Recall of Sub Sandwiches...Potential Listera Contamination

M.E. Thompson, Inc. Expands Recall of Sub Sandwiches Because of Possible Health Risk

M.E. Thompson, Inc. is expanding the recall of its Anytime Deli Turkey & Ham Footlong, to include Italian Footlong, and Classic Cuban, because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes, an organism which 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.


The following products with expiration dates from January 19th through May 2nd and lot number from 00112 through 10412 are being recalled:

Turkey & Ham Footlong UPC 0543200194
Italian Footlong UPC 0543200196
Classic Cuban UPC 0543200156

The sub sandwiches were distributed on January 2nd through April 13th to convenience and grocery stores nationwide under the labels Anytime Deli, Sandwich Central and Dandee. All sandwiches are packaged in white butcher wrap. The Best Buy date and/or the Lot Number are located on the white press on circular label. The UPC Code is located on the bottom of the product beneath the Ingredient and Nutrition Facts label.

No confirmed illnesses have been reported to date.

The recall was the result of a routine sampling program by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services which revealed that the finished products contained Listeria monocytogenes. No other finished products, since the original sampling, have been shown to contain Listeria. The company is recalling the products as a precautionary measure.

Consumers who may have purchased a sandwich for later consumption are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-394-6258 Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 5 PM EST

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Tuna

Moon Marine USA Corporation voluntarily recalls frozen raw yellowfin tuna product "Nakaochi Scrape" associated with a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Bareilly infections.


Contact:
Consumer:
888-INFO-FDA

Media:
Curtis Allen
curtis.allen@fda.hhs.gov
301-796-0393
301-500-8888

Moon Marine USA Corporation (also known as MMI) of Cupertino, Calif. is voluntarily recalling 58,828 lbs of a frozen raw yellowfin tuna product, labeled as Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA. Nakaochi Scrape is tuna backmeat, which is specifically scraped off from the bones, and looks like a ground product.

The product is not available for sale to individual consumers, but may have been used to make sushi, sashimi, ceviche and similar dishes available in restaurants and grocery stores.
The company name and Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA were printed on boxes of the product when it was initially sold to distributors. However, the boxes may have been broken into smaller lots for further sale and may not be available to the end retailer or consumer. Therefore, the tuna may not be readily identifiable by retail outlets or by consumers as being from the implicated lots.
The Nakaochi Scrape AA and AAA from MMI was sold through distributors to restaurants and grocery stores that make sushi, and has been linked to an outbreak of Salmonella Bareilly, which has caused 116 illnesses in 20 states and the District of Columbia to date. Of the reported illnesses, there have been 12 hospitalizations, and no deaths.
Many of the people who became ill reported eating raw tuna in sushi as “spicy tuna.”
If you purchase “spicy tuna” or other sushi, sashimi, ceviche, or similar dishes that might contain Nakaochi Scrape from a restaurant or grocery store, check with the establishment to make sure that it does not contain raw recalled product from Moon Marine USA Corporation, also known as MMI. When in doubt, don’t eat it.
Consumers who think they might have become ill from eating possibly contaminated raw Nakaochi Scrape should consult their health care providers.

What is the Problem?
Moon Marine USA Corporation (also known as MMI) of Cupertino, Calif. is voluntarily recalling 58,828 lbs of a frozen raw yellowfin tuna product, labeled as Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA. Nakaochi Scrape is tuna backmeat, which is specifically scraped off from the bones, and looks like a ground product.

The Nakaochi Scrape is associated with an outbreak of 116 cases of Salmonella Bareilly in multiple states: Alabama (2), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (5), District of Columbia (2), Florida (1), Georgia (5), Illinois (10), Louisiana (2), Maryland (11), Massachusetts (8), Mississippi (1), Missouri (2), New Jersey (7), New York (24), North Carolina (2), Pennsylvania (5), Rhode Island (5), South Carolina (3), Texas (3), Virginia (5), and Wisconsin (12).

The raw yellowfin tuna product may have passed through several distributors before reaching the restaurant and grocery market, and may not be marked with lot information. Distributors and end users should consult their suppliers to determine the origin of any Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA in their possession.

What are the Symptoms of Illness/Injury?
Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in certain cases, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In these patients, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless these patients are treated promptly with antibiotics.

