Food Safety
FDA Inspection Likely to Further Implicate Diamond Pet Foods
Lawsuits filed against pet food manufacturer and Costco
The results of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspection into a Diamond Pet Foods production plant may benefit the trio of lawsuits filed against the Missouri pet food manufacturer tied to a Salmonella outbreak and recall earlier this year.
That inspection, conducted six days after the first of Diamond’s eight recalls, found numerous health violations, including failures to clean and maintain equipment and a lack of contaminant screenings on raw ingredients. The evidence does not bode well for Diamond as the company faces three separate lawsuits from human victims and pet owners in the U.S. and Canada, according Benjamin England, a 17-year FDA veteran and founder of FDAImports.com, a food industry consulting firm.
On his blog last week, England highlighted Diamond’s situation as a cautionary tale for other food manufacturers. If Diamond had operated in compliance with FDA rules, England said, they would appear much less culpable and could use the favorable inspection to bolster their legal cases and public image.
Instead, it’s being used against them. The lawsuits specifically cite the inspection report as evidence of Diamond’s negligence and breach of warranty.
“It looks to me as though there’s a relationship between the violations at the facility and the adverse situations the company is facing now,” England told Food Safety News. “You can’t predict when an outbreak or recall might happen, but you can eliminate a lot of risk through compliance.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, multiple brands of Diamond pet food have sickened at least 20 Americans and two Canadians with Salmonella Infantis since March. The agency says it’s impossible to determine the number of dogs sickened, as so few pets are ever tested for gastrointestinal bacteria.
Wire Grill-Cleaning Brushes Can Pose Food Safety Hazard
6 injuries in past year
Campaign to Reduce Antibiotic Use in Animal Ag Comes Under Fire
Real Raw Milk Facts Makes Legislative Recommendations
Three Oregon Residents Contracted Botulism from Home Canned Foods
The Oregon State Public Health Laboratory this week confirmed that three residents contracted botulism from home canned foods at a private barbecue. Since botulism is not spread person to person, there is no risk to the general public. All three people had to be hospitalized.
Deschutes County Health Services, which conducted the investigation, is reminding consumers of the importance of following hygienic canning procedures to the letter. Your state extension service is an excellent source of information about this practice.
The National Center for Home Food Preservation recommends the most current research-based metwhods for home food preservation. For instance, for low-acid foods such as green beans and meats, a pressure canner is needed. There are no safe boiling water canning options for vegetables, meats, seafoods, soups, and some food mixtures. That organization offers a free online course for consumers who want to can their own food.
Foods contaminated with botulinum toxin may not look, smell, or taste spoiled. To avoid botulism:
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Recalls
Aandante Dairy Cheeses Recalled
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announced this week that cheeses made by the Andante Dairy of Petaluma, California were subject to a recall and quarantine order due to a lack of proper pasteurization.
In a press release, the agency stated that no illnesses had been associated with the cheese products and that Andante Dairy was cooperating with the recall.
The recalled cheeses were sold in sizes from five to eight ounces, with no code date or variety information on the packages. The cheeses were sold mainly to retail markets, restaurants and cheese shops in California, with very limited distribution in Chicago and New York.
Three varieties of Andante Dairy cheese exempt from the quarantine are Musette, Tomme Dolce, and Etude. Consumers are urged to discard any other varieties from this producer.
Store Brand Salad Mixes Recalled By BI-LO
Buona Vita Recalls 300,000 Pounds of Meat Products for Listeria
The following items were produced on May 3, 2012 and can be identified by the case code “1242” – view labels here.
-10-lb. cases of Cupino “Fully Cooked Meatballs with Pork and Beef”
-10-lb. cases of Mama Isabella “1/2 oz. size Beef and Pork Meatballs”
-10-lb. cases of Mama Isabella “1 oz. size Beef and Pork Meatballs”
-10-lb. cases of Mama Isabella “2 oz. size Beef and Pork Meatballs”
-10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Sapore Italiano .75 oz Baked Meatballs with Beef and Pork”
-30-lb. or 10-lb cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Buon Gusto ½ oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs Made with Chicken and Beef”
The following items were produced on May 4, 2012 and can be identified by the case code “1252” – view labels here.
