FitSugar

Brace Yourself For a Bigger Pistachio Recall

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:30:00 -0700

It's amazing that tiny nuts could cause so much trouble. Last week Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc. recalled more than two million pounds of roasted pistachios shipped since last Fall, and now the recall has been expanded to include all raw nuts and all roasted nuts from the producer's 2008 crop.

It's seen as a proactive move because there have been no confirmed illnesses, but health officials don't want to take any chances this time around and the FDA has indicated it will issue more sweeping decisions like this going forward. Dr. David Acheson, associate commissioner for foods at the FDA commented, "We’re going to try to stop people from getting sick in the first place, as opposed to waiting until we have illness and death before we take action."

Check the FDA website for its list of products affected by the recall, and if you don't see a pistachio-containing product that's in your pantry, don't eat it for a few weeks until there's more news about specific items. So far the list contains items such as trail mix, ice cream, and candy. Food safety first!

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Pistachios Subject of Newest Salmonella Scare

FitSugar — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Nipping on the heels of the ongoing peanut butter salmonella outbreak is a new scare in tainted nuts, and this time salty fingers are being pointed at pistachios. Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc. has recalled more than two million pounds of roasted pistachios shipped since last Fall, just fraction of the 55 million pounds processed by the company last year.

Because the nuts in question were shipped in bulk to wholesalers who repackaged the nuts for consumers, the effects of a pistachio-driven outbreak could be far-reaching. While growers aren't happy about the safety implications, the FDA recommends steering clear of any product containing pistachios until they have more information about the situation. That means avoiding everything from ice cream and cake mixes to trail mix and energy bars.

While eating pistachios is a decidedly delicious way to lower the LDL (bad) levels of cholesterol in your body, rely on other sources for improving heart health like olive oil and your morning oatmeal until there's more detailed news available.

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Yet Another Recall? Beef From Whole Foods

FitSugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Sorry to spread the bad news, but we have yet another recall to deal with. Whole Foods voluntarily recalled more than 1.2 million pounds of ground beef that has come from Coleman Natural Beef's Nebraska Beef processing plant. It pains me to say it but E. coli strikes again. Over 31 illnesses in 12 US states and Canada have been linked to this contaminated meat, but officials have yet to name the states (not sure what's up with that). Apparently this recall comes after the same company recalled 5.3 million pounds of meat a month ago, that was linked to at least 49 cases of E. coli. Geez.

The beef in the 24 Whole Foods locations in Northern California are not involved, since their meat comes from Country Natural Beef in Oregon, a supplier not listed in the beef recall. Another chain, Fred Meyers, is also pulling meat from their shelves. The ground beef in question was sold between July 2 and Aug. 6. If you're concerned about the beef at your local Whole Foods or natural grocery store, it's best to contact the store directly.

The USDA is still investigating, so I'm sure more info will be coming. It's just so upsetting that these recalls continue to plague our food system. Does this latest recall inspire you to start eating veggie burgers?

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Recall: 286,000 Pounds of Meat and Poultry

FitSugar — Mon, 05 May 2008 08:15:00 -0700

If you're thinking about grilling this week or have a freezer packed with convenience foods, check your meat. Gourmet Boutique, a food company based in Queens, NY, is recalling 286,000 pounds of meat and poultry. The recall is voluntary and includes more than 30 types of fresh and frozen products produced by the company, which may be contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. The USDA reports that the contamination was discovered in sampling done by federal food safety inspectors and Florida agriculture officials.

The recall includes fresh meat and chicken salad produced between April 19 and 24, 2008. The frozen products were produced between Oct. 23, 2007 and April 23, 2008. Some of the products to look out for are Gourmet Boutique Curry Chicken Salad, Gourmet Boutique Turkey Club Twister, and Jan’s Buffalo Bob tortilla wrap sandwiches. Frozen foods include Archer Farms mini beef burritos, pulled-pork burritos, and chicken burritos.

There haven't been any cases of illness yet, but the bacteria could potentially cause Listeriosis, which involves a high fever, headache, and nausea. More seriously, people with weak immune systems could suffer from fatal infections. Consumers with questions about the recall can call Gourmet Boutique's recall hotline at (347) 887-0083.

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Treadmill RECALL!

FitSugar — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:30:00 -0700

A voluntary recall of Cybex or Trotter Treadmills has recently been announced. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed, details of the recall are below.

Units: 4,700 (33,719 units were recalled on October 8, 2003)

Manufacturer: Cybex International, Inc., of Medway, Mass.

Hazard: During repairs associated with the October 8, 2003 recall, wire nuts were installed improperly, causing the treadmills to overheat and posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Description: This recall involves the treadmills "Cybex 400T," "Cybex 410T," "Trotter 510," "Trotter 525", "Trotter 535", and "CXT+" that were recalled on October 8, 2003 and later repaired. The treadmills are black with gray coloring, have rectangular uprights, and measure 69 inches long and 30 inches wide. The brands and models are written on the display panel. The “CXT+” model does not bear the brand Cybex or Trotter.

Remedy: Consumers whose treadmills were included in the 2003 recall and were repaired should immediately unplug and stop using the treadmills. Consumers with recalled units will be notified directly by Cybex. Consumers should call Cybex directly to schedule a free repair.

Consumer Contact: Call Cybex toll-free at (888) 678-3846 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at cybexintl.com.

