The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning five homeopathic product manufacturers for significant violations of current good manufacturing practice regulations (CGMP). Warning letters were sent to those companies. Four of the letters target companies who jointly produced a product labeled as homeopathic that was not sterile. The fifth outlines a company's failure to have a system in place that makes sure there is proper design, monitoring, and control of the manufacturing process. FDA Acting Commissioner Dr. Ned Sharpless said in a statement, "It’s our public health obligation to protect consumers from unsafe products. Our manufacturing requirements are designed to ensure the quality and safety of drugs distributed to American consumers, and the FDA expects companies to … [Read more...]
Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee Hardest Hit in Ground Beef E. coli O103 Outbreak
The states that have been the hardest hit in the ground beef E. coli O103 outbreak are Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Those states combined have 173 of the 196 people sickened in this outbreak. The outbreak does seem to be slowing down, according to the epidemiological Date of Illness Onset chart. Most cases were diagnosed in mid-March 2019, and have trailed off since then. But even though two companies have recalled raw ground beef products, the outbreak continues to grow. According to the epi chart, there could be as many as 50 more cases in this outbreak before it ends. States are investigating more illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. This outbreak actually begin in Kentucky, when public health officials there noticed a spike in E. coli cases. At first, … [Read more...]
HEB Chicken Caesar Salad Recalled For Undeclared Anchovies
Taylor Farms Texas, of Dallas, Texas, is recalling about 1,079 pounds 0f Caesar salad with chicken because it contains anchovies, or fish, one of the major food allergens, that is not declared on the label. Anyone who is allergic to fish could have a serious allergic reaction if they eat this product. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to the consumption of this product to date. The recalled product is a ready-to-eat Caesar salad with chicken. It was produced on May 8, 2019. It is packaged in 9.75 ounce clear plastic packages, each of which contains "H.E.B. Shake, Rattle & Bowl Caesar salad with Chicken." The best by date on the product is MAY 18 2019 that is printed on the label. This salad has the establishment number "EST. P-34733" inside the USDA mark … [Read more...]
Starbucks Recalls Bodum Recycled Coffee Presses For Lacteration Hazard
Starbucks is recalling Bodum recycled coffee presses because they pose a laceration hazard. The product is called Bodum + Starbucks Recycled Coffee Presses. The coffee press' plunger knob can break and expose the metal rod in the center. There have been eight reports of the plunger's knob breaking in the U.S. and one report in Canada, which resulted in lacerations and puncture injuries. About 230,000 units were sold in the United States, and 33,200 units were sold in Canada. The 8-cup French coffee press' cylindrical glass beaker, screen, and plunger are held in place by a plastic dark gray frame with locking lid and light gray handle and knob. It measures about 9 inches high and 4 inches at the diameter. The SKU number on the product is 011063549, printed on a white label … [Read more...]
Ground Beef E. coli O103 Outbreak Grows to 196 Sick
The ground beef E. coli O103 outbreak has now sickened at least 196 people in 10 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twenty-eight people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Two people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). No one has died. That's an addition of 19 more ill persons since the last update on April 26, 2019. The patient case count by state is: Florida (5), Georgia (49), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Kentucky (69), Minnesota (1), Mississippi (1), Ohio (12), Tennessee (55), and Virginia (2). The patient age range is from less than 1 year to 84 years, with a median age of 19. The hospitalization rate is 16%. The outbreak notice states that "Ill people in this outbreak ate ground beef from many sources. Some … [Read more...]
Deshi Golden Raisins Recalled For Undeclared Sulfites
Deshi Distributors LLC of Jamaica, New York is recalling Deshi Golden Raisins because they contain undeclared sulfites. Sulfites are compounds that some people may have a severe sensitivity too. Those people may become seriously ill if they eat this product. No illnesses or allergic reactions have been reported to date in connection with this recall. The recalled product is Deshi Golden Raisins, sold in 3.5 ounce, 7 ounce, and 14 ounce packages. They were distributed in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan at the retail level. The UPC numbers are: for the 3.5 ounce product, 691035359586; for the 7 ounce product, 691035360179, and for the 14 ounce product, 691035360483. The recall was initiated after routine sampling by the New York State Department of Agriculture and … [Read more...]
Raw Oysters Sold by DiCarlo Seafood Linked to Outbreak Recalled
Raw oysters that are linked to a multistate, multi pathogen food poisoning outbreak have been recalled, according to the California Department of Public Health. The recalling firm is DiCarlo Seafood of Wilmington, California. At least 16 people who live in 5 states are sick in this outbreak. The pathogens involved are Shigella, Vibrio, E. coli, Campylobacter, and norovirus. Some of the patients are sick with more than one pathogen. Two people have been hospitalized because their illness is so severe. The patients live in Alaska, California, Illinois, New Hampshire, and Nevada. The DiCarlo Seafood imported raw oysters were harvested from Estero El Cardon in Baja California Sur, Mexico. They were sold at restaurants in California. We know they were sold at Fish Market Restaurant at … [Read more...]
Oysters From Mexico Linked to Multistate Shigella Vibrio Outbreak
Oysters from Mexico are linked to a multistate Shigella, Vibrio, E. coli, Campylobacter, and norovirus outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some patients were sickened with more than one pathogen. This outbreak was reported by the California Department of Public Health on May 7, 2019; all of the patients at that time lived in California. Now 16 people from five states are ill in this outbreak. Two people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. No deaths have been reported. One recall, by DiCarlo Seafood in Wilmington, California, has been issued. The case count by state is: Alaska (1), California (12), Illinois (1), New Hampshire (1), and Nevada (1). Illness onset dates range from December 16, 2018 to April 4, 2019. The patient age … [Read more...]
Biltmore Smoked Sockeye Salmon Recalled For Possible Listeria
Seven Seas International LLC of St. Petersburg, Florida is recalling Biltmore Smoked Sockeye Salmon for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recall notice was posted on the Publix web site. The recall notice does not state whether or not anyone has been sickened by this product. Routine regulatory testing by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services found that the bacteria may be present in some product. The recalled product is Biltmore Smoked Sockeye Salmon sold in 4 ounce (113 gram) packages. The GTIN number is 007-36211-88774, and the lot code/best by date is 41 CM/May 23 2019. If you purchased this product, do not eat it. Discard it in a secure garbage can so other people and animals can't access it, or return it to the place of purchase for a … [Read more...]
Will Two Salmonella Outbreaks Linked to Tuna and Melons Grow?
There are currently two Salmonella outbreaks that have sickened at least 130 people in the U.S.: one is linked to precut melons supplied by Caito Foods, and the other to raw ground frozen tuna supplied by JK Fish and imported by Jensen Tuna. The latest updates for these outbreaks were released in April 2019. Will these Salmonella outbreaks grow? It takes two to four weeks from the time a person eats contaminated food, starts feeling sick, sees their doctor, is tested, and gets the results. The illness is then reported to the government, and isolates from that patient may be sent to PulseNet, the national sub typing network of public health laboratories. The only new information provided in 3-1/2 weeks in the raw tuna outbreak was that the FDA has added JK Fish of Vietnam to an … [Read more...]
