One Great Burger, an Elizabeth, N.J., establishment, is recalling approximately 226,400 pounds of ground beef products that may have become spoiled, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The problem was discovered by FSIS during an investigation into customer complaints of discoloration and off-odors in the products. The review uncovered... [more]

Would the Food Safety Modernization Act be better if it included overhauls to the meat and poultry laws within our country? Some argue that the answer is a definitive YES! However, these two products, which are governed by the FSIS not the FDA,  have been left out of the fold when the bill was signed by President Obama last week. The bill does enact some powerful, new food safety legislation. By improving... [more]

It seems we have another cheese recall on our hands. This time Surtex Foods Company is recalling Oaxaca String Cheese La Original due to the potential for Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus contamination. The package size is 17.63 oz/ 500 grams and was shipped to stores in the California area. This is reminiscent of the September 2010 recalls by Morningland Dairy and Estrella Family Cheeses.... [more]

SURTEX FOODS CO. of Los Angeles is recalling Oaxaca string Cheese La Original in their 17.63 oz/ 500 gr presentation because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. Listeria monocytogenes 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... [more]

The cool morning air reminds us that it is hunting season in Louisiana and in many parts of the South. While out in the woods, hunters will come in contact with many interesting creatures, and while the interesting sights can be truly amazing, an article in the Baton Rouge’s The Advocate, reminds us that there are unsuspecting dangers lurking in the woods. Recently, Louisiana has experienced a series... [more]

La Placita Botanas Mexicanas, Inc. of South El Monte, California is recalling Wheat Snacks with Chile, Potato Chips with Chile, and Corn Churritos with Chile 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... [more]

Boncheff Greenhouses, Inc. of Toronto, Ontario is issuing a voluntary recall on Cilantro, Curly Parsley, and Italian Parsley, 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... [more]

This week, a permanent injunction was filed against Portland Shellfish Co. It appears that the company’s cooked lobster meat has periodically been recalled during the last twenty-four months. The bacterial culprit that prompted the recalls was potential Listeria monocytogenes. The following statement by the president of the company was posted online by the Press Herald: Jeffrey Holden, president... [more]

Listeria is a foodborne pathogen which can cause a food poisoning known as listeriosis. Listeria is especially dangerous if contracted by a pregnant mother. The Listeria infection can spread to the child causing birth defects and other problems, and Listeria has been known to cause both miscarriages and stillbirths. Pregnant women normally do not show signs of having contracted Listeriosis until the... [more]

It appears that a Vancouver hospital is the site of a both a Clostridium difficile outbreak and a norovirus outbreak. The fourth floor at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) was battling the norovirus outbreak, while the sixth floor was the center of a C. difficile outbreak. It appears that these outbreaks may now be over thanks to disinfecting techniques and visitor restrictions. Norovirus, also... [more]