The recall of ProSource Produce onions for possible Salmonella contamination in Canada has been updated with a farm name. Gwillimdale Farms onions imported from Mexico are recalled. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency discovered this information during their investigation. Onions imported from Mexico are linked to a Salmonella outbreak in the United States that has sickened at least 652 people. However, there have been no reported illnesses in Canada that are associated with the consumption of these onions. The recall was triggered by a recall in the U.S. by ProSource Produce LLC (ProSource Inc.) of Hailey, Idaho. The onions were sold in Ontario and Quebec and may have been sold nationally at the retail level. The recalled product is all Gwillimdale Farms onions. The two pound … [Read more...]
ProSource Produce Onions Recalled in Canada For Salmonella
ProSource Produce onions are being recalled in Canada for possible Salmonella contamination, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The onions are from Chihuahua, Mexico. Onions from Chihuahua, Mexico, imported by ProSource Produce LLC (ProSource Inc.), are linked to a huge Salmonella outbreak in the United States. There are no reported illnesses in Canada that are associated with the consumption of these onions. The onions were distributed in Ontario and Quebec and may have been distributed nationally at the retail level. Whole raw red, yellow, and white onions are called. The onions may also have been sold in bulk or smaller packages with or without a label. They may not have the same brand or product names as described in this recall notice. The recalled … [Read more...]
USDA Makes Effort to Reduce Poultry Salmonella Illnesses
The USDA announced a new effort to reduce poultry Salmonella Illnesses, to try to achieve a national target of a 25% reduction in those illnesses. Several "key activities" are being launched to gather data and information that is needed to support future action. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement, "Far too many consumers become ill every year from poultry contaminated by Salmonella. We need to be constantly evolving in our efforts to prevent foodborne illness to stay one step ahead of the bad bugs. Today we’re taking action to help prevent Salmonella contamination throughout the poultry supply chain and production system to protect public health." USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety Sandra Eskin said, in a Consumer Federation of America Virtual National … [Read more...]
FDA Assesses Whole Genome Sequencing Effectiveness
The FDA has published a study on the effectiveness of the GenomeTrakr Whole Genome Sequencing Network, which is a tool the government uses to detect, investigate, and limit the spread of outbreaks that are linked to FDA-regulated foods. Despite improvements in the food safety system in this country, foodborne outbreaks are a major public health threat, sickening at least 9.4 million Americans every year, causing 56,000 hospitalizations and 1400 deaths. Illnesses caused by foods regulated by the FDA account for about 80% of the total estimated annual foodborne illnesses in this country. The FDA thinks that the program was cost effective in its second year and is generating $100 to $450 million in net annual health benefits, compared to a $22 million investment by public health … [Read more...]
Georgetown Outbreak Has Increased to 62 Sick Students and Residents
The Georgetown outbreak has increased to 62 sick on the Main Campus, including students and "community members." That is an increase of 20 more patients since the last update on Thursday, September 23, 2021. We don't know the official patient age range in this outbreak, but college age students are in their late teens to early or mid 20s. Staff members are included in this outbreak. Health officials have seen a "marked decrease" in case numbers over the past two days, according to the update from the administration. The university is still coordinating with DC Health to investigate the source of these illnesses. Officials have still not identified a common food source among those who have been sick, which includes students and staff living both on- and off-campus. Georgetown … [Read more...]
September is Food Safety Education Month to Stay Healthy
September is Food Safety Education Month to keep you and your family healthy. This year the focus is on how to prevent food poisoning when cooking at home. First, following the four step recipe for food safety is crucial: Clean (wash your hands often, clean counters with hot soapy water, don't wash chicken or meat); Separate (keep raw meat, chicken, turkey, seafood, and eggs away from produce); Cook (cook foods to safe final internal temperatures and use a food thermometer); and Chill (refrigerate leftovers promptly). Then, you should focus on preventing Salmonella infections. Salmonella causes more foodborne illnesses in the United States than any other bacteria. Chicken is a major source of these illnesses, although outbreaks linked to ground beef have also … [Read more...]
Consumer Advocates Call for Modernization of Poultry Food Safety
Consumer advocates, food poisoning survivors, scientists, and four major poultry producers are calling for the modernization of poultry food safety to reduce illnesses, according to Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). These groups want to meet with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to discuss a "modernized, science-based regulatory approach to ensure the food safety of poultry products." The four poultry products are Butterball, Perdue Farms, Tyson Foods, and Wayne Farms. The four consumer groups are CSPI, Consumer Federation of American, Consumer Reports, and Stop Foodborne Illness. Campylobacter and Salmonella infections make up 705 of the foodborne illnesses tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Those pathogens are commonly found on … [Read more...]
Top Quality Beef HVM Dog Food Recalled For Salmonella and Listeria
Top Quality Beef HVM Dog Food is being recalled for possible Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes contamination. No illnesses have been reported to the company to date in connection with this problem. The recalling firm is Top Quality Dog Food of Hyattsville, Maryland. People can contract foodborne illness from dog food in several ways. First, if they touch the product and then eat without washing their hands, they can get sick. Second, dogs that are fed this food can become carriers and either get sick or not show any symptoms, but they will shed the bacteria in feces. Then people can get sick by petting the dogs, or touching items in their environment. Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infections in pets can include mild to severe diarrhea, anorexia, fever, nervous, … [Read more...]
Mr. Porky Original Scratchings Recalled For Possible Salmonella
Mr. Porky Original Scratchings is being recalled in Canada for possible Salmonella contamination. No illnesses have been reported to the company to date in connection with the consumption of this product. The recalling firm is Morgan Williams International Inc. The scratchings (pork rinds) were sold nationally at the consumer level. The recalled product is Mr. Pork Original Scratchings (cooked seasoned pork rind). The product was sold in 65 gram packages. The UPC number that is printed on the product label is 5 010052 112700. All best before dates up to and including 19 FEB 22 (February 19, 2022) are included in this recall. The recall was triggered by a recall in another country. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has launched a food safety investigation, which may cause … [Read more...]
Genji Pacific Shrimp Sushi Rolls Recalled For Possible Salmonella
Genji Pacific Shrimp Sushi Rolls are being recalled because they contain cocktail shrimp produced by Avanti Frozen Foods. This secondary recall is being issued because frozen fully cooked shrimp imported by Avanti Foods from India is linked to a multistate Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least nine people in four states. No illnesses have been reported in association with these recalled products, however. The recalling company is Genji Pacific LLC of Allentown, Pennsylvania. The recall is for 1,490 packages of sushi containing cocktail shrimp. The products are packaged in clear lid containers, with labels that indicate the product name, ingredients, and best by date. The products can be identified with the Hand-Crafted dates of 8/12/2021 and 8/13/2021 and the corresponding … [Read more...]