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Dole Salad Mix RECALL

FitSugar — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 09:30:00 -0700

I have not been reporting on each and every recall lately because, quite frankly, there are way too many. However, this one was just too mainstream to not let you guys know so here is the deal...

Packages of Dole salad mix have been recalled in at least nine U.S. states and in a number of Canadian provinces after a package in Canada tested positive for E. coli bacteria, the Associated Press reported.

The recall covers all packages of Dole's Hearts Delight salad mix with a "best if used by" date of Sept. 19, 2007, and a production code of "A24924A" or "A24924B." They were sold in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime provinces in Canada, and in Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee starting around Sept. 8.

This recall comes one year after an outbreak of E. coli linked to bagged baby spinach sold under the Dole brand killed three people and sickened hundreds in the United States. For more information, consumers can call the Dole Consumer Center toll-free at 800-356-3111.

Recall Round Up: Part Three

FitSugar — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:15:00 -0700

Good or bad, recalls are all the rage these days.

So get ready to check your goods -- Here's what's being recalled now:

About 18,900 pounds of Chinese fresh ginger contaminated with a toxic pesticide have been recalled by the Christopher Ranch food company of Gilroy, Calif. The ginger was shipped to more than a dozen wholesale and retail clients in California, Louisiana, Michigan, Oregon and Washington state between July 10 and July 26.

California officials said the ginger may contain potentially harmful levels of the pesticide aldicarb sulfoxide, the San Jose Mercury News reported. As of Monday, there had been no reported cases of illness linked to the imported ginger.
Toy maker Mattel has recalled nearly one million toys in the United States because they are covered in lead paint. The recall covers 83 different kinds of toys -- many of which feature Sesame Street and Nickelodeon characters -- that were made in China.
By halting product shipments from its distribution centers and by contacting retailers last week, Mattel said it prevented more than two-thirds of the 967,000 affected toys from reaching consumers, The New York Times reported. However, more than 300,000 of the lead-tainted toys have already been purchased by US consumers. The affected toys, made between April 19 and July 6, may have a date code from 109-7LF to 187-7LF on the product or packaging, said the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Lakeside Foods, Inc., is recalling 15,000 cases of its 14.5-ounce French style green beans because some of the cans may have been under-processed and some may have leaked. This could have lead to the beans being contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, which causes botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning. No illnesses have been reported, and no botulinum toxin has been found in any cans tested to date.
The cans with the following code in the top line should be returned to place of purchase: EAA5247, EAA5257, EAA267, EAA5277, EAB5247, EAB5257, ECA5207, ECA5217, ECA5227, ECA5297, ECB5207, ECAB5217, ECB5227 and ECB5307. Details: by phone at 800-466-3834 ext. 4090; by Web at Lakesidefoods.com.

There's been a lot of other recalls recently, review them all here

Recall Round Up

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 07:30:00 -0700

The time has come where there are just so many freakin' recalls underway that I felt the need to inform you guys in a recall round up of sorts.

So get ready to check your goods -- Here's what's being recalled now:

Castleberry's Food Company has recalled about 90 types of canned chili, beef stew, corned beef hash and other meat products (including dog food) due to the potential risk for botulism. This recall is so big that Castleberry's has shut down their plant entirely. The company says consumers should dispose of any questionable goods from Castleberry's in doubled plastic bags. Consumers can get full refunds simply by calling the company. Bring product labels into the grocery store so that you can get a refund. Call 1-888-203-8446 of visit the recall site for more information.
Nissin FoodsCo., Inc. announced a voluntary nationwide recall of selected shrimp-flavored noodle products as a safety precaution after it was discovered that the seafood-flavored powder used in these Nissin products also contains cod and lobster. Individuals who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to cod or lobster may run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these specific shrimp-flavored products. Customers will receive a refund and a supplemental coupon if they then send the UPC Code only directly to Nissin at 2001 W Rosecrans Ave, Gardena, CA 90249. For more information, customers are urged to call Nissin Foods at 1-866-548-2945 or visit NissanFoods.com.
CVS pharmacies are recalling some 84,000 of Playschool "No Spill" cups made in China, because toddlers can chew through the plastic spouts, posing a choking hazard. They have serial number 382814, which is printed on the back of the packaging. Consumers should stop using the products immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, contact CVS at 866-434-0098.

BABY FOOD RECALL!

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 09:30:00 -0700

Baby food maker Gerber has issued a national recall for two of its popular 8 ounce boxes cereals, ORGANIC Rice and Gerber ORGANIC Oatmeal because of a possible chocking hazard.

The company says the problem may be that some of the cereal remains lumpy and won't dissolve in milk or other liquids. The products with all UPC codes, 15000 12504 for Gerber ORGANIC Rice UPC Code, and 15000 12502 for Gerber ORGANIC Oatmeal are subject to the recall. Call 1 (800)443-7237 to return the product and get a full refund.

Snack Food Recall EXPANDED!

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 02:00:00 -0700

For those of you who were totally bummed about the Veggie Booty Recall. It is now being reported that Robert's American Gourmet Inc. is now also recalling all lots and sizes of Super Veggie Tings Crunchy Corn Sticks Snack Food (UPC 15665-10356) sold across the United States and Canada. This expansion is precautionary since the product used the same seasoning as the Veggie Booty Snack Food.

If you have either the Veggie Booty or Super Veggie Tings you should discard the entire contents of the package and contact 1-800-626-7557 or email info@robscape.com for reimbursement of your purchase.

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