E. S. Miller Packing Co., a Montgomery, Ill., establishment is recalling approximately 219 pounds of ground 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 products subject to recall include:
10-pound Cryovaced bags of bulk "EDWARD S. MILLER PACKING CO.,
Researchers at Bristol University recently presented new findings regarding Campylobacter contamination in poultry populations. Professor Tom Humphrey from the University’s Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, led a new study showing that Campylobacter levels increase in the gut of chickens and other farm animals when they are transported. According to a Bristol University press release:
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After inspecting the Danville Plant on 06/18/2009, 06/19/2009, 06/22/2009, 06/23/2009, 06/24/2009, 06/25/2009, 06/26/2009, 07/07/2009, 07/08/2009, and 07/09/2009, the FDA posted the following observations. The full report can be found by clicking on image to left.
OBSERVATION 1
The workmanship of equipment does not allow proper cleaning. Specifically, inside the "Toll House" brand cookie dough preparation
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We have learned that the CDC will update the Nestle Cookie Dough E. coli O157:H7 outbreak shortly. The new numbers will be as follows:
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The FDA announced recently another recall of sprouts. Here is the release:
Kowalke Family Sprouts of Los Angeles CA is recalling all Kowalke Family Sprouts Brand Alfalfa Products with sell-by dates from June 18 through June 30 because they may be contaminated with Salmonella, which can cause serious illness. Mike’s Produce, Inc. dba Kowalke Family Sprouts
Georgia’s agricultural problems continue as Anaheim peppers are recalled from distribution in Ohio and two other states. WTTE and the Associated Press report that Herring Produce is recalling half-bushel boxes of the peppers due to Salmonella contamination. The affected peppers carry the lot number 0801206.
Georgia agriculture suffered quite a blow when the Peanut Corporation
ABC News reported today that three separate strains of E. coli O157:H7 have been found in a Nestle USA cookie dough processing plant. ABC’s Briant Hartman writes about the E. coli testing:
Those tests, according to sources familiar with the investigation and confirmed by the FDA, determined the genetic fingerprint of the E. coli found
In a press release issued July 7, 2009, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it had filed a complaint seeking an injunction against Peregrina Cheese, Inc, of Brooklyn, NY, and two of its officers. If granted by the Court, the injunction would temporarily stop the company from manufacturing and distributing food.
According to the complaint, which was filed on behalf of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the company has a history of producing cheese contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a foodborne pathogen. A search of the FDA website revealed that FDA has cited insanitary conditions at the Peregrina Cheese factory several times over the last five years, and that Peregrina Cheese has recalled cheese products for Listeria contamination in the past.
Listeria is the common name for the pathogenic or disease-causing bacterium known as Listeria monocytogenes. It is a foodborne illness that when ingested causes an infection known as listeriosis. Approximately 2,500 illnesses and 500 deaths are attributed to listeriosis in the United States annually.
In the DOJ press release, FDA acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs, Michael Chappell, stated:
This company has consistently failed to make corrections to improve the insanitary conditions under which it processes cheese products, despite frequent warnings to do so. The FDA will not tolerate food companies that fail to provide adequate safeguards.
According to the complaint, FDA and New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM) inspections have revealed violations of current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements for foods. Inspectors have noted such food safety violations as standing water in food processing equipment and a dead rodent inside the plant. NYSDAM has also assessed fines against the company.
Continue Reading Department of Justice Closes Cheese Plant
Another day, another product pulled over Salmonella fears. Minnpost.com is reporting that General Mills has recalled "some" of its Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters products due to concerns over potentially contaminated pecans. The recall includes products with the following .bmp)
"best if used by dates": 07MAR2010, 08MAR2010, 09MAR2010, 10MAR2010, 11MAR2010.
General Mills says in its press
The media is reporting the tragic death of Vincent Smith. As Mr. Smith was emptying pieces of solid chocolate into the melting vat at Cocoa Services, he slipped from a platform into the eight-foot deep mixing unit.
A spokesman for the local prosecutor’s office said Mr. Smith appeared to have died instantly from a blow