Canada - Packaged RTE Baby Spinach Recalled After CFIA Detects Listeria

In Canada, Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc. is recalling of Dole brand Baby Spinach with Tender Reds from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination  This recall was triggered by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) test results. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products.

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2018-08-08/eng/1533739123858/1533739125149
Food Safety Warning - Dole brand Baby Spinach with Tender Reds recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes

This Week in Mislabeled Product - Week Ending August 11. 2018

"Country Favor Inc. of Maspeth, New York is recalling its 7 ounce packages of “Best Taste Brand Snack Ginger Sliced” food treats because they contained undeclared sulfites. The recall was initiated after routine sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspectors and subsequent analysis by Food Laboratory personnel revealed the presence of sulfites in the 7 ounce package of “Best Taste Brand Snack Ginger Sliced” which were not declared on the label...... The consumption of 10 milligrams of sulfites per serving has been reported to elicit severe reactions in some asthmatics. Anaphylactic shock could occur in certain sulfite sensitive individuals upon ingesting 10 milligrams or more of sulfites. Analysis of the “Best Taste Brand Snack Ginger Sliced” revealed they contained 94.8 milligrams per serving."

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm616303.htm
"Country Favor Inc Issues Alert on Undeclared Sulfites in “Best Taste Brand Snack Ginger Sliced”
For Immediate Release
August 6, 2018

Who Knew? Think Twice Before Drinking from the Garden Hose

A news report from Hawaii where rat lungworm, a parasitic infection, can be spread when an infected snail, one of the parasite hosts, climbs into the garden hose and then one drink water from the hose.  Okay, this parasite is not common in the continental US, but is common in Hawaii and has been found in Louisiana and Florida.  That is not to say it can't make its way to other states, because while the one definitive host is the snail, the other definitive host is the rat.

Still, something to consider before taking that gulp of water from a hose that has been laying on the ground for weeks.....you never know what could have crawled in there.

From the CDC:

• "Angiostrongylus costaricensis is a parasitic nematode (worm) that resides in rodents and uses mollusks, such as slugs, as an intermediate host. Rats, such as the cotton rat, transmit the larvae through their feces. Slugs then ingest the larvae. Humans are accidental hosts of the parasite. The parasite is not able to complete its life cycle in humans and eventually dies in the abdomen.  "
•  "In humans, juvenile worms [can] migrate to the brain, or rarely in the lungs, where the worms ultimately die." 
• "Most cases of infection are diagnosed in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Basin, but the parasite has also been found in Australia, some areas of Africa, the Caribbean, Hawaii and Louisiana."  [It has also been found in Florida]. 
• "Very few cases have been reported in the continental United States. In 1993, a boy in New Orleans got infected by swallowing a raw snail “on a dare. ” The type of snail he swallowed isn’t known. He became ill a few weeks later, with muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, a slight fever, and vomiting. His symptoms went away in about 2 weeks, without treatment of the infection."

Local News
Health officials warn parents: Don't let your kids drink from the garden hose
By:
Terri Inefuku
Posted: May 12, 2017 03:44 PM HST
Updated: May 12, 2017 03:44 PM HST

Research - Norovirus Transmitted via Membrane-bound Clusters

NIH research found that the highly virulent stomach viruses such as Norovirus may be spread in membrane-bound clusters....think multipack.   We have normally thought the virus was spread as individual particles, but this research shows that the virus when excreted is like a horde of viruses traveling to the next gig in a party bus...via the fecal-oral route.  This protective membrane allows the virus to evade internal host systems and deliver a mob of viruses to the invasion site.

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-researchers-discover-highly-infectious-vehicle-transmission-viruses-among-humans

NIH researchers discover highly infectious vehicle for transmission of viruses among humans

FDA Investigation into E.coli Outbreak Linked to Romaine Lettuce Finds Cattle Feeding Operation as Potential Source

The FDA continues their investigation into the E. coli outbreak, but are looking at a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation as a potential source.  This CAFO is stated as being able to hold up to 100,000 head of cattle.

E. coli and 100,000 pooping cattle....that may be a good place to be concerned about especially if there is access from that operation to the canal system.  But the release was short on information specifically the distances from the CAFO to the canal system, and then down to the farming area?  Can cattle ever get to the water?  Can rain water runoff make its way into the CAO? 

Had anyone raised a concern about the locale of the CAFO to the canal system?  Has anyone tested the water if there were a concern?  As a main component of produce safety, water quality and the potential for contamination should have been evaluated.  And as part of that, the potential contamination by farm animals should also have been evaluated.  While testing can be unreliable, a risk analysis of a nearby CAFO should have been undertaken.    But at this point, it is hard to glean this information that FDA has released.

