Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Great News for World Toilet Day, New PSU Toilet Bowl Treatment Improves Efficiency of the Flush

Penn State researchers have come up with a toilet bowl surface treatment to help improve efficiency of the flush by helping the removal of the 'stuff'.    The coating makes the toilets 'self-cleaning' in a sense.  No more skid marks!  What better news for World Toilet Day (November 19th).  (Who knew there was a world toilet day?.....How does one celebrate?  Yeah, that Kool and the Gang song is playing in your mind right now, substituting potty for party).

Anyhow, this coating could go a long way in reducing the level of water used in the restroom.  No word on what impact on reducing risk of microbial contamination, but one could expect it would help?

LINK to Video

PSU News
https://news.psu.edu/story/598131/2019/11/18/research/new-slippery-toilet-coating-provides-cleaner-flushing-saves-water
New, slippery toilet coating provides cleaner flushing, saves water Innovative coating could reduce toilet water consumption by half, increase water sustainability
Erin Cassidy Hendrick
November 18, 2019

MD Health Advises Consumers to Avoid Salad Bowl Kits After Linked to E. coli Outbreak

The Maryland Department of Health is advising consumers to not eat Ready Pac Bistro® Bowl Chicken Caesar Salad, lot #255406963, “Best By” date Oct. 31, 2019 after the product was linked to 7 cases of E,coli O157:H7 illness.   According to the report, "Testing of unopened salad purchased by one of the patients identified the presence of E. coli O157 in the romaine lettuce. In addition to Sam’s Club, these salad bowls are distributed to many other retailers. The investigation is ongoing and additional laboratory testing is pending. There have been prior outbreaks of E. coli O157 linked to romaine lettuce."

https://health.maryland.gov/newsroom/Pages/Maryland-Department-of-Health-investigating-E--coli-cluster.aspx
Maryland Department of Health investigating E. coli cluster
November 18, 2019

Cottage Cheese Recalled after Complaints for Plastic and Metal

Kraft Heinz is recalling Breakstone’s Cottage Cheese are voluntarily being recalled due to the potential presence of pieces of red plastic and metal that may have been introduced during production.   The company discovered the issue when it was notified by a consumer of the presence of a piece of red plastic in a container of cottage cheese. There have been six consumer complaints and no reports of illness or injury related to this issue to date

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/select-varieties-breakstones-cottage-cheese-are-voluntarily-being-recalled-due-potential-presence
Select Varieties of Breakstone’s Cottage Cheese are Voluntarily Being Recalled Due to Potential Presence of Foreign Material
Summary
Company Announcement Date: November 15, 2019 
FDA Publish Date:November 15, 2019 
Product Type:Food & Beverages 
Reason for Announcement:  Potential presence of plastic and metal
Company Name:Kraft Heinz Foods Company
Brand Name: Breakstone’s
Product Description: Cottage Cheese

Friday, November 15, 2019

Europe - Frozen Cooked Crayfish Linked to Salmonella Outbreak

In Sweden, frozen cooked RTE crayfish have been linked to a Salmonella outbreak.  The product was sourced from China.  About 30 people have been infected.

https://vaaju.com/swedeneng/ica-recalls-large-crayfish-after-salmonella-alarms/
Ica recalls large crayfish after salmonella alarms
November 8, 2019 Business 0 Views
by Niklas Eriksson
November 8, 2019 16:21

Natural Grocery Store Recalling Organic Soybeans Due to Mold.

Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Markets, Inc., a Lakewood, Colorado-based natural grocery chain, is recalling Natural Grocers brand 2-pound Organic Soybeans because they have the potential to contain mold.  The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by the company revealed the presence of mold.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/natural-grocers-issues-recall-organic-soybeans-due-mold
Natural Grocers Issues Recall on Organic Soybeans Due to Mold
Summary
Company Announcement Date: November 13, 2019
FDA Publish Date: November 13, 2019 
Product Type: Food & Beverages 
Reason for Announcement: Potential to contain mold
Company Name:Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Markets, Inc.
Brand Name: Natural Grocers
Product Description: Organic Soybeans

This Week in Mislabeled Products for Week Ending November 16, 2019

Inspectors Find Label Missing Wheat - Creative Food Processing, a Santa Clara, Calif. establishment is recalling approximately 1,941 pounds of raw chicken products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens - the product contains wheat, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.  The problem was discovered during routine FSIS inspection.

Clam Soup Labeled as Creamy Cauliflower Soup - Kettle Cuisine of Lynn, MA is voluntarily recalling Marketside Brand Creamy Cauliflower Parmesan Soup 16oz because a limited quantity of retail pots may contain Fish and Wheat allergens not declared on the label.  The problem was discovered when some 16oz retail cups labeled as Marketside Brand Creamy Cauliflower Parmesan Soup were found to contain Clam Chowder.  (I would have been happy to get Clam Chowder instead of Cauliflower Cheese Soup).

