With the constant influx of pistachio recalls, let’s not forget those other pathogen-contaminated offenders of recent infamy: Listeria laden sprouts, and Salmonella sprinkled sauces, spices, and peanuts. Here’s your update, courtesy of the FDA:
To their previous recall of sprouts potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, Amalgamated Produce, Inc., has added one product, labeled as either Specialty Farms Organic Crunchy Sprouts or Organic Crunchy Pea Mix. Check the press release for specific sell-by dates and UPC code.
Union International Food Company, who recently recalled various sauces and oils due to the presence of Salmonella in the facility in which they were produced, has expanded their recall to include various sized units of ALL Lian How and Uncle Chen sauces, oils, oil blends, and dry spice products. This press release provides specifics.
Nutty Nanners 3-oz. peanut and chocolate covered frozen bananas, Andronico’s Market “All Natural Peanut Butter,” and Arroyo Seco Trail Mixes are among the most recent casualties in the massive recall of peanut products associated with the Peanut Corporation of America’s peanut Salmonella outbreak.
If you’ve noted a subtle acidity in the tone of this blog post, it’s merely because I-and I would venture to assume you, too-have grown frankly sick (pun intended) of the bacteria buffet that is our modern food system. For me, a little sarcastic humor is almost as good as two Alka-Seltzer to help alleviate that queasy feeling. Want more? Check out this mock news story in which the ever-incisive Onion creates the image of an American pseudo-market even more favorable to Salmonella than today’s real one.
We may laugh to keep from crying in this time of widespread food fright, but truly food borne illness is a problem to be taken seriously. If you or someone you know shows symptoms of potential food poisoning, seek immediate medical attention.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2011
