Food Safety News
Displaying Articles 1 to 10 of 50
Prev
|
Next
Oyster Ban Signals New Focus on Prevention
11/2/2009
ABC News.com
Z. BYRON WOLF
abcnews.go.com/Politics/food-safety-fda-ban-unpasteurized-oysters-summer/story?id=8960440
More than a billion oysters are harvested each year from the Gulf of Mexico. They're fried, broiled, barbecued, served Rockefeller and sucked down raw throughout the country.Nearly all the oysters consumed in the U.S. are farmed from cultures. And refrigeration makes them safe to eat year-round.
But there is something to the old saying that oysters should only be consumed in months where the name includes an "R" (i.e. not in the summer): It is a bacteria called vibrio vulnificus.
Of the very many people who eat those oysters, it is a pretty small subset -- 15 per year in the United States, on average -- who die from the bacteria vibrio vulnificus, which can become concentrated in oysters harvested in the summer and eaten raw. Another 15 suffer permanent health problems, from kidney failure to amputations.
For the complete news item, please go to http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/food-safety-fda-ban-unpasteurized-oysters-summer/story?id=8960440
E. coli concerns prompt huge ground beef recall, one death reported
11/2/2009
The Meatingplace.com
Lisa M. Keefe
www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details.aspx?item=14261
Fairbank Farms is recalling about 545,699 pounds of fresh ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Saturday.
The products made by Fairbank Farms, based in Ashville, N.Y., were sold with the labels Trader Joe's, Price Chopper, Lancaster, Wild Harvest, Shaw's, BJ's, Ford Brothers and Giant retailers. For a complete list of the products, click here.
Each package bears the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection or on the nutrition label. These products were packaged on September 15 and 16, 2009, and may have been labeled at the retail stores with a sell-by date from September 19 through 28, 2009. The products were sent to distribution centers, intended for further distribution to retail establishments in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
For the complete news item, please go to http://www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details.aspx?item=14261
Beef Recall: One Person Dies; New York Producer Issues Recall of Ground Beef Products
11/2/2009
ABC News.com
SUZAN CLARKE
abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/beef-recall-ecoli-contamination-fear-prompts-ground-beef/story?id=8970713
One person died and at least two people were sickened after eating ground beef in New Hampshire that was possibly contaminated with E. coli bacteria.
Health officials said Saturday the products were packaged between Sept. 15-16 and may have been labeled with sell-by dates from Sept. 19-28, according to The Associated Press.
The contaminated meat may be related to the recall of almost 546,000 pounds of ground beef in Connecticut, Maine and Massachusetts. That meat was sold by Fairbank Farms in Ashville, N.Y.
For the complete news item, please go to http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/beef-recall-ecoli-contamination-fear-prompts-ground-beef/story?id=8970713
CDC: Tainted ground beef may be linked to 2 deaths
11/2/2009
Associated Press/Washington Post
BEN DOBBIN
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/02/AR2009110201389.html
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Contaminated fresh ground beef caused a possible E. coli outbreak that killed two people and sent 16 others to hospitals, federal health officials said Monday.
Twenty-eight people may have become ill after eating beef produced by Fairbank Farms of Ashville, N.Y., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. All but three of the suspected infections are in the northeastern U.S. and 18 are in New England, said CDC spokeswoman Lola Scott Russell.
Fairbank Farms recalled almost 546,000 pounds of fresh ground beef that had been distributed in September to stores from North Carolina to Maine. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's recall notice, dated Saturday, said the possibly tainted meat had been sold in numerous ways, from meatloaf and meatball mix to hamburger patties.
One of the deaths was an adult from Albany County, N.Y., who had several underlying health conditions, according to the state Health Department. The other fatality was previously reported by New Hampshire, where health officials said a patient died of complications.
For the complete news item, please go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/02/AR2009110201389.html
FDA, JIFSAN Travel to Bangladesh to Teach Seafood Safety
11/2/2009
US Food & Drug Administration
press release
www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm188750.htm
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) have sent a team of seafood specialists to Bangladesh this week to help train local officials on aquaculture safety and quality control techniques.
The goal of the trip is to work with Bangladeshi officials to help the country improve the overall quality and safety of its aquaculture products for both domestic and international markets.
“Collaborating with other countries in this way not only helps to improve the quality and safety of their domestic product, but also what they export to the United States and other countries around the world,” said FDA Deputy Commissioner for International Programs Murray M. Lumpkin, M.D.
The training will include lectures, demonstrations, site visits, and workgroup activities. Using a “train-the-trainer” model, those who successfully complete the program will be qualified to continue training others in their country on accepted “Good Aquacultural Practices.” The FDA and JIFSAN, supported by cooperative partnerships, also provide materials that allow the countries to continue the training programs.
