Monthly Archives: December 2014

Salmonella positive: Jump Your Bones recalls Roo Bites (Cubes) pet treats

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Jump Your Bones, Inc. of Boca Raton, Florida is voluntarily recalling Jump Your Bones brand name Roo Bites (Cubes) because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. No pet or consumer illnesses from this product have been reported to date.

sadie.dog.powellSalmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The affected lots of Jump Your Bones Pet Treats were distributed to retail pet food stores nationwide and through pet food retailers/distributors.

The affected products are sold in Boutique Bags and online stores. The products affected by this recall are only identified with the following UPC codes:

63633010041 for 80g. / 2.82oz. including samples of .32 oz.

This recall is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Consumers who have purchased the above product of Jump Your Bones, Inc. pet treats are urged to stop feeding them and return product to place of purchase for a full refund or dispose of them immediately. For further information about the recall please call (888) 249-6755 from Monday – Friday 9am – 5PM EST.

Multistate outbreak of Listeriosis linked to commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples

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As the number of illnesses increased to 32 from Listeria in caramel apples, clues emerged regarding the source of the original contamination.

caramel.appleThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports:

◦       Three voluntary recalls of commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples have been announced by Happy Apples, California Snack Foods, and Merb’s Candies after hearing from Bidart Brothers, an apple supplier, that there may be a connection between Bidart Brothers apples and this listeriosis outbreak.

◦       Investigators are continuing to work to identify if any other brands or types of commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples may be linked to illnesses.

◦       CDC continues to recommend that U.S. consumers do not eat any commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples, including plain caramel apples as well as those containing nuts, sprinkles, chocolate, or other toppings, until more specific guidance can be provided.

◦       Although caramel apples are often a fall seasonal product, contaminated commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples may still be for sale at grocery stores and other retailers nationwide or may be in consumers’ homes.

• As of December 30, 2014, a total of 32 people infected with the outbreak strains of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 11 states.

◦       Thirty-one ill people have been hospitalized and six deaths have been reported. Listeriosis contributed to three of these deaths and it is unclear whether it contributed to an additional two deaths. The sixth death was unrelated to listeriosis.

◦       Ten illnesses were pregnancy-related (occurred in a pregnant woman or her newborn infant), with one illness resulting in a fetal loss.

◦       Three invasive illnesses (meningitis) were among otherwise healthy children aged 5–15 years.

◦       The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has identified 2 cases of listeriosis in Canada with the same PFGE patterns as seen in the US outbreak.

listeria4JoNel Aleccia of The Seattle Times reports that all of the retailers said they were issuing recalls after learning that Bidart Bros., a Bakersfield, Calif., apple producer, had voluntarily recalled fresh apples because they may be contaminated with listeria. In a letter to suppliers dated Dec. 22, company president Leonard A. Bidart said the firm had consulted with the federal Food and Drug Administration and California public health officials.

“Out of an abundance of caution tempered by our deep concern for public safety, we are instituting a recall of the processor apples we shipped to you during the 2014 season,” the letter said. However, no formal notification of the Bidart recall has been issued by the FDA or the California Department of Public Health.

In the Northwest, the Bidart move forced the recall of about 220 cases of prepackaged caramel apples distributed by Pacific Coast Fruit Company, said Ted Hendryx, executive vice president.

£7,500 fine for topping chicken kebab special with drill bit: UK

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A takeaway owner has been charged more than £7,500 for topping a chicken kebab special with a three-inch drill bit.

Pizza Top:Top Kebab, a takeaway in High Street, HornchurchThe DIY meal was dished up in July 2013 after a customer placed an order on website JustEat with Pizza Top/Top Kebab, a takeaway in High Street, Hornchurch, owned by Nehmatullah Jamalzadah.

But he bit off more than he could chew when he came across the metal tool while eating it. Luckily, he managed to avoid swallowing it or damaging his teeth, and complained to the online takeaway company.

JustEat attempted to contact Pizza Top but after failed attempts the customer was told to call back later. It was then that he contacted Havering environmental health officers.

The council visited the premises and found repair works had taken place and the premises were in a mess with electrical equipment, screwdrivers, decorating materials and other equipment that had not been cleared away.

Tetrodotoxin poisoning outbreak from imported dried puffer fish — Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2014

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that on June 13, 2014, two patients went to the Hennepin County Medical Center Emergency Department in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with symptoms suggestive of tetrodotoxin poisoning (i.e., oral paresthesias, weakness, and dyspnea) after consuming dried puffer fish (also known as globefish) purchased during a recent visit to New York City.

puffer.fish.dec.14The patients said two friends who consumed the same fish had similar, although less pronounced, symptoms and had not sought care. The Minnesota Department of Health conducted an investigation to determine the source of the product and samples were sent to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition for chemical and genetic analysis.

