Food Safety

Oregon Raw Milk E.coli Outbreak Sickens Four Children, Two Have HUS

A raw milk  E.coli outbreak has sickened four children in Oregon. Three of them are hospitalized and two have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which causes kidney failure, according to a press release from health officials in Oregon obtained by Food Poisoning Bulletin.

The children, who are all under the age of 15, drank raw milk from Foundation Farm in Clackamas County before they became sick as did other customers of the dairy who have not had diagnostic testing to confirm E. coli 0157:H7 infections.

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Baked goods sold in USA contain potassium bromate, a carcinogen banned in Europe but allowed in the US due to chemical loophole

By Mike Adams, April 12 2012
(NaturalNews) Much of the flour sold in the United States has been treated with potassium bromate, which causes the flour to bulk up, strengthens the dough, and makes bread rise more rapidly. This decreases the time needed for baking (thereby reducing costs) and also allows the use of low quality flour that might otherwise be unsuitable for baking. There’s only one problem with this: Potassium bromate causes cancer. Potassium bromate is so widely accepted as a carcinogen that it has been banned…

Yellowfin Tuna Product Implicated in Salmonella Outbreak

Authorities name possible source of multistate outbreak linked to sushi

Spicy Tuna Body.jpg

Yellowfin tuna product is the likely source of the Salmonella Bareilly outbreak that has sickened 116 across 21 states and has been linked to sushi, health officials announced Friday evening.

Cupertino, CA based Moon Marine USA Corporation is voluntarily recalling 58,828 pounds of its “Nakaochi Scrape” – tuna backmeat scraped off the bones of the fish and sold in a frozen, ground state – after investigators pinpointed the product as a common food source among outbreak victims.
The implicated food is not sold directly to consumers, but is usually served by retailers in sushi, sashimi, ceviche or similar dishes containing raw fish.
Of the 53 outbreak victims interviewed, 43 (81 percent) reported eating sushi in the week preceding their illnesses. Of the 43 who recalled eating sushi, 39 (91 percent) ate sushi that contained tuna, and 36 (84 percent) specifically recalled eating a product that contained “spicy tuna.”

Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Strikes Three in Alaska

Three suspected cases of paralytic shellfish poisoning were reported in Alaska this week, according to the state’s Department of Health and Social Services.

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All three individuals ate shellfish harvested in the Juneau area over Easter weekend.
The first case, reported on April 10, was a man who went to the hospital in Juneau complaining of numbness and tingling that began in his lips and tongue and had progressed to his hands. The man had eaten razor clams harvested from Admiralty Island, and had symptoms develop within a few hours.
The next two cases, reported April 12, were from two people who ate butter clams harvested from either Lincoln Island or Ralston Island over Easter weekend. The couple reported tingling and numbness of the lips, tongue and face that developed a few hours after eating the clams.

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Recalls

Full Circle Concierge Snack Nut Blend Recalled for Undeclared Allergens

April 13, 2012 By

John B. Sanfilippo and Son, Inc. is voluntarily recalling Full Circle Concierge Snack Nut Blend because it contains undeclared soy and milk. Anyone allergic to those ingredients who consumes this product could have a serious or life-threatening reaction.

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Imported Fish Recalled

H.C. Foods Co. of Commerce, CA is recalling frozen dried mackerel and dried round scad after U.S. Food and Drug Administration personnel found that the fish imported from the Philippines was not properly eviscerated prior to processing.
The dried fish may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum spores, which can cause botulism, a serious and potentially fatal foodborne illness.
No illnesses have been reported.

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Allergen Alert

Allergen Alert: Medittera SA Greek Foods

Mediterra S.A. of Chios, Greece is recalling various foods sold via the Internet and in one New York retail store because they contain allergens not listed on the labels.
These products have been sold in the United States via Internet sales through www.mastihashopny.com and from one retail store located at 145 Orchard St., New York, New York.
The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the allergen-containing products were distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of the allergens. Specifically, the company did not declare that albumin is egg albumin, yogurt is milk yogurt, bread contains wheat, and almonds and pine nuts are nuts.
MEDITERRA S.A. printed and sent corrected labels for these products earlier this month and says all products now properly declare all ingredients, including any allergens.

Allergen Alert: Harry and David Recall Barbeque Almonds

Harry and David of Medford, OR is recalling approximately 205 2 oz. bags of its Premium Kansas City Style Barbeque almonds because the bags may contain peanuts.

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Peanuts are not declared as ingredients, but the label includes the statement “May contain trace amounts of allergens not listed in the ingredients.”
This problem was discovered on April 10, 2012 when peanuts were found in bulk product shipped to Harry and David by a third party supplier.  However, no peanuts have been reported in bags of Harry & David Premium Kansas City Barbeque Almonds to date.
There have been no reports of adverse reactions.

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Articles of Interest

 

Label tenderized beef? Recall renews worries

American Meat Institute

Meat producers use blade tenderizers to treat tough cuts of meat, breaking muscle fibers and connective tissues.

By JoNel Aleccia

On the eve of summer grilling season, the recall of more than a ton of beef potentially contaminated with dangerous E. coli bacteria — including mechanically tenderized sirloin steaks — is renewing calls for better labeling.

Connecticut Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro said that the Wednesday recall involving some 2,057 pounds of ground and texturized beef from Town & Country Foods Inc. of Greene, Maine, underscores why consumers should be told when meat has been mechanically pierced with needles or blades.

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Employees Reported Working While Ill at Cebolla’s in Indiana

April 13, 2012 By

Tables in a restaurant

The investigation continues into the norovirus outbreak in Indiana that sickened 107 people who at at Cebolla’s Mexican Grill in Fort Wayne. John Silcox, Director of Communications at the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health told Food Poisoning Bulletin that seven food handlers reported working while ill during the outbreak time frame.

Norovirus is extremely contagious. It’s spread through direct contact, contaminated food and water, and by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes gastroenteritis, which inflames your stomach or intestines or both.

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