Butter consumption may not increase CVD risk

An epidemiological study published in PLOS ONE shows that butter consumption may not be associated with cardiovascular disease and may actually be slightly protective against diabetes.

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ConAgra Foods officially files to spin off Lamb Weston

According to Bloomberg, ConAgra Foods has filed paperwork to spin off its Lamb Weston foodservice business, moving ahead with the latest step in the transformation of the maker of Hunt’s ketchup and Chef Boyardee pasta.

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Millennials prefer snacking to three regular meals a day

More than a third of consumers globally say they snack regularly, with the figure rising to just over 40% for young people aged 18–34, as the practice of modular eating becomes more accepted as an alternative to eating three main meals a day, according to consumer insight firm Canadean.

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Breading mix recalled because of flour tied to E. coli outbreak

A Wisconsin company is recalling Golden Dipt brand jalapeño breader mix from foodservice distributors who may or may not have sent the product to retailers open to the general public.

The recall is a secondary action related to the General Mills recall of 30 million pounds of flour that has been linked via laboratory testing to an ongoing E. coli outbreak that has sickened 42 people in 21 states.

The recalled breading mix can be identified by the lot numbers 0414647003 or 0513647003, circled in green.

“Kerry Inc. of Beloit, WI, is recalling two lots of Golden Dipt Jalapeño Breader that were sold to foodservice distributors because one of our suppliers recalled an ingredient used in our mix for the potential presence of E. coli O121,” according to the recall notice posted on the Food and Drug Administration website.

“Kerry Inc. was notified by our supplier that two of their products, a red bell pepper nugget and a jalapeño nugget, were made with a small percentage of affected flour which was recalled by General Mills because it may be contaminated with E. coli O121.”

Only two lots of the Golden Dipt breading mix are subject to the recall. Both lots were packaged and distributed in 10-pound bags with the UPC number 763089721548 and the item number G5620.690.

Implicated lots have one of the two following numbers printed near the bottom of the labels: 0414647003 or 0513647003.

Kerry Inc. distributed the Golden Dipt Jalapeño Breader to foodservice distributors in Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, Missouri and regions of Canada.

“Product may have been further distributed beyond these locations throughout the foodservice industry and to retail stores open to the general public,” according to the recall notice.

“If you have purchased Golden Dipt Jalapeno Breader with either of the lot codes noted above, please dispose of the product and seek reimbursement with the distribution group/store where it was purchased. Questions can be directed to Kerry (at) 800-325-3383 between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT.”

Anyone who has eaten or handled the recalled breading mix and developed E. coli infection symptoms is urged to seek medical attention. E. coli O121 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration.

The very young, seniors, and those with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

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Fritters recalled; breading contains flour linked to outbreak

Almost three tons of frozen, breaded chicken products from Simmons Prepared Foods Inc. are being recalled because flour used in the breading has been recalled because it is linked to an ongoing E. coli outbreak.

The Arkansas company distributed the chicken products to locations in Arkansas for “institutional use” by undisclosed customers. The 30-pound boxes that are covered by the recall can be identified by label information including:

• 30-lb. net-weight case containing six, 5-lb. bags in clear film of “Simmons UNCOOKED CHICKEN TENDERLOIN FRITTERS,” with a case code 31473, packaging date code of 6025, and a Use-By date of 01/25/17; and
• 30-lb. net-weight case containing six, 5-lb. bags in clear film of “Simmons UNCOOKED CHICKEN BREAST TENDERLOIN FRITTERS,” with a case code 62331 and a packaging date of 6025.

Produced on Jan. 25, the 5,850 pounds of frozen, breaded chicken fritters also have the establishment number “P-5837” inside the USDA mark of inspection on their labels.

“The problem was discovered on July 7, 2016, when Simmons Prepared Foods Inc. received notice from a supplier that flour sold to the establishment was recalled by General Mills,” according to the recall notice posted by the USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service.

As with other secondary product recalls issued by various food companies whose products were made with the recalled raw flour from General Mills, the Simmons recall states no confirmed illnesses have been reported in relation to its products.

However, the recalled flour responsible for the secondary recalls is linked via lab tests to an E. coli O121 outbreak that began Dec. 21, 2015, and is ongoing.  As of July 1 there had been 42 people across 21 states confirmed with the outbreak strain of E. coli O121. Federal officials said in that update that people with illness onsets from June 2 on might not yet be included in the outbreak count.

Because of the long shelf life of the frozen chicken products from Simmons, company and federal officials are concerned that the recalled products may be in kitchen freezers. They are urging customers of Simmons Prepared Foods to check their inventories and discard any products they have on hand that carry the identifying label information.

