Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer - food

Nation's Food Safety System Set for New Rules

Jamie Sheller — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:09:05 GMT

Both the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration are taking steps to improve the safety of our food. The Department of Agriculture is set to conduct regular tests of "bench trim," the meat trimmings added to other meat to make ground beef, in order to prevent E. coli contamination of beef sold to consumers. The FDA is seeking more extensive "mandatory standards for growing, harvesting and processing fruits and vegetables." The House of Representatives already passed legislation strengthening the FDA's food safety oversight powers. Similar legislation is scheduled for Senate consideration in the fall.

Most meat used in ground beef has been tested for E. coli, but inspectors had not been testing the bench trim. Recently, there have been several outbreaks of a virulent strain of E. coli, leading to recalls of tainted ground beef. This particular E. coli strain, O157:H7, can cause fatal illness, and it may survive cooking. According to the American Meat Institute, the industry supports additional government testing of meat.

There have also been several cases of illnesses from tainted produce, primarily tomatoes, leafy greens and melons. The FDA recently issued voluntary guidelines to improve the safety of these crops. Eventually these guidelines will lead to mandatory regulations for handling produce. Enforceable standards and requirements should be complete in two years.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Kidney Patients May Be Harmed By Meat Additives

Jamie Sheller — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:21:57 GMT

Excessive amounts of phosphorous and potassium may be found in uncooked meats and poultry products enhanced with phosphate salts. According to a recent report in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, such meats with additives have an average of 28% higher phosphate-to-protein ratio, compared with meat without additives. Such phosphate amounts could affect kidney patients by making it hard for them to limit their dietary phosphorous and potassium intake. Dialysis patients have to be careful of hyperphosphatemia, and controlling phosphorous is very important. However, that control is made difficult because meat and poultry are not always labeled as being enhanced with phosphate salts. Such information is not required to be included on labels. Enhancing meat and poultry with phosphate salts may affect phosphate binding requirements, because phosphates not removed by dialysis must be removed by binders.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Recall of Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough Products

Jamie Sheller — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:14:50 GMT

Recently, Nestle USA voluntarily recalled its Toll House packaged raw cookie dough products, due to concerns about E. coli. E. coli can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and kidney failure. It can be deadly. The Centers for Disease Control have found a "strong association" between the cookie dough and the E. coli sickness suffered by 65 people who have tested positive for the bacterium since March. The identified sick people live in 29 states, and while some of them have been hospitalized with their illness, none have died.

The FDA advised consumers to discard any Toll House cookie dough products that they have, and requested that restaurants, retailers and food service providers not sell any of the refrigerated cookie dough products. According to the FDA, consumers should not try to cook the Toll House cookie dough products, because even though the cooked cookies may be safe to eat, the E. coli could be spread by the consumer's hands. The recall affects about 300,000 cases of cookie dough, including refrigerated cookie bar dough, cookie dough tubes, and cookie dough tubs. However, Toll House ice cream containing raw cookie dough is not affected by the recall. Nestle USA has said that it is temporarily halting production of the cookie dough products, while its Ohio factory is investigated by the FDA.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Southern California Slaughterhouse Sued After 2008 Beef Recall

Jamie Sheller — Sun, 24 May 2009 16:26:49 GMT

The nation's largest beef recall in 2008, involving 143 million pounds of beef, was sparked by activities at Westland/Hallmark Meat Co., based in Chino, California. A videotape shows workers at the slaughterhouse abusing cattle. The company claimed that all cattle at the plant were treated humanely, and that no meat from "downer" cows entered the food supply. "Downer" cows are cattle that are sick or injured and pose a greater risk of illnesses like mad cow disease. The Humane Society of the United States filed a lawsuit against Westland/Hallmark, alleging that its claims of humane treatment were fraudulent. In the videotape, workers are seen shocking sick cows with electric prods and dragging them with chains. The United States Department of Justice decided to intervene in the lawsuit, and seek to recover $150 million in taxpayer money that the company received during a five-year period. Westland/Hallmark used to be the second largest supplier of ground beef to the National School Lunch Program. According to a Justice Department lawyer, Westland/Hallmark's alleged fraud could have impacted many of the nation's children, which is a very serious concern.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Ground Beef Subject of Another Recall

