The legislation would give the FDA the authority to regulate cigarettes and other tobacco products.  Say what?  An agency that is already underfunded and understaffed is getting more responsibility?

In theory, regulating the tobacco industry sounds like a good idea.  The agency would be able to regulate the contents of tobacco products, make their ingredients public, prohibit flavoring, require much larger warning labels and strictly control or prohibit marketing campaigns, especially those geared toward children.

However, I’m not so sure the FDA is ready to take on new responsibilities.  The underfunded structure and oversight ability of the current FDA needs drastic change. There have been too many defective drugs and medical devices, tainted food and dangerous toys allowed to enter the marketplace.

After all of the tainted pistachio, peanut butter, lettuce and pepper scares, some in Congress think a separate food agency is necessary. If the FDA is given additional oversight over tobacco, their workload will only increase.  Congress needs to adequately fund and staff the FDA before dolling out new responsibilities.

Here’s your update, with info courtesy of the FDA, USDA, and CFIA:

Peanuts: Salmonella

Rio Pluma, LLC, is reissuing its recall of various peanut products to clarify affected codes. The following peanut products may be contaminated with Salmonella due to sourcing from Peanut Corporation of America:

Pistachios: Salmonella

St. Bernadette Circle, St. Rose Church, Longview, WA is recalling PISTACHIOS In Shell Roasted and Salted, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The pistachios were repacked using pistachios recalled by Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc. because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.  Product was distributed by members St. Bernadette’s Circle of St. Rose Church, Longview, WA at bazaars and though direct delivery in Cowlitz County, WA. The product was packaged in 1 lb. clear plastic bags and labeled with St. Bernadette Circle, St. Rose Church, Longview, WA Pistachios In Shell Roasted & Salted 1lb.

The CFIA has issued an alert for the recall of more pistachios associated with the Salmonella outbreak of Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella. This recall includes the following products:

Bestway Brand Roasted Salted Pistachios, 400g, UPC 10000308, Sold February 13, 2009 to April 6, 2009

Beef and Pork: Undeclared Sulfites

Paisano Meat, Inc., a Gardena, Calif., establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 350,000 pounds of beef and pork products because they may contain undeclared sulfites. Sulfites can be a health hazard to individuals who are sensitive to sulfites.

The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels]

• 1-pound bags of “PAISANO SEASONED BEEF STYLE YECAPIXTLA, Cecina de Res Estilo Yecapixtla.” Each bag bears the establishment number “EST. 18654-A.”
• 5-pound bags of “GROUND SEASONED PORK, COLORED WITH ANNATTO”. Each bag bears the establishment number “EST. 18654.”
• 5-pound bags of “PAISANO, SMALL BONELESS BEEF CUBES, ASADITA.” Each bag bears the establishment number “EST. 18654.”
• 5-pound bags of “BEEF CHUNKY STEAK PICADO.” Each bag bears the establishment number “EST. 18654.”
• 5-pound bags of “GROUND BEEF, CARNE MOLIDA.” Each bag bears the establishment number “EST. 18654.”
• 5-pound bags of “Paisano Meat Inc., Boneless Shredded Beef (MACHACA), Made Fresh.” Each bag bears the establishment number “EST. 18654.”
• 10-pound bags of EL ALTEÑO, SABOR Y CALIDAD, CECINA DE RES ESTILO YECAPIXTLA, Seasoned Beef.” Each bag bears the establishment number “EST. 18654-A.”
• Two 10-pound bags in 20-pound boxes of “PAISANO, SEASONED BEEF YECAPIXTLA, Cecina de Res Estilo Yecapixtla.” Each box bears the establishment number “EST. 18654-A” or “EST. 18654-C.”

The beef and pork products are not identified with production or package or case codes on the bags or boxes. These beef and pork products were distributed to food service institutions, lunch wagons and retail establishments in southern California. The problem was discovered by FSIS during an investigation into a complaint sent to the Agency.