For the complete press release, please go to http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm188750.htm
Alexia Foods issues nationwide allergy alert and product recall on its Alexia Olive Oil, Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Pesto Oven Reds frozen potatoes due to undeclared pine nut allergen
10/31/2009
US Food & Drug Administration
press release
www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm188570.htm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 30, 2009 – Today, Alexia Foods, Inc, Kennewick, WA, in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is voluntarily recalling packages of its Alexia – Olive Oil, Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Pesto Oven Reds (frozen seasoned potato wedges) for an undeclared allergen, pine nuts. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to pine nuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.
The product was distributed to retail stores nationwide.
The affected product, Alexia – Olive Oil, Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Pesto Oven Reds, is packaged in 15 oz. white poly bags with a teal-colored graphic banner and pictures seasoned potato wedges on the front bag panel. This voluntary recall is limited to only packages of Alexia – Olive Oil, Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Pesto Oven Reds bearing the following Sell By dates (shown below) printed on the upper left back panel of the poly package with the UPC # 34183 00108. No other Alexia frozen or shelf stable products are affected.
For the complete recall notice, please go to http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm188570.htm
New York Firm Recalls Fresh Ground Beef Products Due To Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination
10/31/2009
USDA Food Safety & Inspection Service
press release
www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_059_2009_Release/index.asp
WASHINGTON, October 31, 2009 - Fairbank Farms, an Ashville, NY, establishment, is recalling approximately 545,699 pounds of fresh ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
FSIS became aware of the problem during the course of an investigation of a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses. Working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health and agriculture departments, FSIS determined that there is an association between the fresh ground beef products subject to recall and illnesses in Connecticut, Maine and Massachusetts. FSIS is continuing to work with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Connecticut Department of Public Health, other state health and agriculture departments and the CDC on the investigation. Anyone with signs or symptoms of foodborne illness should consult a physician.
For the complete recall notice, including a list of recalled lots, please go to http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_059_2009_Release/index.asp
FDA smackdown pits bacteria against bacteria
10/31/2009
Washington Post
Lyndsey Layton
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/30/AR2009103003784.html
The 10 tomatoes sitting in a Tupperware tub at the Food and Drug Administration seem to be doing nothing more than rotting, slowly. But an invisible battle is raging on the surface of the fruit, with provocative implications for food safety and the war that humans have been waging against bacteria for a century.
"This is the wrestling ring," said Eric Brown, a microbiologist at the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, as he clicked open the lid to the tub. "This is the smack-down."
Brown and a team of FDA scientists trying to prevent salmonella contamination in tomatoes have stumbled upon what they believe are powerful, naturally occurring "good" bacteria that can slaughter the "bad" bacteria that have become a persistent problem in fresh fruits and vegetables because they harm humans.
For the complete news item, please go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/30/AR2009103003784.html
USDA condemns alleged abuses at Vt. veal packer, shuts plant down
10/30/2009
The Meatingplace.com
Tom Johnston
www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details.aspx?item=14259
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Friday condemned alleged abuses at a Vermont slaughter plant based on evidence provided by a Humane Society of the United States mole.
According to an HSUS press release, USDA and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture have suspended operations at Grande Isle, Vt.-based Bushways Packing Co. after HSUS released a videotape with footage showing abuses including calves being kicked, slapped and "repeatedly" shocked with electric prods.
"The deplorable scenes recorded in the video released by the Humane Society of the United States are unequivocally unacceptable. The callous behavior and attitudes displayed in the video clearly appear to be violations of USDA's humane handling regulations," Vilsack said in a USDA-issued statement.
For the complete news item, please go to http://www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details.aspx?item=14259
AGRICULTURE SECRETARY VILSACK RESPONDS TO ALLEGATIONS FROM THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES
10/30/2009
USDA Food Safety & Inspection Service
press release
www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/10/0540.xml
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2009 - In response to the events at Bushways Packing Inc. in Grand Isle, Vt., Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said:
"The deplorable scenes recorded in the video released by the Humane Society of the United States are unequivocally unacceptable. The callous behavior and attitudes displayed in the video clearly appear to be violations of USDA's humane handling regulations.
"USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is investigating these alleged violations of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA). FSIS took immediate action with respect to its employee and the establishment upon preliminary verification of the incident. The Department fully supports the investigation of all those involved in these alleged violations of the HMSA. To this end, I have also called on our Inspector General to conduct a criminal investigation of the events in the video.
For the complete press release, please visit http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/10/0540.xml
Displaying Articles 1 to 10 of 50
Prev
|
Next
Print this Page
