Consumer Reports says that they found the heavy metals lead and cadmium in Lunchables kits and other lunch and snack kits from Armour LunchMakers, Oscar Mayer, Good & Gather (Target), and Greenfield Natural Meat. They tested for lead and other heavy metals and phthalates that are used to make plastic more flexible and durable. Amy Keating, a registered dietitian at Consumer Reports, said in a statement, "There’s a lot to be concerned about in these kits. They’re highly processed, and regularly eating processed meat, a main ingredient in many of these products, has been linked to increased risk of some cancers." Eric Boring, PhD, a CR chemist who led Consumer Report’s testing. added, "We don’t think anybody should regularly eat these products, and they definitely shouldn’t be … [Read more...]
FDA Report on Economically Motivated Honey Adulteration
The FDA has released a report on economically motivated honey adulteration, finding that about 3% of samples were violative. The sampling assignment was carried out in 2022 and 2023 to test imported honey for economically motivated adulteration (EMA). This adulteration can occur when a valuable ingredient or part of a food is intentionally let out, taken out, or is substituted, or when a substance is added to a food to make it appear better or of greater value. The sampling was designed to identify products that contain undeclared sweeteners that are less expensive than honey, such as cane and corn syrups. The assignment was conducted between April 2022 and July 2023. The agency collected 107 samples of imported honey and found three samples, or about 3%, to be violative. As a … [Read more...]
Health Advisory Issued For Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
A health advisory has been issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus, otherwise known as bird flu. One person has been infected. The person got sick after exposure to allegedly infected dairy cattle. The virus has been found in U.S. dairy cattle in multiple states. The farm worker was an employee at a commercial dairy farm in Texas. The patient reported conjunctivitis with no other symptoms, was not hospitalized and is recovering. The patient isolated and received antiviral treatment, while family members received oseltamivir for post-exposure prophylaxis according to CDC recommendations. The patient specimen was compared to the viral sequences from cattle, and lacks changes that would make it better … [Read more...]
Should You Eat Easter Eggs? The USDA Has Answers
Egg safety is important at all times of year, but at Easter it's really critical. Many eggs can carry Salmonella bacteria, and there have been quite a few outbreaks linked to shell eggs. Are they safe to eat? The USDA has some answers. Salmonella can not only be present on the eggshell, but inside the egg itself. If hens have bacteria in their ovaries, it will be inside the egg as it develops. Plus, the shell is porous, and bacteria can easily pass through the shell. So you need to be careful about handling them. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling raw eggs. After the eggs are cooked, you can dye them. Never dye uncooked eggs. Make sure that the eggs are hard boiled first. And cook the eggs well done. To safely hard cook eggs, put the raw … [Read more...]
Fish Consumption Guidance For Mississippi River Updated by DOH
Fish consumption guidance for the Mississippi River south of the metro Twin Cities has been updated by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). The problem is that a mixture of pollutants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have been found in fish tissue. PFAS are harmful chemicals that can accumulate in fish and animals and in people. They resist oil, water, grease, and heat and are used in water-resistant fabrics, paints, and cleaning products. Some PFAS are authorized for use in food packaging, cookware, and food processing equipment. PFAS are linked to various cancers and developmental effects in children. The chemicals have been used for decades and do not degrade or break down in the environment. The state has been taking action to eliminate PFAS. The … [Read more...]
FDA Issues Import Alert For Foods with Chemical Contaminants
The FDA issues import alert for foods with chemical contaminants including PFAS, benzene, dioxins, and PCBs. PFAS are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, while PCBs are polychlorinated biphenyls. PFAS in the environment can get into the food supply through plants and animals that are grown or raised or processed in contaminated areas. Very small amounts of some types of PFAS can get into foods through food packaging, processing, and cookware. Exposure to high levels of PFAS can affect the immune system. Other health effects may include increases in cholesterol levels, pregnancy-induced hypertension, lower antibody response to some vaccines, and kidney and testicular cancer. Studies to confirm these effects are ongoing. PCBs are synthetic organochlorine chemicals that used to … [Read more...]
CPSC Warns About Hazards of Water Beads
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers about the hazards of water beads and young children. Water beads, which are often sold as toys in craft kits, are designed for use as sensory tools for children with developmental disabilities. They are small balls of super absorbing polymers and can grow to 100 times their original size when exposed to water. If children swallow these beads, which can be as small as a pinhead, they can grow inside the body, causing intestinal blockages and life-threatening injuries. Surgery may be required to remove the beads. Symptoms of water bead ingestion an include vomiting, dehydration, and severe discomfort. The only way to prevent this hazard is to remove them from any environment where children may live or visit. Do not let … [Read more...]
Keep Spring Holiday Meals Safe With Tips From the USDA
Keep spring holiday meals safe with tips from the USDA. This year, the three major holidays of Easter, Eid, and Passover are all happening in early spring. USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Emilio Esteban said in a statement, "The holiday season is a special time to gather with friends and family and enjoy traditional meals, Whether you’re celebrating your Easter dinner with ham, Eid lunch with lamb, or Seder meal with brisket, remember to keep food safety at the forefront." Food safety is especially important when you have people with varied health statuses and ages at your spring holiday meals table, because some of those people are more susceptible to serious complications from food poisoning. In addition, some foods must be prepared early, which extends the time for … [Read more...]
Vulto Creamery Pleads Guilty In Connection With Listeria Outbreak
Vulto Creamery has pled guilty to one misdemeanor count of introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce in connection to a deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to that dairy's cheese in 2016 and 2017, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. In that outbreak, the soft raw milk cheese sickened at least eight people in four states, and two people died. Johannes Vulto oversaw operations at the Vulto Creamery manufacturing facility in Walton, New York, including sanitation and environmental monitoring. By entering the guilty plea, Vulto admits that between December 2014 and March 2017, they shipped adulterated cheese. Environmental swabs that were taken at the facility between July 2014 and February 2017 repeatedly tested positive for various Listeria species; … [Read more...]
FDA Announces Qualified Health Claim For Yogurt and Diabetes
The FDA is announcing that it will not object to a qualified health claim for yogurt and diabetes. Danone North America had requested that the agency review the use of the claim about the relationship between the consumption of yogurt and a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The agency did say that the qualified health claims must be worded to not mislead consumers, and that other factors for the use of the claim must be met. There are two kinds of health claims: qualified and authorized. A health claim is the relationship between a substance and a disease or health-related condition. A qualified health claim means that the claim is supported by scientific evidence but doesn't meet the more rigorous "significant scientific agreement" standard that is required for an … [Read more...]
