods Mega Stuffed Cheese Crackers with Peanut Butter -- all sizes
Austin Quality Foods PB & J Cracker Sandwiches -- all sizes
Austin Quality Foods Super Snack Pack Sandwich Crackers
Austin Quality Foods Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers -- all sizes
Austin Quality Foods Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter -- all sizes
Austin Quality Foods Reduced Fat Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers
Austin Quality Foods Reduced Fat Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers
Austin Quality Foods Cookie/Cracker Pack
Austin Quality Foods Variety Pack
Keebler Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers -- all sizes
Keebler Toast & PB'n J Flavored Sandwich Crackers -- all sizes
Keebler Toast & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers -- all sizes
Famous Amos Peanut Butter Cookies (2- and 3-ounce)
Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies (2.5-ounce)

Also Today, Hy-Vee Inc. recalled peanut butter products made in the chain's bakery departments in seven states -- Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota -- because they contain PCA peanut butter. The products are: Peanut Butter Cookies, Monster Cookies, Peanut Butter Reese's Pieces Cookies, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, Lunchbox Reese's Pieces Cookies, Lunchbox Peanut Butter Cookies, People Chow Party Mix, and Assorted Truffle Fudge. All sell-by dates are included in this recall. The products are sold in various packaging and quantities and have a Hy-Vee price label attached. All items should be destroyed or returned to Hy-Vee for a full refund.
 
Around the Nation

The Peanut Corp. of America plant in Blakely, Ga., may be linked to a nationwide salmonella outbreak. (By Elliott Minor -- Associated Press)


Sunday, January 18, 2009; Page A04

Avoid Peanut Butter Products, Authorities Advise


National health authorities told consumers Saturday to avoid eating products that contain peanut butter until the scope of an outbreak of salmonella food poisoning becomes clearer.

"We urge consumers to postpone eating any products that may contain peanut butter until additional information becomes available," Stephen Sundlof of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety said in a teleconference with reporters.

As of Friday night, 474 people had been reported infected and 5 have died by a salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter by public health authorities in 43 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
 
PetSmart Voluntarily Recalls Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits (January 20)

Peanut recall is huge !


Nature's Path Recalls Peanut Butter Optimum Energy Bars Nationwide Because of Possible Health Risk (January 20)

Country Maid Announces Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Classic Breaks Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Due to Possible Health Risk (January 20)

Evening Rise Bread Co. Recalls Peanut Butter Cookies and Bars Because of Possible Health Risk (January 19)

Clif Bar and Company Announces Voluntary Nationwide Recall of CLIF and LUNA Branded Bars Containing Peanut Butter Due to Possible Health Risk (January 19)

Abbott Nutrition Announces Voluntary Recall of ZonePerfect Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars, ZonePerfect Peanut Toffee Bars and NutriPals Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars in U.S., Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore (January 19)

Kroger Recalls Select Ice Cream Products Due to Possible Health Risk (January 19)

Meijer Announces Voluntary Recall for Some Meijer Brand Peanut Butter Crackers and Ice Cream Because of Possible Health Risk (January 19)

Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products Recalls Wal-Mart Bakery Brand Peanut Butter Cookies Because Of Possible Health Risk (January 18)

Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products Recalls Lofthouse Peanut Butter Cookies, Chuck's Chunky Peanut Butter Cookies And Pastries Plus Gourmet Cookies Nationwide Because Of Possible Health Risk (January 18)

Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products Recalls Food Lion Bake Shop Peanut Butter Cookies Nationwide Because Of Possible Health Risk (January 18)

Peanut Corporation of America Expands Nationwide Recall of Peanut Butter (January 18)

South Bend Chocolate Company Recalls Various Candys Containing Peanut Butter Because of Possible Salmonella Contamination (January 18)

McKee Foods Corporation Announces Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Little Debbie Peanut Butter Toasty and Peanut Butter Cheese Sandwich Crackers Because of Possible Health Risk (January 18)

Perry's Ice Cream Company Announces Voluntary Recall of Select Peanut Butter Ice Cream Products Due to Possible Health Risk (January 17)
 
CDC: Salmonella outbreak numbers increase slightly
2 hours ago

ATLANTA (AP) — Health officials say the number of people sickened in a national salmonella outbreak involving peanut butter has grown to 485 cases.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday the number has been inching up as lab tests confirm that new cases have the same genetic fingerprint as the outbreak strain. The illnesses have been reported in 43 states and Canada, and may have contributed to the deaths of six people.

The Food and Drug Administration has traced the outbreak to a Georgia plant owned by Peanut Corp. of America, which makes peanut butter and peanut paste.

The government says consumers should avoid cookies, cakes and other foods containing peanut butter pending the results of the investigation. Peanut butter sold in jars to consumers is not included.

Dr. David Acheson, the Food and Drug Administration's food safety chief, says a better tracing system needs three key components: a unique identifier that follows each food item from field to consumer, electronic record keeping and a common framework for sharing information among all the players.

"It is unquestionable that we need to put more emphasis on the importance of traceability," said Acheson. "Tracing foods back can be really tough, or pretty straightforward, depending on the system."
 
PORKER said:
CDC: Salmonella outbreak numbers increase slightly
2 hours ago

ATLANTA (AP) — Health officials say the number of people sickened in a national salmonella outbreak involving peanut butter has grown to 485 cases.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday the number has been inching up as lab tests confirm that new cases have the same genetic fingerprint as the outbreak strain. The illnesses have been reported in 43 states and Canada, and may have contributed to the deaths of six people.

The Food and Drug Administration has traced the outbreak to a Georgia plant owned by Peanut Corp. of America, which makes peanut butter and peanut paste.

The government says consumers should avoid cookies, cakes and other foods containing peanut butter pending the results of the investigation. Peanut butter sold in jars to consumers is not included.

Dr. David Acheson, the Food and Drug Administration's food safety chief, says a better tracing system needs three key components: a unique identifier that follows each food item from field to consumer, electronic record keeping and a common framework for sharing information among all the players.

"It is unquestionable that we need to put more emphasis on the importance of traceability," said Acheson. "Tracing foods back can be really tough, or pretty straightforward, depending on the system."
Click to expand...

Acheson can not do his job and sufficiently regulate food safety at the processor so he pushes NAIS and other packer ideas. He pushes them under the guise that the info will be "confidential" to sell the idea and then sells this bs? All the time he and their sister agency help block/water down MCOOL so we don't even know if the food items come from sources out of the country.

This guy needs to be replaced.

It is time for a colon cleanse in the FDA as well as the USDA.
 

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