Monday, June 27, 2011

Cantaloupes Recalled

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 24, 2011 - Scottsdale, AZ - Eagle Produce, LLC of Scottsdale, Arizona has announced a limited recall of certain cantaloupes shipped from Arizona to upstate New York in late Mayhttp://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm260820.htm

Saturday, June 25, 2011

HIGH RISK RECALL...Listeria in Ham

New Jersey Firm Recalls Imported Ham Products Due To Potential Listeria Contamination

Recall Release CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-045-2011 HEALTH RISK: HIGH



WASHINGTON, June 24, 2011- Specialities Agro Alimentation, a Millington, N.J. establishment, is recalling approximately 5,700 pounds of imported boneless Serrano ham products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The following products are subject to recall:
Approximately 11 lb. cases of "Noel Jamón Serrano Boneless Spanish Dry-Cured Ham" and "Bloc Noel Serrano Ham," with production codes "11000481" or "11000119" on the shipping container and the label on the ham.

Recommendations For People At Risk For Listeriosis

Wash hands with warm, soapy water before and after handling raw meat and poultry for at least 20 seconds. Wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot, soapy water. Immediately clean spills.

Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry and egg products and cooked foods.

Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, bologna or other deli meats unless reheated until steaming hot.

Do not eat refrigerated pâté, meat spreads from a meat counter or smoked seafood found in the refrigerated section of the store. Foods that don't need refrigeration, like canned tuna and canned salmon, are safe to eat. Refrigerate after opening.

Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk and do not eat foods that have unpasteurized milk in them.

Do not eat salads made in the store such as ham salad, chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad or seafood salad.

Do not eat soft cheeses such as Feta, queso blanco, queso fresco, Brie, Camembert cheeses, blue-veined cheeses and Panela unless it is labeled as made with pasteurized milk.

Use precooked or ready-to-eat food as soon as you can. Listeria can grow in the refrigerator. The refrigerator should be 40 °F or lower and the freezer 0 °F or lower. Use an appliance thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator.



Friday, June 17, 2011

Decide your Dream

Decide your Dream! Decide exactly what you want in life and live your dream.You can't hit a target you can't see. Define your dream and never stop striving until you get it. We share our culinary experiences, education, and passion for food to help you and your company define, create, and live that dream. Contact us.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Possible Staphylococcus aureus contamination!

06/15/2011 09:53 PM EDT

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel Aubertine today warned consumers not to consume certain Queso Fresco "Fresh Cheese" made by Quesos CentroAmericano Corp. at 35 Hansen Avenue, Freeport, New York (formerly located at 900 S. Second Street, Ronkonkoma, New York) due to possible Staphylococcus aureus contamination. The recalled fresh Spanish-style cheese is sold in 5-pound foil tray packages with a label declaring a plant number of 36-9845 and a product lot code of 05/31/11 affixed to the bottom of the package.

Friday, June 3, 2011

USDA Food Pyramid is Out


Choose My Plate.gov

After twenty years of the old icon of healthy eating--the food pyramid—is now ancient history. The US Department of Agriculture calls a “monumental effort” to improve the nation’s diet amid the obesity epidemic, the government has dished up a new plate-shaped graphic. This comes as part of the Obama administration's effort to slow down the obesity epidemic in our nation and reduce health care costs. Will this be easier for the consumer to follow and change eating habits? Let's follow this major change in the way we try to eat a more balanced diet and in the long run improve our health.



Balancing Calories
● Enjoy your food, but eat less.
● Avoid oversized portions.

Foods to Increase
● Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
● Make at least half your grains whole grains.
● Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.

Foods to Reduce
● Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals ― and choose the foods with lower numbers.
● Drink water instead of sugary drinks.


Other advise the new system suggests is that we as consumers learn to read the product nutrition labels on the foods we buy. This alone is a great way of reducing our sodium and fat intake. It is also a good way of learning what is a portion and how portion control will change our eating habits. We have a complete training program just for learning how to read a product label. What requirements the FDA puts on manufacturers for the use of "Reduced Fat"; "Low Fat"; "Trans Fat Free"; and more. For more information or questions on food labels, contact us via email. Comments on this posting are welcomed.