Out of regard and concern for our consumers, Tim’s Cascade Snacks of Algona, Washington is recalling ‘HAWAIIAN® Kettle Style Potato Chips – SWEET MAUI ONION’ AND ‘HAWAIIAN – SWEET MAUI ONION RINGS’ because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

‘Hawaiian® Kettle Style Potato Chips- Sweet Maui Onion’ and ‘Hawaiian- Sweet Maui Onion Rings’ were distributed nationwide and in Canada through retail stores, distributors, direct delivery and internet sales. These products were sold as individual bags and as components of packs, including variety packs. No other ‘Hawaiian’ products are involved in this recall.

Only the following products are being recalled:

‘Hawaiian Kettle Style Potato Chips – Sweet Maui Onion’

With code dates MAR 09 10 up to and including JUN 07 10

BAG NET WT
UPC

1 ounce bags
1159400116

1.5 ounce bags
1159402213

2 ounce bags
1159420211

5 ounce bags
1159400503

8 ounce bags
1159410034

18 ounce bags
1159402005

32 ounce bags
1159403201

2 ounce 15 pack
Bag 1159420211

Box 1159499007

1.5 ounce

It’s Time for Tim’s Variety Pack, 36 count
Bag 1159402213

Tray 1159436001

70 gram bags
1159400704

210 gram bags
1159400754

908 gram bags
1159403201

‘Hawaiian – Sweet Maui Onion Rings’

With code dates MAR 23 10 and all dates up to JUN 21 10

BAG NET WT
UPC

0.75 ounce bags
1159407501

1.5 ounce bags
1159402022

4 ounce bags
1159440401

42 gram bags
1159401501

There are no known illnesses reported.

The ‘HAWAIIAN® Kettle Style Potato Chips – SWEET MAUI ONION’ AND ‘HAWAIIAN – SWEET MAUI ONION RINGS’ are being recalled because they contain HVP (hydrolyzed vegetable protein) manufactured, distributed and recalled by Basic Food Flavors, Inc., Las Vegas, NV.

Consumers who have purchased these products should not consume them and should return them to the retailer they were purchased from for a full refund. Tim’s Cascade and our retailers are removing recalled product from retailers’ shelves. As a result, consumers can be assured that all other Tim’s Cascade products that remain on-shelf are safe and not subject to this recall.

Columbus, Ohio – T. Marzetti Company  announced as a precautionary measure that it is voluntarily recalling certain production codes of T. Marzetti Veggie Dips, Oak Lake Chip Dips and Great Value Chip Dips because an ingredient used in the product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. There have been no reports of illnesses associated with the identified products, and no other types, varieties of flavors of products are affected by this recall.

Products subject to this recall that were distributed nationwide in the United States under the T. Marzetti brand in plastic tubs and sold in the produce section include:

T. Marzetti Southwest Ranch Veggie Dip, 15.5 ounce (UPC 70200 52004)
Best By dates: APR2010F, APR2810F, MAY1610F, MAY3110F, JUN0610F, JUN1410F, JUN1910F
T. Marzetti Fat Free Southwest Ranch Veggie Dip, 13 ounce (UPC 70200 52033)
Best By dates: MAY1610F, MAY3010F, JUN0810F, JUN1210F, JUN2510F
T. Marzetti Spinach Veggie Dip, 15 ounce (UPC 70200 52059)
Best By dates: APR1910F, MAY0910F, JUN0710F
Products subject to this recall distributed in Canada and Laredo, Texas, under the T. Marzetti brand in plastic tubs and sold in the produce section include:

T. Marzetti Spinach Veggie Dip, Epinards, Trempette A Legumes, 340 gram (UPC 70200 58843)
Best By dates: 10AL11F, 10AL17F, 10AL24F, 10AL30F, 10MA08F, 10JN12F
T. Marzetti Southwest Ranch Veggie Dip, Ranch style sud-ouest americain Trempette A Legumes, 340 gram (UPC 70200 58844)
Best By dates: 10AL17F, 10AL24F, 10AL30F, 10MA08F, 10JN05F, 10JN14F
Product subject to this recall distributed in Ohio under the Oak Lake Farms Brand in plastic tubs and sold in the refrigerated case includes:

Oak Lake Farms French Onion Chip Dip, 16 ounce (UPC 73534 43480)
Best By dates: APR2310F, JUN1110F, JUN2610F
Product distributed in the United States under the Great Value brand in plastic tubs and sold in the refrigerated section includes:

Great Value Ranch Chip Dip, 16 ounce (UPC 78742 43099)
Best By dates: 042810F, 050810F, 052910F, 053010F, 053110F, 060410F, 060510F, 061110F
T. Marzetti was notified by its supplier, Basic Food Flavors, Inc., of the recall of an ingredient used in these products due to potential Salmonella contamination. Because the safety of consumers is a top priority and out of an abundance of caution, T. Marzetti has voluntarily recalled these product.

