Tag Archives: salmonella

Nesquik Recalled for Possible Salmonella Contamination

Nestle is issuing a voluntary recall on more than 200,000 packages of its popular chocolate drink mix Nesquik. The product is believed to be contaminated with salmonella.

The Associated Press reported that the issue involves the ingredient calcium carbonate. Nestle stated that their ingredient supplier, Omya Inc., was the source of the possible contamination. The recall only affects the dry powder, not the ready made drinks.

The containers that have been affected are the 10.9, 21.8, and 40.7 ounce canisters. They all have the “best if sold by” date of October 2024. Consumers are urged to cease use and can return the item to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers may also contact Nestle Consumer Services.

There have been no reports of illness at this time. Salmonella poisoning symptoms can include diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fevers. The elderly, infants, and pregnant women are at higher risk of severe symptoms.

Calcium carbonate, the ingredient that caused the recall, is added to many foods as either a preservative or a source of added calcium. According to their website, Nesquik states that it is fortified with added calcium to help build strong bones. Apparently this is why the ingredient is included in this product. (more…)

Posted on November 9, 2023 by Lacy

Organic Baby Spinach Recalled in Nearly 20 States

A heads up to spinach lovers: there’s been a recall on two brands of organic baby spinach distributed in the U.S.

According to a recall alert published by the FDA, the decision to pull the suspect spinach from shelves was made after a random test at a distribution center in Terrel, Texas, found a possible salmonella contamination in a finished package of spinach.

The test was completed by the Texas Department of Agriculture under a cooperative agreement the USDA holds with individual states requiring them to hold frequent, random testing of fruits and vegetables for safety precautions.

The contaminated bag of spinach came from Taylor Farms in Salinas, California, where the grower took impressive cautionary measures to remove packages of spinach being sold under the brand names Private Selection and Marketside. No illnesses have been reported to date as a result of the potential contamination. (more…)

Posted on May 24, 2023 by Dana

Smucker’s Peanut Butter Recall Due to Salmonella Risk

With a name like Smucker’s it has to be… recalled. Some of the company’s 16-ounce jars of Smucker’s Natural Peanut Butter Chunky is being pulled from shelves due to possible salmonella contamination. The recall is only their chunky-style peanut butter.

During a routine sampling program it was revealed that some of the peanut butter could contain the bacteria. Luckily, there have been no reported illnesses associated with the recall.

The potentially dangerous jars can be narrowed down to certain regions of the country during a particular time range: (more…)

Posted on November 17, 2023 by Jason

Bagged Salad Recall Due to Salmonella Contamination

By Kelsey Murray

If you like the ease and convenience of bagged salads, you might want to think twice before reaching for a bag in your local grocery store. Apparently, a producer of bagged salads recently realized that their products may be contaminated with salmonella and has now issued a recall to remove the contaminated products from store shelves.

Taylor Farms Retail of California recalled 3,265 cases of bagged salads. The recall was prompted by a random test of a bag of spinach that was prepared by the company. Taylor Farms Retail voluntarily recalled the bagged salads, which were distributed in 15 states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, New York, Texas, and Washington.

The contaminated salads include several blends that were released by the Fresh Selection, H-E-B, Marketside, and Taylor Farm brand names. These products have expiration dates between October 18 and 21.

(more…)

Posted on October 21, 2023 by Health Buzz

Del Monte Files a Lawsuit Against the FDA for Cantaloupe Recall

We should be able to trust the Food and Drug Administration to protect us against foods that might not be safe for our consumption, right? I never would have questioned this before, but after Del Monte Fresh Produce recently filed a lawsuit that could have long-term consequences against the regulatory organization, I am starting to have my doubts.

Let me explain: The FDA recently forced Del Monte to halt the importation of its Guatemalan cantaloupes because there was a possibility that the fruits could have been contaminated with salmonella. Then, Del Monte fired back against the FDA with a lawsuit. This all seems like standard operations, but the problem is that in the future, it is possible that the FDA will become more reluctant to issue warnings against possibly-contaminated foods for fear of being taken to court.

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Posted on September 1, 2023 by Health Buzz

Bisin: A New Natural Food Preservative Discovery

If you haven’t yet heard of Bisin there is a good chance that you probably will within the next couple of years. Bisin is the latest craze in the world of food-borne illness prevention. It is the first natural preservative found to kill gram-negative bacteria, and it may just be worth all the hype, especially in light of all the recent E.coli outbreaks that have occurred this summer.

