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Matt McKinney of the Minneapolis Star Tribune and I spoke last week when I was in New York working on the Taco Bell E. coli cases that occurred last year in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Mr. McKinney, also has another article featured this morning, “Meat recalls have highlighted an uptick in illnesses. Experts
Update on Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Serotype Tennessee Infections Associated with ConAgra Peanut Butter — United States, 2006–2007
On June 1, 2007, the CDC reported that a total of 628 persons had been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella serotype Tennessee in 47 states since August 1, 2006. Rumor has it that that number has risen and is now in excess of 700 (perhaps 714). Remember, according to AC Voetsch, “FoodNet estimate
Del Rey tortillas suspected in school illness outbreak in Wisconsin – Again
The Journal Times reported yesterday that Del Rey Tortillas of Chicago has again been implicated in student illnesses:
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FDA officials again pulled several cases of soft shell flour tortillas from Racine Unified kitchens this week, after an outbreak of illness at three Racine Unified schools last week. A single manufacturer, Del Rey, produced all the flour tortillas consumed in the three middle schools where children and teachers were sickened last week. The state Department of Public Instruction issued a statement Friday indicating that the focus of the investigation had turned to the tortillas.
“In an effort to protect children from becoming ill, we are strongly encouraging all schools to refrain from serving the flour tortillas,” the DPI said in its release.
In January 2006 the same thing happened and the FDA was forced to ask for a recall then as well:
Local school districts free of suspected food poisoning product
Local parents and students can breathe – and eat – easier, following assurance from Aramark Food Service that the tortilla shells suspected to have caused illness among District 150 students are not used in other local schools. Last Wednesday, 45 Peoria District 150 students complained of feeling sick after lunch. This follow a December incident in which about 80 students at five District 150 schools became ill after lunch, complaining of the same symptoms reported last Wednesday. Chicago-based Del Ray Tortilleria did agree to recall the tortilla shells and adjust its ingredients, said Marlena Bordson of the Illinois Department of Public Health Friday. Peoria County Health Department voluntarily pulled the tortillas from school menus in advance of Del Ray’s recall.
Tortillas have been implicated in much earlier outbreaks:
Multiple Outbreaks of Gastrointestinal Illness Among School Children Associated with Consumption of Flour Tortillas — Massachusetts, 2003–2004Continue Reading Del Rey tortillas suspected in school illness outbreak in Wisconsin – Again
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus – MRSA – found in Canadian Pigs and Farmers – Do MRSA Illnesses have a food connection?
More on the Super Bug
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According to a report I read on All Headline News, A new study published in Veterinary Microbiology found methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is widely common in Canadian pig farms and pig farmers, signaling to some that animal agriculture as a source of the deadly bacteria. The Veterinary Microbiology study
$200,000 raised for land mine victims
Marler Clark was proud to sponsor the recent Clear Path International Evening of Hope, which was held at the College Club in Seattle. The event benefits landmine accident survivors – mostly from Vietnam.
Imbert Matthee commented on the Evening of Hope on the Clear Path International blog:
Our third annual Seattle fundraiser, generously underwritten
Why the “Uptick” in E. coli cases in 2007?
I have been pressing everyone I know in food safety and the meat industry about the “uptick" in E. coli cases in 2007. Here are some ideas from recent press reports:
USDA says has enough legal authority to do recalls
“Raymond said there are several factors USDA is investigating that could be responsible for the
E. coli quote of the day
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Late last night Christopher Doering of Reuters quoted USDA/FSIS head guy, U.S. Agriculture Undersecretary Richard Raymond, in an article entitled – USDA says has enough legal authority to do recalls – Dr. Raymond testified that the U.S. Agriculture Department does not need additional authority to conduct meat recalls and would oppose any move to make
Recall of frozen pizza, beef products labeled high health risk, says U.S. Department of Food Safety and Inspection
I had a long chat with Jeff Alexander of The Gardner News on Tuesday. We talked about ffood safety generally and the Pot Pie case in particular Here is his article (or, at least where I am quoted):
The pot pie suit is being handled by Bill Marler; his experience with recalls includes a substantial settlement against Jack In The Box for previous E. coli outbreaks. Mr. Marler offered his views and experience with food recalls. “A lot of recall decisions that get made are based on finances and not wanting to hurt businesses; most people get sick from a food-borne illness and never know what made them sick or even killed them,” said Mr. Marler. “Civil litigation is a way of making companies responsible.” Asked what he feels is contributing to the recent increase in food recalls, Mr. Marler said, “It’s really crazy these recalls, the wheels of the food safety bus has kind of all come off and in 14 years of doing this, I’ve never seen this kind of activity.” Mr. Marler said he thought recalls were based on the moral judgment of companies. “Unfortunately we don’t live in a world where businesses make decisions on pure moral decisions; the economics is they might not get caught and hedge on the side of the product, even if it may be contaminated,” he said. Mr. Marler referenced a beef recall of Topp’s frozen hamburgers and the sickness a child in Florida experienced. “For every one person counted by Center for Disease Control, there’s between 20 and 40 times that number that actually got sick and it’s difficult to prove a case on their behalf ; most companies are betting that if doesn’t get in the news or don’t recall they maybe won’t get caught.”
Full article below:Continue Reading Recall of frozen pizza, beef products labeled high health risk, says U.S. Department of Food Safety and Inspection
Bush backs tougher product safety measures
WOW – what a headline. I almost dropped my laptop as I read CNN MONEY last evening. According to the CNN report, President Bush said he backed tougher product safety measures that would give mandatory recall authority to the Food and Drug Administration and increase penalties on companies that import unsafe products into the United
E. coli “Superbug” kills hundreds in England Each Year
The BBC reported yesterday that a “Superbug,” which kills hundreds of patients a year has been found on 32 farms in England. The discovery raises fears that the infection is spreading to the human population through meat and milk. The bug – ESBL E. coli [Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases Escherichia coli] is estimated to cause 30,000 cases