Caffeine-Laced Foods Spur F.D.A. Investigation

Posted on May 14, 2013 by admin

Caffeine has become increasingly easy to find in foods that are intentionally laced with it. Caffeine is being added to different products that you wouldn’t expect to contain it such as marshmallows, jelly beans, potato chips, waffles and even water.

Wrigley, the chewing gum manufacturer, has created a line of caffeinated chewing gum. Each piece contains as much caffeine as half a cup of coffee. In response to the growing trend, the FDA has announced that it plans to investigate the safety of caffeine in these food products. The main concern is the health affects these products can have on children and adolescents.

 

Image Provided by: www.fda.gov

The problem the FDA sees is that these food products containing caffeine are the products that appeal and are readily available to children and adolescents. One pack of this gum by Wrigley is equivalent to having four cups of coffee in your pocket. The FDA plans to get a better understanding of caffeine consumption and use patterns to determine what is a safe level for total consumption of caffeine.

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Read the full article here: NYTimes: Caffeine-Laced Foods Spur F.D.A. Investigation

Read the full report on the F.D.A.’s website.

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4 Summer Food Safety Tips

Posted on May 7, 2013 by admin

As the weather heats up we start to consume seasonal produce or hold backyard barbeques. It’s easy to forget that as the temperature rises, so does the chance that you will get sick from contaminated foods. Bacteria thrive in warmer weather and those who cook outside frequently are more susceptible to these illnesses. Follow these tips for proper food handling as the temperatures rise:

  1. Stay Clean: wash your hands and surfaces often. This is the easiest way to prevent foodborne illnesses. Always wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food. Use antibacterial hand sanitizer if you are cooking outside without access to a sink. Sinse fruits and vegetables by running tap water over them. If you are going to be cooking outdoors, wash your produce before you pack your picnic basket.
  2. Separate Raw Food: It is hard to avoid cross-contamination during grilling season. Don’t put your cooked meat back on the same platter than the raw meat was on. Have an extra plate ready for your cooked meat. Make sure to properly wrap and seal raw meat, seafood and poultry. Place meat in a separate cooler from fruits and vegetables to avoid cross-contamination.
  3. Cook Food Thoroughly: Always bring a thermometer to determine whether or not your meat is cooked through. Don’t simply depend on the color of the meat.
  4. Keep Cold Food Cold: Use a cooler at your next picnic, not the traditional ones. This will help keep your food at a safe temperature for longer. If your food is left out or in the sun for more than 2 hours, it should be disposed of. Choose a well-insulated cooler filled with ice. Keep the cooler out of direct sunlight. This will help slow down the growth of harmful bacteria

If you believe that you or a loved one have suffered from a foodborne illness, contact us immediately.

Source: Real Simple

Image by: Real Simple

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Orville Redenbacher’s® Classic Kettle Korn Ready-to-Eat Popcorn Recalled Due to Undeclared Milk Allergen

Posted on May 7, 2013 by admin

According to the FDA, on April 26, 2013, ConAgra Foods, Inc., in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is voluntarily recalling packages of its Orville Redenbacher’s Classic Kettle Korn flavor ready-to-eat popcorn that may contain an undeclared allergen, milk. Certain bags of the Kettle Korn flavored ready-to-eat popcorn may have inadvertently been filled with white cheddar flavored popcorn, which contains an allergen, Image by: Indiana Chronicle 

milk. The milk allergen is not declared on the Kettle Korn product label.

People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. There have been no illnesses reported to date in connection with this product. This product was shipped to food stores and distributors nationwide.

The affected product, Orville Redenbacher’s Classic Kettle Korn flavor popcorn, is packaged in 5.0-ounce and 1.5-ounce red poly bags with an Orville Redenbacher’s graphic logo and picture of the popcorn product on the front panel. This voluntary recall is limited to Orville Redenbacher’s Classic Kettle Korn flavor ready-to-eat popcorn packaged in 5.0-ounce and 1.5-ounce red poly bags bearing the following UPC and Sell By dates. The UPC code is printed on the back of each bag, in the lower left corner. The Sell By date is also printed on the back of the bag, in the upper right corner. No other Orville Redenbacher’s products are impacted.

In the event that consumers have purchased the impacted product, they should destroy it. Consumers who may have questions about this issue and/or wish to receive replacement product may call 866-518-4177, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

It is the responsibility of retail food distribution companies and services to follow FDA established safety and cleanliness protocols. If you believe that you or a member of your family has been sickened because of a violation, please contact Finkelstein & Partners immediately.

