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Alfalfa Sprouts Linked to Salmonella

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:30:00 -0700

There have been many surprising foods linked to salmonella lately, including tainted peanut butter and pistachios. Now government health officials are encouraging people to avoid raw alfalfa sprouts, since they may be contaminated with a strain of salmonella. There have been 31 cases of illness reported since mid-March in Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, and West Virginia. Sickness came after people said they consumed raw alfalfa sprouts obtained at restaurants or bought from stores. Since the sprouts were grown in multiple states, the FDA says the seeds used to make the sprouts are contaminated.

So for now, I'd pass on the sprouts in your salad and on your sandwiches.

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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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All Peanut Butter Products From Texas Plant Recalled

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:00:00 -0800

The peanut butter salmonella issue grows bigger and bigger daily. Products connected with Peanut Corporation of America are being recalled left and right, and it's not over yet. The Texas Department of State Health Services ordered a recall of all products ever shipped from Peanut Corporation's now-closed plant in Plainview, TX. This plant was inspected after health code violations were found at its Georgia plant. Officials were disgusted to find dead rodents, rodent droppings, and bird feathers in a crawl space above a production area in the Texas plant, which had been operating unlicensed and without an inspection in nearly four years. This is more disturbing news tacked on to a long chain of events that has led to nearly 600 sickened people and nine deaths.

Over 2,000 peanut products have been recalled, making this one of the largest product recalls ever. It sickens me to think that Peanut Corp. owner Stewart Parnell allowed contaminated products to be shipped anyway, saying in an email that "tests discovering the contaminated food were 'costing us huge $$$$$.'" How sad is it that so many people have suffered because of this man's greed? This salmonella incident has also affected people's general opinions of peanut butter, and many are avoiding all peanut butter products for fear of getting sick. Are you?

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Some Peanut Butter-Based Bars Are Safe, Others Are Not

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:30:00 -0800

When it comes to pre-workout snacking, energy bars are up there on my list of favorite quick fixes that get me through my workout. After hearing that some bars have been recalled because they could be tainted with salmonella, I was paranoid to touch any of the bars I had previously purchased. Ignoring the products isn't getting me anywhere, so I've been looking into which ones are safe for me to eat and which should go in the trash, once and for all. Now I can feel OK snacking on certain bars without any sense of salmonella doom.

The FDA developed a handy widget that allows you to scan by product group, and in my case I was interested in snack bars. I was bummed when I first saw LaraBar on the list, but after clicking on the brand name I saw that only one of its products has been affected (Peanut Butter Blisscrisp snack bars). Check out the widget for the items that you should avoid; you'll see familiar names like Clif, Luna, and Zone on the list. See the rundown when you read more.

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Get the Facts About Salmonella

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:00:00 -0800

This salmonella scare is getting out of control. The peanut butter recall has become one of the largest recalls ever, as this week officials expanded the recall to all products derived from the Peanut Corp. of America's Georgia plant in the last two years. There are allegations that the plant was aware of the tainted products before distributing them, and federal investigators discovered problems like roaches and mold at the plant - gross. With all the commotion, let's take a moment to step back and understand what salmonella actually is.

What it is: It's a bacteria that causes an infection in the lining of the small intestine, called salmonella enterocolitis.
How it spreads: Unsanitary food preparation conditions or equipment can lead to food contamination, including undercooked chicken, turkey, or eggs.
How long it lasts: You'll know if you have salmonella food poisoning within eight to 48 hours, and the illness lasts between one and two weeks.

To learn about the symptoms and treatment for salmonella, read more.

Symptoms: Those suffering from salmonella commonly experience abdominal pain or cramping, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, and muscle pain. Symptoms usually subside in two to five days.
Treatment: Because persistent diarrhea can cause dehydration, it's important to drink electrolyte solutions to replace fluids. If vomiting prevents you from keeping fluids down, you may need intravenous fluids.

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Have You Been Avoiding Peanut Butter Products Lately?

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:30:00 -0800

Who would have thought peanut butter would ever get so much press? The sticky spread is still the center of the latest salmonella scare, and products continue to be pulled from shelves as a precaution. Starbucks is the most recent company to temporarily rid their stores of goods containing peanut butter. Have you taken similar precautionary moves in your own home?

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Which Peanut Butter Products Are Salmonella Safe?

FitSugar — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0800

Manufacturers of peanut butter products are still in a sticky situation with the salmonella outbreak that has been traced to a Georgia plant owned by Peanut Corporation of America. The widespread situation has caused new recalls to be announced left and right, making it tough to keep track of what is and isn't safe to eat. Do you know which products are safe from salmonella? Take the quiz!

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More Peanut Butter Involved in Salmonella Scare

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:00:00 -0800

Last week we learned that peanut butter might be the culprit in the latest salmonella scare. First, King Nut and Parnell's Pride peanut butter were recalled, but now the list grows as more companies pull their products from the shelves. The FDA has traced the tainted peanut butter to a Georgia plant owned by Peanut Corporation of America, which distributes peanut butter and peanut flavor to numerous companies. Since six people have died from salmonella poisoning, the FDA is taking no chances and advising everyone to stay away from all products containing peanut butter including cookies, crackers, cakes, energy bars, and ice cream.

Some known foods to avoid are Little Debbie snacks, Kellogg Keebler crackers, and some Luna, Clif, and ZonePerfect bars. The companies who make Jif, Smuckers, Eagle Brand, and Peter Pan peanut butter said their products are safe.

For a complete list of products involved in the recall, check out the FDA's website.

Is Peanut Butter Spreading Salmonella?

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:10:07 -0800

Last week, yet another salmonella scare swept the nation, and as of today, almost 400 people have been affected. Since September, cases have been found in 42 states, but the majority are focused in California, Ohio, and Minnesota. Although Minnesota officials think the culprit in their state may be King Nut peanut butter, they haven't connected this product to the national outbreak.

Investigators discovered the salmonella in a five-pound container of King Nut peanut butter in a nursing home. This company doesn't make its own peanut butter, but instead orders it from Peanut Corporation of America, based in Lynchburg, VA. King Nut then sells to food-service providers that supply food to hospitals and other institutional facilities, so it's not sold in retail stores. For safety purposes, King Nut has voluntarily recalled its creamy peanut butter sold under the names King Nut and Parnell's Pride with a lot code that begins with the numeral 8.

The CDC, Agriculture Department, Food and Drug Administration, and state health officials plan to continue the investigation so they can give the public more details about the source of the outbreak. Since the salmonella was found in an open container of peanut butter, cross-contamination may also be a possibility. For more details, check out the FDA's press release.

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