Inherited Neandertal Gene Variants Can Increase or Decrease COVID Risk

Many of us carry some portion of Neandertal genome in our own genome.  This is normally accounts for less than 2%.    A study out of Germany has shown "that a major genetic risk factor for severe COVID-19 is inherited from Neandertals. Now the same researchers show, in a study published in PNAS, that Neandertals also contributed a protective variant. Half of all people outside Africa carry a Neandertal gene variant that reduces the risk of needing intensive care for COVID-19 by 20 percent."

https://news.ki.se/neandertal-gene-variants-both-increase-and-decrease-the-risk-for-severe-covid-19
Neandertal gene variants both increase and decrease the risk for severe COVID-19

Australian Study Determine Impact of Too Much Coffee on Cardiovascular Health

Some Australian scientists determine that drinking too much coffee may increase one's risk for cardiovascular disease.  From the article, “High levels of blood lipids are a known risk factor for heart disease, and interestingly, as coffee beans contain a very potent cholesterol-elevating compound (cafestol),"   The good thing, “Cafestol is mainly present in unfiltered brews, such as French press, Turkish and Greek coffees, but it’s also in espressos, which is the base for most barista-made coffees, including lattes and cappuccinos."  Evidently, “There is no, or very little cafestol in filtered and instant coffee, so with respect to effects on lipids, those are good coffee choices."

So how much coffee is too much coffee? Six or more cups a day of the unfiltered type.  So Rick Kralj can continue to pound those coffees from Sheetz and Wawa.

https://www.unisa.edu.au/Media-Centre/Releases/2021/deja-brew-another-shot-for-lovers-of-coffee/
Déjà brew? Another shot for lovers of coffee.

Congressional Subcommittee Issues Controversial Report on Baby Food; FDA Issues Response

In a report issued by the Congressional Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy earlier this February titled Baby Foods Are Tainted with Dangerous Levels of Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury, the committee’s primary finding was

"1. According to internal company documents and test results obtained by the Subcommittee, commercial baby foods are tainted with significant levels of toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. Exposure to toxic heavy metals causes permanent decreases in IQ, diminished future economic productivity, and increased risk of future criminal and antisocial behavior in children. Toxic heavy metals endanger infant neurological development and long-term brain function."

The report goes on to discuss the various heavy metals and the concentrations found.  Some baby food manufacturers participated in the hearings, but for those that did not, they were admonished in the report.

We know those people involved in making baby food understand the importance of what they do.  Would they knowingly do something harmful just to make product?  I just can’t think that.  We have worked with many of these companies and their employees over the years.  These people are far from evil.

I am not a toxicologist.  But when I read through this , I question how valid the presented results and conclusions are, what are the actual risks to consumers, especially in comparison to other alternatives such as parents making their own baby food, and what can we do as parents and food processors to remedy this.

In the past, we have looked to the scientific community to provide answers to these questions.  The FDA issued a response that basically said that they take these issues seriously and are working on it.

"The FDA takes exposure to toxic elements in the food supply extremely seriously, especially when it comes to protecting the health and safety of the youngest and most vulnerable in the population. Toxic elements, such as arsenic and lead, are present in the environment and may enter the food supply through soil, water or air. Because these elements occur in the environment, currently they cannot be completely avoided in the fruits, vegetables, or grains that are the basis for baby foods, juices, and infant cereals made by companies or by consumers who make their own foods. They also cannot be completely avoided by using organic farming practices. Our goal is to reduce exposure to toxic elements in foods to the greatest extent feasible and to further advance progress in this area through more research and enhanced collaboration among stakeholders."

But what other statements have been issued by the scientific community?  Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)?  Consumer Brands Association?  There is a Baby Food Council which is partnership of baby food companies with Cornell University and the Environmental Defense Fund....yeah, not sure we'll see anything from that group.