Bisin can supposedly prevent harmful bacteria such as E. coli, listeria, and salmonella from growing on a wide variety of foods. These types of food include meats, processed cheeses, egg and dairy products, canned foods, seafood, salad dressing, fermented beverages, and many other foods. By using Bisin, these foods may have extended shelf-lives and ultimately reduce food waste. This is a good thing – so is the fact that bisin appears to be allergen free, non-toxic, and doesn’t appear to be one of those substances that germs build up resistance to.

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Posted on August 19, 2023 by Kati

Tainted Ground Turkey Could be Largest Meat Recall in U.S. History

There have been at least two cases of salmonella food poisoning caused by tainted ground turkey in the U.S. so far this summer. Strangely enough, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention knew where these tainted meats were coming from two weeks ago, but they did not issue a recall on the poisonous food because they “simply did not have enough information,” according to Fox News.

“There were two cases in the same state, and in two days we were able to confirm that the two cases were related to the [Cargill meat plant in Springdale, Arkansas],” said Dr. David Goldman, an assistant administrator from the USDA-Food Safety and Inspection Service.

That sounds like enough information to issue a recall to me, but Goldman claims that this really isn’t enough to warrant one.

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Posted on August 5, 2023 by Health Buzz

RECALL: Papaya Contaminated with Salmonella

half a papayaPapayas distributed by the Texas company Agromod have been recalled after being like to nearly 100 cases of salmonella in at least 23 states. The affected fruit came from Mexico and was brought into the United States via McAllen, Texas. Two samples of the papaya were found to be contaminated with salmonella, one in Mexico and the other in McAllen.

Agromod papayas are sold whole and unprocessed under four brand names: Yaya, Mananita, Tastylicious and Blondie. The distributor announced in a press release that they are recalling all papayas sold prior to July 23, 2024. Cases of sickness have been reported in California, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Virginia, Washington, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Arizona, Colorado, New Jersey, Ohio, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee each have one reported case.

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Posted on July 26, 2023 by Health Buzz

RECALL: Jennie-O Turkey Burgers Sold at Sam’s Club

Jennie-O Ground Turkey PackageDue to salmonella contamination, Jennie-O recalled nearly 55,000 pounds of frozen raw turkey burgers. According to CNN, the contamination was uncovered during an investigation into three sicknesses linked to consuming the turkey burgers in Colorado, Ohio and Wisconsin. The last of these illnesses was reported on March 14, 2024.

According to the Jennie-O product recall website, the Jennie-O Turkey Store All Natural White Meat Turkey Burgers were sold exclusively at Sam’s Club. They come in four-pound boxes contained 12 patties each. Consumers should look for products with the “Use By Date” December 23, 2024 and the “Identifying Lot Codes” 32710 to 32780. They ask that any customer who purchased this product return it to a Sam’s Club location for a full refund.

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Posted on April 4, 2024 by Health Buzz

RECALL: Reduced Fat Skippy Peanut Butter

Skippy LogoPotential salmonella contamination has prompted Unilever to recall reduced fat Skippy peanut butter in 16 states. Both Skippy Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy Reduced Fat Super Chunk Peanut Butter Spread are being recalled, although there have been no reports of illness yet. No other Skippy products are being affected.

The recall is effective in New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Wisconsin. The limited recall is being conducted with help from the Food and Drug Administration.

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Posted on March 7, 2024 by Health Buzz

Food-borne Illness Claims 1 in 6 Americans

We recently spotlighted the passing of the Food Safety Modernization Act in the U.S. Senate. Part of the data that supported the legislation, the number of people who die every year from food-borne illness, has been revised in the latest government estimates.

The good news? It’s now estimated at 3,000 deaths as opposed to 5,000. The bad news? That doesn’t mean our food supply is safer. Not to mention, I don’t know about you, but 3,000 people dying every year simply by eating bad food is still disturbing.

“Just because we have more precise data that allows us a better estimate, that doesn’t mean that food-borne illnesses have gone down that much,” says Kirk E. Smith, DVM, PhD, supervisor of the Foodborne Disease Unit of the Minnesota Department of Health. (more…)

Posted on December 17, 2023 by Jason