Who is at Risk?
Infants, older adults, pregnant women, and persons with impaired immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness and should not eat raw or partially cooked fish or shellfish. If you are unsure of your risk, ask your healthcare provider.

What Do Consumers Need To Do?
Because raw seafood is not fully cooked to assure that pathogens are destroyed, it is not considered as “safe” as cooked seafood. The handling of raw seafood can also affect the safety of the product. Because the tuna may have been broken into unmarked sublots and may not be readily identifiable, consumers should take precautions in choosing to eat raw Nakaochi Scrape and be sure that it is not from the implicated lots.

Consumers should take precautions when choosing to eat raw seafood and be sure that the Nakaochi Scrape is not from the implicated lots. When in doubt, don’t eat it.

Consumers who think they might have become ill from eating possibly contaminated raw Nakaochi Scrape should consult their health care providers. Many of the people who became ill reported eating raw tuna in sushi as “spicy tuna.”

To report problems, including adverse reactions, related to any food except meat and poultry, contact the FDA district office consumer complaint coordinator1 for your geographic area (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/ReportaProblem/ConsumerComplaintCoordinators/default.htm2).

DOLE FRESH VOLUNTARY RECALL

Dole Fresh Vegetables Announces Precautionary Recall of Limited Number of Salads

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 14, 2012 - Dole Fresh Vegetables is voluntarily recalling 756 cases of DOLE® Seven Lettuces salad with Use-by Date of April 11, 2012, UPC code 71430 01057 and Product Codes 0577N089112A and 0577N089112B, due to a possible health risk from Salmonella. Dole Fresh Vegetables is coordinating closely with regulatory officials. No illnesses have been reported in association with the recall.

The Product Code and Use-by Date are in the upper right-hand corner of the package; the UPC code is on the back of the package, below the barcode. The salads were distributed in fifteen U.S. states (Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin).

No illnesses have been reported in association with the recall. This precautionary recall notification is being issued due to an isolated instance in which a sample of Seven Lettuces salad yielded a positive result for Salmonella in a random sample test collected and conducted by the State of New York.

No other Dole salads are included in the recall. Only the specific Product Codes, UPC codes and April 11, 2012 Use-by-Date of Seven Lettuces salads identified above are included in the recall. Consumers who have any remaining product with these Product Codes should not consume it, but rather discard it. Retailers and consumers with questions may call the Dole Food Company Consumer Response Center at (800) 356-3111, which is open 8:00 am to 3:00 pm (PDT) Monday - Friday.

Retailers should check their inventories and store shelves to confirm that none of the product is mistakenly present or available for purchase by consumers or in warehouse inventories. Dole Fresh Vegetables customer service representatives are already contacting retailers and are in the process of confirming that the recalled product is not in the stream of commerce.

Here's to your health...TURMERIC.

There are many benefits that certain spices provide. One that is recognized for its antioxidant properties is turmeric. For years, Chef's have used this spice to add color and flavor to foods. It is used often in rice dishes in place of saffron because of saffron's cost. Here is some more information on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric.

Turmeric- This spice contains curcumin, which has notable antioxidant properties. It also has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and stomach soothing benefits. It reduces inflammation by stimulating the adrenal glands to increase the hormone that lessens inflammation. Animal studies on this herb have revealed that turmeric protects the liver from the adverse effects of alcohol and certain toxins. Turmeric also helps in digestive problems by stimulating bile flow.

Beef Products Recalled...Possible E.Coli

Maine Firm Recalls Ground and Tenderized Beef Products Due to Possible E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination

Recall Release CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-024-2012 HEALTH RISK: HIGH

Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Bill Bagley

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2012 - Town and Country Foods Inc., a Greene, Maine establishment, is recalling approximately 2,057 pounds of ground and tenderized beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.


The following products are subject to recall:

5- and 10- lb. boxes of 2-, 2.6-, 3-, and 4- oz. “Town & Country Foods XL Hamburg Patties”
5- and 10- lb. boxes of 2-, 2.6-, 3-, and 4- oz. “Town & Country Foods Hamburg Patties”
10- lb. box containing variously weighted bags of “Town & Country Beef for Stewing”
6-, 8-, and 10- oz. “Town & Country Beef Sirloin Filets”
5- and 10- lb. boxes containing variously weighted bags of “Town and Country Hamburg”
5- and 10- lb. boxes containing variously weighted bags of “Town and Country XL Hamburg”


Each case bears a label with the establishment number “EST. 9710” inside the USDA mark of inspection. Additionally, the products contain the following packaging codes: 10952, 10962, 10972, 11002, and 11012. The products subject to recall were produced between April 4, 2012 and April 10, 2012 and were shipped to wholesale and retail establishments in Maine.