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Cantaloupe Contamination: Why Are They So Often Responsible For Foodborne Illness Outbreaks?

Posted on April 19, 2013 by admin

Cantaloupes contaminated with salmonella and Listeria have been reported over the past few months and years. Cantaloupes seem more likely than any other fruits and vegetables to carry pathogens.

If you believe that you or a member of your family have been sickened due to contaminated produce, please contact us immediately. Visit our food poisoning blog to learn more about food recalls and safety tips.

The cantaloupe’s unique, rough skin can trap and hold bacteria, which can easily seep inside the melon. Although bacteria doesn’t usually grow on the skin of most fruits and vegetables after harvest, bacteria has been found to grow on the outside of cantaloupe and watermelon after being picked. Contamination can occur at different stages of the process – growing, harvesting, packing, storage, transport, distribution and processing – all the way to the consumer’s possession.

Researchers are saying that contaminated irrigation water could be the culprit. This is said to be true since melons sit on the ground and could potentially soak in the infected water. Many other reasons are thought to aid in the contamination of melons by the spread of pathogens.

In September of 2011, as many as 16 people died across 18 states due to a Listeria outbreak associated with the cantaloupe melon. A farm in North Carolina recalled hundred of crates of cantaloupes that were shipped to New York in July of 2012 due to possible Listeria contamination.

Read these tips on how you as a consumer can reduce your chance of infection from cantaloupe:

  • Do not purchase a bruised or damaged melon.
  • Refrigerate fresh produce within two hours of peeling or cutting.
  • Wash all melons with cool tap water and a clean brush.
  • Wash your hands before and after handling rockmelons.
  • Do not cross-contaminate. Use clean cutting boards and utensils when handling fresh produce.

Read the full article at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/29/cantaloupe-contamination-outbreaks_n_1837817.html

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Riskiest Foods: Leafy Greens

Posted on April 19, 2013 by admin

Each year approximately 1 in 6 Americans gets sick from food poisoning. Surprisingly, leafy greens are the biggest source of foodborne illness. The Centers for Disease control released a study that determined leafy greens like lettuce and spinach are the leading sources of food poisoning. The findings should not discourage people from eating produce, but should advise them to wash their vegetables before consuming them.

If you believe that you or a member of your family has been sickened due to contaminated produce, please contact us immediately. Visit our food poisoning blog to learn more about food recalls and safety tips.

About 1 in 5 illnesses in the study by the CDC were linked to leafy green vegetables – more than any other type of food. Nearly half of all food poisoning cases were caused by contaminated produce, when illnesses from other fruits and vegetables were added in. While vegetable-related illnesses were more common, they were not the most dangerous. Poultry is the leading cause of foodborne illness deaths, about 1 in 5 Americans.

Always be sure to thoroughly wash your fruits and vegetables before consuming these products.

Source: The Daily News: Health

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Wegmans Food Markets Announces Voluntary Recall of Selects Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Roasted Red Pepper Dip, 8 oz., Due to Undeclared Milk and Eggs

Posted on April 18, 2013 by admin

According to the FDA on April 16, 2013, Wegmans Food Markets is recalling approximately 1,100 affected units of Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Roasted Red Pepper Dip, 8 oz. tub, with a best-by date of 5/17/13, because some of the tubs may have an

incorrect ingredient label that does not list milk and eggs. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk or eggs run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

Image provided by: FDA

The affected units were distributed to Wegman stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts.

The product is produced for Wegmans by Summer Fresh Salads, Inc. of Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada, and sold in 8 oz. plastic tubs bearing UPC 77890 23286 with a best-by date of 5/17/13.

There have been no reported illnesses to date.

The recall was initiated after a customer contacted Wegmans’ consumer affairs department and made them aware of the label discrepancy.

Concerned customers should return the product to their local Wegmans service desk for a full refund. Wegmans customers with questions or concerns should contact the consumer affairs department at 1-855-WEGFOODS (934-3663), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT.

It is the responsibility of retail food distribution companies and services to follow FDA established safety and cleanliness protocols. If you believe that you or a member of your family has been sickened because of a violation, please contact Finkelstein & Partners immediately.

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Recalled Frozen Food May Have Ended Up in Schools

Posted on April 9, 2013 by admin

300,000 pounds of frozen food recalled as a result of an E. coli scare may have been distributed to schools, according to the company that manufactured the products.