CDC Issues Report on Antibiotic-Resistant Infections

CDC released their report on antibiotic resistant infections, and it "shows that there were nearly twice as many annual deaths from antibiotic-resistant infections as CDC originally reported in 2013. Since then, the new report shows, prevention efforts have reduced deaths from antibiotic-resistant infections by 18 percent overall and by nearly 30 percent in hospitals."

While there always seems to be a lot of attention on food, and not that improvements can be made there, the majority of the issues are in hospitals.  On the positive side, the number of deaths are decreasing, however, "resistance to essential antibiotics is increasing in seven of the 18 germs."

CDC News Release
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/p1113-antibiotic-resistant.html?deliveryName=USCDC_1_3-DM13391
More People in the United States Dying from Antibiotic-Resistant Infections than Previously Estimated
Significant progress since 2013 could be lost without more action

Just Another Raw Pet Food Recall Due to Salmonella

Go Raw, LLC, of Cottonwood Utah is recalling its 2lb. frozen bags of “Quest Beef Cat Food” because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.   The Minnesota Dept of Ag sampled and found Salmonella.  The firm tested and did not find the organism

The posting stated this, "This recall is being initiated after the firm was notified by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture when sample was collected and tested positive for Salmonella. The firm did conduct their own test which resulted in a negative result. Salmonella is not evenly distributed throughout a lot which is why it could have been found on a small sample that the Minnesota department of agriculture took.  However, because of their commitment to overall safety and quality, Go Raw, LLC is conducting a voluntary recall of this product. Consumers should also follow the safe handling tips published on the packaging, when disposing of the affected product."

On the company website they state this: "Salmonella - Salmonella breakouts are a fact of life and will occur when there is contamination along the food chain. In fact, Salmonella is one of the main reasons why dry pet foods and human foods will be recalled. However, the bodies of dogs and cats are familiar with salmonella since they have some of it in their alimentary canal. Dr. Karen Becker, an integrative wellness veterinarian, says that salmonella is present in 36% and 18% of all healthy dogs and cats respectively, regardless of what they eat. The nature of dogs and cats is such that they should catch, kill and consume their prey. This means that their bodies are built to handle a variety of bacteria from food, most of which will cause illnesses in humans. If you would like to reduce the chances of a salmonella outbreak, you should consider getting good food locally and ensuring cleanliness in your kitchen."

A few things...one, the pets live in our environment, and so the spread to pet owners and families must be a consideration.   Second, there is this assumption that animals in the wild live a better longer life.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/go-raw-llc-recalls-one-lot-quest-beef-because-possible-salmonella-health-risk
Go Raw, LLC Recalls One Lot of Quest Beef Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk 
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  November 14, 2019
FDA Publish Date:  November 14, 2019
Product Type:  Animal & Veterinary   Pet Food   Beef/Beef Product
Reason for Announcement:  May be contaminated with Salmonella
Company Name:  Go Raw, LLC
Brand Name:  Quest
Product Description:  Beef Cat Food

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

China - Two People Contract Plague After Consuming Raw Rodent Parts

Too many people are tempted in being that Bizarre Foods guy....trying exotic food that locals claim is tasty, good for health, and so on. This story should be enough to make you give a second thought before tossing back those raw marmot kidneys. Two people from Inner Mongolia contracted yersinia pestis, the causative agent of the plague or 'Black Death' after consuming raw marmont (rodent) kidneys. From the article, "The couple ate the rodent's raw meat and kidney, which people in the area believe is good for health, a World Health Organization official told the BBC at the time."

The article below is actually about two others that were diagnosed with the pneumonic plague in Beijing. "Pneumonic plague is one of three forms of the infectious disease and the only one that can be transmitted from person to person by inhaling infected droplets – for example, spread when someone breathes in cough droplets from an infected person."  No flea needed.

From the CDC website - " Patients develop fever, headache, weakness, and a rapidly developing pneumonia with shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, and sometimes bloody or watery mucous. Pneumonic plague may develop from inhaling infectious droplets or may develop from untreated bubonic or septicemic plague after the bacteria spread to the lungs. The pneumonia may cause respiratory failure and shock. Pneumonic plague is the most serious form of the disease and is the only form of plague that can be spread from person to person (by infectious droplets)."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/11/13/pneumonic-plague-tied-black-death-sickens-people-beijing-china/4176578002/
2 people in China infected with plague, the disease tied to Black Death
Ryan W. Miller
USA TODAY
11/13/19