Author: Tony Coveny, Ph.D

Spokane sandwich producer announces recall In response to a green leaf lettuce recall, Spokane Produce, Inc., has also recalled sandwiches containing lettuce that may be contaminated with e. coli. The company, based in Spokane, Washington, has recalled products bearing Northwest Cuisine Creations and Fresh & Local labels. Those sandwiches contain green leaf lettuce produced by Adam Bros. Farming, Inc., in Santa Maria, California. Recalled products include sandwiches bearing a best buy date between December 14, 2018, and December 21, 2018. These potentially contaminated sandwiches were distributed to retail groceries in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Oregon. Spokane Produce is also…

Romaine lettuce producer recalls cauliflower, leaf lettuce The farm identified as one of the sources of the romaine lettuce e. coli outbreak has recalled additional products, including red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce, and cauliflower, because those products may also be contaminated. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that Adams Bros. Farming, Inc., of Santa Maria, California, is one source of the contaminated romaine lettuce that has sickened 59 people throughout the country. Adam Bros. Farming decided to recall the green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce, and cauliflower after the FDA discovered that sediment from a reservoir near where…

Source of romaine lettuce illnesses narrowed The number of illnesses related to romaine lettuce contaminated with e. coli has increased to 59 people in 16 states, with 23 hospitalizations. As the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to investigate, the source of at least some of the contaminated lettuce has been identified as a farm in Santa Barbara County, California. As of December 13, 2018, the FDA has narrowed the source of all lettuce responsible for the most recent e. coli outbreak as farms that are located in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Barbara counties. Specifically, the FDA has identified…

Cow Pie pet food recalled for listeria potential A fresh frozen meat product for dogs and cats has been recalled because it is potentially contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. Columbia River Natural Pet Foods, based in Vancouver, Washington, is recalling 933 packages of Cow Pie dog and cat food. The packages had been distributed to retail stores and through direct delivery in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington. Potentially contaminated Cow Pie fresh frozen meat products can be dangerous for humans as well as for their dogs and cats. Food safety procedures apply to pet food handled by humans to avoid illness caused…

Romaine lettuce illness count increases to 52 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) continue to investigate the latest romaine lettuce e. coli outbreak. Illnesses related to the E. coli O157:H7 contamination have increased to 52, with 19 people hospitalized, including 2 people who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure. California has been identified as the source of the romaine lettuce that caused the illnesses and is one of the states, along with New Jersey, hardest hit by the contamination. The 15 states impacted by the e. coli outbreak…

Tahini distributed internationally contaminated with salmonella Tahini produced in Israel and distributed to the US may be contaminated with salmonella. Achdut, Ltd., of Ariel, Israel is recalling several tahini products that were produced from April 7, 2018, to May 21, 2018. Consumers are advised not to eat any of the recalled products. Retailers and food companies that have used the contaminated tahini on other food products have been advised to recall those products as well. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has identified five people in the US who have become ill with salmonella that has the same…

Contaminated romaine lettuce harvested in California Romaine lettuce contaminated with e. coli has now sickened 43 people in 12 states, hospitalizing 16. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) have conducted traceback investigations and have determined the contaminated romaine lettuce was harvested in the Central Coast growing regions of northern and central California. FDA has identified several counties that are included in the growing region: Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and Ventura. Additional counties may be added as the FDA traceback develops. The states affected by the…

Romaine lettuce a health threat once again In an outbreak of e. coli linked to romaine lettuce, very similar to two recent outbreaks of food poisoning caused by the lettuce, 32 people in 11 states have become ill. Of those, 13 people have been hospitalized, including one person who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure. The strain of e. coli that caused these illnesses is similar to that found in an outbreak in the fall of 2017 but is not related to the more recent e. coli contamination of romaine lettuce that occurred in the spring of…

Green Cedar Ackawi cheese tested positive for listeria Cheese distributed to retail stores in Michigan has been recalled as it has tested positive for the presence of listeria monocytogenes. Green Cedar Ackawi cheese was tested on November 9, 2018, by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Food and Dairy Division (MDARD). The cheese, with a sell by date of March 26, 2019, or later, has since been recalled. The recalled Green Cedar Ackawi cheese is packaged in small clear plastic shrink wrap, with the sell by date located on a white…

Peanut Butter Crunch pulled from Target stores Cap’n Crunch’s Peanut Butter Crunch cereal boxes distributed to five Target stores in Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas, have been recalled because of the potential presence of salmonella. Quaker Oats Company announced the voluntary recall after a routine sampling revealed that the finished cereal product may contain bacteria. The 17.1 ounce boxes of Cap’n Crunch’s Peanut Butter Crunch cereal were distributed to the following Target stores: Super Target, 4001 N 132nd St, Omaha NE 68164 P-Fresh, 4250 Rusty Rd, Saint Louis, MO 63128 Super Target, 10800 E 21st St N, Wichita KS 67206 Super…