The FDA is offering food safety tips for healthy holidays so you can keep your family safe this season. It's important to follow these tips and to know the signs of food poisoning just in case. Most people sickened with food poisoning suffer with vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and symptoms similar to the flu. The illness usually starts hours to days after eating contaminated food. While most people recover without medical treatment, there are some pathogens, most notably Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, that cause serious illness. People who are most at risk for serious complications from food poisoning include the elderly, infants, young children, pregnant women, anyone with a chronic illness, and people with compromised immune systems. To keep your family safe, follow … [Read more...]
CFIA Cancels License of Ryding-Regency Meat Packers
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has cancelled the Safe Food for Canadians license of Ryding-Regency Meat Packers LTD that are loaded in Toronto, Ontario, effective December 2, 2019. The license of this facility was suspended on September 17, 2019. This happened because "of the opinion that a risk of injury to human health may result if the licence holder continues to conduct an activity that is identified in their licence. It was determined as part of a food safety investigation that the licence holder had failed to implement effective control measures." Many food recalls for E. coli O157:H7 in various beef and veal products were associated with this investigation. You can see the long list of recalled products, brand names, and more information about these recalls at the … [Read more...]
Keep Your Thanksgiving Turkey Safe With Tips From CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is offering tips to keep your Thanksgiving meal safe, concentrating on the turkey. Turkey and other poultry are often contaminated with bacteria and require special handling. Keep your Thanksgiving turkey safe with these tips. In fact, a report in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report for the week of November 22, 2019 states that during a huge Salmonella Reading outbreak last year, "“Evidence demonstrated that the outbreak strain was present throughout the turkey industry in live turkeys and in raw turkey products meant for human and animal consumption." When you buy your turkey, put it into the grocery cart last, go right home, and put it in the refrigerator promptly. If you are … [Read more...]
Golden Gate Soy Products Shut Down For Listeria Monocytogenes
The FDA announced that Golden Gate Soy Products, a food manufacturer based in California, is discontinuing selling food products until the company complies with federal regulations. FDA inspections at the company's facility found Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in the food preparation area and that the company was holding food for distribution under insanitary conditions. There is zero tolerance for Listeria monocytogenes contamination in ready-to-eat products. The pathogen can become very hard to remove when it becomes established in a facility, especially when conditions are wet or damp. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley for the Northern District of California entered a consent decree of permanent injunction on November 22, 2019. Golden Gate Soy Products … [Read more...]
Salmonella Turkey is Still a Problem, With Thanksgiving Approaching
Salmonella turkey is still a problem with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, according to a report in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Report (MMWR) for the week of November 22, 2019. Last year, a huge turkey recall linked to a Salmonella outbreak hit the U.S. just before Thanksgiving. And the problem hasn't gone away, according to government officials. A multistate outbreak of Salmonella Reading food poisoning cases occurred from November 17 through March 2019. A total of 356 people in 42 states were sickened. What's noteworthy is that the MMWR report states that "cases continue to be identified." What Types of Turkey are the Problem? The patients told investigators they were exposed to various turkey products and live turkeys, suggesting that this issue is endemic in the … [Read more...]
FDA Is Sampling Romaine To Test For Salmonella and STEC
The FDA is sampling romaine lettuce to test for pathogens. That agency has launched a small, focused assignment to collect samples of romaine lettuce to test for Salmonella and STEC (Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria). These two pathogens have been "repeatedly linked to foodborne illness associated with romaine lettuce consumption," according to the notice. Two large E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks in 2018 were linked with the consumption of romaine lettuce. Both outbreaks prompted nationwide public health advisories. One of those outbreaks was deadly; five people died. Last month, the FDA released information about an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with romaine lettuce that sickened 23 people in 12 states. That outbreak was not announced until it was long past over. Last … [Read more...]
Somerville, NJ ShopRite Employee Diagnosed With Hepatitis A
A Somerville, New Jersey ShopRite employee has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Somerset County Health Department. That department, along with the New Jersey Department of Health and Wakefern Corporation, is working to notify shoppers of that market. The ShopRite store is located at 1 South Davenport Street in Somerville, New Jersey. The employee's infectious period was from October 13, 2019 to October 30, 2019. That means that anyone who who purchased items from the in-store deli or who used the restroom during that time frame may have been infected and should get the hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccine. Unfortunately, the vaccines are only effective if given within two weeks of exposure, which means that it's too late to get the shot for anyone who visited … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A in Employee at E & B Discount Grocery in Hattiesburg, MS
An employee at E & B Discount Grocery at 5395 Old Highway 42 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to a news release issued by the Mississippi State Department of Health. While infectious, that employee handled fresh produce and packaged smoked and uncooked meats. Anyone who bought those products between October 10 and October 24, 2019 may have been exposed to the virus. MSDH State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers said in a statement, "The risk of transmission of hepatitis A in this situation is likely very low. However, as a precaution, we recommend that anyone who purchased the listed products in this time period should consider getting a hepatitis A vaccination if they have not been previously immunized. The management and staff of E & B … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A in Food Worker at NY Camillus Country Club
A food worker at the Camillus Country Club, also known as Camillus Hills Golf Course, located at 5690 Bennetts Corners Road in Camillus, New York, has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Onondaga County Health Department. The health department has launched an investigation. Anyone who consumed food or drinks from Camillus Hills Golf Course/Camillus Country Club during the time period of October 13, 2019 to October 24, 2019, has been potentially exposed to the hepatitis A virus. Since the hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination is only good when given within two weeks of exposure, that means that anyone who visited that venue after October 18, 2019 is no longer eligible for the vaccine. The health department is recommending anyone who consumed food or drinks there … [Read more...]
Don’t Drink Unpasteurized Juice For Food Safety Reasons
Fall is the season for fresh juices, including apple and grape juices. The FDA has tips for what you need to know about juice and food safety: namely, don't drink unpasteurized juice or cider. If you drink untreated, or unpasteurized, juices, you run the risk of contracting food poisoning. In fact, in 2015, E. coli bacteria in High Hill Ranch unpasteurized apple juice sickened seen people. And in 2013, a Cryptosporidium outbreak in Iowa linked to unpasteurized apple cider sickened 11 people. Any juice made from produce can be contaminated just like the fresh produce can be. Pasteurization kills pathogens, making the juices and ciders safe to drink. Most of the juice for sale in the U.S. is heat-treated to kill bacteria. But some grocery stores, health food stores, farmers' … [Read more...]