Jamie Sheller — Sun, 24 May 2009 13:32:51 GMT

A Coal Valley, Ill. company recently recalled almost 96,000 pounds of ground beef products. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that the beef, from Valley Meats LLC, may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled beef was sold under various brand names, including 3S Brand Products, Grillmaster Brand Products, J & B Brand Products, Klub Brand Products, Thick 'N Savory Brand Products, and Ultimate Brand Products. In addition, some of the beef was sold with no specific brand name. Each of the recalled beef products has the number "EST. 5712" under the USDA mark of inspection. March 10, 2009 is the date that these beef products were produced. The strain of E. coli involved in the recalled beef is dangerous, and can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and kidney failure. E. coli O157:H7 can be fatal. There have been reports of illness in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Food Inspector Shortages Are Critical Problem

Jamie Sheller — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:00:00 GMT

The recent salmonella outbreak has highlighted a problem in the food inspection system. The federal government relies heavily on states to monitor our country's food supply. However, dozens of food inspection jobs are vacant, due to state budgetary woes. For instance, Georgia, the site of the Peanut Corporation of America plant at the center of the recent salmonella outbreak, has 15 vacant inspector positions. Currently, about 60 state inspectors in Georgia are responsible for 16,000 sites. In Texas, 34 people are responsible for inspecting 21,000 facilities. According to food safety experts, there is an increasing risk that food problems won't be detected when there are shortages of inspectors. The food inspector shortage is not expected to improve any time soon, as many states are facing budget shortfalls, and are even cutting funds for roads and police.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

President of Peanut Corporation of America Refuses To Testify

Jamie Sheller — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:40:58 GMT

A Congressional subcommittee recently held a hearing on its investigation into the salmonella outbreak linked to a U.S. peanut processing company. Salmonella found in peanut products that sickened over 500 people and caused the deaths of 8 people, was traced back to the Blakely, GA plant of the Peanut Corporation of America. The outbreak led to one of the largest food recalls in U.S. history. Stewart Parnell, president of Peanut Corporation of America, and Sammy Lightsey, manager of its Georgia plant, were subpoenaed to testify before Congress. However, at the hearing they both refused to testify, citing their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. According to Congressional investigators, Peanut Corporation of America shipped peanut products without waiting for salmonella test results to come back. There is also a federal investigation into whether the company deliberately shipped contaminated products. In addition to the Blakely, GA plant, Peanut Corporation of America recently closed its plant in Plainview, TX, after salmonella contamination was found there.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller

Peanut Butter Products Recalled Amidst Salmonella Outbreak

Jamie Sheller — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 06:00:00 GMT

In the midst of a salmonella outbreak that has sickened over 400 people, King Nut Companies has voluntarily recalled two of its brands of peanut butter after positive salmonella tests on an open container. King Nut Companies is based in Ohio, and the peanut butter at issue was not sold directly to consumers, but rather distributed through food service providers. The recalled peanut butter is distributed under the King Nut and Parnell's Pride brands, with a lot code that begins with the number "8.". Despite the positive salmonella test on the King Nut peanut butter, the FDA has not conclusively linked that peanut butter to the particular strain of salmonella involved in the recent outbreak. Meanwhile, according to King Nut, it has cancelled all orders with Peanut Corporation of America, its peanut butter manufacturer.

Further, companies such as the Kellogg Company and McKee Foods Corp., the company that sells Little Debbie snacks, have announced voluntary recalls of products that contain peanut butter. The investigation into this salmonella outbreak is ongoing, and until more is known about the salmonella contamination, federal authorities have advised consumers to avoid cookies, cakes and other foods containing peanut butter. However, the government has indicated its belief that most peanut butter sold in jars is safe. This recent outbreak has renewed calls for reform of the food safety laws and regulations.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie Sheller