Spiced Bean: Undeclared Sulfites

DOMEGA INTERNATIONAL LTD., INC., of 1916 W 13TH Street, Brooklyn, NY 11223 is recalling FMD BRAND SPICED BEAN because it contains undeclared sulfites. The recalled FMD BRAND SPICED BEAN is sold in an un-coded, clear 80 gram vacuum packed plastic bag and is a product of China. The product was sold nationwide.

Bagels: Undeclared Egg

Western Bagel Baking Corporation is recalling a limited number of 12oz packaging of 100% Whole Wheat Sliced Bagels with lot code date of 10491 and 11291 as they may contain undeclared Egg. The lot code date may be found printed on the clip that closes the bag. The UPC number may be found on the side label below the Nutrition Facts panel: Publix 100% Whole Wheat Sliced Bagels, UPC: 41415-78290. The product was distributed throughout the chain to include stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee.

Cat Food: Incorrect Zinc and Potassium Levels

Nutro Products announced a voluntary recall of select varieties of NUTRO® NATURAL CHOICE® COMPLETE CARE® Dry Cat Foods and NUTRO® MAX® Cat Dry Foods with “Best If Used By Dates” between May 12, 2010 and August 22, 2010. The cat food is being voluntarily recalled in the United States and ten additional countries.  This recall is due to incorrect levels of zinc and potassium in our finished product resulting from a production error by a US-based premix supplier. Consumers who have purchased affected product should immediately discontinue feeding the product to their cats, and switch to another product with a balanced nutritional profile.

Now the FDA has admitted to Congress that it only completed about half of the required state food safety audits during the two years prior to the peanut butter salmonella outbreak that sickened hundreds across the country. These audits are a key part of the federal system of inspection to ensure the safety of our food supply. Congress has opened hearings on the inadequacies of the current FDA policies and whether a separate food safety department should be established.

A Health and Human Services inspector general report in 2000 emphasized the importance of putting a high priority on better evaluation of the effectiveness of state inspection of food production facilities which are done in place of actual federal inspections. Apparently, neither the FDA nor the state inspectors heeded the recommendations, and we are all potential victims of the next tainted food product because of it.

Troy Food Company of Santa Ana, California is recalling its 6 ounce bag of Tio’s Southwestern Chile Lemon Pistachios, sold at the Orange Coast College Swap Meet in Southern California from November 2008 until March 29th, 2009, due to potential Salmonella contamination. The Pistachios, sourced from Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc., were sold in a 6 ounce plastic bag with the multicolored “Nature’s Harvest” label on the front side only with a best before date of 4-10 and a UPC 19128 68335 clearly printed in the lower third of the label.

Edaleen Dairy located in Lynden, WA is recalling their Tin Roof Sundae and Chocolate Peanut Butter Nut Ice Cream in all sizes (1.75 quart carton, 1.5 gallon tub, 3 gallon tub), because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The products were manufactured using peanuts/peanut products recalled by Peanut Corporation of America. Tin Roof Sundae and Chocolate Peanut Butter Nut Ice Creams were sold by distributors, stores, gas stations, scoop shops, etc. throughout Western Washington (Mostly in the Whatcom area). This product was also sold through the Edaleen Store located on 9593 Guide Meridian, Lynden, WA. Tin Roof Sundae (UPC 14138 70005) and Chocolate Peanut Butter Nut (UPC 14138 70051) Ice creams were sold in 1.75 quart Cartons, 1.5 gallon tubs and 3 gallon tubs under the Edaleen’s Brand name. Products with dates of manufacture, found on the bottom of the carton, between October 1, 2007 and May 8, 2009 are affected by this recall.

Salmonella, or salmonellosis, is the most common food borne illness in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) receive reports of approximately 40,000 cases of salmonellosis in the United States each year – and the CDC estimates that hundreds of thousands more cases go unreported. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning may include abdominal cramping, diarrhea and fever – and while most people recover within a week, those with compromised heath can suffer more serious consequences.

