Illnesses linked to Costco chicken salad in Washington

Less than a year after Costco recalled chicken salad that sickened people across seven states another outbreak linked to the club store’s rotisserie chicken salad has been revealed — more than a month after the suspect food was sold.

This product photo is posted with the public health warning regarding Costco chicken salad.

Only one Costco store was implicated as of Sunday when the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public warning about Salmonella illnesses associated with the rotisserie chicken salad from store number 1190 in Lynnwood, WA.

“Based on epidemiological evidence, four Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- case patients have been identified with illness onset dates ranging from Sept. 2 to Sept. 6,” according to the FSIS notice.

“Traceback investigation indicated that three of these case patients consumed rotisserie chicken salad purchased on Aug. 26, Aug. 31 and Sept. 2 from this Costco location.”

The suspect chicken salad was produced Aug. 26 through Sept. 2 and sold in various sized containers directly to consumers at Costco’s Alderwood store in Lynnwood,WA.

“FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers. This product should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase,” according to the public health alert. No product has tested positive for this strain of Salmonella.

“Clinical isolates associated with this investigation were tested for antibiotic-resistance, and three isolates from Washington State were found resistant only to tetracycline and susceptible to other antibiotics commonly used to treat salmonellosis.”

Anyone who ate the implicated chicken salad and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should immediately seek medical attention and alert their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:-.

The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. The illness usually lasts four to seven days.

Most people recover without treatment. In some persons, however, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Older adults, infants, and persons with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact their health care provider.

Costco’s 2015 chicken salad outbreak
In the fall of 2015 at least 19 people across seven states were sickened with infections from E. coli O157:H7 traced to Costco rotisserie chicken salad.

Among people for whom information was available, illnesses started on dates ranging from Oct. 6 to Nov. 3, 2015. Five people were hospitalized. Two people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. No deaths were reported.

The Food and Drug Administration conducted a traceback investigation of the FDA regulated ingredients used in the chicken salad to try to determine which ingredient was linked to illness. However, the traceback investigation did not identify a common source of contamination.

On Nov. 20, 2015, Costco reported to public health officials that the company had voluntarily removed all remaining rotisserie chicken salad from all stores in the United States.

On Nov. 26, 2015, Taylor Farms Pacific Inc., voluntarily recalled the celery and onion diced blend used in the Costco chicken salad and many other products containing celery, because they might have been contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)

from Food Recalls – Food Safety News http://ift.tt/2dMyN0S

Nestlé recalls drumstick ice cream treats because of Listeria

Nestlé USA Inc. has launched a nationwide recall of an undisclosed volume of ice cream Drumstick cones that were “inadvertently” distributed after the company found Listeria monocytogenes in its Bakersfield, CA, production plant.

“There have been no positive test results for LM (Listeria monocytogenes) present in the Drumstick cones themselves,” according to the Nestlé recall posed on the food and Drug Administration website.

“The products impacted by the voluntary recall were put into distribution inadvertently. No illnesses have been reported to date; the company is initiating this recall as a precautionary action to avoid any potential for consumer illness.”

Listeria monocytogenes can survive freezing temperatures, which, combined with the long shelf life of the ice cream treats, means the recalled products could pose an ongoing threat if they are in consumers’ homes.

Consumers can identify the recalled products by identification codes on the back of the packages and on the individually marked vanilla cones from the 24 count pack. The two packs being recalled carry distinct UPC codes, as well as a “best before” date and production code.

The recalled products are marked as follows:

Description	Production Code	UPC	Best Before Date
Nestlé brand Drumsticks variety pack DSTK Club CP 16×4.6floz US	6244580212	72554-11096	Between June 2 – June 15, 2017
	6245580212
	6246580212
	6247580212
	6248580212
	6249580212
	6250580212
	6251580212
	6252580212
	6253580212
	6254580212
	6255580212
	6256580212
	6257580212
DSTK Vanilla 24×4.6floz US	6258580212	72554-00160	Between June 16 – June 19, 2017
	6259580212
	6260580212
	6261580212

 

“Consumers who may have purchased the product listed above should not consume it, but instead should return it to the place of purchase or contact Nestlé Consumer Services for replacement,” according to the recall notice. “Please call or text 800-681-1676 or email Nestleproductinquiry@casupport.com; representatives are available 24/7.”

Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products and develops symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctors about their possible exposure to Listeria. It can take up to 70 days for Listeria symptoms to develop after exposure.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)

from Food Recalls – Food Safety News http://ift.tt/2dD8F8Q

Micro greens recalled from Whole Foods stores for Salmonella

 

Organic micro greens grown by a Colorado company and distributed to Whole Foods Markets locations in Kansas and Colorado are under recall after a random government test of the finished product showed Salmonella contamination.

