Author: Tony Coveny, Ph.D

10th recall for Imperial Caviar & Seafood brand and VIP Caviar Club brand whitefish and salmon roe Originally announced as a recall in November 2017, Imperial Caviar & Seafood and VIP Caviar Club brand roe is now the subject of a tenth recall notice, with an update being issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on February 1, 2018. Additional products are now included in the recall. The recall notice has been issued by Imperial Caviar & Seafood because the products listed may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum. Consumers should not consume these recalled products, all with “best before” dates…

Deli sliced meat and cheese subject of consumer alert The Warwick, Rhode Island, Stop and Shop has issued a consumer alert advising of potential exposure of its deli sliced meat and cheese to Listeria monocytogenes. The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) made the announcement on February 4, 2018, advising consumers that any deli sliced meat and cheese they purchased from the Stop and Shop between January 18 and February 2 may be contaminated. The Stop and Shop and RIDOH have also announced that the store’s deli has been temporarily closed so that it can be professionally cleaned. Food safety…

Lactalis Salmonella Contamination : Lactalis baby milk products probably contaminated with salmonella for 13 years The salmonella found in baby milk products may have been lingering in the Lactalis production facility ever since another outbreak was discovered there in 2005. Authorities investigating the contamination and the alleged criminal activity associated with the botched recall, have now discovered that the problem was probably not resolved during the previous incident. Babies could have potentially consumed milk products contaminated with salmonella for the past 13 years. To date, the company has confirmed that 35 babies have become ill in France and in other…

Police investigate handling of Lactalis Salmonella recall: First Lactalis Salmonella Lawsuits Announced Three dozen infants are confirmed to be ill as a result of tainted Lactalis brand milk products. Many more are suffering symptoms that are suspected to be related to food poisoning after consuming the milk products that were found to be contaminated with salmonella. The company initiated a recall, but then failed to pull all of the products from store shelves immediately, as should have been warranted by food safety protocol. Police are now involved in a criminal investigation as to why the contaminated milk products continued to be…

Buffets do not always follow food safety guidelines – nor do some traditional restaurants.   Enjoying a variety of dishes at a restaurant buffet can be exciting, in a number of ways. Not all of the food found on these buffets has been prepared according to food safety guidelines. Raw foods, in particular, may be susceptible to contamination when left on a buffet line for too long. Buffet Food Safety’s Most Common Food Problems Buffet foods that could be contaminated by salmonella, e.coli, or listeria because of poor food safety handling procedures, include: Sprouts: The very humid and dark conditions that…

The sesame seed salmonella recall  expands: A sesame seed salmonella recall, touching many products due to the fear of salmonella contamination that originally included only 1-pound containers and unbranded bulk packages of various, unspecified weights, has been expanded significantly.  The product has been traced to more than a dozen products currently being recalled to prevent the spread of salmonella food poisoning. The recall now includes: ARZ Fine Foods Sesame Seeds White, 1 lb. Packed on 18.JA.09; Sold at ARZ Fine Foods, 1909 Lawrence Avenue E., Toronto, Ontario; Bulk Sesame Seeds, variable weight. All packages sold up to and including January 23,…

Food safety tips for parties and social gatherings Whether friends and family are coming over to watch the big game, for a reunion, or to celebrate a significant milestone, there will undoubtedly be lots of food. Most of that food is usually homemade either by the host or the guests. Quite frequently, there is too much food for the party itself so leftovers will abound. What’s the best way to practice good food safety, to protect those leftovers and the people consuming them? The first step is to put away leftover food within a timely manner. Party food such as…

Cream cheese products served at Panera Bread bakeries in recall for possible listeria One production run of 2 oz. cream cheese products tested positive for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes, so Panera Bread is recalling all related products. Panera has announced a nationwide preemptive, voluntary recall of all 2 oz. and 8 oz. cream cheese products sold in its US bakery-cafes. The recall includes unexpired 2 oz. and 8 oz. cream cheese products with an expiration date on or before 4/2/18: Affected 2 oz. Cream Cheese Varieties: Plain Cream Cheese, Reduced- Fat Plain Cream Cheese, Reduced-Fat Chive & Onion Cream Cheese,…

Panera Bread Listeria: Panera Bread cream cheese recalled for possible listeria contamination Panera Bread has announced a voluntary recall of cream cheese products at its US restaurants, as a precaution after samples tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The samples were taken from a single production run at an unidentified plant. Production at that plant was also stopped after the positive results were discovered. Listeria monocytogenes bacteria infects about 1600 people every year and about 260 die as a result. The common symptoms of listeriosis include muscle aches, fever, and diarrhea. However, if the infection spreads to the nervous system,…

Is that fresh produce really safe? The recent scare over e.coli in romaine lettuce had many consumers concerned about just how healthy their salads and other fresh produce might be. Many people became ill and two people died after consuming the infected lettuce. The truth is, many e.coli bacteria strains are a natural occurrence in a healthy human intestinal tract, as well as in many animals’ intestines, and most strains are harmless. Humans become ill when they come in contact with pathogenic e.coli, usually while consuming it as part of a food product. Pathogenic e.coli causes intestinal distress, including vomiting…