American Pecan Co. of Yancey, Texas, is recalling its one-pound bags of Pecan Pieces, small, medium, and large sizes, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just announced. The pecans have the potential to be contaminated with the dangerous, sometimes deadly, Salmonella pathogen.

The one-pound bags of pecans were sold to walk-up customers at American Pecan’s Yancey, Texas location, as well as to mail order customers in Texas, New York, and Massachusetts. The bagged pecans consist of Ziploc-type bags labeled: “PECAN PIECES (Small, Medium, or Large) Ingredients: Shelled Pecans: Repacked by: American Pecan Co. P.O. Box 151 Yancey, Tx. 78886 Net weight 1-Lb. (16 oz.) 454 g. Might contain Pecan shells.” There are no codes associated with the products. To date, no illnesses have been reported. More American Pecan Co. Issues Recall Over Salmonella Fears

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced two separate Granola Bar recalls, both linked to potential Salmonella contamination. Both recalls were implemented as a result of another recall initiated by Thumb Oilseed Producers, which provided an ingredient believed to be contaminated with the Salmonella pathogen.

Salmonella is an organism that 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. More Salmonella Prompts More Granola Bar Recalls

Queseria Bendita of Yakima, Washington is recalling three types of its cheese, Queso Fresco, Panela, and Requeson, because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just announced.

The Listeria pathogen is responsible for an estimated 2,500 illnesses in the United States annually, with about 200 in every 1,000 cases resulting in death, or some 500 fatalities each year. Listeria infection can take days, even weeks, to develop and can present in anything from a mild flu-like illness to meningitis and septicemia. More Listeria Prompts Washington Company to Recall Three Varieties of Cheese

Estrella Family Creamery of Montesano, Washington is recalling Brewleggio, Domino, and Wynoochee River Blue cheeses because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just announced. The products were sold to restaurants and cheese shops in Washington, Oregon, and New Jersey.

The Domino cheese is a one-pound, natural rind wheel made from cow’s milk. The Brewleggio cheese is a soft-washed rind cow’s milk wheel that is eight inches wide by two inches tall, weighing approximately three pounds. The Wynoochee River Blue Cheese is a five-pound wheel with a rustic natural rind, blue veined. The products are not coded. More Listeria Prompts Expansion of Estrella Family Creamery Cheese Recall

The Salmonella outbreak linked to pepper-coated salami, has spread to 44 states and the District of Columbia, and has sickened 225, said the Washington Post. It seems, added the Post, that black pepper used to make the sausages involved could be to blame. Of those sickened, some 26 percent have required hospitalization.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) classified the recall as Class I, which means that this is a health hazard situation in which there is a reasonable probability that use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death. More Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Pepper Sickens 235, Spreads to 44 States

A criminal investigation of California-based Huntington Meat Packing has resulted in the recall of 4.9 million lbs of beef and veal products. Huntington Meat Packing recalled more than 800,000 of beef last month because of concerns the products might be tainted with E. coli.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the recall was expanded based on evidence collected in an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) with assistance from FSIS. According to FSIS, the evidence shows that the products were produced in a manner that did not follow Huntington Meat Packing’s Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan. Therefore, FSIS must consider the products to be adulterated and has acted to remove the products from commerce. More Huntington Meat Packing Recalls 4.9 Million Lbs of Beef and Veal, Criminal Probe Underway

The Estrella Family Creamery of Montesano, Washington, is recalling its Red Darla cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with the dangerous, sometimes deadly Listeria monocytogenes pathogens, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just announced.

Red Darla cheese was sold from January 2010 through February 11, 2010 at the Ballard and Seattle’s U-District farmers markets; two Seattle restaurants; retail stores in the Seattle-Tacoma area; and the firm’s retail store in Montesano, Washington. The recalled Red Darla cheese was also sold during this time at a retail market in San Francisco, California and a cheese shop in Springfield, New Jersey. More Red Darla Cheese Recalled for Listeria

Nature’s Variety is recalling Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet for dogs and cats because the products may be tainted with Salmonella. This recall affects to chicken medallions, patties, and chubs with a “Best If Used By” date of 11/10/10.

Nature’s Variety became aware of a potential Salmonella problem after receiving a consumer complaint. While the lot code that was the subject of the consumer complaint did not test positive for the pathogen, additional testing found the “Best If Used By” date of 11/10/10 to be contaminated with Salmonella. According to the recall notice, no pet or human illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this lot code. More Salmonella Prompts Nature’s Variety Pet Food Recalled

We have been following the issue surrounding the Daniele International Inc., recall of 1.24 million pounds of sausage products potentially contaminated with Salmonella. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) classified the recall as Class I, which means that this is a health hazard situation in which there is a reasonable probability that use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.

The Associated Press (AP) also recently reported that testing indicated that the same strain of Salmonella that caused illnesses in over 200 people in about 42 states appears to have been found in black pepper. But, black pepper might not be the only source, according to the Rhode Island Health Department, said the AP. The tests, said the AP, traced the Salmonella pathogen to ground pepper in closed containers at Daniele that were intended for use to coat salami, said Annemarie Beardsworth, a spokeswomen with the health department. More Another Lawsuit in Sausage Salmonella Outbreak

Haifa Smoked Fish, located in Queens, New York, is recalling Haifa brand vacuum packaged Whole Schmaltz Herring with the lot number 20, because the product was found to be uneviscerated and may pose a botulism risk, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just announced.

The lot being recalled is a product of Norway and is individually vacuum-packed in clear plastic pouches with lot # 20 indicated on the label. The recalled Haifa Smoked Fish was distributed through various food retailers in the New York and New Jersey areas. More Fish Recalled Over Botulism Risk