Today, more USDA individual state twitter feeds were announced. The USDA is setting up this program to make consumers more aware of health alerts and recalls for meat, poultry, and processed egg products. The sites launched today include: Illinois Indiana Kentucky Michigan North Carolina Ohio South Carolina Wisconsin As we head into severe weather season, these sites will be even more valuable, as the government is going to be tweeting about keeping your food safety during weather emergencies. Stay tuned! … [Read more...]
Following the Trend: USDA Launches State Twitter Feeds
March 1, 2012 by
The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) launched a series of Twitter feeds that will provide state-specific, food safety alerts to consumers. The alerts will focus on meat, poultry, and processed egg products. Information about protecting food supplies during severe weather will also be provided. Food Poisoning Bulletin has told you about Twitter aiding food poisoning outbreaks in real time, and how researchers are studying social media to help predict outbreaks. This is something new. Twitter feeds for all U.S. states and territories will launch during the first week of March. The first feeds launched today, for: Alaska Arizona California Colorado Hawaii Idaho New Mexico Nevada Oregon Utah Washington USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. … [Read more...]
FDA Enforcement Report
February 26, 2012 by
Every week the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posts an Enforcement Report that details the recalls the agency is monitoring. These recalls are usually not listed in press releases, even though some of the products could be quite dangerous. Recalls are classified in different ways. Sometimes the company involved issues a recall over the phone or by snail mail, and the FDA has to operate under strict regulations. So check back here every Thursday and we'll list all of the recalls related to food and food products. We'll link to the recalls we've already told you about. Recalls and Field Corrections for Foods: 1. Bin Bin brand rice crackers. Recall was for undeclared eggs in the product. The recall is ongoing. 2. Umpqua brand name dairy products and fruit drinks. These … [Read more...]
Healthy People Co. Expands Voluntary Recall
February 22, 2012 by
The February 2, 2012 recall of dietary products by Healthy People Co. is being expanded. The brand names of the recalled products are listed below. This update recalls all listed products regardless of their lot number. The products were sold on or before October 25, 2011 and were distributed nationwide. The products may contain Sibutramine and Tadalafil, which are FDA-approved drugs. The presence of those drugs in these products makes the products unapproved new drugs. Sibutramine has been withdrawn from the U.S. market because people taking it had an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. For more information about the drugs and their inclusion in these products, please see the previous recall. Product details: MINCE BELLE (Dietary Supplement) 30 capsules UPC Number … [Read more...]
Tour Eiffel Parisian Cooked Ham Recalled in Canada
February 22, 2012 by
The Canadian Food Inspection agency (CFIA) and Charcuterie La Tour Eiffel are recalling the Tour Eiffel brand Parisian Cooked Ham because it may be contaminated with dangerous bacteria or parasites. Details about the product: Tour Eiffel brand Parisian Cooked Ham Sold from deli counters at Sobeys stores (e.g. IGA, IGA extra) Sold at deli counters at some Metro stores (e.g. Metro, Marché Richelieu) Sold at some independent grocers and delis in Quebec Sold between February 10, 2012 and February 21, 2012 Some packages may not have a label with brand or date information If you have purchased ham from one of these stores and can't tell if the product is part of the recall, check with the retailer. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this … [Read more...]
More News About Sprouts
January 25, 2012 by
Raw sprouts are a major source of foodborne illness because of the way they are grown and sprouted. The FDA warns those in high risk groups to avoid raw sprouts altogether. In just the last month, Food Poisoning Bulletin has told you about seven recalls and recall updates about this type of product. December 23, 2011: Green Valley Food Corporation recalls 650 cases of alfalfa sprouts with Salmonella contamination. December 24, 2011: The Green Valley alfalfa sprouts recall grows to 6,723 cases and expands to other sprout varieties. January 1, 2012: The Green Valley Food Corp. recall of sprouts expands to include many more varieties. This story includes an explanation of why sprouts are so dangerous: bacteria are insidethe seeds, and the growing environment is the perfect setting … [Read more...]
More Hannaford Ground Beef Salmonella Cases
December 20, 2011 by
Two more people have been infected with a strain of Salmonella, Salmonella typhimurium, found in ground beef sold at Hannaford grocery stores. This brings the total number of cases to 16. This particular strain is antibiotic-resistant, which makes it very dangerous, potentially causing increased risk of treatment failure and hospitalization. The USDA has not been able to determine the source of the contaminated beef. Supermarkets combine ground meats from more than one source to create blends with varying fat levels. That can make it very difficult to find the origin of meats. … [Read more...]
Undeclared Milk in Instantwhip Topping Prompts Recall
December 18, 2011 by
Ohio Processors, Inc. of London, Ohio recalled Instantwhip B/C Topping because the product contains an undeclared milk ingredient (sodium caseinate). The recalled Instantwhip was sold to Instantwhip foodservice distributors in Ohio, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Michigan. From there it was sold to food service companies. The recall involves the following products: Instantwhip B/C Topping packaged in ½ gallon containers with codes 060, 080, 124, 143, 145, 167, 179, 188, 193, 244, 256, 300, 313, and expiration codes 12/16/11, 12/21/11, 12/28/11, 12/30/11, 1/7/12, 1/12/12. These are the only products subject to this recall. Instantwhip B/C Topping is not packaged for retail distribution, but is sold for use in cafeterias, restaurants and other eating establishments. … [Read more...]
Hunter PR Releases Top 10 Food Stories of 2011
December 16, 2011 by
Every year, consumer groups and public relations companies put together “Top 10” lists of the most popular and significant stories. Hunter Public Relations has an annual survey about the most significant food stories of the year. This year, food safety topped the list. The top 10 stories are: 1. Twenty-nine deaths caused by a Listeria outbreak in cantaloupe. The outbreak began in August and was declared ended by the CDC on December 9. 2. First lady Michelle Obama replaces Food Pyramid with MyPlate. Mrs. Obama has launched a campaign against obesity and poor diet choices, in an effort to address dietary health concerns in this country. The plate is a visual reminder to eat more fruits and vegetables, in an easy-to-understand format. The USDA worked with the White House to develop … [Read more...]
