Quesos La Ricura Cotija Cheese is being recalled for possible Shiga toxin-producing E. coli contamination (STEC). The company is located in Hicksville, New York. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this issue. The Cotija Cheese (Queso Cotija) was distributed in retail stores in New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Florida. the cheese is contained in a 12 ounce plastic wrapped yellow styrofoam container with a label reading "Quesos La Ricura Queso Cotija, Cotija Cheese aged over 60 days." The UPC number on the product is 7 69087 00933 6. The recalled cheese has a sell by date of May 20, 2020-3/May 20, 2020-4. Sampling at the retail level by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services found the E. coli bacteria in the cheese. If … [Read more...]
What Food Poisoning Outbreaks Are Carrying Over From 2019?
As we enter 2020, there are four multistate food poisoning outbreaks that have not ended, and may still grow. There were many outbreaks in 2019, sickening thousands of people, hospitalizing hundreds, and even killing some. These food poisoning outbreaks that were first announced in 2019 and are still not over include: A deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to Almark Foods hard cooked eggs. was first announced on December 19, 2019. This outbreak has triggered seven secondary recalls for products that were made with those eggs. Seven people are five states are sick. Four of those patients have been hospitalized, and one person who lived in Texas died. Almark Foods has now recalled all hard cooked eggs produced at its facility in Gainesville, Georgia for potential … [Read more...]
What Are the Symptoms of Common Foodborne Pathogens?
Since 48,000,000 Americans are sickened with food poisoning every year, which hospitalizes 128,000 and kills about 3,000, consumers should know the symptoms of these illnesses so they can get prompt treatment. There are 31 different pathogens that are known to cause foodborne illness, but the three most common are Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), and Listeria monocytogenes. What are the symptoms of common foodborne pathogens? Salmonella Symptoms Symptoms of a Salmonella food poisoning illness include a mild fever, a headache, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea that may be bloody. Symptoms usually start 12 to 72 hours after ingestion of the pathogen. Most people do recover on their own without medical treatment, which is why food safety experts use … [Read more...]
Learn How to Handle Flour Safely in Holiday Baking to Avoid Illness
It's time to make Christmas and Hanukah desserts, including cookies, cakes, and pies. Everyone should learn how to handle flour safely during the holiday baking time with tips from the FDA. Flour is a raw food. Most people don't realize that because it is processed, but it's a raw agricultural product. Wheat is grown outdoors, and can be exposed to many different types of pathogens, including E. coli and Salmonella. Unfortunately, processing raw grains into flour doesn't kill these pathogens. Eggs, too, are another health risk. Raw eggs can be contaminated with Salmonella; in fact, there have been quite a few food poisoning outbreaks over the years linked to eating raw or undercooked eggs. As with flour, cooking to a safe final temperature is the only way to destroy pathogens on … [Read more...]
Wild Harvest Organic Flour Recalled For Possible E. coli
UNFI is recalling five pound bags of its Wild Harvest Organic Flour for possible E. coli contamination. The pathogen was fond during routine sampling of this product. There have not been any direct consumer reports of confirmed illnesses related to this product. The recall is for Wild Harvest Organic All-Purpose Flour, Unbleached. the package UPC number is 711535509158 and the best if used by date is AA BEST IF USED BY 010820 CC 15:58. These numbers can be found on top of the product label. This recall only affects this one code date of the flour currently in stores or in consumers' pantries. Check your pantry to see if you have purchased this flour. If you have, or if you have decanted the flour into another container and no longer have the label, discard it. Throw it away after … [Read more...]
Hodgson Mill Flour Recalled For Possible E. coli Contamination
Hodgson Mill flour recalled for possible E. coli contamination. Hodgson Mill of Effingham, Illinois is voluntarily recalling specific lots of its Unbleached All Purpose White Wheat Flour sold in 5 pound bags. The potential presence of pathogenic E. coli was found when sampling raw uncooked flour. No reports of illness associated with the consumption of this product have been received to date. The recalled product is Hodgson Mill Unbleached All Purpose White Wheat Flour sold in 5 pound bags. The UPC number on the product is 0-71518-05009-2. The best by dates printed on the packages are 10-01-2020 and 10-02-2020, and the lot codes are 001042 and 005517. The use by and lot code information are on the bottom back panel of the bag. This recall is, again, a good reminder not to eat … [Read more...]
How to Report a Problem With Food to the FDA and USDA
Most Americans have had food poisoning at one time or another, giving that 48,000,000 Americans contract this form of illness every year. Most people think they have the "stomach flu" or a "24 hour bug" when they actually have food poisoning. How do you report a problem with food? What do you do if you think you have food poisoning? First, know the symptoms of food poisoning for various pathogens: E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella. You can report your illness to the government if you think that a problem with food (such as the Northfork Bison E. coli outbreak) purchased from a store is the problem. First, call your doctor to get necessary treatment. Many foodborne illnesses can have long term health complications and this should be noted on your medical … [Read more...]
Gold Medal Unbleached Flour Recalled For E. coli O26 Contamination
General Mills is recalling five pound bags of Gold Medal unbleached flour with a "better if used by" date of September 6, 2020 for possible E. coli O26 contamination. No "direct consumer reports of confirmed illnesses related to this product" have been received to date. The pathogen was found during routine sampling. The UPC number on the product is 016000 196100. Just this one date code of Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour in five pound bags, 06SEP2020KC, is recalled. All other types of Gold Medal flour are not affected by this recall. Check your pantry to see if you have this flour. If so, throw it away in a sealed container in a secure garbage can with a tight fitting lid so other people and animals can't access it. You can also take it back to the place of purchase … [Read more...]
Urban Remedy Recalls Salads and Wraps For Possible E. coli
Urban Remedy of California, is recalling 76 organic salads and wraps that contain spinach which may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria. The company says that spinach from a supplier tested positive for a small amount of E. coli. Urban Remedy is no longer purchasing spinach from that supplier. Seventy-six of these items are "still unaccounted for," according to the recall notice. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this recall. All of the products have a use-by date of September 15, 2019. The recalled products are thirty 12-ounce package of Black Rice Umeboshi Bowl with UPC number 813377 022595, twenty one 9.7 ounce packages of The Benedict Brunch Bowl with UPC number 813377 022854, fourteen 6.7 ounce packages of Samosa Cauli Wrap with UPC number 813377 … [Read more...]
Owner of New England Meat Packing Admits Fabricating E. coli Results
According to the Justice Department, Memet Beqiri, also known as Matt Beqiri, pleaded guilty today in a Hartford federal court to falsifying E. coli test results for his business, New England Meat Packing, LLC. That company is located in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. Mr. Beqiri waived his right to be indicted. According to the USDA's approved Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan for New England Meat Packing, the company must perform one generic E. coli carcass test for every 300 animals slaughtered. They must also periodically collect ground beef samples for E. coli testing. Between November 3, 2016 and September 9, 2017, Beqiri authorized the preparation and submission in the company's Lab Sample Report binder 36 documents relating to 52 separate carcass … [Read more...]
