The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), just announced its intention to ask a federal court to shut down a New Jersey cheese manufacturer with an alleged history of operating under “insanitary” conditions and producing cheese contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint for permanent injunction against Quesos Mi Pueblito and two of its officers, Felix Sanchez and Jesus Galvez. The complaint alleges that recent inspections by the FDA and the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services found Listeria-contaminated cheese and insanitary conditions at the Passaic company. More Listeria, Unsanitary Conditions, Prompt FDA To Act Against NJ Cheese Maker

LSG Sky Chefs, a firm that makes food for the airline industry, was recently warned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after an agency inspection revealed both live and dead cockroaches and Listeria bacteria at LSG’s Denver facility, said the Associated Press (AP).

According to the AP, the FDA advised the company that it could be banned from selling food to airlines at Denver Airport if further violations are found in future inspections. LSG claims it resolved its kitchen issues, added the AP, including firing its manager and head chef. Deutsche Lufthansa AG owns LSG Sky Chefs, which provides food to Delta, American, and United airlines, among others, and has 43 kitchens nationwide, said the AP. Beth Van Duyne, LSG spokeswoman, said it replaced pipes and a drain when the dangerous Listeria pathogen could not be killed with chemical treatments, noted the AP. More Airline Caterer Cited For Listeria, Roaches

Possible Listeria contamination has prompted the recall of just over 300 pounds of ham products by Associated Grocers of Maine. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the possible Listeria problem was discovered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency , which notified FSIS that some of the recalled ham products had been exported to the United States.

The following products are subject to recall:

•16-ounce packages of “SUPER TRIM, Shurfine, IMPORTED, COOKED HAM, WATER ADDED, 98% FAT FREE.

More Listeria Prompts Recall of Ham Products

We routinely report about the problems linked with food borne pathogenic illnesses, including Listeria monocytogenes. And, while we have continually stressed that Listeriosis, the infection caused by the Listeria pathogen, is dangerous and can often be deadly, an emerging study reveals that the risk is even greater than first believed.

Medical News reported that the study found risks for severe effects of Listeria exposure in sensitive groups might occur at lower doses than prior studies suggested. Fetal or infant death in expectant mothers who consume food tainted by one million cells of Listeria monocytogenes in, for instance, soft cheeses is believed to occur at 50 percent, said Medical News. This means that about five stillborn births could occur for every 10 expectant mothers exposed to this amount of the pathogen; an earlier study found that over 10 trillion cells could result in stillbirths in half of the exposed pregnant population, reported Medical News, a significant difference. More Listeria More Dangerous Than First Thought

Service Smoked Fish Corp. of Brooklyn, New York, is recalling specific “Use-By” dates and lot codes of “Brooklyn’s BEST” brand SMOKED NOVA SALMON because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just announced.

Listeriosis can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms, such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. In pregnant women, Listeriosis can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or birth of a baby suffering from the infection. Pregnant women are about 20 times likelier than others to be infected, with about one-third of all Listeriosis cases occurring during pregnancy. More Listeria Prompts Smoked Salmon Recall

Today we are reporting on two separate recalls concerning foods potentially contaminated with the dangerous, sometimes deadly, Listeria monocytogenes pathogen, which can result in Listeriosis.

Listeriosis can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms, such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. In pregnant women, Listeriosis can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or birth of a baby suffering from the infection. Pregnant women are about 20 times likelier than others to be infected, with about one-third of all Listeriosis cases occurring during pregnancy. More Potential Listeria Contamination: Sandwiches and Walnuts

The U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has filed a complaint for permanent injunction against Rel’s Foods Inc., of Oakland, California, seeking to stop the company from manufacturing, producing, and selling adulterated food products, the FDA just announced.

According to an FDA press release, the complaint also names Rel’s Vice President, Peder Scott Sorensen, and two managers, Patrick O’Malley and Timothy E. Ault. Rel’s prepares, processes, and distributes a variety of ready-to-eat sandwiches to convenience stores, deli markets, liquor stores, mini-marts, and gas stations in Nevada and California. More Listeria-Tainted Sandwiches Sold by California Firm, FDA Says

Windsor Foods, of Riverside, California, is recalling approximately 2,268 pounds of beef and bean burrito products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) just announced.

download closing the ring dvd Windsor Foods discovered the potential contamination; the FSIS has received no reports of illnesses from consumption of these products.

Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms, such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

In pregnant women, Listeria can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or birth of a baby suffering from the infection. Pregnant women are about 20 times likelier than others to be infected, with about one-third of all Listeria cases occurring during pregnancy.

Listeria is responsible for an estimated 2,500 illnesses in the United States annually, with about 200 in every 1,000 cases resulting in death. Listeria infection can take days, even weeks, to develop and can present in anything from a mild flu-like illness to meningitis and septicemia.

According to the FSIS, Windsor Foods 18-pound bulk cases containing individually wrapped “BUTCHER BOY RED CHILE BEEF & BEAN BURRITOS,” are subject to the recall. Each case of the recalled Butcher Boy brand burritos contains a total of 72 burritos and bears the establishment number “EST. 1905″ within the USDA mark of inspection; the package code “1219215;” the case code “2080001;” and advises “KEEP FROZEN.” The products were produced on August 3, 2009 and distributed to a storage center in Minnesota for further retail sales. The products available for direct consumer purchase will not bear the establishment number and package code. The FSIS is advising customers with concerns to contact their point of purchase.

The FSIS indicated that—once it is available—the retail distribution list(s) for this recall will be posted on its website at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp

The FSIS is advising consumers with questions regarding the recall to contact Windsor Food’s Legal Assistant, Corinne Perez at 1-909-477-4813. Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) and is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

Media outlets are reporting that breakfast food giant Kellogg’s has recalled some of its popular Eggo waffles. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) said that the recall was implemented after Listeria monocytogenes was discovered by the Georgia Department of Agriculture in some buttermilk Eggo waffles that were manufactured at Kellogg’s Atlanta plant.

The Department of Agriculture took the sample at a routine inspection at the Atlanta plant, said the AJC, which noted that the recalled Eggo waffles were not introduced into the marketplace and no illnesses have yet been reported. The AJC said that production at the Atlanta facility has stopped as investigators try to determine the cause of the Listeria contamination. Kellogg’s said, “Kellogg’s will execute its hygienic restoration plan under [the Department of Agriculture] before it resumes production at the plant,” quoted the AJC. The recalled includes: More Eggo Products Recalled following Listeria Finding

Big Boy Food Group, of Warren, Michigan, is recalling approximately 39,514 pounds of ready-to-eat meal kits that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) just announced.

The following items are involved in the recall:

Dinolunch Brand:
Each case of the recalled Dinolunch brand meal kits can be identified by the case code “9237” and contains approximately twelve (12) trays. The products were produced on August 25, 2009 and distributed to wholesale and retail establishments in Texas. If available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp: More Ready-to-Eat Meals Recalled for Listeria