The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall of Bio Busti brand Pecorino Stagionato cheese for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The cheese was distributed in Marchés Tau locations in Quebec. No illnesses have been reported to public health officials in relation to this recall. The recalled product is Bio Busti Pecorino Stagionato cheese made with raw milk. It was sold in various sized packages. There is no UPC number on the cheese. The locations were it was sold were Marchés Tau at 1325 Boul. Michèle-Bohec, Blainville, Quebec from January 4 to January 14, 2019, inclusive, and 7373 Boul. Langelier, Saint-Léonard, Quebec from January 8 to January 14, 2019, inclusive. If you purchased this cheese, do not eat it, even if you plan to cook with it. Throw the … [Read more...]
Tomales Bay Oyster Norovirus Outbreak Sickens 44 in California
The California Department of Public Health has closed Tomales Bay to oyster harvesting because a norovirus outbreak that has sic keyed at least 44 people is associated with oysters from that area. The CDPH posted a recall and listed 40 restaurants that may have sold the Hog Island oysters. The restaurants are located in San Francisco, Sonoma, Petaluma, Bolinas, Sacramento, Sebastopol, Napa, and Santa Rosa. The closure was issued on January 3, 2019, according to Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County's public health officer. The state of California has recalled Tomales Bay oysters that were served in 34 restaurants by Hog Island Oyster Company. The illnesses happened between December 29, 2018 and January 5, 2019. The illnesses were in San Francisco. Public health officials interviewed … [Read more...]
A+ Answers Straight Beef Formula For Dogs Recalled For Salmonella
The FDA has issued a press release, warning pet owners to not feed their dogs one lot of A+ Answers Straight Beef Formula for Dogs because it has tested positive for Salmonella bacteria. The lot number is 2018 20/08 20. Federal law requires all pet food be free from pathogens. Lystn, LLC, doing business as Answers Pet food, recalled the lot in Nebraska, but hasn't implemented a nationwide recall. This press release is issued because the pet food "is adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act." Salmonella can make pets and people sick. Symptoms of a Salmonella infection in both species include vomiting, diarrhea that may be bloody, and nausea. Pets can carry the bacteria but show no symptoms, and can pass it on to people. The bacteria is shed in their feces, which … [Read more...]
Kroger Recalls El Guapo Chile For Undeclared Peanuts
The Kroger Corporation is recalling three types of El Guapo Chile and Chile Pods because they may contain undeclared peanuts, one of the major food allergens. Anyone who is allergic to peanuts could suffer a life threatening reaction if they eat this product. The recall notice did not state whether or not any adverse reactions have been reported to date. The recalled products include El Guapo Chile Habanero, with UPC number 44989-01296, in 0.5 ounce packages. The codes on the product are BEST BY APR/05/19, BEST BY JUN/21/19, BEST BY JUN/22/19, BEST BY OCT/29/19, BEST BY DEC/07/19, BEST BY FEB/05/20, BEST BY FEB/06/20, and BEST BY JUN/12/20. Also recalled is El Guapo Pasilla-Ancho Chile Pods, with UPC number 44989-01039 and Best BY JUN/20/20, sold in 2.0 ounce packages. Finally, El Guapo … [Read more...]
Judge Strikes Down Iowa Ag Gag Law
A federal judge struck down Iowa's ag gag law last week. Those laws make it illegal for animal rights advocates to go undercover to expose animal abuse at farms and puppy mills. The 2012 law was approved by Iowa lawmakers, and carried a fine of up to year in jail. ACLU legal director Rita Bettis Austen said the ruling was "an important victory for free speech." She also said that the law was an example of government using its power to protect those in power. She added, "Ag gag clearly is a violation of Iowans' First Amendment rights to free speech. It has effectively silenced advocates and ensured that animal cruelty, unsafe food safety practices, environmental hazards, and inhumane working conditions go unreported for years." The Animal Legal Defense Fund was one of the … [Read more...]
University of Cincinnati Professor Studies Hamburger E. coli
A professor at the University of Cincinnati is studying hamburger E. coli with a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) grant. The pathogen is E. coli O157:H7, which is sometimes called "hamburger E. coli" because many illnesses are attributed to that food-pathogen combination. And indeed, an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to ground beef sickened 7 people in 2016. Five people were hospitalized because they were so ill. The pathogen is carried in the guts of ruminant animals, such as cows and goats. Those animals do not get sick, but they pass the E. coli bacteria in their feces. That feces can get onto the coat of the animal, and may be spread to the muscle during slaughter. When the beef is ground, the entire batch of hamburger can be contaminated. Shiga … [Read more...]
Royal Caribbean Norovirus Outbreak Sickens 475 Passengers
Norovirus outbreaks increase during the winter months because more people are together indoors. But some venues, such as nursing homes, schools, and cruise ships, can be struck by this virus at any time. A norovirus outbreak on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship has sickened 475 passengers. The cruise was cut short. It was supposed to be a seven day cruise, leaving Port Canaveral in Florida on January 6, 2019. Apparently, passengers started getting sick after eating a cruise ship-sponsored lunch buffet in Haiti, which was the first stop. The ship is heading back to port. The company plans to clean and sanitize the vessel before its next trip. Norovirus is a contagious virus that causes symptoms of vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, and diarrhea. Some people may experience fever, … [Read more...]
FDA Food Inspections Reduced By Government Shutdown
According to an interview of FDA Commissioner Dc. Scott Gottlieb, the number of inspections conducted by the FDA have been "sharply reduced" by the partial government shutdown. The FDA has oversight over 80% of the food supply in this country. All "routine inspections" of domestic food facilities have been suspended. Gottlieb is trying to bring back about 150 inspectors as soon as possible, hopefully next week, to inspect high-risk facilities, such as those that process soft cheese and seafood or make infant formula, or those that may have had issues with food safety in the past. The Agriculture Department is still inspecting meat and poultry plants in this country, but those inspectors are not being paid for their work. Overseas inspections have continued, according to the New … [Read more...]
Daisyfield Pork Sausage Recalled For Possible Foreign Materials
J.H. Routh Packing of Sandusky, Ohio is recalling about 1,719 pounds of raw pork sausages because they may be contaminated with foreign materials. The recall notice states that the material is rubber. No adverse reactions have been reported to date in connection with this issue. The recalled items were produced from January 1 through January 4, 2019. They include: 5-pound plastic packages containing loose, bulk “Daisyfield Brand FRESH PORK SAUSAGE” with production dates “010119” or “010219” or “010319” or “010419” on the label. 5-pound paper-lined cardboard packages containing large link “Daisyfield Brand FRESH PORK SAUSAGE” with production dates “010119” or “010219” or “010319” or “010419” on the label. 5-pound paper-lined cardboard packages containing country-style rope … [Read more...]
Two Recalls: Cape Breton Coal Candy and Vanilla Milk
Two recalls have been issued; one in Canada for Cape Breton Coal candy for undeclared walnuts, and the other for Shamrock Farms Vanilla Milk for undeclared almonds. Anyone who is allergic to those ingredients could have a serious reaction if they eat these products. The first recall is for Shamrock Farms 2% reduced fat Vanilla Half Gallon Milk, which may contain undeclared almonds, or tree nuts. A product with use by 03/16/19 tested positive for an almond allergen. The problem is cross-contact with an almond-containing product in the production facility. The product is sold throughout Arizona. The recalled milk is Shamrock Farms 2% Reduced Fat Vanilla Half Gallon Milk. The UPC number is 0-28300-01228-8, the best before date is March q16, 2019, and the lot code is Time Stamp … [Read more...]