An article in Food Navigator (which is copyrighted and cannot be copied and added here) did provide the responses by food companies such as Hain Celestial and Happy Family Organics which stated the report was “inaccurately characterized” and there were “many inaccuracies, select date usage and tone bias in the report”.  Surprising?  Perhaps not in the politized culture.

Václav Havel, the famous Czech writer and author of the Power and Powerless, an anti-communist manifesto that urged living in truth, stated this "There can be no doubt that distrust of words is less harmful than unwarranted trust in them. Besides, to distrust words, and indict them for the horrors that might slumber unobtrusively within them --isn't this, after all, the true vocation of the intellectual.”

Three NJ Importers Issued Warning Letters for Not Having FSVP For Imported Food Items

 FDA issued Warning Letters to the following companies for not have a FSVP, or Foreign Supplier Verification Program.  This program is required for imported products to ensure that those products were produced to meet US regulatory standards.  It is the responsibility of the US-based importer or other US company designated as the FSVP importer to have this program in place.

JR & Son World Trading LLC of Iselin, NJ did not have a FSVP for imported products in including Guava Paste, Coconut Water with Pulp and Frozen Yellow Pepper Dices.

My Habitat Brands, LLC of Dayton, NJ did not have a FSVP for imported chocolate bar and chocolate dairy mix and botanas puffed snack.

Vibrant Enterprise, LLC, of North Brunswick, New Jersey did not have a FSVP for imported Tamarind Paste, Chatpata Chaat Makhana Pops (Roasted Foxnuts) and Kesar Mango Pulp.  Some of the products 
were canned items which would require verification that the items were packed in accordance with the low acid canned foods regulation (21CFRPart113).

From the Warning letter, "During our inspection you told our investigator that you did not maintain records of any food you import, only requested documents as needed from your foreign suppliers, and did not review the documents. You provided records you received to the investigator on July 23, 2020, including three food safety plans from (b)(4). In so much as you intend to use a foreign supplier’s food safety plans to meet your obligations under the FSVP regulation, you did not provide FDA any evidence you reviewed these records and you told our investigator that you did not review the food safety plans. " Also found that they were not necessarily focusing efforts on the manufacturer, but the company who was buying from other manufacturers and merely labeling the product.

Imported Pork Pâté Recalled Due To An Ineligible Foreign Producer

AH Company International Distribution Inc., a Garden Grove, Calif. firm, is recalling approximately 30,081 pounds of pork pâté products that were imported from an ineligible establishment and distributed in the United States without the benefit of FSIS import re-inspection.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2021/recall-005-2021-release
AH Company International Distribution, Inc., Recalls Pork Products Imported Without the Benefit of Inspection
Class I Recall
005-2021
Health Risk: High
Feb 19, 2021

Pretzel Platters Recalled for Undeclared Pecans - Store Level Error

Giant Eagle, Inc. has issued a voluntarily recall of Market District Gourmet Pretzel Platters and Gourmet Pretzel Bags due to the possibility the product may contain an undeclared pecan allergen.  Giant Eagle was made aware of the issue by a guest who purchased the product, and the company has since learned that the cause was due to an error in packaging at the store. To date, there has been one reported illness associated with this recall.




https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/market-district-voluntarily-recalls-gourmet-chocolate-covered-pretzels-due-undeclared-pecan-allergen
Market District Voluntarily Recalls Gourmet Chocolate Covered Pretzels Due to Undeclared Pecan Allergen
Impacted Items Sold at Three Market District Locations in Pennsylvania and Ohio
Summary
Company Announcement Date: February 19, 2021 

FDA Publish Date: February 19, 2021 

Product Type: Food & Beverages  Snack Food Item
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared pecans 

Company Name: Giant Eagle, Inc. 

Brand Name:  Market District 

Product Description:  Pretzel Platters and Pretzel Bags

NJ Cheese Company Recalls All Fresh and Soft Cheese Due to Listeria Outbreak

FDA announced that there is a link between the Listeria outbreak posted last week and El Abuelito Cheese, Inc. of Paterson, NJ.  To date, there have been 7 cases of Listeria infection reported with all of those cases resulting in hospitalization.

