The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing this health alert to warn consumers not to use Pet Carousel Pig Ears and Beef Hooves Pet Treats because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The products were distributed nationwide in both bulk and retail packaging for sale in pet food and retail chain stores. Pet Carousel is based in Sanger, California.

The FDA reported that the recalled Pet Carousel Pig Ears and Beef Hoove Pet Treats were manufactured under conditions that facilitate cross-contamination within batches or lots. Although no illnesses associated with these products have been reported, the FDA is advising consumers in possession of these products to not handle or feed them to their pets. (more…)

Twenty-eight people have been sickened in an E. coli outbreak that spans a dozen states. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), two deaths may be linked to the E. coli outbreak, and a number of victims have been hospitalized.

E. coli is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and people with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. (more…)

More than a half million pounds of potentially E. coli tainted ground beef have been recalled by Fairbank Farms of Ashville, New York. Over the weekend, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said that there was an association between the fresh ground beef products subject to recall and illnesses in Connecticut, Maine and Massachusetts.

According to a Reuters report, a death in New Hampshire may also be connected to tainted Fairbank Farms ground beef. New Hampshire officials announced the death on Saturday but did not release information about the victim. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) also said a New York adult with underlying medical conditions had died. (more…)

Tainted beef implicated in an E. coli outbreak is being recalled by South Shore Meats, Inc. of Brockton, Mass. The recalled ground beef has been blamed for sickening 20 schoolchildren and adults from Rhode Island. They became ill after visiting Camp Bournedale in Plymouth, Mass. earlier this month.

The recall involves approximately 1,039 pounds of fresh ground beef patties derived from bench trim as well as mechanically tenderized beef cuts that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said. The products subject to the recall include: (more…)

About 1,120 cartons of Del Monte cantaloupe is being recalled over concerns of Salmonella contamination. Mercury News announced that Raley’s grocers are recalling the potentially contaminated cantaloupe that was sold in Northern California and Nevada. The recall was initiated after routine testing detected the Salmonella pathogen in the Del Monte cantaloupe, Mercury News said, citing the California Department of Public Health.

Mercury News reported that the recalled cantaloupe was sold throughout the San Francisco Bay Area at Raley’s and at Raley’s subsidiaries: Nob Hill Foods and Food Source. The cantaloupes were purchased between October 5 and October 16; consumers can exchange the recalled cantaloupe for full refund, said Mercury News. (more…)

Some apple and carrot portable pouch baby foods, manufactured by Plum Organics of Emeryville, California, is being recalled over potential botulism contamination, the Associated Press (AP) just announced.

The AP reported that the recalled apple and carrot Plum Organics baby food was sold individually throughout the United States at Toys-R-Us and Babies-R-Us stores. The recalled Plum Organics baby food was sold in 4.22-ounce pouches, with a “best by” date of May 21, 2010, and UPC 890180001221. (more…)

San Diego Meat Company, of San Diego, California is recalling approximately 925 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with the E. coli O157:H7 pathogen, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) just announced.

The ground beef products subject to this recall include:

* 15-pound cases of “SAN DIEGO MEAT, GROUND BEEF PATTIES.”
* 10-pound bags of “SAN DIEGO MEAT, BULK GROUND BEEF.” (more…)

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…)

The New York Times has published an interesting report detailing flaws in the U.S. beef inspection system. Because of these flaws, consumers nationwide may face a serious risk from E. coli and other food borne illnesses every time they bite into a hamburger.

The New York Times report uses the case of a 22-year-old woman who developed a severe E. coli infection in 2007 after eating a frozen hamburger patty made by Cargill that was labeled “American Chef’s Selection Angus Beef Patties.” In October 2007 Cargill recalled over 840,000 pounds of these and other ground beef patties after they were linked to an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that sickened more than 900 people. Today, the young woman is paralyzed from the waist down due to her bout with E. coli. (more…)

Quesos Mi Pueblito, LLC of New Jersey is recalling more cheese products because of potential Listeria contamination. All of the cheeses involved in this recall bear a “Sell by Date” from February 2, 2009 to present.

Products involved in this recall include:
(more…)