Foodborne Illness -

If you’re like many Californians, you’re going to take advantage of this Memorial Day to cook some food for guests.  But when you do so, it’s imperative that you not make those same guests ill.  To eliminate the threat of foodborne illness, you might thus consider some of the valuable prevention tips included in a new report.

First, make sure that every surface you cook and prepare food on has been scrubbed adequately with soap and hot water.  This step should also apply to your own hands.  And once you move something like raw meat from a given surface, you should wash it anew so that cross-contamination isn’t possible.

You don’t want ready-made food to make contact with raw food, as this can allow the former to become contaminated.  You also shouldn’t use the same preparatory utensils for each.

When you cook, a meat thermometer should be available at all times.  Most meat has to be heated to at least 145 degrees, but many times, the temperature has to be even hotter.  Ground beef needs to be over 160, and chicken and hot dogs need to reach 165 before being served.

Finally, if food gets left out for quite some time, which is always a possibility at a Memorial Day cookout, make sure to chill that food quickly so that foodborne contaminants can’t set in.

The San Francisco-based Foster Farms has announced the recall of Grilled Chicken Breast Strips Boneless and Skinless with Rib Meat, 97% Fat Free because the labels fail to declare the presence of the allergens soy and wheat.  Because of this, those who are allergic to those substances could be in danger of sustaining a serious reaction.  A consumer complaint reportedly made this condition known, and the company was able to trace the problem to an apparent labeling mixup.  Affected items will be six ounces in size and have a use by date of June 22 of this year.  No instances of adversity associated with the chicken have been reported at this time.  The chicken was available in California and a handful of other states.

Follow this link for more about the recall.

Three types of products are being recalled by the Torrance, California-based LL Bakery because of the potential presence of an undeclared allergen.  The recall pertains to Italian Cream Danish and Butter Farm and White Farm Enriched White Bread.  Although an included ingredient statement does list whey powder, it does not explain that said powder is milk-based.  Thus, persons who are sensitive to milk could sustain a potentially serious allergic reaction.  Those who are worried about their safety should not consume these items.  Instead, the bread or danishes can be brought back to the store for those looking to obtain a refund.

Click here for more about the recall.

Today saw the release of the ExpertRECALL Index, a compilation of the various recalls that have taken place throughout the first quarter of the year.  The trends contained therein are important to understand, as they can help regulators take steps to protect consumers, food companies eliminate circumstances which typically lead to a recall, and consumers themselves become more aware of injurious conditions.

In regards to food recalls, which for the first time included Department of Agriculture data about things like meat and poultry, a whopping 73.4% of recalls involved a company that announced more than one recall.  The reason has to do with one defective ingredient typically being found in more than one product.

Food recalls most often had their genesis with the presence of foreign materials, with 28% of food recalls stemming from that issue.  The second most common reason for a recall was the presence of an undeclared allergen.

Recalls of consumer products (which can be found on the website of the Consumer Product Safety Commission) were down even as the number of units affected went up.  More than 6 million units in this category were recalled, but it’s important to note that one particular recall accounted for 2.3 million items.

Drug recalls are also on the rise, with the number of recalls issued by compounders increasing dramatically thanks to increased attention from the Food and Drug Administration after a widespread outbreak last year.

When an outbreak of a foodborne illness stemming from a manufacturing facility occurs, negligence to follow regulatory standards and simple error are typically to blame.  But there are also some instances where a manufacturer refuses to acknowledge Food and Drug Administration warnings, or worse, employees knowingly endanger consumers.

The FDA has come out with a tool that aims to cut down on instances of the latter situation, willful contamination.  Known as the Food Defense Plan Builder, the software program enables food manufacturers to put together plans which aim to identify shortcomings in the production process so that consumers can be protected.

By turning to the planner, those responsible for instituting safety measures at restaurants and manufacturing facilities are asked to answer questions about processing, packaging, and the food and the facility themselves.  The planner will then put together an analysis of potential vulnerabilities and ways that those safety shortfalls could be combatted.