Genetic analysis identified the product as puffer fish (Lagocephalus lunaris) and chemical analysis determined it was contaminated with high levels of tetrodotoxin. A traceback investigation was unable to determine the original source of the product. Tetrodotoxin is a deadly, potent poison; the minimum lethal dose in an adult human is estimated to be 2–3 mg (1). Tetrodotoxin is a heat-stable and acid-stable, nonprotein, alkaloid toxin found in many species of the fish family Tetraodontidae (puffer fish) as well as in certain gobies, amphibians, invertebrates, and the blue-ringed octopus (2). Tetrodotoxin exerts its effects by blocking voltage-activated sodium channels, terminating nerve conduction and muscle action potentials, leading to progressive paralysis and, in extreme cases, to death from respiratory failure. Because these fish were reportedly purchased in the United States, they pose a substantial U.S. public health hazard given the potency of the toxin and the high levels of toxin found in the fish.

Seagulls ‘will pose a health risk for Rugby World Cup fans’ claims UK businessman

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Seagulls could pose a serious health risk to rugby fans as thousands flock to Gloucester to take in the spectacle of world cup matches in the city.

seagull.world.cupThat is the claim of one businessman who has been forced to leave his city centre location as a result of the surge in numbers in recent years.

Former city councillor Stuart Wilson, from county finance specialists Equity Advice, said packed Gloucester streets and an increase in rubbish will not just swell the city coffers, but also the numbers of seagulls nesting in rooftops.

“I moved my business out of the city because of the problem,” he said. “We moved out of Northgate Street in the summer, and relocated to where the seagulls are less active.

“I love all animals but a cull is simply a pest control issue. I’m not asking to wipe out the entire species, just reduce the numbers. …

“We will have visitors from around the world who will be attacked, defecated on, rubbish will be strewn around our city , and as usual our council will offer false platitudes and claim oiling is the only option.

“They omit to tell the public that they won’t send staff over a certain height or onto privately owned buildings.”

A city council spokesperson said: “The Rugby World Cup starts in September after the nesting season for gulls so we don’t expect to see an increase during this time.

Animal bones to make biscuits crunchier in India?

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A raid on a food factory in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad unearthed mounds of animal bones on Tuesday, officials said, raising fears that the cattle remains were used to adulterate biscuits.

animal.bones.biscuitsSources in the food department suspected that the factory could have been using animal bones as powder or in other forms to make the biscuits “more crispy and tasty.”

Brand 8 oz. Chopped Walnuts and Fisher Brand 8 oz. Pecan Cookie Pieces

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John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. (JBSS) announced today that it is voluntarily recalling Fisher 8 oz. Chopped Walnuts and Fisher 8 oz. Pecan Cookie Pieces packaged in plastic bags because some of these products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

salm.walnuts.dec.14Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Consumers who have recently purchased the items with the BEST BY DATES listed below at stores located in AR, AZ, CO, KS, LA, MO, NM, OK, and TX or online should not consume this product and should return it to the store of purchase for a full refund or replacement. The BEST BY DATES can be found on the back of the bags.

Item Description:

JBSS Item Code UPC# BRAND PRODUCT DESCRIPTION UNIT WT. UM BEST BY DATE
             
P02352 070690 02360 3 Fisher Chopped Walnuts 8   10/31/15 TQ2
P02352 070690 02360 3 Fisher Chopped Walnuts 8   11/01/15 TQ1
P02352 070690 02360 3 Fisher Chopped Walnuts 8   11/01/15 TQ2
P02352 070690 02360 3 Fisher Chopped Walnuts 8   11/03/15 TQ1
P02352 070690 02360 3 Fisher Chopped Walnuts 8   11/03/15 TQ2
             
P02351

 

 070690 02351 1

 

 Fisher

 

 Pecan Cookie Pieces

 

 8

 

 oz.

 

 11/03/15 TQ1

 
P02351 070690 02351 1 Fisher Pecan Cookie Pieces 8   11/03/15 TQ2

To date, JBSS has not received any reports of illnesses in connection with the items listed above.

walnuts.sorenne.apr.11This voluntary recall is the result of a routine sampling program conducted by the FDA in the retail marketplace which revealed that a package of Fisher Chopped Walnuts contained Salmonella.

Contact for Consumers:
Consumers or customers who have questions about the above recall may contact John B. Sanfilippo and Son, Inc. Customer Service toll-free at (800) 874-8734 Monday through Friday from 8:15 AM to 5:15 PM Central Time.

Listeria positive: Bleating Heart Cheese expanding voluntary recall to include all cheese produced between Feb. 2014 to Sept. 2014

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Bleating Heart Cheese (BHC) is expanding its voluntary recall notice of December 17, 2014 to cover all of its sheep milk, goat milk, water buffalo milk and cows milk cheese produced between February 14, 2014 (coded as 14–0214) and September 19, 2014 (coded as 14-0919) due to an abundance of caution concerning the possibility of Listeria monocytogenes being present in some cheese (see below for a complete list). The codes on the botto label of all Bleating Heart cheese represent “Year-Month & Day of the Month” when the cheese was produced. At this time, no illnesses have been reported. Consumers that still have the recalled Bleating Heart cheese in their refrigerators should discard it in amanner so it is not consumed.

bleating.heart.cheese“Buff Ewe Blue” and “Buff Blue” – natural rind, blue-style cheese, aged 3 – 4months

“Double Down Blue” – natural rind, blue-style cheese, aged 3 – 4 months with a double heart imprint on the rind

“Ewelicious Blue” – natural rind, blue-style cheese, aged 2 – 3 months

“Fat Bottom Girl” – natural rind, aged 2 – 3months

“Funky Beats” – washed rind, aged 2-3 months. Note: this cheese has been sold out for some time and is not likely to be in themarket place

“Goldette Tommette” – natural rind, aged 2 – 3months

“Mixtress” – natural rind, aged 2 – 3months

“Moolicious Blue” – natural rind blue-style cheese, aged 3-4months

“Shepherdista” – natural rind, aged 2-3months

Pictures of all of the cheese labels can be found at the end of this notice. More detailed information on all of the Bleating Heart cheeses can be found at http://www.bleatingheart.com/cheese.