"As part of this outbreak investigation, the Connecticut Department of Public Health collected product samples of El Abuelito-brand Hispanic-style fresh and soft cheeses from a store where a sick person bought cheeses. Sample analysis showed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in samples of El Abuelito Queso Fresco sold in 10 oz packages, marked as Lot A027 with an expiration date of 02/26/2021. On 2/19/2021, Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis conducted by the Connecticut State Laboratory determined that the Listeria monocytogenes found in the samples is a match to the outbreak strain."

The company has issued a recall for is recalling all Queso Fresco (Fresh, soft cheese) products.

El Abuelito Cheese Inc. was founded in 1997 and is now based in Paterson, NJ.  A pic of location provided by Google.

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-listeria-monocytogenes-hispanic-style-fresh-and-soft-cheeses-february-2021?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes – Hispanic-style Fresh and Soft Cheeses (February 2021)
El Abuelito Cheese, Inc. recalls all Queso Fresco products within expiration. Queso Fresco samples collected from Connecticut match outbreak strain

Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 7
Hospitalizations: 7
Deaths: 0
Last Illness Date: 1/22/2021
States with Cases: MD (4), CT (1), NY (1), and VA (1)

Smoked Seafood Products Recalled for Producing Without Food Establishment License or Inspection

Aaron’s Gourmet Smoked Fish is issuing a voluntary recall of all smoked fish products due to the lack of licensure and regulatory oversight by the state agency. The products are packaged in both glass jars and vacuum-packed plastic bags.

I guess someone didn't know that FDA regulates this product?

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/aarons-gourmet-smoked-fish-recalls-smoked-fish-products-produced-without-licensure-and-regulatory
Aaron’s Gourmet Smoked Fish Recalls Smoked Fish Products Produced Without Licensure and Regulatory Oversight
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  February 05, 2021
FDA Publish Date:  February 18, 2021
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Fish
Reason for Announcement:  Lack of licensure and regulatory oversight by the state agency
Company Name:  Aaron’s Gourmet Smoked Fish
Brand Name:  Aaron’s Gourmet Smoked Fish
Product Description:  Smoked fish products

Buffalo Cauliflower Bites and Caesar Dressing and Dip Recalled for Missing Anchovies in Blue Cheese Dressing

Russ Davis Wholesale of Wadena, Minnesota is voluntarily recalling Kowalski’s brand Buffalo Cauliflower Bites with Kowalski’s Steakhouse Blue Dressing because the Blue Cheese Dressing contains undeclared fish (anchovies). Russ Davis Wholesale of Wadena, Minnesota is voluntarily recalling Kowalski’s brand Buffalo Cauliflower Bites with Kowalski’s Steakhouse Blue Dressing because the Blue Cheese Dressing contains undeclared fish (anchovies).

In a similar, and but potentially recall, Litehouse Inc. is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of its Brite Harbor Caesar Dressing & Dip 1.5 oz pillows because it may contain undeclared anchovies. The voluntary recall was initiated after it was discovered that product labeling stated Caesar [which was correct] on the Front label and Blue Cheese on the back [which would not have any anchovies on it]. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a packaging error.

So these could be related if Russ Wholesale bought the Litehouse Blue cheese dressing to use in their product, but in reality received the mislabeled Caesar (and then nobody saw the label disparity). If this were the case, then the procedures for the facility producing the Cauliflower bites would have to be include a closer evaluation of the ingredients. Interesting to consider.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/russ-davis-wholesale-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-fish-anchovies-kowalskis-buffalo-cauliflower
Russ Davis Wholesale Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Fish (Anchovies) in Kowalski’s Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Summary
Company Announcement Date: February 05, 2021
FDA Publish Date: February 15, 2021
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement: Undeclared Fish (Anchovies)
Company Name: Russ Davis Wholesale
Brand Name: Kowalski’s Markets
Product Description: Buffalo Cauliflower Bites