Starwest Botanicals of Rancho Cordova, CA, is the third company to announce a recall of whole organic celery seed that may be contaminated with Salmonella.
Posted in Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Recall, Salmonella
The public warning issued on December 20, 2011has been expanded to include an additional product.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to consume the Serrano peppers described below because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.
The affected fresh Serrano peppers, imported from the USA, were sold as follows:
Unlabelled from bulk at Safeway stores and various independent grocery stores in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Yukon, between December 5 and 20, 2011, inclusively.
Consumers who have purchased bulk, unlabelled Serrano peppers are advised to check with their place of purchase to determine if they have the affected product.
There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these peppers.
Natco Foods Ltd is recalling specific batch codes of ground cumin, as salmonella has been detected in some parts of the affected batch. Investigations into the source of contamination are ongoing.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to consume the jalapeno peppers described below because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.
The affected fresh jalapeno peppers, imported from the USA, were sold as follows:
Consumers who have purchased bulk, unlabelled jalapeno peppers are advised to check with their place of purchase to determine if they have the affected product.
There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these peppers.
USDA – FSIS – WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2011 – Hannaford, a Scarborough, Maine-based grocery chain, is recalling an undetermined amount of fresh ground beef products that may be contaminated with a strain of Salmonella Typhimurium, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. This recall was initiated due to concerns about illnesses caused by an outbreak of salmonellosis that may be associated with use and consumption of fresh in-store ground beef prepared in and purchased at Hannaford stores.
An unusual regulatory mechanism that controls the motile/non-motile option in genetically identical Salmonella also impacts the bacteria’s ability to cause infection.
As Salmonella divides into genetically identical clones, either of the two forms of the bacteria can emerge. Some individuals sport flagella — thin, whip-like projections that propel the bacterium. Others do not. When grown in a petri dish, both types appear.
Scientists at the University of Washington discovered that a protein that is almost in a class by itself –YdiV — determines whether a Salmonella cell will produce or not produce flagellin. This protein needed to make flagella, called flagellin, provokes the body’s defenses.
Not producing the flagellin means that the Salmonella does not provoke the hosts immune system. In an animal or human, anatomical location determines which type will fare better during each stage of the infection.
This gives the sub-populations an overall better chance of survival in the host.
Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology, Salmonella
An article in Huff Post has reported on research by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) that claims feeding cattle citrus fruit peelings can drastically reduce the levels of pathogenic E.coli and Salmonella in the intestinal tract of the cattle. This is turn could lead to lower transmission rates of these organisms during slaughter and preparation.
Front Row Produce of St. Louis MO is recalling its 10oz pint and 10lb bulk grape tomatoes supplied by Rio Queen Citrus, Mission TX, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.
The contamination was noted after random testing by Rio Queen Citrus, Mission TX, revealed the presence of Salmonella in some 20lb bulk containers.
Production of the product has been suspended while FDA and the company continue their investigation as to the source of the problem.
The USDA have a Food Safety PDF for Food Safety in the Kitchen that some of you may find interesting. It is of course american based, but the principles are still the same. Kitchen Companion