Dr. Hooker isn’t the only one concerned about food recall apathy. Tara Gidus, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, worries that the overload of constant recalls may desensitize people to the importance of avoiding potentially contaminated products. Although many people trashed jars of peanut butter after the initial PCA recall warnings, other products that were tainted with peanut paste, like cookies and cracker products, remain on consumers’ pantry shelves.

It’s essential that consumers review the continually updated list of FDA recalls to avoid contracting foodborne illness from contaminated products. Sure, we get tired of the gloom and doom of knowing there are dangerous products on the market; but rather than succumbing to apathy, we prefer to feel good knowing that keeping up with recalls is a simple step to protecting our families. We’ll continue to post recall updates right here on the blog, so stay tuned.

Is this to say that those companies who purchased PCA products were misled by a deceptive supplier, and  thus blameless for their part in distributing Salmonella contaminated product to consumers? Let’s not jump to that conclusion without looking a little more closely.

Take, for example, Kellogg, which reportedly spent $20 million on PCA products, but may also lose up to $70 million due to recalls. Kellogg chose to do business with PCA without performing its own audit of the now-notorious PCA Blakely plant. Instead, Kellogg trusted the word of inspectors of a firm, AIB International, who was paid by PCA, is known to rate the majority of its clients “superior” or “excellent,” and has been rejected by some companies because of “inadequate” inspections.

Nestle, unlike Kellogg, performed its own inspections of PCA plants, and deemed the Blakely plant nowhere near Nestle standards. Nestle has rejected PCA as a supplier on more than one occasion.

So, while Kellogg may regret its monetary loss due to massive PCA peanut product recalls, perhaps an appropriate lesson to be learned is that the cost of performing an independent inspection is more palatable than the risk of trusting a biased and substandard one.

Kellogg reportedly has stated that it will do its own inspections of high-risk suppliers in the future, which, of course, leads to yet more questions: what determines “high risk,” and why bother with “high risk” suppliers at all when surely there are reputable companies somewhere out there providing quality products from a clean environment?

Only when we cut through the industry double-talk and make safety a higher priority than profit margin will we see meaningful change in our flawed food system. One more question: why didn’t Nestle or other inspectors feel the need to notify the FDA of their atrocious findings at the Blakely plant, in an effort to prevent such a pathogen outbreak as we’ve seen over the past few months?

Are they nuts?

Why would a business whose peanut products are at risk for Salmonella contamination refuse the FDA’s request for a recall? This is a question that we might ask Westco Fruit and Nut Co., Inc., of New Jersey.

Back in March, Westco Fruit and Nut refused to recall its products that contained peanuts from the Peanut Corporation of America, peanuts that were involved in a widely publicized Salmonella outbreak. On April 8, the FDA served the company a warrant so that officials could attain distribution records. On April 27, U.S. Marshals on behalf of the FDA seized from Westco $34,500 worth of potentially contaminated PCA peanut products.

Basic logic tells us that the longer a contaminated product is available to consumers, the greater the risk that more people will get sick. So if you’re a company that distributes peanuts, and you learn that your product may be tainted with a dangerous food borne pathogen, why wait to remove your wares from the market? Another classic case of “what were they thinking?”

Mmmm...E Coli

It’s easy to blame industry and regulators for their lack of attention to food safety that’s literally making us sick – especially considering the recent disgusting discoveries during inspections at the production facilities of the Peanut Corporation of America. The fight to fix our food system through legislation, litigation, and higher industry standards will doubtless be long and arduous. But there is another important option at our disposal…it’s called “market forces.” With our capitalist system, we can vote with dollars to encourage more responsible behavior. This can work in tandem with regulations and litigation to tackle the systemic problem we currently face with food borne illness.

Three news stories advocating informed consumer choice have recently caught my attention:

Scores on the Doors is a national service in the UK that assigns publicly accessible star-based ratings to restaurants and other food businesses, based on official local authority hygiene ratings. Nearly 100,000 premises are listed, each receiving up to five stars depending on their level of cleanliness based on authority inspections.