Rich Products Corp. has recalled 10 million pounds of frozen food over the course of 2 weeks after 27 E. coli illnesses in 15 different states were reported. The company estimated that at least 3 million pounds of the contaminated  food may still be in the marketplace. The main items shipped to the school were labeled as pizza dippers and pepperoni pizzatas.

If you believe that you or a member of your family has been sickened due to the contamination of E. coli, please contact us immediately.

E. coli can cause mild diarrhea or more severe complications, including kidney damage. 81% of people who were diagnosed with the E. coli illness were under the age of 21, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Health officials have directly linked the outbreak strain to two different Farm Rich brand products – frozen mini pizza slices and frozen chicken quesadillas. At least one school district has warned parents that food served in its cafeterias was recalled due to possible E. coli contamination.

Learn more about food recalls and safety tips on our food poisoning blog.

Read the full article at: http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22980962/recalled-frozen-food-may-have-ended-up-schools

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Rich Products Corporation announces a voluntary recall of Farm Rich® Products due to possible contamination with E. Coli O121

Posted on April 8, 2013 by admin

On March 28, 2013, the FDA announced that Rich Products Corporation of Buffalo, New York is voluntarily recalling their Farm Rich® Mini Quesadillas (PC 35635), Farm Rich® Mini Pizza Slices (PC 35643 and PC 37690), Farm Rich® Philly Cheese Steaks (PC 35634), Farm Rich® Mozzarella Bites (PC 37443 and PC 37691) and Market Day® Mozzarella Bites products. The products produced from November 12, 2012 to November 19, 2012 are being recalled due to possible contamination with Escherichia coli O121 bacteria (“E. Coli O121”).

Symptoms of the illness include mild to severe diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Blood is often seen in the stool. Usually little or no fever is present. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within 5-10 days, certain individuals can develop a complication called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) which can cause kidney failure. HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly. The condition could lead to serious kidney damage and even death. The Farm Rich products were distributed nationwide.

Specific product information is as follows:

Farm Rich® Mini Quesadillas are packaged in 18 oz. bags. The product code is 35635, the production date is November 14, 2012 with a Julian Date of 15822319. The UPC Code is 041322356352 and the “Best By” date on the package is May 14, 2014.

Farm Rich® Mini Pizza Slices are packaged in 22 oz. bags. The product code is 35643, the production date is November 15, 2012 with a Julian Date of 15822320 and November 16, 2012 with a Julian Date 1582 2321. The UPC Code is 041322356437 and the “Best By” date on the package is May 15 or May 16, 2014.

The Farm Rich® Mini Pizza Slices are also packaged in a 7.2 oz. carton. The product code is 37690, the production date is also November 15, 2012 with a Julian Date of 1582 2320 and November 16, 2012 with a Julian Date 1582 2321. The UPC Code is 041322376909 and the “Best By” date on the package is May 15 or May 16, 2014.

Farm Rich® Philly Cheese Steaks are packaged in 21 oz. bags. The product code is 35634, the production date is November 13, 2012 with a Julian Date of 1582 2318. The UPC Code is 041322356345 and the “Best By” date on the package is May 13, 2014.

Farm Rich® Mozzarella Bites are packaged in 22 oz. bags. The product code is 37443, the production date is November 19, 2012 with a Julian Date of 1582 2324. The UPC Code is 041322374431 and the “Best By” date on the package is May 19, 2014.

Farm Rich® Mozzarella Bites are packaged in a 7 oz. carton. The product code is 37691, the production date is November 19, 2012 with a Julian Date of 1582 2324. The UPC Code is 041322376916 and the “Best By” date on the package is May 19, 2014.

Market Day® Mozzarella Bites are packaged in a 22 oz. carton. The product code is 80435, the production date is November 12, 2012 with a Julian Date of 1582 2317. The UPC Code is 041322804358 and the “Best By” date on the package is May 12, 2014.

Rich’s has already notified all of its distributors and retailers who have received the product in question and has directed them to remove and destroy the affected product. Consumers who have purchased these Farm Rich products and have any questions should contact Farm Rich Consumer Relations at 1-888-220-5955 8 am to 8 pm EST Monday through Friday, or visit our website at farmrich.com.

It is the responsibility of retail food distribution companies and services to follow FDA established safety and cleanliness protocols. If you believe that you or a member of your family has been sickened because of a violation, please contact Finkelstein & Partners immediately.

