The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is issuing a consumer advisory for ice cream mix distributed by Autumnwood Farm of Forest Lake, Minnesota because the product was inadequately pasteurized. The product has been inadequately pasteurized since May 16, 2018. The ice cream mix was sold to three retail ice cream locations in Minnesota: LouLou Sweet & Savory Ice Cream and Coffee Shop in Minneapolis, Love Creamery in Duluth, and Pumphouse Creamery in Minneapolis. No reports of illness or any adverse reactions have been received to date in connection with this issue. These are the products affected by this advisory: All ice cream sampled or sold at LouLou Sweet & Savory Ice Cream and Coffee Shop, located at 2839 Emerson Ave. S., Minneapolis, between 5/24/18 through 7/12/18. … [Read more...]
Europe’s Best Field Berry Mixes Recalled for Possible Salmonella
Europe's Best brand Field Berry Mixes are being recalled in Canada for possible Salmonella contamination. The products are distributed by Hain Celestial Canada. They were sold nationally at the retail level. The recalled products are Europe's Best Field Berry Mix in 600 gram containers. The codes on the product are 2020MA03, 2020MA04, 2020MA10, and 2020MA11 and the UPC number is 8 71454 03618 7. Also recalled is Europe's Best 4-Field Berry Mix in 2 kg packages, with code 2020MA02, and UPC number 8 71454 00200 7. If you have purchased these products, do not eat them. Throw them away in sealed or double bagged packages, or take them back to the store where you purchased them for a full refund. This recall was triggered by a recall in another country. The Canadian Food Inspection … [Read more...]
Food Recalls for Lack of Inspection and Undeclared Allergens
Two products have been recalled. Ready-to-eat and raw beef and pork products are recalled for lack of inspection, the other salads for undeclared peanuts. No illnesses or adverse reaction reports have been received to date. The Beautiful Pig of Longview, Washington is recalling ready-to-eat and raw pork and beef products because they were produced, packed, and distributed without benefit of inspection. They were also under U.S. retention when shipped without approval. These products were produced on dates ranging from June 2, 2017 through July 8, 2018. You can see the long list of recalled products at the USDA web site. These products are all The Beautiful Pig brand, and include Real Pepperoni, Dry Cured Spicy Smoked Capicola, Smoked Hungarian Paprika Salami Dry Cured, and White … [Read more...]
McDonald’s Cyclospora Outbreak Sickens 61 in IA, IL, MN, MO, NE, SD, WI; Lawsuits Possible
A McDonald's cyclospora outbreak that is "likely linked" to the fast food chain's salads has sickened at lest 61 people in 7 states. Two people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. This outbreak is probably not linked to the other current cyclospora outbreak linked to recalled Del Monte Vegetable trays that has sickened 227 people in the upper Midwest, but public health officials are investigating. The FDA is working with McDonald's to identify the common ingredient in the salads and to conduct traceback investigations through the supply chain. As of July 13, 2018, McDonald's is voluntarily ending sales of salads at restaurants in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Montana, North Dakota, Kentucky, West Virginia, and … [Read more...]
Del Monte Cyclospora Outbreak Case Count Grows to 227 Sick; Lawsuits Filed
The multistate Del Monte Cyclospora outbreak case count has grown to 227 sick, as of July 13, 2018. Those sickened live in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Seven patients have been hospitalized because their illnesses are so serious. Del Monte recalled their 6 ounce and 12 ounce sizes of vegetable trays on June 8, 2018. The 28 ounce size of the trays was recalled on June 15, 2018. People may have frozen some of these vegetables and don't realize they are linked to illnesses. And, unfortunately, washing produce will not eliminate the pathogen completely. The cyclospora parasite is destroyed by freezing, but only if frozen below 24.7°F. The recalled trays were sold in Kwik Trip, Kwik Star, Demond’s, Sentry, Potash, Meehan’s, Country Market, FoodMax Supermarket and Peapod … [Read more...]
Vibrio Outbreak Linked to Venezuela Crab Sold in Maryland
A Vibrio outbreak in Maryland is linked to fresh Venezuela crab meat that was sold in that state. The crab in question was sold under different brand names. The brand names for this Venezuela crab were not mentioned in the press release. The Maryland Department of Health is wanting consumers to avoid eating non-pasteurized crab meat because of this potential risk. The fresh crab meat is sold in plastic tubs, with a label indicating that it was imported from that South American country. Crab harvested in the Maryland area is not associated with this outbreak, even though the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries have contained this particular bacteria. The Venezuela crab has been sold to individual households and to restaurant settings. It has been made into crab cakes, … [Read more...]
McDonald’s Salads Associated With Cyclospora Outbreak in Illinois and Iowa; Lawsuits Possible
Another Cyclospora outbreak has been reported by government officials. This time, 15 people in Iowa and 90 people in Illinois are sick in this cyclospora outbreak. Some of those patients are ill with the parasitic infection after allegedly eating McDonald's salads from the fast food restaurant chain. These illnesses in this cyclospora outbreak started occurring in late June and early July in Iowa, and starting in mid-May in Illinois. Dr. Patricia Quinlisk of the Iowa State Department of Health said in a statement, "Anyone who ate these salads since the middle of June and who developed diarrhea, especially watery diarrhea and fatigue, should see their health care provider and get tested for Cyclospora to ensure an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment." IDPH Director Dr. … [Read more...]
Kitchen Towels Contaminated with Bacteria, According to New Study
Tea towels, or kitchen towels, can cause cross-contamination in the kitchen, leading to food poisoning, according to a study posted in ASN Microbe 2018. Cross-contamination is when bacteria are spread from one source to food that was not previously contaminated. The study was conducted at the University of Mauritius. The study's authors collected 100 kitchen towels from homes after they were used for one month. Bacteria were collected from the towels and identified. In addition, those participating in the study where asked to fill out a questionnaire designed to pinpoint risk factors. Bacterial growth was found in 40% of the tea towels. The bacteria "significantly increased" by the size of the family, extended family, and the presence of children in the family. Multipurpose … [Read more...]
Employee at The Back Corner in Nashville, TN Diagnosed with Hepatitis A
An employee at The Back Corner, an entertainment venue at 1413 5th Avenue North in Nashville, Tennessee, has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Nashville Public Health Department. The Metro Public Health Department (MPDH) is issuing a public notice and will offer free hepatitis A vaccinations to customers who visited that facility on June 28, 29, or 30, 2018. A vaccination is only good for 14 days after the day of exposure. That means that anyone who was at The Back Corner on June 28, 2018, will have to be vaccinated by tomorrow, July 12, 2018. The MPHD locations offering the shots are: Lentz Public Health Center at 2500 Charlotte Avenue 37209, East Health Center at 1015 East Trinity Lane 37206, and Woodbine Health Center at 224 Oriel Avenue 37210. The hours of … [Read more...]
Two Recalls: One for Chicken Produced Without Inspection; Another for Allergens in Supplements
Two recalls have been issued by the USDA and FDA for two different products. Halal chicken has been recalled for lack of inspection, and dietary supplements are recalled for undeclared allergens. No illnesses or allergic reactions have been reported to date in either recall. The first recall is for Afandina Halal's raw poultry products that were produced without the benefit of several inspection. These raw chicken items were produced and packaged from May 14 through June 22, 2018. They include 40-pound bulk boxes containing “Afandina, Halal Wholesale Chicken, Boneless Leg Meat,” 40-pound bulk boxes with “Afandina, Halal Chicken, Whole Chicken Legs,” and 40-pound bulk boxes with “Afandina, Halal Chicken, Chicken Cutlets.” These products have the establishment number "P-51183" inside the … [Read more...]