A similar effort by the Salt Lake Valley Health Department in Salt Lake County, Utah, gives star-based hygiene ratings on their website. Also available are details of food facility violations, how serious they are, and what’s being done about them.

In July 2010, patrons of New York City restaurants will see posted grade-based inspection placards: blue A, green B, or yellow C. Those facilities given low ratings will face more frequent health department inspections.

Kudos to these and other agencies for putting power into the hands of consumers and the marketplace. Seeing these ratings every time we visit a restaurant – especially those posted in plain sight on the premises – reminds us that the potential for food poisoning is everywhere, not just in recalled food products. This isn’t a call for paranoia, but for justified vigilance and informed choices that support food safety and discourage unsanitary practices.

Consumer choice to support food facilities that are top-rated for hygiene sends businesses the motivating message that cleanliness and safety are profitable. The number of A-grade restaurants in Los Angeles County (which has implemented a grading system for years) has risen from 40 to 83% since 1998; food borne illness rates have dropped, and associated hospitalizations have dropped by 20%. That’s progress, plain and simple.

In the interviews, one worker said that he “never” allowed his kids to eat the peanut butter.  Too bad the hundreds of children who were served this product in school cafeterias did not have the same choice.

This peanut company knowingly operated under unsafe and unsanitary conditions.  Peanut Corporation of America is  linked to several deaths and hundreds of salmonella poisoning victims.   And where were the FDA and other governmental agencies? This presents yet another stark example of the same regulatory failure we’ve seen from main street to wall street… and everywhere in between. These agencies have that were supposed to be the consumer watchdog, evolved into lapdogs… and eventually guard dogs for industry. Hopefully, Obama’s can do attitude will revive the watchdog and create an environment where the industry will think twice before conducting itself in the reckless manner we’ve repeatedly seen.

The latest revelation comes on the heals of two PCA production plant inspections that took place this week.

Among the “disturbing” discoveries at the Plainview, Texas, and Blakely, Georgia, production facilities: mice, cockroaches, other insects including a live beetle among the peanut product, filthy machinery, and roof leaks. A piece of wire was found among the peanuts, and a screwdriver had been left inside peanut storage equipment.

Common sense tells us that these conditions in a food production facility are not conducive to food safety and cleanliness. In fact, these are conditions that practically beg for the spread of pathogens that lead to contamination and food poisoning. What was PCA thinking, and why weren’t measures taken to turn this situation around before it led to widespread food borne illness? Answers may surface in time, but they may not be ones we want to hear.

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.

In 2000 the U.S. government instituted the “Healthy People 2010” program which was designed to reduce the incidence of salmonella infections by half. Reaching that goal is highly unlikely. In the U.S. 76 million people suffer food-borne illnesses each year, of which 300,000 require hospitalization and 5000 die from food-related infections. Although there has been a decrease in incidence of listeria, shigella, E-coli, campylobacter and yersinia, there has been no decrease in incidence of salmonella and cryptosporidium and an actual increase in cases of vibrio.

These continued outbreaks and the apparent lack of progress in national health goals underscore the need for a total and immediate revamping of our entire food safety practices.

Salmonella is a food borne illness that causes abdominal cramping, diarrhea and fever.  Most people recover within a few days, but in serious cases, victims may be hospitalized or die from the infection.

Here is the FDA Press Release:

WOW Café and Wingery of Covington, Louisiana recalled three lots of WOW Thai Peanut Wing Sauce & Dressing packaged in gallon jugs because the peanut paste used to make the product was supplied by the Peanut Corporation of America and it had the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which 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 (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The WOW Thai Peanut Wing Sauce & Dressing was distributed from November 2007 to August 2008 at all WOW Café locations nationwide. WOW Thai Peanut Wing Sauce & Dressing is packaged in plastic gallon jugs with codes: 3247, 1718, and 2138. Only these codes are involved. After an extensive internal audit, any product in question was discarded. All current product has been approved for usage.