100 Cases of Salmonella from Sushi

One hundred cases of Salmonella Bareilly poisoning have been reported from 19 states and the District of Columbia while investigators still have "not conclusively identified a food source," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday.

The CDC's earlier report, as well as an internal email circulated at the Food and Drug Administration, implicated sushi, sashimi or a raw dish such as ceviche as possible sources of the outbreak. The FDA email said spicy tuna roll sushi is highly suspect.

The seven additional cases were reported by Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.

Altogether, New York has reported 23 outbreak cases; Maryland 10; Illinois and Wisconsin 9 each; New Jersey 7; Connecticut and Virginia 5 each; Georgia, Massachusetts and Rhode Island 4 each; Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas 3 each; Alabama, Washington D.C., Louisiana and North Carolina 2 each; Arkansas, Mississippi, and Missouri 1 each. Why I don't eat sushi. Love fish...just cook in baby!

Bakery Recalls Vanilla Cream Puffs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 31, 2012 – HUDSONVILLE, MI, Creme Curls Bakery, Inc. initiated an immediate nationwide recall of 19.4 ounce cartons of Simply Enjoy Vanilla cream puffs distributed by Foodhold U.S.A.,LLC and 13.2 ounce cartons of Vanilla Cream Puffs distributed by Crème Curls Bakery, because the product contains sodium caseinate which is listed on the label, but does not identify the source of sodium caseinate as milk. People who have milk allergies that do not recognize sodium caseinate as a milk derivative run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume the product.

The affected products were distributed nationwide through retail grocery stores.

The affected product, packaged in glossy paperboard cartons, can be identified by the photographs below. The Vanilla Cream Puffs are sold in the freezer section of grocery stores and are packaged in one of the following cartons:

Simply Enjoy Vanilla Cream Puffs, UPC Code #6-88267-12409-9, located on large back panel
Creme Curls Bakery, UPC Code #0-70109-60055-5 , located on large back panel
The recall was initiated due to a report of an allergic reaction after a person with a milk allergy consumed the product. This recall applies to all sell by dates and all lot codes. No other Crème Curls products are affected by this recall.

“We are working closely with the Food and Drug Administration and are taking every step possible to ensure that any product that has not yet been consumed is removed from store shelves as quickly as possible,” said Paul Bierling, Executive Vice President.

Consumers in possession of affected product who have a milk allergy are encouraged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. This product is safe for consumption by individuals who do not suffer from a milk allergy.

Consumers with questions may contact the company through the Consumer Hot Line 1-800-466-1219, Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm EDT.

Recall...Foreign Materials in Sausage

Texas Firm Recalls Chicken Sausage Products Nationwide That May Contain Foreign Materials


WASHINGTON, Mar 31, 2012 - Eddy Packing Co., Inc., a Yoakum, Texas, establishment is recalling approximately 26,136 pounds of chicken apple sausage products that may contain foreign materials, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The products subject to recall include:

1-lb. vacuum-sealed, 3 to a pack of “ARTISAN FRESH, ALL NATURAL chicken & apple sausage” bearing the USDA mark of inspection and have a sell-by date of June 23, 2012.

36-lb. cases containing 12/3-lb. packages of “ARTISAN FRESH, ALL NATURAL CHICKEN APPLE SAUSAGE” bearing the establishment number “P-4800” inside the USDA mark of inspection and bearing codes 42450 or P13203 on the label.

The problem was discovered as a result of consumer complaints about finding pieces of plastic in the product. FSIS and the company have received no reports of injury or illness at this time. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness from consumption of these products should contact a healthcare provider.

The products subject to recall were produced Feb. 9, 2012, and were distributed nationally through a warehouse chain on Feb. 14, 2012.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumers and news reporters with questions about the recall should contact Lindsey Morkovsky, the company’s Vice President of Operations, at (361) 293-2361.