T. Marzetti is working closely with Food and Drug Administration to conduct this voluntary recall.

Salmonella is a common food borne pathogen that can cause severe illnesses, including fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. While most individuals recover in three to five days without medical intervention, the infection can be life-threatening to young children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Consumers with any of these symptoms should call their physician.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled products are advised to discard this product or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. Consumers with questions about the recall should contact T. Marzetti Co. at 1-800-427-0147 between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. EST or visit the company’s Website at www.marzetti.com2.

The T. Marzetti Company is the specialty food subsidiary of Lancaster Colony Corporation (Nasdaq: LANC). More information about the company is available at www.marzetti.com3.

When an individual thinks they have the stomach flu or a stomach virus, they may really have Norovirus.  Norovirus goes by many names. It has been called Calcivirus as well as Norwalk virus. Norovirus is contracted when a person ingests food which is contaminated with the virus. Shellfish can harbor Norovirus. In addition, Norovirus can be passed from an infected person to a well person. People transfer Norovirus to one another when they share utensils or drink after one another. Children can also acquire Norovirus when they touch contaminated objects and then put their hands in their mouths. Children can also acquire Norovirus when they put infected toys in their mouths. Norovirus infections result in gastroenteritis. Symptoms include low-grade fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort. Norovirus symptoms can last for one to three days.

Many people are familiar with Norovirus due to the heavy media attention directed at infections on cruise ships and hotels. Most recently, on February 26, 2010, CBSNews reported online that a Caribbean cruise ship, the Celebrity Mercury, docked after hundreds of travelers became sick with Norovirus. CDC tests have confirmed that Norovirus was the source of the illnesses.

Days after two companies recall their Granola Bars and Peanut Crunch products for possible Salmonella contamination, Thumb Oilseed Producers’ Cooperative of Ubly, MI., the producers of soy grits believed to be the reason for contamination, finally recall their products. A little slow on the draw, right? Here’s their official release:

Thumb Oilseed Producers’ Cooperative of Ubly, MI. has recalled certain shipments of soybean grits and flour because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recalled soybean grits and flour were distributed to a limited group of wholesale customers located around the nation. These customers have been contacted by Thumb Oilseed and are reviewing this inventories and production processes and taking the necessary steps to protect consumer health, including, if necessary, sub recalls.

The product is labeled with Soy Beginnings or Nexsoy brands; packaged in 40# paper bags. Feed is packaged in 1500# totes. (Lot numbers include TF121608 through TF012210, TG121608 through TG010510).

The recall resulted from routine sampling programs conducted by the company and its wholesale customers. Thumb Oilseed has suspended production and distribution of the potential affected products and is cooperating with the US Food and Drug Administration and Michigan Department of Agriculture in investigating the situation.

The recall does not involve soy oil products produced by Thumb Oilseed.

 With the rise in food imports comes an added risk related to food safety. Ensuring that exporting countries maintain the same standard of food safety as the United States is difficult. Imported food has been the source of recent food recalls. One such recall was that of Italian Sausage products by Daniele International, Inc. which was possibly linked to imported pepper used in the making of the sausage products. According to an ongoing investigation, the imported pepper may have been infected with Salmonella. This Salmonella foodborne illness outbreak sickened over 200 people throughout the United States.

In an attempt to ensure the safety of imported foods, two agencies have emerged. Their goal is to train “state and local food-protection specialists.” The Kalamazoo Gazette published an article on February 25, 2010 describing how the International Food Protection Institute at Western Michigan University and the National Center for Biomedical Research and Training at Louisiana State University joined forces to provide knowledge to food safety specialists. Training at the International Food Protection Institute has focused on providing food safety personnel with the knowledge they would need should they face emergencies which could jeopardize the U.S. food supply.

LSU’s National Center for Biomedical Research and Training serves as a Department of Homeland Security “training partner,” according to its website.  One particular training course offered is Awareness and Training to Biological Events. This training course provides information on agri-terrorism and possible utilization of biological weapons for terrorist attacks. In addition to training law enforcement, medical staff as well as health departments can benefit from these courses.

The International Food Protection Institute is a nonprofit organization. According to their website, they provide courses concerning retail food safety, food emergencies, and others related to inspection and other food related safety areas.

Maintaining the safety of the nation’s food supply is a difficult job. Not only must the government  try to prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses such as E. coli and Salmonella, they must also prepare for natural disasters and train professionals in how to effectively handle such emergencies. The National Center for Biomedical Research and Training and The International Food Protection Institute are helping in this fight.

As the 2010 Winter Olympic Games come to a close, I must admit, it has been very exciting watching these competitions. Millions of people world-wide cheered as these athletes sought to fulfill a life-long dream of winning a gold medal. A fortunate few were able to visit Vancouver and watch the games in person. With people from all over the world descending on Vancouver, scientists prepared for these visitors in a unique manner. Two researchers tracked the possible infiltration of not only people, but also the illnesses they carried.