No Illnesses have been reported to date. WOW Café and Wingery immediately initiated its Product Recall Procedures after learning that its WOW Thai Peanut Wing Sauce & Dressing contained product sourced from the Peanut Corporation of America. Consumers with questions may contact the company at (985) 792-5776.

In connection with the PCA peanut butter outbreak, there has been a continuing cascade of associated recalls. The most recent is Sconza Candy Company of California that is voluntarily recalling Alpine Trail Mix, Organic Chocolate Peanuts and Organic Toffee Cashews and Peanuts that were distributed from January 1, 2007 to February 10, 2009. According to the recall notice, these products contain peanuts obtained from the Plainview, Texas plant of Peanut Corporation of America (PCA).

March 25- Candies Tolteca Recalls Two flavors of Peanut Snacks Because of Possible Health Risk

March 26- Snackerz Inc. Recalls Snackerz Roasted and Salted Peanuts Because of Possible Health Risk

April 1- Nature Kist Snacks Issues Nationwide Voluntary Recall of In-Shell Pistachio Nuts Due to Possible Health Risk

April 1- Nature Kist Snacks Issues Nationwide Voluntary Recall of In-Shell Pistachio Nuts Due to Possible Health Risk

April 2- John B. Sanfilippo and Son, Inc. Expands Voluntary Recall of Four Varieties of Archer Farms Roasted Salted Inshell Pistachios Due to Possible Health Risk

April 3-Setton International Foods, Inc. Issues Precautionary Nationwide Voluntary Recall on Several Lots of Pistachio Kernel Products Because of Possible Health Risk

There’s obviously something seriously wrong with our food supply and it seems to be getting worse each day. Once a product is in widespread use, the FDA explains that “unforeseen problems” can sometimes lead to a recall. According to the FDA, when a regulated product is either defective or potentially harmful, recalling that product—removing it from the market or correcting the problem—is the most effective means for protecting the public. President Obama’s recent radio speech tackled food safety issues head on. He acknowledged that in recent years we’ve seen a number of serious problems with contaminated food making its way to the grocery shelves and our homes. He specifically noted the spinach outbreak in 06, the peppers salmonella outbreak in 08 and the most recent peanut butter outbreaks. He discussed the alarming trend and troubling statistics. For example, the average number of outbreaks from contaminated produce or other foods has grown to nearly 350 a year up from 100 a year in the early 90’s. It’s good to see this problem front and center on his radar screen; but now it’s time to move swiftly with meaningful action.

Fearing a repeat of the epic salmonella peanut recall, the Georgia Nut Co. (no relation to Peanut Corporation of America), Kroger and others have begun to pull the salmonella-tainted pistachios off store shelves. The salmonella-tainted pistachios may have been sold in Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Salmonellosis is a food borne illness that is usually contracted by eating food contaminated with feces. The Salmonella bacteria can occur in nuts, raw poultry, eggs, beef, and sometimes unwashed fruit and vegetables – and the food usually looks and smells normal. The onset of symptoms of salmonella poisoning is usually 12 to 72 hours after infection. Persons with diarrhea caused by salmonella typically recover completely, although it may be several months before bowel habits return to normal. A small number of people develop Reiter’s Syndrome which is noted by pain in the joints, irritation of the eyes and painful urination. Reiter’s Syndrome can lead to chronic arthritis which is difficult to treat. Additionally, if the salmonella bacteria enter the bloodstream, it could be serious, even fatal.

According to reports, Setton Farms purchased their Terra Bella, California pistachio plant from Dole in 1995. Since that time, it has increased capacity to more than 60 million pounds a year. Considering that Setton Farms, is the second largest producer of pistachios in the United States, there may be many products ultimately subject to the salmonella recall. Sadly, this was the pattern we saw with the most recent peanut outbreak.