-10-lb. cases of Vincent Giordano “4 oz. Cooked Italian Style Meatball”
-10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Filomena 3 oz. Baked Italian Style Meatballs”
-10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Sapore Italiano .75 oz Baked Meatballs with Beef and Pork”
-30-lb. or 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Buon Gusto ½ oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs Made with Chicken and Beef”
-10-lb. cases of Dirusso’s “Fully Cooked ½oz Meatballs”
-30-lb. or 10-lb. cases of Dirusso’s “1 oz Italian Style Meatballs Fully Cooked”
-10-lb. cases of Dirusso’s “Fully Cooked Mini Meatballs”
The following items were produced on May 7, 2012 and can be identified by the case code “1282” – view labels here.
-30-lb. cases of Silver Lake Brand “3 oz Cooked Dinner Loaf Made with Chicken and Beef”
-30-lb. cases of Argenta Pride “Cooked Dinner Loaf Made with Chicken and Beef”
-30-lb. cases of Silver Lake Brand “3oz Cooked Chicken and Beef Burger Pattie Made with Chicken and Beef”
-30-lb. cases of Argenta Pride “3 oz Cooked Chicken and Beef Burger Patty Made with Chicken and Beef”
-30-lb. cases of Silver Lake Brand “4 oz Cooked Chicken and Beef Burger Made with Chicken and Beef”
-30-lb. cases of Silver Lake Brand “4oz Cooked Chicken Salisbury Patty Beef Added”
-30-lb. cases of Silver Lake Brand “3oz Cooked Chicken Salisbury Patty Beef Added”
-30-lb. cases of Argenta Pride “Cooked Chicken Salisbury Patty Beef Added”
The following items were produced on May 8, 2012 and can be identified by the case code “1292” – view labels here.
-30-lb. cases of Argenta Pride “Cooked Chicken Salisbury Patty Beef Added”
-30-lb. cases of Argenta Pride “Cooked Dinner Loaf LS Made with Chicken and Beef”
-30-lb. cases of Argenta Pride “Cooked Breakfast Patty Made with Chicken and Beef”
-30-lb. cases of Silver Lake Brand “Cooked Breakfast Patty Made with Chicken and Beef”
-10-lb. cases of Whitsons Food Service “½ oz. Baked Italian Style Meatballs Made with Chicken and Beef”
-10-lb. cases of M&R Frosted Food Co. “.5oz Cooked Chicken and Beef Meatballs”
-10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Buon Gusto ½ oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs Made with Chicken and Beef”
-10-lb. cases of M&R Frosted Food Co. “1 oz Cooked Chicken and Beef Meatballs”
-10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Buon Gusto 1 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs Made with Chicken and Beef”
-10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Buon Gusto 2 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs Made with Chicken and Beef”
Romaine Lettuce Recalled in NV and CA for Salmonella
Fresh Shelled Peas Recalled in Canada for Listeria
Arctic Zero Recalling Frozen Desserts for Undeclared Milk
Arctic Zero Inc of California is recalling frozen desserts in pints and chocolate dipped bars for relabeling. The products contain milk, which is not declared on the label. All products produced before February 2012 do not have the statement, “Contains whey protein, which is a derivative of dairy” on the label. You can see all of the product labels at the FDA site.
Product details of products sold in 16 ounce pints:
- Chocolate (UPC: 8-52244-00300-8)
- Vanilla Maple (UPC: 8-52244-00306-0)
- Mint Chocolate Cookie (UPC: 8-52244-00304-6)
- Cookies and Cream (UPC: 8-52244-00303-9)
- Chocolate Peanut Butter (UPC: 8-52244-00301-5)
- Coffee (UPC: 8-52244-00302-2)
- Strawberry (UPC: 8-52244-00305-3)
- Pumpkin Spice (UPC: 8-52244-00307-7)
Expanded Recall of Mazuri Feed Products
The recall of Mazuri Feed Products, made by PMI Nutrition International, is expanding to include three additional varieties for elevated levels of vitamin D, which can be harmful. Symptoms of vitamin D overdose in animals include lack of appetite, weight loss, and possible joint stiffness. You can see photos of all of the products at the FDA site.
The first recall, issued July 5, 2012, included four products.