Osage Gardens Inc. of New Castle, CO, packaged the recalled micro greens in 2-ounce clear, plastic clamshell containers with labels on the bottom, according to the recall notice on the Food and Drug Administration website.

Consumers can identify the recalled micro greens by the following label information:

• UPC Code 709376615008; and
• Codes from 266 to 279.

“The recall was a result of a routine sampling by the FDA which revealed that the finished products contained the bacteria. Osage Gardens Inc. has ceased the production and distribution of the product as FDA and Osage Gardens Inc. continue their investigation as to what caused the problem,” the recall states.

Consumers who have purchased Osage Gardens Organic 2-ounce micro greens are urged to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Osage Gardens Inc. at 970-876-0668.

No illnesses had been reported in relation to the recalled micro greens as of the posting of the recall notice Saturday.

Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled micro greens and begone ill is urged to seek medical attention and alert their doctors to the potential exposure to Salmonella.

Salmonella bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea that 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, endocarditis and arthritis.

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)

from Food Recalls – Food Safety News http://ift.tt/2d00q8X

Steak sandwiches added to ground beef recall for E. coli

A Pennsylvania company has expanded its E. coli-related beff recall 10-fold, adding steak sandwiches to ground beef patties and burgers recalled last week for the pathogen.

The exact volume and distribution of the more than 8,000 pounds of beef products from Silver Springs Farms Inc. of Harleysville, PA, is not clear, with some of it having been sent “to a distributor in Virginia and institutional food establishments in New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland” according to the recall notice.

“This release is being reissued as an expansion of the Sept. 30 (recall), to include additional product produced from and/or commingled with the source material implicated in the original recall,” according to the notice posted on the USDA’s Food Service and Inspection Service website.

“The original recall included 740 pounds of ground beef products. This expansion includes an additional 7,230 pounds of ground beef patties and burgers, and an undetermined amount of various sandwich steak products.”

Silver Springs Farms produced the ground beef products on Aug. 19 and 20. The exact production dates for the various sandwich steak products are unknown at this time, but are believed to have been produced between Aug. 19 and Sept. 19.

To view labels for all of the recalled products, click on the image.

The following products are subject to recall:

• 20-pound cases containing four packages of 5-pound ground beef 80/20;
• 10-pound packages of “Camellia Beef Pattie 80/20,” with package codes 6235 and 6242;
• 10-pound packages of “Silver Springs Farm Beef Pattie 80/20,” with package codes 6242 and 6237;
• 10-pound packages of “Silver Springs Farm Beef Pattie 80/20 Flat,” with package code 6237;
• 10-pound packages of “Silver Springs Farm Gourmet Beef Burger Flat,” with package code 6235;
• 10-pound packages of “Silver Springs Farm Gourmet Beef Burger 80/20,” with package code 6237;
• 10-pound packages of “Silver Springs Farm Gourmet Beef Pattie 80/20,” with package code 6242; and
• various sandwich steak products produced by the recalling firm.

All of the recalled products from Silver Springs Farms Inc. have the establishment number “EST. 4771” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The E. coli O157:H7 was discovered during a routine verification sampling performed by Silver Springs Farms Inc. No confirmed reports of illness or adverse reactions related to the recalled products had been filed as of the posting of the expanded recall on Friday evening.

“(The Food Safety and Inspection Service” and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers,” the recall notice states.

“Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.”

Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of E. coli infection should seek medical attention and inform their doctor of the possible exposure to E. coli O157:H7.

Symptoms include dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps and usually begin two to eight after exposure. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5 years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

When available, the retail distribution lists will be posted on the FSIS website at http://ift.tt/1gO8Ec3.

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of160° F. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature.

Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Dan Fillippo, owner of Silver Springs Farms Inc., at 215-256-4321.

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)

from Food Recalls – Food Safety News http://ift.tt/2dRos2E

Ferree’s food science run ends prematurely due to injury

After three days and 75 miles—a new personal record—Bruce Ferree has ended his run across the Atacama Desert after experiencing a stress fracture in his right foot.

from IFT Daily News http://ift.tt/2dyws9n

Britain leads global foodservice traffic growth in second quarter

The NPD Group has reported that Britain was the strongest global foodservice market for the second quarter (ended June 30), driven by increases in traffic and average spend per eater.

from IFT Daily News http://ift.tt/2d3YY41

Consumers seek food policy discussion in U.S. presidential debates

At a time when Democrats and Republicans agree on few solutions to the challenges facing America, FoodMinds’ fourth “Food Temperance in America” survey found that two out of three Opinion Leader Shoppers—registered voters that express their food values in the grocery store, in public forums, and in their politics—support including food policy issues in the presidential debates.

from IFT Daily News http://ift.tt/2dKTOHC