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Tri-union Seafoods Expands Recall To Include Chunk Light Tuna In Oil Products

Posted on March 18, 2013 by admin

According to the FDA on March 8, 2013, Tri-Union Seafoods LLC, which previously announced a voluntary recall, is now expanding it to include a limited amount of Chicken of the Sea brand 5-ounce chunk light tuna in oil. This is in addition to the limited amount of Chicken of the Sea brand 5-ounce chunk white albacore tuna in water announced March 6, 2013.

The seams on the lids of the cans do not meet the standard for seam quality. Cans that do not meet seam standards could result in product contamination by spoilage organisms or by pathogens, which could lead to illness if consumed. There have been no reported illnesses to date, and Tri-Union Seafoods is issuing this voluntary recall to ensure the highest margin of safety and quality.

The UPC code (also known as the bar code) is found on the label of the product. The Best By date is printed on the bottom of the can. The product lot codes that are part of this voluntary recall can also be found on the bottom of the can.

The specific products being recalled are as follows:

Chicken of the Sea 5-Ounce Chunk Light Tuna in Oil
Chicken of the Sea Brand 5-ounce chunk light tuna in oil sold at retail nationwide in single cans between January 23, 2013 and March 6, 2013. The UPC code is 0 48000 00195 5 and the Best By date is 01/15/17.

Chicken of the Sea 5-Ounce Chunk White Albacore Tuna
Chicken of the Sea Brand 5-ounce chunk white albacore tuna in water sold at retail nationwide in single cans between February 4, 2013 and February 27, 2013. The UPC code is 0 48000 03355 0. The Best By date is 01/18/17.

No other codes of this product or other Chicken of the Sea products are affected by this voluntary recall.

It is the responsibility of retail food distribution companies and services to follow FDA established safety and cleanliness protocols. If you believe that you or a member of your family has been sickened because of a violation, please contact Finkelstein & Partners immediately.

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Bumble Bee Foods Issues Voluntary Recall On Specific Codes Of 5-Ounce Chunk White Albacore And Chunk Light Tuna Products Due To Loose Seals

Posted on March 14, 2013 by admin

According to the FDA on March 6, 2013, Bumble Bee Foods, LLC, has issued a voluntary recall on specific codes of 5-ounce Chunk White Albacore and Chunk Light Tuna products. The recall has been issued because the products do not meet the company’s standards for seal tightness. Loose seals or seams could result in product contamination by spoilage organisms or pathogens and lead to illness if consumed. There have been no reports to date of any illness associated with these products.

The following products are subject to the recall:

Brunswick Brand 5oz Chunk Light Tuna in Water – 48 Count Case (Case UPC 6661332803)

Bumble Bee Brand 5oz Chunk Light Tuna in Water – 48 Count Case (Case UPC 8660000020)

Bumble Bee Brand 5oz Chunk Light Tuna in Vegetable Oil – 48 Count Case (Case UPC 8660000021)

Bumble Bee Brand 5oz Chunk White Albacore in Water – 24 Count Case (Case UPC 8660000025)

Bumble Bee Brand 5oz Chunk Light Tuna in Water – 6 Count Case of 4-Pack Cluster (Case UPC 8660000736)

Bumble Bee Brand 5oz Chunk White Albacore in Water – 6 Count Case of 8-Pack Cluster (Case UPC 8660000775)

Bumble Bee Brand 5oz Chunk White Albacore in Water – 6 Count Case of 8-Pack Cluster (Case UPCS 8660000776)

These products were distributed for retail sale nationwide between January 17, 2013 and February 28, 2013. Bumble Bee Foods SVP of Technical Services and Corporate Quality Assurance Steve Mavity said, “Due to can integrity concerns, our top priority at this time is to remove these recalled products from distribution as soon as possible. We are working closely with our sales team and with retailers to help expedite the recall. We must assure our consumers and retailers of a safe and quality product so we very much appreciate everyone’s part in disposing of the products with the specific codes indicated.” Mavity added, “There have been no consumer reports of illnesses attributed to these products, but because we’ve identified an issue with seal tightness, we’re voluntarily recalling products to ensure the highest margin of safety and quality.”

Consumers who have purchased the recalled products should discard the product by disposing in the garbage. For any questions concerning this voluntary recall or reimbursement, consumers can contact Bumble Bee Consumer Affairs 24 hours a day at (800) 800-8572.

It is the responsibility of retail food distribution companies and services to follow FDA established safety and cleanliness protocols. If you believe that you or a member of your family has been sickened because of a violation, please contact Finkelstein & Partners immediately.

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