Salmonella in Peppers, S.T.O.P. in the News and More
Salmonella in Peppers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- July 8, 2010 - Miravalle Foods, Inc. S. El Monte, CAis recalling 37,318 lbs. of "Miravalle Chile California & Miravalle Chile Nuevo Mexico" Brand Peppers" distributed between March 15th and May 6th 2010 to some customers in CA, CO, UT, NC, NE, ID, OR and NV because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, 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.
The recalled Peppers distributed to a small group of customers through direct delivery, distributors and retail stores are in 3oz. (UPC Code: 7 12810-00301 & 7 12810-00304), 6 oz. (UPC Code: 7 12810-60001 & 7 1280-60004), 8oz. (UPC Code: 7 12810-00802 & 7 12810-00803) and 16 oz. (UPC Code: 7 12810-16005 & 7 12810-16007) clear plastic packages under the "Miravalle Chile California & Miravalle Chile Nuevo Mexico" Brand and in bulk 25lb. boxes.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem. The potential for contamination was noted after lab analysis of a random sample of the affected product conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed the presence of Salmonella.
Production of the product has been suspended while the FDA and the company continue their investigation as to the source of the problem. Consumers who have purchased any of the affected Peppers are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-626-575-7551 between 8am and 4pm PST.
All retailers who receive this product are asked to reconfirm with their distribution centers and all individual stores to ensure that none of the affected Peppers remains in their inventory or at store locations. A separate notification will be forwarded to all relevant customers that received product between March 15th and May 6th 2010. For additional details, retailers are asked to contact their Miravalle Foods, Inc. customer service representative.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- July 8, 2010 – J. Hellman Frozen Foods, Inc. of Los Angeles, CA is recalling 992 cases (4,960 retail units) of Señor Mexicano™ Avocado Pulp, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only shortterm symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Señor Mexicano™ Avocado Pulp was distributed in California and Hawaii. Dates and Product Codes as follows: Señor Mexicano™ Avocado Pulp, 2lbs bags (UPC Code 7 503012 650001) with the following Lot number: A 21 04 10 / A 21 04 12.
There have been no illnesses reported in accordance with this recall.
J. Hellman Frozen Foods, Inc. is collaborating with the FDA. This recall notification is being issued out of an abundance of caution based on a confirmed positive result for Listeria monocytogenes in a random sample test conducted by the FDA.
We have notified all of our customers who have received the product in question and have directed them to remove it from their shelves and return to us as soon as possible. Because it is possible that products bearing the Lot number A 21 04 10 / A 21 04 12 were further distributed and could be on store shelves and in consumer homes, this recall is being extended to the general public.
We are confident in our safety program and committed to continuing a safe supply of ready to use frozen avocado pulp.
Any Questions or comments please call Greg Abadjian, Director of Food Safety at 2132439105 between the hours of 4 A.M. to 9:30 A.M.
E. coli Outbreak at Northglenn Daycare Center (CO)
NORTHGLENN, Colo. - Children at the Little Sailors Child Development in Northglenn play on a playground while their parents and health officials monitor an E. coli outbreak at the center that has affected more than a dozen people.
The Tri-County Health Department has announced that 14 people, 13 children and a teacher have been diagnosed with a mild strain of E. coli.
"It appears less severe," said Richard Vogt, M.D., with Tri-County. "We have to see how this plays out." Saker Sus, the owner of Little Sailors, said his own son was showing symptoms for over a month. None of those affected have been hospitalized. The source of the outbreak remains a mystery.
"We don't know," says Vogt. "E. coli is one of these bacteria to come from animal products, hamburgers, cattle, etc."
Sus says his center is separating the children that show symptoms. "The reason we're not sending them home is because we don't want the parents to take them to a different child-care setting and spread the disease around."
State Confirms Raw Milk from Longmont Dairy Responsible for Illnesses (CO - Update)
Lab tests performed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment have confirmed that raw milk from Longmont’s Billy Goat Dairy is responsible for an outbreak of bacterial illnesses in Boulder County. Samples of the dairy’s unpasteurized milk tested positive for the strains of Campylobacter and E. Coli that have now sickened 30 people, including two children who are hospitalized, the health department announced Thursday.
On June 29, the Boulder County Department of Public Health ordered the dairy to stop distributing milk to the 43 households that participate in the farm’s “goat-sharing program,” which allows customers to buy a “share” of a goat for $40 a month in return for a gallon of raw milk a week.
The county gave the dairy a list of concerns that need to be addressed before it can reopen, which include how quickly the milk is cooled after milking and how the equipment is sanitized. But even after the dairy complies with all of the county’s requests, the health department cannot guarantee the safety of drinking raw milk, according to Chana Goussetis, department spokeswoman.
“Our main message, over and over, is that no matter what, there’s no way to ensure that unpasteurized milk is safe,” she said.
Boulder County Public Health also announced Thursday that a second child has been hospitalized after drinking raw milk from Billy Goat Dairy. The first child has been hospitalized since June 27. Bill Campbell, owner of the dairy, called the news “devastating.”
“The first one tore my heart out,” he said. “This one just weakened my knees and I couldn’t move; it’s too much.”
Campbell said he’s working to comply with health department regulations — which mostly require only minor tweaks of his existing procedures — and hopes to begin supplying milk again in a few weeks. For example, Campbell said he had been mixing a chlorine disinfectant solution according to directions, but he had not been using test strips to verify that the solution was strong enough. Campbell is also considering some additional measures that aren’t required, such as posting a sign encouraging customers to bring a cooler with them when they pick up their milk on hot days.
“I don’t know if I can require people to come with an ice chest,” he said. “But if you pick it up and you don’t have an ice chest and it takes 20 minutes to get home — every 20 minutes, the bacteria can double.”
When Campbell is cleared to distribute milk again, he said he still has plenty of interested customers — both old and new.
“I’ve been getting all kinds of phone calls,” he said. “From shareholders and from new people.”
S.T.O.P. in the News: Nevadans Want Food Safety Bill, But Reid Has Yet To Schedule It
**S.T.O.P. is a member of the Make Our Food Safe Coalition.**
What do you call a bill that's been languishing in the Senate so long it might just die there? The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act.
So Make Our Food Safe, a coalition of consumer groups advocating for the bill, is trying to create a little home town pressure on the one guy who can schedule a floor vote: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada.
They released a survey today showing 82 percent of Nevadans support the food safety bill, whether they vote Democrat or Republican.
The survey by Hart Research Associates/Public Opinion Strategies shows 73 percent of Nevada voters say Congress should pass legislation to strengthen food safety standards and protect consumers from contaminated foods, and 84 percent say this is the government's responsibility.
Not coincidentally, Reid just happens to be in the re-election race of his life.
The bipartisan bill, passed by the House last year, would address some of the FDA's longstanding funding and staffing woes when it comes to oversight of the food supply.
But like old socks, the longer the bill sits out there waiting for Senate action, the more likely it attracts lint (i.e. amendments, objections) and gets shoved to the back of the drawer (i.e. stalled for lack of time to deal with them.)
(Print)