In this outbreak, 210 were infected across 36 states with 96 hospitalizations and five deaths.  In a June 28th news release, FDA and CDC reported that the E. coli strain was found in the irrigation canal.

https://www.fda.gov/food/recallsoutbreaksemergencies/outbreaks/ucm604254.htm
FDA Investigating Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Romaine Lettuce from Yuma Growing Region
August 6, 2018

FDA Provides Update of Cyclospora Outbreak Associated with McDonald's Salads

As of August 2, 2018, there have been a total of 395 laboratory-confirmed cases of Cyclospora infection reported in people who consumed salads from McDonald’s restaurants; the cases were reported by 15 states.   McDonald's immediately discontinued sales of the salads upon notification.

FDA found cyclospora in product packed by Fresh Express, but by the time the analysis was complete, the product had date-expired.  

Fresh Express recalled product that went to Caito Foods and thus the recall by that company.

https://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm613513.htm

FDA Investigates Multistate Outbreak of Cyclospora Illnesses Linked to Fresh Express Salad Mix Served at McDonald’s

Pork Egg Rolls Recalled After Consumer Complaints of Foreign Material - Plastic

A Dallas, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 10,385 pounds of heat treated but not fully cooked and not shelf stable pork egg rolls that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically soft plastic.  The problem was discovered after the firm received two consumer complaints stating that a thin thread of plastic was found in the egg rolls product.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-065-2018-release
Van Oriental Foods Inc. Recalls Pork Egg Rolls Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
Class II Recall 

065-2018
Health Risk: Low 

 Aug 3, 2018

Ground Cricket Flour Good for Health?

Is ground cricket flour a food in your future?   There seems to be growing interest in cricket flour as a protein source and as a sustainable food.  And now there is some research to show it is good for health.  In a limited study, researchers compared a control group to a group fed cricket meal.  They saw "an increase in a metabolic enzyme associated with gut health, and a decrease in an inflammatory protein in the blood called TNF-alpha, which has been linked to other measures of well-being, like depression and cancer."

From the cricket flour web page, it takes about 5000 crickets to make a pound of cricket flour.  "Dried and roasted crickets contain an average of 55-70% protein by weight", and "includes all of the essential amino acids, B12, iron, calcium, Omega-3s and Omega-6s".  You can make cricket sausage,  cricket burgers, and cricket soup.

Is cricket flour supported by those who are against eating meat?  Interestingly, NO.  Crickets are freeze-dried to death...and then ground. (Everything but the chirp).

Are you ready to give it a try....well, you may take this advice as per a quote from a cricket - "When you meet temptation and the urge is very strong.  Give a little whistle! And always let your conscience be your guide."

Technology Networks
Eating Crickets could be Good for your Gut
News  Aug 06, 2018 | Original Story by Kelly April Tyrrell for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

The Botulism Outbreak(s) That Provided Impetus For Standardized Canning Procedures

An article in the Smithsonian magazine discusses the impact of a botulism outbreak in 1919 / 1920 that lead to the development of standardized procedures for canning.  These standardized procedures for processing and inspection were not initially federal regulation, but were a state regulation in California and an industry standard used by the National Canners Association.  Must of this was the basis for the federal regulation that came in the 1970's - the Low Acid Canned Food Regulation, which were also enacted after a series of issues related to canned salmon.

The 1919 / 1920 outbreak were there were close to 20 deaths had been associated with canned olives.  But there had been other cases throughout the first half of the twentieth century.  This link to the Califormia Dept of Health website on the the topic.

"From 1899 to 1949, there were 483 outbreaks of botulism reported in North America (the United States and Canada) involving 1,319 case patients and 851 deaths. Of these outbreaks, cases and deaths, 184 outbreaks, 416 cases, and 252 deaths were in California. Additionally, 40 deaths occurred in other states from products prepared in California. In 1919 alone, olives commercially canned in California caused 17 deaths (7 in Ohio, 5 in Montana and 7 in Michigan)."

"All of this was aggravated by sensational newspaper publicity. As a result, botulism became a reportable disease in November 1920. Also, on August 7, 1920, the State of California Board of Health (Board) adopted the first regulation of olive production requiring sanitation throughout the canning facility and a mandated thermal process (specified time and temperature in heating canned foods to render then commercially sterile). In 1920-21 some 20 deaths occurred from botulism linked to canned spinach produced in California. As a result, in April 1921, the Board adopted a resolution covering canning and sterilization of spinach specifying definite fill-in weights, cut-out weights, initial temperatures, and sterilization processes."

This is a good reminder for the restrictions on canning of low acid foods for commercial sale.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/botulism-outbreak-gave-rise-americas-food-safety-system-180969868/
The Botulism Outbreak That Gave Rise to America’s Food Safety System

In late 1919 and early 1920, scientists and canners worked with the government to protect the public from the deadly toxin