An article by Amit Pathania entitled “On-line Mapping System to Check Infectious Diseases Occurring During International Gatherings” was recently published on the Top News website. The article describes how, utilizing state of the art mapping software, scientists from St. Michael’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School teamed up to track where visitors were coming from and what diseases they might be carrying. One of the illnesses looked at included E. coli food poisoning. E. coli food poisoning could have spread not only through individuals bringing it into the venue, but, as with any time food is sold, there was also the potential for the E. coli bacteria to spread throughout the crowds through a vendor or other source. The mapping software uses international air travel as one of the variables for aiding scientists in mapping potential illness dispersion. Other illnesses looked at included mumps and H1N1.

Food poisoning can always be a concern during gatherings of large numbers of people. If a source of foodborne illness, such as E. coli is present, many people are at risk. One restaurant or store serving E. coli contaminated food could potentially infect hundreds of individuals. E. coli is also dangerous because it can lead to additional complications besides diarrhea and nausea. Some of these additional E. coli complications include Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, a condition leading to possible kidney failure, which can occur following a bout with E. coli. Other diseases, such as the flu, which are airborne, can put even more people at risk of infection.

Wholesome Spice of Brooklyn, NY, who has been mentioned the the Daniele International Salmonella Recall, is now recalling lots of Crushed Red Pepper.  Here’s the company’s release:

Wholesome Spice of Brooklyn, NY is recalling all lots of 25 lb boxes of Crushed Red Pepper sold between 4/6/09 and 1/20/10, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The 25 lb boxes of Crushed Red pepper were distributed in the Northeastern U.S.. The product was not sold on the retail level to consumers.

The Crushed Red Pepper product is packaged in a clear plastic bag which is placed inside of a cardboard box with an adhesive white label with a blue border and blue and black lettering. The brand name on the product labels is WHOLESOME SPICES. The product name is listed as CRUSHED RED PEPPER.

It cannot be determined at this time if this product has been related to any illnesses to date.

The firm was informed that samples of its product have tested positive for Salmonella. The firm is currently working with the FDA to determine how the contamination occurred.

Manufacturers who have purchased 25 lb boxes of WHOLESOME SPICES brand Crushed Red Pepper are urged not to use the product and to recall any product they further distributed.

Salmonella is again in the news.  More granola bars, produced by an entirely different company, are now being recalled.  Recently, Lovin Oven, LLC of Irwindale, CA recalled their products, Health Valley Organic Peanut Crunch, Dutch Apple and Wildberry Chewy Granola Bars for this same risk.  Now its   fresh&easy™ Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars.  The contamination in both instances is linked to organic toasted soy grits supplied by Thumb Oilseed Producers Cooperative of Ubly, MI.  

Here’s  Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market Inc.’s official release:

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market Inc., is voluntarily recalling all date codes of fresh&easy™ Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars as a result of a recall initiated by Thumb Oilseed Producers. This company supplies an ingredient that has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

This is the only Fresh & Easy product affected and there have been no illnesses reported.

Product Description	Barcode	Dates Affected
fresh&easy™ Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars 6count/7.4oz carton	5051379001377	All Date Codes

The recalled products were sold in Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market stores located in California, Nevada, and Arizona.

Queseria Bendita ofYakima, Wash., is recalling three types ofcheese, Queso Fresco, Panela, and Requeson, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism that 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.

The Queso Fresco, Panela, and Requeson cheeses are sold at Queseria Bendita’s retail store and were distributed in Washington and Oregon, where they are sold in Hispanic markets.

The Queso Fresco is packaged in one- and three-pound vacuum packed wheels; the Panela is vacuum packed in one- and three- pound sizes; and the Requeson is packed in eight-ounce and one- pound clear plastic tubs.

Each cheese has a green label identifying the type of cheese, the Queseria Bendita brand name, and a date code up to and including “Apr 30 2010″.

To date there is one confirmed illness in Washington related to the recalled product. Other illnesses in Washington and Oregon may also be related.

The public health investigation of the illnesses led to sampling and testing of the cheeses. The testing revealed the contamination of the product with Listeria monocytogenes.

The company has ceased production and distribution of the product while the Washington State Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the firm investigate the source of the problem.

The South Dakota Argus Leader recently published an article entitled “Officials Wary of Agri-Terrorism,” which discussed the state’s readiness for an agri-terrorism attack. When people normally think of terrorism, they think of 9-11 scenarios. However, terrorists could potentially utilize the U.S. food supply as a weapon of mass destruction. The article describes how South Dakota has developed a protocol to help prevent such an attack. Realizing that fear of such an attack could have a devastating effect on this agricultural state economically; the government designed a plan to monitor the state’s food supply. Beginning in 2001, utilizing money from both the USDA and the Department of Homeland Security, the state’s government developed several methods to help improve the safety of both domestic and foreign food. One example includes the Reserve Veterinary Officer Corps. Its members conduct research on foreign animal diseases. Additionally, an Animal Industries Board prepares for emergencies and veterinarians have been trained to identify symptoms of foreign diseases affecting animals. In addition, animals in livestock markets must be certified and inspected. We applaud these efforts.