USDA Investigates Salmonella Outbreak in BeefDecember 25th, 2011 - Erin Shaw
The USDA is investigating an outbreak of Salmonella that originated with beef products sold throughout the Northeast at Hannaford grocery stores. Tracing the outbreak source up the supply chain is complicated by weak record-keeping standards for grocers’ beef products. Will the USDA’s New Livestock Tagging Really Prevent Disease?June 25th, 2011 - Jill Ettinger
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is expected to announce a proposed new rule—the Animal Disease Traceability system—that would mandate livestock animal tracking through ID tagging. The agency has proposed similar rules in the past—beginning in the early 1990s and again in 2003 after 3 cases of “mad cow disease,” bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) were discovered in the U.S. Read More:Will the USDA’s New Livestock Tagging Really Prevent Disease?New Food Safety Bill to Exempt Small FarmsNovember 25th, 2010 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
Big factory farms mean big fat problems, just look at the recent Cal-Maine egg recall; 24,000 dozen eggs possibly contaminated with salmonella and now an undercover video showing rampant health violations and animal abuse. Clearly we need to regulate giant food producers in the United States, but, we also need to protect smaller farms that go about their business without violation and supply their community with fresh local food. So after much consternation and bickering, the new food safety bill approved by the Senate will have provisions to exempt small farms from costly regulations that could put them out of business. Read More:New Food Safety Bill to Exempt Small Farms23 Dressings, Salads, Salsas Recalled Over Tainted Cilantro ConcernsNovember 10th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
Food packager Orval Kent has taken action because the 43,814 pounds of cilantro it purchased from EpicVeg, Inc., may be tainted with the bacterium. The affected products were distributed at retail stores nationwide. No illnesses have been reported to date. If you have purchased any of the following items, do not consume them. Return them to the place of purchase for a full refund or replacement. Read More:23 Dressings, Salads, Salsas Recalled Over Tainted Cilantro ConcernsNew Egg Recall Affects Consumers in 8 StatesNovember 9th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently notified Cal-Maine that a routine sample taken at Ohio Fresh Eggs tested positive for the bacterium. The affected eggs were processed Oct. 9–12 and distributed to food wholesalers and retailers in Arkansas, California, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. No illnesses have been reported to date. Read More:New Egg Recall Affects Consumers in 8 StatesFDA Should Shut Down Iowa Egg FarmOctober 26th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
After the recall, DeCoster was required to outline corrective actions in a formal letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Not surprisingly, the agency has found his proposed measures to be sorely lacking. Kansas City District Director John W. Thorsky has sent DeCoster a warning letter that requires “prompt and aggressive actions” to correct a host of unresolved problems. If DeCoster fails to comply, the FDA can enjoin his company from selling eggs or seize the foul farm. Read More:FDA Should Shut Down Iowa Egg FarmDel Monte Recalls Cantaloupes in Detroit AreaOctober 23rd, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
Eighty-one cartons of cantaloupes, each containing 15 melons, were distributed to wholesalers in Detroit. The cantaloupes reached retail and foodservice outlets beginning Oct. 11. The cantaloupes have a light brown skin and orange flesh. Each has a Del Monte sticker that reads “Cantaloupe USA.” Read More:Del Monte Recalls Cantaloupes in Detroit AreaEgg Recall: Disgusting Conditions Confirm Dangers of Factory FarmsAugust 31st, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
Iowa-based Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms—the two producers responsible for the recall of 500,000 eggs potentially contaminated with salmonella—should be put out of business. FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, MD, last week said these companies were “not operating with the standards of practice that we consider responsible,” according to the New York Times. Now we know some of the specifics: These factory farms, whose eggs have sickened roughly 1,500 consumers, were overrun with rodents, maggots and flies, and chicken manure heaps. Henhouses were filthy and broken down, with rusted holes, structural damage, unsanitary employees and seeping manure. Read More:Egg Recall: Disgusting Conditions Confirm Dangers of Factory FarmsProduct Tracing Needed to Protect Us from Foodborne IllnessesAugust 29th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
Cover enough salmonella or E. coli outbreaks, and you become intimately familiar with the “T” word: traceback. The term refers to the process federal inspectors use to determine exactly where contamination occurred in the food supply chain. Recent recalls highlight the critical need for an effective product tracing system, according to the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a Chicago-based organization that represents food scientists and related professionals. Read More:Product Tracing Needed to Protect Us from Foodborne IllnessesNew Ground Beef Recall; More Eggs Join ListAugust 28th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
About 8,500 pounds of ground beef have been recalled by Wyalusing, PA-based Cargill Meat Solutions Corp. This is an E. coli-related Class I recall, which designates “a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.” This isn’t Cargill’s first time at the recall rodeo. As I reported in November, the company was forced to recall 5,522 pounds of beef tongues because workers neglected to remove tonsils—a violation of both USDA regulations and my personal “ick” meter. Read More:New Ground Beef Recall; More Eggs Join List |
