Here at Neblett, Beard, and Arsenault, all month long, we will be discussing the most up-to-date food safety issues including foodborne illness prevention techniques, food safety legislation, as well as the government’s role in tracing foodborne illness to its source.

In the wake of the recent national Salmonella enteritidis recall tied to eggs and another recall directly linked to Shiga toxin producing E. coli O26, now is a great time to focus on food safety. Join us this month for new, thought provoking articles on these issues and many, many more.

We hope that food producers and manufacturers will also take this opportunity to brush up on food safety because the only way to prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses to ensure that foodborne illness pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella and campylobacter never contaminate the food supply in the first place, and that responsibility rests solely on their shoulders.

The recalled “EGG NOODLES and WONTON SKINS” may contain eggs which have been recalled by the manufacturer due to the potential contamination with Salmonella enteritidis. Consumers are urged to return these “EGG NOODLES and WONTON SKINS”, labeled with production date from June 19, 2010 to August 19, 2010 to our warehouse for the full refund.

Oaxaca String Cheese
Queso Fresco

The Cheese products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  This is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms, such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, infection can cause miscarriages and still births among pregnant women.

The recalled cheese was distributed in New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, and Virginia to retail stores and wholesalers.

THE PRODUCT IS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF

QUESERIA CHIPILO
CHIPILO
AZTLAN

The firm also manufactures cheese for Mi Pueblito’s brand

The problem was detected by FDA sampling at the facility and in finished product

News reports by the Des Moines Register have indicated that federal officials began an investigation based upon positive Salmonella test results at egg farms linked to the recall.   

As part of this investigation, Central Bi-Products, a supplier of the chicken feed and a part of Farmers Union Industries, is currently under the scrutiny of federal investigatory teams. It appears that Central Bi-Products was the company that supplied bone meal to Quality Egg LLC. This bone meal tested positive for Salmonella at Quality Egg facilities.

According to the article,

Don Davis, president and chief executive of Farmers Union Industries, said Wednesday that Food and Drug Administration inspectors visited his offices in Redwood Falls, Minn., on Tuesday and are looking over the plant in Long Prairie that produced the bone meal. “They ask a lot of questions, take a lot of notes,” he said.

Davis said he’s confident the bone meal was free of salmonella bacteria or other pathogens when it left his company. Central Bi-Products processes dead livestock and poultry into bone meal and other products. Bone meal is used as a mineral supplement in feed. Carcasses are cooked at 260 to 285 degrees under high pressure to remove water from the product and to separate fat from the protein. “In the process, all known pathogens are killed,” he said.

The point of these continued investigations is to find the original source of the Salmonella bacteria. This will prevent further spreading of the bacteria and future Salmonellosis cases. If the original source is not uncovered, Salmonella bacteria could continue to spread. The only way to stop the spread of the bacteria is to find it and stop it at the source.

Whole Foods Market’s North Atlantic region is announcing a voluntary recall Morningland Dairy and Ozark Hills Farm Raw Goat Milk Mild Cheddar Cheese due to possible contamination by Listeria and Staphylococcus aureus.

These cheeses were sold in three Whole Foods Market stores: West Hartford Center and Glastonbury, Connecticut; and Hadley, Massachusetts. The cheese is packaged in plastic labeled with a Whole Foods scale label and sold as random weight size retail packages in the cheese department.

Customers who have purchased these products from Whole Foods Market may return them to the store for a full refund. Signage has also been posted in stores to notify customers.

This recall was issued as a result of contamination found during a routine regulatory sampling. The FDA, the Missouri Milk Board and Morningland Dairy are investigating the source of the contamination.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. Staphylococcus aureus is a bacteria that usually causes rapid food poisoning symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, retching, abdominal cramping and prostration. In more severe cases, headache, muscle cramping and transient changes in blood pressure and pulse may occur.

Shigella food poisoning cases often emerge 24 to 48 hours after being exposed to the Shigella bacteria. Shigella victims normally suffer with adverse symptoms for up to one week.

Two other common forms of Shigella bacteria are Shigella flexneri and Shigella dysenteriae. Shigella flexneri infections do occur in the United States, while Shigella dysenteria infections are more common in third world countries. Individuals who battle Shigella flexneri can develop long-term medical complications including joint pain, eye problems, and pain while urinating. Chronic arthritis may emerge in rare instances following Shigella related food poisoning.

The WSJ has confirmed that this is a formal investigation involving personnel with the FDA’s criminal division as well as agents with the U.S. Department of Justice.  We know so far that these agents have made contact with the two producers at the forefront of this massive Salmonella contamination scare, Hillandale Farms and Wright County Egg, based out of Iowa.   These two farms whave been harshly criticized with regard to the safety of their products and have potentially been linked to the source of the Salmonella contamination that has sickened nearly 2,000 victims across the country. 

The criminal investigation into the egg recall now joins the likes of those involved in the criminal investigation over the tragic Deepwater Horizon/Gulf Oil Spill, as yet another criminal investigation into an event that may have been prevented by emphasizing safety over profits.

Additional information as to the cause of bloating or a description of this product’s bloating were unavailable. A New York Times discussion of bloating in cans revealed that chemical process in cans could cause this type of bloating. However, the Tony Chachere’s product is not sold in a metal can. The article discusses other possible causes of bloating including food spoilage, and the presence of microorganisms.

According to the article and Dr. Joseph Hotchkiss, associate professor of food science at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., “This swelling can be a sign of very serious food spoilage that could cause illness or even death,” he said. Botulism is of primary concern, he said. Other less dangerous microbes can also cause swelling, but to tell the difference, lab tests would be needed.”

When the cause of the bloating in the Tony Chachere’s product is determine we will update our report. Check back for additional information.

The following products are subject to recall:

• 8-ounce clear plastic bags of “TRINH CO. BI TUOI COOKED SHREDDED PORK SKIN, THUONG HANG BI TUOI V.N. HOP VE SINH.”
• 10-ounce clear plastic bags of “TRINH CO. BI TUOI COOKED SHREDDED PORK SKIN, THUONG HANG BI TUOI V.N. HOP VE SINH.”
• 5-pound clear plastic bags of “TRINH CO. BI TUOI COOKED SHREDDED PORK SKIN, THUONG HANG BI TUOI V.N. HOP VE SINH.”

The pork products were distributed to retail establishments in California. Each bag bears the establishment number “6488″ inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The problem was discovered by FSIS personnel and is the subject of an ongoing investigation. FSIS may take more regulatory action based on the results of this investigation.

FSIS has received no reports of illness due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.

QUESO FRESCO (FRESH WHITE CHEESE) with expiration date SEP 12 2010 was sold to retail stores in the New York City area.  QUESO REQUESON (RICOTTA CHEESE) with expiration date SEP 19 2010 was sold to retail stores in the New York City area and to Providence, Rhode Island.

QUESO FRESCO (FRESH WHITE CHEESE) is packaged in a hard plastic (clam shell) container labeled with the brand name Queso El Azteca, NET WT. 14 OZ. (396g), UPC 0 23986 92692 8, and expiration date SEP 12 2010.  REQUESON (RICOTTA CHEESE) is packaged in a hard plastic (clam shell) container labeled with the brand name Queso El Azteca, NET WT. 14 OZ. (396g), no UPC coding, and with expiration date SEP 19 2010.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recall was the result of sampling by the Rhode Island Department of Health which revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in QUESO FRESCO (FRESH WHITE CHEESE) with expiration date SEP 12 2010, and REQUESON (RICOTTA CHEESE) with expiration date SEP 19 2010.  The company has temporarily stopped production.