The FDA notes that purposeful contamination incidents are not all that typical, but when they do occur, the results can be catastrophic.  In Texas back in 1996, a dozen workers were sickened because pastries they had consumed were infected with a certain Shigellabacteria.  And a few years ago, employees with a bone to pick with a certain restaurant put pesticide into the salsa, leading 40 people to become sick.

Hopefully, manufacturers will take advantage of this important resource from the FDA.

The Los Angeles-based Smart & Final has announced the expansion of a previous recall affecting Tri-Color Cheese Tortellini under the La Romanella brand.  Two and a half pound bags are affected by the recall, which adds 13 lot codes to those lots that were previously recalled.  These products, which were available in a handful of states, including California, could contain eggs, milk, and wheat without the label declaring as much.  Thus, an individual sensitive to those ingredients could suffer an allergic reaction with potentially fatal consequences.  No instances of such have been reported at this time, and to ensure that continues, owners should bring the pasta back to the Cash & Carry or Smart & Final from which they were bought.

For more about the recall, click here.

The potential presence of undeclared soy and milk has prompted the recall of Protein Extract by the Sterling Heights, Michigan-based Pure Herbs.  A Food and Drug Administration ingredient review uncovered the appearance of the allergens.  Contact with an allergic individual could prompt a potentially life-threatening reaction.  The products, which were made available this past March and April, come in a one ounce or four ounce glass bottle that’s amber in color.  No one has reported suffering an allergic reaction at this time, and to ensure that continues, sensitive individuals are being asked to resist consuming the product and to instead bring it back for a refund.

Follow this link for more about the recall.

TAHINI Sesame Paste has been recalled by the Long Island City, New York-based Krinos Foods because of the potential for the paste to be contaminated by Salmonella.  This is actually an expansion from a previous recall.  It was discovered that additional expiration dates ranging between January 1 and June 8 of 2014 could be affected by the issue.  One and two pound jars and 40 pound pails sold around the country are being recalled.  The Department of Agriculture of Michigan discovered the contamination during sample testing, although thankfully, no instances of a Salmonella-based illness have been reported in conjunction with these products at this time.  Owners should send proof of purchase to the company to get a refund.

Click here for more about the recall.

The Orlando, Florida-based XYMOGEN has announced the recall of artriphen because of concerns that the item will contain milk and soy without the label declaring as much.  The company reportedly issued this recall once they discovered that a supplier’s allergen checklist did not match up with the labels on the product.  The allergens’ presence was confirmed during lab testing.  If consumers that are sensitive to either of the aforementioned allergens consume the products, which are used to help aid the health of a person’s joints, they could potentially suffer a severe allergic reaction.  Persons who believe they would be at risk upon consumption of the products should refrain from using the items and instead get in touch with XYMOGEN to learn about recall instructions.

For more about the recall, click here.

We recently brought you word of the announcement by the Food and Drug Administration that they’re going to be more carefully analyzing the impact that a wide range of caffeinated products could have on children.  On the heels of that announcement, the FDA has released a consumer update explaining their thinking and detailing just what this analysis will entail.

The information is framed by an interview with the FDA’s Foods and Veterinary Medicine Deputy Commissioner.  He first explains that the recent introduction of caffeinated gum didn’t necessarily prompt the move by the FDA so much as act as the latest in a long line of food items whose caffeine inclusion troubles the safety agency.  Combined with the proliferation of energy drinks, consumers are exposed to caffeine in greater levels than ever before.

The FDA wants to better understand the impact this could have on kids and even at-risk adults.  The agency has been meeting with various manufacturers to learn why they’re injecting caffeine into foods.  Feelers have also been sent out to the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the American Beverage Association.

The FDA hopes to determine what items would be appropriate for the introduction of the ingredient.  The sad truth is that there are really no requirements for caffeine at this time, as the FDA never anticipated the current caffeine craze.  Instead of setting age limits on products, though, the FDA representative explains that it’s more likely there will be caffeine caps put on those items that would be tempting to kids.