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, pregnant women and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths and fetal infection among pregnant women. Consumers should contact their physician if they exhibit any of the listed symptoms.

The cheeses listed were sold to distributors servicing the California as well as Pennsylvania areas who in-turn sold to retail food shops, restaurants and stores. Anyone that has distributed the cheese identified above needs to immediately notify their customers of the voluntary recall and encourage them to destroy any identified cheese based on instructions from Bleating Heart Cheese. Any of the above cheese still in a distributor’s inventory needs to be isolated/quarantined and prepared for return to Bleating Heart Cheese, which will provide a full refund upon receipt of the cheese and verification of its identity.

The recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the US Food and Drug Administration. If you have any questions or seek additional information, please call 858-472-1754 during our normal hours of operations (Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:00pm PST) or email us at dave@bleatingheart.com.

Blame game erupts in tragic New Brunswick outbreak

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There’s lots of talk about an organization creating and fostering a positive food safety culture, with much of the of focus being internal. Food safety goes beyond what the organization controls in day-to-day activities (like internal value systems, processes, training, support, and others).

A retailer doesn’t have a good food safety culture if it only places resources on their own staff and ignores suppliers’ actions and fails to communicate risks to consumers.image

Same thing goes for a place that rents space to others. Keeping the equipment up to standard is one thing, but if you truly value food safety you also need to check out who is using the space and gauge their ability to manage risks. And that’s not easy.

The consequence of just being a place that rents space and doesn’t work with the users is that if something bad happens (like 30 illnesses and a death) you’re all in it together.

Just ask the Nackawic Lions Club.

According to CTV news, the Lions Club, which supplied space for a local church function is trying to distance themselves from the outbreak.

The Lions Club kitchen in Nackawic, N.B. The club says it is not responsible for a dinner that left one woman dead and more than 30 people ill earlier this month.

Two different illness-causing bacteria were later found in food samples collected from the dinner, the province’s acting chief medical officer of health, Dr. Jennifer Russell, said in a statement.

Now, Brian Toole, the president of the Nackawic Lions Club, is trying to mend the club’s reputation. He says the church, not the Lions Club, provided the food that night, but people have mistakenly blamed the club for the unsafe meal.

“It was an unfortunate incident,” Toole said. “But the Lions Club and their food preparation, we had nothing to do with it.”

The Lions Club kitchen is inspected on a regular basis, and members have taken government-sponsored food safety courses. Now, they are also considering requiring groups renting the space to take the same precautions (uh, yeah, that’s what the good organizations do -ben).

Here are our conclusions on creating a good food safety culture from a 2011 Food Control paper (blaming others doesn’t really fit).

Individuals focusing on food safety risks within an organization with a good food safety culture:

– know the risks associated with the foods they handle and how those should be managed;

– dedicate resources to evaluating supplier practices;

– stay up-to-date on emerging food safety issues;

– foster a value system within the organization that focuses on avoiding illnesses;

-communicate compelling and relevant messages regarding risk-reduction activities and – empower others to put them into practice;

– promote effective food safety systems before an incident occurs;

– and, do not blame customers (including commercial buyers and end consumers) when illnesses are linked to their products.

Fancy food ain’t safe food: Minnesota edition

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Tycoons, a Duluth gastropub inspired by turn of the 20th century millionaire lifestyle, has been fingered in a norovirus outbreak. According to Northlands News Center, an infected food handler or customer (or RTE ingredient -ben) likely spread the virus to diners on December 5.10849902_719581291471357_3442145704847569295_n

The Minnesota Department of Health is reporting a significant foodborne norovirus outbreak at Tycoons restaurant in Duluth that happened at the beginning of December.

Investigators from the health department identified at least 30 people, from multiple groups, who got sick after eating at the restaurant on December 5. 

They say they didn’t interview all the customers who ate at Tycoons that day so there may have been more than 30 victims.

Update: Duluth News Tribune reports that produce prepped by an infected staff member is the likely source.

In this case, someone on the food prep staff at Tycoons was infected and apparently came in contact with the raw vegetables served to customers at the three separate parties, said Brad Nelson, marketing director for the Duluth-based company that owns Tycoons and other eating establishments in town.

The restaurant was never closed and management has since redoubled training and kitchen signage to remind staff to wash their hands before handling any food.

“It comes down to something that simple, that’s the way to prevent it,” Nelson told the News Tribune. “Our chef and staff cooperated with the state’s effort to find out what happened. Now the goal is to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”