Anyone who has eaten or handled any of the recalled Simmons chicken fritters and developed symptoms of E. coli infection is urged to seek medical attention.

People can become ill from the bacteria between two and eight after consuming the organism. Most people develop diarrhea that is often bloody, and vomiting. Antibiotic treatment is generally not recommended.

Most people recover within a week, but, some develop a more severe infection, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS can occur in people of any age but is most common in children under 5 years old, older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

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General Mills pulls Betty Crocker mixes because of E. coli

With an international recall of certain flavors of its Betty Crocker branded cake mixes because of possible E. coli contamination, General Mills Inc. is again warning consumers to not ever eat raw batter or dough.

These are two of the three Betty Crocker cake mixes under recall in the U.S. The third is a “Delights” version of the “Rainbow Bit” mix.

The Monday cake mix recalls in Canada and the U.S. are the latest in a growing list of secondary recalls related to General Mills flour that is linked to an ongoing 21-state E. coli O121 outbreak that has sickened 42 people since December 2015. General Mills owns the Betty Crocker brand and dozens of other consumer product brands.

Minneapolis-based General Mills distributed the recalled flour nationwide to retailers, restaurants and bulk buyers, including other food producers. General Mills has declined to reveal what food producers received bulk shipments. The Food and Drug Administration is restricted from releasing that information because of laws regarding trade secrets.

On June 2 a company spokesman told Food Safety News that General Mills officials “are not aware of it (the recalled flour) being used in any dry mixes.” Since then baking mixes and a variety of other foods — including more than 22 tons of frozen hors d’oeuvres — have been pulled back by manufacturers’ secondary recalls.

General Mills flour is also under recall in China.

One of General Mills’ suppliers recently notified the company that it had used some of the recalled flour to produce flavor bits it sent back to General Mills for certain Betty Crocker cake mixes.

Betty Crocker cake mixes now under recall in the United States and label information that can be used to identify them are:

• Betty Crocker Delights Super Moist Party Rainbow Chip Cake Mix
  Package UPC 000-16000-40997
  Better if Used by Dates 25MAR2017, 28MAR2017, 27APR2017, 28APR2017, 23MAY2017, 24MAY2017, 25MAY2017
• Betty Crocker Delights Super Moist Carrot Cake Mix
  Package UPC 000-16000-40987
  Better if Used by Dates  12APR2017, 13APR2017, 14APR2017, 28MAY2017, 29MAY2017, 30MAY2017, 07JUL2017, 08JUL2017
• Betty Crocker Super Moist Rainbow Bit Cake Mix
  Package UPC 000-65633-46589
  Better if Used by Dates 27AL2017, 08JN2017, 09JN2017

This product is posted on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website with the recall notice.

In Canada only one variety of Betty Crocker cake mix is under recall, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The recalled Betty Crocker Super Moist Cake Mix Rainbow Bit in 432-gram packages can be identified by specific label information, including:

• 27AL2017 PV08JN2017 PV
  09JN2017 PV
  UPC 0 65633 46589 3

“If you possess any products included in this recall, they should be thrown away. A full list of retail products included in the flour recall can be found at http://ift.tt/1O2ySNf, according to the recall news release on the General Mills website.

“E. coli O121 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. Seniors, the very young, and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. Anyone diagnosed by a physician as having an illness related to E. coli O121 is also urged to contact state and local public health authorities.”

Officials in the U.S. and Canada are concerned that consumers may have the recalled products in their homes because of the long shelf life of baking mixes. They warn that food contaminated with E. coli may not look or smell bad.

General Mills initially recalled 10 million pounds of flour, but expanded that to include another 20 million pounds after lab tests linked more of the flour to the outbreak. All of the recalled flour was produced at its Kansas City, Mo, plant from Nov. 4 through Dec. 14, 2015.

Federal investigators have matched the outbreak strain of E. coli from patients’ lab tests to E. coli O121 found in bags of flour collected from consumers’ homes in three states.

The recalled flour from the Kansas City facility is packaged under three brands: Gold Medal, Signature Kitchens and Wondra. Although General Mills also owns the Pillsbury brand and produces flour under that label, it is not included in the recalls.

U.S. consumers with questions or requesting Betty Crocker replacement product should contact General Mills at 800-230-8103. Canadian consumers with questions about the Betty Crocker products including in the recall, or requesting replacement, should contact General Mills Canada at 800-526-4579.

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Senate passes federal GMO bill

According to The Hill, a bill to keep states from issuing their own mandatory labeling laws for foods made with genetically modified ingredients passed the U.S. Senate on July 7.

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