Product details:
- Mazuri® Primate Maintenance Biscuit 25#
- Item number 0040996
- Lot number APR11123
- Formula number 5MA2
- Mazuri® Mouse Breeder 9F 50#
- Item number 0006758
- Lot number APR20122
- Formula number 5M68
- Mazuri® Primate Basix 25#
- Item number 0062089
- Lot number APR20123
- Formula number 5NAA
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Articles of Interest
Codex Adopts Ractopamine Limits for Beef and Pork
Contentious 69-67 vote on key trade issue pits United States against China and the EU
After years of scientific and political stalemate, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, a UN food standards-setting body, narrowly voted to advance a residue limit for ractopamine hydrochloride, a controversial veterinary drug used in food animal production.
The 69-67 vote to adopt a Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) for the beta agonist — which is approved for boosting growth and increasing leanness in pigs, cattle and turkeys — is a big win for the United States’, Brazil’s and Canada’s trade interests.
Major meat exporting countries that use ractopamine have been pushing for a global standard for several years. A Codex MRL makes it easier for the U.S. and others to challenge countries like China, the European Union and Taiwan for having zero tolerance policies for ractopamine residues in meat products. With an MRL in place, the World Trade Organization is much more likely to rule against any country that has a more restrictive policy.
The Codex MRL is 10 parts per billion (ppb) for muscle cuts of beef and pork. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s limit is 30 ppb for beef and 50 ppb for pork.
Such a close and contentious vote is rare at Codex. The scientific commission adopts dozens of food safety standards each year by consensus, with well over one hundred countries participating.
Ractopamine MRLs have been stuck at Step 8, the final step before adoption, since 2008. Interests on all sides of the ractopamine issue have worried that the bitter fight over the drug could ultimately jeopardize the legitimacy of Codex.
“We are concerned that with this vote, Codex is becoming another politicized global body, rather than the science-based consensus body it has managed to be so far,” said Michael Hansen of Consumers International, which represents 220 consumer organizations in 110 countries. CI has observer status at Codex meetings, meaning they cannot vote but may have a representative present.
“In the past, Codex has avoided adopting standards where scientists disagree, or where the scientific data is lacking or insufficient,” added Hansen, in a CI statement. “We now see a situation where trade concerns are trumping science. This does not bode well for the credibility of Codex standards in the future.”
U.S. officials and agriculture interests take a different view. They praised the vote in favor of MRLs as evidence that the commission is still science-based and ultimately not swayed by politics.
South Dakota Puts Restaurant Scores Online
California Foie Gras Ban Turns Into a New Fight
Spanish Farmers Paid a Price for Europe’s E. coli O104 Outbreak
Denmark Close to Conquering Salmonella
According to new statistics, in 2011 the number of Danes contracting Salmonella infections fell to the lowest level since the 1980s. That country has a strict policy called the Danish National Salmonella Control Program that reduces Salmonella bacteria in egg-laying hens and broilers.
That program works to minimize human exposure to Salmonella from live animals and meat products. It detects, prevents, and controls Salmonella in “primary production”, or on the farm, before there is any threat to human health.
These proactive measures, as opposed to the reactive measures of recalls and relying on proper handling by consumers, has reduced the incidence of Salmonella infections to just 1,166 in 2011. And almost half of those infections were contracted by Danes traveling to Egypt, Thailand, and Turkey.
Toxoplasmosis Parasite May Raise Mother’s Suicide Risk
A study published in the July 2012 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry has found an association between Toxoplasma gondii infections and history of suicide attempts. The study followed 45,788 Danish women who had children between 1992 and 1995. The study lasted for more than ten years.
During that time period, only 78 women tried a violent suicide attempt. That makes infected women 81% more likely to attempt suicide than non-infected women. The risk increases with increasing IgG antibody levels to T. gondii. The study’s authors want to emphasize that the risk of very small, and this study doesn’t prove a link between T. gondii infections and suicide, but means that further studies should be conducted.
Another study found a significant relationship between T. gondii infections, along with other infectious agents, and suicidal self-directed violence in younger patients who had an increased risk of schizophrenia.
Toxoplasmosis gondii infections are typically contracted through coming into contact with infected cat litter, by eating infected raw or undercooked meat, and by drinking water contaminated with the oocysts. In fact, a recent study found that organic meats may carry an increased risk of toxoplasmosis. The infection can be passed from a pregnant women to her fetus, which can lead to brain damage, retardation, and blindness in the baby.
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